A pledge to Grace Church is a financial promise and to support our parish and its missions in the coming year. Your pledge is an act of faith that connects you more deeply to Grace. Many find spiritual joy in making a generous pledge to support God’s work through the church. While pledges guide our budget for the year, they can be adjusted, up or down, if your circumstances change.

Pledge cards are available from the church office or you can click here to make your pledge online.

Grace depends on a relatively small number of pledges (~145) for the majority (68%) of its budget. Please give Grace a high place in your annual giving, and make a pledge that feels to you like a major gift! This is a very personal decision, but there are guiding principles. The Biblical tithe of 10% of income is a worthy goal, and some members joyfully reach this pinnacle. The Episcopal Church Foundation suggests that if you’re new to pledging, 2% of your income may be a good place to start. The Bible has countless stories of how God is really good at taking whatever small gifts we can give and turning them into really big things. If we can all give a gift that is meaningful to us, we will be able to reach our goals.

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Pledges indicate your intended financial donation to the parish for the coming year. They convey a level of commitment that strengthens our bonds with the parish, and they are needed by the wardens and vestry for planning ahead responsibly. We are always grateful for gifts, but we cannot rely on them for planning purposes.

We don’t expect you to fulfill your pledge in one lump gift. Many find they can give more when pledging and then giving incrementally over the course of the year. Giving once a week, once a month, and once a quarter are all good ways of fulfilling your pledge.

No, we don’t—it’s the other way around! Your pledges or gifts go directly to our parish, and we are then charged an apportioned share to help fund the diocese, supporting it and the missions of the Episcopal Church throughout the world.

You can pay your pledge or make a gift by putting a cash or check in the offering plate on Sunday morning, mail a check to the church, or give electronically via credit card/debit card/ACH on our online giving platform, Giving Fire >>

Full instructions for using Giving Fire are available HERE.

Parishioners pledge out of gratitude for the work that God has done in their lives through Grace Church.

The Church seats approximately 325.

The couple must secure a marriage license from the State of New York before a wedding can be solemnized in Grace Episcopal Church. Please deliver the license to the Church Office one week in advance of the wedding. After the wedding, the officiating priest completes the license and returns it to the State.

It is strongly encouraged that floral decorations be kept as simple as possible. Only live or dried organic material may be used. A maximum of four (4) floral arrangements are permitted: two at the high altar, one in front of the lectern, and one in front of the freestanding altar. All arrangements for flowers must be made in consultation and approved by the officiating priest or Rector. The altar or floral guild will be responsible for the placement of the floral arrangements, and will remove all ribbons, bows, cards or other material. The florist should contact the church office one week in advance of the wedding to schedule a delivery time during office hours.

Aisle runners are not permitted. Pew bows are permitted. Reserved seating will be designated using pew ropes supplied by Grace. Unity Candles are permitted and the lighting of which will be determined by the priest/rector in an appropriate place in the liturgy.

As rice has been proven bad for the local wildlife, rice is not permitted. Rose petals may be scattered in the aisle in lieu of an aisle runner. The use of bubbles is permitted and it is strongly urged that participants throw containers away in designated trash containers.

The final decision regarding music resides with the Rector and Organist, who may deputize the responsibility to the officiating clergy. The Director of Music plays all weddings and has the right of first refusal. Any organist or musician hired generally functions as the Rector’s designated deputy. Many appropriate and beautiful sacred compositions exist. The Music Director will play these at the time of the wedding consultation. Music of a secular nature is best used at the reception. If vocal or instrumental solos or ensembles are desired, the music must be arranged well in advance of the wedding. Grace Church is not responsible for securing these musicians, although final approval rests with the officiating clergy, the Rector, or Organist.

The service itself will be conducted according to the “Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage” as found in The Book of Common Prayer. No substitutions or amendments are permitted beyond what the service allows.

A celebration of Holy Communion is normally part of the wedding ceremony itself, although it is not required. It is most fitting for the married couple’s first act to be that of offering their marriage in thanksgiving at The Lord’s Table and sharing in the Sacrament.

At the couple’s request the Church will provide service programs (see fees below). The service program must be approved by the Rector/Priest 1-2 weeks before the serve. To avoid discrepancies it is best to coordinate with the parish office.

The couple may choose a photographer. They must inform the officiating Rector of their choice.

The dignity of a wedding service requires that no flash pictures may be taken during the service, with the exception of the opening and closing processions. Likewise, no movements of the photographer or camera snaps, clicks, etc., shall be permitted to interrupt or detract from the ceremony. The photographer is to check in with the officiating priest prior to the service to review these rules. One video camera may be set up only in the Octagon or back of the church with equipment that requires no additional lighting, remote microphones or remote cameras.

Pictures may be taken of the wedding party before and after the ceremony. All pictures taken before the ceremony must begin not earlier than one hour before the service and be concluded a full half-hour before the beginning of the service. Likewise, all photographs taken after the wedding must be concluded a half-hour after the ceremony.

The wedding rehearsal is normally held on the evening before the wedding. All members of the wedding party are expected to attend and to be on time. Each spouse is required to participate fully in the rehearsal. Except in unusual circumstances, the rehearsal lasts no longer than one hour. The rehearsal will begin at the appointed time. If there is a rehearsal dinner, it should be after the rehearsal.

All members of the wedding party, including both spouses, should arrive at the church at least one half hour before the scheduled time for the wedding. Failure to do so may result in the wedding being canceled.

The drinking of alcoholic beverages or the use of any drug by the either spouse or members of the Wedding Party is prohibited before both the rehearsal and the wedding. Evidence of intoxication or other impairment will result in the ceremony being canceled.

When available, the facilities of the Memorial Hall may be reserved for wedding receptions. These facilities must be reserved well in advance. In addition to soft drinks, coffee and tea, only beer, wine and champagne are permitted, and must be displayed and dispensed according to Diocesan guidelines. To serve alcohol, you must provide proof of liability ($1 million).

For fees for the use of Memorial Hall please consult with the Parish Office.

The participation of clergy from outside the parish must be approved by the Rector.

The clergy do not normally attend rehearsal dinners. If you wish the clergy to attend your reception, an invitation should be issued well in advance.

Required for all Weddings:

Church Fee: $600*

Nonmembers: $1,000

Clergy: $600*

Altar Guild: $200

Sexton: $250

Organist: $400, optional (Grace’s music director has first right of refusal if organ or piano is desired at the wedding. Additional fee of $100 for the organist if working with other musicians or attending a rehearsal)

Livestreaming: $150, optional (if available)

Please note: those items with an * may be waived for those who have been givers of record for at least one full year prior to the date of booking.

Fees for soloists, choir or instrumentalists are to be arranged with the Organist/Music Director.

Reception: See separate room rental agreementSexton: Same as above