Radical welcome. Faithful worship. Compassionate service. 

24 February 2019
Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany

8:00 am Holy Eucharist 
9:15 am Family Eucharist
11:00 am Holy Eucharist with Parish Choir

Please join us after all services for fellowship, coffee and refreshment in the Guild Hall.

This Sunday, February 24, a special film about stewardship, "Welcome to Grace," will be shown during all three coffee hours.


For detailed information about  the parish calendar, ministries, and outreach, please click the link below.
Please submit Annual Giving pledges
by Friday, February 28!
A hearty Thank You to all the members of the Grace Community who have already made a pledge for 2019. If you have not yet, we’d urge you to prayerfully consider it this weekend. Getting all pledges in by the end of February lets our Rector and Vestry make a responsible plan for the coming year, and is critically important for our financial stability. Pledges can be made by filling out a card in your pew and placing it in the collection basket or online . At coffee hour after all three services this Sunday, February 24, we will have more information about Grace’s Stewardship Campaign available, and will be showing an inspirational film, "Welcome to Grace Church," featuring Grace parishioners . Please join us!
A visit from Canon Howard K. Williams last Sunday

Last Sunday, The Reverend Canon Dr. Howard Williams preached a wonderful and passionate sermon about the work of Food for the Poor, Inc., one of the largest international relief and development organizations in the United States. It serves the poorest of the poor in 17 Latin American and Caribbean countries. Food for the Poor, Inc. is an interdenominational ministry that provides food, housing and emergency relief to those in desperate need. Canon Williams urged Grace Church to do three things: 1. Pray for Food for the Poor, Inc, those who give and receive from the organization; 2. Participate in a mission trip to see firsthand the work that Food for the Poor is doing in those countries; and 3. Spread the news about Food for the Poor, Inc. to family and friends. Following the 11 am service, Canon Williams presented unforgettable and moving videos of the organization's work. For more information, visit www.foodforthepoor.org . 
First Aid and Defibrillator Training -
10:15 am this Sunday, February 24 
As many of you may have noticed, we now have a first aid kit and AED equipment across from the ADA bathroom and another AED Kit in the North Room. The Grace Church School also has a Kit outside of their office space above the Gym.

Dr. Bryan McCarty has graciously agreed to do some training on this equipment this Sunday, February 24 at 10:15 in the North Room . It is not too late to join us!
Next North Room Chat: Sunday, March 3
Join us next Sunday, March 3, from 10:15 am to 10:45 am in the North Room for another North Room Chat. North Room Chats occur on the first Sunday of each month. We discuss spirituality and Christianity in bite-sized chunks. No need to prepare in advance. No need to have attended a prior chat. Just be open to learning something new, sharing your own life experiences, and, most importantly, growing in the Christian faith. Questions? Contact Brianna McCarty .
Bail Reform Training – this Saturday, February 23
The Grace Church Race Relations and Social Justice group would like to invite you to attend a training related to ending the practice of money bail, which negatively impacts so many fellow New Yorkers who cannot afford to post bail while awaiting trial. Join us to learn more about the money bail system and ways to get involved in addressing its inequities. RSVP here and email Kate Hill if you would like to attend with a group from Grace.
Next Docent-led Tour: Sunday, March 3
All are welcome to explore the interior of our historic Gothic Revival church on the first Sunday of each month. Tour begins inside the church at 12:15 pm and lasts around 30-45 minutes. No reservations needed. For more information, contact Marianne Hurley  or the parish office .
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper Fundraiser:
Tuesday, March 5 at 6:30 pm
Grace Church Brooklyn Heights cordially invites you to join us on Mardi Gras for a special  Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper Fundraiser . The event will be held on March 5, from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm in the Guild Hall. The cost is $5 for children; $10 for adults; and $20 max for a family. Beginning this Sunday, please add your name(s) and number of guests to the sign up sheet in the rear of church.

Proceeds benefit Grace acolytes attending local and national Acolyte Festivals. For more information, contact   Sarah Davies  or  Allison Robinson . 
The Rector’s Lenten Book Study with Grace Church and St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church
Please join us for a Lenten book study of Fleming Rutledge's The Crucifixion: Understanding the Death of Jesus Christ .

The book study will meet on every Thursday in Lent, beginning March 14, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

March 14: St. Charles Borromeo
March 21: Grace
March 28: St. Charles Borromeo
April 4: Grace

Light fare will be served.

The book is available online.

Please see Allen+ or contact the parish office for more details.
SAVE THE DATE!!!
Grace Church Brooklyn Heights, in association with Qumri Pilgrimages, is hosting a trip to the Holy Land, June 12-23, 2020. There is a space limit of 40 pilgrims. An informational meeting will take place on Sunday, March 10 at 10:15, during the Rector's Forum in the North Room . If you are interested in learning more about the trip to the Holy Land, I invite you to attend the informational seminar. Additional information regarding site visits, accommodations, cost and airline travel will be forthcoming. Any inquiries, please see Allen+.
Grace Core Values Inquiry Process
Who are we as a church community? What are we called to do? This is an exciting time of transition and growth at Grace, and we need your help to deepen our understanding of the core values that underpin Grace’s mission and our vision for the future. Between now and April, members of the vestry will be inviting parishioners to engage in conversation about Grace’s core values and mission. Please be receptive if you are called or approached at coffee hour to chat for a bit. You may also contact Amy Rowland directly if you are interested in participating in this dialogue. In addition, the vestry will be facilitating a focus group about core values during a North Room Chat at 10:15 am on Sunday, April 7 - please save the date and join us. We encourage everyone to participate in this important work, and will continue to update you about future opportunities for engagement.
LENT MADNESS COMES TO GRACE CHURCH!!
Forward Movement’s Lent Madness, inspired by college basketball tournaments, pits 32 saints against each other in a bracket, as each saint seeks to win the coveted Golden Halo. Throughout Lent, fans vote for their favorite saints at www.lentmadness.org and you can sign up on the website and receive an email each morning with essays on the two competing saints on that given day and the ability to cast your vote. This can be an individual or family activity!

Started by the Episcopal Church, this is the tenth year of this growing madness and it’s spreading throughout different denominations! At Grace, we are upping the ante by creating a friendly pool to see who can correctly pick the winner of the Golden Halo who, in turn, will win their own Golden Halo(s)! To join, we are asking a suggested donation of ten bucks which will be used to help offset the cost of our acolytes attending the National Conference of Acolytes in Washington, D.C.

Look for contest forms on the Welcome Table in the rear of church or the table next to the kitchen on the way to the Guild Hall. There will also be a limited number of free individual bracket cards. Questions? See John Colón or email him .
Announcing a Lenten Class offering:
beginning Ash Wednesday, March 6
Entering the Passion of Jesus:
A Beginner’s Guide to Holy Week

A six-week study using a book &
brief DVD lectures from noted
Jewish New Testament scholar,
Amy-Jill Levine.

Please order her book, same title as the class, 
(available online ).

This class will meet on
Wednesdays in Lent,
starting, March 3 (Ash Wednesday) from 4:00 – 5:15 pm
in the North Room. Led by the Rev. Erika Meyer.

Send Rev. Erika an email if you are planning to attend.
Next Sanctuary Cinema screening:
Friday, March 8

Please join us for our next FREE Sanctuary Screening, on Friday, March 8 at 7 pm in the Guild Hall. " Roma , " by acclaimed director Alfonso Cuarón. The Oscars are this Sunday and "Roma" might win.

It's generating lots of buzz. Click here to read the multitude of letters this movie is stirring up.

FREE babysitting is provided at the church, beginning at 7 pm, during the film. You parents of young children can enjoy a movie date!!!

Popcorn and lemonade will again be served and facilitated discussion will follow.

Keep informed:  parishoffice@gracebrooklyn.org or 718-624-1850, ext. 10.
Tuesday Lenten Organ Recitals begin:
Tuesday, March 12
Come for spiritual refreshment in the season of Lent, beginning 12:30 pm in the sanctuary.

Please see this flyer for a detailed listing of recitalists.
Special book presentation: Sunday, March 17
Benjamin Morse, Grace parishioner, biblical scholar and author/ illustrator of The Bible Beautiful Series , will be on hand Sunday, March 17 to share his whimsical and engaging artwork and biblical storytelling. Suitable for children and adults. He will be visiting the Journey to Adulthood class and also show his work and speak during coffee hour after the 11 am service.
 
Click here for more info and reviews of Ben’s work.
Quiet Day of Contemplative Prayer:
Saturday, March 23
Take time to restore yourself with silence and scripture in a day of contemplative prayer. We will begin with a brief review of centering prayer and lectio divina, followed by practice of these two methods of contemplative prayer. We will eat lunch together in silence and in the afternoon, experience a contemplative prayer service with Eucharist, led by The Reverend Erika Meyer and Lindsay Boyer.

All are welcome. A $20 donation is requested to cover the cost of a box lunch and to help us sponsor future events, but if you are unable to pay for the lunch, please come anyway!

For more information or to RSVP, contact Lindsay or 718-858-4119.
Special Columbarium Memorial Service:
Sunday, March 24 at 5 pm
Please join us for a quiet, contemplative evening prayer service, honoring those who have passed on in our lives. We will begin with a short memorial service, read aloud the names of the dead interred in our Columbarium and other community members and friends, and then enjoy beautiful piano music during a period of silent prayer and meditation. There will be light refreshments in the Narthex after the service. If you would like to have a name read aloud, please email Christian DeRuiter, in the parish office. This event is open to members and friends of Grace Church as well as the wider community. No RSVP is necessary.
Interested in participating or receiving
a bi-monthly newsletter?
Who are our high school or college bound students at Grace? Any alumni attending Grace? Anyone moving away or individuals moving to the neighborhood and attending Grace? Having an exhibition (graphic art, sculptures or photography)? Where will it be? Published a book lately? Any book signings? Vacation rentals?

This publication could help us get to know each other better and engage in dialogue. Hope you will consider this format. If interested please contact Charlotte Thorp .
Rector's Tuesday Bible Study
Please know that you are invited to join us each Tuesday, from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm in the Choir Room, for bible study and conversations around interpretation, application, social justice, current world events or a host of other topics that may surface during our time together. We really do have a lot of fun and we invite you to come and join us!

Right now, we are studying the Gospel of John. Each class is independent of others; therefore, you do not have to play “catch up” in order to participate. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me! Allen+.
Grace Schedule of Upcoming Baptismal Dates

As is a parish church tradition, no more than seven Candidates are Baptized as a group, usually during an 11 am service of Holy Eucharist with Baptisms. 

Here are the upcoming dates:
  • Sunday, March 3, 2019, 11:00 am – full
  • Saturday, April 20, 2019 (Easter Eve), 4 pm – 3 spots remaining
Please contact Christian DeRuiter, Parish Administrator, for more information and to obtain an application.
Pastoral News and Prayer Concerns
Parish Prayer Concerns: Wendy, Sybil, Jacob, Eric & Frances, Lesley, Sandra, Bill, Elle, and Eleanor.
Grace Church | 254 Hicks Street | Brooklyn NY 11201