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RECTOR’S LETTER

November 2018

Saying Grace for Grace ...

I trust that like me you grew up saying grace before meals. I remember the prayer we said before every meal in my household: “God is great. God is good, and we thank thee for our food. Amen!” Well, as we prepare ourselves to sit at table with our beloved family and friends this Thanksgiving, I for one will be saying grace, giving thanks for Grace (Church that is). Words cannot adequately describe how grateful to God I am that I have been called and chosen to serve as your priest and pastor. Each day I rise with the knowledge that I am part of this beloved community, a place where the love and spirit of God are in abundance, fills me with a deep and abiding joy and comfort. Indeed, during these challenging, corrosive, divisive, and troubling times, knowing that there is shelter from the storm, a place of quiet from the noise, a place of respite from the exhaustive demands of day to day life is a blessing from which I can only say, “Thank you lord!” Grace Church truly is a special place, a beacon of light and a place of welcome for all of God’s people. And this thanksgiving, I want to take a moment to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for everything you do and have done to support, build up, and sustain the life, ministry, and witness of this parish. I thank you for the ways, large and small, known and unknown that you have given of yourselves; impacting lives and affecting positive change in this community and beyond. Your dedication,

giving your time, giving your financial resources (via your pledges), lending and channeling your varied skills, has enabled this parish to truly be the Body of Jesus Christ in this community and beyond. As I give God thanks for the turkey (that I will no doubt

be cooking), the candied yams, collard greens,

cornbread stuffing, homemade cranberry sauce,

mom’s mac and cheese, buttermilk biscuits, and

pumpkin and apples pies, I will also being giving God

thanks for the hope, light, and life that I am able to

know and share in this special, God-filled place, Grace

Church Nyack!

Fr. Owen+

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WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO EVERYONE WHO HAS MADE A PLEDGE FOR 2019

With your support we’re well on the way

to making our goal for 2019….

But we’re not there yet!

PLEDGE SUNDAY IS NOVEMBER 18

We need EVERYONE’S support

in the coming year.

Grace Church touches the lives of hundreds of people every week of the year. Because of people like you, Grace is able to provide a creative church school &

meaningful programs for our youth and young families; to welcome 12-Step and other community groups for meetings here; to offer pastoral care & a variety of worship opportunities within our beautiful sanctuary, and to support outreach

programs like People to People, and Grace’s Kitchen.

Your financial pledge allows our vestry to plan for the short and longer term. Your pledge lets leadership know the amount of predictable funds available to

support our programs, staffing, ministry, and growth.

Please look within your heart and give as you are able.

Thank you for being part of this place we call Grace. PLEASE MAKE YOUR 2019 PLEDGE COMMITMENT TODAY!

Pledge materials available at the church entry, and online at www.gracechurchnyack.org

Pledges as of 11/14/18 131 pledges $293,675 Betty Abajian-Seaman Karin Baere Nigel Bark Verne Becker Candice Boyle & Philip Bunton Wendy & John Brown John Burger Larry & Stephanie Campbell Ed & Mary Ceccolini Shirley Chalke Alan & Linda Chisholm Kate Chisholm & Peter Foley Diane Churchill James & Sally Cochran Beverley & John Colgan Jean Conner-Tierney Patricia Cose Cindy Cox Olive Crone & Dave Prouty Barbara & Charles Cross Alison & Jefferson Crowther Judith & Robert D’Errico Barbara De Francis Hilda Deloatch Rev. Deacon K. Joanna Depue Diane Deveau & Kevin Fletcher Joe & Suzie Devoe James & Virginia Dillon Daphne Estwick Honor Fagan

Kevin P. Faherty Robert & Katherine Fallon Gerald & Marjorie Federico Barbara Fleischer Nigel & Tammy Fraser Friesen Family Katharine Fulmor & Theresa Ber-gen Peggy & James Gilbert Jennifer Giunta Rod Greenwood & Victoria Hertz Michael & Betsy Growney Harold & Eleanor Hafstad David Hahn Ronald Hammond Heider Family Susan D. Hendricks Heidi Hill Fred & Monroe Hodder Leigh & Sondra Holt Harriet P. Hudson & René Pacheco-Arana Judith R. Humeston Huss Family Patty & Jimmy Hyland Myria & Daniel Jean-Gilles Laura & Tim Kenna Carol & Roy Kepler Carol P. Kiddoe-Thompson Rudolph & Kim Knight Deborah LaLiberte Rod & Linda Langdon Mia Leo & Richard Kuczkowski Amy Lehman Margaret Lehrecke

Candice Lewis-Warner John Loftin & Mitch Pfenning The Logiodice Family Ejane & John Mac Cartney Molly MacQueen Lauren Malone Orville & Sally Mann Joe & Jen Marraccino Steven Marsh James & Lynette Marshall Judith & Malcolm Martin Nils Mathsen Jeanette Matthews Heidi McCarthy & Edmund Knyfd, Jr. Carol McGregor Debbie & Bob McGuinness Cheryl McNeil McNeill Family Andrea Merosky & Toni Cardenas Barbara Miesch & Meigs Ross Sally Ann Mock James Monaco Sam Monroe Brian & Lainie Murrell Jacob & Emily Nevill Sarah & Thomas Nittoli Mary O’Donoghue Keith & Moriah Olsen Bonnie & Robert Parsekian Beth & Joe Paskowski Martha Patterson Tom & Dalila Perry Winston Perry Karen & Wayne Phelan

Joanne Picott Allyson Pifko & Kristin Walsh Caran Pullen & Holly Bee John & Lori Quigley Charles & Judy Reynolds Alma Sue Richmond Terence & Tanya Rock Natalie Russell Roberta Sarvent Phil & Helen Scala Schnalzer Family Roger & Sally Seiler Fran & Semo Sennas Jillana Sinnott Chris Sorensen Arthur & Donna Soyk Paula Spruck Joe Stennett & Margie Winslow Carol Streichert Jonna & Owen Thompson Jeanne Treat Tozer Claudia Uccellani Jan & Robert Valentine Edward Van Saders & Paul Shus-terman Nancy & Dietrich Waack Homer & Barbara Wanamaker Liz & Greg Weber Paul & Annie Weiss Tracy White Bruce & Thayer Woodcock Deanne Yaklin Eric & Christina Young 2 Anonymous

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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17 9:30am Women’s Spirituality Group (Bradley Chapel)

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18 8:00am Holy Eucharist (Rite I) 9:30am Holy Eucharist 10:10am Church School/Confirmation Class/ Refreshments/Bible Study 11:00am Holy Eucharist (Rite II w/choir) 6:30pm SYG Thanksgiving dinner (Memorial Hall)

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20 7:00pm Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service Youth program begins at 5:30pm (cafeteria) St. Ann’s Catholic Church, 16 Jefferson Street, Nyack

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21 Grace Church office closed at noon through 11/25) 6:00pm Healing Prayer (Bradley Chapel)

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22 7:00am Grace’s Kitchen (Team 4) (Memorial Hall) 12:00pm Brown Bag & A Bible (Patterson Hall)

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25 8:00am Holy Eucharist (Rite I) 9:30am Holy Eucharist 10:10am Refreshments/Bible Study 11:00am Holy Eucharist (Rite II w/choir)

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27 7:00pm Vestry (Patterson Hall)

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28 6:00pm Contemplative Prayer (Bradley Chapel)

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29 7:00am Grace’s Kitchen (Team 5) (Memorial Hall) 7:00am Men’s Prayer Breakfast (Patterson Hall) 12:00pm Brown Bag & A Bible (Patterson Hall) 7:30pm Choir (Choir Room)

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1 3:00pm Graceful Rainbows Cookie Making (Memorial)

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2—ADVENT 1 Senior Youth Group Fundraising Breakfast 8:00am Holy Eucharist (Rite I) 9:30am Holy Eucharist 10:10am Church School/Confirmation Class/ Refreshments/Bible Study 11:00am Holy Eucharist (Rite II w/choir) 4:00pm Choral Evensong: Lessons & Carols 6:30pm Restorative Justice Circle (Bradley Chapel)

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4 7:00pm Advent Home Gathering

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5 6:00pm Healing Prayer (Bradley Chapel)

FROM LAINIE MURRELL

Lainie has recently entered the process to become an Episcopal priest, and will be updating us on her journey in future edi-tions of the Messenger.

For those of you who may not know or just may not know me, I am a member of Grace and I’m in the early stages of the process to become a priest. Grace has been my church home since we moved to Nyack in the fall of 2006 and I was received into the church as a member in the summer of 2007. My family is in church almost every week and in-volved in events here on other days as well. My husband Brian is currently serving on the vestry and previously served on the search committee who brought us Father Owen. We have three sons, Isaac (a member of the Senior Youth Group), Ewan (currently in the Confirmation class), and Cormac, who is famous around the 9:30 service of his friendly greetings during peace and his variety of hats.

I come from a long line of church workers and many minis-ters (all men because they are in conservative evangelical churches in Texas). One grandfather was a missionary and the other was a minister. My stepfather was a school prin-cipal during the week and a lay pastor for the Church of Christ on weekends, while my mother played the organ or the piano for various Baptist churches. In college I was very involved in the Baptist Student Union and spent a couple summers doing student missions, mostly working with chil-dren, all over Missouri. I also took classes in Old Testa-ment, New Testament, and Christian Theology at my uni-versity. I’ve spent a lot of time in churches and serving in various roles, including teaching many church school clas-ses and I was the church school coordinator for a couple years. I am particularly proud of suggesting that Annie Weiss be the church school coordinator after me, because she is brilliant in the role. Currently I serve with the Wor-ship Ministry and with the Adult Spiritual Formation com-mission.

I have taken a circuitous route so far toward the priest-hood, because I first started on the way to the diaconate and then realized my path lay a different way. I have met with a discernment committee for almost two years now and gone through some psychological and medical testing. Now my name has been submitted to the Episcopal Dio-cese of New York for application to the priesthood and I am awaiting further information to move forward. While I wait, I am working on my spiritual life with daily prayer and Bible study and continuing to serve here at Grace. I love our welcoming community and I am eager to share the love of God at Grace and beyond.

Lainie

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FROM THE CHURCH SCHOOL

We had a fun and scary month. Bravo to Joe and Beth Paskowski and the Senior Youth Group for pulling off a fright-filled Haunted House in spite of the rainy night, raising near-ly $1000 towards their summer mis-sion trip next year! Church School continued to build off of their “saintly” curriculum with a focus on Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Peter, Paul and Luke. We are also folding in Messy Church and Sunday Service into the program. If you haven’t had a chance to register your child (PK-8th Grade) you can do so by going on to the church website www.GraceChurchNyack.org. The kids are also getting ready for the Interfaith Service project at St. Ann’s on November 20th. All kids in Middle School and High School are urged to join us. We will be gathering with kids from other houses of worship at 5:30pm in the cafeteria at St. Ann’s School on the Tuesday night. It is always an enlightening event. The most recent PIZZA FOR A PURPOSE focused on the Nyack Homeless Project. Over 45 kids came together to

make scarves and donate coats to the cause (there is also a collection box out-side of Memorial Hall for anyone who wants to donate!). We have lots of events happening during the Christmas season. The biggest is the Christmas Pageant on December 16th and Christmas caroling at Nyack Manor Senior Home on December. DON’T MISS IT! Peace. ~Annie

FROM THE SENIOR YOUTH GROUP

SUNDAY, December 2—JOIN US FOR BREAKFAST! Our Senior Youth Group will be serving up another great breakfast throughout the morning in Memorial Hall on Sunday, December 2 Proceeds will go towards the 2019 summer mission trip. Come HUNGRY, and support this great group of young people!

The Senior Youth Group is collecting clothing and toiletries for their first Midnight Run of the year. We need coats, blankets, gloves, hats, backpacks as well as all other clean clothing. Nothing to donate but still want to participate? We need new packages of un-derwear and socks too! A collection box will at the entry of the church through December 2. For larger donations, please contact Joe Paskowski (jpaskowski@msn.com) to arrange for a pickup or drop off.

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NEWS FROM BOY SCOUT TROOP 2

BSA Troop 2 has long been an integral part of our parish life. Newly appointed Scoutmaster, Ian Graham, provid-

ed this update on what's going on with the current Eagle Scout projects out of Troop 2.

Project: Ceremonial Fire Pit for Retiring Flags Beneficiary: Willis Polhemus VFW Post 9215, Upper Nyack, NY Scout: Tyler Peterson Status: Just finished!

Project: New Trail Head Kiosk Beneficiary: Nyack Beach and Hook Mountain State Park, Nyack, NY Scout: Kevin Saum Status: Foundations dug and poured. Kiosk materials ordered.

Project: Benches for Playground at St. Dominic's School Beneficiary: St. Dominic's Family Services, Blauvelt, NY Scout: Christopher O'Brien Status: Movable benches built. Buddy Bench, wood chips, tree ordered.

Project: Retaining wall extension Beneficiary: American Legion Post 1682, New City, NY Scout: Kevin Carton Status: Fundraising started

Also, keep your eyes open for the scouts around Grace as they take care of our annual "Greening of the Church" for Christmas - and represented at the Nyack Interfaith Service on the November 20.

Proud of our Scouts!

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Fifty years ago, Rev. Greene and the Episcopal Church Wom-en of Grace Church looked at the Nyack Community to see what might be needed that they could supply or support. It was agreed that Nyack needed good quality affordable child-care. How to support it? Where could it be located? It was determined that a thrift shop would support that aim as well as others and St. Paul’s Methodist Church in South Nyack would be the location. On November 6, 1968, Grace’s Corner Thrift Shop was opened at 58 S. Broadway. The profit from the shop was used to: Further the Programs and Outreach of Grace Church, Subsidize the Child Care Center of the Nyacks, And to provide an important service to the community

through low cost, good quality clothing. The shop was staffed entirely by the congregation and they also provided the items for sale. The original hours were from 10AM to 4PM.

Who were these founding volunteers? They included peo-ple such as Bartie Leber, Helen Cook, Margaret Gilhuley, Margerie David, and Henrietta Conlin, all of whom were officers of ECW and staffed the shop. You will find many of them in our columbarium. A more extensive list is in the

scrapbook. How did we end up at 10 S. Broadway? Not nine months after opening on lower Broadway, the shop moved to its present location, changed its name, and became Grace’s Thrift Shop. Over the years we have contributed to The Child Care Cen-ter of the Nyack’s, YMCA pool renovations, diocesan assess-ment, and various faith based programs such as St. Philip’s African Methodist Episcopal Zion youth education trip to Livingstone College in NC, or Pilgrim Baptist Church’s Sum-mer Youth Program which put teens to work during the summer. Who are we now? Fifty years later we are still Grace’s Thrift Shop. We have over 45 volunteers (men too) with half com-ing from Grace and half the community at large. ECW no longer exists at Grace, instead decisions are made at an an-nual meeting by all volunteers. There is an executive com-mittee that takes care of items of business or donations that are needed during the year. We accept donations from pa-rishioners and from the community at large. Last year we donated over $30,000 to programs in Nyack, Rockland County and Grace Church. There is no more Child Care Center but we do donate to Head Start, YMCA and Nyack Center. We still provide good quality items for the bargain hunter. We support just about any Food Program in Nyack. We can always use your help: donate your time for a 3-hour shift; donate your no longer wanted items that are still in great shape. Donations are accepted between 10-4, Tuesday – Saturday. Please don’t leave at the door. Contact Theresa Bergen or Kickie Fulmor if you wish to volunteer. Perhaps in 50 more years we will no longer be needed. But more likely there will be other pro-grams to support and everyone can always use a bargain!

Theresa D. Bergen and Kickie Fulmor Co-Managers

Artwork by local artist Bill Batson featured in his Nyack Sketch Log article on the Thrift Shop 11/6/18 (nyacknewsandviews.com/2018/11/nsl-graces-thrift-shop/)

FIFTH YEARS OF OUTREACH:

Grace’s Thrift Shop

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Thrift Shop volunteers were acknowledged during the 11:00am liturgy on November 11, and celebrated the Shop’s 50th Anniversary with a festive gathering in Patterson Hall. on the 12th. Volunteer Kevin Faherty coordinated a wonderful spread of celebratory fare. Thanks to Verne Becker, Mary Ann Bleecker, and Jen-nifer Giunta for the photos.

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YOU CAN HELP SENIOR YOUTH GROUP MIDNIGHT RUN

The Senior Youth Group is collecting clothing and toiletries for their first Midnight Run of the year. We need coats, blankets, gloves, hats, backpacks as well as all other clean clothing.

Nothing to donate but still want to participate? We need new packages of underwear and socks too! A collection box will at the entry of the church through December 2. For larger donations, please contact Joe Paskowski (jpaskowski@msn.com) to arrange for a pickup or drop off.

ANNUAL GIVING TREE FOR FAMILIES AT THE NYACK CENTER

NYACK HOMELESS PROJECT

Through December 22 we’ll be helping the Nyack Homeless Pro-ject in its efforts to collect food and warm clothing to be distrib-uted locally by area young people and student groups. You’ll find a collection bin outside of Memorial Hall. Please help as you can! More about the Nyack Homeless Project at nyackhp.org

HOLIDAY SHARE PROGRAM

Parishioners Candice & Phil Bunton are sponsoring an effort to help local enlisted men and women celebrate he holidays with the HOLIDAY SHARE PROGRAM. There are over 80 local military families with 3 or more dependents per family who can’t afford a holiday meal. The local Purple Heart Chapter is working with the Army community to collect fundsto be used for holiday meals. If you’d like to help in the effort , make a check of money order to MOPH-120, Rockland County Chapter 120/with Holiday Share Program on the memo line. Please send it to Holiday Share Program c/o Rivertown Magazine, 5 Edge Water Lane, Haver-straw, NY 10927. Thank you for your generosity.

GIFT CARDS NEEDED Occasionally individuals and families come to us for help with very basic immediate needs, like food and diapers. There are also several families with disabled children/grandchildren who need help to purchase food and gifts for the holidays. When possi-ble we try to help with small gift cards for stores like ShopRite, Target, or Walgreen’s. We welcome donations of gift cards so that we are prepared when the need arises — just bring them to the office or drop in the plate on Sundays.

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ART AT GRACE

Earlier this year we announced our ongoing Artist-In Resi-dence program, loosely modeled after one sponsored by the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Since its founding in the 1970s, the program there has woven living art and artists into the fabric of the Cathedral, providing time and space for artists to respond to the Cathedral as a powerful creative statement in stone, and opportunities for the public to access their work. We hope that such collaboration between local artists and Grace Church will enable us to develop ongoing relationships and bring mutual awareness to the beauty of their work and that of our sacred space.

We’re happy to announce that this month we are featur-ing a work by artist Pat Hickman which is displayed in the nave of the church. You can read more about the artist and work below, and we thank parishioner Diane Churchill for her continued support and guidance in this effort.

Pat Hickman is Professor Emeritus of the Art Department, University of Hawaii, where she taught for sixteen years. Her studio is now at the Garner Arts and Indus-trial Center, Garnerville, NY and she lives nearby in Dutchtown, a part of Haver-straw. Hickman's work is in major collections, including the Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, the Oakland Museum, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Denver Art Museum, the Honolulu Academy of Arts, among others. www.pathickman.com

"Permeable" Fishermen know nets—making, mending, us-ing them to catch, to hold, to carry. Artist Pat Hickman cre-ated this suspended net, a delicate mesh, to hold air and light—most of all celebrating that it's open and porous—not to trap or keep out but permeable, for passing through.

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On October 17, the Adult Spiritual Formation (ASF) shared a light supper and a presentation about faith, hope and prayer. Our Thanks to Pat Reyn-olds for another fasci-

nating discussion and this summary, and to ASF for coordi-nating the event!

(Hebrews 11) 1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

(Acts 1) 9 When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11 They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Has Jesus come again or are we still waiting?

Matthew’s Parousia

(Matthew 28) 16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All au-thority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you al-ways, to the end of the age." All four gospels have passages declaring that Jesus will

return. But, this final passage in Matthew says that he never left, has been here all along.

Can both be true? Could there be a future Second Com-ing of Jesus, even though he never left?

In

Has come near Let’s go back to the beginning of Jesus’ ministry where he is proclaiming the kingdom of God: (Matthew 3) 2 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." (Mark 1) 15 "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news." (Luke 10) 9 cure the sick who are there, and say to them, "The kingdom of God has come near to you.” When Jesus says that “the kingdom of God has come

near”, does this mean that the kingdom will arrive in the next few days? Or, does it mean that the kingdom of God is nearby, close at hand, close enough to touch?

How does it make you feel to say that the kingdom of God is close enough to touch? Are you afraid to trust this? Are you skeptical? Are you afraid of being a fool, afraid of being duped?

Who is the kingdom of God

Multiple choice question: Persons who are poor in spirit, who mourn, who are meek, who hunger and thirst for righteousness, are merci-ful, are pure in heart, are peacemakers, are persecuted for righteousness' sake -- These persons will be comforted, will inherit the earth, will be filled, will receive mercy, will see God, will be called children of God, These persons (CHOOSE ONE) A) will be given the king-dom of heaven. B) will become the kingdom of heaven. C) are the kingdom of heaven.

Proleptic

What are your feelings the two weeks before going to the beach for a week?

What are your feelings during the dark days of winter as

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you plan the rows and kinds of tomatoes and beans you will plant in the spring? What are the feelings of a child during the days leading up

to Christmas? The word “proleptic” means that something thought to be in the future is brought into the present by hope, by faith, by belief. Hope and faith are creative – they create what was not there before. Is it possible that the kingdom of God is both present and

future? Can hope be the bridge between the present and the future? Can faith itself be the appearance of the fu-ture kingdom in the present moment?

In what way is a community of people living in the hope of the kingdom of God, not the kingdom? Or, is the kingdom of God exactly that, a community of people living in the hope of the kingdom?

Is the Second Coming already present in the hope of the Second Coming? Is a community of people living in hope of the Second Coming, is that not the Second Coming? Is hope the gift?

Faith

The day of judgment is personal for each of us

Is it possible that each of us experiences a personal Day of Judgment at some point in our lives, a day of crisis in our lives when we choose whether to live a life of faith?

The Day of Judgment, the end time, is a time of crisis. Some have spoken of this as the end of the world or the day of judgment that occurs at the same day for all of us. But, each of us faces our own end time as we face the crisis of whether we will live a life of faith. The various end time writings, such as Mark 13 above, can be read as descriptions of this individual time of crisis in each of our lives, a time to which each of us is brought even-tually. This personal crisis often does feel like the end of the world. Our faith is challenged. We begin to wonder if it is all a joke. Have we just been duped into believing a delu-sion? We are presented with a choice: to live a life with hope or to live a life with nothing. Hope is creative; it cre-ates that which is hoped for. Hope creates life. This time of crisis is an end time because our former life is left behind and we are reborn, by faith, into the kingdom of God. Pat Reynolds

OF INTEREST TO OUR COMMUNITY

ANOTHER NEW CLASSES AT GRACE

FREE DEMONSTRATION CLASS MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19 (3:30 –4:30 or 6-7:00pm)

Chair Fitness is a great alternative workout with those who have limited

mobility and injury recovery. This program is designed to help de-crease the risk of heart disease, reduce stress on joints, and assist in managing weight. Jilbear will illustrate how these exercises will en-hance physical activity, reduce the risk of falling, develop and main-tain confidence, and additional positive factors to increase your quality of life. Instructor, Gilbert “Jilbear” Paris is a Rockland resident and former dancer, teacher, and choreographer. For almost 10 years, he worked as an instructor at various senior centers and at Rockland Communi-ty College. In 1997, he was hired as a Recreational Assistant for a local nursing home and discovered his passion for dedicating his time to comforting those in need. “I would like to continue that lega-cy, by having different people experience what I have to offer,” said Paris, “…for the mind, body, and soul.”

FOR MORE: JilBear Paris (845) 270-3231 or gilbertparish56@gmail.com

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Grace Episcopal Church Vestry Minutes: June 19, 2018 Present: P. Cose, J. Marraccino, O. Thompson; T. Bergen, B. Murrell, J. Nevill, K. Olsen, C. Pullen, B. Paskowski, LM Schnalzer, K. Sestak, E. Starling The meeting was called to order, Sacred Space was shared. Upcoming calendar items were reviewed.

Rector’s Report Order of agenda has changed, moving Property and Fi-

nance after the Rector’s and Commission reports to allow more time and focus for reports regarding the ministries of Grace before moving to business.

Thrilled by recent Confirmation service. Bishop’s sermon was pertinent to both adults and young people. The day showed the vibrant nature of all that is going on here. We are seen by diocese as anchor church of Rockland. Key is to continue inviting the recently confirmed and received into the life and ministry of the church and to grow their involvement.

Fall planning to begin soon. Focus needs to be on ex-isting volunteers and increased attention to recruitment and support as necessary with particular attention to suc-cession planning. Efforts will begin to get yearly planning process underway. Sunday school curriculum will be ex-panded to bolster efforts to teach kids the story and basic history of their faith. Will work to establish ongoing meetings with church school teachers in some format.

Posts have been installed so that it is easy to display ban-ners for special events/seasons.

A recent difficult meeting with someone looking for a niche in the columbarium has pointed out the need for more clarity in the purchase/administration process to ensure that it works smoothly and quickly for all in-volved.

Looking forward to travelling to the DR with senior youth group as well as several weeks of rest/restoration during the summer.

COMMISSION REPORTS Thrift Shop – C. Pullen Donations way up, income a little

behind projections but nothing to worry about. 50th an-niversary coming up and the possibility of a new sign is being explored.

Grace Music - J. Nevill Committee will be planning their upcoming season over the next weeks, and is looking to keep a tighter rein on the financial oversight of the series so that it is transparent and so that there are several people who can step in to handle responsibilities as nec-essary. GraceMusic also wants to look at moving the in-dependent Grace Music website to the Grace Church site. JN has been working with musicians from the col-lege to help with music during the summer. For the fall will continue to work with Annie Hekker Weiss & Bran-don regarding the 9:30am service music. Although a re-

cent fall by choir member was not due to any negligence on Grace’s part, numerous safety measures have been put into place to make any future incidents less likely.

Youth – Thanks were again offered to Erik Johnke for his continued leadership and impact over the past five years as the Confirmation class leader.

COSM – B. Paskowski – per electronic vote approval, COSM has made a donation of $1000 to support the efforts of Helping Hands to convert the Methodist Church in Spring Valley rectory into a year-round warming cen-ter. Charlie Cross (COSM) will be consulted regarding the possibility of considering a larger donation to the effort. It was also agreed that going forward an effort should be made to formalize a more strategic approach to planning disbursements from the outreach fund, which can have a significant balance at any given time.

Fellowship Great participation from parish at large for the reception following the Confirmation service, with thanks to Sally Seiler and the fellowship commission for coordination.

Scouts – LM Schnalzer – Thankful for recognition given to the Scouts over the past year. Longtime Scoutmaster Kier Levesque is retiring from that position and Ian Gra-ham will be taking over. A projected list of activities when we can use Scout help has been requested so that they can be given more time to respond. It was suggest-ed that we establish a small scholarship to be given annu-ally to a graduating scout who meets such goals as we define.

ASF –T. Bergen – Thanks to the Boy Scouts for their work in creating an inventory of hymnals and Bibles at Grace. Approval was requested to move ahead with the pur-chase of additional numbers of both in sufficient quantity that each is available in every pew. In the fall an effort will be made to cover the cost via donations/opportunity to memorialize with bookplates. Efforts will be made to integrate the use of the Bible during the services. The purchase of Bibles and hymnals as outlined was ap-proved.

SCOF Report was presented by P. Cose Report was distributed and reviewed (attached). Pledge

and plate are close to budget. Overall expenses not sig-nificantly over budget. Everything looks in line for the summer months. Annual drawdowns will take place over the summer.

2017 audit is underway. Meeting with leadership of the Nyack Hunger Coalition

took place recently. Grace has been the financial custo-dian for the Nyack Hunger Coalition funds which come in through the Resolution Run event and then are distribut-ed to the member organizations. It has been felt that the process has been a bit bumpy in the past, and efforts are being made to tighten up procedures so that future reim-bursements and disbursements can be made in a more timely fashion.

Funds raised last year for a young person, Savannah, will

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be directed towards a 529 college savings plan that has been established in her name, since efforts to contact her relatives directly have been unsuccess-ful. Approved All Ayes.

We received $2500 from the recently AGC Circus benefit. With approval it will be directed to the so-cial ministries fund. A number of alternatives were discussed, some of which could still fall under the outreach umbrella. Approved All Ayes.

SCOP Report was presented by J. Marraccino An area in front of the church was damaged via the

unintended application of Roundup to the area by one of the landscaping crews. The area damaged has been replaced with sod and the areas along First by the street have been re-seeded and a rota-tion schedule for watering has been put into place.

The magnolia tree is scheduled to be taken down July 5, as per recommendation of several tree ser-vices.

The bench & plaque for Evelyn Lombardi has been installed and dedicated.

A new vendor has been secured to deal with rac-coon issue in rectory.

Oven at 141 First Avenue was replaced at the ten-ant’s request. Tenant paid half the cost.

Kitchen oven has continued to be problematic and may need to be replaced at some point.

A walk around of the property will be scheduled to assess safety and signage needs throughout the property.

The idea of installing a bike rack has been raised. SCOP will begin discussion of possibilities and make recommendation.

Fr. Owen commended Joe on dealing successfully with a number of emergencies and complicated situations immediately following his taking on the

role of property warden.

Old Business The proposed barbecue fundraiser had to be can-

celled due to the weather, but the donor, Kendall Brenner, has agreed to work with us going forward in planning an alternate. Everyone involved in planning was commended with special thanks to Elizabeth Starling for collecting an array of silent auction gifts.

Air conditioning continues to be a concern particu-larly in light of the demographics of our population and climate issues. Several weddings have been lost due to the lack of a/c. It will be critical to ad-dress the issue in the coming years.

Would like to look towards giving a Bishop’s Cross award in the future, but that is not currently done in this diocese. If the recognition program existed, our nominees would have been Rudy Knight, Pat Cose, and Beth Paskowski.

Copies of “Christianity After Religion” by Diana But-ler Bass were given to vestry members and will be discussed in the future. Everyone on the vestry was thanked for their efforts to build the church during these challenging and pivotal times when we are being called to be a voice for good and to respond to the needs of the community.

C. Pullen brought up the changes in the annual Pride event in Nyack (it now rotates locations) and felt that we need to be more conscious and aware of what is going on and not let the previous work of the diversity committee and the Graceful Friends committee get lost. It was requested that this dis-cussion be put on the agenda for future meetings.

The meeting was adjourned.

OCTOBER FINANCE SNAPSHOT

Actual to Date

January – October 2018

Budget to Date

January – October 2018

Variance

Pledge Income

$ 281,118

$ 280,348

$ 770 over

Total Income

$ 388,740

$ 422,971

($ 34,231) under

Total Expenses

$ 419,584

$ 422,933

($ 3,349) under

Net

($ 30,844)

$ 38

($ 30,881)

15

16

GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH NYACK 130 First Avenue, Nyack, NY 10960

The Rev. Owen C. Thompson, Rector (9/15/13)

Assisting Clergy:

The Rev. Alan Chisholm, The Rev. Suzanne Hope Graham

The Rev. A. Meigs Ross

Office Hours Mon-Th 9:00 – 4:00pm

WORSHIP SCHEDULE 8:00am (Rite I)

9:30am (Family Service, followed by church school)

11:00am (Rite II, senior choir)

Wednesday (1st & 3rd)

6:00pm Healing & W ellness service (Bradley Chapel)

NOVEMBER 2018

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Parish Office: (845) 358-1297

The Rev. Owen C. Thompson, Rector - ext. 11

Brandon Beachamp, Organist/Choirmaster – ext. 13

Annie Hekker Weiss, Church School Coordinator – 917-331-7166

Thayer Woodcock, Parish Administrator – ext. 10

Virginia Kosloff, Facilities Administrator- ext. 14

GraceMusic – ext. 16

Grace’s Thrift Shop: (845) 358-7488

Grace Church Website: www.gracechurchnyack.org

Grace Church E-mail: par ishoffice@gracechurchnyack.org

Newsletter Submissions: twoodcock@gracechurchnyack.org

Wardens

Pat Cose

Joe Marraccino

Treasurer

John Quigley

Assistant Treasurer

Sally Ann Mock

VESTRY

Retiring Class of 2019

Theresa Bergen

Brian Murrell

Kathy Sestak

Retiring Class of 2020

Jacob Nevill

Beth Paskowski

Lynn-Marie Schnalzer

Retiring Class of 2021

Keith Olsen

Caran Pullen

Elizabeth Starling