Grace Church Announcements for the Week of March 31, 2024
Grace Church Mission Statement: The mission of Grace Church is to preach the Gospel. We seek to utilize and develop the total resources of the congregation to further God’s work. We are a church who believes in and relies on the gift and mystery of God’s grace. Christ’s truth defines our way and life.
The office will be closed on Friday, March 29th.
It is with joy and grateful hearts that Grace Church and St. Martin in the Fields will be welcoming our new priest-in-charge, Father Ryan Paetzold on April 1, 2024. May God bless him and fill him with your grace.
Masks are now optional at Grace Church! Please be respectful of those who choose to continue wearing a mask. Thank you.
“God loves a cheerful giver!” While we are in these difficult times, you may want to consider donating in memory of or thanksgiving for to the food pantry, buildings and grounds, landscape fund, for example. We want to continue doing God’s work; your pledges and special donations help us fulfill our mission to serve God.
Please consider a donation: Candles, bread and wine, Altar flowers, Bldg and grounds, Scholarship, Food Pantry, Music Programs.
Volunteers are needed to set up the Garden of Repose on Maundy Thursday, March 28th. We will use the Easter flowers to decorate the garden. On Saturday, March 30th, volunteers are needed to decorate the church for Easter. Please be in touch with Kathy Waugh.
Easter Flowers & Music - Memorials and Thanksgiving 2024. As we prepare to celebrate Easter, March 31st, we have the opportunity to make our church beautiful and our worship glorious; in thanksgiving for the gifts of God and in memory of those we love who have died. There will be a form to fill out in each Sunday's bulletin. Forms are due March 24, 2024
Upcoming dates to remember;
March 24 (Palm Sunday), Maundy Thursday- March 28th, Good Friday – March 29th., Easter – March 31st.
The Good Friday service will be held at 7:00pm at Grace Church.
March 30 – The Altar Guild will return all items to the altar and set the table for the glorious Easter celebration.
On Maundy Thursday, March 28th, at 10:00 am, the altar guild and volunteers will "strip the altar": This act symbolizes the abandonment of Jesus by his disciples and the stripping of Jesus by the soldiers before his crucifixion. The Altar Guild members and volunteers will strip the altar. The Blessed Sacrament will remain in the Garden of Repose until Holy Communion on Good Friday.
Maundy Thursday Services will be held at St. Martin in the Fields. A potluck supper will be offered at 6:00 pm, followed by the service at 7:00 pm. The Grace Church Choir will be singing at this service.
Our next Vestry meeting is Monday, April 15, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. We will be meeting in the rectory.
A note from Mike Gephart: Please share the following link to our new YouTube page, and ask that our members and friends please subscribe. We need a minimum of 50 subscribers before we can live stream on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@graceepiscopalchurchpembertonn
A compilation of music performed by our choir... click on the link
https://www.soundclick.com/artist/default.cfm?bandID=1222874
Blessings and thank you! Mike
GREEN TIPS:
15 Best Vegetables That Are In Season: Asparagus, Snap peas, Arugula, Sorrel, Swiss Chard, Fiddleheads, Snow Peas, Spring Onions, Lettuce, Rhubarb, Radishes, Spinach, Shallots, Ramps, and Carrots.
Grace Food Pantry:
Next Food Pantry Day is April 20, 2024 from 10am till 2 pm. I arrive at 9am.
Next delivery and setup day is April 18, 2024. I arrive at 7am.
We had a wonderful day March 16th Food Pantry day as we served 72 families!
Our volunteers were amazing and our work went very well!
Blessings, Joan Hess
On the second Saturday of every month, St. Martin-in-the-Fields sells delicious hoagies for $8.00! You can pre-order by going to their website or calling (609) 261-4882. We are also looking for volunteers to help out with the sales.
Sponsors for Flowers ($52) for Candles, Bread and Wine ($20).[Information: Lucia Sharapoff, graceepiscopalnj@comcast.net; 894-8001.] Any questions, please call the church office. You can remember or honor loved ones through sponsoring contributions. Schedules are at the back of the church or contact the Church Office. We need sponsors!
Please continue to pray for: Andrea Louis, Andre DeDoux, Beth, Brooke S., Brian, Carol, Chris, Cheryl G., Connie, Dave H., Danielle, Donald J., Edward, Eric, Esther, George Gibbs, Lorraine, Lisa, Louise, Louis, Janet, Joe, Joseph, Jamal, James Beard, Jeanne, Jack, Jody, Karen, Kate, Kevin, Keith, Marsha W., Mary G., Patty, Peggy, Paige, Pierre, Rev. Danetta, Russell P., Sunday P., Sarah M, Stephanie, Sonja, Rose F., Tomaso, Tina, Theresa, Baby Reina, and Wayne H. We will include your petition or intercession for four weeks. Please let us know if you would like it extended beyond that time.
LEARN A BIT MORE ABOUT OUR SPACE!
ABOUT THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF NEW JERSEY:
Founded in 1785, the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey is one of the largest dioceses of the Episcopal Church in the United States, with 140 congregations in the southern two-thirds of the Garden State and approximately 44,500 members. The Right Reverend William H. (Chip) Stokes, was elected Twelfth Bishop of the Diocese in 2013. For more information, please visit www.dioceseofnj.org.