GRACE NOTES!
Grace Episcopal Church
19 Kings Highway East, Haddonfield, New Jersey 08033
856/429-0007 E-mail: [email protected] www.gracehaddon.org
“Grace Notes” is a weekly newsletter meant to inform people of upcoming
events and activities for the week. For more information, please check the
website or contact the office. Thank you.
February 19, 2015
Dear friends in Christ: “You rock!” was the exclamation from the woman. There
were a host of comments from the few people who stopped for ashes at the
Haddonfield PATCO station Wednesday morning. I finished the 7 am service and
rushed over with Deacon Carmen to be part of “Ashes to Go.” It was a most
interesting experience. There were people rushing to the train, heads down,
bundled against the cold. Carmen and I couldn’t help but wonder what all the
rushing accomplishes for us in life. So this is the rat race, eh? We run around in
the maze that our culture forces on us and for what? Where’s God in all the rush?
What I like about the “Ashes to Go” was it gets us out of the Church and into the
community. I’m firmly convinced that the more we do this, the healthier we and
our Churches will be. It forces us to pause and look at the world. There were
many interesting encounters. There was the man who came up and ask for prayers for his wife, Jennifer
(that happens to be my daughter’s name, too, coincidence?). She was going to a doctor to see about
breast cancer diagnosis. There was the nervous couple who got out of their car and asked for ashes. She
was very pregnant, and young. She asked for prayers for the baby and I offered a blessing.
Maybe about 1 in 10 people stopped for ashes. The other comments varied: “Thank you!” “This will
make my wife happy!” “Oh, how convenient.” “What a nice thing to do.” I noticed only a handful of
people already came with ashes already on their forehead. Some mentioned they were going to services
in the city. The station supervisor came out and took a picture of us by the sign. A reporter came by for
the Retrospect, Shelly. She took a photo and said it was a great idea. A couple of other commuters
snapped pictures as well.
One woman in a rush paused and said, “Is it Ash Wednesday already?” That prompted me to respond
that she needed to slow down this Lent as I was offering her the ashes. She agreed and then said she had
to continue here power walk. Cardio you know! Maybe the message for this Lent is that we should slow
down. Slow down and make room for God in our busy lives. Take time for worship, prayer, reading the
Bible, reflection or something that will reconnect us with God.
All in all, it was a most interesting day! I will do it again next year. I think it’s a good thing to get out
from behind the pulpit and the altar into the world. We can remind people of God’s presence and maybe
even make a difference in their lives. However, next year, I’m planning on taking hot coffee and warm
danish! May you have a blessed Lent. With warmest regards, I remain, lovingly yours in Christ, Fr. Pat
You cannot play with the animal in you without becoming wholly animal, play with falsehood without
forfeiting your right to truth, play with cruelty without losing your sensitivity of mind. He who wants to
keep his garden tidy doesn't reserve a plot of weeds. Dag Hammarskjold
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OUR VISION STATEMENT: GRACE is God’s gift of unconditional love made known to us in Jesus
Christ. Our vision is to live with grace as an open, welcoming community. In the pew and at the altar,
we invite you to be part of our faith journey. No matter where you are, we will meet you there.
(GPH) Grace Performance Hall; (C) is Church; (PH) is Parish Hall; (P) is Parlor; (L) is Library; (U) Undercroft, and, (R) is
Rector’s Office. Other locations will be so noted.
THIS WEEK’S ACTIVITIES:
•
•
Friday, February 20th
o IHOC
o 10 am, Thrift Shop Open
Saturday, February 21st
o IHOC
o 9:30 am, Chuck Kasse Funeral Visitation, 10:30 am, Service
o 9:30 am, Music Together
o 9:30 am – 3 pm, SJ Chorus (GPH)
o 10 am, Thrift Shop Open
o 10 am, Knit Wits (P)
o 11 am, Open Door Clinic, St. Wilfrid’s Camden
o 5:30 pm, Holy Communion (Fr. Pat Celebrant, Deacon Carmen Preaching)
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22nd – 1 LENT
8 am & 9:30 am, Holy Communion (Fr. Pat Celebrant, Deacon Carmen Preaching))
10:45 am, Bible Challenge Discussion (P)
10:30 am, Church School, Communion Class & God-n-Family
11:30 am, Youth Choirs
6:30 pm, EYC
IHOC Men’s Shelter
• Monday, February 23rd
o IHOC
o 10 am, Gerard Haubrich Funeral Visitation, 11 am Service
o 10 am, Music Together
o 10 am & 1 pm, Art Classes (PH)
o 6 pm, South Jersey Chorus (GPH)
o 7 pm, God Talk Meeting (PH)
o 7 pm, Haddonfield Council of Churches (1st Presbyterian)
• Tuesday, February 24th
o IHOC
o 9:30 am, Music Together
o 12 noon, Council of Churches Lenten Preaching Series & Soup Lunch
o Preacher: Rev. Michael Feicht
o 7 pm, Zumba (GPH)
• Wednesday, February 25th
o IHOC
o 7 am, Holy Communion Service
o 9:15 & 10:15 am, Music Together
o 6 pm, Symphony in C (GPH)
o 7 pm, Bible Challenge Discussion
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• Thursday, February 26th
o IHOC
o 9:30 am, Holy Communion Service
o 10:30 am, Bible Study (L) “The Practice of Forgiving”
o 7:30 pm, Adult Choir
COMING NEXT WEEK:
•
•
Friday, February 27th
o IHOC
o 10 am, Thrift Shop Open
o Diocese of New Jersey Convention, Princeton
Saturday, February 28th
o IHOC
o Diocese of New Jersey Convention, Princeton
o 9:30 am, Music Together
o 5:30 pm, Holy Communion (Fr. Pat Celebrant)
SUNDAY, MARCH 1ST – 1 LENT
8 am & 9:30 am, Holy Communion (Fr. Pat & Fr. Bob Celebrant)
9:30 am, Parish House Holy Communion
10:45 am, Bible Challenge Discussion (P)
10:30 am, Church School, Communion Class & God-n-Family
11:30 am, Youth Choirs
IHOC Men’s Shelter
6:30 pm, EYC
• Monday, March 2nd
o IHOC
o 10 am, Staff Meeting
o 10 am, Music Together
o 10 am & 1 pm, Art Classes (PH)
o 6 pm, South Jersey Chorus (GPH)
o 7 pm, Pet Bereavement Group (P)
o 7 pm, Last God Talk Session (PH)
o 7:30 pm, Property Committee (L)
• Tuesday, March 3rd
o IHOC
o 9:30 am, Music Together
o 12 noon, Council of Churches Lenten Preaching Series & Soup Lunch
o Preacher: Rev. Wayne Zscheck
o 7 pm, Zumba (GPH)
o 7 pm, Stewardship Committee (R )
• Wednesday, March 4th
o IHOC
o 7 am, Holy Communion Service
o 9:15 & 10:15 am, Music Together
o 6 pm, Symphony in C (GPH)
o 7 pm, Bible Challenge Discussion
• Thursday, March 5th
o IHOC
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o 9:30 am, Holy Communion Service
o 10:30 am, Bible Study (L) “The Practice of Forgiving”
o 7:30 pm, Adult Choir
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