Due to the rise in COVID 19 numbers, in-person worship is cancelled until further notice. We will continue to post a live service Sundays at 11:00 a.m. on Facebook. Communion will be distributed at the end of the service outside the church doors - on the green.
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Reflections from Pastor Gary
My wife Sherri and I bring you new year’s greetings! I have taken a few days off to help my wife take down Christmas decorations as well as begin planning for 2021 and the Lenten season that is just several weeks away. I have also had a chance to reflect on what has happened at Grace during 2020.
The pandemic has dramatically impacted our ministry, to say the least. However, amid the tragic consequences of the pandemic, there has remained a beam of light that has helped move us through the darkness. This light “shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.” To hear more about what this light of Christ has meant to us, please look at our Sunday worship on Sunday, January 3, where our Intern Dianne Lewis gives a very encouraging and moving biblical proclamation of how that message of hope has renewed people’s confidence in the presence of God through biblical history. That same light of Christ remains to this day.
That ray of hope has lightened our way at Grace during 2020 in several ways:
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Our spreading of the good news of Jesus Christ has expanded exponentially since middle March. At the end of 2020, our social ministry presence had expanded to some 175,000 reaches. These reaches now include reflections, morning meditations, and worship services but are expanding to weekly Bible study, confirmation classes, book club, and coffee together. Reaches do not mean personal contacts, something we are working on in 2021, through such events like offering communion outside the church following live stream worship.
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Our community presence has also expanded, using the church green space in providing regular food, clothing, and furniture distribution, in addition to expanding our Grace Sale presence to Trinity and Redeemer Lutheran churches, as well as Eger Lutheran Homes & Services in Staten Island.
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Even though we have closed outside foot traffic into Grace Lutheran, we have provided a center for US Census Training and monthly Red Cross blood donations amid the pandemic crisis.
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It has also given us a more dynamic menu of musical possibilities. Because our choir has not been able to meet or perform, we have had to rely on soloists and musicians in the area that have included several students from our Hand in Hand Bayonne Music School. What a blessing!
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We have used this “down” time to reorganize, clean, and renovate several spaces where we house various ministries. The work is not done; all hands on deck!!
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The use of social media has also increased our ability to receive gifts for ministry on-line, which has been a welcomed relief from the stewardship shortfall we have experienced in 2020.
The pandemic has forced us to add new leadership at Grace. Our annual meeting has been delayed until the middle of 2021. Rich Dwyer and Jim Pustorino have been appointed to fill unexpired terms until that meeting. This gives us a leadership team consisting of Rich and Jim, along with Jilly Sookdeo, Patty Espejo, Justin Rowley, Herman Brockman, and Ken Poesl.
The pandemic has had a profound impact on our goals and objectives for our vision and mission at Grace. The values remain the same, along with the loftier mission and vision. However, how we get there has changed radically. Again, let me focus on a few:
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Again, our use of social media will need to be better refined, to ensure an even greater outreach vehicle to the community.
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So much of our ministries depend upon the proverbial “committee of one.” We need to expand the base of our ministries and get more people informed and involved in the process, whether that be members of the congregation or members of the larger community.
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The mission, vision, and core values of Grace Lutheran need to be translated into real long-term and short-term goals and objectives. Generalities need to be translated into specifics. We need to focus on these specifics, like making Grace Lutheran as energy efficient as we can and looking for a real succession planning model for our leadership, including what the congregation wants in the pastor who will follow me.
Most of all, the Gospel of Jesus Christ must remain the main thing! Without Christ, we are left up to ourselves, and you know how that goes! What more can we ask for? We have 2020Vision; let us use that vision to continue to meet the needs of Grace Lutheran and beyond.
Daily Meditation
January 27, 2021
Epiphany 3
January 24, 2021
Epiphany 2
January17, 2021
From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2020 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #47157.
Christmas at Grace
Grace Worship
Setting Six - ELW
Kyrie
Hymn of Praise
Gospel Acclamation
Sanctus
Agnus Dei
Upcoming Events
Sunday, January 31
Epiphany 4
Live service on Facebook
Communion on the green
Sunday, February 7
Epiphany 5
Live service on Facebook
Communion on the green
Sunday, February 14
Transfiguration of our Lord
Live service on Facebook
Communion on the green
Wednesday, February 17
Ash Wednesday
Sunday, February 21
Lent 1
Live service on Facebook
Communion on the green
Wednesday, February 24
Midweek Lenten Service
TDB
Sunday, February 28
Lent 2
Live service on Facebook
Communion on the green
Wednesday, March 3
Midweek Lenten Service
TDB
Sunday, March 7
Lent 3
Live service on Facebook
Communion on the green
Wednesday, March 10
Midweek Lenten Service
TDB
Sunday, March 14
Lent 4
Live service on Facebook
Communion on the green
Wednesday, March 17
Midweek Lenten Service
TDB
Sunday, March 21
Lent 5
Live service on Facebook
Communion on the green
Wednesday, March 24
Midweek Lenten Service
TDB
Sunday, March 28
Palm Sunday
Live service on Facebook
Communion on the green
Monday, March 29 - Saturday, April 3
Holy Week
TBD
Sunday, April 4
Easter Sunday
TBD
Rich with Grace
A weekly reflection
"A Man: by Kim "Morning Star" Snyder
Fall/Winter
Sunday Worship
10:00 a.m. Sunday School (Via weekly eMail)
11:00 a.m. Worship (Live on Facebook)
Confirmation classes will be held weekly via Zoom - "Here We Stand"
Sundays at 4:00 p.m.
If you are interested, please call the church at 201-339-3685
Ongoing Activities
Monday Mornings 11:00 a.m.
Bible Study
Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4611838857?pwd=THZ4K0tIOUZPeXkwMCticlJ3MW45UT09
Zoom Meeting number: 461 183 8857
Password: handNhand
2nd Friday of the Month
7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Book Talk
Zoom Meeting
Dates: 12/11, 1/8, 2/12, 3/12
Book: The Muse by Jessie Burton
Reading, Part 1: Cabbages and Kings - June 1967. (approx. 47 pages)
https://zoom.us/j/94183188991?pwd=MUNyekJGTlpaSXZ3V3NpcWg2M1djdz09
Meeting ID: 941 8318 8991
Passcode: 691491
3rd Saturday of the Month
10:00 - 12:00 p.m.
Bible Study
Zoom Meeting
Dates: 12/19, 1/16, 2/20, 3/20
https://zoom.us/j/99943732748?pwd=NGRQNEZIZ0NxdzJid3M1cnZxY2FnZz09
Meeting ID: 999 4373 2748
Passcode: 693244
Discussion will be on Daniel and Esther in Exile.
Monthly activities
1st Monday @ 6:00 p.m.
Good Grief Group
1st Thursday @ 7:00 p.m.
Prayer Group
Bayonne Women's Club
1st Saturday
WELCA group meets @ Trinity Lutheran, Jersey City or Grace Lutheran in Bayonne
2nd Sunday @12:30 p.m.
Church Council Meeting
2nd Saturday @ 9:00 a.m.
Men's Breakfast
Saturdays & Sundays Lamaze Childbirth classes By appointment
Programs and Services
Music Classes
Ongoing
Citizenship Class
Mondays - TBD
ESL Classes
Tuesdays - TBD
Art Classes
Wednesdays. 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
All classes held at
suspended until February 1, 2021
For more information, please call
201-339-3685
426 Avenue C
(18th Street)
Bayonne
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