Trinity Grace Church Brooklyn

Sing Brooklyn Choir

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:37:28 +0000

Ruthie Blumenstein, a regular attender of our morning service, is putting together a church choir. Anyone who loves to sing is welcome to learn more and join in.

If you’re interested in being added to the mailing list to be notified of upcoming meetings, or have questions, join the SingBrooklyn google group or email singbrooklyn@googlegroups.com. More information from Ruthie, below.
This group provides an opportunity to sing praise to our Father in a choir-like atmosphere. Before knowing what ‘kind’ and size of choir this will be, we need to find those who are interested! There will be an initial meeting to get to know our voice types, and then discuss if simply gathering to sing as a group is the ministry and/or if preparing something would also be a goal (eg, a song for Easter Sunday).

Naturally schedules will be a conflict – but we’ll work with those the best we can. There is no expectation for perfection; this group is intended to give an outlet to those who want to sing for Him. If, say, we were to sing on Easter, there would be no expectation for all members to perform; you can still sing in the group but opt not to sing in public.

Marriage Prep Workshop

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:20:51 +0000

Are you engaged and looking for an opportunity to go through pre-marital counseling with your husband or wife-to-be? Our first premarital counseling workshop of 2012 will take place February 10-11. Over the course of two days you’ll cover topics like communication, commitment, conflict resolution, keeping love alive, and building shared goals and values.

You must contact your parish pastor, Caleb Clardy, for registration information.

Ash Wednesday

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:20:16 +0000

Lent–the 40 days preceding Easter that traditionally marks a period of self-examination–begins on February 22, 2012. We enter this introspective period together with our Ash Wednesday service, include a traditional liturgical evening of Scripture, song, prayer, communion, and the imposition of ashes.

This year, TGC will have three back-to-back gatherings at St. Paul’s in Chelsea (315 W 22nd St, between 8th and 9th aves):

5:45 p.m. (childcare)

7:00 p.m. (childcare)

8:15 p.m. (no childcare)

Parents, you must RSVP for childcare by February 8th, and please let us know which gathering you plan to attend.

Superbowl Sunday Evening Service Time Change & Party

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:16:40 +0000

Whether you follow football or not, it’s pretty exciting to have a New York team playing on Superbowl Sunday (plus, you know your pastor is a fan of epic proportion. Go Giants!)

On Sunday, February 5th, we will begin our evening gathering at 4:00 and dismiss by 5:30-kickoff is at 6:30.

After the evening gathering, anyone who does not have a place to go watch the game is welcome to walk over to Hilary Rushford and Kristen Ball’s nearby apartment (and if you attend the morning service, you’re welcome to come over, too!) Please email Kristen for the address. Please bring your favorite Superbowl snack to share, something to drink, or bring cash for ordering delivery.

An Important Update on Churches in Schools

admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:52:12 +0000

State Senator Golden has sponsored a bill (S6087A-2011) which is an act to amend the education law in relation to authorizing religious meetings andworship in school buildings and school sites. It unanimously passed the Senate Education Committee on 1/24, and now must be approved by both chambers, the Senate and the Assembly, and then sent to Governor Andrew Cuomo to become law.

According to Senator Golden’s office, there is no vote currently scheduled (read: they can’t tell us exactly when this will happen.)

What can you do?
Please send a message that this bill matters! Without our voices, or government representatives do not know this issue is important to us. There are many State Senators for different areas of Brooklyn. We’ve shared the info for a few key districts below. These Senators are key because their districts encompass Park Slope, as well as many of the neighborhoods we live and serve in.

If you live outside these districts and would like to contact additional senators, find your senator here.

Velmanette Montgomery: District 18 (includes North Slope, Gowanus, Red Hook, Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, Downtown Brooklyn) montgome@senate.state.ny.us or (718) 643-6140.

Eric Adams: District 20 (includes South Slope, Greenwood, Crown Heights, Prospect Heights) eadams@senate.state.ny.us or (718) 284-4700.

Here is a sample script you can use when you call or write:

My name is _______ and I am a member of Trinity Grace Church in Park Slope. We meet at William Alexander Middle School (on 5th Avenue at 4th Street) on Sunday mornings at 10:30AM.

You may be aware of a bill that was introduced yesterday in the Senate Education Committee, S6087A-2011, by Senator Martin Golden that would allow religious organizations to continue meeting in schools. According to current law, all religious organizations must leave schools by February 12th, 2012, unless this new bill is signed into law by the Senate and Governor Cuomo.

Senator Montgomery, please help us (and many other churches across the city) continue to meet for public worship! Without the school, we will be without a place to meet. Many other venues are either cost-prohibitive to a newer congregation like ours, or do not have the space necessary to accommodate both our worship gathering and growing children’s ministry. Moreover, we have come to love our relationship with both the school, and the farmer’s market outside its doors. We feel very much a part of the community at MS 51.

Thank you for your consideration.

There is also a planned march across the Brooklyn Bridge on Sunday, January 29th, at 3:00 p.m. led by Rev. Salvador Sabino and Councilmember Rev. Fernando Cabrera in support of Senator Golden’s law. If you cannot attend, please lift this effort in your prayers.

As it has been since the beginning of our church’s life, our prayer is the prayer of Moses in Exodus 33: “If your presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.” We know that wherever we go, His presence is with us.

Citywide Worship

admin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:59:24 +0000

Join members of all Trinity Grace neighborhood parishes as well as our friends from other New York City churches on Friday, January 27th at 7PM as we tell the story of God’s grace in our city.

Our vision for worship is to gather with believers from all across the city as we come together to seek God and pray for the renewal of our city. Come for a night of praise, worship, storytelling and encouragement. Please invite your friends from other church communities.

At St George’s Church, 4 Rutherford Place (between 16th and 17th Sts) in Manhattan. Worship will begin promptly at 7:00, pre-gathering prayer is at 6:00.

Park Slope Women’s Shelter

admin — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:52:14 +0000

The Armory Women’s Shelter is preparing for an upcoming inspection and needs our help with painting, cleaning, organizing and some small repairs. This is a great way to serve our neighbors in a practical way.

Date: Saturday, January 28th
Time: 10AM (plan to serve most of the day if you’re able—if you can only serve an hour or two, that’s great as well!)
Location: Park Slope Women’s Shelter, 1402 Eighth Avenue, Brooklyn

Please email connect@trinitygracechurch.com if you plan to serve so that we can let the shelter know how many helpers to expect.

Christmas Spectacular 2

admin — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 17:37:37 +0000

Dress in your most festive attire (or your tackiest, battery-operated sweater) on December 13th and join us at the Bell House at 8:30PM (doors open at 8:00) for our 2nd Annual Christmas Spectacular! Please give $8 at the door to help us cover the cost of spreading a little Christmas cheer.

This holiday sing-along is one of our favorite events of the year. We’ll have music, performances and a few surprises up our glitter and reindeer covered sleeves. Please invite your friends, co-workers and neighbors.

There’s also a dessert bake-off with prizes for best gluten-free treat, best overall, most creative and best traditional treats.
Some helpful bake-off tips:

-Please bring your dessert by 8PM, so we can set up the tables.
-You can serve your dessert out of whatever container you like, and you’re welcome (and encouraged!) to bring a cake stand, tray, etc to set up your treats.
-You are also encouraged to make a tag/sign for your item so people can identify what it is on the table, and bring a serving utensil for your item if one is needed.
-We’re expecting a crowd, so think about how the most people possible can enjoy what you’ve made. It’s OK for cookies, brownies, pies and cakes to be cut in small bites.
-Voting will be “blind” so there’s no need to put your name on your item, but we will have you sign in on a sheet at the table so that we can know who brought what once it’s time to award the prizes.
-If you have any questions about the bake-off, please email Kristen.

City Hall Rally

admin — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:10:29 +0000

The NYC Department of Education has decided to kick out churches who worship in public schools. Starting February 12, 2012, churches will be excluded from renting schools for worship unless we take action now. This Thursday, Councilman Cabrera, joined by Pastors, Senators, Assembly Members, Council Members, and hundreds of churchgoers, will be introducing legislation to allow churches to worship in NYC public schools. This resolution urges the NY State Legislature to pass Assembly bill A 8800, which would prevent school districts from excluding groups from meeting on school property because of the religious content or viewpoint of their speech, including allowing religious worship services. You are invited to join us this Thursday, December 8 at 11:30am on the steps of New York City Hall as we send the message that churches deserve the same access as everyone else.

Information for Rally at New York City Hall:

Date: This Thursday December 8
Time: Arrive at 11:30 a.m.
Location: In Manhattan at the intersection of Murray Street and Broadway
Click here for directions by car
Click here for directions by train or bus

Send 20 Kids to Winter Camp!

admin — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:18:51 +0000

Our church is partnered with Young Life in Red Hook, serving teenagers in the projects there on a regular basis. On December 9-11, leaders will be taking 20 kids to Lake Champion to hear the gospel presented in a beautiful setting. While at camp, kids have fun, hear speakers tell who Jesus is (many for the first time) and spend time with leaders who patiently and lovingly answer questions about God and life. It’s a chance to get them out of their everyday environment and into a place where they can really process what God has done for them.

Most families do not have the means to pay the $100 that the weekend costs—especially as they are saving for the holidays. Will you consider sponsoring one of our kids? You’ll be partnered with a teenager that you can pray for by name. Don’t have $100? No problem! Give what you can, or give as a life group/friend group! Every bit will help. Have questions? Ask Kristen.