Grace Church offers many opportunities for children of all ages to grow spiritually, have fun and become a vibrant, giving part of the community. Every day at Grace is filled with the brightness and spontaneity of children. In addition to our Sunday family liturgy, church school and youth groups, Grace Church is home to Nursery School of the Nyacks.
CLICK HERE for our Spring 2023 Church School Schedule
9:30am Sundays
during the school year
A kid-friendly, shorter service meant to serve the spiritual needs of families. The message preached in the homily is relevant to the lives of children and adults. Children participate as acolytes and lectors.
10:15am Sundays
during the school year
Children ages 3 to 14 gather after the 9:30 family service to further explore the week’s lessons. These are usually hands-on activities designed to further their understanding of spiritual life. A lectionary-based curriculum reiterates and expands upon the message shared in the 9:30 homily and involves discussion, games and crafts. Special activities take place throughout the year including the Christmas Pageant, Feast of St. Francis Pet Parade, Earth Day activities and Martin Luther King, Jr. family giving day.
Our Junior Youth Group for kids in 6th -8th grade meets during the regular church school time most Sundays and focuses on community service, friendship. Refreshments are served and all faiths are welcome.
There will be Sundays that church school is not in session (holidays, summer months, school closings, etc), so please check the main calendar for those dates.
Contact: Sandy Rodriguez 845-358-1297, Ext. 15 or smrod74@yahoo.com
Early June
Our version of what is traditionally known as First Holy Communion. Children typically spend a Saturday morning learning about the Eucharist, baking bread, then serving the bread for communion on Sunday.
Contact: Sandy Rodriguez 845-358-1297, Ext. 15 or smrod74@yahoo.com
September to June
Confirmation is a sacramental rite that is undertaken as a mature, public commitment to living out our baptismal faith in the world.
The youth confirmation program includes classes, services projects, team building and a retreat, and is designed to offer a safe place for our young people to explore the breadth of our Christian tradition, to ask questions and express doubts, and to discover what they truly believe. The class is generally open to those 8th grade and older.
Confirmands participate in a four-part curriculum which involves a review of the concepts of Christianity, communal worship and parish community service. Confirmation is a program beginning in September and concluded with a visit from an Episcopal bishop to commemorate completion.
Contact: Thayer Woodcock, 845-358-1297
The senior youth group for high school students works on team-building activities, focusing on topics related to spiritual growth and community service.
Several senior youth group highlights include a whitewater rafting trip down the Lehigh River, a tour of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Manhattan, a hike to Buttermilk Falls, and the Grace Church “Haunted House” fundraiser.
Community service projects include distributing meals to the homeless in New York City with the Midnight Run program, and the Church Youth Service Mission Trip, which in past years has included trips to Puerto Rico, Louisiana, West Virginia, Montana, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic.
Contact Brian Murrell bmurrell@deloitte.com or Kristin Walsh cmkwalsh@gmail.com
Early summer
Since 2006 a major focus for our Senior Youth Group (all high school students) each year has been the Church Youth Service Mission trip (CYSM), which has included works trips to Louisiana, West Virginia, Montana, Nicaragua,, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico.
Throughout the year the youth group organizes a variety of events to involve the parish and raise funds for the trip including an Easter Fair, Rummage Sale, Haunted House, citrus sale and monthly Sunday morning breakfasts that feature a bountiful “oatmeal bar” and the sale of fair trade items.
Contact Brian Murrell bmurrell@deloitte.com or Kristin Walsh cmkwalsh@gmail.com
Fall Schedule:
8 a.m. Holy Eucharist (Rite I)
9:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist (Family Worship)
11 a.m. Choral Holy Eucharist (Rite II)
130 First Avenue, Nyack, NY 10960
(845) 358-1297
Drone photography and video by Lou Wadzinski