ABOUT | Grace Van Vorst

You are welcome at this table.

ABOUT GRACE CHURCH VAN VORST

WHO WE ARE

Members and friends of Grace come from two blocks away, from the far corners of the world, and everywhere in between. We have straight folks, LGBTQ folks, singles, couples, nuclear families and other kinds of families. We have babies and plenty of children. Some of us come from conservative religious backgrounds, some us from progressive ones, and some of us do not come from any religious background. We are recognizable as an Episcopal Church in the way we worship and we have an evangelical joy about the Good News of God in Christ.

WHAT WE BELIEVE

We believe in Jesus.

Our longing for Him brings us here

and makes us family.

We don’t all believe the same things about Jesus, but we do find Jesus present,

just like He promised,

every time we break bread, study Scripture together, visit someone who is sick or imprisoned, or make breakfast for our hungry neighbors.

OUR MISSION

Following Jesus,

we love, we extend mercy,

we spread outrageous joy.

We feed the hungry in spirit, mind, and body.

We practice loving each other because Jesus said the world will know we are His

because of our love.

We strive to help people know Jesus

and give everyone an opportunity to experience God's love whether they are members of our congregation or not.

Our Staff

Grace Van Vorst Rector Search

Grace Church is currently in the process of calling a new rector. The vestry, search committee, and congregation are in a period of discernment as we prepare to welcome the next leader of our faith community.

During this interim season, we continue to gather for worship at both 9am and 11am each Sunday, and are grateful for the wonderful supply clergy and lay leaders who make that possible. Our Sunday School, choir, and our many other ministries are active as well.

Please contact the leaders listed here for information about specific ministries, Canon Clark (mapclark@dioceseofnewark.org) for information about the search, or our wardens (wardens@gracevanvorst.org) with other questions.

DANIEL MULLENS

Music Director

music@gracevanvorst.org

Originally from South Korea, Daniel started taking piano lessons at the age of six…and hasn’t stopped playing since! He is an experienced and versatile musician who, in addition to directing the music at Grace, specializes in musical theatre (favorite shows include Little Shop of Horrors, Urinetown, and Cabaret with Barrington Stage Company). A staunch believer in the power of music to heal, provoke, and unify, Daniel’s end goal is to win a Tony for the musical he hasn’t started writing yet. ♫

ANJELICA WILLIAMS,

Youth Minister

My name is Anjelica “Jelly”. I am a teacher and a mom to a four year old. I’ve worked at Grace Church on and off for 5 years. My passion for education started at a young age, and I have spent many summers volunteering as a camp counselor, which developed my love for working with children. I have been dedicated to working with the early childhood community for 14 years. I have a passion for any and all art materials and projects, having an affinity for all things messy. I enjoy spending as much of my free time outdoors: volunteering, gardening, parks, and family trips.

The Vestry

Vestry members lead and serve the congregation as legal representatives of the parish. The vestry works with the rector to oversee the health and vitality of Grace Church. They manage the financial and property needs of the church and approve the annual budget. The vestry helps discern God's mission for our church and they carry that mission forward.

To be on the vestry is a calling. All members are asked to dedicate time to prayer and thoughtful consideration before serving.