ONLINE PARISH NOTES

Sunday 8 March 2015

El Greco, "Christ Driving the Money Changers from the Temple," 1600.

FROM THE RECTOR

The month of March increases hope that we have seen the last of winter blizzards and deep freezes for the year. We dare to hope that the coming weeks will bring a thaw and maybe even signs of new life. The Season of Lent similarly promises the end of the winter of our souls. By faithfully observing its disciplines, we begin to thaw our spiritual and devotional life. Spring is coming: specifically the eternal Spring vouchsafed to us in the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. We prepare to meet him best by attending to the spiritual practices that have the potential to unfreeze us.  -- Fr. John D. Alexander

THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS

The Third Sunday of Lent, Year B
Exodus 20:1-17, Psalm 19, 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, John 2:13-22

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Confirmation Class – Fr. Alexander’s Confirmation Class continues today in the Library at 9 am for young people (Middle School or High School age) who would like to be confirmed later in the year (date to be determined).

March Year’s Mind – Departed parishioners whose anniversaries fall during March will be prayed for at the Monthly Requiem on Monday 9 March at 6 pm, preceded by evening prayer at 5:30. If you have any additional names to be remembered, please let Fr. Alexander know.

Lenten Series – This evening at 6 pm, we will offer the third in our series “Science, Religion, and Extraterrestrials.” Tonight’s speaker will be Kenneth Miller, professor of Biology at Brown University, on “Matter, Life, and Evolution: A Universe Aware of Itself.” Professor Miller is the author of Finding Darwin’s God: A Scientist’s Search for Common Ground between God and Evolution (1999), among many other books and articles. Following Evening Prayer at 5:30, a light dinner will be served at 6 pm. The program will begin at about 6:45 pm and will conclude by 8 pm. Please see the flyer enclosed in the Kalendar for more details.

The Way of the Cross – Friday evenings in Lent (March 6, 13 & 27, but not March 20) we offer Evening Prayer at 6 pm, followed by Stations of the Cross. Come and make this one of your Lenten devotions.

Society of Mary – The Society of Mary will meet this Saturday (14 March) for 9 am Morning Prayer, 9:30 Mass, then recitation of the Rosary. Everyone is invited.

Stations of the Cross & Stabat Mater – On Sunday 22 March at 5:30 pm, the Fifth Sunday of Lent, we will offer Choral Stations of the Cross, featuring the Schola Cantorum singing Orlande de Lassus’s Stabat Mater à 8 voci. Please note the date and plan to join us.

Easter Flowers – If you would like to make a flower offering at Easter – in thanksgiving or in memoriam - please fill out the enclosed envelope and either put it in the offering plate or return it to the parish office no later than Wednesday 25 March.

FOR YOUR PRAYERS

Prayers have been requested for: Jonno, Patrick, Townsend, Norman, Andrea, Marion, Sue, Hannah, Kaitlyn, Mary, Gus, Harrington, Kate, Davaughn, Richard, Angela, Sally, Rhoda, Ned, Henry, James, Richard, and Dianne.

The faithful departed: Year’s mind: Ruth Hannah Godfrey (9 March 1987), Donald S. Chase (11 March 1998), Frank Chace (11 March 1993), George Freemont Bliven (13 March 1983), and Elizabeth Grinnell Allen (13 March 1985); Recently Departed: Matthew Jeremy Baker, Priest, Zelma Smith, and Arthur K. D. Kepert, Priest.

Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, please pray for pray the Church Meru - (Kenya): The Rt. Rev’d Charles Mwendwa; and in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, please pray for the leadership and people of Amazing Grace at the ACI.

THE SUNDAY ROTA

Acolytes - MC S Brazil; SD B Rose; Thurifer L Bledsoe; Crucifer R Himes, Torches G Benziger, DO Latimer
Lector – T Johnson
Ushers – T Bledsoe, K Benziger
Coffee Hour – M Johnson and RG Noble

THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S

PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS

Sunday 8 March
Lenten Series (Speaker: Kenneth Miller) 6 pm

Monday 9 March
Guild of All Souls (following 6 pm Low Mass)

Saturday 14 March
Society of Mary (following 9:30 am Low Mass & Recitation of the Rosary)

Sunday 15 March
Lenten Series (Speaker: Phoebe Pettingell) 6 pm


EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S

Saturday 14 March
Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2 pm

LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE 

Sunday 8 March
THE THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT (V)
Morning Prayer 7:30 am
Low Mass 8 am
Solemn Mass 10 am
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Compline 9 pm

Weekday Office and Mass Lectionary: Week of Lent 3, Year 1

Monday 9 March
Monday in III Lent (V)
(Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa, c. 394)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass (with prayers for March departed) 6 pm (V)

Tuesday 10 March
Tuesday in III Lent (V)
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:30 am

Wednesday 11 March
Wednesday in III Lent (V)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm

Thursday 12 March
Thursday in III Lent (V)
(Gregory the Great, Bishop of Rome, 604)
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:30 am

Friday 13 March
Friday in III Lent (V)
Angelus 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Evening Prayer & Stations of the Cross 6 pm

Saturday 14 March
Saturday in III Lent (V)
Morning Prayer 9 am
Low Mass 9:30 am
Holy Rosary 10 am

Sunday 15 March
THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT (Rose)
Morning Prayer 7:30 am
Low Mass 8 am
Solemn Mass 10 am
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Compline 9 pm


NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (March 15)

The Fourth Sunday of Lent, Year B
Numbers 21:4-9, Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22, Ephesians 2:1-10, John 3:14-21