PARISH NOTES

SUNDAY 7 FEBRUARY 2016

Transfiguration Fresco from Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church, Butte, Montana

FROM THE RECTOR

The Feast of the Transfiguration is traditionally kept on August 6th. In the post-1979 Episcopal Calendar, however, the Last Sunday after the Epiphany always features the Gospel of the Transfiguration. Our Lord takes his closest disciples Peter, James, and John, to the top of a mountain where is is transfigured with the light of divine glory. Moses and Elijah appear. A cloud overshadows them and a voice from the cloud proclaims Jesus "My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Come join us as we celebrate this great mystery.
-- Fr. John D. Alexander

THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS

Last Sunday after the Epiphany, Year C
Exodus 34:29-35
Psalm 99
2 Corinthians 3:12 - 4:2
Luke 9:28-36, (37-43a)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Altar flowers – are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of Alan Reniere, by Brian Ehlers.

Episcopal Ministry at Brown & RISD (EMBR) – Sunday evening prayer with EMBR continues this evening at 5:30 pm.

Information Session – The reports of the Clergy, Wardens, and Treasurer that would have been given at the 178th Annual Meeting will now be given at an Information Session to be held this morning during Coffee Hour. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper – Our annual pancake supper will be this Tuesday 9 February from 5:30 – 7 pm in our Great Hall. Tickets are available at the door. Please let us know if you plan to attend by calling the parish office at 401-421-6702, ext. 1 or via email to office@sstephens.necoxmail.com. All are welcome. Come enjoy a final culinary indulgence before Lent, and join in the burning of last year’s palms to make new ashes for Ash Wednesday.

Ash Wednesday Services (February 10) – Morning Prayer & Blessing of the Ashes will be celebrated at 8 am in the Lady Chapel. (You may receive ashes at this service.) Sung Mass will be celebrated with the Imposition of Ashes at 6 pm in the main church.

Stations of the Cross & Lenten Series – This year’s Lenten Series, entitled “Christianity, War, and Peace: Five Ethical Traditions” will be on Friday evenings in Lent (February 19 & 26, March 4, 11, & 18.) The evening will begin at 6 pm with Stations of the Cross, followed by a light dinner and Fr. Alexander’s talk. (Please note that Stations of the Cross will be offered on Friday 12 February, but the Lenten Series doesn’t begin until the 19th.)

FOR YOUR PRAYERS

Prayers have been requested for – Elizabeth, Nicholas, Patricia, Nancy, Townsend, Norman, Elva, Ethel, Andrea, Michael, Mark, Benjamin, Michael, Hannah, Kaitlyn, Mary, Gus, Deborah, Peter, Harrington, Kate, Davaughn, Bernice, Richard, Ellen-Jean, Sandy, Thom, Stephen, Michael, Angela, Bobby, Laura, Sally, Rhoda, Ned, Charles, Frederick, Henry, James, and Dianne.

Birthdays this week – Sharon Lloyd Clark (February 9), Christopher Butler (February 10), Alison Huff (February 12), and Elizabeth Schumann (February 13).

The faithful departed – Year’s mind: Mildred Dunlop (8 February 1987), Madeline Nason (9 February 1985), Madeline Thatcher Howes (10 February 1986), Thomas Greene Cure, Priest (13 February 2001); and Alan Reniere (15 February 2013), in whose memory today’s altar flowers are given.

Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, please pray for The Anglican Church of Canada: The Most Rev’d Frederick Hiltz, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada; and in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, please pray for the people and clergy of Church Beyond the Walls.

THE SUNDAY ROTA

Acolytes - MC D Latimer; SD W Dilworth; Thurifer R Armidon; Crucifer L Verdelotti; Torches G Benziger, Z Painter
Lector – J Steiny
Ushers – S Brazil, E Drew
Coffee Hour – A Huff

THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S

PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS

Sunday 7 February
Information Session (at Coffee Hour, following the 10 am Mass)

Tuesday 9 February
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper 5:30 pm

EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S

Saturday 13 February
Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2 pm

LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE

Sunday 7 February

THE LAST SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY (G)
Morning Prayer 7:30 am
Low Mass 8 am
Solemn Mass 10 am
Evening Prayer with EMBR* 5:30 pm

Daily Office Lectionary – Week of Last Sunday after Epiphany, Year Two
Daily Mass Lectionary – Week of Last Sunday after Epiphany, Year Two; Lenten Weekdays following Ash Wednesday

Monday 8 February
Jerome Emiliani, Priest, Founder of the Somaschi Fathers, 1537 (W)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm

Tuesday 9 February
Feria (G)
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:30 am

Wednesday 10 February
ASH WEDNESDAY (LA)
Morning Prayer & Blessing of the Ashes 8 am

Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Sung Mass with Imposition of Ashes 6 pm

Thursday 11 February
Thursday after Ash Wednesday (LA)
Our Lady of Lourdes
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:30 am

Friday 12 February
Friday after Ash Wednesday (LA)
Angelus 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Stations of the Cross 6 pm

Saturday 13 February
Saturday after Ash Wednesday (LA)
Morning Prayer 9 am
Low Mass 9:30 am

Sunday 14 February
THE FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT (LA)
Morning Prayer 7:30 am
Low Mass 8 am
Solemn Mass 10 am
Evening Prayer with EMBR* 5:30 pm

*EMBR=Episcopal Ministry at Brown and RISD

NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (February 14)

First Sunday of Lent, Year C
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16
Romans 10:8b-13
Luke 4:1-13