ONLINE PARISH NOTES

SUNDAY 3 APRIL 2016

Doubting Thomas
Martin Schongauer, 1450-1491

FROM THE RECTOR

The Second Sunday of Easter is traditionally known as "Low Sunday" to distinguish it from Easter Day, the "highest" Sunday of the year. Low Sunday completes the Octave of Easter, but Eastertide is by no means over, and lasts forty days until Ascension Day -- this year Thursday 5 May. During the coming Sundays of the Easter Season, the readings explore from a variety of angles the mystery of the Lord's Resurrection and its implications for us. Easter is not over; it's just begun. Come join us as we continue the celebration. -- Fr. John D. Alexander

THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS

Second Sunday of Easter, Year C
Acts 5:27-32
Psalm 118:14-29 or Psalm 150
Revelation 1:4-8
John 20:19-31

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Annunciation (Transferred) – On Monday 4 April, we will be undertaking a joint celebration of the Feast of the Annunciation at St. John's Church in Newport at 6:30 pm. (Since Annunciation fell this year on Good Friday, it is transferred to the first available weekday after Easter Week.) Please plan on joining us.

Episcopal Visitation – On Sunday 24 April the Rt. Rev. W. Nicholas Knisely, XIII Bishop of Rhode Island, will be visiting S. Stephen’s and celebrating and preaching at both the 8 am and 10 am Masses. Please plan on attending and helping us welcome our bishop.

FOR YOUR PRAYERS

Presiding Bishop's Season of Prayer -- The Most Rev. Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, has called for prayers during Eastertide for regions of the Anglican Communion experiencing violence and civil strife. The full schedule of prayer intentions for each Sunday and the week following is as follows:

April 3      Easter 2 -- Burundi
April 10    Easter 3 -- Central America
April 17    Easter 4 -- Democratic Republic of the Congo
April 24    Easter 5 -- Middle East
May 1       Easter 6 -- Pakistan
May 8       Easter 7 -- South Sudan

More information about the Season of Prayer and each of these regions is available here.

Anglican Cycle of Prayer -- Pray for The Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean, The Most Revd Ian Gerald James Ernest Archbishop, Province of Indian Ocean & Bishop of Mauritius.

Diocesan Cycle of Prayer -- Pray For the Bishop and members of his staff.

Prayers have been requested for: Adam, Raymond, Elizabeth, Nicholas, Patricia, Nancy, Townsend, Norman, John, Elva, Ethel, Peter, Andrea, Michael, Mark, Michael, Hannah, Kaitlyn, Mary, Gus, Stephanie, Deborah, Peter, Harrington, Kate, Edith, Davaughn, Bernice, Richard, Ellen-Jean, Sandy, Thom, Stephen, Michael, Beverly, Angela, Bobby, Robert, Laura, Loretto, Sally, Ned, Charles, Frederick, Henry, James, and Dianne.

Birthdays this week: Richard Noble (April 4)

The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Roy Sumner Bent, Sr. (4 April 1986), Kathryne Farnum Ripley (6 April 1990), and Paul Joseph Conley (8 April 2000). Recently Departed: Benjamin Elliot, Roy Foster and The Rev. David Skeoch.

THE SUNDAY ROTA

Acolytes - MC R Noble; SD D Malo; Thurifer J Starks; Crucifer Z Painter; Torches C Sylvia, L Hooks
Lector – P Pettingell
Ushers – R Viti, L Verdelotti
Coffee Hour – Sue Brazil

THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S

LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE

Sunday 3 April
THE SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER (W)
Morning Prayer 7:30 am
Low Mass 8 am

Solemn Mass 10 am
Evening Prayer with EMBR* 5:30 pm

Weekday Office Lectionary: Easter II, Year Two
Weekday Mass Lectionary: Easter II

Monday 4 April
THE ANNUNCIATION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (W)(Transferred from 3/25)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm

Tuesday 5 April
Tuesday in Easter II (W)
Vincent Ferrer, Priest, Dominican Friar, Missionary, 1419
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:30 am

Wednesday 6 April
Wednesday in Easter II (W)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm

Thursday 7 April
Thursday in Easter II (W)
Tikhon, Patriarch of Russia, Confessor, 1925
John Baptiste de la Salle, Priest, Educational Reformer, 1719
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:30 am

Friday 8 April
Friday in Easter II (W)
William Augustus Muhlenberg, Priest, 1877
Angelus 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm

Saturday 9 April
Saturday in Easter II (W)
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Pastor, Teacher, Martyr, 1945
Morning Prayer 9 am
Low Mass 9:30 am

Sunday 10 April
THE THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER (W)
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 (April 10)

Third Sunday of Easter, Year C
Acts 9:1-6 (7-20)
Psalm 30
Revelation 5:11-14
John 21:1-19