PARISH NOTES

Sunday 3 December 2017

Jacob de Backer, The Last Judgment c. 1580
Cathedral of Our Lady, Antwerp, Belgium

FROM THE RECTOR

The Season of Advent begins another Church year with the summons to stay awake to watch and pray for for the coming of the Lord. Joyful hope co-mingles with the need to prepare and be ready. There is no better time to renew Christian commitment, faith, and practice. Plan to join us this Sunday for Mass in the morning, and for Lessons and Carols in the evening. In this way we shall make a good beginning of the new liturgical year now upon us. -- Fr. John D. Alexander

THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS

First Sunday of Advent – Year B
Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18
Isaiah 64:1-9
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Mark 13:24-37

THIS SUNDAY’S MUSIC

Filipe de Magalhães—Missa veni Domine
Healey Willan—Lo, in the time appointed

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Advent Lessons and Carols – This evening, 3 December at 5:30 pm, we will offer our annual service of Lessons & Carols. Seasonal readings and musical selections set the stage as we prepare for the coming of the Lord. A reception will follow in the Great Hall. All are welcome and invited to attend.

Monthly Requiem – for the departed of this parish whose year’s mind falls during December will be offered tomorrow, Monday 4 December at 6:00 pm (preceded by Evening Prayer at 5:30 pm). If you have any names to add to the list of those remembered, please email Fr. Alexander. See GAS announcement below.

Guild of All Souls: St. Stephen, Proto-Martyr – S. Stephen’s celebrates a parish Requiem Mass on the First Monday of most months at the 6:00 pm Mass. Departed members of the parish whose anniversaries fall during the month are remembered in prayer, and anyone may submit additional names of the departed.

The S. Stephen – Advent/Christmas issue of the parish magazine is available for viewing and downloading here. You should also be receiving a physical copy of this issue via mail very soon. If you would like to pick up an extra copy, extra copies will be available in the narthex.

Advent Quiet Day – will be offered on Saturday 9 December from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, with addresses by our own Priest Associate, The Rev’d Michael A. Pearson. We will begin as usual with Morning Prayer at 9:00 am, and Mass at 9:30 am followed by a light breakfast. The day will include a simple catered lunch, and we will conclude at 2 pm. The donation is $15 per person, payable on the day, which will help cover the cost of both breakfast and lunch. (Financial assistance is available if this may cause a hardship; please speak confidentially to Fr. Alexander.) So we have an idea of how many to plan for, please RSVP the parish office by Thursday, December 7, indicating your intention to attend, via email to office@sstephens.necoxmail.com, or by calling Susan Rozzero at 421-6702, ext. 1.

Pledge Cards – If you have not returned your pledge card for 2018, please do so. If you have not received one, they are available from the ushers. Your financial support of S. Stephen’s during the coming year is urgently needed and deeply appreciated.

Nominations Committee – At the Annual Parish Meeting on Sunday, January 28, 2018, the following vacancies must be filled: (a) Two seats on Vestry, four-year terms--outgoing occupants Louis Verdelotti and Danielle Malo are not eligible for re-election; (b) one seat on Vestry three-year term--current occupant Bill Dilworth is eligible for re-election; (c) Senior Warden, three-year term, to be nominated by Rector; (d) Treasurer, one-year term; (e) Clerk, one-year term; (f) two Diocesan Convention Delegates, one-year term; (e) two Diocesan Convention Alternates, one-year term. The members of the Nominations Committee are: Cathy Bledsoe, Susan Brazil (Chair), Bill Dilworth, Nancy Gingrich, and Bobby Rose. Please contact any of them if you have any recommendations for nominations or indeed if you would be interested in standing for election yourself.

Nave Flooring Project – Over the coming few months the entire tile floor under the pews will be covered over with a layer of birch paneling that will vastly improve the church's appearance and create a smooth surface underfoot. This project will not impact our Sunday worship schedule, but please exercise all due care and avoid any areas that have been cordoned off for this construction.

FOR YOUR PRAYERS

Prayers have been requested for: Norman, Shannah, Sister Carolyn, William, Gerald, Hannah, Kaitlyn, Mary, Gus, Leonard, Harrington, Joan, Katherine, Sally, Sandy, John, Ed, Virginia, Richard, Priscilla, Kiersten, Beverly, Deborah, Angela, Bobby, Douglas, Beverly, Allora, Carlos, Rhoda, William, and James.

Birthdays this week: Lisa Elliot (Friday 12/8), Beverly Myers (Saturday 12/9), and Christarie (Precious) Sylvia (Saturday 12/9).

The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Jimmy Chancy Black (4 December 1992), Homer Shirley (7 December 2013), and Lillian Lynch (9 December 1990).

Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, please pray for the Diocese of West Buganda - (Uganda): The Rt. Rev’d Henry Katumba-Tamale; and in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, please pray for the people and clergy of Church of the Advent, Coventry.

THE SUNDAY ROTA

Acolytes – MC J Ihnen; Subdeacon F Pisaturo; Thurifer R Noble; Crucifer Z Painter; Torches G Benziger, C Sylvia

Lector – RG Noble

Ushers – Sue Brazil and Nancy Gingrich (Lessons & Carols: Phoebe Pettingell and Bruce Lennihan)

Coffee Hour – Rejto Family

THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S

PARISH PROGRAMS & EVENTS

Monday 4 December
Guild of All Souls 6:00 pm (Lady Chapel)

Saturday 9 December
Advent Quiet Day  9:00 am to 2:00 pm (Lady Chapel/Great Hall)

EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S

Saturday 9 December 

Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2:30 pm (Great Hall)

LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE

Sunday 3 December
FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT (V) 

Morning Prayer & Low Mass 8:00 am
Solemn Mass 10:00 am

Daily Office and Mass Lectionaries: Advent I, Year Two

4 December
John of Damascus, Monk, Teacher, c. 749 (W)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass (with commemoration of December Departed) 6:00 pm

5 December

Tuesday in I Advent (V)

Clement of Alexandria, Priest, Teacher, c. 210
Noonday Prayer 12:00 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm

6 December
Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, c. 326 (W)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6:00 pm

7 December
Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, Teacher, 397 (W)
Noonday Prayer 12:00 noon
Low Mass 12:10 PM

8 December
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (Blue)
Noonday Prayer 12:00 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm

9 December
Saturday in I Advent (V)
Morning Prayer 9:00 am  (Please note time change for Advent Quiet Day)
Low Mass 9:30 am

10 December
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT (V)
Morning Prayer & Low Mass 8:00 am
Solemn Mass 10:00 am

NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (10 December)

Second Sunday of Advent – Year B
Psalm 85:1-2,8-13
Isaiah 40:1-11
2 Peter 3:8-15a
Mark 1:1-8

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