Wednesday, November 21, 2018

PARISH NOTES
Sunday 25 November 2018

Tapestry of Christ the King. Church of Saint James the Greater, St. Louis, Missouri. (Artist and date unknown.)

FROM THE RECTOR

In 1970 the Feast of Christ the King was moved from the last Sunday in October (on which date it had been observed since its institution in 1925) to the final Sunday in the Church Year (known in the Episcopal Church since 1979 as the Last Sunday after Pentecost). The change was designed to emphasize the future orientation of the feast. On the Last Great Day Christ will come again as King to judge the living and the dead; his universal reign will then be made manifest over all creation. In the chaos of a fallen and broken world, where everything can seem out of control, this promise of the final triumph of Christ’s Kingdom gives us courage to persevere in serving God and our neighbor in the present. Come join us as we celebrate the completion of another Church year in anticipation of the coming fulfillment of all things in Christ. – Fr. John D. Alexander

THIS SUNDAY’S MUSIC

Josef Rheinberger (1839-1901)— Messe in C, Op. 169

John Amner (1579-1641)— O God my King

Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)Festival Te Deum, Op. 32

THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS

Last Sunday after Pentecost: Christ the King—Proper 29, Year B
Psalm 93
Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14
Revelation 1:4b-8
John 18:33-37

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Welcome to S. Stephen’s – especially to our visitors and guests! We’re glad to have you with us. Please join us for Coffee Hour following the 10 a.m. Mass in the Great Hall upstairs. If you have any questions or special needs, please speak to one of the ushers, who will be glad to assist you.

Saint Andrew the Apostle (November 30th) – a major feast of the church year will be kept this Friday with Noonday Prayer at 12 noon, and Low Mass following at 12:10 pm.

Society of Mary – meets this Saturday, December 1, beginning with Holy Rosary following the 10:00 am Mass and a brief meeting (for coffee and bagels) to follow in the Great Hall. All are welcome and invited.

Stewardship Program – It’s that time of year again! If you are on our email distribution list, you should have received an invitation to make your pledge of financial contributions to S. Stephen’s for 2019, along with information on how to make your pledge online. If you are not currently receiving parish emails, please give Fr. Alexander or Jacob Ihnen your email address. The technologically challenged need not despair: hard-copy pledge forms will be made available to all who prefer to make their pledges the old-fashioned way! To aid the Vestry in planning and approving a parish budget for 2019, our goal is to receive ninety percent of all pledges by December 2nd (the First Sunday of Advent). In the meantime, please consider prayerfully what you can offer; your parish is counting on your support and generosity.

Advent Lessons and Carols – This year marks the one-hundredth anniversary of the first Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols in its present form at King’s College, Cambridge, England. Please plan on joining us for our Advent Lessons and Carols, this year on Sunday 2 December at 5:30 pm.

Reception – Please sign up to bring a food or dessert item for the reception following Advent Lessons and Carols! Sign-up sheets are in the Narthex and Great Hall. Or call Susan at the parish office (401-421-6702) to let her know what you can bring.

Advent Quiet Day – will be Saturday 8 December. Please join us for a Day of Quiet and Reflection beginning at 9 am in the Lady Chapel and concluding with Tea at 2 pm. Addresses will be given by Mr. Richard Mammana, the Presiding Bishop's Associate for Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations, and Founder-Director of Project Canterbury.

College Ministry – The Episcopal Ministry at Brown and RISD (EMBR) will not be meeting next Sunday 2 December at 5:30 pm for Evening Prayer, as S. Stephen’s will be hosting Advent Lessons & Carols at that time. All are most welcome and invited to attend!



FOR YOUR PRAYERS

Prayers have been requested for: Elizabeth, Hannah, Kaitlyn, Mary, Richard, Norman, John, Shannah, Terri, Sister Carolyn, Lynne, William, Gus, Leonard, Harrington, Joan, Sandy, John, Phebe, Gregory, Jack, Richard, Ann, Colin, Sandy, Kiersten, Beverly, Deborah, Bryan, Angela, Bobby, Beverly, Allora, Carlos, Rhoda, William, and James.

Birthdays this week: Sharon Lennihan (Friday 11/30) and Cory MacLean (Saturday 12/1).

The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Martha Saunders (29 November 1989). Recently Departed: John Mulvey.

Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for The Lusitanian Church (E-P to the Archbishop of Canterbury) and the Diocese of the Lusitanian Church - (Portugal): The Rt. Rev’d Jorge Pina Cabral; in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, for the people and clergy of St. Andrew's, Little Compton and the leadership and students of St. Andrew’s School, Barrington.



THE SUNDAY ROTA

Acolytes – MC J Ihnen, SD F Pisaturo, Thurifer J Starks, Crucifer F Pisaturo, Torches G Benziger and B Rose
Lector – J Steiny
Ushers – Karl Benziger and Bobby Rose
Coffee Hour – Cathy and Tom Bledsoe



THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S

PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS

Sunday 25 November
Book Discussion Group: Walk in Love, Discussion with Author  
7 pm (Videoconference)

Saturday 1 December
Society of Mary  10:30 am (Lady Chapel/Great Hall)

EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S

Wednesday 28 November
Save the Children Meeting  5:30-8 pm (Great Hall)

Friday 30 November
RUF Meeting  4-11 pm (Great Hall)

Saturday 1 December
Epiphany Soup Kitchen  2:30 pm (Great Hall)

LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE

25 November
LAST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST: CHRIST THE KING (W)
Morning Prayer  8 am
Low Mass  8:10 am
Solemn Mass  10 am

Daily Mass and Office Lectionaries: Proper 29, Year Two

Monday 26 November
FERIA (G)
Evening Prayer  5:30 pm
Low Mass  6 pm

Tuesday 27 November
FERIA (G)
Noonday Prayer  12 noon
Low Mass  12:10 pm

Wednesday 28 November
FERIA (G)
Evening Prayer  5:30 pm
Low Mass  6 pm

Thursday 29 November
FERIA (G)
Noonday Prayer  12 noon
Low Mass  12:10 pm

Friday 30 November
SAINT ANDREW THE APOSTLE (R)
Noonday Prayer  12 noon
Low Mass  12:10 pm

Saturday 1 December
Nicholas Ferrar, Deacon, 1637 (W)
Charles de Foucauld, Hermit, 1916 (W)
Morning Prayer  9:30 am
Low Mass  10 am
Holy Rosary  10:30 am

2 December
FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT (Blue)
Morning Prayer  8 am
Low Mass  8:10 am
Solemn Mass  10 am
Advent Lessons & Carols  5:30 pm

NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (2 December)

First Sunday of Advent, Year C
Psalm 25:1-9
Jeremiah 33:14-16
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
Luke 21:25-36