PARISH NOTES 

Sunday 5 May 2019 

Raphael, Christ’s Charge to Peter (1515)
Victoria and Albert Museum, London, England

FROM THE RECTOR

This Sunday’s Gospel comes from the “Epilogue” to John. (The Fourth Gospel has both a “Prologue”—opening with “In the beginning was the Word …”—and an “Epilogue,” consisting of the appearance of the Risen Jesus to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias in Chapter 21. The chapter is replete with sacramental symbolism. It begins with a miraculous catch of fish, evocative of Christian mission and baptism; it continues with breakfast on the beach, resonant with Eucharistic imagery; and it concludes with the Restoration of Peter, whom Jesus asks three times, “Do you love me?” thus giving him the opportunity to undo his earlier threefold denial. Jesus both forgives Peter and three times commissions him to tend his flock: the fisherman becomes a shepherd of souls. The Risen Christ’s presence transforms the most ordinary and mundane activities into opportunities for mission, fellowship, forgiveness, love and, most of all, the call to follow. – Fr. John D. Alexander

THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS 

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

THIS SUNDAY’S MUSIC

Harold Darke (1888 – 1976)—Service of Holy Communion in A minor

Lennox Berkeley (1903 – 1989)—The Lord is my Shepherd

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.

Society of Mary American Region Annual Mass and Meeting – will be here at S. Stephen’s on Saturday 11 May: an opportunity for worship, devotion, food, fellowship, and education! The annual outdoor Marian Procession will take place at the end of the Mass at 11 am (and not on the Sunday). Luncheon and the meeting will follow in the Great Hall. S. Stephen’s is privileged to host this event, which draws SoM members from across the country; and it affords a unique opportunity for parishioners not only to help welcome our visitors but also to learn more about the Society of Mary and its work in the wider Anglican and Episcopal world. We hope that as many parishioners and friends of S. Stephen’s as possible will turn out to help make this event a success. For more details, please see the “Devotional Societies” page on the parish website.

The Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ – a principal feast of the Church calendar, is celebrated on the Thursday forty days after Easter (see Acts 1:3), falling this year on May 30th. Following the precedent set last year, we are planning a joint celebration with the other two East Side parishes (Saint Martin’s and Redeemer) to be hosted here at S. Stephen’s at 7 pm. We hope that you will mark this joyous event on your calendars and plan to attend. More details to follow.

FOR YOUR PRAYERS

Prayers have been requested for: Elizabeth, George, Hannah, Kaitlyn, Mary, Richard, Beverly, Ethel, Henry, Norman, John, Shannah, Terri, Lynne, Fred-Munro, William, Gus, Leonard, Harrington, Joan, Sandy, John, Phebe, Ondre, Jack, Richard, Ann, Colin, Sandy, Kiersten, Beverly, Gail, Phoebe, Deborah, Bryan, Angela, Bobby, Beverly, Allora, Carlos, Rhoda, William, Roger, and James.

Birthdays this week: Jennifer Jones (Tuesday 5/7).

The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: John Herbert Allen (5 May 1991), Robert Hale Ives Goddard (6 May 2003), Edna Marie Fischer Rawlings (6 May 2014), Marion Beverly Hall (8 May 2010), Bertha Isabelle Hughes (10 May 1992), and Estelle “Peg” Duncanson (10 May 2006). Recently Departed: Mother Virginia of the All Saints Sisters.

Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for the Anglican Church of Kenya: The Most Rev’d Jackson Ole Sapit, Primate and Archbishop of All Kenya; in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, for those called to serve God and God’s people as deacons and the many ministries that they support.

THE SUNDAY ROTA

Acolytes – MC F Pisaturo, SD B Rose, Thurifer J Starks, Torches R Noble and L Verdelotti
Lector – E Alexander
Ushers – Nancy Gingrich and Sharon Lloyd Clark
Coffee Hour – Susan Rozzero

THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S

PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS

Saturday 11 May
Marian Solemn Procession and Mass  11 am

LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE

Sunday 5 May
THE THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER (W)
Morning Prayer  8 am
Low Mass  8:10 am
Solemn Mass  10 am

Daily Office Lectionary: Easter III, Year One
Daily Mass Lectionary: Easter III, Year C

Monday 6 May
Monday in Easter III (W)
Evening Prayer  5:30 pm
Low Mass  6 pm

Tuesday 7 May
Tuesday in Easter III (W)
Harriet Starr Cannon, Founder of the Community of Saint Mary, 1896
John of Beverley, Monk, Bishop, 721
Noonday Prayer  12 noon
Low Mass  12:10 pm

Wednesday 8 May
Wednesday in Easter III (W)
Julian of Norwich, Mystic, Teacher, c. 1417
Evening Prayer  5:30 pm
Low Mass  6 pm

Thursday 9 May
Gregory of Nazianzus, Bishop, Teacher, 389 (W)
Pachomius, Abbot, 346
Noonday Prayer  12 noon
Low Mass  12:10 pm

Friday 10 May
Friday in Easter III (W)
Damien of Molokai, Priest, Missionary, 1889
Noonday Prayer  12 noon
Low Mass  12:10 pm

Saturday 11 May
Saturday in Easter III
Marian Solemn Mass and Procession  11 am

Sunday 12 May
THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (W)
Morning Prayer  8 am
Low Mass  8:10 am
Solemn Mass  10 am

NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (12 May)

Fourth Sunday of Easter (Year C)
Acts 9:36-43
Revelation 7:9-17
John 10:22-30