Saturday, April 25, 2020

PARISH NOTES 
Sunday 26 April 2020

Supper at Emmaus (1601) by Caravaggio (1571–1610).
Oil on canvas. National Gallery, London, UK.

THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS 

Third Sunday of Easter (Year A)
Acts 2:14a, 36-41
Psalm 116:1-4, 11-16
1 Peter 1:17-23
Luke 24:13-35

THIS SUNDAY’S MUSIC 
(pre-recorded) 

John Cook (1918 – 1984)—Fanfare

A WORD OF WELCOME 

Welcome to Saint Stephen’s – S. Stephen’s Church is in the midst of Brown University and serves the communities of the East Side of Providence, North Providence, East Providence, and beyond. It is a parish of the Diocese of Rhode Island in the Episcopal Church in the worldwide Anglican Communion. The Anglo-Catholic tradition informs and shapes our life together. We are a diverse community uniting all sorts and conditions in the worship of Our Lord Jesus Christ and aim to offer up the best we have in liturgy, music, preaching, teaching, fellowship, and service.

ANNOUNCEMENTS 

Digital Spring Cleaning – I am in the process of tidying up our digital databases. If you think we might not have your most up-to-date contact information, please contact me with the correct information via email at jacob_ihnen@alumni.brown.edu. More generally, please send your birthdays and wedding anniversaries in as well! We would love to commemorate them, but do not have as many on file as we would like. Thank you! – Jacob Ihnen

Saint Philip and Saint James, Apostles (May 1st) – a major feast of the church year, will be kept this coming Friday with Noonday Prayer at 12 noon, and Low Mass following at 12:10 pm.

Society of Mary – will meet virtually this coming Saturday, 2 May, beginning with Holy Rosary following the 10 am Low Mass and a brief meeting. To join both the recitation of the Rosary and the Meeting, please click here. All are welcome and invited to participate!

Virtual Catechesis Class – Fr. Mead leads a Virtual Class, “Mead and Creed,” on Tuesdays at 5:30 pm this Eastertide continuing to the end of May. It features items of Doctrine, the Creeds, and the Prayer Book Catechism. The classes are within one hour in length. In Fr. Mead’s own words, “I love teaching these classes. It was my favorite thing as a Rector, and the more Give-and-Take and Q&A, the better the adventure. There is no homework. It would help if you have a Book of Common Prayer at hand during the class, but it isn’t necessary.” To join in, please click here. Those who are interested can contact Alison Huff with any questions or difficulties in joining via call or text at 401-465-8029 or email at alisonhuff12@gmail.com.

Exterior Architectural Lighting – If you drive by S. Stephen’s in the evening, you will now find it illuminated by lovely exterior architectural lighting. This lighting was given to the parish by an anonymous donor to the Glory of God and in loving memory of Fr. Alan Maynard, assisting priest at S. Stephen’s for many years. May he rest in peace. (d. 7 September 2006)

Virtual Offices and Masses – To access and view the LIVE (and archived) services, please visit the parish Facebook page here. To access accompanying Daily Office and Low Mass readings and resources (as well as archived services), please visit the parish website sermon page here.

Virtual Coffee Hour – Please join us for our fifth Virtual Sunday Coffee Hour tomorrow, 26 April, at 11:30 am. To attend, please click here. If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to contact Junior Warden Alison Huff via call or text at 401-465-8029 or email at alisonhuff12@gmail.com, or me via call or text at 712-348-5848 or email at jacob_ihnen@alumni.brown.edu. Thank you!

Concerning Pledges and the Sunday Offering – A key worry in this time of physical distancing is that our inability to gather as a church damages our income. We have heard nothing from the public health authorities about the risks of virus transmission through the mail, so feel free to mail your check to the church. Alternatively, it is quite straightforward to give online by clicking here to visit S. Stephen’s online giving page, where you can use the payment portal week by week or set up a recurring direct deposit program with your bank. We are grateful for your generous response to our appeal for pledges in this transition year. Now the challenge is for us to receive and collect these pledges. We don’t know how long this period of physical distancing will have to last. If you are experiencing financial difficulties which hurt your ability to keep a pledge you made before this crisis of the coronavirus, please do not hesitate to let us know. You may contact Father Mead at 917-592-5947 or email him at andrewcraigmead1@gmail.com. Thank you for your love of S. Stephen’s.

College Ministry – The Episcopal Ministry at Brown and RISD (EMBR) continues its meetings virtually this Sunday, 26 April, at 5:30 pm for Evening Prayer on the EMBR Facebook page. All are most welcome and invited to participate!

FOR YOUR PRAYERS 

Prayers have been requested for: Virginia, Richard, Beverly, Patti, Maxcine, Ethel, Chipper, Donna, Carl, Kade, Sherri, Norman, John, Shannah, Terri, Beth, Lynne, Gus, Harrington, Joan, Robyn, Sandy, John, Dylan, Phebe, Jack, Hunter, Bruce, Richard, Ann, Sandy, Nancy, Antonio, Emma, Olivia, Raphael, Kiersten, Katie, Beverly, Tom, Gail, Deborah, Bryan, Angela, Bobby, Susan, Beverly, Empy, Elizabeth, Carlos, Rhoda, William, Crystal, Roger, Christopher, Beth, Sarah, Diana, Ruby, and Lola.

Birthdays this week: Jacob Ihnen (Saturday 5/2).

The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Angelina Nicolella Fasano (28 April 2006) and Jane Ann Stiles Thissell (30 April 1967).

Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem & The Middle East: The Most Rev’d Michael Lewis, Archbishop, Jerusalem & the Middle East & Bishop of Cyprus and the Gulf; 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.

THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S 

PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS

Tuesday 28 April
“Mead and Creed”  5:30 pm

Saturday 2 May
Society of Mary  10:45 am

LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE

* ALL IN-PERSON SUNDAY AND WEEKDAY SERVICES CANCELLED
* ALL SERVICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS


Sunday 26 April
THE THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER (W)
Virtual Low Mass  10 am

Daily Office Lectionary: Easter III, Year Two
Daily Mass Lectionary: Easter III, Year A


Monday 27 April
NO SERVICES (Rest day for clergy and staff)

Tuesday 28 April
Tuesday of Easter III (W)
Peter Chanel, Religious, Missionary in the South Pacific, Martyr, 1841
Virtual Noonday Prayer  12 noon
Virtual Low Mass  12:10 pm

Wednesday 29 April
Wednesday of Easter III (W)
Virtual Evening Prayer  5:30 pm
Virtual Low Mass  6 pm

Thursday 30 April
Thursday of Easter III (W)
Catherine of Siena, Mystic, Teacher, Patron of Europe, 1380
Holy Abbots of Cluny, 10th―11th centuries

Virtual Noonday Prayer  12 noon
Virtual Low Mass  12:10 pm

Friday 1 May
SAINT PHILIP AND SAINT JAMES, APOSTLES (R)
Virtual Noonday Prayer  12 noon
Virtual Low Mass  12:10 pm

Saturday 2 May
Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, Teacher, 373 (W)
Virtual Morning Prayer  9:30 am
Virtual Low Mass  10 am
Virtual Holy Rosary  10:45 am

Sunday 3 May
THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (W)
Virtual Low Mass  10 am

NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (3 May)
Fourth Sunday of Easter (Year A)
Acts 2:42-47
Psalm 23
1 Peter 2:19-25 

Saturday, April 18, 2020

PARISH NOTES 
Sunday 19 April 2020

The Incredulity of Saint Thomas (c. 1601) by Caravaggio (1571–1610).
Oil on canvas. Sanssouci Picture Gallery, Potsdam, Germany.

THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS 

Second Sunday of Easter (Year A)
Acts 2:14a, 22-32
Psalm 16
1 Peter 1:3-9
John 20:19-31

A WORD OF WELCOME 

Welcome to Saint Stephen’s – S. Stephen’s Church is in the midst of Brown University and serves the communities of the East Side of Providence, North Providence, East Providence, and beyond. It is a parish of the Diocese of Rhode Island in the Episcopal Church in the worldwide Anglican Communion. The Anglo-Catholic tradition informs and shapes our life together. We are a diverse community uniting all sorts and conditions in the worship of Our Lord Jesus Christ and aim to offer up the best we have in liturgy, music, preaching, teaching, fellowship, and service.

ANNOUNCEMENTS 

Virtual Catechesis Class – I am going to lead a Virtual Class, “Mead and Creed,” this Eastertide continuing to the end of May. It will be on Tuesdays at 5:30 pm and will feature items of Doctrine, the Creeds, and the Prayer Book Catechism. The classes should be within one hour in length. I love teaching these classes. It was my favorite thing as a Rector, and the more Give-and-Take and Q&A, the better the adventure. I imagine they might be a little like the Virtual Coffee Hours we’ve been having. There is no homework. It would help if you have a Book of Common Prayer at hand during the class, but it isn’t necessary. To join in, please click here. Those who are interested can contact Alison Huff with any questions or difficulties in joining via call or text at 401-465-8029 or email at alisonhuff12@gmail.com. – Fr. Mead

Exterior Architectural Lighting – If you drive by S. Stephen’s in the evening, you will now find it illuminated by lovely exterior architectural lighting. This lighting was given to the parish by an anonymous donor to the Glory of God and in loving memory of Fr. Alan Maynard, assisting priest at S. Stephen’s for many years. May he rest in peace. (d. 7 September 2006) 







Centennial of the Nave Tile Floor – Last Sunday was the Centennial of the installation of the tile flooring in the Nave. The memorial reads, “To the Glory of God and in loving memory of Stephen Aldrich Cooke and Mary Louise Cooke this floor is given by their daughters Easter 1920”.

Saint Mark the Evangelist (April 25th) – a major feast of the church year, will be kept this coming Saturday with Morning Prayer at 9:30 am, and Low Mass following at 10 am.

Virtual Offices and Masses – To access and view the LIVE (and archived) services, please visit the parish Facebook page here. To access accompanying Daily Office and Low Mass readings and resources (as well as archived services), please visit the parish website sermon page here.

Virtual Coffee Hour – Please join us for our fourth Virtual Sunday Coffee Hour tomorrow, 19 April, at 11:30 am. To attend, please click here. If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to contact Junior Warden Alison Huff via call or text at 401-465-8029 or email at alisonhuff12@gmail.com, or me via call or text at 712-348-5848 or email at jacob_ihnen@alumni.brown.edu. Thank you!

Concerning Pledges and the Sunday Offering – A key worry in this time of physical distancing is that our inability to gather as a church damages our income. We have heard nothing from the public health authorities about the risks of virus transmission through the mail, so feel free to mail your check to the church. Alternatively, it is quite straightforward to give online by clicking here to visit S. Stephen’s online giving page, where you can use the payment portal week by week or set up a recurring direct deposit program with your bank. We are grateful for your generous response to our appeal for pledges in this transition year. Now the challenge is for us to receive and collect these pledges. We don’t know how long this period of physical distancing will have to last. If you are experiencing financial difficulties which hurt your ability to keep a pledge you made before this crisis of the coronavirus, please do not hesitate to let us know. You may contact Father Mead at 917-592-5947 or email him at andrewcraigmead1@gmail.com. Thank you for your love of S. Stephen’s.

College Ministry – The Episcopal Ministry at Brown and RISD (EMBR) continues its meetings virtually this Sunday, 19 April, at 5:30 pm for Evening Prayer on the EMBR Facebook page. All are most welcome and invited to participate!

FOR YOUR PRAYERS

Prayers have been requested for: Virginia, Richard, Beverly, Patti, Maxcine, Ethel, Chipper, Donna, Carl, Kade, Sherri, Norman, John, Shannah, Terri, Beth, Lynne, Gus, Harrington, Joan, Robyn, Sandy, John, Dylan, Phebe, Jack, Hunter, Bruce, Richard, Ann, Sandy, Nancy, Antonio, Emma, Olivia, Raphael, Kiersten, Katie, Beverly, Tom, Gail, Deborah, Bryan, Angela, Bobby, Susan, Beverly, Empy, Elizabeth, Carlos, Rhoda, William, Crystal, Roger, Christopher, Beth, Sarah, Diana, Ruby, and Lola.

Birthdays this week: Barbara Osborne (Monday 4/20) and Leonard Gaucher (Thursday 4/23).

The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: John Rankin Laird (19 April 1991), Winifred D. Bonner (20 April 1983), Frances Cecilia Jarvis Hall (20 April 1987), King David Stamps (22 April 1985), William Brazil (24 April 1995), Kenneth Raymond (24 April 2010), Hazel G. Wyss (25 April 1991), and Jeannine Lennihan Firestone (25 April 2013).

Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for the Church of Church of Ireland: Vacant; in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, for the people and clergy of San Jorge’s, Central Falls and St. Mark’s, Warwick, and for the leadership and students of St. George’s School, Middletown.

THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S 

PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS

Tuesday 21 April
“Mead and Creed”  5:30 pm

LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE

* ALL IN-PERSON SUNDAY AND WEEKDAY SERVICES CANCELLED
* ALL SERVICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS


Sunday 19 April
THE SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER (W)
Virtual Low Mass  10 am

Daily Office Lectionary: Easter II, Year Two
Daily Mass Lectionary: Easter II, Year A


Monday 20 April
NO SERVICES (Rest day for clergy and staff)

Tuesday 21 April
Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury, Teacher, 1109 (W)
Virtual Noonday Prayer  12 noon
Virtual Low Mass  12:10 pm

Wednesday 22 April
Wednesday of Easter II (W)
Virtual Evening Prayer  5:30 pm
Virtual Low Mass  6 pm

Thursday 23 April
George, Martyr, Patron of England, c. 304 (R)
Virtual Noonday Prayer  12 noon
Virtual Low Mass  12:10 pm

Friday 24 April
Friday of Easter II (W)
Mellitus, Bishop of London, first Bishop at Saint Paul’s, 624
Virtual Noonday Prayer  12 noon
Virtual Low Mass  12:10 pm

Saturday 25 April
SAINT MARK THE EVANGELIST (R)
Virtual Morning Prayer  9:30 am
Virtual Low Mass  10 am

Sunday 26 April
THE THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER (W)
Virtual Low Mass  10 am

NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (26 April)

Third Sunday of Easter (Year A)
Acts 2:14a, 36-41
Psalm 116:1-4, 11-16
1 Peter 1:17-23 

Saturday, April 11, 2020

PARISH NOTES 
Sunday 12 April 2020

The Resurrection (c. 1715) by Sebastiano Ricci (1659 - 1734).Oil on canvas. 
Dulwich Picture Gallery, London, UK.

THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS 

Easter Day (Year A)
Acts 10:34-43
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
Colossians 3:1-4
John 20:1-18

THIS SUNDAY’S MUSIC 
(pre-recorded) 

Tomás Luis de Victoria (1548 – 1611)—Missa de Beata Maria Virgine: II. Gloria in Excelsis

Plainsong, Mode VI and Everett Titcomb (1884 – 1968)—Christ our Passover


A WORD OF WELCOME 

Welcome to Saint Stephen’s – S. Stephen’s Church is in the midst of Brown University and serves the communities of the East Side of Providence, North Providence, East Providence, and beyond. It is a parish of the Diocese of Rhode Island in the Episcopal Church in the worldwide Anglican Communion. The Anglo-Catholic tradition informs and shapes our life together. We are a diverse community uniting all sorts and conditions in the worship of Our Lord Jesus Christ and aim to offer up the best we have in liturgy, music, preaching, teaching, fellowship, and service.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Virtual Offices and Masses – To access and view the LIVE (and archived) services, please visit the parish Facebook page here. To access accompanying Daily Office and Low Mass readings and resources (as well as archived services), please visit the parish website sermon page here.

Virtual Easter Vigil Reception and Easter Day Coffee Hour – This year, put on your best clothes, break out the bubbly, and head to the living room for our Virtual Easter Vigil Reception at 9 pm following the Easter Vigil today, 11 April, at 7:30 pm. To attend the Vigil Reception, please click here. Further, put on your Easter bonnet for our third Virtual Sunday Coffee Hour tomorrow, 12 April, at 11:30 am. To attend the Easter Day Coffee Hour, please click here. If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to contact Junior Warden Alison Huff via call or text at 401-465-8029 or email at alisonhuff12@gmail.com, or me via call or text at 712-348-5848 or email at jacob_ihnen@alumni.brown.edu. Thank you!

Vestry Meeting – The Vestry will virtually conduct its monthly meeting next Tuesday, 14 April, at 7 pm.

Monthly Commemoration of the Departed – whose year’s mind falls during April will be offered virtually next Saturday, 18 April, at 10 am (preceded by Virtual Morning Prayer at 9:30 am). If you have any names to add to those to be remembered, please let Nancy Gingrich know. This Mass is sponsored by the Guild of All Souls, St. Stephen Protomartyr Branch: all are welcome and invited to attend!

Concerning Pledges and the Sunday Offering – A key worry in this time of physical distancing is that our inability to gather as a church damages our income. A parishioner reached out wondering whether it was safe to send pledge envelopes in the mail. We have heard nothing from the public health authorities about the risks of virus transmission through the mail, so feel free to mail your check to the church. Alternatively, it is quite straightforward to give online by clicking here to visit S. Stephen’s online giving page, where you can use the payment portal week by week or set up a recurring direct deposit program with your bank. We are grateful for your generous response to our appeal for pledges in this transition year. Now the challenge is for us to receive and collect these pledges. We don’t know how long this period of physical distancing will have to last. If you are experiencing financial difficulties which hurt your ability to keep a pledge you made before this crisis of the coronavirus, please do not hesitate to let us know. You may contact Father Mead at 917-592-5947 or email him at andrewcraigmead1@gmail.com. Thank you for your love of S. Stephen’s.

Holy Week and Easter – The schedule of virtual services for Holy Week and Easter, including the liturgies of the Triduum Sacrum (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil), is available on the parish website here. We hope that all parishioners will note the service dates and times and make every effort to tune in. If you missed any liturgies, archived services may be found on the parish Facebook page or in the sermon archive, both linked to in the first announcement above.

Gather your bells – Traditionally, bells are rung at the beginning of the Gloria in excelsis at the liturgies of both Maundy Thursday and Easter Vigil. If you have a bell at home, dust it off and give it a ring!

College Ministry – The Episcopal Ministry at Brown and RISD (EMBR) continues its meetings virtually this Sunday, 12 April, at 5:30 pm for Evening Prayer on the EMBR Facebook page. All are most welcome and invited to participate!

FOR YOUR PRAYERS 

Prayers have been requested for: Virginia, Richard, Beverly, Patti, Maxcine, Ethel, Chipper, Donna, Carl, Kade, Sherri, Norman, John, Shannah, Terri, Beth, Lynne, Gus, Harrington, Joan, Robyn, Sandy, John, Dylan, Phebe, Jack, Hunter, Bruce, Richard, Ann, Sandy, Nancy, Antonio, Emma, Olivia, Raphael, Kiersten, Katie, Beverly, Tom, Gail, Deborah, Bryan, Angela, Bobby, Susan, Beverly, Empy, Elizabeth, Carlos, Rhoda, William, Crystal, Roger, Christopher, Beth, Sarah, Diana, Ruby, and Lola.

Birthdays this week: Brian Ehlers (Tuesday 4/14) and Rhoda Steinhart (Thursday 4/16).

The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Doris Johnson (13 April 2004), Marie Lopez (14 April 1983), Steele Wade Martin, Priest (14 April 2005), Irene Mae Winsor Barnes (17 April 2008), and Cristine Marie Parrillo (17 April 1989).

Anglican Cycle of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for the Peace of Jerusalem and the People of the Land of the Holy One.

THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S 

PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS

Tuesday 14 April
Vestry Meeting  7 pm

Saturday 18 April
Guild of All Souls  10 am

LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE

* ALL IN-PERSON SUNDAY AND WEEKDAY SERVICES CANCELLED
* ALL SERVICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS


Sunday 12 April
THE SUNDAY OF THE RESURRECTION: EASTER DAY (Gold)
Virtual Low Mass  10 am


Daily Office Lectionary: Easter Week, Year Two
Daily Mass Lectionary: Easter Week, Year A


Monday 13 April
Monday of Easter Week (W)
Virtual Evening Prayer  5:30 pm
Virtual Low Mass  6 pm

Tuesday 14 April
Tuesday of Easter Week (W)
Virtual Noonday Prayer  12 noon
Virtual Low Mass  12:10 pm

Wednesday 15 April
Wednesday of Easter Week (W)
Virtual Evening Prayer  5:30 pm
Virtual Low Mass  6 pm

Thursday 16 April
Thursday of Easter Week (W)
Virtual Noonday Prayer  12 noon
Virtual Low Mass  12:10 pm

Friday 17 April
Friday of Easter Week (W)
Virtual Noonday Prayer  12 noon
Virtual Low Mass  12:10 pm

Saturday 18 April
Saturday of Easter Week (W)
Virtual Morning Prayer  9:30 am
Virtual Low Mass with Commemoration of April Departed  10 am

Sunday 19 April
THE SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER (W)
Virtual Low Mass  10 am

NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (19 April)

Second Sunday of Easter (Year A)
Acts 2:14a, 22-32
Psalm 16
1 Peter 1:3-9 

Saturday, April 4, 2020

PARISH NOTES 
Sunday 5 April 2020

Entry of Christ into Jerusalem (1617) by Anthony van Dyck (1599–1641). Oil on canvas. Indianapolis Museum of Art, IN.

THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS 

Palm Sunday (Year A)
Liturgy of the Palms:
Psalm 118:19-29
Matthew 21:1-11

Liturgy of the Passion:
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm 31:10-18
Philippians 2:5-11
Matthew 27:11-54


THIS SUNDAY’S MUSIC 
(pre-recorded) 

Patrick Hadley (1899 – 1973)—My song is love unknown

A WORD OF WELCOME

Welcome to Saint Stephen’s – S. Stephen’s Church is in the midst of Brown University and serves the communities of the East Side of Providence, North Providence, East Providence, and beyond. It is a parish of the Diocese of Rhode Island in the Episcopal Church in the worldwide Anglican Communion. The Anglo-Catholic tradition informs and shapes our life together. We are a diverse community uniting all sorts and conditions in the worship of Our Lord Jesus Christ and aim to offer up the best we have in liturgy, music, preaching, teaching, fellowship, and service.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Virtual Offices and Masses – To access and view the LIVE (and archived) services, please visit the parish Facebook page here. To access accompanying Daily Office and Low Mass readings and resources (as well as archived services), please visit the parish website sermon page here.

Blessed Palms – The palms that are blessed at this Sunday’s liturgy will be available for pick-up and personal devotion later this year.

An Update from the Search Committee – The search committee has nearly finished our first round of video conversations with all of the rector candidates. We’ve been impressed by the breadth of their experience, their ideas for the future, and their love of our Anglo-Catholic liturgy. Soon we will move to the next phase, which involves prayerfully considering and discussing the candidates in order to select a small number of finalists. Please continue to pray that the Holy Spirit will guide us through this process. Deborah Abel

Virtual Coffee Hour – This Sunday, 5 April, we will be hosting our second virtual coffee hour at 11:30 am through the Zoom application. We are hoping it will continue to be an uplifting platform to catch up with one another and see each other’s smiling faces. To receive an invitation to join the meeting (and download Zoom, if you don’t have it already), please contact Junior Warden Alison Huff. Call or text her at 401-465-8029 or email her at alisonhuff12@gmail.com. Thank you!

Concerning Pledges and the Sunday Offering – 
A key worry in this time of physical distancing is that our inability to gather as a church damages our income. A parishioner reached out wondering whether it was safe to send pledge envelopes in the mail. We have heard nothing from the public health authorities about the risks of virus transmission through the mail, so feel free to mail your check to the church. Alternatively, it is quite straightforward to give online by clicking here to visit S. Stephen’s online giving page, where you can use the payment portal week by week or set up a recurring direct deposit program with your bank. We are grateful for your generous response to our appeal for pledges in this transition year. Now the challenge is for us to receive and collect these pledges. We don’t know how long this period of physical distancing will have to last. If you are experiencing financial difficulties which hurt your ability to keep a pledge you made before this crisis of the coronavirus, please do not hesitate to let us know. You may contact Father Mead at 917-592-5947 or email him at andrewcraigmead1@gmail.com. Thank you for your love of S. Stephen’s.

Holy Week and Easter – The schedule of virtual services for Holy Week and Easter, including the liturgies of the Triduum Sacrum (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil), is available on the parish website here. We hope that all parishioners will note the service dates and times and make every effort to tune in.

Gather your bells – Traditionally, bells are rung at the beginning of the Gloria in excelsis at the liturgies of both Maundy Thursday and Easter Vigil. If you have a bell at home, dust it off and give it a ring!

Virtual Adoration after Maundy Thursday Liturgy – On 9 April, there will be Virtual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament after the completion of the 7:30 pm Maundy Thursday Liturgy from 8:30-9:30 pm. Watch with Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane.

Good Friday Offering – By a venerable tradition, the collection taken on Good Friday is given to support the work of the Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East. This support is vital in the region where Christianity originated but Christians are now a threatened minority. All checks, cash, and online donations earmarked for that day will be forwarded to Episcopal Church headquarters for this purpose. To make a donation for this purpose online, simply visit the giving page linked to above. For more information on the Good Friday Offering, please visit here.

College Ministry – The Episcopal Ministry at Brown and RISD (EMBR) continues its meetings virtually this Sunday, 5 April, at 5:30 pm for Evening Prayer on the EMBR Facebook page. All are most welcome and invited to participate!

FOR YOUR PRAYERS

Prayers have been requested for: Virginia, Richard, Beverly, Patti, Maxcine, Ethel, Chipper, Donna, Carl, Kade, Sherri, Norman, John, Shannah, Terri, Beth, Lynne, Gus, Harrington, Joan, Robyn, Sandy, John, Dylan, Phebe, Jack, Hunter, Bruce, Richard, Ann, Sandy, Nancy, Antonio, Emma, Olivia, Raphael, Kiersten, Katie, Beverly, Tom, Gail, Deborah, Bryan, Angela, Bobby, Susan, Beverly, Empy, Elizabeth, Carlos, Rhoda, William, Crystal, Roger, Christopher, Beth, Sarah, Diana, Ruby, and Lola.

Birthdays this week: Kathleen Lester (Saturday 4/11).

The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Tanya Jones (5 April 2007), Kathryne Farnum Ripley (6 April 1990), Paul Joseph Conley (8 April 2000), and Carl Randolph (11 April 1983).

Anglican Cycle of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for the Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean: The Most Rev’d James Richard Wong Yin Song, Archbishop, Province of Indian Ocean & Bishop of the Seychelles.


THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S 

PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS

Friday 10 April
Virtual Stations of the Cross  2:30 pm

EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S

Saturday 11 April
Epiphany Soup Kitchen (Meal Pickup Only)  2:30 pm

LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE

* ALL IN-PERSON SUNDAY AND WEEKDAY SERVICES CANCELLED
* ALL SERVICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS


Sunday 5 April
PALM SUNDAY: THE SUNDAY OF THE PASSION (R)
Virtual Liturgy of the Palms & Low Mass  10 am
Virtual Evening Prayer w/ EMBR  5:30 pm

Daily Mass and Office Lectionary: Holy Week, Year Two

Monday 6 April
Monday in Holy Week (R)
Virtual Evening Prayer  5:30 pm
Virtual Low Mass  6 pm

Tuesday 7 April
Tuesday in Holy Week (R)
Virtual Noonday Prayer  12 noon
Virtual Low Mass  12:10 pm

Wednesday 8 April
Spy Wednesday (R)
Virtual Evening Prayer  5:30 pm
Virtual Low Mass  6 pm

Thursday 9 April
Maundy Thursday (W)
Virtual Maundy Thursday Liturgy  7:30 pm
Virtual Adoration  8:30-9:30 pm

Friday 10 April
Good Friday (Black)
Virtual Good Friday Liturgy  12 noon
Virtual Stations of the Cross  2:30 pm
Virtual Ringing of the Chimes  3 pm

Saturday 11 April
Easter Eve (V/W)
Virtual Great Vigil of Easter  7:30 pm

Sunday 12 April
THE SUNDAY OF THE RESURRECTION: EASTER DAY (Gold)
Virtual Low Mass  10 am

NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (12 April)

Easter Day (Year A)
Acts 10:34-43
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24