PARISH NOTES

Sunday 1 November 2020

The Forerunners of Christ with Saints and Martyrs (1423-1424). Painter: Fra Angelico (Active 1417, Died 1455.) National Gallery, London.

 

COVID-19 AND WORSHIP: UPDATE

On Friday, October 30th, Governor Gina Raimondo gave held a press conference in which she addressed the severe rise in COVID-19 cases in Rhode Island, and steps we can all take together to stop this trend. Bishop Nicholas Knisely has also reiterated the guidelines to follow and observe.

For the next few weeks, we are strongly encouraging all parishioners to stay home and take advantage of our virtual worship offerings via Facebook Livestream.  We will not take the step of physically closing the doors to S. Stephen's for those who feel compelled to be present, but we must also do our part to protect each other.

This naturally brings great frustration and sadness for many of us who long for some return to "normal." Please know that we are acting in the best interest of all, and are closely monitoring the situation together with our Diocesan leadership.

Faithfully,

Fr. Benjamin Straley, Rector

Tom Bledsoe, Sr. Warden

Alison Huff, Jr. Warden

THIS SUNDAY’S MUSIC

Prelude and Fugue in G major, BWV 541, J.S. Bach (1685-1750)

Mass setting: Missa O Quam Gloriosum est Regnun, Tomás Luis da Victoria (1548-1611)

Motet: O quam gloriosum est regnum, Victoria

Troisième Symphonie, Op. 28, V. Final, Louis Vierne (1870-1937)*

*played by Dāvids Heinze, Associate Director of Music, Grace Church, Providence

 

ALTAR FLOWERS

Flowers on the altar are given to the greater glory of God, for all the Saints, and to the memory of our dear parishioner Edward Kennedy Hooks (d. 10/8/18), by his wife Leana Hooks and their family.

A WORD OF WELCOME

Welcome to Saint Stephen’s – If you are new or visiting today, please know that we are so glad that you are here, and that you are welcome in this community of faith. S. Stephen’s is an Episcopal parish in the Diocese of Rhode Island and is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Located in the midst of Brown University, it serves the communities of Providence and beyond. S. Stephen’s has stood within the Anglo-Catholic tradition since its founding, and so the Mass or the Eucharist is at the center of our common life, with ancient and timeless ceremonial used to draw attention to the Living God in our very midst. We strive to be a diverse community and come from many various backgrounds, while 
united in One Body through our Lord Jesus Christ.

While we continue to gather again, this privilege brings with it some protocols to keep us all safe. A summary of the safety protocols may be found here.

A WORD FROM FR. BENJAMIN

Dear brothers and sisters, 

On Tuesday, our country will arrive at Election Day. Wherever you fall on the political spectrum, the fact is that the previous election was unprecedented, and that strong feelings existed on both sides. Little has changed four years later, and emotions still run strong for many. I give thanks that the Church is truly a “big tent” where we come together in Christ Jesus as one body, united in our belief in Him, despite how varied our beliefs on other subjects are. Please keep in mind S. Stephen’s daily mass schedule in the coming week, and know that you can always avail yourself of the church for private prayer. 

The Book of Common Prayer is a wonderful resource in its diversity of prayers or collects, which can sometimes give us the words to use in our prayer that we don’t always know how to find. And so I commend for your use in the coming days the following prayers for our national life. 

For an Election (BCP, 822) 

Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers and privileges: Guide the people of the United States in the election of officials and representatives; that, by faithful administration and wise laws, the rights of all may be protected and our nation be enabled to fulfill your purposes; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

For the Nation (BCP, 258) 

Lord God Almighty, you have made all the peoples of the earth for your glory, to serve you in freedom and in peace: Give to the people of our country a zeal for justice and the strength of forbearance, that we may use our liberty in accordance with your gracious will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 

God bless you and keep you. 

Fr. Benjamin +

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Nominations Committee & Requests for Nominations – A Nominations Committee has been formed consisting of the following members: Alison Huff, Bobby Rose, Joy D’Ambra, Karl Benziger, and Ernie Drew. The committee is now accepting nominations for elections to be held at the Annual Meeting in January for open Vestry and Convention Delegate positions. Please speak to anyone on the committee if you have nominations or suggestions.

All Saints and All Souls – Sunday, November 1st, is All Saints’ Day, one of the Major Feasts of the Church Year, in which we will give thanks for the great cloud of witnesses which surround us as we make our own journey through this life. 

Monday, November 2nd is All Souls’ Day, which we will observe with Sung Requiem Mass in the Lady Chapel at 6:00 PM. This is a day to pray for all our beloved dead and to remember them. We will read out the Necrology, and if there are any names you would like to have added, please pass them on to the Church Office or to Fr. Benjamin (in writing or via phone or email – office@sstephens.necoxmail.com). With the loss of so many to COVID-19 in the past several months, this seems an especially fitting observation to keep this year. 

New Schedule for Zoom Coffee Hours – Virtual Coffee Hours will be held at 11:30 on the first and third Sundays of the month going forward, and on the fifth Sunday when one occurs. Please click here to join. 

On second Sundays of the month, there will be a 9:00 Zoom “Children’s Sermon” and check-in with Fr. Benjamin open to school-age children and their parents, available here. 

What is Anglo-Catholicism? – Have you always wondered why we do that one thing? Or why we do ___________ ? How can Episcopalians call themselves Catholics? There are probably lots of questions you might have had at some point. Before developing a forum in which we explore some of these questions, Fr. Benjamin would like to hear from YOU the things that you are curious about. Please email any questions you have to rector@sstephens.necoxmail.com, and in the coming months, we will find a time to explore them together via Zoom gatherings. 

Stewardship Season – We have entered our month of stewardship, which began October 11 and will conclude on November 15. Most of you have received letters in the mail from Fr. Benjamin and Sharon Lloyd Clark. During this time, we ask you to consider your commitment for the coming year so that we can plan our budget and programming accordingly. You can mail your pledge card back to the church office, leave it in the offering plate at the back of the church on Sunday, or pledge online (sstephens.org/donate). Thank you for all the many ways in which you are already supporting S. Stephen’s. 

FOR YOUR PRAYERS

Prayers have been requested for: Patti, Charles, Sandra, Lola, Ruby, Norman, Vinnie, Diana, Sarah, Harrington, Joan, Phebe, James, Hunter, Jay, Conrad, Ann, Beverly, Tom, Angela, Beverly, Rhoda, Crystal, and Christopher.

Birthdays this week: Vlexja (11/1), Charles (11/3), Albert (11/5).

Anniversaries: Ordination to the sacred order of deacons: Fr. Philip (11/7)

The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Rosa Verdelotti (11/3), Gilbert Jarvis (11/5), Joseph James Bodell, Jr. (11/5), June Littlefield (11/6).

Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer: In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for the Church of the Province of West Africa, the Most Rev. Dr. Jonathan Bau-Bau Bonaparte Hart – Primate & Metropolitan; Archbishop of the Internal Province of West Africa and Bishop of Liberia.

THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S

 

PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS

Sunday 1 November
EMBR Campus Evening Prayer & Eucharist 5:30

 

EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S

Saturday 7 November
Epiphany Soup Kitchen (Meal Pickup Only)  2:30-4 pm

LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE

* REGATHERING HAS RESUMED FOR IN-PERSON SERVICES ON SUNDAYS (80 PEOPLE TOTAL) AND WEEKDAYS (14 PEOPLE TOTAL)

* ALL ATTENDEES MUST ADHERE TO WRITTEN AND VERBAL PROTOCOLS TO ATTEND

Sunday 1 November ALL SAINTS DAY

Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:10 am
Sung Mass 10 am
Zoom Coffee Hour 11:30 am
EMBR Campus Eucharist 5:30 pm

Daily Office and Mass Lectionary: Proper 26, Year Two

  Monday 2 November

ALL SOULS’ DAY (Commemoration of All Faithful Departed) (B)

Sung Requiem Mass  6 pm

Tuesday 3 November

Richard Hooker, Priest, Teacher, 1600
Martin de Porres, friar
Malachy, Archbishop of Armagh, 1148

Noonday Prayer  12 noon
Low Mass  12:10 pm

Wednesday 4 November

Charles Borromeo, Archbishop of Milan, 1584

Evening Prayer  5:30 pm
Low Mass  6 pm

Thursday 5 November

FERIA

Noonday Prayer  12 noon
Low Mass  12:10 pm

Friday 6 November
William Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury, Teacher, 1944
Leonard, hermit, 6th century

Noonday Prayer  12 noon
Low Mass  12:10 pm

Saturday 7 November

FERIA

Morning Prayer  9:30 am
Low Mass  10 am
Holy Rosary 10:45 am

Sunday 8 November

TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

Morning Prayer & Low Mass  8 am
Sung Mass  10 am
EMBR Campus Eucharist  5:30 pm