PARISH NOTES

Sunday 14 September 2014

FROM THE RECTOR

On certain occasions, the Liturgical Calendar offers us "second glances" at mysteries of the faith that have been celebrated earlier in the year. Thus, during Holy Week, we solemnly commemorate the Institution of the Eucharist on Maundy Thursday but then observe Corpus Christi nine weeks later. The celebration of Holy Cross Day on September 14 is an instance of the same principle. During Holy Week we commemorate our Lord's suffering and death on Good Friday. But then we return to look at the Cross again in mid-September.

These second glances allow us to consider the same mysteries from different angles. On Good Friday, the proper emphasis (contrary to some contemporary liturgists) is mourning for Christ's death and sorrow for the sins which made his sacrifice necessary. Holy Cross Day is a bit more celebratory, focusing on the Cross as the sign of Christ's victory over sin and death. Where Good Friday emphasizes the figure of the crucified Christ, Holy Cross Day emphasizes Christus Victor, Christ reigning from the Cross as King. We need both perspectives.

Since this year Holy Cross Day falls on Sunday, at the 10 am Mass we shall be taking advantage of the permission given in the Prayer Book rubrics to substitute "the Collect, Preface, and one or more of the Lessons appointed for the feast ... for those of the Sunday" (p. 16). The propers of the Sunday will be kept at the 8 am Mass.     -- Fr. John D. Alexander

THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS

8 am – Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 19, Year A)
Genesis 50:15-21, Psalm 103:8-13, Romans 14:1-12, Matthew 18:21-35

10 am  – Holy Cross Day
Isaiah 45:21-25, Philippians 2:5-11; John 12:31-36a

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Episcopal Visitation -- we are pleased to announce that the Rt. Rev. W. Nicholas Knisely, XIII Bishop of Rhode Island, will make his first official Episcopal Visitation to S. Stephen's at the 10 am Mass on Sunday 5 October. Please plan to be on hand for this momentous occasion.

Fall Programs – The Schola Cantorum returns to begin a new season of choral Masses on Sunday 28 September. The new Liturgical Music and Programs and Events brochures are being printed and will be mailed soon.

Sunday School – Sunday School for the 2014-2015 program year begins next Sunday, September 21. (More details to follow.)

Episcopal Ministry at Brown / RISD – The Student Group begins its activities for the current academic year today with Evening Prayer in the Lady Chapel at 5:30 pm followed by supper. All students, undergraduate and graduate, are welcome and invited. For more information, please see Fr. Sawicky.

Wednesday Afternoon Teas – We continue offering tea in the Narthex Wednesday afternoons at 4 pm. This is a great opportunity to open the church to students and passersby, offer hospitality, and enjoy one another’s company. Any parishioners interested in helping out (for example, by bringing baked goods, cookies, or cupcakes) are invited to contact Fr. Sawicky. In any case, drop by, have a cup of tea and say hello! We pack up in time for Evening Prayer at 5:30.

Eucharistic Adoration -- beginning on Saturday 20 September, the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament will be sponsoring approximately an hour of silent prayer and meditation in the Lady Chapel before the Blessed Sacrament, beginning shortly after the end of the 9:30 am Mass, and concluding by 11 am. This traditional Eucharistic devotion will generally take place on the third Saturday of each month. All are welcome and invited to participate.

Flower Memorial Opportunities – We will have altar decorations for the Sunday of the Visitation of the Bishop on October 5. This would be an ideal time for someone who wants to order flowers for the High Altar or the statue of our Lady in memory of a loved one or in thanksgiving for blessings received. The cost per vase for the High Altar is $80 (both vases $160), and $65 for a vase at the Statue of our Lady. Please send a check to the parish office for the amount, and let Cory MacLean know the intentions for which the flowers are offered.

FOR YOUR PRAYERS

Prayers have been requested for: Nicholas, Nancy, Will, Townsend, Norman, David, Hannah, Kaitlyn, Mary, Harrington, Davaughn, Hugh, Beverly, Angela, Rhoda, Henry, Thomas,  James, Richard, Lynne, Kathleen, and Richard.

Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, please pray for The Anglican Church of Tanzania: The Most Rev’d Jacob Erasto Chimeledya, Archbishop of Tanzania & Bishop of Mpwapwa; and in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, please pray for the leadership and people of Holy Cross, Middletown; and for clergy of the Diocese: Robert Cummings, Clare Fischer-Davies, David Ryan, Daryl Stahl, Gordon Stenning.

THE SUNDAY ROTA

Acolytes - MC D Latimer; SD W Dilworth; Thurifer L Bledsoe; Crucifer D Callanan; Torches R Callanan, C Sylvia

Lector – T Johnson

Ushers – R Viti, P Pettingell

Coffee Hour – L Latimer & E Hooks

THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S

PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS

Saturday 20 September

Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2 pm

EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S

Friday 19 September
Reformed University Fellowship 7 pm

LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE

Sunday 14 September
FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST (G) – 8 AM
HOLY CROSS DAY (R) – 10 AM
Morning Prayer 7:30 am
Low Mass 8 am
Sung Mass 10 am
Campus Ministry Evening Prayer 5:30 pm

Weekday Office and Mass Lectionary: Proper 19, Year Two

Monday 15 September
Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, Martyr, 258 (R)
Our Lady of Sorrows (Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm

Tuesday 16 September
Ninian, Bishop of Galloway, Apostle of the Picts, c. 432 (W)
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:30 am

Wednesday 17 September
Hildegard, Abbess of Bingen, Visionary, 1179 (W)
Lambert, Bishop of Maastricht, Martyr, c. 705
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm

Thursday 18 September
Edward Bouverie Pusey, Priest, Tractarian, 1882 (W)
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:30 am

Friday 19 September
Theodore of Tarsus, Archbishop of Canterbury, 690 (W)
Angelus 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm

Saturday 20 September
John Coleridge Patteson, First Bishop of Melanesia, and Companions, Martyrs, 1871 (R)
Morning Prayer 9 am
Low Mass 9:30 am
Eucharistic Adoration 10 am

Sunday 21 September
FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST (G) -8 AM
SAINT MATTHEW (R) – 10 AM
Morning Prayer 7:30 am
Low Mass 8 am
Sung Mass 10 am
Campus Ministry Evening Prayer 5:30 pm

NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (September 21)

8 am – Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 20, Year A)
Jonah 3:10—4:11, Psalm 145:1-8, Philippians 1:21-30, Matthew 20:1-16

10 am – Saint Matthew
Proverbs 3:1-6, 2 Timothy 3:14-17, Matthew 9:9-13