ONLINE PARISH NOTES

Sunday, December 7, 2014

FROM THE RECTOR

We seem to be hearing a lot this year about the observance of Advent as an opportunity to "slow down," "relax," and "take a breather" in the midst of the pre-Christmas madness of shopping and (premature) holiday festivities. That might be good advice in itself, but it's not what the appointed Scripture readings for Advent are telling us to do. In last week's Gospel, Our Lord solemnly warns us to watch and stay awake, alert and prepared, lest he come suddenly and find us asleep. In this week's Gospel, the crowds go out to John the Baptist in the wilderness to receive his baptism and confess their sins (and not to slow down, relax, or take a breather!). Keeping a good Advent entails disciplines of spiritual preparation for the Coming of the Lord. The time to relax and enjoy ourselves will come -- ideally during the Twelve Days of Christmas! -- but it is not yet. In the meantime, we do well to take advantage of all the opportunities that the Church offers us to keep Advent intentionally and seriously.  -- Fr. John D. Alexander

THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS

Advent II, Year B
Isaiah 40:1-11, Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13, 16-18; 2 Peter 3:8-15a, Mark 1:1-8

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Advent Lessons & Carols – This evening at 5:30 pm we will offer our annual service of Lessons & Carols. Seasonal readings and musical selections set the stage as we prepare for the coming of the infant Lord. A reception follows in the Great Hall. All are welcome and invited to attend. (Father Alexander will have signed copies of Dawn from on High, his book of homilies for Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany, for sale at the reception.)

Commemoration of December Departed – Those on the parish Year’s Mind list whose anniversaries fall during December will be prayed for at the Mass tomorrow, Monday 8 December (The Feast of the Immaculate Conception), at 6 pm. If you have names of departed family or friends to be remembered, please send them to Fr. Alexander at rector@sstephens.necoxmail.com and come join us if you can. The Parish Branch of The Guild of All Souls will meet following Mass for fellowship at a suitable location on Thayer Street. Everyone is welcome and invited to join us.

Advent Quiet Day – This Saturday 13 December from 9 am to 2:30 pm, we will offer our annual Advent Quiet Day, with addresses by The Rev’d Canon Scott Gunn, Executive Director of Forward Movement Publications in Cincinnati, Ohio. We will begin as usual with Morning Prayer at 9 am, and Mass at 9:30 am followed by a light breakfast. The day will include a simple catered lunch, and we will conclude at 2:30 pm. The donation is $15 per person, payable on the day, which will help cover the cost of both breakfast and lunch. (Assistance is available to anyone for whom this may be a hardship.) So we have an idea of how many to plan for, please RSVP the parish office by Wednesday 10 December, indicating your plans to attend, via email to office@sstephens.necoxmail.com, or by calling Cory MacLean at 421-6702, ext. 1.

Christmas Decorations – This year we hope to engage a group of volunteers to decorate the church between Advent IV (Sunday 21 December) and Christmas Eve (Wednesday 24 December). If you are interested in joining in this festive tradition, please contact the parish office via email to office@sstephens.necoxmail.com or phone at 421-6702, ext. 1.

Christmas Pageant and Family Mass – The Sunday School will be presenting its annual Christmas Eve Pageant at the Family Mass on Wednesday, 24 December at 5:30 pm. Children of all ages are welcome to participate. Please see Alison Huff or Devon Callanan for details.

New Year’s Day Dinner – Once again we will offer our annual New Year’s Day Dinner for those in need, on Thursday 1 January 2015. If you can help, please contact coordinator Sue Brazil at Sueb265@hotmail.com, or contact the parish office at 421-6702 ext. 1 or office@sstephens.necoxmail.com. We welcome new scarves, mittens, hats and socks, as well as personal hygiene products such as soaps and toothbrushes. For I was hungry, and you gave me food: I was thirsty, and you gave me drink: I was a stranger, and you welcomed me… Matthew 25:35

Christmas Flower Offering – If you would like to make a Christmas offering of flowers to the church in thanksgiving or in memoriam, please fill out the envelope included with today’s Kalendar, and put it in the offering plate or bring it to the parish office no later than Friday December 19th.

Nominations Committee – candidates for the following positions need to be elected at the Annual Parish Meeting on January 25, 2015: Vestry – one four-year term (incumbent is eligible for re-election); Treasurer – one year term; Clerk – one year term; Diocesan Convention – two Delegates, two Alternates, one-year term. The Nominations Committee consists of Susan Brazil (Chair), John Chamberlin, Modu Johnson, Erica Medvedev, and Charles Rejto.

FOR YOUR PRAYERS

Prayers have been requested for: Maggie, Nicholas, Jonno, Nancy, Patrick, Will, Townsend, Norman, Andrea, Hannah, Kaitlyn, Mary, Harrington, Davaughn, Steven, Richard, Beverly, Deborah, Beverly, Angela, Rhoda, Henry, James, Richard, Lynne, Dianne, Kathleen, and Richard.

The faithful departed: Year’s mind: Lillian Lynch (9 December 1990), George W. Lockwood (10 December 2001), and Elinor Elizabeth Ripley (10 December 1984), Recently Departed: James Verber, Priest.

Birthdays this week: Beverly Myers (9 December), Beverly Ryan (13 December).

Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, please pray for pray the Church in Kinkizi - (Uganda): The Rt. Rev’d Dan Zoreka; and in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, please pray for the leadership and people of Emmanuel, Cumberland and Emmanuel, Newport.

THE SUNDAY ROTA

Acolytes - MC R Noble; SD W Dilworth; Thurifer J Starks; Crucifer R Himes; Torches G Benziger, R Callanan, J Rejto
Lector – J Chamberlin
Ushers – E Drew, K Benziger
Coffee Hour – Sunday School

THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S

PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS

Sunday 7 December
Advent Lessons & Carols 5:30 pm (Reception following)

Monday 8 December

Guild of All Souls (following Low Mass)

Wednesday 9 December
Afternoon Tea 4 pm

Saturday 13 December
Advent Quiet Day 9 am – 2:30 pm

EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S

Saturday 13 December
Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2 pm

LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE

Sunday 7 December
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT (Blue)
Morning Prayer 7:30 am
Low Mass 8 am
Solemn Mass 10 am
Advent Lessons & Carols 5:30 pm

Weekday Office and Mass Lectionary: Advent II, Year 1

Monday 8 December
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (Blue)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass (with Commemoration of December Departed) 6 pm

Tuesday 9 December
Tuesday in Advent II (V)
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:30 am

Wednesday 10 December

Wednesday in Advent II (V)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm

Thursday 11 December
Thursday in Advent II (V)
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:30 am

Friday 12 December
Friday in Advent II (V)
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Finnian, Abbot of Clonard, 549
Angelus 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm

Saturday 13 December
(ADVENT QUIET DAY)
Lucy, Martyr at Syracuse, 304 (R)
Morning Prayer 9 am
Low Mass 9:30 am
Angelus & Noonday Prayer 12:15 pm

Sunday 14 December
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT (Rose)
Morning Prayer 7:30 am
Low Mass 8 am
Solemn Mass 10 am
Evening Prayer with EMBR* 5:30 pm

*EMBR = Episcopal Ministry at Brown and RISD


NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (December 14)

Advent III, Year B
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11, Psalm 126, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24,
John 1:6-8, 19-28