ONLINE PARISH NOTES

Sunday 22 March 2015

Giotto di Bondone, Crucifixion,
Lower Basilica, Assisi, c. 1310

FROM THE RECTOR

In this Sunday's Gospel reading, Jesus speaks of his coming death in terms of being "lifted up." Now is the judgment of this world, now shall the ruler of this world be cast out; and I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” He said this to show by what death he was to die. 

Arthur Michael Ramsey, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1961 to 1974, wrote in his book The Christian Priest Today (1972): "Besides being the events which brought Christianity to birth the Death and Resurrection are the events which characterize the nature of Christianity. It is a gospel of life through death, of losing life so as to find it. Thus, the Christian's act of allegiance to the risen Lord Jesus was, and still is, an act of acceptance of the way of the Cross. So too the act of faith in the Christian God is an act which sees the sacrifice of self right down to the point of death and destruction, and then says: This, and only this, is the sovereign power of God."

We cannot rise to the challenge and realize the promise of this life -- dying to self to rise to new life in Christ -- on our own as isolated individuals. We need the active support and fellowship of a community committed to walking this path and living this life together. In Ramsey's words: 

"So the Church is called to be the fellowship of Christ crucified and risen. In the Eucharist it proclaims Christ's death and feeds upon its life. We are familiar with this, but how tremendous are the implications. It implies a fellowship of Christians marked by an unselfish openness to one another in Christ's name, a like openness to the service of the community and a commitment to the way which led to Calvary."

This Sunday, the Fifth Sunday in Lent, used to be known as "Passion Sunday." Come to Mass and experience -- and make your own unique contribution to -- the life of a parish community seeking to follow in the way of the Lord's Cross.         -- Fr. John D. Alexander

THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS

The Fifth Sunday of Lent, Year B
Jeremiah 31:31-34, Psalm 51:1-13, Hebrews 5:5-10, John 12:20-33

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Stations of the Cross & Stabat Mater – This evening at 5:30 pm, we will offer Choral Stations of the Cross, featuring the Schola Cantorum singing Orlande de Lassus’s Stabat Mater à 8 voci. All are welcome and invited to attend.

The Annunciation (March 25) – This Wednesday evening, we will offer Sung Evensong and Mass for the Feast of the Annunciation at 5:30 and 6 pm respectively in the Lady Chapel. Our guest preacher will be The Rev’d Nathan J. A. Humphrey, Vicar of St. John the Evangelist in Newport.

The Way of the Cross – This Friday evening (March 27th) we offer the final installment this year of Evening Prayer and Stations of the Cross at 6 pm.

Bring 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, please bring it and join in.

Vigil at the Altar of Repose – There is a signup sheet in the narthex for the Vigil at the Altar of Repose, which begins on Maundy Thursday, April 2nd, after the completion of the 7:30 pm Liturgy, and ends at midnight. Come watch with Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane.

Easter Vigil Reception – Trays of ready-to-serve savory and sweet treats are needed for the reception following Easter Vigil (April 4th) in the Library. If you can prepare something, please contact Cory MacLean at 421-6702, ext.1, or via email at office@sstephens.necoxmail.com.

Easter Flowers – If you would like to make a flower offering at Easter – in thanksgiving or in memoriam - please fill out the enclosed envelope and either put it in the offering plate or return it to the parish office no later than Wednesday 25 March.

FOR YOUR PRAYERS

Prayers have been requested for: Joyce, Nicholas, Patricia, Jonno, Patrick, Townsend, Norman, Andrea, Marion, Sue, Hannah, Kaitlyn, Mary, Gus, Harrington, Kate, Davaughn, Richard, Angela, Sally, Rhoda, Ned, Henry, James, Richard, and Dianne.

The faithful departed: Year’s mind: Richard A. Mayforth (22 March 1998), Corinne Esther Joslin (23 March 1984), Virginia Marie Disley (24 March 1990), Bette Drayton (26 March 2004), and Dorothy Adams Bellman (27 March 2005).

Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, please pray for the Church in Morogoro - (Tanzania): The Rt. Rev’d Godfrey Sehaba; and in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, please pray for retired clergy of the Diocese.

THE SUNDAY ROTA

Acolytes - MC S Brazil; SD W Dilworth; Thurifer D Latimer; Crucifer L Verdelotti, Torches R Callanan, DO Latimer
Lector – E Alexander
Ushers – B Lennihan, J Steiny
Coffee Hour – N Gingrich, S Brazil K Vorbeck Williams

THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S

PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS

Saturday 28 March
Acolyte Rehearsal (for Palm Sunday) 10:30 am
Altar Guild Cleanup Day (following the 9:30 am Mass)

(Please note that there is no Altar Guild Cleanup Day on Saturday 28 March)

EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S

Saturday 28 March
Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2 pm


LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE

Sunday 29 March
THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT (V)
Morning Prayer 7:30 am
Low Mass 8 am
Solemn Mass 10 am
Choral Stations of the Cross & Stabat Mater 5:30 pm

Weekday Office and Mass Lectionary: Week of Lent 5, Year 1

Monday 23 March
Monday in V Lent (V)
(Gregory the Illuminator, Bishop and Missionary of Armenia, c. 332)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm

Tuesday 24 March
Tuesday in V Lent (V)
(Oscar Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador, Martyr, 1980)
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:30 am

Wednesday 25 March
THE ANNUNCIATION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST (W)
Evensong 5:30 pm
Sung Mass 6 pm

Thursday 26 March
Thursday in V Lent (V)
(Harriet Monsell, Founder of the Community of Saint John the Baptist, Clewer, 1883)
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:30 am

Friday 27 March
Friday in V Lent (V)
(Charles Henry Brent, Bishop of the Philippines, and of Western New York, 1922)
Angelus 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Evening Prayer and Stations of the Cross 6 pm

Saturday 28 March
Saturday in V Lent (V)
Morning Prayer 9 am
Low Mass 9:30 am

Sunday 29 March
THE SUNDAY OF THE PASSION: PALM SUNDAY (R)
Morning Prayer 7:30 am
Low Mass 8 am
Liturgy of the Palms and Solemn Mass of the Lord’s Passion 10 am

NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (March 29)

Palm Sunday, Year B (Revised Common Lectionary)

Liturgy of the Palms 
Mark 11:1-11

Liturgy of the Passion

Isaiah 50:4-9a   Psalm           Philippians 2:5-11    Mark 14:32-15:47