ONLINE PARISH NOTES

30 AUGUST 2015

Contemporary Coptic Icon of Moses the Lawgiver

FROM THE RECTOR

 Our Old Testament reading for this Sunday is from the Book of Deuteronomy. Throughout history, some Christians have been tempted to see a contrast between the wrathful and vengeful God of the Old Testament and the loving Father revealed in the New Testament. But such a contrast is absolutely false; the Church condemned it in the second century as the Marcionite heresy, after the teacher Marcion who was one of its earliest proponents. The God of the Old Testament is one and the same with the God of the New Testament. In the Old Testament, God reveals the Law as his greatest gift to his Chosen People Israel. In the New Testament Jesus interprets this same Law, revealing the true depths of its inner meaning. We see this process at work in the interplay between this Sunday's Old Testament and Gospel readings. Come, join us, as we explore these themes further. -- Fr. John D. Alexander

P.S. The Coptic Christian icon reproduced above depicts Moses the Lawgiver as one of the saints of God. The enlarged face and head in relation to the body and hands is a characteristic feature of Coptic (Egyptian Christian) iconography. In the upper right corner, the name "Moses" is spelled in Greek letters. He holds the two tables of the Law, with the Ten Commandments represented by the first ten characters of the Hebrew alphabet, beginning with "aleph' in the upper left and concluding with "yod" in the bottom right. (In actual Hebrew, however, this would be done more correctly beginning at the upper right and ending at the bottom left.)

THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS

Proper 17, Year B
Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9
Psalm 15 

James 1:17-27
Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-2

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Society of Mary – will meet this Saturday 5 September for 9 am Morning Prayer, 9:30 Mass, and recitation of the Rosary. Everyone is invited.

Move In day for new Brown students - is this Saturday, September 5th, and the Episcopal Ministry at Brown and RISD will be welcoming them with a table outside the church offering refreshments. We will also have the church open and would appreciate volunteers from the parish to greet visitors. If you can commit some time on Saturday, please sign up in the narthex.

Fall Programs – Our new program year begins on Sunday 13 September with the return of the Schola Cantorum to Solemn Mass at 10 on Sundays and the start of our Sunday School program. Our Parish Programs & Events and Liturgical Music Brochures will be arriving in your mailbox in the near future.

FOR YOUR PRAYERS

Prayers have been requested for: Nicholas, Patricia, Jonno, Nancy, Townsend, Norman, Elva, Ethel, Andrea, Marion, Sue, Hannah, Kaitlyn, Mary, Gus, Harrington, Kate, Davaughn, Bernice, Ellen-Jean, Richard, Maureen, Sandy, Stephen, Angela, Bobby, Sally, Rhoda, Ned, Henry, James, and Dianne.

The faithful departed: Year’s mind: Eleanor Fayerweather (30 August 1992), Robert Thomas McElligott (2 September 1989), and Malcolm Donald Hyman (4 September 2009).

Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, please pray for the Church Sebei (Uganda): The Rt. Rev. Augustine Arapyona Salimo; and in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, please pray for the leadership and people of St. Augustine's, Kingston.

THE SUNDAY ROTA

Acolytes - MC W Dilworth; SD S Brazil; Thurifer R Armidon; Crucifer Z Painter; Torches K Rejto, L Rejto
Lector – M Johnson
Ushers – T Oakes, R Widmer
Coffee Hour – T & C Bledsoe

THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S

PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS

Saturday 5 September
Society of Mary (following Low Mass & Recitation of the Rosary)

EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S

Saturday 5 September
Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2 pm

LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE

Sunday 30 August
FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST (G)
Morning Prayer 7:30 am
Low Mass 8 am
Sung Mass 10 am

Daily Office & Mass Lectionary: Proper 17, Year 1

Monday 31 August
Aidan, Bishop of Lindisfarne, Missionary, 651 (W)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm

Tuesday 1 September
Giles of Provence, Hermit, c. 710 (W)
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:30 am

Wednesday 2 September
The Martyrs of Papua New Guinea, 1942 (R)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm

Thursday 3 September
Phoebe, Companion of Saint Paul, Deaconess, 1st century (W)
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:30 am

Friday 4 September
Birinus, Bishop of Dorchester, Apostle of Wessex, 650 (W)
Angelus 12 Noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm

Saturday 5 September
Boris & Gleb (Romanus & David), Princes, Martyrs, 1015 (R)
Morning Prayer 9 am
Low Mass 9:30 am
Holy Rosary 10 am

Sunday 6 September
FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST (G)
Morning Prayer 7:30 am
Low Mass 8 am
Sung Mass 10 am

NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (September 6)

Proper 18, Year B
Isaiah 35:4-7a
Psalm 146
James 2:1-10 (11-13) 14-18
Mark 7:31-37