ONLINE PARISH NOTES
SUNDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2015
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| Second Coming of Christ, Apse Mosaic in the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian, Rome, 7th Century |
FROM THE RECTOR
The first Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of a new liturgical year: a time of new beginnings and a marvelous opportunity to recommit ourselves to following Jesus Christ. The season of Advent also makes a wonderful antidote to the cloying quality of the secular world's commercial celebration of "the Christmas Season." Advent is a time of preparation, watching, and waiting. Christmas itself -- when it begins comes on the eve of December 25th and not before -- is all the more joyous if we have put in the preparation of a good Advent. This Sunday is the time to start.
-- Fr. John D. Alexander
THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS
Advent I, Year C
Jeremiah 33:14-16
Psalm 25:1-9
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
Luke 21:25-36
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 18th.
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 Lord. A reception follows in the Great Hall. All are welcome and invited to attend.
Saint Andrew the Apostle (November 30) – a major feast of the Church year, will be kept on Monday with Evening Prayer at 5:30 pm, followed by Low Mass at 6 pm.
Society of Mary – The Society of Mary will meet this Saturday 5 December following 9 am Morning Prayer, 9:30 Mass, and recitation of the Rosary. Everyone is invited.
Nominations Committee – candidates for the following positions need to be elected at the Annual Parish Meeting on January 24, 2016: three vestry members for four-year terms (expires Annual Meeting of 2020), one vestry member for a two-year term (expires Annual Meeting of 2018), two Diocesan Convention Delegates (one-year term), two Diocesan Convention Alternates (one-year term), Clerk of the Vestry (one-year term), and Treasurer (one-year term). The Nominations Committee consists of Sue Brazil (Chair), Bill Dilworth, Nancy Gingrich, Richard Noble, and Patti Barnes.
Advent Quiet Day – On Saturday 12 December from 9 am to 2:30 pm, we will offer our annual Advent Quiet Day, with addresses by The Rt. Rev. Daniel Martins, Bishop of Springfield, Illinois. 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. (Financial assistance is available if this may cause a hardship; please speak confidentially to one of the clergy.) So we have an idea of how many to plan for, please RSVP the parish office by Friday, December 11, indicating your intention 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 20 December) and Christmas Eve (Thursday 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 Thursday, 24 December at 5:30 pm. Children of all ages are welcome to participate. Please see Alison Huff for details.
Prayers have been requested for – Nicholas, Robert, Patricia, Nancy, Townsend, Norman, Elva, Ethel, Andrea, Michael, Mark, Sue, Hannah, Kaitlyn, Mary, Gus, Deborah, Peter, Harrington, Kate, Davaughn, Rob, Bernice, Ellen-Jean, Richard, Maureen, Sandy, Donald, Stephen, Angela, Bobby, Laura, Sally, Rhoda, Ned, Charles, Frederick, Henry, James, and Dianne.
Birthdays this week – Sandra Bartlett (December 2).
The faithful departed – Year's mind: Martha Saunders (29 November 1989), Jimmy Chancy Black (4 December 1992).
Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, please pray for the Diocese of West Malaysia (South East Asia): The Rt. Rev’d Ng Moon Hing; Assistant Bishop of West Malaysia (South East Asia): The Rt. Rev’d Andrew Phang; Assistant Bishop of West Malaysia (South East Asia): The Rt. Rev’d Jason Selvaraj; and in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, please pray for the leadership and people of St. Andrew’s, Little Compton, and the leadership and students of St. Andrew’s School, Barrington.
Acolytes - MC R Noble SD S Brazil; Thurifer D Latimer; Crucifer W Dilworth; Torches V Johnson, L Rejto
Lector – P Martin
Ushers – R Viti, N Gingrich
Coffee Hour – Rejto/Elliot Family
PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS
Sunday 29 November
Advent Lessons & Carols Reception (following 5:30 pm service)
Saturday 5 December
Society of Mary (following Low Mass & Recitation of the Rosary)
EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S
Saturday 28 November
Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2 pm
LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE
Sunday 29 November
FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT (V)
Morning Prayer 7:30 am
Low Mass 8 am
Solemn Mass 10 am
Advent Lessons & Carols 5:30 pm
Daily Office & Mass Lectionary: Advent 1, Year Two
Monday 30 November
SAINT ANDREW THE APOSTLE (R)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
Tuesday 1 December
Tuesday in Advent I (V)
Nicholas Ferrar, Deacon, 1637
Charles de Foucauld, Hermit, 1916
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:30 am
Wednesday 2 December
Wednesday in Advent I (V)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
Thursday 3 December
Francis Xavier, Apostle of the Indies, Missionary, 1552 (W)
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:30 am
Friday 4 December
John of Damascus, Monk, Teacher, c. 749 (W)
Angelus 12 Noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Saturday 5 December
Saturday in Advent I (V)
Clement of Alexandria, Priest, Teacher, c. 210
Morning Prayer 9 am
Low Mass 9:30 am
Holy Rosary 10 am
Sunday 6 December
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT (V)
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 6)
Advent II, Year C
Baruch 5:1-9 or Malachi 3:1-4
Canticle 4 or 16
Philippians 1:3-11
Luke 3:1-6
Psalm 25:1-9
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
Luke 21:25-36
ANNOUNCEMENTS
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 18th.
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 Lord. A reception follows in the Great Hall. All are welcome and invited to attend.
Saint Andrew the Apostle (November 30) – a major feast of the Church year, will be kept on Monday with Evening Prayer at 5:30 pm, followed by Low Mass at 6 pm.
Society of Mary – The Society of Mary will meet this Saturday 5 December following 9 am Morning Prayer, 9:30 Mass, and recitation of the Rosary. Everyone is invited.
Nominations Committee – candidates for the following positions need to be elected at the Annual Parish Meeting on January 24, 2016: three vestry members for four-year terms (expires Annual Meeting of 2020), one vestry member for a two-year term (expires Annual Meeting of 2018), two Diocesan Convention Delegates (one-year term), two Diocesan Convention Alternates (one-year term), Clerk of the Vestry (one-year term), and Treasurer (one-year term). The Nominations Committee consists of Sue Brazil (Chair), Bill Dilworth, Nancy Gingrich, Richard Noble, and Patti Barnes.
Advent Quiet Day – On Saturday 12 December from 9 am to 2:30 pm, we will offer our annual Advent Quiet Day, with addresses by The Rt. Rev. Daniel Martins, Bishop of Springfield, Illinois. 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. (Financial assistance is available if this may cause a hardship; please speak confidentially to one of the clergy.) So we have an idea of how many to plan for, please RSVP the parish office by Friday, December 11, indicating your intention 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 20 December) and Christmas Eve (Thursday 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 Thursday, 24 December at 5:30 pm. Children of all ages are welcome to participate. Please see Alison Huff for details.
FOR YOUR PRAYERS
Prayers have been requested for – Nicholas, Robert, Patricia, Nancy, Townsend, Norman, Elva, Ethel, Andrea, Michael, Mark, Sue, Hannah, Kaitlyn, Mary, Gus, Deborah, Peter, Harrington, Kate, Davaughn, Rob, Bernice, Ellen-Jean, Richard, Maureen, Sandy, Donald, Stephen, Angela, Bobby, Laura, Sally, Rhoda, Ned, Charles, Frederick, Henry, James, and Dianne.
Birthdays this week – Sandra Bartlett (December 2).
The faithful departed – Year's mind: Martha Saunders (29 November 1989), Jimmy Chancy Black (4 December 1992).
Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, please pray for the Diocese of West Malaysia (South East Asia): The Rt. Rev’d Ng Moon Hing; Assistant Bishop of West Malaysia (South East Asia): The Rt. Rev’d Andrew Phang; Assistant Bishop of West Malaysia (South East Asia): The Rt. Rev’d Jason Selvaraj; and in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, please pray for the leadership and people of St. Andrew’s, Little Compton, and the leadership and students of St. Andrew’s School, Barrington.
THE SUNDAY ROTA
Acolytes - MC R Noble SD S Brazil; Thurifer D Latimer; Crucifer W Dilworth; Torches V Johnson, L Rejto
Lector – P Martin
Ushers – R Viti, N Gingrich
Coffee Hour – Rejto/Elliot Family
THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S
PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS
Sunday 29 November
Advent Lessons & Carols Reception (following 5:30 pm service)
Saturday 5 December
Society of Mary (following Low Mass & Recitation of the Rosary)
EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S
Saturday 28 November
Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2 pm
LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE
Sunday 29 November
FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT (V)
Morning Prayer 7:30 am
Low Mass 8 am
Solemn Mass 10 am
Advent Lessons & Carols 5:30 pm
Daily Office & Mass Lectionary: Advent 1, Year Two
Monday 30 November
SAINT ANDREW THE APOSTLE (R)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
Tuesday 1 December
Tuesday in Advent I (V)
Nicholas Ferrar, Deacon, 1637
Charles de Foucauld, Hermit, 1916
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:30 am
Wednesday 2 December
Wednesday in Advent I (V)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
Thursday 3 December
Francis Xavier, Apostle of the Indies, Missionary, 1552 (W)
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:30 am
Friday 4 December
John of Damascus, Monk, Teacher, c. 749 (W)
Angelus 12 Noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Saturday 5 December
Saturday in Advent I (V)
Clement of Alexandria, Priest, Teacher, c. 210
Morning Prayer 9 am
Low Mass 9:30 am
Holy Rosary 10 am
Sunday 6 December
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT (V)
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 6)
Advent II, Year C
Baruch 5:1-9 or Malachi 3:1-4
Canticle 4 or 16
Philippians 1:3-11
Luke 3:1-6
