ONLINE PARISH NOTES

SUNDAY 13 DECEMBER 2015

Baciccio, The Preaching of St. John the Baptist
c. 1690, the Louvre, Paris

FROM THE RECTOR

The Third Sunday of Advent is known as Gaudete ("Rejoice") Sunday on account of the first words of the Introit: "Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice." In keeping with this theme of rejoicing, we wear rose vestments and light the rose-colored candle in the Advent Wreath. The anticipation and hope associated with the season give us cause to rejoice indeed. Christ is coming. -- Fr. John D. Alexander

THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS

Advent III, Year C
Zephaniah 3:14-20
Canticle 9
Philippians 4:4-7
Luke 3:7-18

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Guest Preacher – This morning we welcome as guest preacher the Rt. Rev’d Daniel Martins, Bishop of the Diocese of Springfield, Illinois, at the 10 am Solemn Mass. Bp. Martins gave the addresses at our Advent Quiet Day yesterday. We are very glad to have him with us.

Christmas Flower Offering – If you would like to make a Christmas offering of flowers 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.

Eucharistic Adoration – This Saturday 19 December, the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament will sponsor 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. All are welcome and invited to participate.

Blue Heron Concert – Next Sunday 20 December at 4 pm, Blue Heron, Boston’s premier Renaissance choir, will perform their concert entitled Christmas in Medieval England here at S. Stephen’s Church. For tickets and information, visit their website.

EMBR – Sunday Evening Prayer with EMBR (Episcopal Ministry at Brown and RISD) will conclude for the semester this evening, and resume on January 27, 2016.

Schedule of Christmas Services – Christmas Eve: (Thursday, 24 December) Christmas Pageant & Family Mass - 5:30 pm; Solemn Mass of the Nativity -10:30 pm. Christmas Day: (Friday, 25 December) Morning Prayer 9 am, Low Mass 9:30 am. Please note that on the morning of Thursday 24 December Morning Prayer and Low Mass will be offered at the usual times.

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 (expire 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), Junior Warden (four-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 Patricia Barnes. Please speak to one of them if you have any suggestions for nominations.

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 email the parish office or phone 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.

New Year’s Day Dinner – Once again we will offer our annual New Year’s Day Dinner for those in need, on Friday 1 January 2016. If you can help, please email coordinator Sue Brazil, or contact the parish office at 421-6702 ext. 1, or email the parish office. 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)

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, Robert, Richard, Maureen, Sandy, Donald, Stephen, Angela, Bobby, Laura, Sally, Rhoda, Ned, Charles, Frederick, Henry, James, and Dianne.

Birthdays this week – Beverly Ryan (December 13) and Louise Wells (December 17).

The faithful departed: Year’s mind: Gerald Franklin Barrow (14 December 2007), Mary B. Trask (15 December 1984), Constance Margaret Maxwell and Dorothy Denison Dunlap (17 December 1986); Recently Departed: Maureen Mullaney.

Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, please pray for the Diocese of the Windward Islands (West Indies): The Rt. Rev’d Calvert Friday; 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 W Dilworth SD R Noble; Thurifer R Armidon; Crucifer Z Painter; Torches E Benziger, G Benziger
Lector – E Alexander
Ushers – R Widmer, T Oakes
Coffee Hour – Society of Mary

THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S

PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS

Thursday 17 December
Organ Tuning 9 am

EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S

Saturday 19 December
Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2 pm

Sunday 20 December
Blue Heron in concert 4 pm

LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE

Sunday 13 December
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT (R)
Morning Prayer 7:30 am
Low Mass 8 am
Solemn Mass 10 am
Evening Prayer with EMBR* 5:30 pm

Daily Office & Mass Lectionary: Advent 3, Year Two

Monday 14 December
John of the Cross, Mystic, Poet, Teacher, 1591 (W)
Alexander Heriot Mackonochie, Priest, 1887
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm

Tuesday 15 December
Tuesday in Advent III (V)
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:30 am

Wednesday 16 December
Wednesday in Advent III (V)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm

Thursday 17 December
Proper for 17 December (V)
O Sapientia
Raising of Lazarus
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:30 am

Friday 18 December
Proper for 18 December (V)
Angelus 12 Noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm

Saturday 19 December
Proper for 19 December (V)
Morning Prayer 9 am
Low Mass 9:30 am
Eucharistic Adoration 10 am (until 11 am)

Sunday 20 December
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT (V)
Morning Prayer 7:30 am
Low Mass 8 am
Solemn Mass 10 am

* EMBR = Episcopal Ministry at Brown and RISD

NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (December 20)

Advent IV, Year C
Micah 5:2-5a
Canticle 3 or 15, or Psalm 80:1-7;
Hebrews 10:5-10;
Luke 1:39-45(46-56)