ONLINE PARISH NOTES

SUNDAY 6 DECEMBER 2015

Jacopo del Casentino and Assistant: Saint John the Baptist
c. 1330. El Paso Museum of Art

FROM THE RECTOR

The second Sunday of Advent takes us out into the wilderness to meet the strange and mysterious character of John the Baptist, "the voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight'." His is a refreshing voice amidst the dreadful schlock of the secular world's premature celebration of "the Christmas season." Come join us for a bracing antidote to all false sentimentality: an opportunity to prepare for the true joy that lies ahead. -- Fr. John D. Alexander

THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS

Advent II, Year C
Baruch 5:1-9
Canticle 4
Philippians 1:3-11Luke 3:1-6

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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.

Commemoration of December Departed – those on the parish Year’s Mind list whose anniversaries fall during December will be prayed for at the Mass on Monday 7 December 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 or Fr. Yost and come join us if you can.

Advent Quiet Day – This Saturday 12 December from 9 am to 2 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 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 the parish office or by calling Cory MacLean at 421-6702, ext. 1.

Blue Heron Concert – On 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.

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 Christmas Eve (Thursday) 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), 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 email the parish office or call 421-6702 ext. 1. 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 – Lisa Elliot (December 8), Beverly Myers (December 9), and Lynne DeBenedette (December 10).

The faithful departed: Year’s mind: Homer Shirley (7 December 2013), Lillian Lynch (9 December 1990), George W. Lockwood (10 December 2001), and Elinor Elizabeth Ripley (10 December, 1984). Recently Departed: Maureen Mullaney.

Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, please pray for the Diocese of Western Louisiana (VII, The Episcopal Church): The Rt. Rev’d Jacob W Owensby; 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 R Armidon; Thurifer D Latimer; Crucifer S Brazil; Torches R Callanan, C Sylvia
Lector – W Dilworth
Ushers – S Newby, K Benziger
Coffee Hour – T Oakes, P Fuller, K Vorbeck Williams

THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S

PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS

Tuesday 8 December
Vestry Meeting 7 pm

Saturday 12 December
Advent Quiet Day 9 am – 2 pm

EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S

Saturday 12 December
Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2 pm
Brown Madrigal Concert 7 pm

LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE

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

Daily Office & Mass Lectionary: Advent 2, Year Two

Monday 7 December
Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, Teacher, 397 (W)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm

Tuesday 8 December
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (Blue)
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:30 am

Wednesday 9 December
Wednesday in Advent II (V)

Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm

Thursday 10 December
Thursday in Advent II (V)
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:30 am

Friday 11 December
Friday in Advent II (V)
Angelus 12 Noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm

Saturday 12 December
Saturday in Advent II (V)
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Finnian, Abbot of Clonard, 549Morning Prayer 9 am
Low Mass 9:30 am
Angelus & Noonday Prayer 12:15 pm

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

* EMBR = Episcopal Ministry at Brown and RISD

NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (December 13)

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