ONLINE PARISH NOTES

SUNDAY 17 JANUARY 2016

Duccio Di Buoninsegna, Wedding at Cana, 1308-1311

FROM THE RECTOR

This Sunday we contemplate our Lord's changing water into wine at the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee, the first of his miracles or "signs," and the third great Epiphany of his identity as the Son of God. Please join us as we celebrate. -- Fr. John D. Alexander

THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS

Second Sunday after the Epiphany, Year C
Isaiah 62:1-5
Psalm 36: 5-10
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
John 2:1-11

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 18) – As on all public holidays falling on Monday, Low Mass will be celebrated at 9:30 am, preceded by Morning Prayer at 9; with prayers and readings for The Confession of Saint Peter the Apostle (Saint Peter’s Chair at Rome). This feast begins the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

Annual Meeting – Please join us next Sunday, January 24th, after the 10 am Mass for the Annual Meeting of the parish. We need volunteers to bring food and beverages, and someone to manage the food setup. Please contact Junior Warden Susan Brazil, or Cory MacLean in the parish office if you can help. All are welcome and invited to attend, although only active adult parishioners in good standing may vote. (If you have questions about your status as a parishioner, please ask Fr. Alexander. According to the canons of the Episcopal Church adults are 16 years old and older.)

Nominations Committee – The slate of nominees for election at the Annual Parish Meeting on January 24, 2016 is as follows: three vestry members for four-year terms (expire Annual Meeting of 2020): Patricia Barnes, Bruce Lennihan, and Frank Pisaturo; one vestry member for a two-year term (expires Annual Meeting of 2018): Danielle Latimer; two Diocesan Convention Delegates (one-year term): Richard Noble and Frank Pisaturo; two Diocesan Convention Alternates (one-year term): Cathy Bledsoe and Modu Johnson; Junior Warden (three-year term): Susan Brazil; Clerk of the Vestry (one-year term): Phoebe Pettingell; and Treasurer (one-year term): Ransom Widmer.

Episcopal Ministry at Brown and RISD (EMBR) – Sunday evening prayer with EMBR will resume next Sunday, January 24, 2016.

Solemn Mass & Procession for Candlemas – On Tuesday 2 February at 6 pm we will celebrate the feast of The Presentation of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple (also known as the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Candlemas), with Solemn Mass and Procession. This will be a joint celebration with Saint John’s, Newport; Fr. Nathan Humphrey will be the preacher. A reception will follow. Please mark this important occasion on your calendars and plan on attending.

Lent is Coming – and that means that our Annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper and Ash Wednesday are not far off. Our annual pancake supper will be on Tuesday 9 February from 5:30 – 7 pm. Ash Wednesday services on February 10: Morning Prayer & Blessing of the Ashes at 8 am, with Sung Mass at 6 pm.

FOR YOUR PRAYERS

Prayers have been requested for: Elizabeth, Nicholas, Robert, Patricia, Nancy, Townsend, Norman, Elva, Ethel, Andrea, Michael, Mark, Sue, Hannah, Kaitlyn, Mary, Gus, Deborah, Peter, Harrington, Kate, Davaughn, Bernice, Rob, Ellen-Jean, Robert, Richard, Maureen, Sandy, Stephen, Michael, Angela, Bobby, Laura, Sally, Rhoda, Ned, Charles, Frederick, Henry, James, and Dianne.

Birthdays this week – Danielle Latimer (January 22)

The faithful departed: Year’s mind: John Arthur Clark (20 January 2008), Ellsworth E. R. Wallace (21 January 1987), Ruth B. Bodell (21 January 1985), and Gordon Bramwell (22 January 2002); Recently Departed: Laurie Thissell.

Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, please pray for the Church of Bangladesh: The Most Rev’d Paul Shishir Sarker, Moderator, Church of Bangladesh & Bishop of Dhaka; and in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, please pray for our retired bishops George Hunt and Geralyn Wolf.

THE SUNDAY ROTA

Acolytes - MC S Brazil; SD D Latimer; Thurifer R Armidon; Crucifer W Dilworth; Torches J Rice, R Callanan

Lector – P Pettingell
Ushers – K Benziger, G Ryan
Coffee Hour – Johnson family

THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S

PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS

Sunday 24 January

178th Annual Meeting (following the 10 am Mass)

EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S

Saturday 23 January

Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2 pm

LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE

Sunday 17 January

THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY (G)
Morning Prayer 7:30 am
Low Mass 8 am
Solemn Mass 10 am

Daily Office and Mass Lectionary for Epiphany II, Year Two

Monday 18 January

THE CONFESSION OF SAINT PETER THE APOSTLE (SAINT PETER’S CHAIR AT ROME) (W)
Morning Prayer 9 am
Low Mass 9:30 am

Tuesday 19 January
Wulfstan, Bishop of Worcester, 1095 (W)
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:30 am

Wednesday 20 January
Fabian, Bishop of Rome, Martyr, 250, and Sebastian, Martyr at Rome, c. 288 (R)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm

Thursday 21 January
Agnes, Martyr at Rome, 304 (R)
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:30 am

Friday 22 January
Vincent, Deacon of Saragossa and Martyr, 250 (R)
Angelus 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm

Saturday 23 January
Feria (G)
Morning Prayer 9 am
Low Mass 9:30 am

Sunday 24 January
THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY (G)
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 (January 24)

Third Sunday after the Epiphany, Year C

Nehemiah 8: 1-3, 5-6, 8-10
Psalm 19
1 Corinthians 12: 12-31a
Luke 4:14-21