ONLINE PARISH NOTES
SUNDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2016
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| Moses and the Burning Bush Byzantine Mosaic, St. Catherine's Monastery, Sinai, 6th century |
FROM THE RECTOR
The Christian life has sometimes been described as the attempt to live well in this life to be prepared for eternal blessedness in the next. Sometimes, however, the two halves of that equation come into tension. We can become so preoccupied with living well in this life that we forget the next. Conversely, we can become so preoccupied with the next life that we forget to make the most of the present moment! The Season of Lent comes around every year to remind us that we live in the midst of a world that is passing away. It's not quite true to say that "all good things come to an end," because as Christians we believe that we are called to enjoy the supreme Good, God himself, the Holy and Undivided Trinity, for eternity. But to prepare ourselves for what lies ahead, we need to practice letting go of the lesser goods that all too easily become substitutes for the ultimate Good that is our true calling. That is the point of "giving things up for Lent" -- not self-denial for the sake of self-denial but for the sake of opening ourselves up to a greater reward and fulfillment than we ever dreamed possible.
-- Fr. John D. Alexander
Third Sunday of Lent, Year C
Exodus 3:1-15
Psalm 63:1-8
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Luke 13:1-9
Stations of the Cross, Supper, & Lenten Series – This year’s Lenten Series, entitled “Christianity, War, and Peace: Five Ethical Traditions” continues this Friday evening, beginning at 6 pm with Stations of the Cross, followed by a light dinner and Fr. Alexander’s talk.
Lenten Quiet Day – This Saturday 5 March, we will offer our annual Lenten Quiet Day, with meditations by The Rt. Rev. Russell E. Jacobus, Retired Bishop of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The day begins with Morning Prayer at 9 am, followed by Low Mass and a light breakfast. Silence begins at 10:30 am with Bishop Jacobus’s first meditation. Following a second meditation we will celebrate Angelus and Noonday Prayer at 12:15, followed by luncheon, a final meditation and tea and discussion at 2 pm. The suggested donation is $15 per person, payable on the day. Please let the parish office know in advance if you plan to attend; via phone 421-6702, ext. 1 or email office@sstephens.necoxmail.com. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Easter Flowers – If you would like to make a flower offering at Easter – in thanksgiving or in memoriam - please fill out the enclosed envelope and either put it in the offering plate or return it to the parish office no later than Wednesday 16 March.
Prayers have been requested for: Elizabeth, Nicholas, Patricia, Nancy, Townsend, Norman, Elva, Ethel, Andrea, Michael, Mark, Benjamin, Michael, Hannah, Kaitlyn, Mary, Gus, Deborah, Peter, Harrington, Kate, Davaughn, Bernice, Richard, Ellen-Jean, Sandy, Thom, Stephen, Michael, Angela, Bobby, Laura, Loretto, Sally, Rhoda, Ned, Charles, Frederick, Henry, James, and Dianne.
The faithful departed: Jane Graves Raymond (29 February 1998), Flora Hilda Harding (2 March 1994), Alice Hunt (2 March 1998), and Mary Chase (2 March 1992).
Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, please pray Province de L'Eglise Anglicane Du Congo: The Most Rev’d Kahwa Henri Isingoma, Archbishop of the Congo & Bishop of Kinshasa; and in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, please pray for the leadership and people of St. David's on-the-Hill, Cranston.
Acolytes - MC W Dilworth; SD Z Painter; Thurifer L Verdelotti; Crucifer D Malo; Torches K Rejto, DO Latimer
Lector – J Chamberlin
Ushers – R Viti, B Lennihan
Coffee Hour – S Brazil
PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS
Friday 4 March
Stations, Dinner, & Lenten Series 6 pm
Saturday 5 March
Lenten Quiet Day 9 am – 2 pm
EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S
Saturday 5 March
Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2 pm
LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE
Sunday 28 February
THE THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT (LA)
Morning Prayer 7:30 am
Low Mass 8 am
Solemn Mass 10 am
Evening Prayer with EMBR* 5:30 pm
Daily Office Lectionary: Week of Lent III, Year Two
Daily Mass Lectionary: Week of Lent III
Monday 29 February
Monday in II Lent (V)
John Cassian, Abbot, 433
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
Tuesday 1 March
Tuesday in III Lent (V)
David, Bishop of Menevia, Patron of Wales, c. 601
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:30 am
Wednesday 2 March
Chad, Bishop of Lichfield, c. 602
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
Thursday 3 March
Thursday in III Lent (V)
John and Charles Wesley, Priests, 1791, 1788
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:30 am
Friday 4 March
Friday in III Lent (V)
Angelus 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Stations of the Cross 6 pm
Saturday 5 March
Saturday in III Lent (V)
Morning Prayer 9 am
Low Mass 9:30 am
Angelus & Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Sunday 6 March
THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT (LA)
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 (March 6)
Fourth Sunday of Lent, Year C
Joshua 5:9-12
Psalm 32
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS
Third Sunday of Lent, Year C
Exodus 3:1-15
Psalm 63:1-8
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Luke 13:1-9
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Stations of the Cross, Supper, & Lenten Series – This year’s Lenten Series, entitled “Christianity, War, and Peace: Five Ethical Traditions” continues this Friday evening, beginning at 6 pm with Stations of the Cross, followed by a light dinner and Fr. Alexander’s talk.
Lenten Quiet Day – This Saturday 5 March, we will offer our annual Lenten Quiet Day, with meditations by The Rt. Rev. Russell E. Jacobus, Retired Bishop of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The day begins with Morning Prayer at 9 am, followed by Low Mass and a light breakfast. Silence begins at 10:30 am with Bishop Jacobus’s first meditation. Following a second meditation we will celebrate Angelus and Noonday Prayer at 12:15, followed by luncheon, a final meditation and tea and discussion at 2 pm. The suggested donation is $15 per person, payable on the day. Please let the parish office know in advance if you plan to attend; via phone 421-6702, ext. 1 or email office@sstephens.necoxmail.com. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Easter Flowers – If you would like to make a flower offering at Easter – in thanksgiving or in memoriam - please fill out the enclosed envelope and either put it in the offering plate or return it to the parish office no later than Wednesday 16 March.
FOR YOUR PRAYERS
Prayers have been requested for: Elizabeth, Nicholas, Patricia, Nancy, Townsend, Norman, Elva, Ethel, Andrea, Michael, Mark, Benjamin, Michael, Hannah, Kaitlyn, Mary, Gus, Deborah, Peter, Harrington, Kate, Davaughn, Bernice, Richard, Ellen-Jean, Sandy, Thom, Stephen, Michael, Angela, Bobby, Laura, Loretto, Sally, Rhoda, Ned, Charles, Frederick, Henry, James, and Dianne.
The faithful departed: Jane Graves Raymond (29 February 1998), Flora Hilda Harding (2 March 1994), Alice Hunt (2 March 1998), and Mary Chase (2 March 1992).
Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, please pray Province de L'Eglise Anglicane Du Congo: The Most Rev’d Kahwa Henri Isingoma, Archbishop of the Congo & Bishop of Kinshasa; and in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, please pray for the leadership and people of St. David's on-the-Hill, Cranston.
THE SUNDAY ROTA
Acolytes - MC W Dilworth; SD Z Painter; Thurifer L Verdelotti; Crucifer D Malo; Torches K Rejto, DO Latimer
Lector – J Chamberlin
Ushers – R Viti, B Lennihan
Coffee Hour – S Brazil
THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S
PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS
Friday 4 March
Stations, Dinner, & Lenten Series 6 pm
Saturday 5 March
Lenten Quiet Day 9 am – 2 pm
EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S
Saturday 5 March
Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2 pm
LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE
Sunday 28 February
THE THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT (LA)
Morning Prayer 7:30 am
Low Mass 8 am
Solemn Mass 10 am
Evening Prayer with EMBR* 5:30 pm
Daily Office Lectionary: Week of Lent III, Year Two
Daily Mass Lectionary: Week of Lent III
Monday 29 February
Monday in II Lent (V)
John Cassian, Abbot, 433
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
Tuesday 1 March
Tuesday in III Lent (V)
David, Bishop of Menevia, Patron of Wales, c. 601
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:30 am
Wednesday 2 March
Chad, Bishop of Lichfield, c. 602
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
Thursday 3 March
Thursday in III Lent (V)
John and Charles Wesley, Priests, 1791, 1788
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:30 am
Friday 4 March
Friday in III Lent (V)
Angelus 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Stations of the Cross 6 pm
Saturday 5 March
Saturday in III Lent (V)
Morning Prayer 9 am
Low Mass 9:30 am
Angelus & Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Sunday 6 March
THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT (LA)
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 (March 6)
Fourth Sunday of Lent, Year C
Joshua 5:9-12
Psalm 32
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
