PARISH NOTES

Sunday 1 January 2017

Fra Angelico, The Circumcision. 1451-1452

FROM THE RECTOR

In the Episcopal Church Calendar, New Year's Day is the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus. Before the 1979 Prayer Book, it was known as the Feast of the Circumcision. The Church of England Book of Common Worship aptly names the day "the Naming and Circumcision of Jesus" since both events took place on the eighth day after the Lord's birth. Following Jewish tradition, Saint Joseph assumes paternal responsibility for Jesus by naming him with the Name that the angel had commanded him. The day thus affords an opportunity to reflect on the significance of names in general, and of the Name that is above every name.
-- Fr. John D. Alexander

THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS

The Naming & Circumcision of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Numbers 6:22-27
Psalm 8
Philippians 2:5-11
Luke 2:15-21

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Welcome to all visitors and guests – we’re glad that you’re here. There will be no coffee hour this morning; we will be having our annual New Year’s Day Dinner for Those In Need at 12 noon. All are welcome and invited to serve or attend as a guest.

New Year’s Day Public Holiday – will be kept on Monday, 2 January. As with all federal holidays, Low Mass will be offered at 9:30 am, preceded by Morning Prayer at 9 am.

Nominations Committee – candidates for the following positions have been nominated for election at the Annual Parish Meeting on January 29, 2017: one vestry member (four-year term): Zachary Painter; two Diocesan Convention Delegates (one-year term): Richard Noble and Frank Pisaturo; two Diocesan Convention Alternates (one-year term): Phoebe Pettingell and John Chamberlin; Clerk of the Vestry (one-year term): Phoebe Pettingell, and Treasurer (one-year term): George Ryan.

The Epiphany – this Friday 6 January, we will be undertaking a joint celebration of the Feast of the Epiphany at St. John's Church in Newport at 6:30 pm. Please plan on joining us. We will have regularly scheduled services as usual: Angelus at 12 noon and Low Mass at 12:10 pm.

Society of Mary – will meet this Saturday 7 January for 9 am Morning Prayer, 9:30 Mass, and recitation of the Rosary. Everyone is invited.

Annual Meeting – Please join us on Sunday 29 January, after the 10 am Mass for the 179th Annual Meeting of the parish. We need volunteers to bring food and beverages, and someone to manage the food setup. Please contact 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.)

FOR YOUR PRAYERS

Prayers have been requested for: Virginia, Martha, Donald, Townsend, Norman, John, Shannah, Peter, Sister Carolyn, Michael, Richard, Mark, Michael, Hannah, Kaitlyn, Mary, Gus, Stephanie, Leonard, Harrington, Joan, John, Ed, Shane, Jan, Richard, Jerry, Joel, Sandra, Emily, Beverly, Yolanda, Angela, Bobby, Sally, Carlos, Loretto, Rhoda, Ned, Michael, Henry, James, Michael, Peter, Weldon, Dianne, and Elizabeth.

Birthdays this week – Katherine Hayslip (6 January)

The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Nancy Jean Donaldson Pettingell (2 January 2010) and Marion Dunlop (6 January 2000)

Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, please pray for the Church of Kolhapur - (North India): The Rt. Rev’d Bathuel Tiwade; and in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, please pray for all the clergy and people of our Diocese.

THE SUNDAY ROTA

Acolytes – MC S Brazil; SD F Pisaturo; Thurifer D Malo; Crucifer L Verdelotti; Torches R Callanan, L Rejto
Lector – P Martin
Ushers – G Ryan & TBA
Coffee Hour – There is no coffee hour on Sunday 1 January.

THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S

PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS

Saturday 7 January
Society of Mary (following Low Mass & Recitation of the Rosary)

Sunday 1 January
New Year’s Day Dinner for Those in Need 12 noon

EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S

Saturday 7 January
Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2:30 pm

LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE

Sunday 1 January
THE NAMING & CIRCUMCISION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST (W)
Morning Prayer 7:30 am
Low Mass 8 am
Sung Mass 10 am

Daily Office Lectionary: Christmas Day and Following / The Epiphany and Following, Year One
Daily Mass Lectionary: January 2 – January 12

Monday 2 January
Proper for January 2 (W)
Seraphim of Sarov, Monk, Spiritual Guide, 1833
Morning Prayer 9 am
Low Mass 9:30 am

Tuesday 3 January
Proper for January 3 (W)
Angelus 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm

Wednesday 4 January
Proper for January 4 (W)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm

Thursday 5 January
Proper for January 5 (W)
Angelus 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm

Friday 6 January
THE EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST (W)
Angelus 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
(High Mass at St. John the Evangelist, Newport 6:30 pm)

Saturday 7 January
Proper for 7 January (W)
Morning Prayer 9 am
Low Mass 9:30 am
Holy Rosary 10 am

Sunday 8 January
THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY:
THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST (W)
Morning Prayer 7:30 am
Low Mass 8 am
Sung Mass 10 am

NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (8 January)

The First Sunday after the Epiphany
Isaiah 42:1-9
Psalm 29
Acts 10:34-43
Matthew 3:13-17

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