PARISH NOTES
Sunday 11 December 2016
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| Giovanni di Paolo Saint John the Baptist in Prison Visited by Two Disciples, 1455-60 |
FROM THE RECTOR
"Are you he is to come, or shall we wait for another?" From prison, John the Baptist sends messengers to ask this question of Jesus. The question most likely arises from a crisis of faith occasioned by John's imprisonment. It is a time of frustrated expectations. Things have not gone as expected. Our Lord's answer speaks to us all when we are similarly tempted to despair. He is the answer to all our questions, if only we have eyes to see and ears to hear. -- Fr. John D. Alexander
Third Sunday of Advent, Year A
Isaiah 35:1-10
Psalm 146:4-9
James 5:7-10
Matthew 11:2-11
Christmas Flower Offering – If you would like to make a Christmas offering of flowers to the church 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 Tuesday December 20th.
The Nominations Committee – has been formed to nominate people for election to the following positions at the Annual Parish Meeting on Sunday 29 January 2017: Clerk (one-year term); Treasurer (one-year term); one Vestry Member (four-year term); two Delegates to Diocesan Convention (one-year term); two Alternate Delegates to Diocesan Convention (one-year term). The members of the Nominations Committee are Susan Brazil (Chair), Cathy Bledsoe, Alison Huff, Nancy Gingrich, Bruce Lennihan, and Frank Pisaturo. Feel free to contact any member of the Committee with your preferences regarding nominations.
Eucharistic Adoration – This Saturday 17 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.
Christmas Decorations – This year we hope to engage a group of volunteers to decorate the church between Advent IV (Sunday 18 December) and Christmas Eve (Saturday 24 December). If you are interested in joining in this festive tradition, please contact the parish office via email to office@sstephens.necoxmail.com or phone at 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 Saturday, 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 Sunday 1 January 2017. If you can help, please contact the parish office at 421-6702 ext. 1 or send email to office@sstephens.necoxmail.com. We also welcome new scarves, mittens, hats and socks, as well as personal hygiene products such as soaps and toothbrushes. Join us in helping those in our community who are struggling. 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
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, 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: Beverly Ryan (13 December) and Louise Wells (17 December).
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).
Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, please pray for the Church of Kericho - (Kenya): The Rt. Rev’d Jackson Ole Sapit; and in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, please pray for the leadership and people of Church of the Advent, Coventry.
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THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS
Third Sunday of Advent, Year A
Isaiah 35:1-10
Psalm 146:4-9
James 5:7-10
Matthew 11:2-11
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Christmas Flower Offering – If you would like to make a Christmas offering of flowers to the church 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 Tuesday December 20th.
The Nominations Committee – has been formed to nominate people for election to the following positions at the Annual Parish Meeting on Sunday 29 January 2017: Clerk (one-year term); Treasurer (one-year term); one Vestry Member (four-year term); two Delegates to Diocesan Convention (one-year term); two Alternate Delegates to Diocesan Convention (one-year term). The members of the Nominations Committee are Susan Brazil (Chair), Cathy Bledsoe, Alison Huff, Nancy Gingrich, Bruce Lennihan, and Frank Pisaturo. Feel free to contact any member of the Committee with your preferences regarding nominations.
Eucharistic Adoration – This Saturday 17 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.
Christmas Decorations – This year we hope to engage a group of volunteers to decorate the church between Advent IV (Sunday 18 December) and Christmas Eve (Saturday 24 December). If you are interested in joining in this festive tradition, please contact the parish office via email to office@sstephens.necoxmail.com or phone at 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 Saturday, 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 Sunday 1 January 2017. If you can help, please contact the parish office at 421-6702 ext. 1 or send email to office@sstephens.necoxmail.com. We also welcome new scarves, mittens, hats and socks, as well as personal hygiene products such as soaps and toothbrushes. Join us in helping those in our community who are struggling. 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: Virginia, Martha, Donald, Townsend, Norman, John, Shannah, Peter, Sister Carolyn, Michael, Richard, Mark, Michael, Hannah, Kaitlyn, Mary, Gus, Stephanie, Leonard, Harrington, 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: Beverly Ryan (13 December) and Louise Wells (17 December).
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).
Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, please pray for the Church of Kericho - (Kenya): The Rt. Rev’d Jackson Ole Sapit; and in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, please pray for the leadership and people of Church of the Advent, Coventry.
THE SUNDAY ROTA
Acolytes - MC D Malo; SD R Noble; Thurifer Z Painter; Crucifer S Brazil; Torches L Rejto, E Benziger
Lector – R G Noble
Ushers – T Bledsoe, P Pettingell
Coffee Hour – The Rejto/Elliot Family
THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S
PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS
Tuesday 13 December
Vestry Meeting 7 pm
EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S
Sunday 11 December
Episcopal Ministry at Brown/RISD 5:30 pm
Epiphany Soup Kitchen Board Meeting 5 pm
Saturday 10 December
Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2:30 pm
LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE
Sunday 11 December
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT (V)
Morning Prayer 7:30 am
Low Mass 8 am
Solemn Mass 10 am
Evening Prayer with EMBR* 5:30 pm
Weekday Office and Mass Lectionary: Advent III, Year One
Monday 12 December
Monday in Advent III (V)
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Finnian, Abbot of Clonard, 549
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
Tuesday 13 December
Lucy, Martyr at Syracuse, 304 (R)
Angelus 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Wednesday 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
Thursday 15 December
Thursday in Advent III (V)
Angelus 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Friday 16 December
Friday in Advent III (V)
Angelus 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Saturday 17 December
Proper for December 17 (V) – (O Sapientia)
Morning Prayer 9 am
Low Mass 9:30 am
Eucharistic Adoration 10 am
Sunday 18 December
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT (V)
Morning Prayer 7:30 am
Low Mass 8 am
Solemn Mass 10 am
Evening Prayer with EMBR* 5:30 pm
NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (18 December)
Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year A
Isaiah 7:10-16
Psalm 80: 1-7, 16-18
Romans 1:1-7
Matthew 1:18-25
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