PARISH NOTES
Sunday 25 December 2016
 |
| Unknown Master, Austrian, c. 1400 Source: Web Gallery of Art |
FROM THE RECTOR
From an early age children associate Christmas with receiving presents. When I was in high school, one of my classmates satirized this aspect of the celebration with a cartoon in the student newspaper captioned, "Tis the season to be greedy." Some of the more literal-minded were not amused, failing to grasp that the caption was intended ironically rather than earnestly. Nonetheless, the practice of giving and receiving gifts appropriately reflects the truth that all we have comes as God's gift to us; and that of all God's gifts the greatest by far is that of his Son Jesus Christ born into this world to be our Savior and Redeemer. Join us as we celebrate this great mystery on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day.
-- Fr. John D. Alexander
THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS
Saturday 24 December, 10:30 pm – Christmas Day I (In Nocte)
Sunday 25 December, 10 am – Christmas Day III (In Dies)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Guest Organist – We extend our thanks to Dr. Robert Henry, Schola member and organist, for filling in for James Busby at the 10 am Mass on Christmas Day.
Saint Stephen, Deacon & Martyr (December 26) – The feast of Saint Stephen, Deacon and Martyr, will be celebrated tomorrow, Monday 26 December with Evening Prayer at 5:30 pm and Low Mass at 6 pm in the Lady Chapel, followed by Veneration of the Relic. All are encouraged to come worship on this, our patronal feast.
Saint John, Apostle & Evangelist (December 27), a major feast of the Church calendar, will be kept on Tuesday with Angelus at 12 noon and Low Mass at 12:10 pm.
The Holy Innocents (December 28), a major feast of the Church calendar, will be kept on Wednesday with Evening Prayer at 5:30 pm and Low Mass at 6 pm.
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, 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 Rejto (27 December)
The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Frances S. Sloan (26 December 1993), Mary Gowdey (27 December 1992), Albert E. Godfrey (27 December 1993), John Seville Higgins (Bishop) (28 December 1992), and Detlev Schumann (29 December 1986).
Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, please pray for the Church of Kitale, Kenya, The Rt. Rev’d Stephen Kewasis; and in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, please pray for the leadership and people of St. Stephen's, Providence; St. John’s, Barrington; St. John the Evangelist, Newport; and the Chapel of St. John the Divine, Saunderstown.
THE SUNDAY ROTA
Acolytes – MC D Malo; Thurifer J Starks; Crucifer L Hooks; Torches K Rejto, G Benziger
Lector – P Pettingell
Ushers – TBA
Coffee Hour – There is no coffee hour on Sunday 25 December.
THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S
EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S
Saturday 31 December
Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2:30 pm
Sunday 1 January
New Year’s Day Dinner for Those in Need 12 noon
LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE
Sunday 25 December
THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST (W)
Morning Prayer 7:30 am
Low Mass 8 am
Sung Mass 10 am
Weekday Office Lectionary: Christmas Day and Following, Year One
Weekday Mass Lectionary: December 26 – December 31
Monday 26 December
SAINT STEPHEN, DEACON & MARTYR (R)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
Tuesday 27 December
ST. JOHN, APOSTLE & EVANGELIST (W)
Angelus 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Wednesday 28 December
THE HOLY INNOCENTS (R)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
Thursday 29 December
St. Thomas Becket (R)
Angelus 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Friday 30 December
Proper for 30 December (W)
Angelus 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Saturday 31 December
Proper for 31 December (W)
Morning Prayer 9 am
Low Mass 9:30 am
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
NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (18 December)
The Naming & Circumcision of Our Lord Jesus Christ
