PARISH NOTES

Sunday 22 January 2017

Jesus Calls Peter and Andrew, 6th century Mosaic
Basilica of Sant' Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna

FROM THE RECTOR

"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined" (Isaiah 9:2). This Sunday's Old Testament reading records words spoken by the prophet Isaiah at the time when the Assyrians have conquered the northern kingdom of Israel and carried away its ten tribes -- henceforth known as the "lost tribes." It is seemingly a time of utter hopelessness for "the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali ... Galilee of the nations." Yet the prophet's words reveal that in and through the present deep darkness, God is preparing a bright and glorious future -- of which we glimpse the beginnings in this Sunday's Gospel when Jesus calls Peter and Andrew to be his disciples. A message running consistently through Scripture is that even in the times when we're most tempted to despair, when all seems lost, we must never give up hope, for God is always working in hidden ways to bring joy out of sadness, light out of darkness, life out of death. We proclaim and celebrate that hope at every Mass. Please join us. -- Fr. John D. Alexander

THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS

Epiphany 3, Year A
Isaiah 9:1-4
Psalm 27:1, 5-13
1 Corinthians 1:10-18
Matthew 4:12-23

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle (January 25) – a major feast of the Church year, will be kept on Wednesday with Evening Prayer at 5:30 pm, followed by Low Mass at 6 pm.

Episcopal Ministry at Brown & RISD (EMBR) – Sunday evening prayer with EMBR resumes next Sunday evening, 29 January, at 5:30 pm.

Evensong & Sung Mass for Candlemas – On Thursday 2 February at 5:30 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 Evensong and Sung Mass in the Lady Chapel. All are welcome and invited to attend.

Nominations – 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.

Annual Meeting – Please join us next Sunday 29 January, after the 10 am Mass for the 179th Annual Meeting of the parish. 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.) Child care is available through the luncheon and meeting.

Annual Meeting Luncheon – If you can provide food, beverages, or assistance with clean-up for this year’s Annual Meeting, please contact Cory MacLean in the parish office. We are looking for light luncheon fare; sandwiches, salads, desserts, and cold beverages.

Parish Sponsorship of The Living Church — We need some generous individuals to step forward and help fund S. Stephen’s contribution to the fortnightly Episcopal magazine The Living Church for 2017. Published in Milwaukee with a national circulation, The Living Church provides a venue for responsible reporting and serious theological and spiritual reflection on the Church's life and mission in the world today. For an annual contribution of $3,000 we receive mention in each issue as a sponsoring parish, with a write-up in one issue describing our parish’s life and ministry. In addition to this great publicity, we also receive a bundle of copies of each issue to distribute in the narthex. Owing to our need to streamline expenses, we can no longer make our contribution from the parish operating budget, and instead are relying on the generosity of parishioners and friends. $2,500 has already been pledged towards our contribution for 2017; we can meet our goal if, say, one more person contributes $500, or two people $250 each, or even five people $100 each. If you are moved to help in this worthwhile endeavor with any amount, please contact Fr. Alexander.

FOR YOUR PRAYERS

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

Birthdays this week: Danielle Malo (22 January).

The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Gordon Bramwell (22 January 2002), Claire B. Bentley (25 January 1984), L'Marie Blunt (25 January 1994), and Sterling C. Poitier (28 January 1996). Recently Departed: The Rev. Henry Turnbull, and Frederick Lockwood.

Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, please pray for the Church of Lake Rukwa - (Tanzania): The Rt. Rev’d Mathayo Kasagara; and in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, please pray for the Center for Reconciliation and all who seek to be reconcilers in our state, nation and world; and for leadership and people of St. Paul’s, North Kingstown, St. Paul’s, Pawtucket, and St. Paul’s, Portsmouth.

THE SUNDAY ROTA

Acolytes – MC F Pisaturo; SD S Brazil; Thurifer Z Painter; Crucifer D Malo; Torches V Johnson, K Rejto
Lector – R G Noble
Ushers – N Gingrich, T Oakes
Coffee Hour – Karl & Klara Benziger

THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S

PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS

Sunday 29 January
179th Annual Meeting (following 10 am Solemn Mass)

EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S

Saturday 28 January

Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2:30 pm

LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE

Sunday 22 January
THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY (G)
Morning Prayer 7:30 am
Low Mass 8 am
Solemn Mass with Holy Baptism 10 am

Daily Office & Mass Lectionary for the Week of Epiphany 3, Year One

Monday 23 January
Feria (G)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm

Tuesday 24 January
Francis de Sales, Bishop of Geneva, 1622 (G or W)
Angelus 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm

Wednesday 25 January
THE CONVERSION OF SAINT PAUL THE APOSTLE (W)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm

Thursday 26 January

Timothy and Titus [and Silas], Companions of Saint Paul (R)
Angelus 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm

Friday 27 January
Feria (G)
Angelus 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm

Saturday 28 January
Thomas Aquinas, Priest, Doctor, 1274 (W)
Morning Prayer 9 am
Low Mass 9:30 am

Sunday 29 January
THE FOURTH 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 (29 January)

Epiphany 4, Year A
Micah 6:1-8
Psalm 15
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Matthew 5:1-12