PARISH NOTES
Sunday 26 February 2017
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| Transfiguration Apse Mosaic (detail) Saint Catherine's Monastery, Sinai, c. 565-566 |
FROM THE RECTOR
In the 1979 Prayer Book calendar and the Revised Common Lectionary, the Sunday before Ash Wednesday (known in older traditions as Quinquagesima) commemorates the Transfiguration of Christ. Before we start down the road of Lent, the readings, prayers, and hymns for this Sunday remind us of the glory that awaits us at the end of the journey. In a time of anxiety and concern about the future, we need this reminder of our final destination. The glory revealed on the holy mountain is promised to us as well. Provided that we persevere in the faith, we shall see ultimately Christ as he is; and be transformed into his likeness from glory to glory. -- Fr. John D. Alexander
THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS
The Last Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A
Exodus 24:12-18
Psalm 2 or 99
2 Peter 1:16-21
Matthew 17:1-9
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Flowers at the High Altar – are given today by Fr. John & Elizabeth Alexander in thanksgiving for God’s many blessings, and in loving memory of Harold R. Alexander.
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper – Our annual pancake supper will be this Tuesday 28 February from 5:30 – 7 pm in our Great Hall. Tickets are $5 apiece, available at the door. Please let us know if you plan to attend by calling the parish office at 401-421-6702, ext. 1 or via email to office@sstephens.necoxmail.com. All are welcome. Come enjoy a final culinary indulgence before Lent, and join in the burning of last year’s palms to make new ashes for Ash Wednesday.
Ash Wednesday Services (March 1) – Morning Prayer & Blessing of the Ashes will be celebrated at 8 am in the Lady Chapel. (You may receive ashes at this service.) Solemn Mass will be celebrated with the Imposition of Ashes at 6 pm in the main church.
Stations of the Cross – will be offered on Fridays in Lent at 6 pm, beginning this Friday 3 March. We gather in the Lady Chapel. All are welcome and cordially invited to attend and participate in this moving devotion.
Society of Mary – will not meet this Saturday, but will meet Saturday 11 March for 9 am Morning Prayer, 9:30 Mass, and recitation of the Rosary. Everyone is invited.
Rector’s Book – After Mass Fr. Alexander will have copies of his recently published book of Lenten weekday homilies, Springtime of the Spirit, for sale at $10 each. (Cash is welcome, or please make checks payable to “John D. Alexander” – thanks.)
Lenten Series – Our Lenten Series begins next Sunday evening 5 March. Join us for Evening Prayer at 5:30 pm, Supper at 6, and the series “Charles Chapman Grafton and the Genesis of America Anglo-Catholicism.” Fr. Alexander will launch the series with a talk entitled “Grafton and Religious Orders.” Each evening will conclude by 8 pm. Please let the parish office know if you plan to attend and if you are able to help with set-up, clean-up, and food preparation for the coming weeks, by calling 421-6702, ext. 1 or email to office@sstephens.necoxmail.com. All are welcome and invited to attend.
FOR YOUR PRAYERS
Prayers have been requested for: Townsend, Norman, John, Shannah, Peter, Sister Carolyn, Jeannie, Mark, Hannah, Kaitlyn, Mary, Gus, Leonard, Harrington, Joan, Katherine, Sally, John, Ed, Virginia, Richard, Kirsten, Beverly, Deborah, Yolanda, Angela, Bobby, Carlos, Rhoda, Ned, James, and Weldon.
The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Dorothy Belden (23 February 1997), Barbara Albee (26 February 2012), Robert Cartwright (28 February 1992), 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 for the Church of Marathwada (North India): The Rt. Rev’d Madhukar Kasab; and in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, please pray for those who are preparing to serve God as ordained ministers in the church.
THE SUNDAY ROTA
Acolytes – MC Z Painter SD W Dilworth; Thurifer L Hooks; Crucifer F Pisaturo; Torches K Rejto, L Rejto
Lector – P Martin
Ushers – L Verdelotti, G Ryan
Coffee Hour – Alison Huff
THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S
PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS
Tuesday 28 February
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper 5:30 - 7 pm
Sunday 5 March
Lenten Series (following 5:30 Evening Prayer and 6 pm dinner)
EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S
Saturday 4 March
Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2:30 pm
LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE
Sunday 26 February
THE LAST 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
Daily Office Lectionary – Week of Last Sunday after Epiphany, Year One
Daily Mass Lectionary – Week of Last Sunday after Epiphany, Year One, and Lenten Weekdays following Ash Wednesday
Monday 27 February
George Herbert, Priest, Poet, 1633 (G or W)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
Tuesday 28 February
Founding of the Society of the Holy Cross, 1855 (G or W)
Angelus 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Wednesday 1 March
ASH WEDNESDAY (V)
Morning Prayer & Blessing of the Ashes 8 am
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Solemn Mass with Imposition of Ashes 6 pm
Thursday 2 March
Thursday after Ash Wednesday (V)
Chad, Bishop of Lichfield, c. 602
Angelus 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Friday 3 March
Friday after Ash Wednesday (V)
John and Charles Wesley, Priests, 1791, 1788
Angelus 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Stations of the Cross 6 pm
Saturday 4 March
Saturday after Ash Wednesday (V)
Morning Prayer 9 am
Low Mass 9:30 am
Sunday 5 March
THE FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT (V)
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 (5 March)
The First Sunday of Lent, Year A
