PARISH NOTES
Sunday 10 December 2017
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| Domenico Ghirlandaio, Preaching of John the Baptist, c.1486-1490 Tarnabuoni Chapel, Florence |
FROM THE RECTOR
Year B of the Three-Year lectionary focuses primarily on the Gospel of Mark -- the shortest of the four canonical Gospels and believed by some New Testament scholars (though by no means all!) to be to the earliest. In the opening verse Mark proclaims "The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." Then he describes John the Baptist in the wilderness "preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins." This juxtaposition suggests that the Gospel -- "the good news" -- begins with repentance. John was sent to prepare the people for the Lord's arrival; they responded by "confessing their sins." To prepare for the Advent of the Lord, we do well to do likewise.
-- Fr. John D. Alexander
-- Fr. John D. Alexander
THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS
Second Sunday of Advent – Year B
Psalm 85:1-2,8-13
Isaiah 40:1-11
2 Peter 3:8-15a
Mark 1:1-8
THIS SUNDAY’S MUSIC
Johannes Brahms—Missa Canonica, Op. Post 18
Hieronymus Praetorius—Ecce Dominus Veniet
Schedule of Christmas Services – Christmas Eve: (Sunday, 24 December) Family Mass with Carols - 5:30 pm; Solemn Mass of the Nativity - 10:30 pm. Christmas Day: (Monday, 25 December) Morning Prayer 9:30 am, Low Mass 10:00 am.
The S. Stephen – Advent/Christmas issue of the parish magazine is available for viewing and downloading here. You should have received a physical copy of this issue via mail by this time. If you have not received a copy, extra copies are available in the narthex.
Pledge Cards – If you have not returned your pledge card for 2018, please do so. If you have not received one, they are available from the ushers. Your financial support of S. Stephen’s during the coming year will make a real difference and is deeply appreciated.
Nominations Committee – at the Annual Parish Meeting on Sunday, January 28, 2018, the following vacancies must be filled: (a) Two seats on Vestry, four-year terms--outgoing occupants Louis Verdelotti and Danielle Malo are not eligible for re-election; (b) one seat on Vestry three-year term--current occupant Bill Dilworth is eligible for re-election; (c) Senior Warden, three-year term, to be nominated by Rector; (d) Treasurer, one-year term; (e) Clerk, one-year term; (f) two Diocesan Convention Delegates, one-year term; (e) two Diocesan Convention Alternates, one-year term. The members of the Nominations Committee are: Cathy Bledsoe, Susan Brazil (Chair), Bill Dilworth, Nancy Gingrich, and Bobby Rose. Please contact any of them if you have any recommendations for nominations or indeed if you would be interested in standing for election yourself.
Nave Flooring Project – Over the coming few months the entire tile floor under the pews will be covered over with a layer of birch paneling that will vastly improve the church's appearance and create a smooth surface underfoot. This project will not impact our Sunday worship schedule, but please exercise all due care and avoid any areas that have been cordoned off for this construction.
Prayers have been requested for: Norman, Shannah, Sister Carolyn, William, Gerald, Hannah, Kaitlyn, Mary, Gus, Leonard, Harrington, Joan, Katherine, Sally, Sandy, John, Ed, Virginia, Richard, Priscilla, Kiersten, Beverly, Deborah, Angela, Bobby, Douglas, Beverly, Allora, Carlos, Rhoda, William, and James.
Birthdays this week: Lynne DeBenedette (Sunday 12/10) and Beverly Ryan (Wednesday 12/13).
The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: George W. Lockwood (10 December 2001), Elinor Elizabeth Ripley (10 December 1984), Gerald Franklin Barrow (14 December 2007), and Mary B. Trask (15 December 1984).
EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S
Saturday 16 December
Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2:30 pm (Great Hall)
LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE
10 December
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Schedule of Christmas Services – Christmas Eve: (Sunday, 24 December) Family Mass with Carols - 5:30 pm; Solemn Mass of the Nativity - 10:30 pm. Christmas Day: (Monday, 25 December) Morning Prayer 9:30 am, Low Mass 10:00 am.
The S. Stephen – Advent/Christmas issue of the parish magazine is available for viewing and downloading here. You should have received a physical copy of this issue via mail by this time. If you have not received a copy, extra copies are available in the narthex.
Pledge Cards – If you have not returned your pledge card for 2018, please do so. If you have not received one, they are available from the ushers. Your financial support of S. Stephen’s during the coming year will make a real difference and is deeply appreciated.
Nominations Committee – at the Annual Parish Meeting on Sunday, January 28, 2018, the following vacancies must be filled: (a) Two seats on Vestry, four-year terms--outgoing occupants Louis Verdelotti and Danielle Malo are not eligible for re-election; (b) one seat on Vestry three-year term--current occupant Bill Dilworth is eligible for re-election; (c) Senior Warden, three-year term, to be nominated by Rector; (d) Treasurer, one-year term; (e) Clerk, one-year term; (f) two Diocesan Convention Delegates, one-year term; (e) two Diocesan Convention Alternates, one-year term. The members of the Nominations Committee are: Cathy Bledsoe, Susan Brazil (Chair), Bill Dilworth, Nancy Gingrich, and Bobby Rose. Please contact any of them if you have any recommendations for nominations or indeed if you would be interested in standing for election yourself.
Nave Flooring Project – Over the coming few months the entire tile floor under the pews will be covered over with a layer of birch paneling that will vastly improve the church's appearance and create a smooth surface underfoot. This project will not impact our Sunday worship schedule, but please exercise all due care and avoid any areas that have been cordoned off for this construction.
FOR YOUR PRAYERS
Prayers have been requested for: Norman, Shannah, Sister Carolyn, William, Gerald, Hannah, Kaitlyn, Mary, Gus, Leonard, Harrington, Joan, Katherine, Sally, Sandy, John, Ed, Virginia, Richard, Priscilla, Kiersten, Beverly, Deborah, Angela, Bobby, Douglas, Beverly, Allora, Carlos, Rhoda, William, and James.
Birthdays this week: Lynne DeBenedette (Sunday 12/10) and Beverly Ryan (Wednesday 12/13).
The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: George W. Lockwood (10 December 2001), Elinor Elizabeth Ripley (10 December 1984), Gerald Franklin Barrow (14 December 2007), and Mary B. Trask (15 December 1984).
Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, please pray for the Diocese of Western North Carolina - (IV, The Episcopal Church): The Rt. Rev’d José Antonio McLoughlin; and in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, please pray for the people and clergy of Emmanuel, Cumberland and of Emmanuel, Newport.
Acolytes – MC Z Painter; Subdeacon R Noble; Thurifer L Verdelotti; Crucifer S Brazil; Torches L Rejto, G Benziger
THE SUNDAY ROTA
Acolytes – MC Z Painter; Subdeacon R Noble; Thurifer L Verdelotti; Crucifer S Brazil; Torches L Rejto, G Benziger
Lector – J Steiny
Ushers – Frank Pisaturo and Ernest Drew
Coffee Hour – Karl and Klara
THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S
EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S
Saturday 16 December
Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2:30 pm (Great Hall)
LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE
10 December
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT (V)
Morning Prayer & Low Mass 8:00 am
Solemn Mass 10:00 am
Daily Office and Mass Lectionaries: Advent II
11 December
Morning Prayer & Low Mass 8:00 am
Solemn Mass 10:00 am
Daily Office and Mass Lectionaries: Advent II
11 December
Monday in II Advent (V)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6:00 pm
12 December
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6:00 pm
12 December
Tuesday in II Advent (V)
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Finnian, Abbot of Clonard, 549
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Finnian, Abbot of Clonard, 549
Noonday Prayer 12:00 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
13 December
Lucy, Martyr at Syracuse, 304 (R)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6:00 pm
14 December
Low Mass 12:10 pm
13 December
Lucy, Martyr at Syracuse, 304 (R)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6:00 pm
14 December
John of the Cross, Mystic, Poet, Teacher, 1591 (W)
Alexander Heriot Mackonochie, Priest, 1887
Noonday Prayer 12:00 noon
Low Mass 12:10 PM
15 December
Alexander Heriot Mackonochie, Priest, 1887
Noonday Prayer 12:00 noon
Low Mass 12:10 PM
15 December
Friday in II Advent (V)
Noonday Prayer 12:00 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
16 December
Noonday Prayer 12:00 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
16 December
Saturday in II Advent (V)
Morning Prayer 9:30 am
Low Mass 10:00 am
17 December
Morning Prayer 9:30 am
Low Mass 10:00 am
17 December
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT (V)
Morning Prayer & Low Mass 8:00 am
Solemn Mass 10:00 am
NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (17 December)
Third Sunday of Advent – Year B
Psalm 126
Isaiah 61:1-4,8-11
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
John 1:6-8,19-28
Morning Prayer & Low Mass 8:00 am
Solemn Mass 10:00 am
NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (17 December)
Third Sunday of Advent – Year B
Psalm 126
Isaiah 61:1-4,8-11
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
John 1:6-8,19-28
