PARISH NOTES

Sunday 31 December 2017

Contemporary Icon of the Martyrdom of Saint Stephen

FROM THE RECTOR

On the Seventh Day of Christmas (Sunday 31 December) we continue our joyful seasonal celebrations with our Patronal Feast of Saint Stephen, Deacon and Protomartyr (transferred from December 26). Join in giving thanks for the witness, example, and prayers of our Patron Saint. Then, we have a wonderful opportunity to make a good beginning of the New Year with Mass for the Holy Name at 10 am Monday, followed by helping others in need at the New Year's Day Dinner in the Great Hall. -- Fr. John D. Alexander

THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS

Saint Stephen, Deacon and Martyr
Psalm 31
Jeremiah 26:1-9,12-15
Acts 6:8--7:2a,51c-60
Matthew 23:34-39

THIS SUNDAY’S MUSIC

Josquin des Prez—Missa Hercules dux Ferrariae
Thomas Tomkins—Stephen, being full of the Holy Ghost

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Holy Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ – On Monday 1 January we celebrate this Principal Feast of the Church Year with Morning Prayer at 9:30 am and Low Mass at 10:00. All practicing Church members should make an effort to attend Mass on this and the other Principal Feasts of the Church Year if they are able.

New Year's Day Dinner – will be held in the Great Hall tomorrow, Monday 1 January. There will be two sittings, 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. A bus will bring guests from other parts of the city as in past years. Volunteers are asked to contact Susan Brazil. There is also a request for a donation of toiletries for the guests to be distributed to them at the dinner. Please deposit donations in the designated box in the parish office by the afternoon of New Year’s Eve (today). Thank you in advance for any donation you may make.

Epiphany – will be celebrated at S. Stephen’s this coming Saturday, January 6 at 11 am. The Mass will be sung by the Choir of St. John the Evangelist, Newport. A reception will follow. Please join us for a grand celebration with our guests from Newport and elsewhere.

Episcopal Visitation – of the Rt. Rev. W. Nicholas Knisely, Bishop of Rhode Island, will take place on Sunday 11 February, the Last Sunday after the Epiphany. Anyone interested in being Confirmed or Received into the Episcopal Church on this happy occasion, please contact Fr. Alexander right away. (There will also be an opportunity for Confirmation at a diocesan-wide service during Eastertide on a date and at a location to be announced.)

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 makes a difference and is deeply appreciated.

The Nominations Committee – has made the following nominations:

(a) Two seats on Vestry, four-year terms--at the time of going to press, no-one has agreed to be nominated--the Nominations Committee is still working on finding suitable candidates, who will be announced as soon as they are known;

(b) One seat on Vestry three-year term--Bill Dilworth;

(d) Treasurer, one-year term: Zachary Painter;

(e) Clerk, one-year term: Phoebe Pettingell;

(f) Two Diocesan Convention Delegates, one-year term: Jacob Ihnen; Frank Pisaturo;

(e) Two Diocesan Convention Alternates, one-year term: Nancy Gingrich; one still to be nominated.

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: Geoff, Norman, Shannah, Sister Carolyn, Lynne, William, Gerald, Hannah, Kaitlyn, Mary, Gus, Leonard, Harrington, Joan, Sally, Sandy, John, Ed, Virginia, Richard, Priscilla, Colin, Sandy, Kiersten, Beverly, Deborah, Bryan, Angela, Bobby, Douglas, Beverly, Allora, Carlos, Rhoda, William, and James.

Birthdays this week: Katherine Hayslip (Saturday 1/6).

The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Nancy Jean Donaldson Pettingell (2 January 2010) and Marian Dunlop (6 January 2000).

Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, please pray for the Diocese of Zululand - (Southern Africa): The Rt. Rev’d Monument Makhanya; and in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, please pray for all the clergy and people of our Diocese.

THE SUNDAY ROTA

Acolytes – MC F Pisaturo; Subdeacon Z Painter; Thurifer J Starks; Crucifer J Ihnen; Torches L Verdelotti, R Noble

Lector – T Oakes

Ushers – George Ryan and Tom Oakes

Coffee Hour – is replaced by the preparation for the New Year’s Day Dinner.

THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN'S

EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S

Monday 1 January
New Year’s Day Dinner 12:30 & 1:30 (Great Hall)

Saturday 6 January
Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2:30 pm (Great Hall)

LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE

Sunday 31 December
SAINT STEPHEN, DEACON AND MARTYR (R)
Morning Prayer & Low Mass 8:00 am
Solemn Mass 10:00 am

Daily Office Lectionary: Week of I Christmas, Year 2
Daily Mass Lectionary: Week of I Christmas

Monday 1 January
THE HOLY NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST (W)
Morning Prayer 9:30 am
Low Mass 10:00 am

Tuesday 2 January
Proper for January 2
Seraphim of Sarov, Monk, Spiritual Guide, 1833 (W)
Noonday Prayer 12:00 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm

Wednesday 3 January
Proper for January 3 (W)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6:00 pm

Thursday 4 January
Proper for January 4
Elizabeth Ann Seton, Founder of the American Sisters of Charity, 1821 (W)
Noonday Prayer 12:00 noon
Low Mass 12:10 PM

Friday 5 January
Proper for January 5 (W)
Noonday Prayer 12:00 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm

Saturday 6 January
THE EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST (W)
Morning Prayer 9:30 am
Solemn Mass 11:00 am

Sunday 7 January
FIRST SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY: THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST (W)
Morning Prayer & Low Mass 8:00 am
Solemn Mass 10:00 am

NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (7 January)

First Sunday after the Epiphany
Psalm 29
Genesis 1:1-5
Acts 19:1-7
Mark 1:4-11