PARISH NOTES

Sunday 28 January 2018

Jesus Casting Out a Demon in the Synagogue at Capernaum (detail)
Manuscript Illumination, Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, c. 1412-1416
Musée Condé, Chantilly, France

FROM THE RECTOR

"And they were astonished at [Jesus'] teaching, for he taught as one who had authority, and not as the scribes." In the Synagogue in Capernaum, Jesus teaches as one bearing divine authority within himself, and he demonstrates that authority by silencing and casting out a demon simply by his word of command. God-in-Christ is the author of all life, healing, cleansing, and redemption. Join us this Sunday as we celebrate his authority over "all things visible and invisible."
—Fr. John D. Alexander

THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS

Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
Psalm 111
Deuteronomy 18:15-20
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Mark 1:21-28

THIS SUNDAY’S MUSIC

Girolamo Frescobaldi—Missa sopra l’aria della Monaca
Orlande de Lassus—Gustate et videte

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Annual Parish Meeting – Please join us this morning after the 10 am Mass for the 180th Annual Meeting of the parish. 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.

Nominations Committee – candidates for the following positions have been nominated for election at the Annual Parish Meeting today: two seats on Vestry, four-year terms: Joy D'Ambra; Bobby Rose; one seat on Vestry three-year term: Bill Dilworth; Treasurer, one-year term: George Ryan; Clerk, one-year term: Phoebe Pettingell; two Diocesan Convention Delegates, one-year term: Jacob Ihnen; Frank Pisaturo; two Diocesan Convention Alternates, one-year term: Nancy Gingrich; Cathy Bledsoe.

Episcopal Ministry at Brown & RISD (EMBR) – Sunday evening prayer with EMBR resumes this evening in the Lady Chapel at 5:30 pm. Discussion will follow. Please bring some ideas of how we might grow in Christ together this semester and be an extension of his mercies to the greater Providence area.

King Charles the Martyr Choral Evensong – will be offered this afternoon at 5 pm at Saint John's Church, Newport, RI. Guest conductor: Barry Rose, O.B.E. (Tickets for the "English Tea" following are unfortunately all taken.) Low Mass in commemoration of the Royal Martyr will be offered here at S. Stephen's on his feast day, Tuesday 30 January, at 12:10 pm.

Parish Living Church Sponsorship – As a sponsor of the bi-weekly independent Episcopal news magazine The Living Church, Saint Stephen’s receives publicity in each issue, an annual write-up describing the parish’s life and work, and ten copies of each issue (which we make available free for the taking in the narthex). The cost of sponsorship, $3,000, is outside the parish budget; we rely entirely on individual contributions to make our contribution to this worthy cause. So, far $1,500 has been pledged. Please consider whether you would be able to make a gift towards the remaining $1,500. Make checks payable to Saint Stephen’s Church with “TLC Sponsorship” in the memo line. Thank you in advance.

Sung Mass for Candlemas – This Friday 2 February at 6:30 pm, we will celebrate the feast of The Presentation of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple at St. John’s, Newport. All are welcome and invited to attend. If you need help finding a ride, please contact Fr. Alexander.

Society of Mary – The Society of Mary will meet this Saturday 3 February for 9:30 am Morning Prayer, 10:00 Mass, recitation of the Rosary at 10:30, and a meeting in the Great Hall following. Everyone is welcome and invited.

Blue Heron Concert – Next Sunday 4 February at 4 pm, S. Stephen’s will be the venue for another exciting concert by Boston-based vocal ensemble Blue Heron, “Music from the Peterhouse Partbooks.” For more information, and to purchase tickets online, visit www.blueheron.org.

Episcopal Visitation – of the Rt. Rev. W. Nicholas Knisely, XIII Bishop of Rhode Island, will take place on Sunday 11 February, the Last Sunday after the Epiphany. As is customary, the Bishop will celebrate and preach at both Masses, meet with the Vestry, and conduct a question-and-answer session at Coffee Hour. Please plan to be on hand to welcome our Bishop back to S. Stephen’s.

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, Gregory, Virginia, Richard, Colin, Sandy, Kiersten, Beverly, Deborah, Bryan, Angela, Bobby, Douglas, Beverly, Allora, Carlos, Chris, Rhoda, William, and James.

Birthdays this week: Thomas Bledsoe (Tuesday 1/30), Nathan Callanan (Thursday 2/1), and Charles O'Boyle (Friday 2/2).

The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Sterling C. Poitier (28 January 1996), Florence Matilda Colvin (30 January 1994), Anna Waterman Jackson McCoy (30 January 1985), and Ronald Parks Conner, Priest (30 January 2011). Recently Departed: Richard Laremore, Priest; Richard Olson.

Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, please pray for Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil: The Most Rev’d Francisco De Assis Da Silva, Primate of Brazil & Bishop of South-Western Brazil; and in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, please pray for the leadership, staff and residents of Hallworth House.

THE SUNDAY ROTA

Acolytes – MC S Brazil; Subdeacon Z Painter; Thurifer R Noble; Crucifer L Verdelotti; Torches F Pisaturo, V Johnson
Lector – M Johnson
Ushers – Patricia Barnes and TBD
Coffee Hour – Tom and Cathy

THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S

PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS

Sunday 28 January
180th Annual Meeting (following 10 am Solemn Mass)

Saturday 3 February
Society of Mary approx. 11:00 (Great Hall)

EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S

Friday 2 February
Reformed University Fellowship 4:00 pm (Great Hall)

Saturday 3 February
Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2:30 pm (Great Hall)

LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE

Sunday 28 January
THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY (G)
Morning Prayer 8:00 am
Low Mass 8:10 am
Solemn Mass 10:00 am
Evening Prayer with EMBR 5:30 pm

Daily Office and Mass Lectionaries: Epiphany IV, Year 2

Monday 29 January
Andrei Rublev, Monk and Iconographer, 1430 (W)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6:00 pm

Tuesday 30 January
Charles, King and Martyr, 1649 (R)
Noonday Prayer 12:00 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm

Wednesday 31 January
John Bosco, Founder of the Salesians, 1888 (W)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6:00 pm

Thursday 1 February
Brigid, Abbess of Kildare, 523 (W)
Noonday Prayer 12:00 noon
Low Mass 12:10 PM

Friday 2 February
THE PRESENTATION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IN THE TEMPLE (W)
Noonday Prayer 12 noon (at S. Stephen’s)
Low Mass 12:10 pm (at S. Stephen's)
Sung Mass 6:30 pm (at St. John’s, Newport)

Saturday 3 February
Anskar, Archbishop of Hamburg, Missionary in Denmark and Sweden, 865 (W)
Blaise, Bishop of Sebaste, Martyr, 316
Morning Prayer 9:30 am

Low Mass 10:00 am

Sunday 4 February
THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY (G)
Morning Prayer 8:00 am
Low Mass 8:10 am
Solemn Mass 10:00 am

NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (4 February)

Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
Psalm 147:1-12,21c
Isaiah 40:21-31
1 Corinthians 9:16-23
Mark 1:29-39