PARISH NOTES

Sunday 4 February 2018

John Bridges, Christ Healing Simon's Mother-in-Law (1839)
Birmingham Museum of Art, England

FROM THE RECTOR

"And [Jesus] went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons." (Mark 1:39). In his Galilean ministry, Jesus manifests his identity as the Son of God by three signature activities: preaching, healing, and deliverance. His miracles confirm the truth of his proclamation. And they signify to us that he is the source of all healing of our ailments and deliverance from whatever dark forces may overshadow our lives. All are invited to join us as we worship him and receive his strength, power, and protection in his holy Sacraments. 

-- Fr. John D. Alexander

THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS

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

THIS SUNDAY’S MUSIC

Claude Goudimel—Messe “Tant plus ie Metz”
Luca Marenzio—Tribus Miraculis

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Blue Heron Concert – Today, 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 Ministry at Brown & RISD (EMBR) – Sunday evening prayer with EMBR will resume next Sunday evening in the Lady Chapel at 5:30 pm due to the concert tonight. 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.

Monthly Requiem – for the departed of this parish whose year’s mind falls during February will be offered tomorrow, Monday 5 February at 6:00 pm (preceded by Evening Prayer at 5:30 pm). If you have any names to add to the list of those remembered, please email Fr. Alexander. See GAS announcement below.

Guild of All Souls: St. Stephen, Proto-Martyr – S. Stephen’s celebrates a parish Requiem Mass on the First Monday of most months at the 6:00 pm Mass. Departed members of the parish whose anniversaries fall during the month are remembered in prayer, and anyone may submit additional names of the departed.

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.

Annual Pancake Supper – The Sunday School will host the annual Pancake Supper on Tuesday, February 13 at 5:30pm.  Tickets are $5.00, available in advance or at the door.  Please join us for all-you-can-eat fun and fellowship...and bring your palms to burn for Ash Wednesday.

Blessing of Throats – If anyone would like to receive the blessing of throats in honor of the Feast of St. Blaise (February 3), please come to the Lady Chapel following the Closing Voluntary at the 10 am Mass.

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: Sharon Lloyd Clark (Friday 2/9) and Christopher Butler (Saturday 2/10).

The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Henry Francis Tingley, Jr. (4 February 1984), Mary L. Starks (5 February 1999), Paul David Ross (6 February 1996), Mildred Dunlop (8 February 1987), Madeline Nason (9 February 1985), and Madeline Thatcher Howes (10 February 1986).

Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, please pray for The Anglican Church of Burundi: The Most Rev’d Martin Nyaboho, Archbishop of Burundi & Bishop of Makamba; and in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, please pray for our seminaries and our schools for deacons as they prepare our postulants and candidates for Holy Orders.

THE SUNDAY ROTA

Acolytes – MC R Noble; Subdeacon Z Painter; Thurifer L Verdelotti; Crucifer F Pisaturo; Torches C Sylvia, J Ihnen
Lector – W Dilworth
Ushers – Sue Brazil and Nancy Gingrich
Coffee Hour – Rejto Family

THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S

EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S

Sunday 4 February
Blue Heron Concert 4:00 pm

Friday 9 February

Reformed University Fellowship (RUF), 7:00 pm (Great Hall)

Saturday 10 February
Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2:30 pm (Great Hall)

LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE

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

Daily Office and Mass Lectionaries: Epiphany V, Year 2

Monday 5 February
Agatha, Martyr at Catania, 3rd century
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Requiem Mass 6:00 pm (Black)

Tuesday 6 February
The Martyrs of Japan, 1597 (R)
Noonday Prayer 12:00 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm

Wednesday 7 February
Cornelius the Centurion, 1st century (W) 

Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6:00 pm

Thursday 8 February
Jerome Emiliani, Priest, Founder of the Somaschi Fathers, 1537 (W)
Noonday Prayer 12:00 noon
Low Mass 12:10 PM

Friday 9 February
FERIA (G)
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm

Saturday 10 February
Scholastica, Abbess, c. 543 (W)
Morning Prayer 9:30 am
Low Mass 10:00 am

Sunday 11 February
THE LAST SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY (G)
Morning Prayer 8:00 am
Low Mass 8:10 am
Solemn Pontifical Mass 10:00 am
Evening Prayer with EMBR 5:30 pm

NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (11 February)

Last Sunday after the Epiphany, Year B
Psalm 50:1-6
2 Kings 2:1-12
2 Corinthians 4:3-6
Mark 9:2-9

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