PARISH NOTES
Sunday 7 January 2018

Pietro Perugino, The Baptism of Christ, c. 1496-1500

Museum of Fine Arts, Rouen, France

FROM THE RECTOR

The Holy Spirit descends in the likeness of a dove on Jesus at his baptism in the River Jordan, empowering him for his public ministry and identifying him as the beloved Son of the Father. Join us this Sunday as we celebrate this wonderful mystery and reflect on the baptismal gifts of the Holy Spirit in our own lives.—Fr. John D. Alexander

THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS

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

THIS SUNDAY’S MUSIC

Healey Willan—Missa de Sancta Maria Magdalena

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Monthly Requiem – for the departed of this parish whose year’s mind falls during December will be offered tomorrow, Monday 8 January 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. All are welcome to attend!

Society of Mary – This month's meeting will be held this Saturday, January 13, beginning with Holy Rosary following the 10:00 am Mass and a brief meeting to follow in the Great Hall. All are welcome and invited to join us.

Wedding of Ed Hooks and Leana Latimer – is scheduled to take place on Sunday 14 January immediately following the 10 am Mass. Everyone is most welcome and invited to attend. (But come to Mass first!)

The Annual Parish Meeting – is scheduled to take place on Sunday 28 January, following the 10 am Mass. Please sign up on the sheets provided at Coffee Hour and in the Narthex to bring something to the potluck luncheon accompanying this event. Also, those submitting reports to be included in the Annual Meeting Report, please ensure that we receive them in the Parish Office no later than Monday 22 January.

Blue Heron Concert – On 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.

The Nominating Committee – has made the following nominations for elections at the Annual Parish Meeting, to be held on Sunday 28 January:

(a) Two seats on Vestry, four-year terms: Joy D'Ambra; Bobby Rose;
(b) One seat on Vestry three-year term: Bill Dilworth;
(c) Treasurer, one-year term: Zachary Painter;
(d) Clerk, one-year term: Phoebe Pettingell;
(e) Two Diocesan Convention Delegates, one-year term: Jacob Ihnen; Frank Pisaturo;
(f) Two Diocesan Convention Alternates, one-year term: Nancy Gingrich; Cathy Bledsoe.

Sincere thanks to the Nominating Committee for its work! Nominations by petition, if any, are due two weeks before the Annual Meeting—that is, by Sunday 14 January—and must be presented to the Rector with five parishioners’ signatures and a statement indicating the consent of the person being nominated.

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: Joan Gordon (Thursday 1/11), Jason Connell (Saturday 1/13), and Zachary Painter (Saturday 1/13).

The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Chester Arthur Files, Jr. (8 January 2013), John Francis Hall (9 January 1990), Margaret Ethel Worthington (10 January 1991), Harry Johnson (12 January 2007), and Mary Ann Wiggins (12 January 2013); Recently Departed: Peter Bird, Priest; Ralph Stanwise, Priest; Fr. Raphael, OSF.

Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, please pray for the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand & Polynesia: The Most Rev’d Winston Halapua Bishop of Polynesia and Primate and Archbishop of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, and for the Bishop of Taranaki - (Aotearoa NZ & Polynesia): The Most Rev’d Philip Richardson; and in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, please pray for the people and clergy of Church of the Epiphany, Rumford.

THE SUNDAY ROTA

Acolytes – MC R Noble; Subdeacon J Ihnen; Thurifer Z Painter; Crucifer F Pisaturo; Torches G Benziger, L Verdelotti
Lector – P Martin
Ushers – Patricia Barnes and Ernest Drew
Coffee Hour – Karl and Klara

THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S

PARISH PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

Saturday 13 January

Society of Mary, approx. 11 am in the Great Hall

EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S

Saturday 13 January
Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2:30 pm (Great Hall)

LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE

Sunday 7 January
THE 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

Daily Office and Mass Lectionaries: Epiphany I, Year 2

Monday 8 January
FERIA
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Requiem Mass 6:00 pm (Black)

Tuesday 9 January
FERIA (G)
Noonday Prayer 12:00 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm

Wednesday 10 January
William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury, Martyr, 1645 (R)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6:00 pm

Thursday 11 January
FERIA (G)
Noonday Prayer 12:00 noon
Low Mass 12:10 PM

Friday 12 January
Aelred, Abbott of Rievaulx, 1167 (W)
Noonday Prayer 12:00 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm

Saturday 13 January
Hilary, Bishop of Poitiers, 367 (W)
Morning Prayer 9:30 am
Low Mass 10:00 am
Holy Rosary 10:30 am

Sunday 14 January
THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY (G)
Morning Prayer & Low Mass 8:00 am
Solemn Mass 10:00 am (followed by Hooks-Latimer Wedding)

NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (14 January)

Second Sunday after the Epiphany
Psalm 139:1-5,12-17
1 Samuel 3:1-10(11-20)
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
John 1:43-51

-->