PARISH NOTES
Sunday 11 February 2018
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| Fra Angelico, Transfiguration (1442) Convent of Saint Mark, Florence |
FROM THE RECTOR
To conclude the Season after the Epiphany, the Lectionary gives us a glimpse of the earthly Christ bathed in heavenly light in the episode known as the Transfiguration. The coming season of Lent begins with Jesus tempted by the devil in the wilderness and continues through to his Passion and Death. But the last word in the Christian life is not the struggle with evil, but rather the vision of God. On the holy mountain, an anticipatory glimpse of the glory to be revealed in Christ's Resurrection and Ascension strengthens the disciples Peter, James, and John for their coming ordeal. Just as the joy of Easter Day makes Lent worthwhile, so the promise of heavenly glory makes the Christian life worthwhile. And, every so often, moments of Transfiguration fortify us for the journey ahead. -- Fr. John D. Alexander
THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS
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
THIS SUNDAY’S MUSIC
Zoltán Kodály (1882-1967) —Missa Brevis
Patrick Hadley (1899-1973) —My song is love unknown
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Welcome to the Rt. Rev. W. Nicholas Knisely – XIII Bishop of Rhode Island, who makes his biennial Episcopal Visitation today (Sunday 11 February). Bishop Knisely will celebrate and preach at both the 8 am and 10 am Masses, meet with the Vestry, and conduct a Forum at Coffee Hour. Please come and help make our Bishop welcome.
Flowers – at the High Altar are given by Phoebe Pettingell to the greater glory of God and in thanksgiving for the Apostolic Succession and for our own Bishop. Flowers at the Shrine of Our Lady are given by Brian Ehlers in loving memory of Alan E. Reniere.
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper – Our annual pancake supper hosted by the Sunday School will be this Tuesday 13 February from 5:30 – 7 pm in our Great Hall. Tickets are available at the door. Please let us know if you plan to attend by calling Susan in the parish office at 401-421-6702, ext. 1 or via email to office@sstephens. necoxmail.com. All are welcome. Come enjoy a final culinary indulgence before Lent, and join in the burning of last year’s palms to make new ashes for Ash Wednesday.
Ash Wednesday Services (February 14) – Morning Prayer & Blessing of the Ashes will be celebrated at 8 am in the Lady Chapel. (You may receive ashes at this service.) Evening Prayer at 5:30 pm in the Lady Chapel will precede Solemn Mass with the Imposition of Ashes at 6 pm in the Nave.
Stations of the Cross & Lenten Series – This year’s Lenten Series will consist of supper and viewing and discussion of the video series “Growing a Rule of Life,” produced by the Society of Saint John the Evangelist (SSJE). It will be on Sunday evenings in Lent from 6-8 pm (February 18 & 25, March 4, 11, & 18). Stations of the Cross will be conducted on Fridays in Lent at 6 pm (February 16, 23, March 2, 9, 16, 23).
Parish Magazine – The Lent 2018 issue of The S. Stephen is in the mail, and is available for viewing and downloading here.
Special Birthday – Felicitations to long-time parishioner Elizabeth (Betty) Schumann, who celebrates her 100th birthday this Tuesday! (For security and privacy reasons we are not publishing her address but if you would like to send a card, please bring it to the church and we will be happy to deliver it for you.)
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.
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.
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: Alison Huff (Monday 2/12), Elizabeth Schumann (Tuesday 2/13), M.P. Schneider (Wednesday 2/14), and Lucas Christopher Bledsoe (Saturday 2/17).
The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Thomas Greene Cure, Priest (13 February 2001), Alan Edward Reniere (15 February 2013), Christopher Dunstan (16 February 1994), Gary Lee Stamps (17 February 1991), and James W. Randolph (17 February 1985).
Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, please pray for The Anglican Church of Canada: The Most Rev’d Frederick Hiltz, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada; and in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, please pray for our retired Bishops, George Hunt and Geralyn Wolf and for all retired clergy of our Diocese.
THE SUNDAY ROTA
Acolytes – MC F Pisaturo; Subdeacon J Ihnen; Thurifer Z Painter; Crucifer S Brazil; Torches G Benziger, D Malo
Lector – T Oakes
Ushers – Tom Bledsoe and Simon Newby
Coffee Hour – Society of Mary
THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S
PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS, & MEETINGS
Tuesday 13 February
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper 5:30 pm (Great Hall)
EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S
Friday 16 February
Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) 7:00 pm (Great Hall)
Saturday 17 February
Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2:30 pm (Great Hall)
LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE
Sunday 11 February
THE LAST SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY (W)
Morning Prayer 8:00 am
Low Mass 8:10 am
Solemn Pontifical Mass 10:00 am
Evening Prayer w/ EMBR 5:30 pm
Daily Office Lectionary – Week of Last Sunday after Epiphany, Year Two
Daily Mass Lectionary – Week of Last Sunday after Epiphany, Year Two, and Lenten Weekdays following Ash Wednesday
Monday 12 February
FERIA (G)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6:00 pm
Tuesday 13 February
Absalom Jones, Priest, 1818 (W)
Noonday Prayer 12:00 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Wednesday 14 February
ASH WEDNESDAY (LA)
Morning Prayer & Blessing of the Ashes 8 am
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Solemn Mass with Imposition of Ashes 6 pm
Thursday 15 February
Thursday after Ash Wednesday (LA)
Sigfrid, Bishop, Apostle of Sweden, 1045
Thomas Bray, Priest, Missionary, Founder of the SPCK, 1730
Noonday Prayer 12:00 noon
Low Mass 12:10 PM
Friday 16 February
Friday after Ash Wednesday (LA)
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Saturday 17 February
Saturday after Ash Wednesday (LA)
Janani Luwum, Archbishop of Uganda, Martyr, 1977
Morning Prayer 9:30 am
Low Mass 10:00 am
Sunday 18 February
THE FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT (LA)
Morning Prayer 8:00 am
Low Mass 8:10 am
Solemn Mass 10:00 am
Evening Prayer w/ EMBR 5:30 pm
NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (18 February)
The First Sunday of Lent, Year B
Psalm 25:1-9
Genesis 9:8-17
1 Peter 3:18-22
Mark 1:9-15
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