PARISH NOTES
Sunday 25 March 2018
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| Duccio Buoninsegna, Entry into Jerusalem Panel in Maesta Altar, Siena, Italy, 1308 |
FROM THE RECTOR
Palm Sunday ushers in the holiest week of the Christian Year. On this day, we celebrate two liturgies: the Liturgy of the Palms (in the Lady Chapel), and the Liturgy of the Lord's Passion (in the main Church). The two are connected by a Procession symbolically re-enacting Our Lord's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, riding on a colt and acclaimed by the crowds as the Son of David, the King of Israel. The mood then turns somber. The Liturgy of the Lord's Passion features the solemn chanting of the Passion Gospel -- this year, that of Saint Mark -- by cantors and choir. (The Passion Gospel on Palm Sunday is always taken from the Synoptics, rotating among Matthew, Mark and Luke in the three-year cycle, whereas the Passion Gospel on Good Friday is always that of John.) The intentional irony of Palm Sunday is that the same crowds who acclaim Jesus with Hosannas at his entry into the Holy City subsequently turn against him and cry "Crucify him" at his trial before Pilate. Therein lies the question for us. We may well acclaim him as our King when all seems to be going well, but will we then turn against him when the going gets rough? The day's liturgy challenges us to examine ourselves and repent -- while there's still time -- of the many ways in which we have betrayed him and continue to do so. -- Fr. John D. Alexander
THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS
Palm Sunday, Year B
Liturgy of the Palms:
Psalm 118:19-29
Mark 11:1-11
Liturgy of the Passion:
Psalm 31:9-16
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Philippians 2:5-11
Mark 14:1-15:47
THIS SUNDAY’S MUSIC
Thomas Weelkes—Hosanna to the Son of David
Plainchant—Missa II (Kyrie fons bonitatis)
Tomás Luis de Victoria (1548-1611)—Vere languores nostros
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Bring your bells – Traditionally, bells are rung at the beginning of the Gloria in excelsis at the liturgies of both Maundy Thursday and Easter Vigil. If you have a bell at home, please bring it and join in.
Parish Magazine – The Easter 2018 issue of The S. Stephen is in the mail, and is available for viewing and downloading by clicking here.
Lenten Series – This year’s Lenten Series concludes this evening 25 March from 6 pm to 8 pm with supper and the adult education program “Growing a Rule of Life,” developed by the Society of Saint John the Evangelist (SSJE). We conclude with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament in the Lady Chapel at 8 pm.
The Triduum Sacrum, (“Sacred Three Days”) – culminating in Easter Day, is the holiest time in the Church Year. Please mark the following services in your calendars and make a point of attending:
—Maundy Thursday Liturgy – 29 March 7:30 pm
—Good Friday Liturgy – 30 March 12 pm
—Great Vigil of Easter – 31 March 7:30 pm
Maundy Thursday Watch – a sheet is available in the Narthex to sign up to spend an hour (or half an hour) in prayer before the Altar of Repose following the Maundy Thursday Liturgy. For more information on what is involved, please ask Fr. Alexander or Fr. Pearson.
Good Friday Parking – Please see the new announcement above.
Acolyte Rehearsals for Holy Week and Easter – The schedule of rehearsals is as follows. Acolytes: please check your assignments on the rota and make sure to mark on your calendars the following rehearsal days and times:
Maundy Thursday Wed. 3/28 at 6:30 pm
Good Friday Fri. 3/30 at 10:00 am
Easter Vigil Sat. 3/31 at 10:00 am (Includes helping set up)
Easter Day Sun. 4/16 at 9:00 am
Episcopal Ministry at Brown & RISD (EMBR) – Sunday evening prayer with EMBR continues this evening in the Lady Chapel at 5:30 pm. Please join us in the Great Hall after for supper and the last installment of our Lenten series at 6:00 pm.
Susan Brazil Month’s Mind – We have scheduled a Mass of the Resurrection for Junior Warden Susan Brazil (April 18, 1958 – March 8, 2018) on Saturday in Easter Week (7 April) at 10 am at S. Stephen’s. We hope that all parishioners and friends of the parish who knew and loved Susan will make a point of attending.
FOR YOUR PRAYERS
Prayers have been requested for: Geoff, Rollin, Norman, John, Shannah, Sister Carolyn, Lynne, William, Hannah, Kaitlyn, Mary, Gus, Leonard, Harrington, Joan, Elizabeth, Sally, Sandy, John, Ed, Gregory, Richard, Colin, Sandy, Kiersten, Beverly, Jonathan, Zac, Deborah, Bryan, Angela, Bobby, Douglas, Beverly, Allora, Carlos, Rhoda, William, and James.
The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: John F. Brazil (26 March 1982), Bette Drayton (26 March 2004), Dorothy Adams Bellman (27 March 2005), Mary Weis (29 March 1993), Charles John McCloughan (30 March 1998), and Elizabeth Kershaw (31 March 2007). Recently Departed: Gerald Ducette, Susan Brazil, Fr. LeSeure.
Anglican Cycle of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, please pray for the peace of Jerusalem All glory, laud and honor, To Thee, Redeemer, King, To Whom the lips of children Made sweet hosannas ring: The Most Rev’d Suheil Dawani, Archbishop, Jerusalem & the Middle East & Archbishop in Jerusalem.
THE SUNDAY ROTA
Acolytes – MC J Ihnen; Subdeacon F Pisaturo; Thurifer L Verdelotti; Crucifer D Malo; Torches V Johnson, R Noble
Lector – W Dilworth
Ushers – Tom Oakes and Simon Newby (counter)
Coffee Hour – Rejto Family
THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S
PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS, & MEETINGS
Sunday 25 March
Lenten Discussion & Video Series 6:00-8:00 pm (Great Hall)
Saturday 31 March
Orchestra Rehearsal 12 noon
Reception (following the 7:30 pm Easter Vigil)
EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S
Friday 30 March
Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) 7:00 pm (Great Hall)
Saturday 31 March
Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2:30 pm (Great Hall)
LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE
25 March
THE SUNDAY OF THE PASSION: PALM SUNDAY (R)
Low Mass with Liturgy of the Palms 8:00 am
Liturgy of the Palms & Solemn Mass of the Lord’s Passion 10:00 am
Evening Prayer w/ EMBR 5:30 pm
Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament 8:00 pm
Daily Office Lectionary: Holy Week, Year Two
Daily Mass Lectionary: Holy Week (Year B)
26 March
MONDAY IN HOLY WEEK (R)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6:00 pm
27 March
TUESDAY IN HOLY WEEK (R)
Noonday Prayer 12:00 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
28 March
WEDNESDAY IN HOLY WEEK (R)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
29 March
MAUNDY THURSDAY (W)
Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Footwashing, Stripping of the Altars, and Procession to the Altar of Repose 7:30 pm
30 March
GOOD FRIDAY (Black/Violet)
Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion, Solemn Collects, Veneration of the Cross, and Mass of the Presanctified 12 noon
31 March
HOLY SATURDAY (Violet/Gold)
Great Vigil of Easter: Lighting of the New Fire, Prophecies, Blessing of the Font, and First Mass of Easter 7:30 pm
1 April
SUNDAY OF THE RESURRECTION: EASTER DAY (Gold)
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:10 am
Solemn Mass and Procession 10 am
NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (1 April)
Easter Day, Year B
Psalm 118:1-2,14-24
Acts 10:34-43
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
John 20:1-18
