PARISH NOTES 

Sunday 11 March 2018

Moses and the Bronze Serpent
(Numbers 21:4-9)

FROM THE RECTOR

The Fourth Sunday of Lent is known variously as "Mid-Lent Sunday," "Mothering Sunday," "Refreshment Sunday," and "Rose Sunday." Whatever beginning we have made of our Lenten pilgrimage, it is a time to pause, regroup, and regather ourselves for the final stages of the journey towards Holy Week and Easter. Please join us this Sunday as we take strength from Word and Sacrament, holy food and drink, for the road ahead. -- Fr. John D. Alexander

THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS 

Fourth Sunday in Lent, Year B
Psalm 107:1-3,17-22
Numbers 21:4-9
Ephesians 2:1-10
John 3:14-21

THIS SUNDAY’S MUSIC 

Plainchant—Missa IX (Cum jubilo)
Johannes Brahms (1833 -1897)—Geistliches Lied, Op. 30

ANNOUNCEMENTS 

Susan Brazil Funeral Mass – With shock and deep sadness we must report that Susan Brazil was found dead at her home early Thursday afternoon. A lifelong member of S. Stephen's, Susan served faithfully and with distinction in a variety of parish ministries, including as Acolyte, organizer of the New Year's Day Dinner, member of the Vestry, and, for the past five years, Junior Warden. She was a well-loved and irreplaceable part of our life together. The Requiem will be at S. Stephen's this Wednesday, March 14, at 10:00 am with Interment to follow at North Burial Ground. Please keep Susan, her family, and the parish in your prayers. Jesu mercy, Mary pray.

Lenten Series – This year’s Lenten Series continues on Sunday evenings 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). Remaining dates are 11, 18, and 25 March. We conclude with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament in the Lady Chapel at 8 pm.

Stations of the Cross – continues this Friday evening. We gather in the Lady Chapel at 6 pm. All are welcome and cordially invited to attend and participate in this moving devotion.

Holy Rosary – as an extra Lenten devotion, the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary will be recited on Saturdays in Lent following the 10 am Low Mass. All welcome: no prior experience needed!

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 our Lenten series at 6:00 pm.

Easter Flowers – If you would like to make a flower offering at Easter – in thanksgiving or in memoriam - please fill out the enclosed envelope and either put it in the offering plate or return it to the parish office no later than Friday 23 March. Offerings and their intentions will be acknowledged in the Easter Kalendars.

Epiphany Soup Kitchen (ESK) – S. Stephen’s next turn to provide the volunteers for the Epiphany Soup Kitchen is Saturday March 17. Our attendance has been picking up with 90 guests on the last Saturday in February and 60 last week. Please let Bruce Lennihan know if you can help. If you have any friends who might want to help, feel free to invite them. We arrive around 2:00 and finish up around 5:00.

Holy Week Services – 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 the following:

--Maundy Thursday Liturgy – 29 March 7:30 pm
--Good Friday Liturgy – 30 March 12 pm
--Great Vigil of Easter – 31 March 7:30 pm
  
Volunteers Needed – As Holy Week approaches, we need to hear from those who are willing and able to assist in the following ways: (1) have feet washed at the Maundy Thursday liturgy; (2) read one of the lessons at the Easter Vigil; (3) help organize and plan the reception following the Easter Vigil. To indicate your interest, please contact Susan Rozzero in the parish office by phone at 401-421-6702, ext. 1; or by email. 

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.

FOR YOUR PRAYERS 

Prayers have been requested for: Geoff, Rollin, Norman, John, Shannah, Sister Carolyn, Lynne, William, Gerald, Hannah, Kaitlyn, Mary, Gus, Leonard, Harrington, Joan, Sally, Sandy, John, Ed, Gregory, Virginia, Richard, Colin, Sandy, Kiersten, Beverly, Jonathan, Zac, Deborah, Bryan, Angela, Bobby, Douglas, Beverly, Allora, Carlos, Rhoda, William, and James.

Birthdays this week: Thomas Oakes (Sunday 3/11).

The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Donald S. Chase (11 March 1998), Frank Chace (11 March 1993), George Freemont Bliven (13 March 1983), Elizabeth Grinnell Allen (13 March 1985), Ransom Widmer (13 March 2016), and Eleanor Retallick (15 March 2009). Recently Departed: Susan Brazil and Chris Steinhardt.

Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, please pray for The Church of England: The Most Rev’d and Rt. Hon. Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury; and in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, please pray for clergy widows and widowers of the Diocese.

THE SUNDAY ROTA 

Acolytes – MC R Noble; Subdeacon D Malo; Thurifer F Pisaturo; Crucifer J Ihnen; Torches C Sylvia, K Rejto
Lector – M Johnson
Ushers – George Ryan and Karl Benziger
Coffee Hour – Nancy and Louis

THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S 

PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS, & MEETINGS

Sunday 11 March
Lenten Discussion & Video Series 6:00-8:00 pm (Great Hall)

Tuesday 13 March
Vestry 7:00 pm (Library)

EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S

Monday 12 March
ESK Board Meeting 7:00 pm (Great Hall)

Friday 16 March
Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) 7:00 pm (Great Hall)

Saturday 17 March
Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2:30 pm (Great Hall)

LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE

11 March
FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT (LA)
Morning Prayer 8:00 am
Low Mass 8:10 am
Solemn Mass 10:00 am
Evening Prayer w/ EMBR 5:30 pm
Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament 8:00 pm

Daily Office Lectionary – Lent IV, Year Two
Daily Mass Lectionary – Lent IV

12 March
Gregory the Great, Bishop of Rome, 604 (W)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6:00 pm

13 March

Tuesday in Lent IV (V)
Noonday Prayer 12:00 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm

14 March
Wednesday in Lent IV (V)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm

15 March
Thursday in Lent IV (V)
Noonday Prayer 12:00 noon
Low Mass 12:10 PM

16 March
Friday in Lent IV (V)
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Stations of the Cross 6:00 pm

17 March
Patrick, Bishop of Armagh, Patron of Ireland, c. 460 (W)
Morning Prayer 9:30 am
Low Mass 10:00 am
Holy Rosary 10:30 am

18 March
FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT (LA)
Morning Prayer 8:00 am
Low Mass 8:10 am
Solemn Mass 10:00 am
Evening Prayer w/ EMBR 5:30 pm
Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament 8:00 pm

NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (18 March)

Fifth Sunday in Lent, Year B
Psalm 51:1-13
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Hebrews 5:5-10
John 12:20-33