PARISH NOTES

Sunday 8 July 2018

The Twelve Apostles
Sanctuary Dome Interior, Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis
Saint Louis, Missouri

FROM THE RECTOR

"And [Jesus] called to him the twelve, and began to send them out two by two ..." This Sunday's Gospel focuses our attention on the twin themes of calling and sending, vocation and mission. The word "Apostle" comes from the Greek verb "to send." The Twelve Apostles and their successors, the Bishops, are sent into the world to gather the Church by preaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments. All Christians are incorporated into the Church's mission and ministry at Baptism; Deacons and Priests receive a special share in the sacramental dimension of the Apostolic ministry by Ordination. As we contemplate the calling and sending of the Twelve, we pray this week for the General Convention of the Episcopal Church underway in Austin, Texas, that the bishops, clergy, and lay deputies there assembled may take counsel for our small branch of the Church in a way that truly  expresses the Apostolic vocation and mission. - Fr. John D. Alexander

THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS 

Seventh Sunday After Pentecost – Proper 9, Year B
Psalm 123
Ezekiel 2:1-5
2 Corinthians 12:2-10
Mark 6:1-13

ANNOUNCEMENTS 

Welcome to S. Stephen’s – especially to our visitors and guests! We’re glad to have you join us. Please join us for Coffee Hour following the 10 a.m. Mass in the Great Hall upstairs. If you have any questions or special needs, please speak to one of the ushers, who will be glad to assist you.

Guest Organist – We welcome Jay MacCubbin at the organ for the third and last time this summer while Organist and Choirmaster Dr. James Busby is on a well-deserved vacation. (James is scheduled to return on Sunday 5 August; we wish him safe travels and a relaxing break! The guest organist for next Sunday and the following will be Jeffrey Mills.)

New Prices for Altar Flowers – Arrangements in the church’s brass vases cost $25 each, for a total of $50 (a considerable savings from the $75 per vase we have been charged before now). Please consider making an offering of flowers in thanksgiving or in memoriam to help beautify our worship of God. (Flowers can now be paid for online via our website; see notice following – but please verify with the parish office that your desired date is available.)

Online Giving – We have just updated the parish website to make online donations and pledge payments easier and more convenient. You can now set up repeating payments of your pledge, designate gifts to funds such as Special Music and Flowers, and pay either directly from your bank account or charge to a credit card. You will receive an email receipt for each online gift, and you can enter your pledge number to have the gift included in your mailed hardcopy quarterly statements as well. Go to the parish website (www.sstephens.org) and click on the “Give” button at the top right corner to check it out.

Transfiguration Evensong and Benediction – will be offered on Sunday 5 August (Eve of the Feast of the Transfiguration) at 5:30 pm. The guest preacher (and officiant at Evensong) will be the Rev. Canon Jeremy Haselock, recently retired Canon Precentor at Norwich Cathedral in England, and a Chaplain to Her Majesty the Queen. The Schola Cantorum will interrupt their summer break to sing works of Heinrich Schütz, Harvey Burgett, and Marcel Dupré. Mark your calendars now and don’t miss what promises to be a splendid choral service.

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary – This summer, we are joining forces with our fellow Anglo-Catholic parishes of Saint John’s, Newport and All Saints, Ashmont to celebrate this principal Marian feast at 7 pm on Wednesday 15 August. The Mass will be at the Parish of All Saints, 209 Ashmont Street, Dorchester, MA. Website: Allsaints.net. The church is blessed with a spacious parking lot. Please speak to Jacob Ihnen or Fr. Alexander if you need a ride or would be willing to volunteer your services as a driver for other S. Stephen’s parishioners.

Sunday 10 a.m. Masses during the Summer – take on a simpler (and somewhat briefer) form, following closely the texts and rubrics of The Book of Common Prayer, 1979 and adding a fifth hymn to the usual four. It is vitally important to keep up our attendance during these months; our prayers and presence at Mass express our love for God and our neighbor, bringing real blessings both in our own lives and in those of our fellow parishioners.

Hymn Requests – Thank you to those who have responded to the invitation to request hymns during the summer! It is interesting to learn some of the hymnodic tastes of the congregation. Some of the hymns requested will be featured during the coming summer weeks. Others, which are perhaps less familiar and a bit more difficult to sing, will be worked into the Sunday Masses after the choir returns.

Sunday School and Nursery – We still need volunteers to assume responsibility for organizing Sunday School for the 2018-2019 Program Year (beginning in September). Please speak to Fr. Alexander or one of the Wardens (Tom Bledsoe or Bill Dilworth) if you would like to learn more and / or contribute your time to this crucial aspect of parish life.

FOR YOUR PRAYERS 

Prayers have been requested for: Elizabeth, Richard, Norman, John, Shannah, Sister Carolyn, Lynne, William, Hannah, Kaitlyn, Mary, Gus, Leonard, Harrington, Joan, Elizabeth, Sandy, John, Phebe, Ed, Gregory, Richard, Colin, Sandy, Kiersten, Beverly, Deborah, Bryan, Angela, Bobby, Beverly, Allora, Carlos, Betsy, Rhoda, William, James, and Louis.

Birthdays this week: Elizabeth Alexander (Monday 7/9).

The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Marian Higgins (10 July 2000) and Hamilton Webb (11 July 2011). Recently Departed: John Douglass Ruff.

Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for The Church of Pakistan (United): The Most Rev’d Humphrey Peters, Bishop of Peshawar & Moderator of the Church of Pakistan; in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for the Congregational Development Commission and those in the diocese who work to support our congregations.

General Convention Deputation – We pray for the Rhode Island General Convention Deputation: Lay Delegates Scott Avedisian, Jane Jellison, Lora MacFall, David Seifert, Del Glover (Alternate); Clergy Delegates Archdeacon Janice Grinnell, the Rev. Sunil Chandy, the Rev. Erik W. Larsen, the Rev. Nathan Humphrey (Alternate); and for Bishop Nicholas Knisely.

THE SUNDAY ROTA 

Acolytes – Acolyte/MC J Ihnen; Thurifer F Pisaturo
Lector – P Pettingell
Ushers – Nancy Gingrich and Bobby Rose
Coffee Hour – Chris Butler and Bobby Rose

THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S 

EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S

Saturday 14 July
Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2:30 pm (Great Hall)

LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE

8 July
THE SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST (G)
Morning Prayer 8:00 am
Low Mass 8:10 am
Mass with Hymns 10:00 am

Daily Mass and Office Lectionaries: Proper 9, Year Two

Monday 9 July
FERIA (G)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6:00 pm

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

Wednesday 11 July
Benedict of Nursia, Abbot, Father of Western Monasticism, Patron of Europe, c. 550 (W)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6:00 pm

Thursday 12 July
FERIA (G)
Noonday Prayer 12:00 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm

Friday 13 July
FERIA (G)
Noonday Prayer 12:00 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm

Saturday 14 July
FERIA (G)
Morning Prayer 9:30 am
Low Mass 10:00 am

15 July
THE EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST (G)
Morning Prayer 8:00 am
Low Mass 8:10 am
Mass with Hymns 10:00 am

NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (15 July)

Eighth Sunday After Pentecost – Proper 10, Year B
Psalm 85:8-13
Amos 7:7-15
Ephesians 1:3-14
Mark 6:14-29