PARISH NOTES
Sunday 30 September 2018
Sunday 30 September 2018
 |
Jacob de Wit, Moses and the Seventy Elders (1727)
Royal Palace,
Amsterdam, Netherlands |
FROM THE RECTOR
In
this Sunday’s Gospel, Our Lord issues some exhortations that are disturbing at
first glance. “If your hand causes you to
sin, cut it off … If your foot causes you to sin, cut if off … If your eye
causes you to sin, pluck it out …” These commands fall into the literary
category of hyperbole: exaggerations
for effect that are not meant to be taken literally. The Church has never
endorsed self-mutilation. Their deeper meaning comes into focus when we
consider the biblical symbolism of hands, feet, and eyes—particularly in the
Psalms and other poetic books of Scripture. Our hands signify our acts and
deeds. Our feet signify the ways in which we walk. And our eyes signify the
sights, images, ideas, and goals that give our lives purpose and direction.
Hands, feet, and eyes thus sum up the total interaction of our inner person
with the outside world. In this passage, Jesus reminds us of our need to
consecrate all that we are and do—the works of our hands, the paths in which we
walk, the vision we set before our imagination—to the service of God’s kingdom.
Letting go of habits that lead us astray and cause us to stumble can be
difficult and painful: an impossible task if we rely on ourselves alone. But
all things are possible with God—especially in and through the Body into which
he calls us as members of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. – Fr. John D.
Alexander
THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS
Nineteenth Sunday After Pentecost – Proper 21, Year B
Mark 9:38-50
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.
Choir Season – begins this Sunday! We welcome back
the Schola Cantorum at the 10 am Mass for another program year. Copies of the
2018-2019 Liturgical Music Prospectus have been mailed out and are available in
the Narthex and on the Parish website.
Society of Mary – meets
this Saturday, October 6, beginning with Holy Rosary following the 10:00 am
Mass and a brief meeting (for coffee and bagels) to follow in the Great Hall.
All are welcome and invited to join us.
Memorial Organ Recital – On October 21st, at 5:30
pm, an organ recital at S. Stephen’s will feature Choirmaster and Organist
James Busby and guest Kevin Darrow, oboe. With works of J. S. Bach, Felix Mendelssohn, César Franck, Guy
Bovet, Joseph-Ermend Bonnal, and Louis Vierne. A reception follows the service.
All are most welcome and invited to attend!
Sunday School – is getting organized to begin in
October. Thanks to Nancy Carlson and Modu Johnson for stepping forward to teach
this year! Anyone else interested in helping out, please speak with them.
Budget Committee – The Vestry Committee charged with
drafting a parish budget for 2019 will begin meeting soon, and needs to include
some parishioners who are not Vestry members. Anyone interested in finding out
more about this volunteer opportunity, please speak to Treasurer George Ryan or
Senior Warden Tom Bledsoe.
Volunteer for Acolyte Rota – Fr. Alexander is seeking parishioners
young and old who would like to be trained to serve as acolytes for the 10:00
am Mass on Sundays and for special services throughout the year. Please get in
touch with him if you are willing or know someone else who would be. Thank you!
Calling all who Love to Cook – Each Sunday this academic year, a meal will follow Evening
Prayer with the Episcopal Ministry at Brown and RISD. Would you please consider
volunteering and signing up to provide a meal for the undergraduate and
graduate students at Brown and RISD? The need for meals will begin next Sunday,
September 16, at 6:00 pm. We’d be more than happy to have you sit down and eat
with us and join in conversation. Thank you!
College Ministry –
The Episcopal Ministry at Brown and RISD (EMBR) continues next Sunday with
Evening Prayer at 5:30, with dinner and conversation to follow. All
undergraduate and graduate students are welcome and invited to attend!
FOR YOUR
PRAYERS
Prayers have been
requested for: Richard, Norman, John, Shannah, Sister Carolyn, Lynne,
William, Hannah, Kaitlyn, Mary, Gus, Leonard, Harrington, Joan, Sandy, John, Phebe, Ed, Gregory, Jack, Richard, Colin, Sandy, Kiersten, Beverly,
Deborah, Bryan, Angela, Bobby, Beverly, Allora, Carlos, Rhoda, William, and James.
Birthdays this week: William
Ripley (Sunday 9/30), Mason Butler-Rose (Wednesday 10/3), James Busby (Friday
10/5), and Devan Latimer (Saturday 10/6).
The faithful departed:
Year’s
Mind: Daniel
Webster Latham (4 October 1986), Madge Lillian Hover Holmes (4 October 1992),
and Lawrence W. Seamans (5 October 1987).
Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle
of Prayer, we are asked to pray for The Church of the Province of Uganda: The
Most Rev’d Stanley Ntagali, Archbishop of Uganda & and Bishop of Kampala; in
the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, for the people and clergy of St. Francis,
Coventry.
THE SUNDAY ROTA
Acolytes – MC F Pisaturo, SD
W Dilworth, Thurifer L Verdelotti, Crucifer R Noble, Torches G Benziger and K Rejto
Lector – Robyn Noble
Ushers – Nancy
Gingrich and Tom Bledsoe
Coffee
Hour –
Tom and Cathy Bledsoe
THIS WEEK
AT S. STEPHEN’S
PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS
Sunday
30 September
Evening
Prayer w/ EMBR 5:30 pm (Lady Chapel)
Sunday
30 September
Online
Book Discussion Group 7:00 pm
Saturday
6 October
Society
of Mary 10:30 am (Lady Chapel/Great
Hall)
EXTRA-PAROCHIAL
EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S
Friday 5 October
RUF Meeting 4:00-11:00 pm (Great Hall)
Saturday 6 October
Epiphany Soup
Kitchen 2:30 pm (Great Hall)
LITURGICAL
CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE
30
September
NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST (G)
Morning
Prayer 8:00 am
Low Mass
8:10 am
Solemn Mass
10:00 am
Evening
Prayer w/ EMBR 5:30 pm
Daily Mass and Office Lectionaries: Proper 21, Year Two
Monday
1 October
Remigius, Bishop of Rheims, Apostle of the Franks, 533 (W)
Thérèse of Lisieux, Carmelite Nun, Spiritual Writer, 1897 (W)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6:00 pm
Tuesday
2 October
The
Holy Guardian Angels
(W)
Noonday
Prayer 12:00 noon
Low
Mass 12:10 pm
Wednesday
3 October
FERIA (G)
Evening
Prayer 5:30 pm
Low
Mass 6:00 pm
Thursday
4 October
Francis
of Assisi, Friar, Deacon, Founder of the Friars Minor, 1226 (W)
Noonday
Prayer 12:00 noon
Low
Mass 12:10 pm
Friday
5 October
FERIA (G)
Noonday
Prayer 12:00 noon
Low
Mass 12:10 pm
Saturday
6 October
Bruno, Founder of the
Carthusian Order, 1101 (W)
Morning Prayer 9:30 am
Low Mass 10:00 am
Holy Rosary 10:30 am
7
October
ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEDICATION
(Observed) (W)
(Observed) (W)
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 (7 October)
Anniversary of the
Dedication
Genesis 28:10-22
