PARISH NOTES
Sunday 3 February 2019
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| James Tissot, The Brow of the Hill near Nazareth. 1886-1896. Watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper. Brooklyn Museum, New York. (Notice that Jesus does not appear in the painting. He has just “passed through the midst” of the crowd, which is left angry and confused.) |
FROM THE RECTOR
Christian theologians have long pondered the mysterium iniquitatis, “the mystery of iniquity”— why rational creatures (namely, some angels and most human beings) freely choose evil over good. The consensus answer is that it remains precisely a mystery: something fundamentally inexplicable. What I like to call “the mystery of rejection” is a subcategory of the mysterium iniquitatis: Why do some people reject God, or Jesus Christ as the Son of God, when they have plenty of evidence to support faith? Many of us struggle with this question as we seek to understand not only declining church attendance but also long-standing believers suddenly turning their backs on both Christianity and religion in general. The mystery of rejection.
The rejection of Jesus by the inhabitants of Nazareth is surely one of the most poignant episodes in the Gospels. Nazareth is Jesus’ hometown, the place where Mary and Joseph brought him up. If his message and ministry can expect a welcome reception anywhere, it is here. At the beginning of this Sunday’s Gospel, all are speaking well of him and wondering at his gracious words; by the end, they are trying to kill him by throwing him off a cliff. He remarks that “no prophet is acceptable in his own country,” and goes his way. Henceforth, his base of operations in Galilee will not be Nazareth in the hills, but Capernaum-by-the-sea. This Sunday we explore what this Gospel can teach us about the mystery of rejection. Please join us. – Fr. John D. Alexander
Jeremiah 1:4-10
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Luke 4:21-30
Arvo Pärt (b. 1935) – Missa syllabica
Bruce Neswick (b. 1956) – Let the Peoples Praise You, O God
Welcome to S. Stephen’s – especially to our visitors and guests! We’re glad to have you with 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.
Society of Mary – meets this Saturday, February 9, beginning with Holy Rosary following the 10 am Mass and a brief meeting (for coffee and bagels) to follow in the Great Hall. All are welcome and invited.
College Ministry – The Episcopal Ministry at Brown and RISD (EMBR) welcomes all students, both undergraduate and graduate, to join us in fellowship this semester. EMBR meets every Sunday at 5:30 pm for Evening Prayer, followed by a meal. All are most welcome and invited!
The rejection of Jesus by the inhabitants of Nazareth is surely one of the most poignant episodes in the Gospels. Nazareth is Jesus’ hometown, the place where Mary and Joseph brought him up. If his message and ministry can expect a welcome reception anywhere, it is here. At the beginning of this Sunday’s Gospel, all are speaking well of him and wondering at his gracious words; by the end, they are trying to kill him by throwing him off a cliff. He remarks that “no prophet is acceptable in his own country,” and goes his way. Henceforth, his base of operations in Galilee will not be Nazareth in the hills, but Capernaum-by-the-sea. This Sunday we explore what this Gospel can teach us about the mystery of rejection. Please join us. – Fr. John D. Alexander
THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS
Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany (Year C)
Psalm 71:1-6Jeremiah 1:4-10
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Luke 4:21-30
THIS SUNDAY’S MUSIC
Arvo Pärt (b. 1935) – Missa syllabica
Bruce Neswick (b. 1956) – Let the Peoples Praise You, O God
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Welcome to S. Stephen’s – especially to our visitors and guests! We’re glad to have you with 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.
Society of Mary – meets this Saturday, February 9, beginning with Holy Rosary following the 10 am Mass and a brief meeting (for coffee and bagels) to follow in the Great Hall. All are welcome and invited.
College Ministry – The Episcopal Ministry at Brown and RISD (EMBR) welcomes all students, both undergraduate and graduate, to join us in fellowship this semester. EMBR meets every Sunday at 5:30 pm for Evening Prayer, followed by a meal. All are most welcome and invited!
Rector’s Online Book Group – will begin C. S. Lewis’s The Great Divorce with a videoconference discussion of Chapters 1 through 3 this evening, Sunday 3 February, from 8 to 9 pm. All are welcome! To join the discussion, log in at https://zoom.us/j/457443242 (You may need to download the ZOOM app if you have not used it before.)
The Nuns, the Priests, and the Bombs – On Monday 11 February at 5:30 pm Brown War Watch is hosting a screening of this documentary film about Catholic anti-nuclear activists. A panel will follow featuring the film's director, Helen Young, investigative journalist Alex Nunes, and activist Frida Berrigan. Co-sponsored by the Department of Middle East Studies and the Department of Religious Studies. Location: Metcalf’s Friedman Auditorium at 190 Thayer Street. All welcome.
The S. Stephen – We welcome articles, essays, reflections, poems, photographs, drawings or other creations to be considered for publication in our parish magazine. Our next copy deadline, for the Lent 2019 issue, is Friday 15 February. Discuss your ideas with or send your submissions to Phoebe Pettingell, Copy Editor, or the Rector, Editor-in-Chief.
Way of Love – A kick-off event for this Episcopal Church-wide program of “Seven Practices for Living a Jesus-Centered Life” will be hosted at Saint Mary’s Church, Portsmouth, RI, on Saturday 16 February from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. All who are interested in learning more are encouraged to attend; please click here for more information.
From the Hood to the Hill – On Saturday 16 February at 6 pm, Central Congregational Church, 296 Angell Street, Providence, will host its annual Darrell West Lecture on Religion and Politics featuring U.S. Senate Chaplain Barry C. Black, the first African-American to hold that position and a nationally acclaimed author and spiritual leader. A Q & A session and book-signing will follow the lecture, which is free and open to the public with no advance registration required. For more information, please click here.
Spring Organ Recital – On Friday 22 March, at 7:30 pm, please join us for an organ recital with International Concert Organist Katelyn Emerson. This event is co-sponsored by the RI American Guild of Organists (RIAGO) and S. Stephen’s Church.
Prayers have been requested for: Elizabeth, Hannah, Kaitlyn, Mary, Richard, Norman, John, James, Shannah, Terri, Sister Carolyn, Lynne, Fred-Munro, William, Gus, Leonard, Harrington, Joan, Sandy, John, Phebe, Jack, Richard, Ann, Colin, Sandy, Kiersten, Beverly, Deborah, Bryan, Angela, Bobby, Beverly, Allora, Carlos, Rhoda, William, Roger, and James.
Birthdays this week: William Kinloch (Monday 2/4) and Sharon Lloyd Clark (Saturday 2/9).
The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Henry Francis Tingley, Jr. (4 February 1984), Mary L. Starks (5 February 1999), Paul David Ross (6 February 1996), Mildred Dunlop (8 February 1987), and Madeline Nason (9 February 1985).
Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for the Anglican Church of Burundi: The Most Rev’d Martin Blaise Nyaboho, Archbishop of Burundi & Bishop of Makamba; in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, for the leadership, staff and residents of Hallworth House.
Acolytes – MC F Pisaturo, SD D Malo, Thurifer L Verdelotti, Torches R Noble and J Ihnen
Lector – K Lester
Ushers – Alison Huff and Tom Bledsoe
Coffee Hour – Nancy Gingrich, Tom Oakes, and Louis Verdelotti
PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS
Sunday 3 February
Evening Prayer w/ EMBR 5:30 pm (Lady Chapel)
The Nuns, the Priests, and the Bombs – On Monday 11 February at 5:30 pm Brown War Watch is hosting a screening of this documentary film about Catholic anti-nuclear activists. A panel will follow featuring the film's director, Helen Young, investigative journalist Alex Nunes, and activist Frida Berrigan. Co-sponsored by the Department of Middle East Studies and the Department of Religious Studies. Location: Metcalf’s Friedman Auditorium at 190 Thayer Street. All welcome.
The S. Stephen – We welcome articles, essays, reflections, poems, photographs, drawings or other creations to be considered for publication in our parish magazine. Our next copy deadline, for the Lent 2019 issue, is Friday 15 February. Discuss your ideas with or send your submissions to Phoebe Pettingell, Copy Editor, or the Rector, Editor-in-Chief.
Way of Love – A kick-off event for this Episcopal Church-wide program of “Seven Practices for Living a Jesus-Centered Life” will be hosted at Saint Mary’s Church, Portsmouth, RI, on Saturday 16 February from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. All who are interested in learning more are encouraged to attend; please click here for more information.
From the Hood to the Hill – On Saturday 16 February at 6 pm, Central Congregational Church, 296 Angell Street, Providence, will host its annual Darrell West Lecture on Religion and Politics featuring U.S. Senate Chaplain Barry C. Black, the first African-American to hold that position and a nationally acclaimed author and spiritual leader. A Q & A session and book-signing will follow the lecture, which is free and open to the public with no advance registration required. For more information, please click here.
Spring Organ Recital – On Friday 22 March, at 7:30 pm, please join us for an organ recital with International Concert Organist Katelyn Emerson. This event is co-sponsored by the RI American Guild of Organists (RIAGO) and S. Stephen’s Church.
FOR YOUR PRAYERS
Prayers have been requested for: Elizabeth, Hannah, Kaitlyn, Mary, Richard, Norman, John, James, Shannah, Terri, Sister Carolyn, Lynne, Fred-Munro, William, Gus, Leonard, Harrington, Joan, Sandy, John, Phebe, Jack, Richard, Ann, Colin, Sandy, Kiersten, Beverly, Deborah, Bryan, Angela, Bobby, Beverly, Allora, Carlos, Rhoda, William, Roger, and James.
Birthdays this week: William Kinloch (Monday 2/4) and Sharon Lloyd Clark (Saturday 2/9).
The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Henry Francis Tingley, Jr. (4 February 1984), Mary L. Starks (5 February 1999), Paul David Ross (6 February 1996), Mildred Dunlop (8 February 1987), and Madeline Nason (9 February 1985).
Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for the Anglican Church of Burundi: The Most Rev’d Martin Blaise Nyaboho, Archbishop of Burundi & Bishop of Makamba; in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, for the leadership, staff and residents of Hallworth House.
THE SUNDAY ROTA
Acolytes – MC F Pisaturo, SD D Malo, Thurifer L Verdelotti, Torches R Noble and J Ihnen
Lector – K Lester
Ushers – Alison Huff and Tom Bledsoe
Coffee Hour – Nancy Gingrich, Tom Oakes, and Louis Verdelotti
THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S
PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS
Sunday 3 February
Evening Prayer w/ EMBR 5:30 pm (Lady Chapel)
Rector's Online Book Group 8-9 pm (Videoconference)
Saturday 9 February
Society of Mary 10:30 am (Lady Chapel/Great Hall)
EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S
Friday 8 February
RUF Meeting 4-11 pm (Great Hall)
Saturday 9 February
Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2:30 pm (Great Hall)
LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE
3 February
THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY (G)
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:10 am
Solemn Mass 10 am
Evening Prayer w/ EMBR 5:30 pm
Daily Mass and Office Lectionaries: Epiphany IV, Year One
Saturday 9 February
Society of Mary 10:30 am (Lady Chapel/Great Hall)
EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S
Friday 8 February
RUF Meeting 4-11 pm (Great Hall)
Saturday 9 February
Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2:30 pm (Great Hall)
LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE
3 February
THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY (G)
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:10 am
Solemn Mass 10 am
Evening Prayer w/ EMBR 5:30 pm
Daily Mass and Office Lectionaries: Epiphany IV, Year One
Monday 4 February
Gilbert of Sempringham, Founder of the Gilbertine Order, 1189 (W)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
Tuesday 5 February
Agatha, Martyr at Catania, 3rd century (R)
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Wednesday 6 February
The Martyrs of Japan, 1597 (R)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
Thursday 7 February
Cornelius the Centurion, 1st century (W)
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Friday 8 February
Jerome Emiliani, Priest, Founder of the Somaschi Fathers, 1537 (W)
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Saturday 9 February
FERIA (G)
Morning Prayer 9:30 am
Low Mass 10 am
Holy Rosary 10:30 am
10 February
THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY (G)
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:10 am
Solemn Mass 10 am
Evening Prayer w/ EMBR 5:30 pm
NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (10 February)
Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany (Year C)
Psalm 138
Isaiah 6:1-8, (9-13)
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Luke 5:1-11
