PARISH NOTES
Sunday 6 January 2019
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| Early Fourth-Century Sarcophagus showing the Wise Men (dressed as Parthian nobles) bringing their gifts to the Christ Child. Vatican Museum, Vatican City. |
FROM THE RECTOR
The Incarnation of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Gospels follows a similar pattern. More accurately, it is the pattern! When God the Son comes down to earth from heaven, he takes human flesh so that he is God incognito in our midst. But then at critical moments in the story, his true identity is revealed to human beings who recognize and worship him as the true King of Israel. Among the first to so recognize him are the Magi, the Wise Men from the East who have seen his star and come bearing gifts. They set the pattern for all of us who seek to recognize, worship, and offer our gifts to him in our own time and place. – Fr. John D. Alexander
THIS SUNDAY’S MUSIC
Francis Poulenc (1899-1963)—Videntes stellam
THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS
The Epiphany of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Psalm 72: 1-7, 10-14
Isaiah 60:1-6
Ephesians 3:1-12
Matthew 2:1-12
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.
Rector Away – Fr. Alexander is attending an academic conference in Louisville, KY, and will be back in the parish office on Tuesday. We welcome our friend Fr. Gary Sturni as celebrant and preacher at both Masses today.
Christmas Decorations – the Twelve Days of Christmas now being past, the decorations in the church need to come down. Volunteers are invited to stay after the 10 am Mass today (Sunday 6 January) to help with this effort. (The creche remains in place, however, for the forty days until the feast of the Presentation (Candlemas) on February 2nd.)
Next ESK Volunteer Opportunity – S. Stephen’s next opportunity to provide the volunteers for the Epiphany Soup Kitchen (ESK) is January 12. Please let Bruce Lennihan know via email if you can assist.
Stewardship Program – We are pleased to report that as of Monday, December 31st, we have received 53 pledges for 2019 totaling $105,844 (including ten new individuals / households whose pledges total $15,370). This exceeds the Budget Committee’s goal of $105,000 and helps set us on a sound footing for the financial year now beginning. Thank you to all who have pledged! If you have not already done so, however, it is not too late! We are grateful for all pledges received, no matter how large or small, and every little bit counts in helping our parish fulfill its mission to the glory of God.
Rector’s Book Group – will begin on Sunday 13 January (and not on 6 January as previously announced). The format will be an online discussion of C. S. Lewis's The Great Divorce (1945)— a satiric fantasy novel of a bus ride in the Afterlife. If you would like to participate - or if you'd like to find out more about what's involved – please email Fr. John so he can include you in the distribution of necessary information on how to join the discussion. (For an excellent report on the previous book group that met this past summer and autumn, see the article by J. Jennifer Jones in the Advent-Christmas-Epiphany issue of The S. Stephen.)
Nominations Committee – The following is the list of candidates who have agreed to be nominated for election at the Annual Parish Meeting on January 27, 2019:
· One Vestry Member for a four-year term (expires January 2023) – Sharon Lloyd Clark
· One Vestry Member for a two-year term (expires January 2021) – Leana Latimer Hooks
· Junior Warden (elected by Vestry – three year term; expires January 2022) – Alison Huff
· Clerk (one-year term) – Molly Bledsoe Ellis
· Treasurer (one-year term) – Muriel Jobbers
· Two Diocesan Convention Delegates (one-year term) – Francesco Pisaturo, Jacob Ihnen
· Two Diocesan Convention Alternates (one-year term) – Nancy Gingrich, Richard Noble
Thank you to the Nominations Committee –Tom Bledsoe (Chair), Phoebe Pettingell, Bobby Rose, Robyn Noble, and Karl Benziger – for its excellent work. According to the parish by-laws, Nominations-by-Petition must be received by the Rector no later than two weeks before the Annual Meeting (i.e. Sunday 13 January) with the signatures of at least five parish members and a statement of consent from the person being nominated.
Annual Parish Meeting Luncheon – As always, we are planning a pot-luck luncheon to accompany the Annual Meeting immediately following the 10 am Solemn High Mass on Sunday 27 January 2019. We need lots of help! Not only from those who will bring food and drink, but also from those volunteers to help set up beforehand and clean up afterwards! Let’s make this a fully cooperative parish effort. Please call or email Susan in the parish office to let us know how you would like to help.
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, Gregory, Jack, Richard, Ann, Colin, Sandy, Kiersten, Beverly, Deborah, Bryan, Angela, Bobby, Beverly, Allora, Carlos, Rhoda, William, Roger, and James.
Birthdays this week: Katherine Hayslip (Sunday 1/6) and Joan Gordon (Friday 1/11).
The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Marian Dunlop (6 January 2000), Chester Arthur Files, Jr. (8 January 2013), John Francis Hall (9 January 1990), Margaret Ethel Worthington (10 January 1991), Harry Johnson (12 January 2007), and Mary Ann Wiggins (12 January 2013).
Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand, and Polynesia: The Most Rev’d Philip Richardson - Bishop of Taranaki and Primate, The Most Rev’d Don Tamihere - Pihopa o Aotearora and Primate, and The Most Rev’d Fereimi Cama - Bishop of Polynesia and Primate; in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, for all the clergy and people of our Diocese.
Acolytes – MC TBD, Thurifer TBD, Crucifer TBD, Torches TBD & TBD
Lector – TBD
Ushers – Bruce Lennihan and Karl Benziger
Coffee Hour – TBD
Saturday 12 January
Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2:30 pm (Great Hall)
LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE
Psalm 72: 1-7, 10-14
Isaiah 60:1-6
Ephesians 3:1-12
Matthew 2:1-12
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.
Rector Away – Fr. Alexander is attending an academic conference in Louisville, KY, and will be back in the parish office on Tuesday. We welcome our friend Fr. Gary Sturni as celebrant and preacher at both Masses today.
Christmas Decorations – the Twelve Days of Christmas now being past, the decorations in the church need to come down. Volunteers are invited to stay after the 10 am Mass today (Sunday 6 January) to help with this effort. (The creche remains in place, however, for the forty days until the feast of the Presentation (Candlemas) on February 2nd.)
Next ESK Volunteer Opportunity – S. Stephen’s next opportunity to provide the volunteers for the Epiphany Soup Kitchen (ESK) is January 12. Please let Bruce Lennihan know via email if you can assist.
Stewardship Program – We are pleased to report that as of Monday, December 31st, we have received 53 pledges for 2019 totaling $105,844 (including ten new individuals / households whose pledges total $15,370). This exceeds the Budget Committee’s goal of $105,000 and helps set us on a sound footing for the financial year now beginning. Thank you to all who have pledged! If you have not already done so, however, it is not too late! We are grateful for all pledges received, no matter how large or small, and every little bit counts in helping our parish fulfill its mission to the glory of God.
Rector’s Book Group – will begin on Sunday 13 January (and not on 6 January as previously announced). The format will be an online discussion of C. S. Lewis's The Great Divorce (1945)— a satiric fantasy novel of a bus ride in the Afterlife. If you would like to participate - or if you'd like to find out more about what's involved – please email Fr. John so he can include you in the distribution of necessary information on how to join the discussion. (For an excellent report on the previous book group that met this past summer and autumn, see the article by J. Jennifer Jones in the Advent-Christmas-Epiphany issue of The S. Stephen.)
Nominations Committee – The following is the list of candidates who have agreed to be nominated for election at the Annual Parish Meeting on January 27, 2019:
· One Vestry Member for a four-year term (expires January 2023) – Sharon Lloyd Clark
· One Vestry Member for a two-year term (expires January 2021) – Leana Latimer Hooks
· Junior Warden (elected by Vestry – three year term; expires January 2022) – Alison Huff
· Clerk (one-year term) – Molly Bledsoe Ellis
· Treasurer (one-year term) – Muriel Jobbers
· Two Diocesan Convention Delegates (one-year term) – Francesco Pisaturo, Jacob Ihnen
· Two Diocesan Convention Alternates (one-year term) – Nancy Gingrich, Richard Noble
Thank you to the Nominations Committee –Tom Bledsoe (Chair), Phoebe Pettingell, Bobby Rose, Robyn Noble, and Karl Benziger – for its excellent work. According to the parish by-laws, Nominations-by-Petition must be received by the Rector no later than two weeks before the Annual Meeting (i.e. Sunday 13 January) with the signatures of at least five parish members and a statement of consent from the person being nominated.
Annual Parish Meeting Luncheon – As always, we are planning a pot-luck luncheon to accompany the Annual Meeting immediately following the 10 am Solemn High Mass on Sunday 27 January 2019. We need lots of help! Not only from those who will bring food and drink, but also from those volunteers to help set up beforehand and clean up afterwards! Let’s make this a fully cooperative parish effort. Please call or email Susan in the parish office to let us know how you would like to help.
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, Gregory, Jack, Richard, Ann, Colin, Sandy, Kiersten, Beverly, Deborah, Bryan, Angela, Bobby, Beverly, Allora, Carlos, Rhoda, William, Roger, and James.
Birthdays this week: Katherine Hayslip (Sunday 1/6) and Joan Gordon (Friday 1/11).
The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Marian Dunlop (6 January 2000), Chester Arthur Files, Jr. (8 January 2013), John Francis Hall (9 January 1990), Margaret Ethel Worthington (10 January 1991), Harry Johnson (12 January 2007), and Mary Ann Wiggins (12 January 2013).
Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand, and Polynesia: The Most Rev’d Philip Richardson - Bishop of Taranaki and Primate, The Most Rev’d Don Tamihere - Pihopa o Aotearora and Primate, and The Most Rev’d Fereimi Cama - Bishop of Polynesia and Primate; in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, for all the clergy and people of our Diocese.
THE SUNDAY ROTA
Acolytes – MC TBD, Thurifer TBD, Crucifer TBD, Torches TBD & TBD
Lector – TBD
Ushers – Bruce Lennihan and Karl Benziger
Coffee Hour – TBD
THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S
EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S Saturday 12 January
Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2:30 pm (Great Hall)
LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE
6 January
THE EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST (W)
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:10 am
Solemn Mass and Procession 10 am
Daily Mass and Office Lectionaries: Epiphany, Year One
Monday 7 January
Proper for January 7 (W)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
Tuesday 8 January
Proper for January 8 (W)
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Wednesday 9 January
Proper for January 9 (W)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
Thursday 10 January
Proper for January 10 (W)
William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury, Martyr, 1645
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Friday 11 January
Proper for January 11 (W)
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Saturday 12 January
Proper for January 12 (W)
Aelred, Abbott of Rievaulx, 1167
Morning Prayer 9:30 am
Low Mass 10 am
13 January
THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY: THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST (W)
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:10 am
Solemn Mass 10 am
NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (13 January)
The First Sunday after the Epiphany
Psalm 29
Isaiah 43:1-7
Acts 8:14-17
Luke 3:15-16, 21-22
