PARISH NOTES
Sunday 24 March 2019
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| Dirk Bouts, Moses and the Burning Bush, c. 1465-1470 Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
FROM THE RECTOR
What is the difference between a warning and a threat? In their simplest form, both usually comprise a statement of some imminent danger, such as a “winter storm warning” or a “terror threat.” At a slightly more complex level, they combine two elements, namely a present course of action, and unpleasant consequences. For example: “Current levels of production and consumption will make the earth uninhabitable within a century.” Is that a threat, or a warning, or both? A variant on this two-part form is “Do x or suffer y”—Move out of your house by nightfall or be burned out (threat); Move inland or risk being drowned in the approaching hurricane (warning). The difference turns on the malevolent or benevolent intentions of the speaker. A threat serves the speaker’s interests and is intended to frighten and intimidate; a warning serves the recipient’s interests and is intended to protect and save.
In terms of this distinction, it is clear that God frequently warns but never threatens us. In this Sunday’s Epistle, Saint Paul writes of disobedient Israelites who perished in the wilderness: “Now these things are warnings for us, not to desire evil …” In this Sunday’s Gospel, speaking of Pilate’s recent massacre of a group of Galileans, and the collapse of a tower in Jerusalem, Jesus repeats the solemn warning: “unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” During Lent, the Church’s liturgy pays a bit more attention than usual to such divine warnings. But they are precisely warnings, not threats. They are always given for our good by the God who loves us and desires nothing more than our salvation and life. – Fr. John D. Alexander
Exodus 3:1-15
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Luke 13:1-9
Plainchant—Missa XIII (Stelliferi Conditor orbis)
Herbert Howells (1892 – 1983)—Like as the hart desireth the waterbrooks
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.
The Annunciation of our Lord Jesus Christ – a principal holy day of the Church year, will be kept with Sung Mass in the Lady Chapel tomorrow, Monday 25 March, at 7 pm. Canon Haselock will preach.
Vigil at the Altar of Repose – There is a signup sheet in the narthex for the Vigil in the Lady Chapel before the Blessed Sacrament, which begins on Maundy Thursday, 18 April, after the completion of the 7:30 pm Liturgy, and ends at midnight. Come watch with Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane.
Lent Supper and Lecture Series – takes place on the Sundays in Lent, continuing tonight, March 24—a great opportunity for food, fellowship, intellectual stimulation, and spiritual enrichment. Each evening begins with a pot luck supper at 6 pm: all participants are asked to bring a food item to share – such as bread, cheese, soup, casserole, pasta, or salad. (Dishes containing meat are perfectly appropriate, but during Lent the Church discourages sweets, cakes, cookies, etc., as well as alcoholic beverages.) The program starts at approximately 7 pm, featuring the Rev. Canon Jeremy Matthew Haselock, retired Vice Dean and Canon Precentor of Norwich Cathedral, and a Chaplain to Her Majesty the Queen. Canon Haselock’s topic is “The Sacrament of Easter: An Introduction to the Liturgy of Lent, Holy Week, and Easter.” Each evening concludes with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at 8 pm in the Lady Chapel. All are cordially invited to attend all or any part of the evening.
Ecumenical Stations – This year, the Episcopal Ministry at Brown and RISD (EMBR) is teaming up with the Brown-RISD Catholic Community (BRCC) to offer Stations of the Cross at S. Stephen’s at 6 pm on Fridays in Lent through April 12. This is a great opportunity to experience this moving devotion anew or indeed for the first time! (Advance Notice: on Friday 12 April, concluding our series of Lenten Stations of the Cross, we will end with a Fish Fry in the Great Hall. Stay tuned for more details.)
Sorrowful Mysteries – Another opportunity for regular Lenten devotion is recitation of the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary on Saturday mornings at 10:30 am (following 10 am Mass and 9:30 am Morning Prayer) through April 13th (except on March 23rd). These devotions are sponsored by the Our Lady of Providence Ward of the Society of Mary. All are welcome; no prior experience needed!
No EMBR Meetings – tonight, 24 March, or next Sunday, 31 March, as Brown will be on Spring Recess.
Prayers have been requested for: Elizabeth, George, Hannah, Kaitlyn, Mary, Richard, Ethel, Henry, Norman, John, Shannah, Terri, Lynne, Fred-Munro, William, Gus, Leonard, Harrington, Joan, Sandy, John, Phebe, Jack, Richard, Ann, Colin, Sandy, Kiersten, Beverly, Gail, Deborah, Bryan, Angela, Bobby, Beverly, Allora, Carlos, Rhoda, William, Roger, and James.
Birthdays this week: Emily MacLean (Saturday 3/30).
The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Virginia Marie Disley (24 March 1990), John F. Brazil (26 March 1982), Bette Drayton (26 March 2004), Dorothy Adams Bellman (27 March 2005), Mary Weis (29 March 1993), and Charles John McCloughan (23 March 1984). Recently Departed: Angelica Garlatti and the Rev. Vernon Austin, SSC, Priest.
Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui: The Most Rev’d Paul Kwong, Archbishop of Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui & Bishop of Hong Kong Island; in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, for those who are preparing to serve God as ordained ministers in the church.
Acolytes – MC B Rose, SD F Pisaturo, Thurifer R Noble, Torches C Sylvia and G Benziger
Lector – K Lester
Ushers – Sharon Lloyd Clark and Bruce Lennihan
Coffee Hour – Muriel Jobbers
PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS
Sunday 24 March
Lenten Supper and Lecture Series 6-8:30 pm (Great Hall/Lady Chapel)
EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S
Saturday 30 March
Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2:30 pm (Great Hall)
LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE
24 March
THE THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT (V)
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:10 am
Solemn Mass 10 am
Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament 8 pm
Daily Office Lectionary: Week of Lent III, Year One
Daily Mass Lectionary: Week of Lent III
25 March
THE ANNUNCIATION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST (W)
Evening Prayer (said) 5:30 pm
Sung Mass 7 pm
26 March
Tuesday in Lent III (V)
Harriet Monsell, Founder of the Community of Saint John the Baptist, Clewer, 1883
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
27 March
Wednesday in Lent III (V)
Charles Henry Brent, Bishop of the Philippines, and of Western New York, 1922
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
28 March
Thursday in Lent III (V)
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
29 March
Friday in Lent III (V)
John Keble, Priest, Tractarian, 1866
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Ecumenical Stations of the Cross 6 pm
30 March
Saturday in Lent III (V)
Innocent of Alaska, Bishop, 1879
Morning Prayer 9:30 am
Low Mass 10 am
Holy Rosary 10:30 pm
31 March
THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT (Rose)
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:10 am
Solemn Mass 10 am
Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament 8 pm
NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (31 March)
Fourth Sunday in Lent (Year C)
Psalm 32
Joshua 5:9-12
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
In terms of this distinction, it is clear that God frequently warns but never threatens us. In this Sunday’s Epistle, Saint Paul writes of disobedient Israelites who perished in the wilderness: “Now these things are warnings for us, not to desire evil …” In this Sunday’s Gospel, speaking of Pilate’s recent massacre of a group of Galileans, and the collapse of a tower in Jerusalem, Jesus repeats the solemn warning: “unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” During Lent, the Church’s liturgy pays a bit more attention than usual to such divine warnings. But they are precisely warnings, not threats. They are always given for our good by the God who loves us and desires nothing more than our salvation and life. – Fr. John D. Alexander
THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS
Third Sunday in Lent (Year C)
Psalm 63:1-8Exodus 3:1-15
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Luke 13:1-9
THIS SUNDAY’S MUSIC
Plainchant—Missa XIII (Stelliferi Conditor orbis)
Herbert Howells (1892 – 1983)—Like as the hart desireth the waterbrooks
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.
The Annunciation of our Lord Jesus Christ – a principal holy day of the Church year, will be kept with Sung Mass in the Lady Chapel tomorrow, Monday 25 March, at 7 pm. Canon Haselock will preach.
Vigil at the Altar of Repose – There is a signup sheet in the narthex for the Vigil in the Lady Chapel before the Blessed Sacrament, which begins on Maundy Thursday, 18 April, after the completion of the 7:30 pm Liturgy, and ends at midnight. Come watch with Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane.
Lent Supper and Lecture Series – takes place on the Sundays in Lent, continuing tonight, March 24—a great opportunity for food, fellowship, intellectual stimulation, and spiritual enrichment. Each evening begins with a pot luck supper at 6 pm: all participants are asked to bring a food item to share – such as bread, cheese, soup, casserole, pasta, or salad. (Dishes containing meat are perfectly appropriate, but during Lent the Church discourages sweets, cakes, cookies, etc., as well as alcoholic beverages.) The program starts at approximately 7 pm, featuring the Rev. Canon Jeremy Matthew Haselock, retired Vice Dean and Canon Precentor of Norwich Cathedral, and a Chaplain to Her Majesty the Queen. Canon Haselock’s topic is “The Sacrament of Easter: An Introduction to the Liturgy of Lent, Holy Week, and Easter.” Each evening concludes with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at 8 pm in the Lady Chapel. All are cordially invited to attend all or any part of the evening.
Ecumenical Stations – This year, the Episcopal Ministry at Brown and RISD (EMBR) is teaming up with the Brown-RISD Catholic Community (BRCC) to offer Stations of the Cross at S. Stephen’s at 6 pm on Fridays in Lent through April 12. This is a great opportunity to experience this moving devotion anew or indeed for the first time! (Advance Notice: on Friday 12 April, concluding our series of Lenten Stations of the Cross, we will end with a Fish Fry in the Great Hall. Stay tuned for more details.)
Sorrowful Mysteries – Another opportunity for regular Lenten devotion is recitation of the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary on Saturday mornings at 10:30 am (following 10 am Mass and 9:30 am Morning Prayer) through April 13th (except on March 23rd). These devotions are sponsored by the Our Lady of Providence Ward of the Society of Mary. All are welcome; no prior experience needed!
No EMBR Meetings – tonight, 24 March, or next Sunday, 31 March, as Brown will be on Spring Recess.
FOR YOUR PRAYERS
Prayers have been requested for: Elizabeth, George, Hannah, Kaitlyn, Mary, Richard, Ethel, Henry, Norman, John, Shannah, Terri, Lynne, Fred-Munro, William, Gus, Leonard, Harrington, Joan, Sandy, John, Phebe, Jack, Richard, Ann, Colin, Sandy, Kiersten, Beverly, Gail, Deborah, Bryan, Angela, Bobby, Beverly, Allora, Carlos, Rhoda, William, Roger, and James.
Birthdays this week: Emily MacLean (Saturday 3/30).
The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Virginia Marie Disley (24 March 1990), John F. Brazil (26 March 1982), Bette Drayton (26 March 2004), Dorothy Adams Bellman (27 March 2005), Mary Weis (29 March 1993), and Charles John McCloughan (23 March 1984). Recently Departed: Angelica Garlatti and the Rev. Vernon Austin, SSC, Priest.
Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui: The Most Rev’d Paul Kwong, Archbishop of Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui & Bishop of Hong Kong Island; in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, for those who are preparing to serve God as ordained ministers in the church.
THE SUNDAY ROTA
Acolytes – MC B Rose, SD F Pisaturo, Thurifer R Noble, Torches C Sylvia and G Benziger
Lector – K Lester
Ushers – Sharon Lloyd Clark and Bruce Lennihan
Coffee Hour – Muriel Jobbers
THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S
PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS
Sunday 24 March
Lenten Supper and Lecture Series 6-8:30 pm (Great Hall/Lady Chapel)
EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S
Saturday 30 March
Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2:30 pm (Great Hall)
LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE
24 March
THE THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT (V)
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:10 am
Solemn Mass 10 am
Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament 8 pm
Daily Office Lectionary: Week of Lent III, Year One
Daily Mass Lectionary: Week of Lent III
25 March
THE ANNUNCIATION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST (W)
Evening Prayer (said) 5:30 pm
Sung Mass 7 pm
26 March
Tuesday in Lent III (V)
Harriet Monsell, Founder of the Community of Saint John the Baptist, Clewer, 1883
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
27 March
Wednesday in Lent III (V)
Charles Henry Brent, Bishop of the Philippines, and of Western New York, 1922
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
28 March
Thursday in Lent III (V)
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
29 March
Friday in Lent III (V)
John Keble, Priest, Tractarian, 1866
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Ecumenical Stations of the Cross 6 pm
30 March
Saturday in Lent III (V)
Innocent of Alaska, Bishop, 1879
Morning Prayer 9:30 am
Low Mass 10 am
Holy Rosary 10:30 pm
31 March
THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT (Rose)
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:10 am
Solemn Mass 10 am
Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament 8 pm
NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (31 March)
Fourth Sunday in Lent (Year C)
Psalm 32
Joshua 5:9-12
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
