PARISH NOTES
Sunday 31 March 2019
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| Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, The Return of the Prodigal Son (1667-1670) National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. |
FROM THE RECTOR
Mid-Lent Sunday (a.k.a. Mothering Sunday, Rose Sunday, and Laetare (“Rejoice”) Sunday) lightens the Lenten mood a bit before we enter the home stretch towards Palm Sunday and Holy Week. It reminds us that Lent is not all dreary gloom and gloom. Rightly understood, the season’s fasting, prayer, and almsgiving are occasions of joy. The first word of the Introit states Mid-Lent Sunday’s thematic exhortation: “Rejoice!” This year’s appointed Gospel, the Parable of the Prodigal Son, emphasizes this theme: as the father declares to the jealous older brother, “It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.” This Gospel challenges us: Are we willing not only to repent of our own sins, but also to forgive those who have sinned against us, and indeed to rejoice in our reconciliation? Are we indeed willing to accept the invitation to join the party and “make merry” in the cosmic celebration of God’s Kingdom? – Fr. John D. Alexander
Joshua 5:9-12
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
Plainchant—Missa IV (Cunctipotens Genitor Deus)
Ned Rorem (b. 1923)—Sing, my soul, His wondrous love
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, April 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.
Holy Week and Easter – the schedule of services for Holy Week and Easter, including the liturgies of the Triduum Sacrum (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil), is available on the parish website at sstephens.org/holy-week-2019. We hope that all parishioners will note the service dates and times and make every effort to attend.
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 31—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 Meeting – tonight, Sunday, 31 March, as Brown concludes its 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: Richard Noble (Thursday 4/4).
The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Elizabeth Kershaw (31 March 2007), Richard Sherman Nutt (1 April 2006), Roy Sumner Bent, Sr. (4 April 1986), and Kathryne Farnum Ripley (6 April 1990). Recently Departed: Angelica Garlatti, the Rev. Vernon Austin, SSC, Priest, and Theodora Shaw.
Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for the Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean: The Most Rev’d James Richard Wong Yin Song, Archbishop, Province of Indian Ocean & Bishop of the Seychelles; in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, for clergy widows and widowers of the Diocese.
Acolytes – MC F Pisaturo, SD J Ihnen, Thurifer L Verdelotti, Torches R Noble and B Rose
Lector – M Johnson
Ushers – Tom Oakes and Ernest Drew
Coffee Hour – Susan Rozzero
PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS
Sunday 31 March
Lenten Supper and Lecture Series 6-8:30 pm (Great Hall/Lady Chapel)
Saturday 6 April
Society of Mary 10:30 am (Lady Chapel/Great Hall)
EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S
Friday 5 April
Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) Meeting 4-11 pm (Great Hall)
Saturday 6 April
Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2:30 pm (Great Hall)
LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE
31 March
THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT: Laetare Sunday (Rose)
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 IV, Year One
Daily Mass Lectionary: Week of Lent IV
1 April
Monday in Lent IV (V)
Frederick Denison Maurice, Priest, Teacher, 1872
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
2 April
Tuesday in Lent IV (V)
James Lloyd Breck, Priest, Founder of Nashotah House, 1876
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
3 April
Wednesday in Lent IV (V)
Richard, Bishop of Chichester, 1253
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
4 April
Thursday in Lent IV (V)
Isidore, Archbishop of Seville, Teacher, 636
Martin Luther King, Jr., Civil Rights Leader, Martyr, 1968
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
5 April
Friday in Lent IV (V)
Vincent Ferrer, Priest, Dominican Friar, Missionary, 1419
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Ecumenical Stations of the Cross 6 pm
6 April
Saturday in Lent IV (V)
Morning Prayer 9:30 am
Low Mass 10 am
Holy Rosary 10:30 pm
7 April
THE FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT (V)
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:10 am
Solemn Mass 10 am
Evening Prayer w/ EMBR 5:30 pm
Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament 8 pm
NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (7 April)
Fifth Sunday in Lent (Year C)
Psalm 126
Isaiah 43:16-21
Philippians 3:4b-14
John 12:1-8
THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS
Fourth Sunday in Lent (Year C)
Psalm 32 Joshua 5:9-12
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
THIS SUNDAY’S MUSIC
Plainchant—Missa IV (Cunctipotens Genitor Deus)
Ned Rorem (b. 1923)—Sing, my soul, His wondrous love
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, April 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.
Holy Week and Easter – the schedule of services for Holy Week and Easter, including the liturgies of the Triduum Sacrum (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil), is available on the parish website at sstephens.org/holy-week-2019. We hope that all parishioners will note the service dates and times and make every effort to attend.
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 31—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 Meeting – tonight, Sunday, 31 March, as Brown concludes its 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: Richard Noble (Thursday 4/4).
The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Elizabeth Kershaw (31 March 2007), Richard Sherman Nutt (1 April 2006), Roy Sumner Bent, Sr. (4 April 1986), and Kathryne Farnum Ripley (6 April 1990). Recently Departed: Angelica Garlatti, the Rev. Vernon Austin, SSC, Priest, and Theodora Shaw.
Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for the Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean: The Most Rev’d James Richard Wong Yin Song, Archbishop, Province of Indian Ocean & Bishop of the Seychelles; in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, for clergy widows and widowers of the Diocese.
THE SUNDAY ROTA
Acolytes – MC F Pisaturo, SD J Ihnen, Thurifer L Verdelotti, Torches R Noble and B Rose
Lector – M Johnson
Ushers – Tom Oakes and Ernest Drew
Coffee Hour – Susan Rozzero
THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S
PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS
Sunday 31 March
Lenten Supper and Lecture Series 6-8:30 pm (Great Hall/Lady Chapel)
Saturday 6 April
Society of Mary 10:30 am (Lady Chapel/Great Hall)
EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S
Friday 5 April
Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) Meeting 4-11 pm (Great Hall)
Saturday 6 April
Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2:30 pm (Great Hall)
LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE
31 March
THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT: Laetare Sunday (Rose)
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 IV, Year One
Daily Mass Lectionary: Week of Lent IV
1 April
Monday in Lent IV (V)
Frederick Denison Maurice, Priest, Teacher, 1872
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
2 April
Tuesday in Lent IV (V)
James Lloyd Breck, Priest, Founder of Nashotah House, 1876
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
3 April
Wednesday in Lent IV (V)
Richard, Bishop of Chichester, 1253
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
4 April
Thursday in Lent IV (V)
Isidore, Archbishop of Seville, Teacher, 636
Martin Luther King, Jr., Civil Rights Leader, Martyr, 1968
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
5 April
Friday in Lent IV (V)
Vincent Ferrer, Priest, Dominican Friar, Missionary, 1419
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Ecumenical Stations of the Cross 6 pm
6 April
Saturday in Lent IV (V)
Morning Prayer 9:30 am
Low Mass 10 am
Holy Rosary 10:30 pm
7 April
THE FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT (V)
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:10 am
Solemn Mass 10 am
Evening Prayer w/ EMBR 5:30 pm
Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament 8 pm
NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (7 April)
Fifth Sunday in Lent (Year C)
Psalm 126
Isaiah 43:16-21
Philippians 3:4b-14
John 12:1-8
