PARISH NOTES
Sunday 12 May 2019
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| Jean-Baptiste de Champaigne (1631-1681), The Good Shepherd Palais de Beaux Arts de Lille, Lille, France |
FROM THE RECTOR
In this Sunday’s reading from the Revelation to Saint John, set in the context of heavenly worship, we encounter the paradoxical image of a lamb who becomes a shepherd. The figure of a lamb signifies weakness and vulnerability; that of a shepherd signifies strength and protection. And yet, “the lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd.” Moreover, the lamb has been slain and yet lives again, and the lamb’s flock, “a great multitude which no man could number, from all tribes and peoples and tongues” consists of those who have “washed their robes in the blood of the lamb.” In the apocalyptic imagery of Revelation, the lamb is the crucified and risen Jesus; the flock consists of all those who have lived and died in Christ: especially the martyrs and others who have suffered for their faith. Here perhaps we have a salutary corrective to the frequently saccharine imagery of Good Shepherd Sunday. Our Shepherd is the lamb who is slain and yet lives; he shepherds us through life and death and brings us home to his heavenly abode where God wipes away every tear from our eyes. And that is good news indeed. – Fr. John D. Alexander
THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS
Acts 9:36-43
Revelation 7:9-17
John 10:22-30
THIS SUNDAY’S MUSIC
Jacob Handl (1550 – 1591)—Missa Super mixolydium
Henryk Górecki (1933 – 2010)—Totus tuus
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.
Monthly Commemoration of the Departed – whose year’s mind falls during May will be offered Saturday 18 May at 10 am (preceded by Morning Prayer at 9:30 am). If you have any names to add to those to be remembered, please let Fr. Alexander know. This Mass is sponsored by the Guild of All Souls, St. Stephen Protomartyr Branch: all are welcome and invited to attend!
The Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ – a principal feast of the Church calendar, is celebrated on the Thursday forty days after Easter (see Acts 1:3), falling this year on May 30th. Following the precedent set last year, we are planning a joint celebration with the other two East Side parishes (Saint Martin’s and Redeemer) to be hosted here at S. Stephen’s at 7 pm. We hope that you will mark this joyous event on your calendars and plan to attend. More details to follow.
FOR YOUR PRAYERS
Prayers have been requested for: Virginia, Elizabeth, George, Hannah, Kaitlyn, Mary, Richard, Beverly, Ethel, Henry, Carl, Kade, Sherri, Norman, John, Shannah, Terri, Lynne, Fred-Munro, William, Gus, Leonard, Harrington, Joan, Sandy, John, Phebe, Ondre, Jack, Richard, Ann, Colin, Sandy, Kiersten, Beverly, Gail, Phoebe, Deborah, Bryan, Angela, Bobby, Beverly, Allora, Carlos, Rhoda, William, Roger, and James.
The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Agnes Charette (12 May 1984), Edward Brown Williams, Jr. (12 May 1991), David A. Ross (18 May 1997), and Elizabeth Kellum (18 May 1997). Recently departed: Sister Mary Angela, CSM; the Rev. Canon James Daughtry.
Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for the Anglican Church of Korea: The Most Rev’d Moses Nagjun Yoo, Primate of Korea and Bishop of Daejeon; in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, for the people and clergy of St. Augustine's, Kingston and of Good Shepherd, Pawtucket, and for the Diocesan Council, Standing Committee and those who serve on our diocesan governing committees.
THE SUNDAY ROTA
Acolytes – MC D Malo, SD F Pisaturo, Thurifer L Verdelotti, Torches C Sylvia and G Benziger
Lector – M Johnson
Ushers – K Benziger & TBD
Coffee Hour – R Steinhart & A Savchenko
THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S
PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS
Saturday 18 May
Guild of All Souls 10 am
EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S
Saturday 18 May
Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2:30 pm (Great Hall)
LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE
Sunday 12 May
THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (W)
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:10 am
Solemn Mass 10 am
Daily Office Lectionary: Easter IV, Year One
Daily Mass Lectionary: Easter IV
Monday 13 May
Monday in Easter IV (W)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
Tuesday 14 May
Tuesday in Easter IV (W)
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Wednesday 15 May
Wednesday in Easter IV (W)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
Thursday 16 May
Thursday in Easter IV (W)
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Friday 17 May
Friday in Easter IV (W)
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Saturday 18 May
Saturday in Easter IV (W)
Low Mass with Commemoration of April Departed 10 am
Sunday 19 May
THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (W)
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:10 am
Solemn Mass 10 am
NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (19 May)
Fifth Sunday of Easter (Year C)
Acts 11:1-18
Revelation 21:1-6
John 13:31-35
