PARISH NOTES
Sunday 26 May 2019
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| Marie Ellenrieder, Baptism of Lydia (1861) Old National Gallery, State Museums of Berlin, Berlin, Germany |
FROM THE RECTOR
“Will that be on the exam?” Years ago, students were notorious for asking that question. Perhaps they still are. I remember furiously taking notes during lectures, especially from the professors I most admired, so that I would be able to reproduce their pearls of wisdom when the time of testing came. But occasionally my note-taking was imperfect and I discovered that I had missed a key point in the argument. At such moments, comparing notes with classmates or asking questions of the teaching assistants was a useful way to fill in the gaps.
In this Sunday’s Gospel from John’s “Farewell Discourse,” Jesus declares that those who love him will keep his words. But how? So far, he has said so much, and they have understood so little. He answers this implicit question by promising the “the Counselor, the Holy Spirit,” whom the Father will send in his Name: “he will teach you all things and bring to remembrance all that I have said to you.” The real mission of the Holy Spirit in the Church is not to teach “new truths,” but to “bring to remembrance” all that Jesus has taught, so that we may understand how his words apply in ever-new and changing situations. In our time of testing, then, we do well to rely upon the Holy Spirit’s counsel, so that we may both keep the Lord’s words and do them. – Fr. John D. Alexander
THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS
Sixth Sunday of Easter (Year C)
THIS SUNDAY’S MUSIC
Healey Willan (1880 – 1968)—Missa de Sancta Maria Magdalena
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Welcome to S. Stephen’s – especially to our visitors and guests! We’re glad to have you with us. If you have any questions or special needs, please speak to one of the ushers, who will be glad to assist you.
Flowers at the High Altar – last Sunday were given by Nancy Gingrich to the glory of God and in loving memory of Tyrone Gene Gingrich (19 May 2014). We regret the omission in last week’s printed Parish Notes.
Please note – that there will be no Coffee Hour following our 10 am Mass today due to a Brown University departmental graduation ceremony being held in the Great Hall.
Brown Commencement Sunday – This morning we offer our customary round of services: Morning Prayer at 8 am, followed by Low Mass at 8:10 am, and Sung Mass at 10 am.
Memorial Day (May 27th) – as on all Federal Public Holidays falling on a Monday, Low Mass tomorrow will be offered at 10 am, preceded by Morning Prayer at 9:30 am.
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 have planned 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. The Mass setting will be Service of Holy Communion by Francis Jackson (b. 1917), and the motet will be God is gone up by Gerald Finzi (1901-1956). The preacher will be the Rev. Mark Sutherland, Rector of St. Martin’s Church. Volunteers are welcome to organize a small reception following in the Great Hall; please see Alison Huff if you are willing and able to help.
Visitation – This Friday 31 May, we join the clergy and people of St. John’s, Newport, to celebrate the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary with Solemn Mass at 6:30 pm in Newport. The preacher will be Fr. John Alexander.
Farewell Brunch – The Vestry invites parishioners and friends of S. Stephen’s to join in extending our gratitude and heartfelt best wishes to Fr. John & Elizabeth Alexander at a brunch on Saturday, June 1, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm in the Great Hall.
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, Gus, Harrington, Joan, Sandy, John, Phebe, Ondre, Jack, Richard, Ann, Colin, Sandy, Kiersten, Beverly, Gail, Phoebe, Deborah, Bryan, Angela, Bobby, Beverly, Carlos, Rhoda, William, Roger, and James.
The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Nancy Figliolini (28 May 2006), Agnes Maud Cliff (28 May 1986), Shirley Elizabeth Cook (29 May 2014), Grace Gerry Harris (31 May 1987), and William Russell Halliwell (31 May 1995). 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 all members of the Anglican Communion around the world: for the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev’d Justin Welby, and all primates and bishops; for members of the Anglican Consultative Council; for the Secretary General, The Most Rev’d Dr. Josiah Idowu-Fearon; and for the staff at the Anglican Communion Office in London and the UN offices in Geneva and New York. In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for the people and clergy of Ascension/ la Iglesia de la Ascension, Cranston and of Ascension, Wakefield, and for those in the Armed Forces who have died in service to our country.
THE SUNDAY ROTA
Acolytes – MC J Ihnen, Thurifer L Verdelotti, Crucifer TBD, Torches B Rose and F Pisaturo
Lector – P Martin
Ushers – Ernest Drew and Alison Huff
THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S
PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS
Friday 31 May
Feast of the Visitation 6:30 pm (St. John’s, Newport)
Saturday 1 June
Farewell Brunch for Fr. John & Elizabeth Alexander 10 am – 12 pm (Great Hall)
EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S
Saturday 1 June
Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2:30 pm (Great Hall)
LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE
Sunday 26 May
THE SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (W)
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:10 am
Sung Mass 10 am
Daily Office Lectionary: Easter VI, Year One
Daily Mass Lectionary: Easter VI
Monday 27 May
Augustine, first Archbishop of Canterbury, 605 (W)
Morning Prayer 9:30 am
Low Mass 10 am
Tuesday 28 May
Tuesday in Easter VI (W)
Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1089
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Wednesday 29 May
Wednesday in Easter VI (W)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
Thursday 30 May
THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST (W)
Noonday Prayer 12:00 pm
Solemn Mass 7 pm
Friday 31 May
THE VISITATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY TO ELIZABETH
Noonday Prayer 12:00 pm
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Solemn Mass 6:30 pm (at St. John’s, Newport)
Saturday 1 June
Justin, Martyr at Rome, c. 167 (R)
Morning Prayer 9:30 am
Low Mass 10 am
Sunday 2 June
THE SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER: SUNDAY AFTER ASCENSION DAY (W)
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:10 am
Solemn Mass 10 am
NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (2 June)
Seventh Sunday of Easter (Year C)
