PARISH NOTES
Sunday 29 December 2019
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| The Heavenly and Earthly Trinities (c. 1675-1682) by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1617-1682). Oil on canvas. The National Gallery, London, England. |
THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS
Isaiah 61:10—62:3
Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7
John 1:1-18
THIS SUNDAY’S MUSIC
Otto Olsson (1879–1964)—Jul
Healey Willan (1880–1968)—Missa de Sancta Maria Magdalena
Max Reger (1873–1916)—Fuge über den Choral "Wie schön leucht' uns der Morgenstern"
A WORD OF WELCOME
Welcome to Saint Stephen’s – S. Stephen’s Church is in the midst of Brown University and serves the communities of the East Side of Providence, North Providence, East Providence, and beyond. It is a parish of the Diocese of Rhode Island in the Episcopal Church in the worldwide Anglican Communion. The Anglo-Catholic tradition informs and shapes our life together. We are a diverse community uniting all sorts and conditions in the worship of Our Lord Jesus Christ and aim to offer up the best we have in liturgy, music, preaching, teaching, fellowship, and service. Visitors and guests are always welcome! If you attend S. Stephen’s on any given Sunday, please join us for Coffee Hour following the 8 am Mass in the Narthex and following the 10 am Mass in the Great Hall upstairs. If you have any questions or special needs before or during the service, please speak to one of the ushers, who will be glad to assist you. We look forward to meeting you!
Joining us with small children? – We are so glad you will be here! Our Sunday School program and nursery are available throughout the program year ten minutes before and during the 10 am Mass, and the ushers will be happy to direct you.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
My S. Stephen’s Ministry: Julia Steiny – Karen Vorbeck and I came to S. Stephen’s together in the summer of 1983, and with some lapses, have never really left. In good times and bad (both mine and S. Stephen's), I come for the Liturgy which has quieted my ruminations and brought Godly light into my often-messy life. Only church records would remind me how long I’ve been a lector or an usher, or when it was that I served on the vestry. While my kids were little and I still ironed during unavoidable TV commercials, I served on the Altar Guild. I directed the Children’s Pageant for at least 20 years, probably more, and hope to be helpful with that mission in future. I help with Stewardship now. Most importantly, I’m thrilled about our collective prospects for this place I love. If you are interested in any of the ministries I mentioned above, please contact me via email at juliasteiny@gmail.com.
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| Julia Steiny |
Milestones – The wonder of Holy Baptism: Incorporated as members of Christ, adopted as children of his Father and brothers and sisters in his family, and given the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven through the Sacrament of New Birth, on 22 December were Bradin Paul Anderson sponsored by Nancy Gingrich, Ryder Malone Mims and Olive Madry Mims, both sponsored by Ian Stewart Drew and Jennie Isabella Nestlerode.
The Naming and Circumcision of Our Lord Jesus Christ (January 1st) – a major feast day of the church year, will be celebrated next Wednesday, 1 January, with Morning Prayer at 9:30 am and Low Mass at 10 am.
The Annual New Year's Day Dinner – will be held on Wednesday, 1 January, in the Great Hall. If you have not yet volunteered to help, please consider doing so as soon as possible. To sign up to help with the dinner, please click here. The committee is also seeking monetary donations to offset the cost of the food. Checks can be mailed to S. Stephen’s (Attn: John McGlashan); please put "New Year's Day Dinner" in the memo line. Thank you for your support of this important ministry and outreach to the greater Providence area!
Socks, hats, scarves, gloves, toiletries – We would like to offer these items to guests at the New Year’s Day Dinner again this year. There is a bin on the piano to deposit such items at Coffee Hour. If you would like to contribute, please bring items to the church before (or, if needed, on the morning of) the dinner on January 1st.
FOR YOUR PRAYERS
Prayers have been requested for: Virginia, Richard, Beverly, Maxcine, Ethel, Carl, Kade, Sherri, Norman, John, Shannah, Terri, Beth, Lynne, Gus, Harrington, Joan, Sandy, John, Phebe, Jack, Hunter, Richard, Ann, Sandy, Antonio, Emma, Olivia, Raphael, Kiersten, Katie, Beverly, Tom, Gail, Deborah, Tree, Bryan, Angela, Bobby, Beverly, Elizabeth, Carlos, Rhoda, William, Crystal, Roger, Christopher, Beth, Sarah, Diana, Ruby, and Lola.
The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Detlev Schumann (29 December 1986), Laurie Palmer Thissell (29 December 2015), and Nancy Jean Donaldson Pettingell (2 January 2010).
Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for the Dioceses of Gahini (Rwanda): The Rt. Rev’d Alexis Bilindabagabo, Gahini (Rwanda): The Rt. Rev’d Manasseh Gahima, and Gambia (West Africa): The Rt. Rev’d James Allen Yaw Odico; in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, for all the clergy and people of our Diocese.
THE SUNDAY ROTA
Acolytes – MC J Ihnen, Th J Starks, Cr L Verdelotti
Lector at 8 am – J Malone
Lector at 10 am – C Bledsoe
Ushers – Nancy Gingrich and Patricia Barnes
Coffee Hour – Society of Mary
THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S
PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS
Wednesday 1 January
New Year’s Day Dinner for the Hungry 12 noon (Great Hall)
EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S
Tuesday 31 December
Al-Anon Meeting 12:10 pm (Great Hall)
Saturday 4 January
Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2:30 pm (Great Hall)
LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE
Sunday 29 December
FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS (Gold)
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:10 am
Mass with Hymns 10 am
Daily Mass and Office Lectionary: Christmastide, Year Two
Monday 30 December
Proper for 30 December (W)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
Tuesday 31 December
Proper for 31 December (W)
Sylvester, Bishop of Rome, 335
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Wednesday 1 January
THE NAMING AND CIRCUMCISION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST (W)
Morning Prayer 9:30 am
Low Mass 10 am
Thursday 2 January
Proper for 2 January (W)
Seraphim of Sarov, Monk, Spiritual Guide, 1833
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 noon
Friday 3 January
Proper for 3 January (W)
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Saturday 4 January
Proper for 4 January (W)
Elizabeth Ann Seton, Founder of the American Sisters of Charity, 1821
Morning Prayer 9:30 am
Low Mass 10 am
Sunday 5 January
THE EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST (anticipated) (W)
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:10 am
Solemn Mass 10 am
NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (5 January)
The Epiphany (Year A)
Isaiah 60:1-6
Ephesians 3:1-12
