PARISH NOTES
Sunday 29 March 2020
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| The Raising of Lazarus (1310–11) by Duccio di Buoninsegna (1255–1319). Tempera and gold on panel. Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth, TX. |
THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS
Psalm 130
Romans 8:6-11
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.
Virtual Offices and Masses – To access and view the LIVE (and archived) services going forward, please visit the parish Facebook page here. To access accompanying Daily Office and Low Mass readings and resources (as well as archived services), please visit the parish website sermon page here.
Virtual Coffee Hour – This Sunday, 29 March, we will be hosting our first virtual coffee hour at 11:30 am through the Zoom application. We are hoping it will be an uplifting platform to catch up with one another and see each other’s smiling faces. To join the meeting (and download Zoom, if you don’t have it already), please visit https://risd.zoom.us/j/669912117. If you have any questions or need help setting up Zoom, please don’t hesitate to contact Junior Warden Alison Huff (401-465-8029 or alisonhuff12@gmail.com) or Communications Director Jacob Ihnen (712-348-5848 or jacob_ihnen@alumni.brown.edu).
Concerning Pledges and the Sunday Offering – A key worry in this time of physical distancing is that our inability to gather as a church damages our income. A parishioner reached out wondering whether it was safe to send pledge envelopes in the mail. We have heard nothing from the public health authorities about the risks of virus transmission through the mail, so feel free to mail your check to the church. Alternatively, it is quite straightforward to give online by clicking here to visit S. Stephen’s online giving page, where you can use the payment portal week by week or set up a recurring direct deposit program with your bank. We are grateful for your generous response to our appeal for pledges in this transition year. Now the challenge is for us to receive and collect these pledges. We don’t know how long this period of physical distancing will have to last. If you are experiencing financial difficulties which hurt your ability to keep a pledge you made before this crisis of the coronavirus, please do not hesitate to let us know. You may contact Father Mead at 917-592-5947 or email him at andrewcraigmead1@gmail.com. Thank you for your love of S. Stephen’s.
Society of Mary – will meet virtually this coming Saturday, 4 April, beginning with Holy Rosary following the 10 am Low Mass and a brief meeting. Both the recitation of the Rosary and the Meeting will be conducted through the Zoom application. To join both, please visit https://us04web.zoom.us/j/476810552. All are welcome and invited to participate!
Stations of the Cross – Saint Stephen's Church will virtually offer Stations of the Cross at 6 pm on Fridays in Lent through (and including) 3 April, and again on Good Friday (10 April). This is a great opportunity to experience this moving devotion anew or indeed for the first time! All are welcome to tune in!
College Ministry – The Episcopal Ministry at Brown and RISD (EMBR) continues its meetings virtually this Sunday, 29 March, at 5:30 pm for Evening Prayer. All are most welcome and invited to participate!
Easter Flowers – If you would like to make a flower offering at Easter for the altar in our virtual Easter Mass – in thanksgiving or in memoriam - please make a list and write a check with “Easter Flowers” in the memo line and mail both to the parish office no later than Sunday 5 April.
Prayers have been requested for: Virginia, Richard, Beverly, Patti, Maxcine, Ethel, Chipper, Donna, Carl, Kade, Sherri, Norman, John, Shannah, Terri, Beth, Lynne, Gus, Harrington, Joan, Robyn, Sandy, John, Dylan, Phebe, Jack, Hunter, Bruce, Richard, Ann, Sandy, Nancy, Antonio, Emma, Olivia, Raphael, Kiersten, Katie, Beverly, Tom, Gail, Deborah, Bryan, Angela, Bobby, Susan, Beverly, Empy, Elizabeth, Carlos, Rhoda, William, Crystal, Roger, Christopher, Beth, Sarah, Diana, Ruby, and Lola.
Birthdays this week: Emily MacLean (Monday 3/30) and Richard Noble (Saturday 4/4).
The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Mary Weis (29 March 1993), Charles John McCloughan (30 March 1998), Nancy Adams Thorp Steiny (30 March 2019), Elizabeth Kershaw (31 March 2007), Richard Sherman Nutt (1 April 2006), and Roy Sumner Bent, Sr. (4 April 1986).
Anglican Cycle of Prayer – This Sunday, the Fifth Sunday in Lent, is the focus of the Primates’ Task Group’s call for a period of prayer and repentance in the Anglican Communion. The Bishop of West Malaysia, Moon Hing, is a member of the Task Group and has written this prayer, which the Task Group offers to the Anglican Communion for use today. Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Sovereign Lord of the universe, Creator of humankind, we, your unfaithful children, are truly sorry for our sins and the lives that we have lived. We sincerely believe and confess in our hearts that only through the precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary, can we obtain Your forgiveness. We repent that: In thought, word or deed, we have committed serious offences against You and our neighbours; In laziness, despair and lust for power, we have provoked hatred, division and hurt within our communities; In greed, deceit and indifference, we have caused serious damage, unnecessary conflict and aggravated destruction to our refugee and migrant brothers and sisters; In selfishness, insensitivity and bias, we have encouraged and emboldened those who inflict hurt, pain and sorrow on our loved ones and families; In the name of religion, doctrine and even of Christ himself, we have wounded believers and pursuers of holiness and faith; In stubbornness, pride and arrogance, we have caused division and strife within Your church and among Your children; Mercifully send Your Holy Spirit – the Spirit of order and comfort – and cleanse us from all unrighteousness; restore in us true faith in Christ which brings truth, peace and harmony; and help us to walk together with our brothers and sisters in the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ to the glory of Your name. Amen.
Diocesan Cycle of Prayer – In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for the people and clergy of The Church of the Beloved, Pascoag.
THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S
PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS
Friday 3 April
Virtual Stations of the Cross 6 pm
Saturday 4 April
Virtual Society of Mary Rosary and Meeting 10:30 am
EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S
Saturday 4 April
Epiphany Soup Kitchen (Meal Pickup Only) 2:30 pm
LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE
* ALL IN-PERSON SUNDAY AND WEEKDAY SERVICES CANCELLED
* ALL SERVICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS
Sunday 29 March
THE FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT (LA)
Virtual Low Mass 10 am
Virtual Evening Prayer w/ EMBR 5:30 pm
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Virtual Offices and Masses – To access and view the LIVE (and archived) services going forward, please visit the parish Facebook page here. To access accompanying Daily Office and Low Mass readings and resources (as well as archived services), please visit the parish website sermon page here.
Virtual Coffee Hour – This Sunday, 29 March, we will be hosting our first virtual coffee hour at 11:30 am through the Zoom application. We are hoping it will be an uplifting platform to catch up with one another and see each other’s smiling faces. To join the meeting (and download Zoom, if you don’t have it already), please visit https://risd.zoom.us/j/669912117. If you have any questions or need help setting up Zoom, please don’t hesitate to contact Junior Warden Alison Huff (401-465-8029 or alisonhuff12@gmail.com) or Communications Director Jacob Ihnen (712-348-5848 or jacob_ihnen@alumni.brown.edu).
Concerning Pledges and the Sunday Offering – A key worry in this time of physical distancing is that our inability to gather as a church damages our income. A parishioner reached out wondering whether it was safe to send pledge envelopes in the mail. We have heard nothing from the public health authorities about the risks of virus transmission through the mail, so feel free to mail your check to the church. Alternatively, it is quite straightforward to give online by clicking here to visit S. Stephen’s online giving page, where you can use the payment portal week by week or set up a recurring direct deposit program with your bank. We are grateful for your generous response to our appeal for pledges in this transition year. Now the challenge is for us to receive and collect these pledges. We don’t know how long this period of physical distancing will have to last. If you are experiencing financial difficulties which hurt your ability to keep a pledge you made before this crisis of the coronavirus, please do not hesitate to let us know. You may contact Father Mead at 917-592-5947 or email him at andrewcraigmead1@gmail.com. Thank you for your love of S. Stephen’s.
Society of Mary – will meet virtually this coming Saturday, 4 April, beginning with Holy Rosary following the 10 am Low Mass and a brief meeting. Both the recitation of the Rosary and the Meeting will be conducted through the Zoom application. To join both, please visit https://us04web.zoom.us/j/476810552. All are welcome and invited to participate!
Stations of the Cross – Saint Stephen's Church will virtually offer Stations of the Cross at 6 pm on Fridays in Lent through (and including) 3 April, and again on Good Friday (10 April). This is a great opportunity to experience this moving devotion anew or indeed for the first time! All are welcome to tune in!
College Ministry – The Episcopal Ministry at Brown and RISD (EMBR) continues its meetings virtually this Sunday, 29 March, at 5:30 pm for Evening Prayer. All are most welcome and invited to participate!
Easter Flowers – If you would like to make a flower offering at Easter for the altar in our virtual Easter Mass – in thanksgiving or in memoriam - please make a list and write a check with “Easter Flowers” in the memo line and mail both to the parish office no later than Sunday 5 April.
FOR YOUR PRAYERS
Prayers have been requested for: Virginia, Richard, Beverly, Patti, Maxcine, Ethel, Chipper, Donna, Carl, Kade, Sherri, Norman, John, Shannah, Terri, Beth, Lynne, Gus, Harrington, Joan, Robyn, Sandy, John, Dylan, Phebe, Jack, Hunter, Bruce, Richard, Ann, Sandy, Nancy, Antonio, Emma, Olivia, Raphael, Kiersten, Katie, Beverly, Tom, Gail, Deborah, Bryan, Angela, Bobby, Susan, Beverly, Empy, Elizabeth, Carlos, Rhoda, William, Crystal, Roger, Christopher, Beth, Sarah, Diana, Ruby, and Lola.
Birthdays this week: Emily MacLean (Monday 3/30) and Richard Noble (Saturday 4/4).
The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Mary Weis (29 March 1993), Charles John McCloughan (30 March 1998), Nancy Adams Thorp Steiny (30 March 2019), Elizabeth Kershaw (31 March 2007), Richard Sherman Nutt (1 April 2006), and Roy Sumner Bent, Sr. (4 April 1986).
Anglican Cycle of Prayer – This Sunday, the Fifth Sunday in Lent, is the focus of the Primates’ Task Group’s call for a period of prayer and repentance in the Anglican Communion. The Bishop of West Malaysia, Moon Hing, is a member of the Task Group and has written this prayer, which the Task Group offers to the Anglican Communion for use today. Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Sovereign Lord of the universe, Creator of humankind, we, your unfaithful children, are truly sorry for our sins and the lives that we have lived. We sincerely believe and confess in our hearts that only through the precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary, can we obtain Your forgiveness. We repent that: In thought, word or deed, we have committed serious offences against You and our neighbours; In laziness, despair and lust for power, we have provoked hatred, division and hurt within our communities; In greed, deceit and indifference, we have caused serious damage, unnecessary conflict and aggravated destruction to our refugee and migrant brothers and sisters; In selfishness, insensitivity and bias, we have encouraged and emboldened those who inflict hurt, pain and sorrow on our loved ones and families; In the name of religion, doctrine and even of Christ himself, we have wounded believers and pursuers of holiness and faith; In stubbornness, pride and arrogance, we have caused division and strife within Your church and among Your children; Mercifully send Your Holy Spirit – the Spirit of order and comfort – and cleanse us from all unrighteousness; restore in us true faith in Christ which brings truth, peace and harmony; and help us to walk together with our brothers and sisters in the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ to the glory of Your name. Amen.
Diocesan Cycle of Prayer – In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for the people and clergy of The Church of the Beloved, Pascoag.
THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S
PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS
Friday 3 April
Virtual Stations of the Cross 6 pm
Saturday 4 April
Virtual Society of Mary Rosary and Meeting 10:30 am
EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S
Saturday 4 April
Epiphany Soup Kitchen (Meal Pickup Only) 2:30 pm
LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE
* ALL IN-PERSON SUNDAY AND WEEKDAY SERVICES CANCELLED
* ALL SERVICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS
Sunday 29 March
THE FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT (LA)
Virtual Low Mass 10 am
Virtual Evening Prayer w/ EMBR 5:30 pm
Daily Mass and Office Lectionary: Week of Lent V, Year Two
Monday 30 March
Monday of Lent V (LA)
Innocent of Alaska, Bishop, 1879
Virtual Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Virtual Low Mass 6 pm
Tuesday 31 March
Tuesday of Lent V (LA)
John Donne, Priest, Poet, 1631
Virtual Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Virtual Low Mass 12:10 pm
Wednesday 1 April
Wednesday of Lent V (LA)
Frederick Denison Maurice, Priest, Teacher, 1872
Virtual Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Virtual Low Mass 6 pm
Thursday 2 April
Thursday of Lent V (LA)
James Lloyd Breck, Priest, Founder of Nashotah House, 1876
Virtual Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Virtual Low Mass 12:10 pm
Friday 3 April
Friday of Lent V (LA)
Richard, Bishop of Chichester, 1253
Virtual Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Virtual Low Mass 12:10 pm
Virtual Stations of the Cross 6 pm
Saturday 4 April
Saturday of Lent V (LA)
Isidore, Archbishop of Seville, Teacher, 636
Martin Luther King, Jr., Civil Rights Leader, Martyr, 1968
Virtual Morning Prayer 9:30 am
Virtual Low Mass 10 am
Virtual Holy Rosary 10:30 am
Sunday 5 April
PALM SUNDAY: THE SUNDAY OF THE PASSION (R)
Virtual Liturgy of the Palms & Low Mass 10 am
Virtual Evening Prayer w/ EMBR 5:30 pm
NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (5 April)
Palm Sunday (Year A)
Liturgy of the Palms:
Psalm 118:19-29
Matthew 21:1-11
Liturgy of the Passion:
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm 31:10-18
