PARISH NOTES
Sunday 8 March 2020
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| Moses and the Brazen Serpent and the Transfiguration of Jesus (1683) by Cristóbal de Villalpando (c. 1649–1714). Oil on canvas. Puebla Cathedral, Puebla, Mexico. |
THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS
Genesis 12:1-4a
Romans 4:1-5, 13-17
John 3:1-17
THIS SUNDAY’S MUSIC
Charles-Marie Widor (1844–1937)—Bach’s Memento: III. Aria (E minor)
Plainchant—Missa VII (Kyrie Rex splendens)
John Randall (1715–1799)—Anglican Chant: Psalm 33:12-21
Heinrich Schütz (1585–1672)—Sicut Moses serpentem
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
COVID-19/influenza update – Please be assured that we are taking communicable disease risks seriously. To that end:
- The priests and servers all wash their hands before and after each Mass and the altar rail is likewise cleaned before and after each Mass. Those hosting coffee hour are likewise instructed to practice good hand-washing.
- As we have been doing throughout flu season, parishioners are offered the choice of receiving in both kinds at communion or just taking the host. As there is no significant difference in communicable disease risk between having the priest do the intinction for you or drinking from the chalice, both will be offered until we are instructed otherwise by the diocese or the Health Department. Just cross your arms when offered if you choose to not receive from the chalice.
- At the peace and when leaving the church, you may choose to bow or make some other method of greeting your neighbors. As is always the case, please be respectful of others who choose to avoid physical contact.
- At coffee hour, please use the tongs provided to pick up your food items.
- As always, if you are ill, consider staying home until you are well. Please let the office or other parish members know if we can help you (including saying a prayer for you to get better soon)!
Vestry Meeting – The Vestry will conduct its monthly meeting next Tuesday, 10 March, at 7 pm in the Parish Library.
Ecumenical Stations – Continuing again this year, the Episcopal Ministry at Brown and RISD (EMBR) has teamed 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 (and including) April 3. This is a great opportunity to experience this moving devotion anew or indeed for the first time—all are welcome!
Easter Flowers – If you would like to make a flower offering at Easter – in thanksgiving or in memoriam - please fill out a flower envelope (which will be enclosed in the Kalendar every Sunday in Lent) and either put it in the offering plate or return it to the parish office no later than Sunday 5 April.
College Ministry – The Episcopal Ministry at Brown and RISD (EMBR) continues its meetings this Sunday, 8 March, at 5:30 pm for Evening Prayer, followed by a meal. All are most welcome and invited!
FOR YOUR PRAYERS
Prayers have been requested for: Virginia, Richard, Beverly, 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, Beverly, Empy, Elizabeth, Carlos, Rhoda, William, Crystal, Roger, Christopher, Beth, Sarah, Diana, Ruby, and Lola.
Birthdays this week: Tom Oakes (Wednesday 3/11) and Thomas Wells (Saturday 3/14).
The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Susan B. Brazil (8 March 2018), Ruth Hannah Godfrey (9 March 1987), Robert Russell Sandstrom (10 March 2016), Donald S. Chase (11 March 1998), Frank Chace (11 March 1993), George Freemont Bliven (13 March 1983), Elizabeth Grinnell Allen (13 March 1985), and Ransom Widmer (13 March 2016). Recently Departed: Wendy Brown.
Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for the Province de L'Eglise Anglicane Du Congo: The Most Rev’d Zacharie Masimango Katanda, Archbishop of the Congo & Bishop of Kindu; in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, for Episcopal Charities and the ministries and agencies the fund supports.
THE SUNDAY ROTA
Acolytes – MC J Ihnen, SD R Noble, Th L Verdelotti, Cr G Ryan
Lector at 8 am – J Leonard
Lector at 10 am – K Lester
Ushers – Alison Huff and Sharon Lloyd Clark
Coffee Hour – Jacob Ihnen
THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S
PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS
Tuesday 10 March
Vestry Meeting 7 pm (Library)
Friday 13 March
Stations of the Cross 6 pm (Nave)
EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S
Tuesday 10 March
Al-Anon Meeting 12:10 pm (Great Hall)
Friday 13 March
Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) Meeting 4-11 pm (Great Hall)
Saturday 14 March
Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2:30 pm (Great Hall)
LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE
Sunday 8 March
THE SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT (LA)
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:10 am
Solemn Mass 10 am
Evening Prayer w/ EMBR 5:30 pm
Daily Mass and Office Lectionary: Week of Lent II, Year Two
Monday 9 March
Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa, c. 394 (LA)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
Tuesday 10 March
Tuesday of Lent II (LA)
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Wednesday 11 March
Wednesday of Lent II (LA)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
Thursday 12 March
Gregory the Great, Bishop of Rome, 604 (LA)
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 noon
Friday 13 March
Friday of Lent II (LA)
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Ecumenical Stations of the Cross 6 pm
Saturday 14 March
Saturday of Lent II (LA)
Morning Prayer 9:30 am
Low Mass 10 am
Sunday 15 March
THE THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT (LA)
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:10 am
Solemn Mass 10 am
Evening Prayer w/ EMBR 5:30 pm
NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (15 March)
Third Sunday in Lent (Year A)
Exodus 17:1-7
Romans 5:1-11
