PARISH NOTES
Sunday 24 May 2020
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| Christ Taking Leave of the Apostles (between 1308 and 1311) by Duccio di Buoninsegna (1255-1319). Tempera on wood. Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena, Italy. |
THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS
Acts 1:6-14
Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35
1 Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11
John 17:1-11
THIS SUNDAY’S MUSIC
Louis-Nicolas Clérambault (1676 – 1749)—Suite du deuxième ton: 1. Plein jeuImprovisation on hymn tune “Jam lucis orto sidere”
“O risen Christ, ascended Lord, all praise to you let earth accord, who are, while endless ages run, with Father and with Spirit, One.” –The Venerable Bede (673 – 735), tr. Benjamin Webb (1819 – 1885)
Louis-Nicolas Clérambault—Suite du deuxième ton: 7. Caprice sur les grands jeux
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.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
A Note About Easing Restrictions – While the Governor has issued permission for re-opening churches to the public, we are intentionally going slowly for safety’s sake, following Bishop Knisely’s counsel. The participants you see at our online Masses may if they wish receive Holy Communion with the Priest/Celebrant. For the time being, we are limiting total in-person participants to five. Then we shall see about enlarging these numbers as we learn the various protocols for avoiding COVID-19 infections.
Return of the Organ(ist) – It is a joy to welcome our Maestro Busby back to the keyboard this Sunday! For the time being, our music will be limited to the organ. As we go along, we will see what we can do about singing.
Requiescat in pace – We commend to the Lord the soul of Elizabeth “Betty” Anna (Hunt) Schumann, who died on 6 May. She was 102 and lived at Laurelmead on Blackstone Boulevard. A long-time member of S. Stephen’s, Betty served on the Altar Guild and was an enthusiastic supporter of the parish’s outreach to Brown and of its University Eucharist. May she rest in the peace of Jesus and rise with Christ in glory. To read her obituary, please visit here. –Fr. Mead
Fr. Locke to Serve as Next Interim – We welcome Fr. Bill Locke as our next interim priest starting on 1 June. Fr. Locke will be serving full-time. Meanwhile, Fr. Michael Pearson will be continuing as an assisting priest, with Fr. Gary Sturni and possibly others taking on the occasional weekday Mass.
Congratulations to the Class of 2020 – Congratulations to Ensign Wesley Russell, who graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy with a degree in mechanical engineering, and to Mr. Jason Simaan, who graduates this weekend from Brown University (with commencement celebrations postponed to next year) with a degree in economics. May God bless and keep you, now and always!
Memorial Day (May 25th) – We honor and mourn all those military personnel who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. “O Judge of the nations, we remember before thee with grateful hearts the men and women of our country who in the day of decision ventured much for the liberties we now enjoy. Grant that we may not rest until all the people of this land share the benefits of true freedom and gladly accept its disciplines. This we ask in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” –from the ASB, p. 664
Requiescat in pace – We commend to the Lord the soul of Elizabeth “Betty” Anna (Hunt) Schumann, who died on 6 May. She was 102 and lived at Laurelmead on Blackstone Boulevard. A long-time member of S. Stephen’s, Betty served on the Altar Guild and was an enthusiastic supporter of the parish’s outreach to Brown and of its University Eucharist. May she rest in the peace of Jesus and rise with Christ in glory. To read her obituary, please visit here. –Fr. Mead
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| Betty Schumann, RIP |
Fr. Locke to Serve as Next Interim – We welcome Fr. Bill Locke as our next interim priest starting on 1 June. Fr. Locke will be serving full-time. Meanwhile, Fr. Michael Pearson will be continuing as an assisting priest, with Fr. Gary Sturni and possibly others taking on the occasional weekday Mass.
Congratulations to the Class of 2020 – Congratulations to Ensign Wesley Russell, who graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy with a degree in mechanical engineering, and to Mr. Jason Simaan, who graduates this weekend from Brown University (with commencement celebrations postponed to next year) with a degree in economics. May God bless and keep you, now and always!
Memorial Day (May 25th) – We honor and mourn all those military personnel who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. “O Judge of the nations, we remember before thee with grateful hearts the men and women of our country who in the day of decision ventured much for the liberties we now enjoy. Grant that we may not rest until all the people of this land share the benefits of true freedom and gladly accept its disciplines. This we ask in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” –from the ASB, p. 664
Virtual Offices and Masses – To access and view the LIVE (and archived) services, please visit the parish Facebook page here (you do not need a FB account to tune in). 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 – Please join us for our Virtual Sunday Coffee Hour tomorrow, 24 May, at 11:30 am. To attend, please click here. If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to contact Junior Warden Alison Huff via call or text at 401-465-8029 or email at alisonhuff12@gmail.com, or me via call or text at 712-348-5848 or email at jacob_ihnen@alumni.brown.edu. Thank you!
Virtual Catechesis Class – Please consider joining Fr. Mead for his last Virtual Class, “Mead and Creed,” this coming Tuesday, 26 May, at 5:30 pm. To date, the class has featured items of Doctrine, the Creeds, and the Prayer Book Catechism. The classes have been within one hour in length. Special Note: For class this Tuesday on The Last Things: Death, Judgment, Hell and Heaven [Note the order!], please read pp. 861-862 (The Christian Hope) in the BCP. Those who are interested can contact Alison Huff with any questions or difficulties in joining via call or text at 401-465-8029 or email at alisonhuff12@gmail.com.
Mead and Creed Recordings – If you would like access to audio recordings of “Mead and Creed” class sessions, please contact Alison Huff or Jacob Ihnen via email.
Digital Spring Cleaning – I am in the process of tidying up our digital databases. If you think we might not have your most up-to-date contact information, please contact me with the correct information via email at jacob_ihnen@alumni.brown.edu. More generally, please send your birthdays and wedding anniversaries in as well! We would love to commemorate them, but do not have as many on file as we would like. Thank you! – Jacob Ihnen
Exterior Architectural Lighting – If you drive by S. Stephen’s in the evening, you will now find it illuminated by lovely exterior architectural lighting. This lighting was given to the parish by an anonymous donor to the Glory of God and in loving memory of Fr. Alan Maynard, assisting priest at S. Stephen’s for many years. May he rest in peace. (d. 7 September 2006)
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. 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.
FOR YOUR PRAYERS
Prayers have been requested for: Virginia, Richard, Beverly, Patti, Maxcine, Ethel, Chipper, Donna, Carl, Kade, Sherri, Norman, John, Shannah, Terri, 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.
Anniversary of Ordination to Sacred Priesthood: Fr. Philip C. Jacobs (5/29/71).
Birthdays this week: Rose Callanan (Monday 5/25) and Grant Randall (Thursday 5/28).
The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Shirley Jeanne Miller Bledsoe (26 May 2019), Nancy Figliolini (28 May 2006), Agnes Maud Cliff (28 May 1986), and Shirley Cook (29 May 2014). Recently Departed: Elizabeth “Betty” Anna Schumann and Geraldine Millham.
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, 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, for the people and clergy of St. Augustine’s, Kingston, and for those in the Armed Forces who have died in service to our country.
THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S
PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS
Tuesday 26 May
“Mead and Creed” 5:30 pm
EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S
Saturday 30 May
Epiphany Soup Kitchen (Meal Pickup Only) 2:30-4:30 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 24 May
THE SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (W)
Virtual Low Mass 10 am
Daily Office Lectionary: Easter VII, Year Two
Daily Mass Lectionary: Easter VII, Year A
Monday 25 May
NO SERVICES (Rest day for clergy and staff)
Tuesday 26 May
Tuesday of Easter VII (W)
Philip Neri, Founder of the Oratorians, 1595
Virtual Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Virtual Low Mass 12:10 pm
Wednesday 27 May
Augustine, first Archbishop of Canterbury, 605 (W)
Virtual Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Virtual Low Mass 6 pm
Thursday 28 May
Thursday of Easter VII (W)
Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1089
Virtual Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Virtual Low Mass 12:10 pm
Friday 29 May
Friday of Easter VII (W)
Virtual Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Virtual Low Mass 12:10 pm
Saturday 30 May
Saturday of Easter VII (W)
Joan of Arc, Visionary, 1431
Virtual Morning Prayer 9:30 am
Virtual Low Mass 10 am
Sunday 31 May
THE DAY OF PENTECOST: WHITSUNDAY (R)
Virtual Low Mass 10 am
NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (31 May)
Pentecost (Year A)
Acts 2:1-21
Psalm 104:24-34, 36
1 Corinthians 12:3b-13
John 20:19-23
