PARISH NOTES
Sunday 28 June 2020
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| Vocation of the Apostles (1481) by Domenico Ghirlandaio (1449-1494). Fresco. Sistine Chapel, Vatican City. |
THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS
Jeremiah 28:5-9
Psalm 89:1-4, 14-17
Romans 6:12-23
Matthew 10:40-42
THIS SUNDAY’S MUSIC
Juan Bautista Cabanilles (1644 – 1712)—Tiento 1. de primer toJuan Bautista Cabanilles—Batalla Imperial, de cinque to
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.
A WORD FROM FATHER LOCKE
A little background:
Our Gospel reading this week comes as Jesus has gathered the Twelve and sent them out to do no less than cure diseases, cast out evil spirits, and raise the dead. We perhaps lose sight of the depth of that apostolic mission and the power and authority that accompanies it – the Church is called to make an impact.
Now Jesus recalls us to that transitive property that we learned in math class: if a=b, and b=c, then a=c. To welcome one of the disciples is in fact to welcome Jesus himself. But to welcome Jesus is to welcome God. And so a good question to ask of our own lives of faith and our life together as a community of faith is: does my/our presence, proclamation, witness in fact bring something of the presence of Jesus, and, ultimately, God?
ANNOUNCEMENTS
An Update About Regathering – We will be able to regather for in-person worship as soon as the State moves to Phase III of the reopening plans; however, it is not without some restrictions. A letter has gone out from Interim Rector Fr. Locke detailing the protocols for attending services and a digital version of the letter may be found here. It is important to note also that we will not be able to provide childcare of any kind for the foreseeable future. We look forward to (safely) seeing you again!
Virtual Offices and Masses – We will continue to offer Virtual Offices and Masses for those who wish to continue to participate from home. 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, 28 June, 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 (alisonhuff12@gmail.com), or Jacob Ihnen via call or text at 712-348-5848 or email (jacob_ihnen@alumni.brown.edu). Thank you!
Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Apostles [Patrons of the National Cathedral, Washington, D.C.] (29 June) – a major feast day of the church year, will be celebrated this coming Monday with Evening Prayer at 5:30 pm and Low Mass at 6 pm.
Independence Day (4 July) – a major feast day of the church year, will be celebrated this coming Saturday with Morning Prayer at 9:30 am and Low Mass at 10 am.
Episcopal Conference Center (ECC) Offerings this Summer – ECC is excited to offer you some (safe, physically distant) opportunities to be at ECC this summer. Details of their limited offerings can be found at their website here.
Concerning Pledges and the Sunday Offering – A key worry in this time of physical distancing is that our inability to fully 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. Thank you for your love of S. Stephen’s.
FOR YOUR PRAYERS
Prayers have been requested for: Beverly, Patti, Eli, Terry, Ethel, Chipper, Donna, Carl, Kade, Sherri, Charles, Sandra, Lola, Ruby, Norman, Diana, Sarah, Shannah, Lynne, Harrington, Joan, Robyn, Phebe, Hunter, Ann, Beth, Sandy, Antonio, Emma, Olivia, Raphael, Kiersten, Beverly, Tom, Jill, Bryan, Angela, Bobby, Susan, Beverly, Rhoda, Crystal, Louis, and Christopher.
Anniversary of Ordination to Sacred Diaconate: Fr. Gary K. Sturni (6/29/70).
The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Ben C. Claunch (1 July 2000), Georgiana Kincaid (2 July 2013), and Charles A. Kilvert (4 July 2000).
Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for the United Church of North India: The Most Rev’d Dr. Prem Chand Singh - Moderator of CNI & Bishop of Jabalpur; in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, for the people and clergy of St. Peter’s by-the-Sea, Narragansett, and St. Peter’s & St. Andrew’s, Providence, and for our country, the President and all in civil authority, for Congress & Courts of Justice, for sound government.
THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S
EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S
Saturday 4 July
Epiphany Soup Kitchen (Meal Pickup Only) 2:30-4:30 pm
LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE
* AS SOON AS THE STATE MOVES TO PHASE III OF THE REOPENING PLANS, REGATHERING WILL BE ALLOWED FOR IN-PERSON SERVICES ON SUNDAYS (80 PEOPLE TOTAL) AND WEEKDAYS (14 PEOPLE TOTAL)
* ALL ATTENDEES MUST ADHERE TO WRITTEN AND VERBAL PROTOCOLS TO ATTEND
Sunday 28 June
FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST (G)
Virtual Low Mass 10 am
Daily Office and Mass Lectionary: Proper 8, Year Two
Monday 29 June
SAINT PETER AND SAINT PAUL, APOSTLES [PATRONS OF THE NATIONAL CATHEDRAL, WASHINGTON, D.C.] (R)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
Tuesday 30 June
FERIA (G)
First Martyrs of the Church of Rome, 1st century
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Wednesday 1 July
FERIA (G)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
Thursday 2 July
FERIA (G)
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Friday 3 July
FERIA (G)
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Saturday 4 July
INDEPENDENCE DAY (W)
Elizabeth, Queen of Portugal, 1336
Morning Prayer 9:30 am
Low Mass 10 am
Sunday 5 July
FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST (G)
Low Mass 10 am
NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (5 July)
Fifth Sunday after Pentecost (Year A)
Zechariah 9:9-12
Psalm 145:8-14
Romans 7:15-25a
