PARISH NOTES 

Sunday 26 July 2020

Dream of Solomon (c. 1694-1695) by Luca Giordano (1634-1705). Oil on canvas. Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid, Spain.

THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS 

Eighth Sunday after Pentecost (Year A)
1 Kings 3:5-12
Psalm 119:129-136
Romans 8:26-39
Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

THIS SUNDAY’S MUSIC

W. A. Mozart (1756 – 1791)—Andante, K. 616

Plainchant—Missa VII (Kyrie Rex splendens)

Johann Philipp Kirnberger (1721 – 1783)—Fuga in C-dur

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

This Sunday ends our three week look at some of Jesus’ parables, all of which speak about the kingdom of heaven. If we were tempted to imagine a glistening marble city with wide streets paved with gold, we’ve been given a very different picture. The kingdom, Jesus suggests, is sown in unlikely places. It can seem small, hidden – even a failure. There is a disconcerting mixture (at least in our perceptions) of good and bad. At the same time, the kingdom is to be deeply desired, with no cost spared to obtain it. Finally, in God’s time and providence, it will produce a wonderful harvest, an amazing catch. And so we continue to pray, “thy kingdom come”.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Welcome Back! – We’re delighted to be able to see you again this Sunday! While we continue to gather again, this privilege comes with it some protocols to keep us all safe. A summary of the safety protocols may be found here.

New Rector Coming Soon – Fr. Benjamin Straley has accepted the call to serve as the next rector of S. Stephen's Church. Please keep Fr. Straley in your prayers, as he prepares to arrive on 15 August. For more information about his call, to read a letter he wrote to the parish, and to view an introduction video, please click here.

Almighty God, Giver of all good gifts, who of thy divine providence hast provided a rector for our church: Give thy grace, we humbly beseech thee, to Father Straley, called to ministry for thy people; and so fill him with the truth of thy doctrine and clothe him with holiness of life, that he may faithfully serve before thee, to the glory of thy great Name, and for the benefit of thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Virtual Offices and Masses – We will continue to offer Virtual Offices and Masses for those who wish to continue to participate safely 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, 26 July, 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!

Society of Mary – The Society of Mary: Our Lady of Providence Ward will meet this coming Saturday, 1 August, for Holy Rosary following the 10 am Low Mass. All are welcome and invited to participate!

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, Ethel, Carl, Kade, Sherri, Charles, Sandra, Lola, Ruby, Norman, Diana, Sarah, Shannah, Lynne, Harrington, Joan, Robyn, Phebe, Hunter, Ann, Beth, Sandy, Kiersten, Beverly, Tom, Jill, Bryan, Angela, Bobby, Susan, Beverly, Kevin, Rhoda, Crystal, and Christopher.

Birthdays this week: Noah Hayslip (Sunday 7/26), Michael Pearson (Monday 7/27), Rollin Bartlett (Thursday 7/30), and Nancy Gingrich (Friday 7/31).

The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Helen W. Williams (28 July 1996), Anillo William Esposito (31 July 1985), Esther Lahiff-Naylor (1 August 1989), and Catherine Gladys Washburn (1 August 2011). Recently Departed: Eric Westby.

Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for the team responsible for preparing the Lambeth Conference, which was due to be taking place now – please pray for them as they consider the implications of its postponement in light of the Covid-19 pandemic; in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, for the people and clergy of St. Ann’s by-the-Sea, Block Island.

THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S

PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS

Saturday 1 August
Society of Mary  10:45 am (Lady Chapel)

EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S

Saturday 1 August
Epiphany Soup Kitchen (Meal Pickup Only)  2:30-4:30 pm

LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE

* REGATHERING HAS RESUMED 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 26 July
EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST (G)
Sung Mass  10 am

Daily Office and Mass Lectionary: Proper 12, Year Two

Monday 27 July
FERIA (G)
Evening Prayer  5:30 pm
Low Mass  6 pm

Tuesday 28 July
FERIA (G)
Samson of Dol, Bishop, Abbot, 565
Noonday Prayer  12 noon
Low Mass  12:10 pm

Wednesday 29 July
Mary, Martha, and Lazarus of Bethany (W)
Evening Prayer  5:30 pm
Low Mass  6 pm

Thursday 30 July
FERIA (G)
William Wilberforce, Social Reformer, 1833
Noonday Prayer  12 noon
Low Mass  12:10 pm

Friday 31 July
Ignatius of Loyola, Founder of the Society of Jesus, 1556 (W)
Noonday Prayer  12 noon
Low Mass  12:10 pm

Saturday 1 August
FERIA (G)
Alphonsus Liguori, Teacher, 1787
Morning Prayer  9:30 am
Low Mass  10 am
Holy Rosary  10:45 am

Sunday 2 August
NINTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST (G)
Sung Mass  10 am

NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (2 August)

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost (Year A)
Isaiah 55:1-5
Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21
Romans 9:1-5
Matthew 14:13-21