PARISH NOTES
Sunday 5 July 2020
 |
| Simon the Cyrenian Compelled to Carry the Cross with Jesus (between 1886 and 1894) by James Tissot (1836-1902). Gouache over graphite on gray wove paper. Brooklyn Museum, NY. |
THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS
Zechariah 9:9-12
Psalm 145:8-14
Romans 7:15-25a
Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
THIS SUNDAY’S MUSIC
J. S. Bach (1685 – 1750)—Sonata No.1 in E-flat Major, BWV 525: I. [Allegro]J. S. Bach after Johann Ernst (1664 – 1707), Duke of Saxe-Weimar—Concerto No. 1 in G. BWV 592: I. [Allegro]
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
Americans are known for their sense of independence, New Englanders in particular for a rugged individualism – live free or die! Jesus reminds us that we in fact are always linked to something; something will direct us, steer us in a certain direction. There is always a yoke. The question then is what will be my yoke, your yoke? What will set us on a particular course? Fear, anger, anxiety, pride…? Jesus offers us his yoke, which, as a yoke of love, is easy, even light. A collect from Morning Prayer says, “to serve you is perfect freedom”. Being yoked to Jesus sets us free and removes that which can so often weigh us down. Perhaps it’s time to lay those burdens down.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Welcome Back! – We’re delighted to be able to see you again this Sunday! While we can gather again, this privilege comes with it some protocols to keep us all safe. A summary of the safety protocols may be found here.
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, 5 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, 11 July, beginning with Holy Rosary following the 10 am Low Mass and a brief meeting. 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, Rhoda, Crystal, and Christopher.
Anniversary of Ordination to Sacred Priesthood: Fr. William Locke (7/9/94).
Birthdays this week: Jack Tessier (Sunday 7/5) and Cailyn Ripley-McNamar (Friday 7/10).
The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Albert S. Cook (7 July 1998), Hamilton Webb (7 July 2011), and Marian Higgins (10 July 2000).
Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for the United Church of Pakistan: The Most Rev’d Humphrey Peters, Bishop of Peshawar & Moderator of the Church of Pakistan; in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, for the people and clergy of Amazing Grace at the ACI.
THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S
PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS
Saturday 11 July
Society of Mary 10:45 am (Lady Chapel and Great Hall)
EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S
Saturday 11 July
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 5 July
FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST (G)
Sung Mass 10 am
Daily Office and Mass Lectionary: Proper 9, Year Two
Monday 6 July
FERIA (G)
Sexburga, Abbess of Ely, 699
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
Tuesday 7 July
FERIA (G)
Palladius, Apostle of Ireland, 5th century
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Wednesday 8 July
FERIA (G)
Aquila and Priscilla, Companions of Saint Paul, 1st century
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
Thursday 9 July
FERIA (G)
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Friday 10 July
FERIA (G)
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Saturday 11 July
Benedict of Nursia, Abbot, Father of Western Monasticism, Patron of Europe, c. 550 (W)
Morning Prayer 9:30 am
Low Mass 10 am
Holy Rosary 10:30 am
Sunday 12 July
SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST (G)
Sung Mass 10 am
NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (12 July)
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost (Year A)
Isaiah 55:10-13
Psalm 65:9-14
Romans 8:1-11
