PARISH NOTES 

Sunday 2 August 2020

Miracle of the Bread and Fish (between 1620 and 1623)
by Giovanni Lanfranco (1582-1647). Oil on canvas.
National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.

THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS 

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

THIS SUNDAY’S MUSIC

Dietrich Buxtehude (1637 – 1707)—Choral “Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott,” BuxWV184

Plainchant—Missa XI (Orbis factor)

Dietrich Buxtehude—Präludium, Fuga und Ciacona, BuxWV137

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

“We don’t have enough.” The disciples’ immediate response to Jesus’ invitation to care for the crowd that has gathered around him is a very human expression of scarcity thinking. How could a few loaves of bread and a couple of fish feed so many people? We can be acutely aware of our limitations, of what we don’t have. It then becomes tempting to hold tight, to protect the little we think we have – after all, we don’t have enough. Can we be as aware of the wonderful gifts that we in fact have been given? Can we be aware that Jesus stands ready to take our offering, as meager as it may seem, and multiply it in amazing ways?

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Welcome Back! – We’re delighted to be able to see you again this Sunday! While we continue to gather again, this privilege brings 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, 2 August, 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!

Welcome Father Straley! –

• First Mass Sunday 16 August – Fr. Straley will celebrate his first mass at S. Stephen's on Sunday the 16th, at which time we will formally celebrate the Feast of the Assumption (transferred). Please join us in person or on Facebook!

• Welcome to Providence – Our housewarming efforts for our new rector are underway! If you would like to participate by donating or supplying some items, please contact Joy D'Ambra (JoyLDAmbra@gmail.com or 617-470-3722) or Alison Huff (alisonhuff12@gmail.com or 401-465-8029).

• Meet the Rector – Volunteers are needed to host a series of small group gatherings of 5 or so either in person or by Zoom. If you are interested in hosting, please contact Joy or Alison.

Finding of the Relics of Saint Stephen (3 August) – a patronal feast day, will be celebrated this coming Monday with Evening Prayer at 5:30 pm and Low Mass at 6 pm.

Transfiguration of Our Lord (6 August) – a principal feast day of the church year, will be celebrated this coming Thursday with Noonday Prayer at 12 pm and Low Mass at 12:10 pm.

Concerning Pledges and the Sunday Offering – Thank you to all who have been so faithful in maintaining your financial support of S. Stephen’s during this pandemic. As some are able to return to in-person worship while others understandably need to stay home, there are three ways to continue your giving to S. Stephen’s:

• There is an offering plate in the back of the church where you may leave your offering.
• Offerings can be sent to the church office through the mail.
• You can give online by clicking here. Please contact us if you need assistance.

Again, thank you to all who have been so supportive.

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.

The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Theresa Jarvis (4 August 2011) and Irene Dechesneau Butler (4 August 2005).

Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for the new Province of Alexandria created from the former Diocese of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa in the Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East; in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, for the people and clergy of The Church of the Transfiguration, Cranston; Christ Church, Lincoln; and Christ Church, Westerly.

THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S

EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S

Saturday 8 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 2 August
NINTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST (G)
Sung Mass  10 am

Daily Office and Mass Lectionary: Proper 13, Year Two
Monday 3 August
FINDING OF THE RELICS OF SAINT STEPHEN (R)
Nicodemus, 1st century
Evening Prayer  5:30 pm
Low Mass  6 pm

Tuesday 4 August
FERIA (G)
Jean-Baptiste Vianney, Curé d’ Ars, Spiritual Guide, 1859
Noonday Prayer  12 noon
Low Mass  12:10 pm

Wednesday 5 August
FERIA (G)
Oswald, King of Northumbria, Martyr, 642
Evening Prayer  5:30 pm
Low Mass  6 pm

Thursday 6 August
TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD (W)
Xystus (Sixtus II), Pope and Martyr, 258
Noonday Prayer  12 noon
Low Mass  12:10 pm

Friday 7 August
FERIA (G)
John Mason Neale, Priest, Scholar, Hymn Writer, 1866
Noonday Prayer  12 noon
Low Mass  12:10 pm

Saturday 8 August
Dominic, Friar, Founder of the Order of Preachers, 1221 (W)
Morning Prayer  9:30 am
Low Mass  10 am

Sunday 9 August
TENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST (G)
Sung Mass  10 am

NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (9 August)

Tenth Sunday after Pentecost (Year A)
1 Kings 19:9-18
Psalm 85:8-13
Romans 10:5-15
Matthew 14:22-33