PARISH NOTES
Sunday 30 August 2020
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| The Resurrection of Jesus Christ (1463) by Piero della Francesca (c. 1415-1492). Mural in fresco and tempera. Museo Comunale, Sansepolcro, Italy. |
THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS
Jeremiah 15:15-21
Psalm 26:1-8
Romans 12:9-21
Matthew 16:21-28
THIS SUNDAY’S MUSIC
Gabriel Dupont (1878 – 1914)—Meditation William Byrd (1543 – 1623)—Mass for Four Voices
William Byrd—Ave verum Corpus
Eugène Gigout (1844 – 1925)—Toccata
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 BENJAMIN
Dear brothers and sisters,
This Sunday we encounter one of my favorite collects in the Prayer Book, which entreats God to “graft in our hearts the love of thy Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works.” As if to anticipate the questions, “Well, what exactly is true religion? And what are examples of the fruits of good works?” the portion from Paul’s letter to the Romans that we will hear on Sunday provides us with a long list of examples. “Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality.” And that’s only the beginning of it!
Our Gospel reading picks up where it left off last week, and we will encounter an impulsive Peter being admonished by Jesus with the infamous rebuke, “Get behind me, Satan!” Jesus then proceeds to remind them that the Christian life will be one of self-denial and forgoing the usual definitions of worldly success and power. The Gospel shows us that real power and true glory look very different from what we are often told they look like, and that we are to lead lives that more closely resemble in word and deed the actions and postures listed by St. Paul above.
I pray that we may always have the grace to take a step back and examine our lives, our actions, and our priorities, hold them up to the light of the Gospel, and consider whether our thoughts and deeds are in all honesty as closely aligned with the values of the Kingdom of God as they could be. Jesus’s words about self-denial and taking up the cross to follow him don’t exactly sound like an invitation to a happy or care-free life – but they do promise us that we will discover something worth more than life itself. And that, my friends, is a promise worthy of all our faithfulness.
Yours, in Christ’s love,
Fr. Benjamin
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Welcome Back! – We’re delighted to be able to see you again this coming 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.
An Update on In-person Worship Matters – As a follow up to last week’s update regarding the wearing of masks in public worship, I would like to remind the parish that the requirement for the Celebrant and all lectors, etc. to wear masks during the course of the liturgy is being made at the strongest possible urging of Bishop Knisely.
I am aware that this requirement has made it difficult to understand portions of the liturgy as easily, especially anything said without the aid of a microphone. We must simply be patient for the next few months and remain hopeful that things will improve sooner than later.
However, please know that as we install Wi-Fi in the church nave, and work to improve our live-streaming capabilities, one consequence of these changes will be bringing more of the liturgy back to its normal location, especially as regards the readings and the sermon. Such improvements will greatly improve the experience of those gathered for in-person worship, and the added camera angles will likewise enhance the experience of those worshiping online. - Fr. Benjamin
Virtual Offices and Masses – We 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 this Sunday, 30 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!
Society of Mary – The Society of Mary: Our Lady of Providence Ward will meet this coming Saturday, 5 September, for Holy Rosary following the 10 am Low Mass. All are welcome and invited to participate!
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.
FOR YOUR PRAYERS
The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Eleanor Fayerweather (30 August 1992), Philip Joseph Miller (30 August 2015), Robert Thomas McElligott (2 September 1989), and Malcolm Donald Hyman (4 September 2009). Recently Departed: Clare Powers MacLean.
Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for the united Church of South India: The Most Rev’d Dharmaraj Rasalam, Moderator of CSI & Bishop of South Kerala; in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, for our Bishop and members of the Diocesan Staff.
THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S
PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS
Saturday 5 September
Society of Mary 10:45 am (Lady Chapel)
EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S
Saturday 5 September
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 30 August
THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST (G)
Sung Mass 10 am
Daily Office and Mass Lectionary: Proper 17, Year Two
Monday 31 August
FERIA (G)
Aidan, Bishop of Lindisfarne, Missionary, 651
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
Tuesday 1 September
FERIA (G)
Giles of Provence, Hermit, c. 710
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Wednesday 2 September
FERIA (G)
The Martyrs of Papua New Guinea, 1942
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
Thursday 3 September
FERIA (G)
Phoebe, Companion of Saint Paul, Deaconess, 1st century
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Friday 4 September
FERIA (G)
Birinus, Bishop of Dorchester, Apostle of Wessex, 650
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Saturday 5 September
FERIA (G)
Boris & Gleb (Romanus & David), Princes, Martyrs, 1015
Morning Prayer 9:30 am
Low Mass 10 am
Holy Rosary 10:45 am
Sunday 6 September
FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST (G)
Sung Mass 10 am
NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (6 September)
Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Year A)
Ezekiel 33:7-11
Psalm 119:33-40
Romans 13:8-14
Matthew 18:15-20
