PARISH NOTES
Sunday 4 October 2020
Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen (between 1580 and 1590) by Marten van Valckenborch (1535-1612). Oil on canvas. Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Austria.
THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS
Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Year A)
Isaiah 5:1-7
Psalm 80:7-15
Philippians 3:4b-14
Matthew 21:33-46
Leo Sowerby (1895 – 1968)—Sonatina (1946): II. Very slowly
Plainchant—Missa V (Kyrie magnae Deus potentae)
Leo Sowerby—Comes Autumn Time (1916)
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.
THIS SUNDAY’S MUSIC
Leo Sowerby (1895 – 1968)—Sonatina (1946): II. Very slowly
Plainchant—Missa V (Kyrie magnae Deus potentae)
Leo Sowerby—Comes Autumn Time (1916)
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’ll encounter imagery of the vineyard in three of our scripture readings. The vineyard was a longstanding metaphor for Israel in their relationship with God. In our Gospel reading from Matthew, Jesus makes a direct allusion to the passage from Isaiah that we’ll hear. The desire is of course for the vineyard to be maintained, cared for lovingly, and yield a healthy crop of beautiful produce.
So it is for the kingdom of God and the Church. While the Church with a capital “C” is God’s gift to us, and is really God’s to save and protect, we have been entrusted with a particular portion of it which is Saint Stephen’s parish in Providence, Rhode Island. As we enter this time of stewardship, I want us to all think about those who lovingly built up the parish over a hundred years ago, and those who labored to continually ensure its successes for future generations. Much has changed in the last 50 years alone, but the task before us is the same: to tend to our parish lovingly, repair and keep it up as needed, and ensure that it will be here for another generation in 50 or 100 years.
Of course, there’s much more to S. Stephen’s than the building, as important as the space we gather for worship is. It is the experience of God in beauty, the fellowship, and the loving community that we value. It is the work of making the love of God known, of proclaiming Jesus’s salvation, and of serving those in need that we must tend to. All these things are fruits of our faith that are just as important as maintaining the physical structure of our “vineyard.”
I am a new worker in this vineyard of S. Stephen’s, and so I am just “catching up” to the work that many of you have been doing for years or even decades. I am grateful for all that you do, and all the various ways you express love and support for the parish. May God grant us the grace to keep laboring in his beloved vineyard. In the words of the Psalmist, “Turn now, O God of hosts, look down from heaven; behold and tend this vine; preserve what your right hand has planted.” (Ps. 80 v. 14)
Faithfully,
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.
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.
8 am and 5:30 pm Sunday Masses Resume – Tomorrow, 4 October, we resume the 8 am Mass for in-person worship in the Lady Chapel. This mass will not be live streamed. This Sunday, we will also begin offering the 5:30 pm Mass for the EMBR (Episcopal Ministry at Brown and RISD) community. The same protocols regarding social distancing, masks, and sanitization are still in full effect.
Though we continue to hold in-person worship, and even at this time expand our offerings, we must keep in mind that if there is any sort of up-tick in cases, particularly as some experts warn of a second “surge” this fall/winter, that S. Stephen’s will need to abide with whatever directives the Diocese and the State put in place regarding gatherings of persons and public worship.
"Meet the Rector" Zoom Meeting Wednesdays in October at 7 pm – Please drop in to meet Fr. Benjamin by Zoom any Wednesday evening in October at 7 pm. Contact junior warden Alison Huff at alisonhuff12@gmail.com or call or email the office for more information or simply join by clicking here.
Stewardship Sunday – “Stewardship Sunday” this year will be next Sunday, 11 October. Letters have been mailed out, so be on the lookout for them! S. Stephen’s simply cannot operate or engage in ministry without your time, talent, and financial support. It is so important that we know what your commitment in the coming year can be so that we can plan our budget and programming accordingly. If you have been worshiping in person, please bring your pledge card to leave in the offering plate on Sunday, 11 October. Otherwise, please pledge online (sstephens.org/donate) or return your card via mail by 15 November at the latest. Thank you for all the ways in which you are already supporting S. Stephen’s.
Honoring Fr. Locke – On Sunday, 18 October, we will honor Fr. Bill Locke, who served briefly as Interim Rector over the summer months. Please be present as you are able as we thank him in our 10 am liturgy for shepherding us between Fr. Mead’s departure and the arrival of the new Rector.
Interested in Serving at Mass? – We are currently in need of a few more people to add to the rota of altar servers at Sunday and weekday masses. If this is something you would be interesting in learning more about, please email Fr. Benjamin at rector@sstephens.necoxmail.com. We are also planning to resume reading of the lessons from the lectern once we have our new live streaming system in place, so if you are interested in reading, or have been a lector in the past, please know that opportunity will also be available soon.
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
Prayers have been requested for: Charles, Sandra, Lola, Ruby, Norman, Vinnie, Diana, Sarah, Harrington, Joan, Phebe, Hunter, Jay, Conrad, Ann, Beverly, Tom, Angela, Bobby, Beverly, Rhoda, and Christopher.
Birthdays this week: James Busby (Monday 10/5), Devon Callanan (Wednesday 10/7), Joy D’Ambra (Wednesday 10/7), and James Starks (Saturday 10/10).
Wedding Anniversary: Alex and Molly Ellis (Thursday 10/8/16).
The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Daniel Webster Latham (4 October 1986), Madge Lillian Hover Holmes (4 October 1992), Lawrence W. Seamans (5 October 1987), Edward Kennedy Hooks (8 October 2018), Lester Wilkinson (9 October 1983), and Elizabeth A. Olsen (10 October 1999).
Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer – In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for the Anglican Church of Tanzania: The Most Rev’d Dr. Maimbo Mndolwa, Archbishop of Tanzania & Bishop of Tanga; in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, for the people and clergy of St. Francis’, Coventry.
THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN’S
PARISH PROGRAMS, EVENTS & MEETINGS
Sunday 4 October
EMBR: Evening Prayer and Low Mass 5:30 pm (Lady Chapel)
EXTRA-PAROCHIAL EVENTS HOSTED AT S. STEPHEN’S
Saturday 10 October
Epiphany Soup Kitchen (Meal Pickup Only) 2:30-4 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 4 October
EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST (G)
Francis of Assisi, Friar, Deacon, Founder of the Friars Minor, 1226
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:10 am
Sung Mass 10 am
Evening Prayer w/ EMBR 5:30 pm
Campus Eucharist 6 pm
Daily Office and Mass Lectionary: Proper 22, Year Two
Monday 5 October
FERIA (G)
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
Tuesday 6 October
FERIA (G)
Bruno, Founder of the Carthusian Order, 1101
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Wednesday 7 October
FERIA (G)
Our Lady of the Rosary
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
Thursday 8 October
FERIA (G)
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Friday 9 October
Robert Grosseteste, Bishop of Lincoln, 1253 (W)
Denys, Bishop of Paris, and Companions, Martyrs, c. 258
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Saturday 10 October
FERIA (G)
Paulinus, Bishop of York, Missionary, 644
Thomas Traherne, Poet, Spiritual Writer, 1674
Morning Prayer 9:30 am
Low Mass 10 am
Sunday 11 October
NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST (G)
Morning Prayer 8 am
Low Mass 8:10 am
Sung Mass 10 am
Evening Prayer w/ EMBR 5:30 pm
Campus Eucharist 6 pm
NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS (11 October)
Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Year A)
Isaiah 25:1-9
Psalm 23
Philippians 4:1-9
