|
|
S. Stephen's Church
in Providence
|
"Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." (Acts 7:56) |
|
THE THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT
7 March 20210
|
|
Domenikos Theotokopoulos "El Greco," Christ Cleansing the Temple, c. 1570, National Gallery of Art.
|
|
THE THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT (YEAR B)
Psalm 19: 7 - 14
Click the readings above for links to the RSV
|
|
Organ: Petite litanies de Jésus, Gabriel Grovlez (1879 - 1944)
Le Martyre de Saint Sébastien, Claude Debussy (1862 - 1918)
1. La cour de lys
Mass: Missa XI "Orbis factor," Plainchant
Psalm 19, Caeli enarrant, Tone IV
Organ: Quatre Fugues Modale, Marcel Dupré (1886 - 1971)
3. Fugue en mode Locrien
|
|
Dear beloved in Christ,
Effective this week, S. Stephen’s is open again for in-person worship. On Friday, February 26, Bishop Knisely wrote to the clergy of the Diocese and said that given the current trends and statistics, it was reasonable for parishes to resume the kind of worship they had practiced in the fall. I informed him of our intent to re-open to in-person worship, and he gave us his approval and blessing.
What follows is not new, and the stated precautions are essentially the same as before. The one thing that is new or different is that there is now a vaccine, and some of you have already had your first and second vaccination or have them scheduled. This has also factored into our decision to re-open: however, if you are vaccinated, you are not exempt from following the protocols set in place, as we must keep safe those who are not yet vaccinated.
Our regathering comes with clear and necessary precautions:
- Do not attend church in person if you are feeling sick
- Face coverings must be worn (we will have masks available if you need one)
- Hands will be sanitized upon entering the building
- Attendees are asked to take an “I sat here” flyer and leave it at your seat for later cleaning
- Name and contact information will be collected for potential contact tracing
- Seating will be at least six feet apart from unrelated individuals (households may sit together)
- There will be no physical exchange of the Peace and no passing of the offering plate. (There will be one receptacle for leaving your offering, or you may donate electronically)
- Communion will be by bread only, received in the hand. The priest will come to the entrance to the chancel, wearing a mask and having sanitized his hands. Communicants will come up the center aisle still wearing masks, observing the markers to stay six feet apart. Upon receiving communion, move at least six feet to the side (also marked) before removing your mask and consuming the host. Hand sanitizer will be available for cleaning your hands after receiving communion. Return to your pew by the side aisles.
Equivalent procedures will apply to the daily masses in the Lady Chapel. We will continue to broadcast the daily and Sunday masses on our Facebook page for those who cannot or choose not to attend in person.
If you click here, you will find the Diocesan Covenant for Regathering that went out in June 2020, which reminds us that our decisions and actions are placed in the context of caring for one another as brothers and sisters in Christ, joined to one another by having been baptized into the same Christ.
Faithfully,
Fr. Benjamin+
|
|
Multiple Parish Lenten Study |
|
Four historic Anglo-Catholic parishes (St. Stephen's, St. John's Newport, St. Paul's Brooklyn, St. Thomas' in Toronto) are joining forces to offer a special Wednesdays in Lent series at 7 p.m. each week via Zoom. "The Eucharist in a time of Pandemic: Sacramental Theology for when you cannot receive the Sacrament," continues to run on Wednesday evenings until Wednesday, March 24. Please register for the event at this link: once you register, Zoom information will be sent to you.
If you are interested in recordings of the sessions, please e-mail the office.
Wednesday, 10 March
Medieval Unfolding with Fr. Straley & Fr. Ogburn
Amidst the Black Death, how was the Eucharist understood and practiced?
Wednesday, 17 March
Reformation Response with Fr. Ogburn & Fr. Humphrey
What lasting insights did the English Reformation impart?
Wednesday, 24 March
Anglo-Catholic Synthesis with Fr. Humphrey & Team Faculty
How does Anglo-Catholic theology and practice promise life in the midst of death?
|
|
Join us for Virtual "Coffee Hour" via Zoom after Mass this Sunday at 11:30 by clicking here. A reminder that these Zoom gatherings are now on First and Third Sundays of the month only (and the occasional rare Fifth Sunday.)
|
|
Volunteers for Sunday Masses |
|
We are seeking people to serve as lectors and camera operators during our Sunday masses. If you are interested and are comfortable being socially distanced in the church with others, please write to the office at office@sstephens.necoxmail.com or by phone at 401.421.6702: training is available. Thank you to all who have and continue to fill these positions. |
|
You can mail your pledge card or weekly/monthly offering to the church office, or pledge online here. Thank you for all the many ways in which you are already supporting S. Stephen’s.
|
|
Prayers have been requested for: Carmen Alba, Patti Barnes, Lola Campagna, Ruby Campagna, Rev. Norman Catir, Diana Clarke, Sarah Clarke, Grace Deneault, Harrington Gordon, Joan Gordon, Barbara Hartford, Rev. Jay C. James, Conrad Johnson, Ann Brooke Mason, Beverly Myers, Beverly Ryan, Rhoda Steinhart, Crystal Sylver, and Christopher Whittingham.
Birthdays this week: Tom Oakes (3/11).
The faithful departed: Year's mind: Susan B. Brazil (3/8), Robert Russell Sandstrom (3/10), Donald S. Chase (3/11), Ransom Widmer (3/13).
Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer: In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for the Province de L'Eglise Anglicane Du Congo. In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for our retired bishops, George Hunt and Geralyn Wolf.
|
|
This Week at St. Stephen's |
|
EVENTS THIS WEEK
Tuesday 9 March
Vestry Meeting (via Zoom) 7 pm
Wednesday 10 March
"The Eucharist in a time of Pandemic: Multi-Parish Lenten Study"
7 pm
Saturday 13 March
Epiphany Soup Kitchen (Meal Pickup Only) 2:30-4 pm
LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE
Sunday 7 March
THE THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT
Morning Prayer & Low Mass 8:00 am
Sung Mass 10:00 am
Zoom Coffee Hour 11:30 am
Daily Office and Mass Lectionary
Monday 8 March
Monday in the third week of Lent
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6:00 pm
Tuesday 9 March
Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa, c. 394
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Wednesday 10 March
Wednesday in the third week of Lent
Sung Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
Thursday 11 March
Thursday in the third week of Lent
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Friday 12 March
Gregory the Great, Bishop of Rome, 604
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Saturday 13 March
Saturday in the third week of Lent
Morning Prayer 9:30 am
Low Mass 10:00 am
Next Sunday
THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT
Morning Prayer & Low Mass 8:00 am
Children's Sermon 9:00 am
Sung Mass 10:00 am
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
