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Saint Stephen's Church
in Providence
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News and events for the week |
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The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
25 July 20210
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The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes (early 1600's), by Bernardo Strozzi (1581 - 1644).
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Readings for this Sunday
Click the readings above for links to the RSV
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Organ: Tierce en taille (Livre premier,) Louis Marchand (1669 – 1732)
Mass: Missa Sancta Maria Magdalena, Healey Willan (1880 - 1968)
Organ: Dialogue (Livre premier,) Louis Marchand
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Dear Friends,
I hope this finds you all well and finding some way to enjoy the summer. I am still on vacation a few more days but could not resist the urge to write a word for this week’s e-news.
Yesterday was the feast day of St. Mary Magdalene, who in the Orthodox tradition is sometimes referred to as “Apostle to the Apostles.” It was she who was the first to encounter the Risen Jesus, and it was she who went and told the other disciples that he had risen. “I have seen the Lord!” she exclaimed. Mary Magdalene was also someone who had experienced the profound healing and restorative power of Jesus in her own life. We don’t know what ailments she had specifically – only that Jesus cured her of “seven demons.” Whatever that entailed, we know that restored to health of mind and body.
On a somewhat personal note, I have found the past weeks of vacation helpful for my own restoration to health of mind and body. Though in some ways my recovery will be ongoing for a few more months, I am so ready to get back to work and discover what things God has in store for us. After not celebrating the mass since April 25th, I am more than ready to resume my place at the altar on August 1st.
While away, I have prayed for all of you by name during my daily prayers and am so thankful for all that you do to support the life of our parish. In a way, the past year was one of simply riding the roller coaster of COVID-19 and adapting to circumstances as they arose. There were moments of growth and moments of contraction. All in all, it was a somewhat stagnant year, and that is exactly what it needed to be. However, I am ready now to do some new things and to reclaim our sense of witness, so that we, like Mary Magdalene, can boldly proclaim to all who pass by or come in our doors, “I have seen the Lord!” We are to tell all people the great things he has done for us and make more disciples. It really is that simple, and there is no shirking that responsibility given to us at our baptism.
I look forward to seeing you soon.
With every blessing,
Fr. Benjamin +
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Update: Communion Distribution |
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Beginning August 1st, Communion will once again be distributed at the communion rail up in the chancel. The Chalice containing the Precious Blood will also be available to those who desire it. We have had permission to resume Communion in two kinds (the bread and the wine) for some time now, but have been understandably cautious. This is all made possible because of our rate of vaccination, and the underlying assumption that those present are vaccinated. Of course, communion will still be brought to those unable to come up to the altar rail, as is our practice.
Two important things to note:
1) You do not need to feel compelled to receive from the chalice if you are not comfortable doing so. Communion in one kind is fully valid, and imparts the fullness of the sacrament and the fullness of Christ's presence. If you do not wish to receive the chalice, simply cross your arms when it comes to you, or return to your seat in the Nave once you have consumed the Bread.
2) If you are eligible for the vaccine and have not received it, I strongly urge you to do so. We are seeing an increase in COVID cases even in Rhode Island after weeks of consistently downward trends. Because of the way COVID and the vaccine have become politicized in the media, I have shied away from saying too much either here or from the pulpit. I cannot be any more blunt about the fact that our return to common worship life as we knew it before the pandemic has been made possible by the vaccines made available to us.
Fr. Benjamin
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Sunday Livestreams in July |
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As a reminder, please note that we will not be live-streaming the 10:00 Sung Mass on Sundays this month. We will, however, livestream the 8:00 spoken Morning Prayer & Low Mass from the Lady Chapel. We have had a small crew of dedicated folks handling the livestreams every Sunday for over nine months now, and a break is much deserved! Special thanks go out to Tom Bledsoe, Kate Lester, and Julia Steiny for their help with this new ministry in the past year. |
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Summer Weekday Mass Schedule |
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Please be reminded of the new "Summer Schedule" that went into effect. Until after Labor Day, September 6, the following weekday schedule is as follows:
Tuesdays & Thursdays -- Noonday Prayer and Mass
Saturdays -- 9:30 Morning Prayer, 10:00 Mass
- Holy Rosary on First Saturdays of the Month at 10:30
- Monthly Requiem Mass on Third Saturdays of the month
No liturgies will be celebrated or offered on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays until after Labor Day.
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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.
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Prayers have been requested for: Charles Calverley, Sandra Calverley, Lola Campagna, Ruby Campagna, Fr. Norman Catir, Diana Clarke, Sarah Clarke, Ernie Drew, Fr. Harrington Gordon, Joan Gordon, Richard Hogarth, Jonathan Huyck, Fr. Jay C. James, Conrad Johnson, Jane Malone, Ann Brooke Mason, Beverly Myers, Rhoda Steinhart, and Christopher Whittingham.
Birthdays this week: Noah Hayslip (7/26), Fr. Michael Pearson (7/27), Rollin Bartlett (7/30), Nancy Gingrich (7/31).
The faithful departed: Year's mind: Helen W. Williams (7/28).
In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to prayer for: 7/25, The Scottish Episcopal Church; 7/26, The Diocese of Delaware; 7/27, The Diocese of Delhi – The (United) Church of North India; 7/28, The Diocese of Derby – The Church of England (Canterbury Province); 7/29, The Diocese of Derry & Raphoe – The Church of Ireland (Armagh Province); 7/30, The Diocese of Dhaka – The (United) Church of Bangladesh; 7/31, The Diocese of San Diego.
In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for St. James, North Providence; St. James, Woonsocket; and St. Ann’s by-the-Sea, Block Island.
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This Week at S. Stephen's |
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EVENTS THIS WEEK
Saturday 31 July
Epiphany Soup Kitchen (Meal Pickup Only) 2:30-4 pm
LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE
Sunday 25 July
NINTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Morning Prayer & Low Mass 8:00 am
Sung Mass 10:00 am
Daily Office and Mass Lectionary
Tuesday 27 July
William Reed Huntington
Priest, 1909
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Thursday 29 July
Mary and Martha of Bethany
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Saturday 31 July
Ignatius of Loyola
Priest, Monastic, &
Founder of the Society of Jesus, 1556
Morning Prayer 9:30 am
Low Mass 10 am
Next Sunday 1 August
TENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Morning Prayer & Low Mass 8:00 am
Sung Mass 10:00 am
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