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Saint Stephen's Church
in Providence
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News and events for the week
of September 26
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The Eighteenth Sunday
after Pentecost
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Kalendar and
Facebook Livestream
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Voluntary: Preludio 'Sine Nomine', Herbert Howells (1893-1983)
Mass setting: Office of Holy Communion, 'Collegium Regale', Howells
Anthem: O Salutaris Hostia, Jehan Alain (1911-1940)
Voluntary: Carillon, Herbert Murrill (1909-1952)
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Dear friends,
One of my favorite things is how the Lectionary sometimes overlaps or intersects with the realities of life completely by coincidence. You may or may not know, but the readings we hear on Sunday were determined long ago and follow a three year cycle. (Though for obvious reasons Christmas, Holy Week, and Easter are usually the same.) In addition, there is a two year cycle for the daily round of Morning and Evening Prayer. Sometimes while praying the office, a psalm or a scripture lesson will seem to be commenting on something going on in the news or in my own life. The same happens with our Sunday readings, and I find that this Sunday is one of those instances.
On Wednesday, I will be installed as your Rector after a bit of a delay due to COVID-19. Like the ordination rites, I don't actually do very much in the service. For all the energy and work that goes into a service like this, most of the work is born by everyone else: the bishop, the choir, the leaders of the parish, and all those who have a role in the liturgy. Much like a bride at a wedding, I just have a few lines to say while I stand up at the front in a white frock, sitting, standing, and kneeling when I'm supposed to. The liturgy is really not about me at all: it is about all of you! It is a Celebration of New Ministry, yes -- but the liturgy reminds us that it is a shared ministry. Ultimately, you as members of the Body of Christ are called to embody and carry out the same ministry which is the ministry given to all of us at our Baptisms. The only thing the Rector or a priest does that others cannot is the particular priestly ministry of administering sacraments, absolving, and blessing.
By sheer coincidence, this Sunday we will hear of Moses and his need to share the burden of leadership with seventy elders, upon whom the Lord pours out his Spirit. We will hear from St. James about the role of elders and of how the entire Christian community is called to engage in the work of healing, intercession, and reconciliation among one another. And in the Gospel, we will hear of others outside the inner circle of disciples doing astounding things by invoking the Name of Jesus. In short, we have in our readings a "blue print" for the Church and her order of ministry. It will be a helpful and poignant reminder as we head into Wednesday's celebration. After members of the congregation have presented me with various symbols of my ministry among you, the Bishop will say "Let all these be signs of the ministry which is mine and yours in this place." I could just as easily turn around and then say the same to all of you, for the ministry is mine and yours: it is all of ours together. May the Lord bless our shared labors of love, prayer, and service in the coming years.
Faithfully,
Fr. Benjamin +
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This Wednesday, September 29th, the Rt. Rev. Nicholas Knisely, Bishop of Rhode Island, will install Fr. Benjamin as the 19th Rector of S. Stephen's Church. The liturgy will begin at 6:00 PM, with reception to follow in the Great Hall. This event is open to parishioners and the wider community, and is a joyous moment in the life of S. Stephen's. Please make every effort to come and be a part of this celebration. |
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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: Virginia Adams, James and Beverly Baar, Charles and Sandra Calverley, Lola Campagna, Ruby Campagna, Fr. Norman Catir, Diana Clarke, Sarah Clarke, Fr. Harrington and Joan Gordon, Richard Hogarth, Conrad Johnson, Beverly Myers, Rhoda Steinhart, and Christopher Whittingham.
Birthdays: Brad Ripley (9/30).
Anniversaries: Charles & Sandra Calverley (10/01).
The faithful departed: Year's mind: Christopher Shane Barnes (9/27); Elizabeth Alexandra Clarke (9/30); Domenica Nicolella (10/02).
In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for: (9/19) The Episcopal Church (9/26); The Diocese of Southwest Florida (9/27); Diocese of Fond du Lac (9/28); The Diocese of Fredericton – The Anglican Church of Canada (9/29); The Diocese of Free State – The Anglican Church of Southern Africa (9/30); The Diocese of Freetown – The Church of the Province of West Africa (10/1); The Diocese of Gahini – Eglise Anglicane du Rwanda (10/2).
In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for St. Michael's, Bristol.
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This Week at S. Stephen's |
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THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN'S
Sunday 26 September
THE EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Morning Prayer & Low Mass 8:00 am
Solemn Mass 10:00 am
The Rector will be the preacher at both masses this Sunday.
Monday 27 September
Vincent de Paul, 1660
Evening Prayer 5:30
Low Mass 6:00
Tuesday 28 September
Feria
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Wednesday 29 September
ST. MICHAEL & ALL ANGELS
Solemn Mass with
Institution of the 19th Rector
6:00 pm
Thursday 30 September
Jerome, Translator of the Scriptures, 420
Noonday Prayer 12:00
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Friday 1 October
Remigius, Bishop of Rheims, 533
Noonday Prayer 12:00
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Saturday 2 October
Feria
Morning Prayer 9:30 am
Low Mass 10 am
Holy Rosary 10:30 am
Society of Mary (Library) 11 am
Epiphany Soup Kitchen (meals to-go at door)
2:30-4:00 pm
Next Sunday, 03 October
THE NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Morning Prayer and Low Mass 8 am
Solemn Mass 10 am
The Rector will preach at both masses.
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