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Saint Stephen's Church
in Providence
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News and events for the week
of September 12
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The Sixteenth Sunday
after Pentecost
12 September 20210
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Kalendar and
Facebook Livestream
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Organ Voluntaries: Concerto in A minor, BWV 593, after a Concerto of Antonio Vivaldi, J.S. Bach (1685-1750)
Mass setting: Missa Preparate corda vestra, Steffano Bernardi (1576-1636)
Motet: Crux Fidelis, Roger Ducasse (1873-1954)
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Dear friends,
A couple of weeks ago, our Epistle from James and our Gospel reading reminded us that, essentially, “talk is cheap,” and that actions speak more loudly than words. As we’ve moved through the Epistle of James these past few weeks, we’ve been reminded that while faith is important, a true and lively faith is one marked by acts of Christian charity and outward focus. “Faith without works is dead,” we heard this past Sunday.
Well, talk may be cheap, but words and our mouths and voices are still pretty strong; they can be used for good as well as for bad. This week, we’ll hear James’ warning to the early Church about just how destructive our tongues can be, especially when they sow division within the community. We’ll also encounter some strong language in the Gospel reading, but you’ll have to show up at 10:00 or tune in at 8:00 to hear more about that.
I find myself quite enjoying our journey through James and the accompanying Gospel readings. It’s full of practical, no nonsense advice about what the Christian life looks like. Most people (if not all) that come to Church want to make a connection between faith and daily life – what the Gospel they hear on Sunday means for how they live the rest of their week. Of course, the danger there is thinking that Christianity is some form of “self-help” among the countless other self-improvement books and their peddlers, i.e. “The Power of Positive Thinking, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” or “You Can Heal your Life.” People who believe that Christianity is just a guide for moral living and a happy life will always be sorely disappointed.
Christianity begins with the admission that we have no power to help ourselves, and that Jesus, who is the Lord of all Time and Creation is the only one who can save us. In fact, he has already saved us, and by his actions once wrought upon Calvary’s hill has he opened to us the gates of eternal life. Meanwhile, we continue to participate in his divine life here on earth by coming to church and receiving the Sacraments, and by modeling the virtues so lauded by James when we reach out with compassion to those who are weak and suffering and help them in their distress. In the Sacramental life, we are joined to Christ spiritually until that day when we ourselves will see him as he is, and we take our place among the throngs of saints worshipping the Lamb upon the throne day and night. That sure sounds better than any self-help book I’ve ever seen, don’t you think?
Faithfully,
A Fellow Sinner standing in need of Redemption
Fr. Benjamin +
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A Prayer for September 11th |
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O Almighty God, who brings good out of evil and turns even the wrath of your children towards your promised peace: Hear our prayers this day as we remember those of many nations and differing faiths whose lives were cut short by the fierce flames of anger and hatred. Hasten the time when the menace of war shall be removed. Cleanse both us and those perceived to be our enemies of all hatred and distrust. Pour out the spirit of peace on all the rulers of our world that we may be brought through strife to the lasting peace of the kingdom of your Son; Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. |
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Return to normal daily mass schedule & Update on livestreams |
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We have returned to our normal daily mass schedule. However, after considerable thought over the past month, we have decided that the streaming of Sunday 10:00 Mass and all daily masses is not the best use of our resources at the current moment. As we invite parishioners and new students to return to in-person worship, the use of Facebook Live-Streams actually presents a barrier as it takes away a sense of privacy and of coming into a sanctuary apart from the world outside.
We will livestream 8:00 Sunday mass, and the Noon masses on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday masses will no longer be live-streamed. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Rector by email or call the parish office.
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4 Opportunities for Faith in Action |
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- The Epiphany Soup Kitchen, which operates out of our Guild House kitchen every Saturday, serves meals to the food insecure every Saturday. They are looking to return to indoor dining service in the coming months. If interested, please contact the office or Bruce Lennihan.
- Be a server or acolyte at mass. Our biggest witness and outreach at S. Stephen's is actually our liturgy and worship. We are in need of new servers and acolytes at both daily mass, but especially Sunday Solemn High mass. You are never too young or too old!
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Partner with or give time/money Dorcas International as Episcopal clergy and other faith leaders in the area work with Dorcas to house, clothe, and feed refugees arriving from Afghanistan in the coming weeks. Contact Fr. Benjamin if interested.
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If you would like to help the victims of Hurricane Ida, one excellent way is to donate to Episcopal Relief & Development, which has one of the strongest ratings amongst all aid groups in getting the kind of help to those who need it most.
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Parishioner Awarded Fulbright |
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We are bidding farewell for a time to parishioner Jessina Leonard as she embarks for Germany. Jessina is the recipient of a Fulbright fellowship, and she will be completing a project on the relationship between photography and mysticism at Kloster Helfta, the historic site (and a still-active convent) of several late Medieval female mystics in Germany, such as Gertrude of Helfta and Mechthild of Magdeburg. You can read more about Jessina's work here. We will miss her and husband Austin very much, but are very proud of her accomplishments! Our prayers go with them.
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On September 29th, the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels, 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. |
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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, Fr. Harrington Gordon, Joan Gordon, Richard Hogarth, Conrad Johnson, Ann Brooke Mason, Beverly Myers, Rhoda Steinhart, and Christopher Whittingham.
Anniversaries: Richard & Robyn Noble (9/15/84); Ordination of Fr. Michael Pearson to the Sacred Order of Deacons (9/14/77).
Birthdays: Amanda Malone-Drew (9/13).
The faithful departed: Year's mind: Margaret Chase (9/13), George Finch (9/13).
In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for: The Anglican Church of Tanzania (9/12); The Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe (9/13); The Diocese in Europe – The Church of England (9/14); The Diocese of Evo – The Church of Nigeria (9/15); The Diocese of Exeter – The Church of England (9/16); The Diocese of Ezo – The Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan (9/17); The Diocese of Faisalabad – The (united) Church of Pakistan (9/18).
In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for the Church of the Holy Cross, Middletown; and The Church of the Redeemer, Providence.
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This Week at S. Stephen's |
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THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN'S
Sunday 12 September
THE SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Morning Prayer & Low Mass 8:00 am
Solemn Mass 10:00 am
Monday 13 September
Cyprian,
Bishop & Martyr of Carthage, 258
Evening Prayer 5:30
Low Mass 6:00
Tuesday 14 September
HOLY CROSS DAY
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Wednesday 15 September
Our Lady of Sorrows
Noonday Prayer 12:00
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Thursday 16 September
Ninian, Bishop in Galloway, c. 430
Noonday Prayer 12:00
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Friday 17 September
Hildegard, Abbess of Bingen, 1179
Noonday Prayer 12:00
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Saturday 18 September
Edward Bouverie Pusey,
Priest, Tractarian, 1882
Morning Prayer 9:30 am
Low Requiem Mass 10 am
(Guild of All Souls)
Epiphany Soup Kitchen (Meal Pickup Only) 2:30-4 pm
Next Sunday 19 September
THE SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Morning Prayer & Low Mass 8:00 am
Solemn Mass & Holy Baptism 10:00 am
Outdoor Coffee Hour 11:15
Fr. Locke will be the Celebrant & Preacher at Mass
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