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Saint Stephen's Church
in Providence
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News and events for the
week of March 20
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Moses and the Burning Bush, Sebastien Bourdon (1616-1671) |
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Mass Setting: Missa stylo a cappella
Antonio Salieri (1750–1825)
Voluntary: Choral - Erbarm dich mein, O Herre Gott BWV 721
J. S. Bach (1685-1750)
Motet: Author of Light, John Cook (1918-1984)
Voluntary: Canzona in D-moll BWV 588, J. S. Bach (1685-1750)
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Dear Friends,
In our Gospel reading this Sunday, Jesus is asked his opinion about a recent travesty of injustice -- the execution/slaughter of Galileans by the occupying forces of Rome. Common thinking of the day suggested that they must have done something terrible and sinful to suffer such a fate. Jesus plainly says this is not so, and compares it to another recent tragedy -- the death of eighteen persons in Jerusalem when the tower of Siloam fell and crushed them. "Were those unlucky individuals somehow worse than all the other inhabitants of Jerusalem?" he asks. The answer is of course, no. He then essentially tells them that instead of assigning causality to these terrible and unpredictable events, they should tend to their own lives and their own souls, since they could be taken in the same way -- "suddenly and unprepared" -- echoing one of the petitions of the Great Litany which asks that we be delivered from dying suddenly and unprepared.
Jesus refuses to allow people to confuse God's justice with the terrible consequences of either Rome and Pilate's cruelty, nor the chances of fate that befall us from time to time. Last spring, I broke my leg in spectacular fashion -- did I do anything to deserve it? I think not. These things just happen. We cannot control them -- but we can tend to ourselves so that when tragedies and disasters befall us, we are better equipped to respond to them.
To those in our Gospel reading, Jesus suggests that tending to one’s own life and positively changing one’s own mind is the best strategy to prevent or even persevere through unexpected calamity. If one refuses to do that type of work, they are already ruined. Life happens, and things happen that are beyond our control. Much as we stock up on ice melt and make sure the snow blower has fuel at the beginning of the winter season, or know that we should be prepared for a power outage at the beginning of hurricane season, Jesus would suggest that we make sure our hearts and souls and minds are tended to and in good shape so that we are better equipped to deal with those unpredictable situations when they arise.
This is the work of Lent: to tend to the garden of our souls and cut out the dead growth that has stopped bearing fruit, and ensure that what we are doing produces fruit instead. Self-examination, fasting, and self-denial are ways to strip away all the weeds that choke out the word of God in our lives, so that we can make space to hear his voice and make our hearts, souls, and minds fertile ground for his abundant word. Like the ground all around us right now in these first days of spring, new life in all sorts of vibrant color is waiting to spring forth.
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Supporting Ukrainian Refugees |
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In the Epistle of James, he reminds the church that true religion that is pure and undefiled before God is this: to care for the orphan and the widow. In other words, those who are without someone to care for them, and without the means to provide for themselves adequately.
St. James would also exhort us to be doers of the Word and not hearers only. In that same vein, I encourage you to offer what you can out of your own resources to support Ukrainian refugees at this time. One of the finest organizations with an excellent record of getting the needed resources to those on the ground is Episcopal Relief and Development.
Click on the blue button below to make your gift to the Episcopal Relief and Development's Ukraine Crisis Fund or send your gift via check to:
Episcopal Relief & Development
Ukraine Relief Fund
P.O. Box 7058
Merrifield, VA 22116-7058
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Lenten Study Series & Zoom link |
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This year’s Lenten series is a study of Luke’s Gospel, using N.T. Wright’s Lent for Everyone: Luke, Year C. Books are provided free of cost. If you would like a book, please contact the office or the Rector. More can be ordered, and you may also download in electronic form from Amazon to your Kindle. We are meeting via Zoom on Wednesday evenings from approximately 7:00 to 8:00, beginning on March 9th and concluding on April 6th. The link is in the e-news that goes out every Friday and will also be on the S. Stephen's homepage (sstephens.org). This week we will cover the readings on commentaries from Thursday in the First Week of Lent to Wednesday in the Second Week of Lent inclusive.
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We will be offering the liturgy of Stations of the Cross at 5:30 pm on three successive Fridays: April 1, April 8, and April 15 (Good Friday). This short devotion is a wonderful way to prepare ourselves to unite more fully with Our Lord in his Passion as we approach Holy Week and Good Friday. |
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Many of you probably do not know John McGlashan. For the past 15 years, he has come in every Monday morning (a time when the office is usually empty after the flurry of Sunday activity) and recorded pledge and plate offerings and made deposits at the bank. It was a small job he took up in retirement. In January, John gave notice of his intention to step away from this job and truly retire from bookkeeping. He goes with our best wishes and affections, and the wardens and I will present him with a gift on behalf of the parish as a token of our appreciation.
Cheryl Foley will begin this Monday as our new financial assistant. She comes with a wealth of experience in bookkeeping and in particular the nature of this work in the parish context, as she works in a similar position for a Congregational church in Fall River, MA. We look forward to welcoming her into our S. Stephen's family.
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Please come to the 2nd floor of the Guild House and enjoy a time of fellowship after Mass. The Guild Hall is located through the doors at the back of the church, and up the stairs to the left. If you are interested in signing up to help host a coffee hour, please reach out to Leanna Hooks. |
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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 and Sandra Calverley, Fr. Norman Catir, Trudy Egan, Fr. Harrington Gordon, Richard Hogarth, Beverly Myers, Bryan Ripley, Beth Shirley, Rhoda Steinhart, Christopher Whittingham.
Birthdays this week: Betty Jane Berberian (3/21); Sandra Calvery (3/21); Ernie Drew (3/22).
Anniversary of the Ordination to the Sacred Priesthood:
Fr. Harrington M. Gordon (3/24).
The faithful departed: Year’s Mind: Lucy T. Gregory (3/20); Rosa Ferri Fasano (3/21); Richard A. Mayforth (3/22); Anthony Verdelotti (3/25); Bette Drayton (3/26); John F. Brazil (3/26).
In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for La Iglesia Anglicana de Mexico (3/20); The Diocese of Kitale – The Anglican Church of Kenya (3/21); The Diocese of Kiteto – The Anglican Church of Tanzania (3/22); The Diocese of Kitgum – The Church of the Province of Uganda(3/23); The Diocese of Kitui – The Anglican Church of Kenya (3/24); The Diocese of Kivu – Eglise Anglicane du Rwanda (3/25); The Diocese of Nord Kivu – Province de L'Eglise Anglicane Du Congo (3/26).
In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for the Episcopal Church Women.
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This Week at S. Stephen's |
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This Sunday 20 March
Third Sunday in Lent
Morning Prayer and Low Mass 8 am
Sunday School 9:55 am
Solemn Mass 10 am
Coffee Hour 11:15 am
Monday 21 March
Thomas Ken,
Bishop of Bath and Wells, 1711
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6:00 pm
Tuesday 22 March
James De Koven, Priest, 1879
Noonday Prayer & Low Mass 12:00
Wednesday 23 March
Gregory the Illuminator,
Bishop and Missionary of Armenia, c. 332
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6:00 pm
Lenten Book Study 7:00 pm (via Zoom)
Thursday 24 March
Óscar Romero,
Archbishop of San Salvador, 1980,
and the Martyrs of El Salvador
Noonday Prayer & Low Mass 12:00
Friday 25 March
The Annunciation of
Our Lord Jesus Christ to the
Blessed Virgin Mary
Noonday Prayer & Low Mass 12:00
Saturday 26 March
Lenten Feria
Morning Prayer 9:30 am
Low Mass 10:00 am
Epiphany Soup Kitchen 2:30-4:00 pm
Next Sunday 27 March
Fourth Sunday in Lent
(Laetare Sunday)
Morning Prayer and Low Mass 8 am
Sunday School 9:55 am
Solemn Mass 10 am
Coffee Hour 11:15 am
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