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Saint Stephen's Church
in Providence
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News and events for the week
of October 17
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The Twenty-first Sunday
after Pentecost
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Kalendar and
Facebook Livestream
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Voluntary: Wondrous Love - Variations on a shape note hymn, Samuel Barber (1910 - 1981)
Mass setting: Missa Bella Amfitrit' altera, Orlando de Lassus (1532 - 1594)
Motet: Vere languores nostros, Tomás Luis de Victoria (1549 - 1611)
Voluntary: Comes Autumn Time, Leo Sowerby (1895 - 1968)
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Dear friends,
After months of "COVID-tide" and not engaging in as much public activity, we are turning a corner and headed back into what might have once been called "normal" program offerings in our parish life.
Last Sunday, we were treated to a wonderful program of Organ and Harp music with our esteemed Organist & Choirmaster, James Busby. This Sunday, we will offer Choral Evensong & Benediction for the first time since before the pandemic began in March 2020. (times and additional information further down in email)
We are also going to begin offering an Inquirer's Class for those who have expressed an interest in joining the Episcopal Church and those who are exploring being baptized into Christ's Body. We anticipate a visitation from Bishop Knisely on January 9th, the feast of the Baptism of Our Lord, to receive these persons into our community of faith.
Our life in Christ, even from the moment of our baptism, is ultimately about the death we share with him through which we share in his resurrection to eternal life. With that in mind, we also mark the passing into larger life of parishioner Conrad Johnson, husband of Julia Steiny, whose funeral mass will be celebrated next Saturday. Please come and join with Conrad's family as we pray for the repose of his soul and celebrate the victory over death that has been given to us in Christ Jesus. Even as we rejoice in that victory, we also mourn with Julia and her family in this time of loss, and I ask that you continue to hold them in prayer and affection during this time, together with all those on our prayer list.
I am grateful to be in Christian community with you, and to journey along with you as a fellow pilgrim in this wondrous thing we call life in Christ.
Faithfully,
Fr. Benjamin +
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Sunday School has resumed, led by Modu Collins and Kate Lester. Sunday School begins at 10:00 and children will then rejoin parents in Mass around 10:40 or at the Peace. The Sunday School room is on the 3rd floor of the Guild House. |
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Are you considering joining the Episcopal Church formally? Are you exploring the possibility of Baptism? Have you been confirmed in another Christian tradition, attending the Episcopal Church for years, or simply want to know more about this faith? Over the course of six Sundays, Fr. Benjamin will meet with those considering making a mature profession of faith or those who are simply curious and discuss the basic tenets of Christianity as expressed in the Anglican tradition. Though there is no required reading, S. Stephen's is making available (for free) the book "Episcopal Questions, Episcopal Answers" to augment and inform the discussions centered around the following six topics:
Session 1: Introduction, intake of questions
Session 2: Scripture
Session 3: Sacraments & the Creeds
Session 4: The Book of Common Prayer
Session 5: The Church and the Anglican Communion/Episcopal polity and beliefs
Session 6: Ethics, Initial Questions Revisited, and Final Thoughts
The course will meet at 12:15 on the following Sundays: Oct 24, Oct 31,
Nov 7, Nov 21, Dec 5, and Dec 19. We will hold Jan 2 as a "rain date" in case a session needs to be cancelled for any reason. Lunch (sandwiches and the like) will be provided at no cost.
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Evensong & Benediction
this Sunday!
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S. Stephen's and the choir Schola will offer the service of Evensong and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament this Sunday, October 17 on the Eve of the Feast of St. Luke the Evangelist. This Evensong will be offered in thanksgiving for all doctors, nurses, and health care workers. St. Luke is traditionally regarded as having been a physician, and is the patron saint of doctors and surgeons. Please take advantage of this opportunity to conclude the Lord's day with prayer and praise.
The liturgy will be preceded by an extended organ voluntary, played by Mr. Andrew Sheranian, Organist & Master of the Choristers at All Saints', Ashmont. He will present Josef Rheinberger's Organ Sonata No. 8 in E minor, and will also accompany the choir at Evensong. We are very happy to welcome this friend from our sister parish in Boston on this occasion.
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Conrad Johnson Funeral Mass |
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A Funeral Mass of the Resurrection will be offered for Conrad Johnson (1948-2021) on Saturday, October 23rd, at 10:00 AM. Please continue to keep Julia Steiny, their sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren in your prayers. If you would like to usher, please contact Bruce Lennihan. |
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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: Beverly Baar, Charles and Sandra Calverley, Fr. Norman Catir, Jason Connell, Fr. Harrington Gordon, Richard Hogarth, Conrad Johnson, Beverly Myers, Rhoda Steinhart, and Christopher Whittingham.
The faithful departed: Recently departed: Virginia Adams, James Baar, Conrad Johnson. Year's mind: William N. N. Potterton (10/17); Phyllis Hayden Potterton (10/20); Claire Virginia Sledzinski (10/20); Jacqueline Sue Taylor (10/20); Robert Mark Rose (10/20); Lucille LaFrance Krawiec (10/20); Mary Elizabeth Moss (10/21).
In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for The Church in the Province of the West Indies (10/17); Province de L'Eglise Anglicane Du Congo (10/18); The Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion (10/19); The Anglican Church of Australia (10/20); The Anglican Church of Southern Africa (10/21); The Anglican Church of Melanesia (10/22); Iglesia Anglicana de la Region Central de America (10/23).
In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for St. Luke’s, Pawtucket, and St. Luke’s, East Greenwich.
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This Week at S. Stephen's |
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THIS WEEK AT S. STEPHEN'S
Sunday, 17 October
THE TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Morning Prayer and Low Mass 8 am
Sunday School 9:55 am
Solemn Mass 10 am
Organ Recital 5:00
Evensong & Benediction 5:30
Monday 18 October
Saint Luke the Evangelist
Evening Prayer 5:30
Low Mass 6:00
Tuesday 19 October
Henry Martyn, Priest and Missionary, 1812
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Budget Committee 7:00 pm (Zoom)
Wednesday 20 October
Feria
Evening Prayer 5:30
Low Mass 6:00
Thursday 21 October
Feria
Noonday Prayer 12:00
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Friday 22 October
Feria
Noonday Prayer 12:00
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Saturday 23 October
St. James of Jerusalem, Brother of
Our Lord Jesus Christ, and Martyr, c. 62
**no morning prayer or Low Mass**
Funeral Mass of the Resurrection
for Conrad Johnson 10:00 am
Epiphany Soup Kitchen
2:30 – 4 pm
Next Sunday, 24 October
THE TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Morning Prayer and Low Mass 8 am
Sunday School 9:55 am
Solemn Mass 10 am
Inquirer’s Class 12:15 pm (Library or Guild Hall)
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