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S. Stephen's Church
in Providence
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"Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." (Acts 7:56) |
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THE FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT
21 March 20210
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Rembrandt, Jeremiah Lamenting the Destruction of Jerusalem, 1630, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.
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THE FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT (YEAR B)
Psalm 51
Click the readings above for links to the RSV
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Organ: Choralvorspiel und Fuge über "O Traurigkeit, O Herzeleid," Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897)
Mass: Missa XVII, Sanctus et agnus Dei. Kyrie V, Conditor kyrie omnium.
Psalm 51, vs. 10-15 Miserere mei, Deus, Tone II
Organ: Choralvorspiel "O Welt, ich muss dich lassen" Op. 122 No. 11, Johannes Brahms
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Dear Beloved in Christ,
As I have spent several months in the parish now, the desire for us to “know more” or learn a bit about our Anglo-Catholic practices has been a repeated theme. Often, I use this weekly “blurb” to communicate something about the upcoming Sunday, something pastoral, or something to encourage and exhort. While that will always continue to be the case, I will also endeavor to share a teaching moment from time to time as well, in response to this hunger for us to learn more.
This Sunday, the crosses and sacred images will be veiled and will remain veiled through Good Friday. Some of you know that in other Episcopal parishes, the custom is to veil crosses through all of Lent. There is no right or wrong – merely a divergence of practices over the centuries. The Holy Week liturgies as we have known them in our lifetimes are a fairly modern reform, and I suppose in a way are more streamlined and concise in keeping with “modern” sensibilities.
However, if we venture further back in time, we will discover that Lent was preceded by “pre-Lent”, which began three Sundays before the First Sunday in Lent. These weeks were marked by a more penitential tone, and the disappearance of Alleluia from the liturgy ahead of Ash Wednesday. Similarly, the whole aura of Holy Week was also extended: the Sunday before Palm Sunday was known as Passion Sunday, and the week before Holy Week was known as Passiontide. The Gospel reading for that Passion Sunday was one of the many tense encounters between Jesus and the Jewish leadership, and ended with the verses: “Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.’ So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.” (John 8:58, 59)
This reference to Jesus hiding himself is understood to be what began the tradition of veiling crosses and images beginning on that week of Passiontide, though there are undoubtedly other origins to this practice. This medieval custom is the source of our practice here at S. Stephen’s, where we wait to veil our images until the final two weeks of Lent. Interestingly enough, this observance of Passiontide still persists in the Church of England, while the Episcopal Church when drafting the 1979 Prayer Book embraced some of the reforms and “updates” that Rome adopted after the Second Vatican Council.
Essentially, what some of us have considered “Anglo-Catholic customs” are rarely specific to Anglo-Catholicism, but rather Medieval English customs prior to the Reformations that either a) persisted in the Church of England even after they disappeared from the Church of Rome; or b) were recovered by Anglo-Catholics in the late 19th century by appealing to ancient Tradition.
One cross that will not be veiled is the large depiction of the Crucifixion on the Rood Screen – we will be reminded ever more in the coming days that this is the journey we are on, and that we will stand with the disciples at the foot of the Cross during Holy Week, contemplating and adoring our Savior’s loving sacrifice.
Sweetest wood and sweetest iron!
Sweetest weight is hung on thee.
Faithfully,
Fr. Benjamin+
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Easter Morning at S. Stephen's |
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We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to gather in person for our Easter Sunday worship this year. To aid our planning, we are requesting that anyone interested in attending our services in person on Easter Sunday fill out this short form. A copy is also available on the homepage of the website. Thank you in advance for your help.
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Multiple Parish Lenten Study |
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Four historic Anglo-Catholic parishes (St. Stephen's, St. John's Newport, St. Paul's Brooklyn, St. Thomas' in Toronto) are joining forces to offer a special Wednesdays in Lent series at 7 p.m. each week via Zoom. "The Eucharist in a time of Pandemic: Sacramental Theology for when you cannot receive the Sacrament," continues to run on Wednesday evenings until Wednesday, March 24. Please register for the event at this link: once you register, Zoom information will be sent to you.
If you are interested in recordings of the sessions, please e-mail the office.
Wednesday, 24 March
Anglo-Catholic Synthesis with Fr. Humphrey & Team Faculty
How does Anglo-Catholic theology and practice promise life in the midst of death?
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Join us for Virtual "Coffee Hour" via Zoom after Mass this Sunday at 11:30 by clicking here. A reminder that these Zoom gatherings are now on First and Third Sundays of the month only (and the occasional rare Fifth Sunday.)
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Volunteers for Sunday Masses |
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We are seeking people to serve as lectors and camera operators during our Sunday masses. If you are interested and are comfortable being socially distanced in the church with others, please write to the office at office@sstephens.necoxmail.com or by phone at 401.421.6702: training is available. Thank you to all who have and continue to fill these positions. |
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The Stations of the Cross devotion will be observed on Friday of Passiontide, March 26th and on Good Friday, April 2nd. The devotion will begin in the Nave at 5:30 on both dates. |
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Our schedule for Holy Week services is printed below. As of now, all services are being offered in person. Additionally, all services will be streamed live except for the Easter Vigil and 8:00 Sunday Low Masses.
SUNDAY OF THE PASSION: PALM SUNDAY
28 March
Morning Prayer & Low Mass 8:00 am
Liturgy of the Palms & Sung Mass 10:00 am
MAUNDY THURSDAY
Liturgy of the Lord's Supper, Footwashing,
Procession to the Altar of Repose, Stripping of the Altars,
Watch before the Altar of Repose
1 April | 7:00 pm
GOOD FRIDAY
Liturgy of the Lord's Passion, Solemn Collects,
Veneration of the Cross, Mass of the Presanctified
2 April | 12:00 noon
EASTER VIGIL
Lighting of the New Fire, the Prophesies,
Blessing of the Baptismal Waters, First Mass of Easter
3 April | 7:00 pm
EASTER SUNDAY
4 April
Morning Prayer & Low Mass 8:00 am
Sung Mass 10:00 am
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We will be glad to accept donations for flowers which will adorn the altar and sanctuary on Easter. Special envelopes are being provided at in-person worship the next few Sundays and will be included in a parish mailing as well. You may also select “Flower Offerings” and indicate any names on our online giving form, or simply send a check with the names of those being remembered or honored to the parish office. Your gift and the names of those beloved to you will be included in the Kalendar for Easter Day. Please call the office with any questions. |
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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: Lola Campagna, Ruby Campagna, Fr. Norman Catir, Diana Clarke, Sarah Clarke, Harrington Gordon, Joan Gordon, Barbara Hartford, Fr. Jay C. James, Conrad Johnson, Ann Brooke Mason, Beverly Myers, Rhoda Steinhart, Crystal Sylver, and Christopher Whittingham.
Birthdays this week: Betty Jane Berberien (3/21), Sandra Calverly (3/21), Ernie Drew (3/22).
Anniversaries this week: Anniversary of Ordination to Sacred Priesthood for Fr. Harrington M. Gordon (3/24).
The faithful departed: Recently Departed: Mary M. Henry, Paul Burke Sylvia. Year's mind: Rosa Ferri Fasano (3/21), Richard Mayforth (3/22), Corrine Esther Joslin (3/23), Virginia Marie Disley (3/24) Anthony Verdelotti (3/25), Bette Drayton (3/26), John F. Brazil (3/26), Dorothy Adams Bellman (3/27).
Anglican and Diocesan Cycles of Prayer: In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for the Church of England. In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for Episcopal Church Women.
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This Week at St. Stephen's |
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EVENTS THIS WEEK
Wednesday 24 March
"The Eucharist in a time of Pandemic: Multi-Parish Lenten Study"
7 pm
Saturday 27 March
Epiphany Soup Kitchen (Meal Pickup Only) 2:30-4 pm
LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE
Sunday 21 March
THE FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT
Morning Prayer & Low Mass 8:00 am
Sung Mass 10:00 am
Zoom Coffee Hour 11:30 am
Daily Office and Mass Lectionary
Monday 22 March
Monday in the fifth week of Lent
James de Koven, Priest, 1879
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6:00 pm
Tuesday 23 March
Gregory the Illuminator, Bishop and Missionary of Armenia, c. 332
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Wednesday 24 March
Oscar Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador, 1980
Sung Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
Thursday 25 March
THE ANNUNCIATION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Friday 26 March
Friday in the fifth week of Lent
Harriet Monsell, Founder of the Community of
Saint John the Baptist, Clewer, 1883
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Stations of the Cross 5:30 pm
Saturday 27 March
Saturday in the fifth week of Lent
Charles Henry Brent, Bishop of the Philippines,
and of Western New York, 1922
Morning Prayer 9:30 am
Low Mass 10 am
Next Sunday
SUNDAY OF THE PASSION: PALM SUNDAY
Morning Prayer & Low Mass 8:00 am
Sung Mass 10:00 am
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