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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 First Sunday after Pentecost: Trinity Sunday
30 May 20210
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Baroque Trinity, (1620),
Hendrick van Balen (1573/75- 1632), Sint-Jacobskerk, Antwerp.
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Readings for this Sunday
Click the readings above for links to the RSV
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Organ: Prelude in the Lydian Mode, Barrie Cabena (b. 1933)
Mass: Missa de Sancta Maria Magdelena, Healey Willan (1880 - 1968)
Te Deum in G, John Cook (1918 - 1984)
Organ: Hornpipe, John Cook
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Dear Beloved in Christ,
It was wonderful to sing hymns and hear our choir on Sunday. This Sunday we will have a congregational mass setting, and the following Sunday, Corpus Christi, we will have our choir one final time before the usual summer "break," with their return in the fall. I want to thank James Busby for all the flexibility he has shown in this difficult past year, in which distancing and masking has presented unique challenges as we sought to offer music that would still uplift our souls and glorify God.
This Sunday is Trinity Sunday, in which we will celebrate the Divine Revelation of God as One Unity in Three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I'll have more to say on Sunday about how the Trinity essentially describes our life in Christ and the Church's life in God, and how in the Trinity we see that relationship and being known are fundamental aspects of how we understand the nature of God, and of God's will for us.
However, I need to make an important announcement about our common liturgical life which I have been weighing for over a month now. Beginning on Memorial Day, and continuing through Labor Day, we will adopt a "Summer Schedule" for weekday masses. Mass (and its preceding office) will be offered on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. This means that there will be no liturgies offered on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
It is more than impressive that while pandemic raged, S. Stephen's managed to offer and livestream daily mass without interruption. However, in-person attendance has dropped significantly. Our small number of people in the rota of servers has meant that sometimes only the priest is present, aside from those watching online, and of course the "whole company of heaven" who are always with us in our worship. Additionally, Fr. Locke and Fr. Pearson have had to take up all the masses for the last month owing to my injury, and will be for at least the next few weeks. These three factors have stretched our resources, and I need to alleviate that pressure for the good of all, as well as make sure we are using our resources responsibly.
This is only a temporary measure, but one which I believe is the right decision, and which I have made after much prayerful discernment. This is in no way a failure on the part of the parish: it is simply dealing with the reality of where things are right now.
I wish you all a happy Memorial Day weekend as we remember those who have died while serving in our nation's armed forces, and I will look forward to seeing you Sunday.
Faithfully,
Fr. Benjamin+
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Brownstone restoration around the main entrance into the church is ongoing. Please continue to enter the church through the Guild House doors. We expect that work will be completed by the end of the month. Thank you for your cooperation and continued patience. |
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New Weekday Mass Schedule |
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As stated above, a new "Summer Schedule" is taking effect beginning this coming week. There will be no Evening Prayer or Mass on May 31st, Memorial Day. Going forward, through Labor Day in September, the following weekday schedule is as follows:
Tuesday - Noonday Prayer and Mass
Thursday -- Noonday Prayer and Mass
Saturday -- 9:30 Morning Prayer, 10:00 Mass
- Holy Rosary on First Saturdays of the Month at 10:30
- Monthly Requiem Mass on Third Saturdays of the month
No liturgies will be celebrated or offered on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
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O Judge of the nations, we remember before you with grateful hearts the men and women of our country who in the day of decision ventured much for the liberties we now enjoy. Grant that we may not rest until all the people of this land share the benefits of true freedom and gladly accept its disciplines. This we ask in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p. 839)
O God, the King of Glory, in whose hands are the living and the dead: We give you thanks for all those who have laid down their lives in the service of our country. Grant them your mercy and the light of your presence; and give us a sense of your will and purpose, that we may understand that the work you have begun in them will be perfected in Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, in whom all strife is resolved. Amen.
(from Enriching our Worship 3)
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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, Ernie Drew, Fr. Harrington Gordon, Joan Gordon, Richard Hogarth, Fr. Jay C. James, Conrad Johnson, Jane Malone, Ann Brooke Mason, Beverly Myers, Rhoda Steinhart, Fr. Benjamin, and Christopher Whittingham.
Birthdays this week: Conrad Johnson (6/4)
The faithful departed: Year's mind: Philip J. Geogan, Priest (5/30), William Justice Cowperthwaite (6/1), Rosamond Hine (6/3), Cameron Duke Stebbins (6/4).
Anglican Cycle of Prayer: In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for La Iglesia Anglicana de Mexico. In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for Trinity, Cranston, Trinity, Newport, Trinity, North Scituate, Holy Trinity, Tiverton, and for those who have died in service to our country.
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This Week at St. Stephen's |
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EVENTS THIS WEEK
Saturday 5 June
Epiphany Soup Kitchen (Meal Pickup Only) 2:30-4 pm
LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE
Sunday 23 May
TRINITY SUNDAY: THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Morning Prayer & Low Mass 8:00 am
Sung Mass 10:00 am
Zoom Coffee Hour 11:30 am
Daily Office and Mass Lectionary
Tuesday 1 June
Justin, Martyr at Rome, c. 167
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Thursday 3 June
The Martyrs of Uganda 1885-1887
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Saturday 5 June
Boniface, Archbishop of Mainz, Missionary, Martyr, 754
Morning Prayer 9:30 am
Low Mass 10:00 am
Next Sunday
CORPUS CHRISTI SUNDAY
Morning Prayer & Low Mass 8:00 am
Sung Mass 10:00 am
Zoom Coffee Hour 11:30 am
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