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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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Our earlier version of E-notes incorrectly had Lent V attached. Please see below for an amended Parish Notes with the correct Kalendar for this Sunday attached. |
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SUNDAY OF THE PASSION
Palm Sunday
28 March 20210
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William Blake, Christ's Entry into Jerusalem, 1800, Pollok House, Glasgow.
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SUNDAY OF THE PASSION: PALM SUNDAY (YEAR B)
The Liturgy of the Palms
The Liturgy of the Passion
Click the readings above for links to the RSV
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Organ: Preamble for a Solemn Occasion, Aaron Copland (1900 - 1990)
Mass: Missa II, Kyrie fons bonitatis, plainchant
Passion: Mark 14:1 - 15:47
Gospelers
Peter Gibson, Evangelist
Jason Connell, Various Roles
Robert Henry, Jesus
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Dear beloved in Christ,
There will be no homily at Mass this coming Sunday of the Passion, and so I write this and offer it to you as a reflection upon all that we will experience on Palm Sunday and beyond.
There are certain turns of phrase and moments in our liturgy from the Prayer Book that I look forward to every year as we encounter them. One such “moment” is found in the beginning of the Palm Sunday rite, just before the blessing of the palms, where we pray, “Assist us mercifully with thy help, O Lord God of our salvation, that we may enter with joy upon the contemplation of those mighty acts, whereby thou hast given us life and immortality; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
It essentially frames the entire action of Holy Week in just a few words: “…that we may enter with joy upon the contemplation of those mighty acts.” The use of the word “enter” suggests a liminality or threshold at that moment, and one that we are about to cross over imminently, whether we are ready to or not.
It also reminds us that in the Procession we are about to undertake at that moment, we are once again entering Jerusalem with Jesus as he rides in on a donkey, knowing what lies ahead later in the week – the agony, the betrayal, the scourging, and the tortuous death; and yet in the midst of all that there is the touching intimacy and quiet joy of Maundy Thursday, and the promise of Resurrection light, even when it appears hidden.
The liturgies of Holy Week are some of the most ancient and unchanged liturgies of the Church, which we know from the written accounts of Egeria, a nun from Western Europe who made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and the Holy Land in the 380s. And so, as we “enter with joy upon the contemplation of those mighty acts,” we are also stepping into a period of time outside of time. We join the faithful across the millennia of contemplating once again that sacrifice made “once and for all” upon the Cross on Calvary’s hill.
Yes, it happened in time only once. But by reenacting we remember, and when we remember, we make present once again the sacrifice of love made on our behalf. We also experience anew the profound joy of light bursting out of the darkness, as we remember once more Christ’s victory over sin and death with triumphant exultation.
True, Holy Week this year won’t look exactly the same as it has in years past, though we are certainly blessed to be back in our church this year. But even without a Palm Sunday procession from the Lady Chapel, or without a full solemn mass, we still enter once more this holiest of weeks. We will still journey with our Lord once more into the Holy City, and experience once more the love of his final night with his friends, and the profound and sobering grief of Good Friday. We will enter once again in our minds and our hearts “the contemplation of those mighty acts,” whereby we are given life and immortality.
Come, let us enter, and adore.
Yours in the love of our Crucified and Risen Lord,
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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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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Watch before the Altar of Repose |
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The Watch before the Altar of Repose will begin at the conclusion of the Maundy Thursday liturgy and continue until 11:00 pm. There will be a sign up sheet at Mass on Palm Sunday for 30 minute slots. We ask that no more than 5 persons be in the Chapel at one time, and remind you that your mask must be worn. Devotional aids for the Holy Hour will be supplied. |
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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 Stations, 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
There is no noon mass on Thursday
GOOD FRIDAY
Liturgy of the Lord's Passion, Solemn Collects,
Veneration of the Cross, Mass of the Presanctified
2 April | 12:00 noon
Stations of the Cross
2 April | 5:30 pm
HOLY SATURDAY
Office of Holy Saturday
3 April | 10:00 am
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: Richard Budlong, 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: Emily MacLean (3/30), Fr. Benjamin Straley (3/30).
The faithful departed: Recently Departed: Paul Burke Sylvia. Year's mind: Richard Sherman Nutt (4/1).
Anglican Cycle of Prayer: In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui.
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This Week at St. Stephen's |
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EVENTS THIS WEEK
Saturday 3 April
Epiphany Soup Kitchen (Meal Pickup Only) 2:30-4 pm
LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE
Sunday 28 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 29 March
Monday in Holy Week
John Keble, Priest, Tractarian, 1866
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6:00 pm
Tuesday 30 March
Tuesday in Holy Week
Innocent of Alaska, Bishop, 1879
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Wednesday 31 March
Wednesday in Holy Week
"Spy Wednesday"
John Donne, Priest, Poet, 1631
Sung Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
Thursday 1 April
MAUNDY THURSDAY
No Noon Mass
Liturgy of the Lord's Supper, Footwashing,
Procession to the Altar of Repose, Stripping of the Altars,
Watch before the Altar of Repose
7:00 pm
Friday 2 April
GOOD FRIDAY
Liturgy of the Lord's Passion, Solemn Collects,
Veneration of the Cross, Mass of the Presanctified
12:00 noon
Stations of the Cross 5:30 pm
Saturday 3 April
HOLY SATURDAY
No 9:30 Morning Prayer
Office of Holy Saturday
10:00 am
EASTER VIGIL
Lighting of the New Fire, the Prophesies,
Blessing of the Baptismal Waters, First Mass of Easter
7:00 pm
Next Sunday
EASTER SUNDAY
The Sunday of the Resurrection
Morning Prayer & Low Mass 8:00 am
Sung Mass 10:00 am
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