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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 Second Sunday of Easter
11 April 20210
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Domenikos Theotokopoulos 'El Greco,' "Saint Thomas" from the Apostalado, Museo del Greco, Toledo.
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EASTER SUNDAY (YEAR B)
Psalm 111
Click the readings above for links to the RSV
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Organ: L’Orgue Mystique pour le Dimanche de Quasimodo, Charles Tournemire (1870 - 1939)
I. Introit II. Gradual III. Communion
Mass: Communion Service in D, Paul Callaway (1909 - 1995)
Psalm 111 "Confitebor Tibi," Tone IV
Organ: Carillon-Sortie, Henri Mulet (1878 - 1967)
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Dear beloved in Christ,
“Peace be with you.” These are words we will hear in this Sunday’s Gospel several times from our Lord Jesus. They are words we say to one another at every celebration of the Eucharist.
The Second Sunday of Easter has always had as its theme forgiveness and the divine mercy of God, and in 2000, Pope John Paul II granted that the Sunday within the Octave Easter may be celebrated as Divine Mercy Sunday in the Roman rite. We are not Roman Catholics, but the Prayer Book and Episcopal liturgy likewise capture this theme, as we pray in the opening collect to “God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation.”
This covenant of reconciliation is begun on the Cross and made available to all through the Resurrection, and this is the essentially the mission of the Church, which is the mission of God: the restoration of right relations between God and God’s people. These are known sometimes as the “three R’s” of mission: the Restoration of Right Relations, both between God and his people, and between one another.
In the Gospel reading which we’ll hear on Sunday, I’ve always been struck by Jesus’s own behavior. He would have had every right to be angry and to harshly rebuke the disciples for their failure to trust him or believe in his promises, and for their abandonment of him. But he doesn’t. Instead, he simply says “Peace be with you.” He forgives them before they can even utter a word, and breathes his peace over them as they receive the Holy Spirit. They too can now bestow the forgiveness of sins, having experienced God’s forgiveness. They will need to, because that is how the restoration of right relations is made possible: forgiveness and mercy – reconciliation. It is this reconciliation that lies at the heart of the Paschal mystery. As was proclaimed in the Exsultet at the Easter Vigil, “how blessed is this night, when man is reconciled to God.”
If you had intended to make your confession sometime during Lent or Holy Week but didn’t, you can still make one now (or at any time!). Fr. Locke, Fr. Pearson, or I will always be happy to meet with you and hear that confession. Or, if there is someone in your life who you feel you have wronged, or has wronged you, I would urge you to consider how you might be reconciled to them, and to pray about it. This is part of what it means to live as a Christian, and to live the kind of Resurrection life we are invited into at Easter, so that we can say to one another with all the fullness of its meaning: "Peace be with you."
Yours in the Peace of our Risen Lord,
Fr. Benjamin+
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A Reminder about Masks
and COVID Protocols
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Even as we rejoice that so many of us are receiving or have received the COVID vaccine, we must still wear masks in worship and maintain six feet between family/household groups.
Masks must be worn and must be kept in their proper position above the nose. For the benefit of those in attendance and viewing online, the small calculated risk is made allowing someone leading worship to remove their mask when speaking or reading (i.e. the Celebrant, Preacher, or Lector). The Choir are also permitted to remove their masks while singing as long as they are inside the Rood Screen, where they are still to maintain appropriate distancing.
Additionally, while at Easter we knew it would be hard to stifle singing, we ask that you use any hymns sung at Mass as devotional texts and allow the choir to carry the singing.
We've come a long way since the beginning of this pandemic a little over a year ago, and ask for your continued patience and perseverance. We will continue to evaluate and respond to any changes or new information as they come our way, and will communicate that to you accordingly.
Faithfully,
The Rector & Wardens
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On second Sundays of the month, there is a 9:00 Zoom “Children’s Sermon” and check-in with Fr. Benjamin open to school-age children and their parents, available here.
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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, Fr. Harrington Gordon, Joan Gordon, Barbara Hartford, Fr. Jay C. James, Conrad Johnson, Ann Brooke Mason, Beverly Myers, Rhoda Steinhart, Crystal Sylver, Luca Turrisi, and Christopher Whittingham.
Birthdays this week: Kate Lester (4/11), Brian Ehlers (4/14), Rhoda Steinhart (4/16).
The faithful departed:
Recently departed: HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Year's mind: Doris Johnson (4/13), Steele Wade Martin, Priest (4/14), Irene Mae Winsor Barnes (4/17).
Anglican Cycle of Prayer: In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for the Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean. In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for Church Beyond the Walls.
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This Week at St. Stephen's |
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EVENTS THIS WEEK
Tuesday 13 April
Vestry Meeting (via Zoom) 7 pm
Thursday 15 April
Building & Grounds Committee (via zoom) 7 pm
Saturday 17 April
Epiphany Soup Kitchen (Meal Pickup Only) 2:30-4 pm
LITURGICAL CALENDAR & SERVICE SCHEDULE
Sunday 11 April
The Second Sunday of Easter
Morning Prayer & Low Mass 8:00 am
Children's Church School Zoom 9:00 am
Sung Mass 10:00 am
Daily Office and Mass Lectionary
Monday 12 April
Feria
Zeno, Bishop of Verona, Martyr, 371
Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6:00 pm
Tuesday 13 April
Feria
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Wednesday 14 April
Feria
Sung Evening Prayer 5:30 pm
Low Mass 6 pm
Thursday 15 April
Feria
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Friday 16 April
Feria
Noonday Prayer 12 noon
Low Mass 12:10 pm
Saturday 17 April
Feria
Morning Prayer 9:30 am
Low Mass 10:00 am
Next Sunday
THE THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER
Morning Prayer & Low Mass 8:00 am
Sung Mass 10:00 am
Zoom Coffee Hour 11:30 am
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