Saint Stephen's Church

in Providence

News and events for the

week of March 12th

THE THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT

Christ and the Samaritan Woman, Venetian School, c. 1520 - 1530

MASS SETTING

Missa Sine Nomine

Lodovico Grossi da Viadana (c. 1560–1627)

ANTHEM

Like as the hart

Herbert Howells (1892–1983) 

VOLUNTARIES

Preludio 'Sine Nomine'

Herbert Howells

Sarabande (in modo elegiaco)

Herbert Howells

Dear Friends,

After a few weeks of theological and spiritual reflection on the upcoming Sunday Gospel readings, I would like to use this space as a teaching moment, as I do from time to time.

Now that Graham Schultz has begun his duties as Organist & Choirmaster, I am delighted that there are two Evensongs scheduled, the first coming up on March 26.

In our Lord's Incarnation, he not only sanctified flesh, but time itself. Just as our Jewish forebears marked the rhythm of their days and weeks with prayer, so, too, the early Church developed a system of daily prayer within the larger liturgical calendar.

The monastic round of prayer consisted of eight "offices," prayed throughout the day, even the middle of the night! When Archbishop Thomas Cranmer drew up the first Book of Common Prayer (1549), which was aimed at delivering a more straightforward liturgy into the hands of the people, he simplified the monastic offices to Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer. In these two offices, the entire psalter is prayed over the course of a month (or 7 weeks, as in the current Prayer Book), and the entire Bible is read over the course of two years.

The tradition of choirs singing the liturgies in English Cathedrals survived the Reformations, and so this Evening office came to be called Evensong. Generations of composers have delighted in creating settings of the Magnificat and Nunc dimittis, which are the New Testament canticles which follow each reading, along with countless anthems and psalm chants. Evensong is truly one of the treasures of Anglicanism -- a precious jewel in her crown.

Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament is not a part of Evensong. In fact, its very use would horrify Archbishop Thomas Cranmer. It is a Roman Catholic devotion which found its way into Anglicanism through the Anglo-Catholic movements 19th and 20th centuries which sought to restore Catholic devotion alongside the Prayer Book liturgies. Many Anglo-Catholic parishes like ours have added Benediction to Evensong as a Eucharistic devotion at the end of the office.

Benediction begins with the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament upon the altar in an often ornate holder called a monstrance. In the presence of Our Lord in the Sacrament, we offer hymns of praise and a short time of silent adoration. Then, in the climax of the liturgy, the priest makes the sign of the Cross over the congregation with the monstrance, whereby Christ in the Blessed Sacrament imparts his blessing upon us. We respond in turn by blessing God for all his goodness and love toward us.

The best description of Benediction I've heard comes from Fr. Nathan Humphrey, previously Rector of our sister parish of St. John's in Newport. He describes Benediction as a prolonging of that time in the mass when the Celebrant turns to the Congregation and displays the Sacrament just before they come up to receive. In that stretching out of time, we simply revel in the delight of being in the presence of Our Lord and of experiencing his blessing upon us.

All in all, not a bad way to end the day. So I hope you will come on March 26 and enjoy Evensong & Benediction, and of course, the wonderful reception which will follow afterward!

Faithfully,

Fr. Benjamin+

This weekend we will transition to Daylight Saving Time in the wee hours of Sunday morning. While most of us use our phones for alarms now, it is still a good reminder to be ready to wake up an hour earlier than usual. But what a consolation it is to know that the Mass is ready and waiting for you when you arrive at S. Stephen's. Don't be late!

Contributions are now being received for Easter Flowers. A full listing of both thanksgivings and memorials for the faithful departed will be printed in the Easter Kalendar. Envelopes are available in the back of the church and may be deposited in the offering plate or brought to the Parish Office. Deadline for submission is Sunday, April 7.

Late last week we received word that the Rev. Livingston Tallmadge Merchant died. "Livy," has he was known, was Rector of S. Stephen's from 1977 to 1980. Descended on both sides from America's founding families, including signers of the Declaration of Independence, Revolutionary War heroes, and the second Secretary of the Treasury, Livy's father was an influential American diplomat and ambassador, even serving as Acting Secretary of State in the Kennedy administration.

Livy was himself a brilliant scholar, having received both a BA and PhD (Russian studies) from Harvard. He served as Curate at Church of the Good Shepherd, Rosemont. From there he went to a parish outside Dallas before becoming Rector of S. Stephen's in 1977. After leaving S. Stephen's, he served and taught in Taiwan, Brazil, and Europe. In his final years he divided his time between the Netherlands and Greece, where he died on the island of Patmos.

Rest eternal grant unto him, O Lord; and let light perpetual shine upon him. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through mercy of God, rest in peace.

Join us this Sunday for Solemn Mass and to celebrate Elizabeth Grace Drake as she receives the Sacrament of Holy Baptism at 10am. Our prayers of thanksgiving go to her parents Robert and Katherine Drake and to her Godparents Kenneth and Delaney Cushing! Elizabeth will have also just turned 1 year old the day before, so be sure to wish her a Happy Birthday in addition to her welcome into the Body of Christ!

Our new music list is now hot off the press! Click on image below to see what's in store through the Feast of Corpus Christi. Physical copies will be available throughout the church. Don't hesitate to take a few and share with your friends and co-workers--help spread the word of the exquisite musical offerings that are readily offered at S. Stephen's!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ON EVENTBRITE (free)

This year's Lenten Series has been taking us "Back to Basics" as we examine in depth the portions of the Mass that we experience each week. There are three sessions remaining: March 12, March 19, and April 2, starting at 5:00 pm.

The topics of the remaining sessions are:

• More than a Seventh Inning Stretch: The Significance of the Peace and the Offertory
• For the Remembrance of Me: Memory and Real Presence
• Becoming What We Receive: Broken Open and Sent into the World

Each session will be approximately an hour, beginning with roughly 20 minutes of introductory material from Fr. Benjamin, with the remaining time a mixture of questions and communal reflection on the material. No book is being assigned, but a couple of different short readings for each session (easily digested in 5 minutes or so) will be provided. Registration on Eventbrite will enable us to send you any PDFs of theose readings, so please do register!

This Saturday at 7pm, S. Stephen's will host the newly formed early music ensemble, Ardenza. The program will feature early 17th century Italian chamber music. Musicians include Emily Hale and Nelli Jabotinsky on baroque violins, Bodie Pfost on sackbut, Allen Hamrick on dulcian, and John McKean on organ. The concert is free and open to the public!

The S. Stephen's Schola will sing a service of Solemn Evensong and Benediction on Sunday, March 26th at 4 pm featuring works by Richard Ayleward, Jonathan Battishill, and Henry Purcell. The service will be preceded by an organ recital at 3:30 played by Dr. Andrew Scanlon, Associate Organist & Choirmaster at Church of the Advent, Boston. A reception will follow in the Guild Hall. Please plan to attend and bring a friend!

This Sunday 12 March

The Third Sunday in Lent

Morning Prayer & Low Mass 8:00 am

Sunday School 9:55 am

Solemn Mass & Holy Baptism 10:00 am

Coffee Hour 11:15 am

Monday 13 March

Lenten Feria

Evening Prayer 5:30 pm

Low Mass 6:00 pm

Tuesday 14 March

Lenten Feria

Noonday Prayer & Low Mass 12:00

Wednesday 15 March

Lenten Feria

Evening Prayer 5:30 pm

Low Mass 6:00 pm

 Thursday 16 March

Lenten Feria

Noonday Prayer & Low Mass 12:00

Friday 17 March

S. Patrick

Bishop & Missionary of Ireland, 461

Noonday Prayer & Low Mass 12:00

Saturday 18 March

S. Cyril of Jerusalem

Bishop of Jerusalem, 386

Morning Prayer 9:30 am

Requiem Mass 10:00 am

Next Sunday 19 March

The Fourth Sunday in Lent: Laetare

Morning Prayer & Low Mass 8:00 am

Sunday School 9:55 am

Solemn Mass 10:00 am

Coffee Hour 11:15 am

Lenten Series (Zoom) 5:00 pm

Prayers have been requested for: Charles Calverley, Fr. Norman Catir, Zulie Catir, Nancy Colby, Trudy Egan, Fr. Harrington Gordon, Katherine Hayslip, Bruce Lennihan, Sharon Lloyd Clark, Althea Norgriff, Bryan Ripley, Louis Verdelotti, Fr. Allan Warren, and Christopher Whittingham.

Birthdays this week: Thomas Wells (3/14), Jon Berberian (3/18)

The faithful departed: Recently departed: The Most Rev. Frank Tracy Griswold III, The Rev. Livingston Tallmadge Merchant, Jr. Year’s mind: Ranson Widmer (3/13), Elanor Retallick (3/15), Betty Louise Claunch (3/18)

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for the Church of South India (3/12), The Diocese of Rio de Janerio (3/13), The Diocese of Rio Grande (3/14), The Diocese of Riverina, Australia (3/15), The Diocese of Rochester, U.K. (3/16), The Diocese of Rochester, U.S., (3/17), The Diocese of Rockhampton, Australia (3/18). In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, we are asked to pray for the Episcopal Church Women.