Staying Safe and Staying Connected
Good Morning Saint Stephen’s Church,
Today is Easter Saturday
Alleluia. Christ is risen.
The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.
Today’s Prayer
We thank you, heavenly Father, that you have delivered us
Book of Common Prayer, p.224
from the dominion of sin and death and brought us into the
kingdom of your Son; and we pray that, as by his death he
has recalled us to life, so by his love he may raise us to eternal
joys; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy
Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
From Our Prayers of the People
Today, let’s pray:
For the just and proper use of your creation; for the victims of hunger, fear, injustice, and oppression.
For comfort and healing for all who are affected by the Coronavirus, and for physicians, nurses, and all others who minister to the sick and the suffering, may God grant them wisdom and skill, sympathy and patience, and may God keep them healthy and safe.
For all essential workers; for police, firefighters, EMTs, postal workers, sanitation workers, grocery personnel, delivery and transport workers, and all who must report to work because what they do is essential for our well-being, health, and safety.
For those on the Parish Prayer Chain: Leah, Ted, Kevin, Guiles Family, Nick, Joe, Doug.
For those who are homebound: Stephen, Pauline, Joan, Janet and Marilyn.
Those who are imprisoned: those particularly vulnerable at this time, especially the women in the Schenectady County Jail.
For those in need of healing: Mark, the Guiles family, Cindi, Peter, Mary Frances, Debbie and Joe.
For all the blessings of this life.
For our dioceses in the Anglican Communion: Monmouth (Wales), Western Tanganyika (Tanzania) , Igbomina (Nigeria)
For all who have died: especially Irene, David, Frances, George, Howard, Hazel, William, Marjorie, Mary, Fred, Peter, John and Dorothy.
For one another.
Something to share
Chris Jones has put together a collage of photos from past Easter celebrations at Saint Stephen’s Church. It is attached for your enjoyment!
Jesus Christ is risen today
Latin, 14th cent.; tr. Lyra Davidica, 1708, alt St. 4, Charles Wesley, 1788
Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia,
our triumphant holy day; Alleluia,
who did once upon the cross; Alleluia,
suffer to redeem our loss; Alleluia!
Hymns of praise then let us sing; Alleluia,
unto Christ our heavenly king; Alleluia,
who endured the cross and grave; Alleluia,
sinners to redeem and save: Alleluia!
But the pains which he endured; Alleluia,
our salvation have procured; Alleluia,
now above the sky he’s King; Alleluia,
where the angels ever sing: Alleluia!
Sing we to our God above. Alleluia,
Praise eternal as his love, Alleluia,
Praise him all ye heavenly host, Alleluia,
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Alleluia!
Jesus, divine companion: As the day unfolds, give us strength to understand and eyes to see, as you teach us to walk the soft earth, related to all that lives. Amen.
From Daily Prayer for All Seasons (Native American source as cited in From Shore to Shore)
News and Updates
Sunday morning, April 19th at 11:15am, join us for the Holy Eucharist Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day live-streamed from the National Cathedral.
Reminders
If you have an update/news, a prayer or poem or something inspirational you would like us to share with the congregation, please send it to us. Please also send us any prayer requests. We will incorporate these into the Morning Prayers as best we can.
Our church campus is closed. All parish meetings and gatherings are canceled and postponed until further notice.
Our goal is for all of us to stay in touch and connected in this time of isolation.
Share this news, and spread some love, not the virus!
Be of good courage. We are in this together, and we will be together again soon. God bless you and may God be with us in the days ahead.
Peace,
James+