Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church 

Saint Stephen’s Weekly Prayers for the week of  July 17, 2022

Good Morning, Saint Stephen’s Church,

From Our Prayers of the People 

Anglican Cycle of Prayer: The Episcopal Church

Our Leaders: Joseph Biden, President of the United States; Kathy Hochul, Governor of New York State; Gary McCarthy, Mayor of Schenectady

Our Church Leaders: Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury; Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop; Michael G. Smith and Carol Gallagher, Assisting Bishops; and Allison de Kanel, our lay reader

Those who are in need of strength and healing: Mary Ann Harrington, David Humphrey, Marilyn Causey, Eunice Chouffi, Mary Frances Hatfield, Vincent Avila, Priscilla Sprague, and Joe White

Those who celebrate birthdays this week: Mary Ann Harrington, Jean Versocki, Sherry Springstead, Ted Ranslow, Christopher Jones, Rebecca Holder

Those who celebrate baptismal anniversaries this week: William Lyon

Those who celebrate marriage anniversaries this week: Bethany and Dan Schuldt, and Carolyn and Rick Morin

Those who have died: Ruth Turner, Betty Troy

This Week’s Lessons

COLLECT

Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask; through the worthiness of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

FIRST LESSON

Genesis 18:1-10a

The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. He said, “My lord, if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on– since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes.” Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.

They said to him, “Where is your wife Sarah?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” Then one said, “I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.”

PSALM 15

1 Lord, who may dwell in your tabernacle? *
who may abide upon your holy hill?

2 Whoever leads a blameless life and does what is right, *
who speaks the truth from his heart.

3 There is no guile upon his tongue;
he does no evil to his friend; *
he does not heap contempt upon his neighbor.

4 In his sight the wicked is rejected, *
but he honors those who fear the Lord.

5 He has sworn to do no wrong *
and does not take back his word.

6 He does not give his money in hope of gain, *
nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.

7 Whoever does these things *
shall never be overthrown.

SECOND LESSON

Colossians 1:15-28

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers–all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him– provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven. I, Paul, became a servant of this gospel. I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. I became its servant according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

GOSPEL

Luke 10:38-42

As Jesus and his disciples went on their way, Jesus entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”

News and Updates 

Music Today

Prelude                                     Adagio from Sonata I                Mendelssohn

Opening Hymn                                  #401

Sequence Hymn                                #467

Offertory                              Blessed Jesus, We Are Here           Bach

Closing Hymn                                   #488

Postlude                                Ceremonial Processional              Haan

Lectors

Reader one: Joe Palko                 Reader two: Peter Nelson

Today we welcome Father Marshall Vang as our clergy. 

New Ushers Needed – We are looking for new ushers to help us on Sunday mornings.  If you are interested please see Vicki Hoshko or Allison de Kanel for more information. 

Interested in Live-Streaming – See Dan Schuldt after any service for a quick overview of how to live-stream our services.  Only requires a smartphone and a few minutes of time!

Coffee Hour – After a great response last week we have decided to change the format of volunteering for Coffee Hour. We will now have one person sign up to make coffee, and another to clean up after coffee hour.  We ask that if possible, parishioners bring a single item / snack to share whenever they are able (i.e. a bag of chips, crackers & cheese, fruit, a baked item, etc.). This will help split take the work of each coffee hour amongst multiple people / families and hopefully make the work easier for everyone. Sign up is on the homepage of our website.

SiCM pantry donations-  We are collecting personal care items this month:  razors, shaving cream, shampoo, bodywash, soap, toothpaste, lotion, deodorant and toilet paper.  Donations of spices and 8-oz reusable bottles (with lids) are always welcome.

From the Senior Warden – Due to the changes regarding the use of Supply Priest in the diocese, our new summer schedule is as follows:  

7/24 – Father Marshall Vang 8/14 – Father Marshall Vang

7/31 – Mother Sally Heiligman 8/21 – Father Marshall Vang

 8/7 –  Father Marshall Vang 8/28 –  Mother Sally Heiligman

Altar Flowers are a nice way to remember those who have gone before us, to honor those who are still here, or recognize a special event.  Slips are available from an Usher.

A Service to remember Ruth Turner will be held on Saturday, July 23 at 12:00 in our church. All are welcome to attend.

Reminders

Prayerbook Morning Prayer in Zoom – each morning – contact Becky Holder for the link:   becky.holder@gmail.com.

Our office email is: office@st-stephens.church.

Irish Blessing

May the road rise up to meet you,

May the wind be at your back,

May the sun shine upon your face,

he rains fall soft upon soft upon your fields,

And until we meet again

May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

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