Saint Stephen’s Weekly Prayers for the week of October 23, 2022
Good Morning, Saint Stephen’s Church,
From Our Prayers of the People
Anglican Cycle of Prayer: Province de L’Eglise Anglicane Du Congo (Province of the Anglican Church of the Congo)
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, June Russell, Bill Frank, Chris Holder, and Joe White
Those who celebrate birthdays this week: Peter Nelson, Samuel Schuldt
Those who celebrate baptisms this week:Edwin Masambo
Those who have died: Norman Santer, August Tremann, Helen Nierman, Earl McMullen
This week’s Lessons
COLLECT
Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
FIRST LESSON
Sirach 35:12-17
Give to the Most High as he has given to you,
and as generously as you can afford.
For the Lord is the one who repays,
and he will repay you sevenfold.
Do not offer him a bribe, for he will not accept it
and do not rely on a dishonest sacrifice;
for the Lord is the judge,
and with him there is no partiality.
He will not show partiality to the poor;
but he will listen to the prayer of one who is wronged.
He will not ignore the supplication of the orphan,
or the widow when she pours out her complaint.
PSALM 84:1-6
1 How dear to me is your dwelling, O Lord of hosts! *
My soul has a desire and longing for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God.
2 The sparrow has found her a house
and the swallow a nest where she may lay her young; *
by the side of your altars, O Lord of hosts,
my King and my God.
3 Happy are they who dwell in your house! *
they will always be praising you.
4 Happy are the people whose strength is in you! *
whose hearts are set on the pilgrims’ way.
5 Those who go through the desolate valley will find it a place of springs, *
for the early rains have covered it with pools of water.
6 They will climb from height to height, *
and the God of gods will reveal himself in Zion.
SECOND LESSON
2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18
I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
At my first defense no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
GOSPEL
Luke 18:9-14
Jesus told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, `God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, `God, be merciful to me, sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”
News and Updates
Music Today
Prelude Serenade Rawsthorne
Opening Hymn #680 v1-3
Sequence Hymn #517
The Offertory Anthem Lead Me, Lord Wesley/Warhurst
Closing Hymn #680 v4-6
Postlude Andromeda Williams
Current Announcements
Today we welcome Mother Sally Heiligman as our celebrant.
Lector:- George Woodzell
Celebrant / Officiant Update:
10/30- Allison de Kanel -Morning Prayer Service
11/6- Father Marshall Vang
11/13- Mother Sally Heiligman
11/20-Father Marshall Vang
11/24-Thanksgiving service-Father Marshall Vang
11/27- Mother Sally Heiligman
All Saints Flowers – All Saints Sunday is November 6, 2022. If you would like to contribute to the altar flowers for that day’s service please return a memorial slip by Sunday, October 30. They are available in the weekly prayer e-mail or on the Usher’s table.
Save the date – Please join us after the 9:30 service next Sunday, October 30 for a family / parish fun Halloween Coffee Hour with pumpkin decorating and halloween crafts and activities. All are welcome to come. We will have donuts, cider, pumpkins and decorating supplies. If you’d like to carve your pumpkin, please bring necessary tools to do so. Costumes welcome (at church and coffee hour!) Questions – contact Bethany Schuldt.
November 6! Save the date! Save your change! Time Change Day is November 6; we are using our Change Day Funds (remember it’s not just coins – a few $5s is change for a ten, two of them changes a twenty…) to support the local service of “Things of my Very Own” which provides help and care to our community’s abused kids. They recently had their facilities ruined by a flood. The money would help rebuild their place.
Committee Chairs – A new committee chair, Susie Olsen, has been found for the rector search committee. As a reminder, other committee chairs include: Transition: Budd Mazurek; Service / Outreach: Richie Woodzell; Worship: Allison de Kanel; Education: Bethany Schuldt; Pastoral Care: Carole Merrill-Mazurek; Fellowship: Carole Merrill – Mazurek & Linda Emaelaf; Health and Safety: Doreen May; Finance: in need of a chair; Building & Grounds: in need of a chair; Personnel: Linda Emaelaf; Nominating Committee: Erin Cohen; Communications: Dan Schuldt; First Friends; Bethany Schuldt & Erin Cohen. Please reach out to any of the committee chairs with questions or concerns in those areas. Thank you!
Coffee Hour – Please consider signing up for coffee hour on the homepage of our website or in the nave extension. Many dates are open for the remainder of fall.
SiCM pantry donations- We are collecting personal care items for the month of October. Donations of spices and 8-oz reusable bottles (with lids) are always welcome.
The minutes before and after worship are reserved for meditation and prayerful reflection accompanied by the organ prelude and postlude. We are delighted that our bonds with each other are renewed and strengthened when we come together on Sunday, but we ask that conversation be reserved for spaces outside the Church before and after the Eucharist. Thank you.
| All Saint’s Day Flowers We will be celebrating All Saints Sunday on November 6, 2022. If you would like to contribute to the altar flowers for that day’s service please return this slip by Sunday, October 30. Thank you! In memory of ____________________________________ Given by ________________________________________ Check amount enclosed $__________________ |
Upcoming Adult Education and Service Opportunities in our area-
| Upcoming Healing Service Speakers |
| Every Tuesday | 10 AMOctober 25 – Fr. Michael Todd | St. Luke’s on the Hill, Mechanicville Nov. 1 – Fr. Art Garno |St. John’s, Delhi & St. Peter’s, Hobart A weekly Healing Service in the Chapel of St. Michael and All Angels. After Communion, prayer teams locate throughout the chapel for ministry. Additional prayer ministry is offered by appointment.Lunches at Christ the King Center  |
| Registration Now Open for the Albany Diocese Daughters of the King Assembly Saturday November 5, 20229:00am – 3:30pmRegistration at 8:30am Christ the King Center, Greenwich, NYGreat Hall & Chapel Registration form: https://files.constantcontact.com/2f974ad1701/78568058-0532-41c5-a1e6-1951df525dc5.pdf Annual Bible Symposium: The Rev. Dr. James Haddix on Isaiah November 5 | 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM Please join us for our Annual Bible Symposium with The Rev. Dr. James Haddix and his presentation, “Seeing & Knowing: Isaiah’s Visions of Sight, Sense, and Sound in Shifting Times.” Tickets must be purchased online by Oct. 29 to include lunch.https://www.cathedralofallsaints.org/events/bible-symposium-2022  Matters of Life and Death: Legal, Medical, and Spiritual November 12 | 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM A FREE course in how to plan for serious illness and death. You will learn how to do a power of attorney and health care proxy, plan your funeral, and dispose of your property by will or trust. Participate in person at Church of the Holy Cross (3764 Main St. Warrensburg) or virtually via Zoom. Taught by trusted local professionals· Rev. Colin Belton, Episcopal Priest· Ms. Wendy Bulich, Funeral Director· Rev. Glen Michaels, Attorney & Priest· Ms. Brenda Stevens, Palliative Care Nurse Who should Participate? Anyone who has thought about doing a will or health care proxy or funeral plan but doesn’t know where to start or just can’t seem to “get around to it.” Sponsored by Episcopal Church parishes of the Southern Adirondacks, as a community service to everyone, regardless of religious or non-religious background. YOU MUST PRE-REGISTER so that we have adequate materials and refreshments for those participating – to do so, leave a phone message at 518.394.3314, email theadkmission@gmail.com, or send a message to the Facebook page of the Southern Adirondack Deanery at https://www.facebook.com/SAdirDeanAlbany |
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.