Saint Stephen’s Weekly Prayers for the week of October 30, 2022
Good Morning, Saint Stephen’s Church,
From Our Prayers of the People
Anglican Cycle of Prayer: Iglesia Anglicana de Chile (Anglican Church of Chile)
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, June Russell, Bill Frank, Chris Holder, and Joe White
Those who celebrate birthdays this week: Vera Crates, Christopher Morin, Evan Love
Those who celebrate baptisms this week:Abigail, Veronica, and Erin Cohen
Those who celebrate wedding anniversaries this week: Liz and Greg Varno
Those who have died: Doris Crever, Katharine Williams
This week’s Lessons
PSALM
Psalm 32:1-8
1 Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven, *
and whose sin is put away!
2 Happy are they to whom the Lord imputes no guilt, *
and in whose spirit there is no guile!
3 While I held my tongue, my bones withered away, *
because of my groaning all day long.
4 For your hand was heavy upon me day and night; *
my moisture was dried up as in the heat of summer.
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you, *
and did not conceal my guilt.
6 I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” *
Then you forgave me the guilt of my sin.
7 Therefore all the faithful will make their prayers to you in
time of trouble; *
when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach them.
8 You are my hiding-place;
you preserve me from trouble; *
you surround me with shouts of deliverance.
FIRST LESSON
Isaiah 1:10-18
Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom! Listen to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah! What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats. When you come to appear before me, who asked this from your hand? Trample my courts no more; bringing offerings is futile; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and sabbath and calling of convocation— I cannot endure solemn assemblies with iniquity.Your new moons and your appointed festivals my soul hates; they have become a burden to me, I am weary of bearing them. When you stretch out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood.
Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow. Come now, let us argue it out, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
SECOND LESSON
2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of everyone of you for one another is increasing. Therefore we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith during all your persecutions and the afflictions that you are enduring.
To this end we always pray for you, asking that our God will make you worthy of his call and will fulfill by his power every good resolve and work of faith, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
THIRD LESSON
Luke 19:1-10
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, “He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.” Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”
COLLECT
Almighty and merciful God, it is only by your gift that your faithful people offer you true and laudable service: Grant that we may run without stumbling to obtain your heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
News and Updates
Music Today
Prelude Ein feste Burg Buxtehude
Opening Hymn #533
Musical Offering Here I Am, Lord Schutte/Leavitt
Office Hymn #470
Closing Hymn #688
Postlude Built on a Rock Martin
Current Announcements
Lectors: Dan and Sammy Schuldt
Celebrant / Officiant Update:
11/6- Father Marshall Vang
11/13- Mother Sally Heiligman
11/20-Father Marshall Vang
11/24- 9:30 am – 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 today, 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 TODAY, 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.
Every Member Canvas – Pledge cards are being mailed out at the end of October. Please prayerfully consider making a pledge for the 2023 year. We are asking that pledge cards are returned to the office by 11/20. Thank you.
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.
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.
| 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.