Saint Stephen’s Weekly Prayers for the week of November 13, 2022
Good Morning, Saint Stephen’s Church,
From Our Prayers of the People
Anglican Cycle of Prayer: Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui
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: William Olsen, Ashley Ranslow, Matthew Klepeis
Those who celebrate wedding anniversaries this week: Dennie & Tom Bennett
Those who have died: Ernest Salisbury, William Beck
This week’s Lessons
COLLECT
Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
FIRST LESSON
Malachi 4:1-2a
See, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings.
PSALM 98
1 Sing to the Lord a new song, *
for he has done marvelous things.
2 With his right hand and his holy arm *
has he won for himself the victory.
3 The Lord has made known his victory; *
his righteousness has he openly shown in the sight
of the nations.
4 He remembers his mercy and faithfulness to the house of
Israel, *
and all the ends of the earth have seen the victory of
our God.
5 Shout with joy to the Lord, all you lands; *
lift up your voice, rejoice, and sing.
6 Sing to the Lord with the harp, *
with the harp and the voice of song.
7 With trumpets and the sound of the horn *
shout with joy before the King, the Lord.
8 Let the sea make a noise and all that is in it, *
the lands and those who dwell therein.
9 Let the rivers clap their hands, *
and let the hills ring out with joy before the Lord,
when he comes to judge the earth.
10 In righteousness shall he judge the world *
and the peoples with equity.
SECOND LESSON
2 Thessalonians 3:6-13
Now we command you, beloved, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from believers who are living in idleness and not according to the tradition that they received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, and we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it; but with toil and labor we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you. This was not because we do not have that right, but in order to give you an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat. For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right.
GOSPEL
Luke 21:5-19
When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, Jesus said, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.” They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them.“When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.”Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven. “But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name.This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls.
News and Updates
Music Today
Prelude Elegy Fey
Opening Hymn #7
Sequence Hymn #412
The Offertory Anthem God Has Given Me a Song to Sing Besig & Price
Closing Hymn Ever Faithful to the Cause Bulletin insert
Postlude Fugue in C Mozart
Current Announcements
Ushers: Vicki Hoshko & George Woodzell
Lectors: Ryan & Sam Abel
Coffee Hour: Vicki Hoshko & Marilyn Humphrey
Celebrant / Officiant Update:
11/20-Father Marshall Vang
11/24-9:30 am – Thanksgiving service-Father Marshall Vang
11/27- Mother Sally Heiligman
12/4 – Father Marshall Vang
Every Member Canvass – Pledge cards have been mailed out. Please prayerfully consider making a pledge for the 2023 year. We are asking that pledge cards are returned to the office by 11/20. If you have not received your card in the mail please talk to Bethany or email office@st-stephens.church. Thank you.
Coffee Hour – Please consider signing up for coffee hour on the homepage of our website. Many dates are open for the remainder of fall and beginning
St. Joseph’s Place – need contributions! St. Stephen’s continues to provide 30 lunches for the guests at St. Joseph’s Place on the last Wednesday of each month. Our next date is November 30 at 9 am. We fund this project by individual donations from St. Stephen’s parishioners, but we have used up the funds contributed so far this year. Please consider making a contribution to St. Stephen’s, marked for St. Joseph’s lunches.
Requests from Street Soldiers Schenectady – drop off donations at Zion Lutheran Church parking lot, Sundays, 3-4 pm.
Sunday, 11/13 TODAY – Winter Coats We are collecting new and gently used winter coats in all sizes. We are looking for freshly laundered, free of stains and holes with working zippers please.
All Fall and Winter – Winter hats, gloves, mittens, scarves
We are looking for new and gently used and freshly laundered winter hats, gloves, scarves, and mittens. We will be collecting them and sharing them every Sunday all winter.
All Fall and Winter – Socks We are always in need of socks in all sizes. They are one of our most requested items. We are looking for donations of new and gently used socks and winter thicker/wool socks.
Ongoing Covid and the addition of flu and RSV have us feeling as if pandemic precautions will never end. Due to change in the seasons and longer indoor exposures we invite you to consider masking at church if you feel vulnerable. Masks are available from the ushers if anyone would like to use one. Let’s keep strong and healthy.
Altar Flowers given by Diana and Sal Belardo in memory of Laurel V. Patch.
Upcoming Adult Education and Service Opportunities in our area-
| Upcoming Healing Service Speakers |
| Every Tuesday | 10 AM 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  |
Art & Advent on Zoom 4 Wednesdays beginning Nov. 30| 8:00 PM Join us this Advent on Zoom when Brynna Carpenter-Nardone, Cathedral Arts and spiritual director, will lead us through art made in response to the Bible lectionary readings to deepen awareness of creative response to liturgy and God’s word. Click the button below to fill out the form to receive the Zoom link for this short weekly meditation beginning at 8PM. Register here:https://www.cathedralofallsaints.org/events/advent-and-art-11/30 Messiah December 6| 7:00 PM Woodrow Bynum leads The Cathedral of All Saints Choir of Men & Boys and The Cathedral Consort in a performance of Handel’s masterpiece, MESSIAH at 7 p.m. on Tuesday 6 December. Reserve your tickets early.https://albanymessiah.bpt.me/ |
| Advent Taize Service |
| December 9| 6:30 PMSt. Ann’s Church | 37 Division St. Amsterdam An Advent Taize service will be celebrated on Friday, 12/9 at 6:30 pm at St. Ann’s, Amsterdam. A Taizé worship service involves sung and chanted prayers, meditation, a period of silence, liturgical readings, and icons. There is no preaching. The style of prayer practiced at Taizé has attracted many worshipers from around the globe and from many different denominations The prayers consist of “short chants, repeated again and again,” according to an introduction in a Taizé songbook. “The words are sung over many times.” |
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.