Saint Stephen’s Weekly Prayers for the week of November 27, 2022
Good Morning, Saint Stephen’s Church,
From Our Prayers of the People
Anglican Cycle of Prayer: The Nippon Sei Ko Kai (Anglican Church in Japan)
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: Matilda Cooke, Mark Bayer, Carole Merrill-Mazurek, Steve Moss, Travis Reedy, Liz Stevens
Those who celebrate baptisms this week: Carolyn Morin
Those who have died: Rossman Gustin, Helbert Baum, Bertha Bellson, Irene Hutter
This week’s Lessons
1 Advent
COLLECT
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
FIRST LESSON
Isaiah 2:1-5
The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!
PSALM 122
1 I was glad when they said to me, *
“Let us go to the house of the LORD.”
2 Now our feet are standing *
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
3 Jerusalem is built as a city *
that is at unity with itself;
4 To which the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD, *
the assembly of Israel,
to praise the Name of the LORD.
5 For there are the thrones of judgment, *
the thrones of the house of David.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: *
“May they prosper who love you.
7 Peace be within your walls *
and quietness within your towers.
8 For my brethren and companions’ sake, *
I pray for your prosperity.
9 Because of the house of the LORD our God, *
I will seek to do you good.”
SECOND LESSON
Romans 13:11-14
Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
GOSPEL
Matthew 24:36-44
On the Mount of Olives, Jesus said to his disciples privately about his coming, “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore, you also must be ready, for theSon of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.
News and Updates
Music Today
Prelude Veni Emmanual Hamill
Opening Hymn #58
Choral Anthem Walk in the Light Marrolli
Offertory Hymn #61
Closing Hymn #68
Postlude Wake, Awake Callahan
Current Announcements
Usher: P Neslson
Lectors: P Nelson, B Planck
Celebrant: Mother Sally Heiligman
Today we welcome Marina (Boschi) Pero as our guest violinist. Marina has played the violin since she was six years old. She has performed with the Skidmore College Symphony Orchestra and received a scholarship to play with the Marist College Symphony Orchestra. Marina lives in Niskayuna with her husband Kyle.
Celebrant / Officiant Update:
12/4 – Father Marshall Vang
12/11- Mother Sally Heiligman
12/18- Father Marshall Vang
12/24- 5 pm Christmas Eve Service – Father Marshall Vang
12/25 -9:30 am Christmas Day – Mother Sally Heiligman
Advent Outreach – During Advent we will collect money for UNICEF to support the children of Ukraine. Our goal is to raise $1,000 by Christmas. You may contribute by check or cash in the offering plate or in the box in the nave extension. Make checks out to St. Stephen’s Church, marked for UNICEF. Your donation will help UNICEF ensure that Ukraine’s children have access to safe water, nutrition, health care, education and protection.
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.
All Fall and Winter – Winter hats, gloves, mittens, scarves and socks
We are accepting new or gently used and freshly laundered items. Thank you!
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.
Upcoming Adult Education and Service Opportunities in our area-
| Upcoming Healing Service Speakers |
| Every Tuesday | 10 AM Ongoing adult education opportunities 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 Stations of Advent at Christ the King Tuesday, December 6 at 1pm Led by Fr Bill Hinrichs and Mtr Meaghan Keegan You have probably prayed the Stations of the Cross many times, and even if you haven’t prayed them, you have probably heard of them. Praying the Stations of the Cross, prayerfully accompanying Christ on his way to Calvary, is an ancient devotion – especially popular during Lent – meant to help us grow in our friendship with the Lord. Why not do something similar during Advent? In Advent we pay special attention to three comings of Christ: his first coming in Bethlehem, his final coming at the end of history, and his coming here and now in our hearts through the Church’s liturgical celebrations. Christ’s comings are the fulfillment of God’s promise to redeem the fallen human family. The redemption culminated in Christ’s resurrection from the dead, which happened on the first day of the week, also referred to by theological tradition as the “eighth day” – the day after the Sabbath, which was the seventh day of the ancient Jewish week. With that in mind, we have produced this little booklet with the Eight Stations of Advent. The introduction explains the elements of each Station and how to use them. We sincerely hope that this little devotion will help you live this Advent and Christmas more deeply, peacefully, and meaningfully than ever before. This event is free and open to all. ou may RSVP to let us know you plan to attend by emailing director@ctkcenter.org. For those interested lunch is served at 12 noon in the Welcome Center for $15 per person. To make a reservation visit: CtK (tableagent.com)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.