Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church

Saint Stephen’s Weekly Prayers for the week of December 18, 2022

DecemberMessenger: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tbpw-x3pd_xMFn7hSRpTFHt2Sz_xQmEX/view?usp=sharing

Good Morning, Saint Stephen’s Church,

From Our Prayers of the People

Anglican Cycle of Prayer: The Anglican Church of Korea

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,Sal Belardo, Samantha Humphrey & the Humphery Family, and Joe White

Those who celebrate birthdays this week: Shirley Gretz

Those who celebrate baptisms this week: George Woodzell

Those who celebrate wedding anniversaries this week: Linda & Gerald Perreguax

Those who have died: Gertrude Welter, Clifford Santer, Gladys Titterington, Jeffery Knight

Advent Wreath Candle Lighting

Celebrant: God our Father, the Angel Gabriel told the Virgin Mary that she was to be the mother of your Son. Though Mary was afraid, she responded to your call with joy. Help us, whom you call to serve you, to share like her in your work of bringing to our world your love and healing. We ask this through Jesus Christ, the light who is coming into the world.

People: Amen.

The Celebrant how lights the fourth candle in silence.

Officiant and People: Lord Jesus, light of the world, blessed is Gabriel, who brought good news; Blessed is Mary, your mother and ours. Bless your Church preparing for Christmas; and bless us your children, who long for your coming. Amen.

This week’s Lessons

4 Advent

The Collect and Scripture Readings for the fourth Sunday of Advent, Year A

COLLECT

Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Amen.

FIRST LESSON

Isaiah 7:10-16

Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying, Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test. Then Isaiah said: “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.”

PSALM 80:1-7, 16-18

¹ Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph like a flock; *

shine forth, you that are enthroned upon the cherubim.

² In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, *

stir up your strength and come to help us.

³ Restore us, O God of hosts; *

show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.

⁴ O LORD God of hosts, *

how long will you be angered

despite the prayers of your people?

⁵ You have fed them with the bread of tears; *

you have given them bowls of tears to drink.

⁶ You have made us the derision of our neighbors, *

and our enemies laugh us to scorn.

⁷ Restore us, O God of hosts; *

show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.

¹⁶

Let your hand be upon the man of your right hand, *
and son of man you have made so strong for yourself.

¹⁷ And so will we never turn away from you; *

give us life, that we may call upon your Name.

¹⁸ Restore us, O LORD God of hosts; *

show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.

SECOND LESSON

Romans 1:1-7

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set

apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name, including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

GOSPEL

Matthew 1:18-25

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

News and Updates

Music Today

Prelude Creator of the Stars of Night Haan

Opening Hymn #72

Sequence Hymn # 67

Offertory Anthem Prophets Knew Larson

Closing Hymn #73

Postlude Magnificat Primi Toni Buxtehude

Current Announcements

Lectors: C Jones, D Csaposs Celebrant: Father Marshall Vang

Coffee Hour: The Schuldts

Celebrant / Officiant Update:

12/24- 5 pm Christmas Eve Service – Father Marshall Vang

12/25 -9:30 am Christmas Day – Mother Sally Heiligman

1/1 – Father Marshall Vang

1/8 – Mother Sally Heiligman

Christmas Eve –We will be continuing our tradition of having the children bring up pieces for the creche during the procession at the beginning of the service. If your child wants to participate please bring them to the back of the church before the service. Also, please join us after the Christmas Eve service in the Parish Hall for a light reception.

Christmas Pageant – CHANGE your calendars! This year’s Christmas Pageant will now be an Epiphany Pageant during the 9:30 service on January 8, 2023!

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. To date we have raised $510! 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.

Thank you for your generosity in supporting our outreach programs. As of last Sunday we have collected:

$125 for Street Soldiers Schenectady
$160.93 for Things of My Very Own
$500 for St. Joe’s sandwiches
Over $1,000 in cash, checks, and gift cards for the Grimasons

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.

Please join us in praying for Samantha Humphrey’s safe return and for the Humphrey family during this difficult time.