Saint Stephen’s Weekly Prayers for the week of February 12, 2023
Good Morning, Saint Stephen’s Church,
Intercessions this Week
Sunday, February 12, 2023
Anglican Cycle of Prayer: The Episcopal Church in the
Philippines
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, Marilyn Causey, Eunice Chouffi, Mary Frances Hatfield, Vincent Avila, June Russell, Bill Frank, Chris Holder, Sal Belardo, Marti Spang, Samantha Humphrey & the Humphrey Family, and Joe White
Those who celebrate birthdays this week: Don, Marilyn, James
Those who celebrate baptismal anniversaries this week: Leah Christian, Matilda Cooke
Those who have died: Elizabeth Dipley, Charlotte Sawyer, Judith Fitzgerald
This week’s Lessons and Prayers
Epiphany 6
The Collect and Scripture Readings for the Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany,
Year A
COLLECT
O God, the strength of all who put their trust in you: Mercifully accept our prayers; and because in our weakness we can do nothing good without you, give us the help of your grace, that in keeping your commandments we may please you both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
FIRST LESSON
Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Moses said to all Israel the words which the Lord commanded him, “See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the LORD your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the LORD swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”
PSALM 119: 1-8
1
Happy are they whose way is blameless, *
who walk in the law of the LORD!
2
Happy are they who observe his decrees *
and seek him with all their hearts!
3
Who never do any wrong, *
but always walk in his ways.
4
You laid down your commandments, *
that we should fully keep them.
5
Oh, that my ways were made so direct *
that I might keep your statutes!
6
Then I should not be put to shame, *
when I regard all your commandments.
7
I will thank you with an unfeigned heart, *
when I have learned your righteous judgments.
8
I will keep your statutes; *
do not utterly forsake me.
SECOND LESSON
1 Corinthians 3:1-9
Brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but rather as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for solid food. Even now you are still not ready, for you are still of the flesh. For as long as there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving according to human inclinations? For when one says, “I belong to Paul,” and another, “I belong to Apollos,” are you not merely human?
What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labor of each. For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building.
GOSPEL
Matthew 5:21-37
Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, `You shall not murder’; and `whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, `You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
“You have heard that it was said, `You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.
“It was also said, `Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
“Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, `You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.’ But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let your word be `Yes, Yes’ or `No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.
News and Updates
Music Today
Prelude Adoration Price
Opening hymn: #372
Sequence hymn: #530
Offertory Anthem Be Still Marrolli
Closing hymn: #594
Postlude Flourish Rawsthorne
Current Announcements
Ushers: Doreen May, Dave Crates
Lectors: Doreen May, Dan Schuldt
Celebrant: Mother Sally Heiligman
Celebrant / Officiant Update:
2/19 – Father Marshall Vang
2/22 @5:30 – Father Marshall Vang- Ash Wednesday
2/26 – Morning Prayer – Allison de Kanel + Street Soldiers lunch making
There will be a short lector training following the service today. Please plan to attend if you did not last week and you will be a lector on the upcoming schedule.
Locking up the Church – We have started scheduling people to lock up the church after Sunday services. If you are interested in being on the list (detailed directions available) please see Erin Cohen. If you are the last person to leave the church, whether or not you’ve locked up, please double check that the door you leave from is shut and locked.
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper — Don’t miss the traditional Pancake Supper from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 21, in the Parish Hall, marking the last time for festivities before Lent begins on Wednesday. Menu includes pancakes (gluten free available with prior notice to Linda Emaelaf by Sunday, February 12), sausages, and beverages. Price is $7.00 – Adult; $4.00 – ages 5-12; $20.00 for a family. This includes all you can eat! Bring your family, your friends, and your appetite! Volunteers are needed to help set up, cook, serve, and clean up. Sign up sheet in the back of the church. And don’t forget to bring last year’s palms that evening so they can be burned to use for Ash Wednesday’s ashes.
We will be making lunches for Street Soldiers after morning prayer on 2/26. Please consider donating individually packaged food for the bags and / or staying to help make the lunches.
SiCM Pantry requests The Rev. Phil Pantry needs baby food and formula as well as diapers in sizes 4, 5 and 6. Requested personal items are toothbrushes & toothpaste and adult diapers in sizes L, XL and 3XL.
Today is Super Bowl Sunday! Celebrate by contributing to the Souper Bowl Sunday collection in the nave extension. All donations will benefit the SiCM pantry.
You are invited to attend an organ recital on Saturday, February 18th, at 3:00PM at First Reformed Church of Scotia, 224 N. Ballston Ave, presented by the Eastern NY Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. The June Selke Memorial Organ will be played by St. Stephens’ organist Susan Lohnas, noted composer and organist Al Fedak, and six other local organists. Come and enjoy a wide variety of music, followed by a reception. Admission is free. A free will offering will be available to benefit the chapter’s organ scholarship fund.
Please join us in praying for Samantha Humphrey’s safe return and for the Humphrey family during this difficult time.
Altar Flowers given by Marilyn Humphrey given in honor of Don Humphrey.
| Ongoing adult education opportunities The Chalice of Repose Project Lenten Retreat Tuesdays beginning Feb 28 | 7:00-8:30 PM An exploration of beauty through the Gospels, pastoral care and liturgical arts with artist-in-residence Therese Schroeder-Sheker. Therese is a Benedictine oblate, educator and writer on music-in medicine, contemplative musicianship, and the theology of women mystics. She is also founder of The Chalice of Repose Project which “lovingly cares for the physical and spiritual needs of the dying with prescriptive music.” The class meets for six 1 1/2 hour sessions on Tuesdays at 7PM on Zoom. Begins February 28.Please register early as the class is limited to ten participants.Partial scholarships are available. Email arts@cathedralofallsaints.org with questions. Register here: https://www.cathedralofallsaints.org/events/chalice-of-repose-project  Beaver Cross Camp meets the winter in our SonShine Retreats! These retreats will be running over school winter break, middle school and high school students, will be playing epic games, having inspiring worship, prayer, and engaging with teachings. All of this to have fun, build community in Christ, and draw closer to Jesus!Jr. Sonshine: 3rd – 7th Grade | Sr. Sonshine: 8th – 12th Grade Register here:https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001CA9z8Jf1bKfIpk0cCzEYmB9v0OJ2YhMU-4Fch9gcbyDzvBUkauNorJiDo7bP61qqYRygqun330hyZOGNU4WVqCbKg5Xr0pTkaBgnu4X3JFN2iLLHWvQc6PBRK9bXl-gd3D7DAD5S7yF30TGn9BZmuZ3p27NZZjhvikNdjYdG_PAx5cnImYSPcA==&c=KwMg3Z8LdOVCzsPRhkiOdD_EPmSm65gpiOieGMtkLenQVfOYQ4oyjA==&ch=j0G7MYUwVO9ILPor1zVeuu8lpHnvxqRIWgFrSDNjE4jbUnlVZvWs7w== |
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.