Saint Stephen’s Weekly Prayers for the week of April 2, 2023

Good Morning, Saint Stephen’s Church,

Intercessions this Week

Anglican Cycle of Prayer: Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan

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; Marshall Vang and Sally Heiligman, our supply priests; and Allison de Kanel, our lay reader

Those who are in need of strength and healing: Mary Ann Harrington, Marilyn Causey, Vincent Avila, June Russell, Bill Frank, Chris Holder, the Humphrey Family, Marshall Cohen, and Joe White

Those who celebrate birthdays this week: June, Jack

Those who celebrate baptismal anniversaries this week: Joanne, Diana

Those who have died: Emma Scheiber, Robert Malmros

The Prayers of the People

Let us pray to the Father, who loved the world so much that he sent his only Son to give us life.

Simon from Cyrene was forced to carry the cross for your Son. Give us grace to lift heavy loads from those we meet and to stand with those condemned to die.

Lord, hear us.

Lord, graciously hear us.

Your Son watched the soldiers gamble to share his clothes. Transform the hearts of those who make a profit from their victims, and those whose hearts are hardened by their work.

Lord, hear us.

Lord, graciously hear us.

The thief, who was crucified with Jesus, was promised a place in your kingdom. Give pardon and hope, healing and peace to all who look death in the face today.

Lord, hear us.

Lord, graciously hear us.

From the cross Jesus entrusted Mary his mother and John his disciple to each other’s care. Help us also to care for one another and fill our homes with the spirit of your love.

Lord, hear us.

Lord, graciously hear us.

In Mary and John your Son created a new family at the cross. Fill our relationships, and those of new families today, with mutual care and responsibility, and give us a secure hope for the future.

Lord, hear us.

Lord, graciously hear us.

The centurion was astonished to see your glory in the crucified Messiah. Open the eyes of those who do not know you to see in your Son the meaning of life and death.

Lord, hear us.

Lord, graciously hear us.

Joseph of Arimathaea came to take your Son’s body away. Give hope and faith to the dying and bereaved, and gentleness to those who minister to them.

Lord, hear us.

Lord, graciously hear us.

Simon and Joseph, Mary and John became part of your Church in Jerusalem. Bring into your Church today a varied company of people, to walk with Christ in the way of his passion and to find their salvation in the victory of the cross.

Lord, hear us.

Lord, graciously hear us.

This week’s Lessons and Prayers

Palm Sunday Handout Yr A RCL.pdf

News and Updates

Music Today

Prelude March on “St. Theodulph” Teschner/Hughes

Opening hymn: #154

Sequence hymn: #158

Offertory Anthem Into Jerusalem Jesus Rode Daw/Fedak

Closing hymn: #474

Postlude Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs Handel

Current Announcements

Lectors: C. Merrill-Mazurek, L. Emaelaf

Passion: Narrator – J. Palko, Judas – D. Schuldt, Disciples- B. Schuldt,

Jesus – Father Vang, Accusers – J. Stefanski, High Priest – S. Palko,

Chief Priest – S. Patton, Servant Girl -S. Olsen,

Peter – R. Stefanski, Bystanders – C. Merrill-Mazurek,

Pilate – P. Nelson, Pilate’s Wife – L. Emaelaf, Soldiers – S. Schuldt,

Centurion – D. Bennett

Celebrant: Father Marshall Vang

Celebrant / Officiant Update:

4/6 -@ 5:30, Maundy Thursday with Eucharist, Father Marshall Vang

4/7 – @12:00, Good Friday Liturgy at St. George’s, Father Marshall Vang

4/7-@ 5:30, Stations of the Cross: Allison de Kanel

4/8- @ 7:00, Easter Vigil at St.George’s, Father Marshall Vang

4/9-@ 8 a.m., Easter service, Father Marshall Vang

4/16 – Father Marshall Vang

4/23 – Sally Heiligman

Foot Washing – Please sign up in the back of the church if you would like to participate in the washing of the feet on Maundy Thursday.

New Parish Directory – We are starting the process of making a new directory. Please fill out the electronic form emailed to you last week if able, or fill out a paper copy found at the back of the church by Wednesday, April 5 if you would like to be included.

Link here: https://forms.gle/UMB2Hm9717yYhnpP6

Families – join us today after the service for an Easter Egg hunt, special coffee hour, and activities for the kiddos! All are welcome!

Acolyte Training – There will be a short training for anyone interested in becoming an acolyte on April 23 following the church service. Please meet Mother Sally at the front of the church.

Lenten Outreach- We will continue to accept donations through Easter Sunday for the ERD earthquake relief in Syria and Türkiye. Check out the press releases on the bulletin board opposite the library on the work being done through their partners and local agencies. As of 3/26, we have raised $4,020, which includes a matching donation from a St. Stephen’s family. checks can be made out to St. Stephen’s or to ERD. Thank you so much!

Easter Brunch -In celebration of Christ’s resurrection, St. Stephen’s church family will be having a potluck Easter Breakfast immediately following the 8am Eucharist on April 9th.Please add your name to the sign-up sheet located in the back of church if you will be attending. Please bring a dish to share. Please indicate if you can help set up on Saturday or help clean up following breakfast. Questions? Please email Susie Olsen at susieolsen01@gmail.com

SiCM Pantry – It’s baby season, yay!!! We are looking for diapers size 5-6-7, formula and wipes. If you can help with those items for April it would serve as a great relief for us. A warm thank you to the congregation at St. Stephen’s. We could not do what we are doing without your support.

Office Hours – Emails will be checked and responded to between 9am – 2pm Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. In person hours by appointment. Please contact Bethany at office@st-stephens.church as needed . Bethay will be out of town from 4/11-4/19. Emails will not be checked or returned until 4/20. In case of emergency please contact Erin Cohen at cohenerine@gmail.com.

Easter Flowers – Easter Sunday is April 9. If you would like to contribute to the altar flowers for that day’s service please return an offering slip by today!

✠Maundy Thursday✠

COLLECT

Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it thankfully in remembrance of Jesus Christ our Lord, who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

FIRST LESSON

Exodus 12:1-14a

The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: This month shall mark for you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you. Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth of this month they are to take a lamb for each family, a lamb for each household. If a household is too small for a whole lamb, it shall join its closest neighbor in obtaining one; the lamb shall be divided in proportion to the number of people who eat of it. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a year-old male; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembled congregation of Israel shall slaughter it at twilight. They shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. They shall eat the lamb that same night; they shall eat it roasted over the fire with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted over the fire, with its head, legs, and inner organs. You shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn. This is how you shall eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it hurriedly. It is the Passover of the LORD. For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both human beings and animals; on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD. The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live: when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. This day shall be a day of remembrance for you.

Psalm 116: 1, 10-17

¹ I love the LORD, because he has heard the voice of my

supplication,*

because he has inclined his ear to me whenever I called upon

him.

¹⁰ How shall I repay the LORD*

for all the good things he has done for me?

¹¹ I will lift up the cup of salvation*

and call upon the Name of the LORD.

¹² I will fulfill my vows to the LORD*

in the presence of all his people.

¹³ Precious in the sight of the LORD*

is the death of his servants.

¹⁴ O LORD, I am your servant;*

I am your servant and the child of your handmaid;

you have freed me from my bonds.

¹⁵ I will offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving*

and call upon the Name of the LORD.

¹⁶ I will fulfill my vows to the LORD*

in the presence of all his people,

¹⁷ In the courts of the LORD’S house,*

in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.

Hallelujah!

SECOND LESSON

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

For I have received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

GOSPEL

John 13:1-17, 31-35

Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.” After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Music:

Prelude When Jesus Wept Billings/Martin

Sequence hymn: #439

Foot Washing hymn: LEV #74

Offertory Anthem The Upper Room Besig

Communion music Christ lag in Todesbanden Bach

Usher: V. Hoshko

Lectors: D. Lohnas, A. de Kanel