Wednesday, April 27
Deacon John, assisting
On-line worship:
Facebook: Our Sunday morning and Wednesday night masses are livestreamed on our Facebook group: https://facebook.com/
YouTube: All our Masses can be found uploaded to our St. Stephen’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.
Or search YouTube.com for “St. Stephen’s Fargo.”
St. Stephen’s Website: Each Mass is also uploaded later in the day to our website. So, if you miss a livestreamed Mass, be sure to check out the Mass later at: https://ststephensfargo.org
Did you know that May Day has its roots in astronomy? Traditionally, it was the halfway point between the spring equinox and the summer solstice! In ancient times, this was one of the Celtic cross-quarter days, which mark the midway points between the (four) solstices and equinoxes of the year.
As with many early holidays, May Day was rooted in agriculture. Springtime festivities filled with song and dance celebrated the sown fields starting to sprout. Cattle were driven to pasture, special bonfires were lit, and doors of houses as well as livestock were decorated with yellow May flowers. In the Middle Ages, the Gaelic people celebrated the festival of Beltane. Beltane means “Day of Fire.” People created large bonfires and danced at night to celebrate.
May Day has a long history and tradition in England, some of which eventually came to America. Children would dance around the Maypole holding onto colorful ribbons. People would “bring in the May” by gathering wildflowers and green branches, weaving of floral hoops and hair garlands, and crowning a May king and queen. Such rites originally may have been intended to ensure fertility for crops and, by extension, for livestock and humans, but in most cases this significance was gradually lost, so that the practices survived largely as popular festivities.
UPDATED Covid Protocols as of April 1:
MASKING: Masks are no longer required for any liturgies, coffee hour or any other in-building gathering at this time, though anyone who needs to wear a mask should do so.
PASSING THE PEACE: We will continue to use touch-free greetings.
OFFERING: We will continue to use the plates at the front of the church. There will be no more “passing of the plate” at the offering.
HANDOUTS: We will continue to use disposable booklets for all liturgies.
COFFEE HOUR: Coffee Hour is re-instated as it was before the pandemic.
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