This week at St. Stephen's

 Wednesday, February 24

6:00 p.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant/ preacher

Deacon John, assisting

 

Sunday, February 28

11:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist

Fr. Jamie, celebrant/preacher

Deacon John, assisting

James Mackay, organist

Michelle Gelinske, cantor

 

 Monday, March 1

Fr. Jamie’s day off

 

As of January 10^th, our Sunday and Wednesday Eucharist services are open to public worship to limited capacity. We will be following strict protocols regarding worship. (See information below for details.) In addition, masses will continue to be livestreamed.   

 

Livestream:  https://facebook.com/groups/52039214842

Or on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcdWKCnCHmviajkFX5p-xGg

Or posted to our webpage: https://ststephensfargo.org

 

Mark your calendars:

Feb. 25 - Deacon John’s Zoom Bible Study 7:00 p.m.

Dcn John Anderson will be leading a Zoom Bible study each Thursday through March 18^th at 7:00 p.m. The group will meet via Zoom. Dcn. John will send materials through email for those who are interested. If you would like to attend the Bible study, just drop an email to Dcn John (deaconjohn65@yahoo.com). 

 

Feb. 26 - Stations of the Cross 6:00 p.m.

 

Fast Fact:

Why do we bury the alleluia?

The omission of alleluia during Lent goes back at least to the fifth century in the western church. The association of alleluia with Easter led to the custom of intentionally omitting it from the liturgy during the season of Lent, a kind of verbal fast which has the effect of creating a sense of anticipation and even greater joy when the familiar word of praise returns. We do not use it at church. We do not use it at home. We let it rest, as it were, during Lent, so that when it reappears on Easter, we may hear it anew. In fact, once it returns on Easter, we give it no rest at all, repeating it again and again, in celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus. The custom of bidding it farewell developed in the Middle Ages in Babylon. Many churches embrace the practice of physically "burying" the alleluia. This ritual practice is especially delightful and meaningful for children.

 

Public Worship Protocol:

St. Stephen’s resumed public worship on Sunday, January 10^th. We ask that anyone planning to attend Mass, please follow the guidelines listed below. These guidelines are temporary, but they are essential as we move forward.  

We are currently limiting attendance to 12 units of people. Policies for Resuming the Celebration of the Eucharist at St. Stephen’s Beginning on Sunday, January 10, we will again resume public Celebration of the Eucharist in our church building. However, there are several changes to how we worship that we will be following.

Here are the parameters for worship for the next few months:  

*  Following 6‐foot spacing, we are able to use 6 pews. This would allow for 6 related units or 12 unrelated people or some combination thereof.

*  All those attending Mass are expected to wear a face mask. Please bring your own mask. You will be expected to always wear your mask during the Mass.  

*  There will be hand sanitizer available.

*  Holy Communion will be served in one kind only (only the Host will be distributed; the Cup will not be offered to the congregation at this time). The Priest will use hand sanitizer before and after distribution. There will also be an effort made to not touch hands when distributing the Host.

*  There will be no kneeling at the altar rail for Holy Communion. People are expected to stand in line maintaining a six-foot distance from those around them and receive the Host from the priest at a single station before the altar rail.  

*  There will be no shaking of hands at the Exchange of the Peace. All are invited to use a non‐contact way of greeting.  

*  The entire liturgy will be printed in a disposable booklet. The copies of the Book of Common Prayer in the pews will not be used.  

*  If you are sick, if you have any preexisting conditions that might be an issue, or if you have a fever or a cold, we ask that you not attend Mass.

*  Wednesday evening in‐person Mass resumed beginning on January 13.   

*  All our liturgies will continue to be livestreamed.  

*  There will be no coffee hour at this time.  

Please be aware that all these policies are in line with both CDC and Diocesan standards for public worship.   If you are concerned by any of these policies or if you are in any way uncomfortable about attending public Mass at this time, please continue to join us through our livestreamed Mass.