sign in sign up
<<
Home , Bell tower, Church bell

The Ambassador August 2019 St. Stephen’s Episcopal Monthly Newsletter

A vital, eclectic Episcopal congregation committed to the ministry of all the baptized.

From Fr. Jamie

Hopefully, this month, we will see our new put up. It’s an exciting time. I keep joking it feels like waiting for a baby to be born.

But what is particularly interesting for me personally is learning all the different ways a bell can be used as part of church life. I have found myself reading book and articles about the history of in the Christian Church.

There is a very informative article by a Baptist pastor on the next page about the history of church bells. It is a very nice summary of the history of bells in the Church. Hildegard the bell with an ikon of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Our Lord, taken after on July 28, by Dinah Stephens, the donor of the bell.

Bell Tower Update

Tower update: the tower was cut from its cement base July 18 afternoon at the site of the former Newman Center at NDSU. We are very happy to report that the construction company that removed it has agreed to help us reassemble the tower to its base, attach the bell, and set the whole structure up for us on the church property. We’re hoping for a blessing and dedication of the bell and tower in (hopefully) September! More updates will be coming soon. It’s great to see it all come together!

The space for the digging for the new was The bell tower amid the demolition of the marked out by white spray paint on July 19. Newman Center at NDSU on July 9. The History and Significance of Church Bells

By Rev. Dan McDowell (Aug 1, 2014)

I had the opportunity this past week to attend a conference on spiritual life in Wisconsin. While I was there, during a time of silent contemplation, I noticed the ringing of (bells) playing the melody of a familiar hymn.

I have heard carillons ringing in several churches over the years but on this occasion I found myself wonder- ing how the ringing of church bells and carillons came about. I enjoy playing in a bell choir my church sponsors so I spent some time looking into the history of ringing. I share my discoveries with you today.

The Bible neither promotes nor forbids the ringing of church bells but, for many Christians, the ringing of bells from a church tower is certainly a “joyful noise,” reminding them of God’s presence in the world. And the music produced by bell choirs has blessed many people for many years.

The tradition of ringing church bells dates back to 400 A.D., when Paulinus of Nola first introduced bells in association with a church. In 604 Sabinianus officially sanctioned their use. By the early , church bells had become common in northern , reflecting the influence of Irish missionaries. The has a long and complex history of bell ringing and the custom is particularly sophisticated in the .

In medieval times, swinging bells were first used as a way of notifying people of fires, storms, wars and other events. A ringing of bells from the lowest note to the highest note indicated that an attack had taken place. The use of bells in a musical fashion originated in the 16th century.

A is a musical instrument that is typically housed in the bell tower (or ) of a church. The instrument consists of at least 23 cast bronze, cup-shaped bells, which are serially played to produce a melody, or sounded together to play a chord. A traditional manual carillon is played by striking a keyboard to activate levers and wires that connect to metal clappers that strike the inside of the bells, allowing the performer on the bells to vary the intensity of the note according to the force applied to the key.

The first carillon was in Flanders, where a "fool" performed music on the bells of Oudenaarde Town Hall in 1510 by making use of a baton keyboard. The word "carillon" is from the French “quadrillon,” meaning four bells. Most modern carillons (such as those used by churches here in Olean) are operated electronically. The first tuned were developed by brothers Robert and William Cor in Aldbourne, Wiltshire, England, between 1696 and 1724. Originally, tuned sets of handbells were used by change ringers to rehearse outside their . is the art of ringing a set of tuned bells in a series of mathematical patterns called "changes.”

Tower bell ringers' enthusiasm for practicing the complicated algorithms of change ringing tended to exceed the neighbors’ patience, so in the days before modern sound control, handbells offered them a way to continue ringing without becoming too obtrusive.

A choir or ensemble (in the United States) or a handbell team (in England) is a group that rings recognizable music with melodies and harmony, as opposed to the mathematical permutations used in change ringing.

-continued- The History and Significance of Church Bells— continued

The primary purpose of ringing church bells in modern times is to signify the time for worshippers to gather for a . Many Anglican, Catholic, and Lutheran churches also ring their bell tower bells three times a day (at 6 a.m., noon and 6 p.m.), summoning the faithful to recite the Lord's Prayer. This tradition was influenced by the Jewish practice of praying three times a day. The ringing of church bells three times a day also resembles the Islamic tradition of the adhan in which the faithful are called to prayer from a minaret. Bells are also rung during most Catholic and High Church [Anglican] services in preparation for the . A small hand bell or set of hand bells (called altar bells or bells) is rung shortly before the consecration of the bread and wine and again when the elements are shown to the people.

The idea that the sound of bells ringing has spiritual value is thought to have originated with ancient winter celebrations in which bells were rung to drive out evil spirits. Some churches still refer to the so-called apotropaic power of bells in their descriptions of sanctus bells. In later centuries, bells were rung on to welcome Christmas with a “joyful noise.”

Dedication Sunday Dedication Sunday will be Sunday, September 8. Please join us as we celebrate our 63rd year of ministry. A potluck will follow the Eucharist, so please plan on bringing something delicious to share.

Re-Dedication of the Children’s Chapel On Dedication Sunday we will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the dedication of the Children’s Chapel with a re-dedication of the Chapel during the Sunday morning Mass on September 8.

Blessing of Backpacks On Sunday, September 8, we will bless backpacks once again. Please come and have your back- packs blessed during the 11:00 a.m. Eucharist.

New Member Sunday On Dedication Sunday, September 8, we will welcome any new members who would like to recognized. If you are interested in becoming a member of St. Stephen’s and would like to be recognized as a new member on September 8, please contact Fr. Jamie and fill out a new member form.

Children’s Chapel Start-Up Children’s Chapel will start up again on September 8. We will commission and bless Children’s Chapel students, leaders and helpers on that Sunday.

Bell and Bell Tower Dedication We are tentatively planning to dedicate and bless the Bell and Bell Tower on Dedication Sunday, September 8. The service of dedication and blessing the bell and bell tower includes naming the bell (a long British tradition), anointing it with and sprinkling it with .

Rectory Update

Lily Baldwin and her brother, Lee McKee, moved into the Rectory on August 1. There has been much activity going on there, including painting of the walls, removal of the old carpet, and a wood laminate floor installed in the dining and living room and the hallway. Labyrinth Renovation

The Vestry recently approved renovation of the Labyrinth. We are looking at ways to make the labyrinth more accessible and prevent grass from growing over the stones. One of the ideas being enter- tained it to dig out the dirt around the foundation of the labyrinth and place stone or pea rock throughout. It is our hope that renova- tions can begin next year. We will keep you posted on updates

Episcopal 101 Class

Fr. Jamie will be offering his ever-popular Episcopal 101 class beginning on Thursday, August 15, at 7:00 p.m., with classes on August 22 and August 29. If you are interested in being a part of the class, please let Fr. Jamie know.

A big thank you to Jessica Anderson for putting up this prayer station for inter- cessory prayer in the narthex. I also forgot Senior Warden Steve Bolduc adds rainbow flag to thank Jessica for the new holders and decals to the front sign at St. Stephen’s on July 18. beautiful displays for the retable on the altar.

By John Baird

St. Stephen’s will again have a silk dying booth at Fiber Arts Festival to raise funds for our foreign mission work. Please come and join us and see the St. Stephen’s will again be hosting a table at the festival if you are able. We will be at the Hartl Pride in the Park event on August 11, 11:00 a.m. to Building at the West Fargo Fair Grounds, 4:00 p.m. This is a great opportunity for outreach Saturday, August 3, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and and evangelism. Please consider helping at this Sunday, August 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thank family-friendly event. A sign-up sheet will be you to all the volunteers who will help. It is great available in the undercroft. Please see Steve for fun. more information. Around St. Stephen’s

Wedding

Alexander Schroeder and Kory Anderson were married on August 3. Fr. Jamie officiated.

Deaths

The Requiem Mass for Tom Stickney (who died on February 12) was held at St. Stephen’s on July 21, on the day before what would have been his 100th birthday. Committal of ashes followed at the Columbarium at Gethsemane Cathedral. Fr. Jamie was celebrant

Wylie Briggs died July 24. His memorial service was held August 1, at Hanson-Runsvold, with Fr. Jamie officiating.

The committal of the ashes for Ann Whithead (+March 15, 2019) was held on Friday, July 26, at Riverside Cemetery, Fargo, with Fr. Jamie officiating. He also officiated at her memorial service in March.

St. Stephen's Episcopal Church

120 21st Ave N, Fargo, ND 701-232-2076 Church 701-793-1953 Fr. Jamie’s cell

St. Stephen’s web site: ststephensfargo.org St. Stephen’s blog spot: www.ststephensfargo.blogspot.com St. Stephen’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/52039214842/ St. Stephen’s Twitter: twitter.com/ststephensfargo St. Stephen’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/ststephensfargo/ Schedule of Ministries at St. Stephen’s for August‐September

Schedule August 4 August 11 August 18 August 25

Acolyte Holbrook Rudnick Katie Sando Kristofer Sando Altar Guild Hauan Hauan Nylander Nylander Worship Ldr/EM Anderson Clark Holbrook Sando Lector Jessica Anderson DuFault Morrissey Nylander Usher Paul Sando Bolduc Andersons Phillips Katie Sando Wilking Rice Euch. Visitor Holbrook Anderson Clark Holbrook Coffee Gelinske Clark Andersons Phillips Nylander Sandos Rice Cleaning Phillips/Rice Marubbio Marubbio Phillips/Rice

Tentative Sept. 1 Sept. 8 Sept. 15 Sept. 22 Sept. 29 Schedule

Acolyte Anderson Bolduc Holbrook Rudnick Katie Sando Altar Guild Phillips Phillips Sando Sando Bolduc Worship Ldr/EM Wilking Holbrook Anderson Clark Baird Lector Phillips Rice Ragan Jean Sando Paul Sando Usher Clark Chiefs Marubbios Nylander Andersons Bolduc Bolduc Euch. Visitor Anderson Clark Holbrook Anderson Baird Coffee Holbrook POTLUCK Chief Marubbio Ragan Baird Morrissey Templeton

Cleaning Bolduc Bolduc Clark Clark Holbrook Children’s Chapel NA TDB TBD TBD TBD *Communion is available for those who are unable to attend Sunday worship. Please call the church to request communion after the Sunday service.

**If you are unavailable to serve on a date when you are assigned, please find a substitute and let James ([email protected]) now who the substitute will be as early as possible so he can include the correct names in the bulletins.