April 25th commemorated 119 years of ministry in St. Mark's Episcopal Church history.
History in Brief
The idea of an organized Black Episcopal congregation had its inception at the Fifty-first Annual Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the Diocese. This meeting was held in Alabama in 1882.

In 1890 the idea of a Black Episcopal Church School was presented to Bishop Wilmer by Mr. C.V. Auguste along with respected members of the Black community. It was felt that a school would be beneficial to the Black community.

St. Mark’s School commenced in 1892 with seven grades and 47 students. The school was located in Birmingham, Alabama at Eighteenth Street North and Avenue C. St. Mark’s School presented one of few viable educational opportunities for people of color. It survived until 1940.

In 1962 St. Mark’s Episcopal Church moved to its present location at 228 Dennison Avenue SW. St. Mark’s continues to serve its members and the community through spiritually based programs and Biblical worship. All are welcomed to the church at the “foot of the hill.”

St. Mark’s has been archiving its history with the Birmingham Public Library-Central. For more in-depth information regarding the history of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church visit the archives of BPL-Central.
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Members and guests mingle and fellowship after St. Mark's Day Sunday service.


Three generations of St. Mark's Family
l.to.r: Deacon Carolyn Foster, Deacon's son, PFC.
Cleophus Higgins, Mrs. Alice Long, mother of Deacon Foster and grandmother of PFC Higgins.

Scripture Readings for May
May 2, 2010, Fifth Sunday after Easter Acts 11:1-18Psalm 148Revelation 21:1-6John 13:31-35

May 9, 2010, Sixth Sunday after Easter Acts 16:9-15Psalm 67Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5John 14:23-29 or John 5:1-9

May 16, 2010, Seventh Sunday after Easter Acts 16:16-34Psalm 97Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21John 17:20-26

May 23, 2010, Day of Pentecost, Whitsunday
Acts 2:1-21 or Genesis 11:1-9Psalm 104:25-35, 37Romans 8:14-17 or Acts 2:1-21John 14:8-17, (25-27)

May 30, 2010, First Sunday after Pentecost, Trinity Sunday Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31Psalm 8 or Canticle 2 or 13Romans 5:1-5John 16:12-15

ANNOUNCEMENTS
June 14-16, 2010 *JOSEPH AND HIS BROTHERS*


4:00-6:00 pm


Mark you calendars and plan to attend, either as a participant or a helper.


The PERFORMANCE FOR THE COMMUNITY- Wednesday, June 16th-5:30pm





OUR GARDEN A portion of the garden has been planted. We plan to have a garden by the end of the summer that reflects the abundance of God's love and grace and then to share our produce. Donations of time, labor, plants, soil enhancers, landscape timbers, and/or money for these supplies are needed. We are hoping to have four raised beds. Each parishioner will be placed in one of four groups. Each group will organize themselves for the upkeep of the bed.
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