This Is My Son, The Beloved

Matthew 17:1-9
Six days after Peter had acknowledged Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!" When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Get up and do not be afraid." And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.


As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, "Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."
SCRIPTURES
Exodus 24:12-18
2 Peter 1:16-21
Matthew 17:1-9
Psalm 99

WELCOME VISITORS
You honor us by your presence in worship today. Let us know if there is anything you need to feel more at home. Also, please fill out a visitor’s card and place it in the alms basin or hand it to the priest. The announcements contain information on upcoming events and activities. We would love to have you join us for any or all of them.

Katie Lott, thanks for being our musician today. Katie is a student at Birmingham Southern College.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Thank you to Cassandra Joseph and Jalete Nelms for coordinating today’s luncheon and its Mardi Gras theme.

“Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday" (in ethnic English tradition, Shrove Tuesday), referring to the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season, which started on Ash Wednesday. Related popular practices were associated with celebrations before the fasting and religious obligations associated with the penitential season of Lent. Popular practices included wearing masks and costumes, overturning social conventions, dancing, sports competitions, parades, etc. Similar expressions to Mardi Gras appear in other European languages sharing the Christian tradition. In English, the day is called Shrove Tuesday, associated with the religious requirement for confession before Lent begins.” Wikipedia

“Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama, is the oldest continual annual Carnival celebration in America, having begun in 1703,[1][2][3] over 15 years before New Orleans was founded (1718).[3]” wikipedia

Ash Wednesday service will take place this Wednesday, March 9, 2011 at noon and at 6:00p.m.

Mark your calendars for Events with St. Stephen’s

Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at 5:45-7:30 p.m. Lenten Supper at St. Stephen’s.
Program: The story of St. Mark’s presented by St. Mark’s
At that time we will invite St. Stephen’s to join us here to take the course, “Just Neighbors.” This is a curriculum designed to educate about poverty and then empower the participants to serve.

Saturday, March 26, 2011 St. Stephen’s brings an outreach team to St. Mark’s to work on preparing our garden. All St. Mark’s gardeners are invited.

Sunday, March 27, 2011 St. Stephen’s 5th and 6th grade class visits St. Mark’s for worship. All Saint’s 5th and 6th grade class will also be visiting. Picnic lunch for our children and youth to follow hosted by All Saint’s.

St. Mark’s Lenten Program

9:00a.m.
March 27, April 3, April 10.
During these sessions there will be more details regarding three of the vestry’s goals.

1. Ministry to youth and young families

2. Outreach ministry

3. Fund raising

Children’s Sunday School in March will take place :

March 13th and March 27th at 10:00 a.m.

Titus Battle will be teaching.

LAY READERS FOR MARCH 2011
March 13 Mamie Hymes
March 20 Paul Goldman
March 27 Mary Williams

CHURCH WOMEN UNITED

St. Mark’s was the host church for Church Women United (CWU). Parishioner and CWU member, Mary Williams was a gracious hostess to fellow CWU members. A delicious breakfast donated and prepared by Cassandra Joseph with the help of Mary Williams was served to the ladies before the beginning of the World Day of Prayer session.

The service began with the procession song Halle,Halle, Halleluja. Music was provided by Sundra Smith.
World Day of Prayer is a worldwide ecumentical movement of Christian women of many traditions who come together to observe a common day of prayer each year on the first Friday in March.. Each year a different country serves as the writer of the World Day of Prayer worship service.

For 2011, the WDP Committee of Chile developed the theme How many loaves have you? The meaning of this theme is really asking, What are your gifts? What can you share? At this time paper and pencils were distributed. Attendees conversed briefly with each other about their own personal gifts and what they could share. These written comments were collected and later shared with everyone in the next section of the program.

The 2012 WDP will focus on women in the country of Malaysia.

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