Be Watchful

The season of Advent is a time of reflection and meditation. It is the beginning of the Christian year. During Advent we prepare to celebrate the coming of Christ. In Biblical times the Hebrews awaited the coming of the Messiah. Christians today celebrate Christmas as a way of commemorating the birth of Jesus and awaiting the second coming of Christ.

The season is overridden with activities that have little to do with Advent. Contrary to its purpose, it is overrun with shopping, gifting, revelry and much rushing about. While there is nothing wrong with partaking in these events, overindulgence defeats the purpose of the season. In all of the hustle and bustle and stress, we negate the true meaning of Advent, that of thought and contemplation.

Upon first inspection in the Gospel of Luke 21:25-31 there is more of a foreboding than joy. We read of, “…distress among nations…”, “people will faint from fear…”, “…the heavens will be shaken…” That is hardly a reason to celebrate.

Upon further analysis we read, “Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” We are instructed, “ Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life.”

By not becoming overwrought with trivialities we are in a better position to think and reflect ,focus and appreciate. We are to remain watchful in readiness of the second coming of Christ. Those that are heeding, enduring and faithful will not be caught off guard. The joy of Christ will be upon them.
A pause to think
is a cause to thank
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Jeremiah 33:14-16
Psalm 25:1-9 (the Psalm will be chanted during Advent)
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
Luke 21:25-36
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ANNOUNCEMENTS

+ FESTIVAL OF LESSONS and CAROLS- On next Sunday, December 6th, beginning at 10:00 a.m., we will have a service of Advent Lessons and Carols. This is a very special way for us to hear and proclaim the message of Advent. It will be a good Sunday to bring a friend to church. Thank you Sundra and the choir for your hard work in preparing this beautiful service for us!
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+ADVENT WREATHS- Today we made Advent wreaths and distributed prayers and different ideas for using the wreath. For the rest of the season we will be exploring Bible stories about Mary, Joseph, and the birth of Jesus. This is an especially important time to have your children at Sunday School and church because this is a season when culture has very loud and clear messages that the season is about something very different than what the church says it is about. If you want your children to grow more deeply into the “reason for the season”, make sure you get them to Sunday School!

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+CHRISTMAS PARTY DECEMBER 20th- We will plan to have a covered dish lunch this Sunday more details to be announced.

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+CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE- Rev. Sara asked for feedback on a time for Christmas Eve service. The times suggested were 4:30 and 6:30 pm.
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+DAUGHTER2DAUGHTER- will meet this Saturday, December 5th. We are hosting the second of our monthly seminars to support mothers and their daughters, ages 11-14, by giving them tools for physical, emotional and spiritual health. This month’s topic will focus on peer pressure. We continue to get more and more interest from the community about this ministry. Please support us with your prayers and by volunteering your time.

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THE ORIGIN OF THE ADVENT WREATH

The origins of the Advent wreath are found in the folk practices of the pre-Christian Germanic peoples who, during the cold December darkness of Eastern Europe, gathered wreaths of evergreen and lighted fires as signs of hope in a coming spring and renewed light.

Christians kept these popular traditions alive, and by the 16th century Catholics and Protestants throughout Germany used these symbols to celebrate their Advent hope in Christ, the everlasting Light. From Germany the use of the Advent wreath spread to other parts of the Christian world.

Traditionally, the wreath is made of four candles in a circle of evergreens. Three candles are violet and the fourth is rose, but four white candles or four violet candles can also be used. Each day at home, the candles are lighted, perhaps before the evening meal-- one candle the first week, and then another each succeeding week until December 25th. A short prayer may accompany the lighting.
by Victor Hoagland, C.P. (taken from Prayers and Customs)

END***

Caroling

The Voices of Praise

Caroling before the service by The Voices of Praise prepared us for worship on this Fourth Sunday after Advent. Songs of the season included: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Born in Bethlehem, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing and Christmas Time. ***

Rev. William Blackerby

sermon How Can This Be?
After becoming a Chaplain some years ago, Rev. William Blackerby desired to extend his ministry further by engaging in conversation with students outside of the campus environment. When put to the students as to whether they would enjoy pizza and conversation, their immediate response was, “Yes.” After a long pause one student asked, “What kind of conversation?” She desired to know more. As time went on Rev. Blackerby and this student became good friends engaging in many invigorating conversations for many years. In this same way when the angel Gabriel tells Mary she will bear a son, she asks, “How can this be?”
How can this be that God chooses to come to us in human form as a vulnerable baby? God chooses to dwell with us. God challenges us in our assumptions as to who God is. God in Jesus challenges the status quo. Our relationship with God grows and deepens because of the questions we ask. What does this mean for us? God desires to be in our midst and to make us vessels of his love through our ever growing relationship with him.
Today’s sermon was delivered by Rev. William Blackerby, Chaplain of Birmingham Trinity Commons Episcopal Student Center. The Center is home of the Birmingham Episcopal Campus Ministries, serving Birmingham-Southern College, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Samford University .

SCRIPTURES

First Reading 2 Samuel 7-1-11,16
Psalm 89: 1-4,19-26
Second Reading Romans 16:25-27
The Holy Gospel Luke1:26-38***

ANNOUNCEMENTS
+ We will celebrate our Christmas Eve Service at 6:00pm this Wednesday with the Rev. Jayne Poole as our celebrant. Join in the true spirit of Christmas.

+ All Organizations/ Ministries should submit funding requests for the 2009 budget to Cassandra Joseph by December 27th. Send requests to her email address.

+ The church’s annual meeting will be held January 11, 2009.
· A committee report from each church organization is requested at this time
· There will be two openings on the vestry. Submit names of potential candidates in the receptacle at the back of the church.

+Most households and businesses are run by a budget. So it is with the church. By completing and submitting your blue pledge card, the vestry is able to glimpse its possibilities for the church in 2009. Turn in your pledge card soon.

+Heager Hill has accepted an invitation by The Rt. Rev. John McKee Sloan to become part of a core group focused on discovering a message and a method of communicating the Gospel outside the walls of the Episcopal Church. This group of only eight will initially meet to talk about their experience of, expectations of, and hopes for the diocese. Additionally, the names of others who could be vital in this work will be suggested. The group will meet on an “as needed” basis and will dissolve at the end of the project.

+ The Diocesan Convention will be held in Montgomery February 19-21, 2009. Possible delegates from St. Mark’s are Heager Hill and Mark Smith after voting by the congregation is done.

EPISCOPAL PLACE BIRTHDAY PARTY St. Mark's ECW , Episcopal Place Staff ,and volunteers

December 10th at 4:00 was the date the St. Mark’s ECW sponsored the December birthday party for Episcopal Place residents born in that month. After a blessing from the Episcopal Place Chaplain, Honorees along with other residents of the building were served a delicious dinner of golden fried drummettes with optional ranch dressing, creamy potato salad, chilled fresh seedless grapes, squares of cheddar cheese, rolls and a tangy fruit punch. After everyone sang Happy Birthday a Christmas cake made completely of cupcakes was served to guests. A brief homily by retired Rector, Edward J. Wilson added meaning to the celebration of birthdays. Not only did each person celebrating a birthday receive a gift but also each of the guests. Residents socialized with each other as music played in the background. Eager to assist the ECW was the Episcopal Place Activity Director along with her daughters and Ethan Duckery of St. Mark’s. The children assisted with distributing the food. According to the Activity Director, St, Mark’s is ranks high with the residents of Episcopal Place. No wonder. With a party this grand who could ask for more?

Christmas Party

The annual St. Mark's Christmas Party was held immediately after the 10:00 service. The Fellowship Hall was decorated with festive seasonal arrangements. There was a sing along by adults and youth conducted by musician, Sundra Smith. All youth received a gift from Ms. Bertha Claus. Delicious food was enjoyed by everyone.

FIVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

One lady posing

Two tables waiting

Three ladies toilingFour people playing

Five music makers

Ocie Milner & Jalete Nelms






Congregation

Marietta, Claudette, Ellarene, a Nelms girl

Jackie Nixon

Food

Service for December 14, 2008

The sermon for 12-14-2008 was delivered by Rev. Jayne Pool.

Scripture Lessons
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Psalm 126
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
John 1:6-8,19-28
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ANNOUNCEMENTS

+Please make plans to join us:
Sunday, December 21st:
Caroling by the Voices of Praise
@
10:00 AM
and
Our Annual Christmas Party
immediately following the regular service.
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+Wednesday, December 24th
@
6:00 PM
Christmas Eve Service
Happy Holidays!
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+Sign up for Poinsettia's ($10)
+Keep Gwendolyn Flood in your prayers who grieves the loss of her niece Joy Perdue Turner.
+I am pleased to inform you that Fr. Wilson was released from St. Vincent’s with tests showing no irregularities. Thank you for your prayers.
Dea. Carolyn
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