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.

END*

Why Worry

Matthew 6:24-34
Jesus said, "No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you-- you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, `What will we eat?' or `What will we drink?' or `What will we wear?' For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

"So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today."
SCRIPTURES

Isaiah 49:8-16a

1 Corinthians 4:1-5

Matthew 6:24-34

Psalm 131

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.
ANNOUNCEMENTS

Thanks Christopher Griffin for being our musician today.

Thanks to Sam and Jalete Nelms. For teaching Children’s Sunday School today.

Katherine Files , granddaughter of Heager and Nettie Hill was featured on Daytime Alabama. Katherine is a high school senior at ASFA. As part of her senior course requirements she is to compose and choreograph an original dance composition to be performed in a recital by other students.
Church Women United will meet at St. Mark’s March 4, 2011 at 9:30 a.m. There will be a World Day of Prayer service. Mary Williams extends this invitation to male and female. There is no fee to attend. Sundra Smith will furnish music for the gathering.
Next Sunday, March 6 is our first Sunday luncheon. Cassandra Joseph and Jalete Nelms have chosen a Mardi Gras theme. A sign up sheet has been circulated and you should have received an e-mail. There are suggestions in parentheses but feel free to bring whatever you would like.. When you place your online choice make sure to click “Reply All” so that others will know what you plan to bring and there won’t be an overabundance of one thing.
Ash Wednesday service will take place March 9, 2011 at noon.

We are invited to St. Stephen’s, to tell the story of St. Mark’s. Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at 5:45-7:30 p.m. is the date and time. All of us have been invited for one of their Lenten suppers and program. Rides will be arranged for those who will need them. This is an exciting opportunity to share our story and ministry with St. Stephen’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.

St. Mark’s Lenten program proposed for 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

LAY READERS FOR MARCH 2011

March 6 Sylvia McClain

March 13 Mamie Hymes

March 20 Paul Goldman

March 27 Mary Williams

END***

Matthew 5:38-48
Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said, `An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.
"You have heard that it was said, `You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."





SCRIPTURES
Leviticus 19:1-2,9-18
1 Corinthians 3:10-11,16-23
Psalm 119:33-40

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Christopher Griffin was the musician for today. The congregation was especially enthused with Christopher’s hearty rendition of
“Standin’ In The Need Of Prayer” Toe tapping and hand clapping accompanied this energizing song.
Today’s acolyte was Emmanuel Robinson.


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.

ECW meeting was held after service presided over by Marietta Cameron.

Among topics discussed were:
*ECW calendars
*The president asked for a representative to the April 12th ECW board meeting since she will be unable to attend.
*Information on ECW scholarships was highlighted. Present and potential college students are eligible for the monies if they meet certain criteria.
*In gathering for UTO is in May. Rosie Bryant is the new UTO rep.
*The Treasurer, Mamie Hymes encouraged everyone to pay their dues and to inform her when they do so that she may have an accurate record.
*Rev. Sara-Scott presented a fundraising idea to get feedback on whether anyone would be interested. A hard copy of details will be given to the President to present at the next meeting so that members will have a better picture of project.

Children’s Sunday School February 27th . Teachers are Sam and Jalete Nelms. Be sure to have your children here by 10:00 a.m. so that they won’t miss out on the lesson the Nelms prepare.

Mark your calendars for March 4, 2011. Church Women United will meet at St. Mark’s at 9:30 a.m. Mary Williams extends this invitation to all. There is no fee to attend. Sundra Smith will furnish music for the gathering.

World Day of Prayer is also March 4, 2011.

We are invited to St. Stephen’s, our companion church to tell the story of St. Mark’s. Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at 5:45-7:30 p.m. is the date and time. We will join them during one of their Lenten suppers and program.Rides will be arranged for those who will need them. This is an exciting opportunity to share our story and ministry with St. Stephen’s.

END***