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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It Is By Grace You Have Been Saved

You’ve heard the sayings; “saved by the bell, and saved from drowning.” In the first perhaps a student was saved from an assignment he or she was unprepared for. This reprieve gives the student an opportunity to prepare. In the second example a person’s life is saved by intervention from one who intercedes on behalf of that person. A bell rang calling a halt to class. A buoy was thrown out to a drowning person. Someone or something saved that person. In each case a person was rescued through means other than their own.
Through God’s Grace we have been rescued from spiritual death and are afforded the opportunity to be redeemed through his blood to live in his glorious kingdom.

SCRIPTURES
Numbers 21:4-9
Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22
Ephesians 2:1-10

John 3:14-21

Last Sunday’s sermon left us with a question. “WHY ARE YOU EPISCOPALIAN?”

Titus Battle gives his answer to that question.

I was introduced to the Episcopal Church by way of the honorable and most respectable Bishop Furman Charles Stough who is now an angel in heaven. I was raised Pentecostal and wanted a more conservative, intellectual and friendlier approach to God/Spirituality. My relationship with God through the Episcopal Church has enhanced my life. God and I are the best of friends. Brother Jesus still is remembered for his murder and less than respectable treatment. The memorial of his time here on earth 2000 years ago is coming up again and I think he wants folks to know about how he lived before he was arrested and sentenced to death. Brother Jesus was one of the happiest, compassionate, friendly and kind human beings of all times. My contribution to the Anglican community is to continue the dialogue and focus on Jesus. Jesus walked, talked and loved many.
Thank you Bishop Stough for the gift that will last for generations within the Battle family.
Peace be with You

ANNOUNCEMENTS

2009 Lenten Season

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church

228 Dennison Ave. SW

Birmingham, AL 35211

205- 322-8449

THIS

March 25, 2009

6:00pm - 7:30pm

Program, Supper, and Compline(Speakers to lead discussions)

+Sunday, April 5, 2009 10:00am Palm Sunday Service+Thursday, April 9, 2009 6:00pm Maundy Thursday Service+Friday, April 10, 2009 6:00pm Good Friday Service

+Sunday, April 12, 2009 10:00am Easter Sunday Service ;Easter Egg Hunt (After Service)

This Sunday during Sunday School the children made candles and learned about prayers of confession.

+Learning: SUNDAY SCHOOL -Intergenerational Sunday School is held in the Parish Hall and will continue each Sunday from 9:00 - 9:45 am. All ages are welcomed.
+ Alms Giving: Maundy Thursday observes the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with his Disciples.During Lent we will be sponsoring

a food drive. There will be collection boxes in the narthex. How fitting to distribute food to those who are hungry on Maundy Thursday. More details to come

+ Vestry meeting will be held next Sunday after church.

+The Second Annual Mother /Daughter Weekend will be held April 17-19, 2009 at Camp McDowell. The retreat will be led by Rev. Sara Scott. Cost for the weekend is $75. Deadline for registration is April 13th. For more information click here

The Young Lions
by Titus Battle
Great Day ! Mike Milner was the presenter of today's topic which was "Family." The foundation of the Young Lions mentoring program was built upon this purpose. The subject of fatherhood and its importance in the life a man was the main focus. The young men were counseled on the importance of being an active Dad something many are sure to encounter in later years.
During the naming of our family members the Dad was left out, yet all the mentors present were active fathers, David Cook, Jerome Womack and myself were the mentors present to support Mike Milner. The boys were challenged to keep today’s session in mind for their futures when they become fathers. They were encouraged to remain in their child's life.

Thanks to Ethnographic Filmmaking of the U.A.B. Film Department for coming out and spending the entire session with us.
“Ethnographic Filmmaking is an interdisciplinary class offered at UAB that merges the methods of documentary filmmaking, art and anthropology as a way for students to research and represent local communities through film. This course is part of the Digital Community Studies Program housed in UAB’s Center for Urban Affairs.”
The goal of the course is for students to gain a better understanding of the community they are researching and to fairly represent the community they are working with.
The final product will be seen on screen at the Imax Theatre in the near future. Dates and times to be announced.
Editor’s note from Deacon Carolyn’s e-mail: “ Many thanks to Titus for making this connection.” :

Be advised any and all members are welcomed to stop by, say hello, give a few words of encouragement or pull up a chair and share the wisdom. God Bless you and God Bless All the Children of the World. Peace.

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SNOW

Church service was not held today due to the snowy weather.
SNOWFLAKES
by Verna Mull
I've often gazed at the snowflakes, as they lazily drifted down;
Turning the land into a fairyland, adding beauty to the drab ground!
Each flake appears to be pearly white, and each one differs from the other.
Somehow, my lazy streak comes through, and all I want to do is putter!
How can a flake look so white and pure, with the center being a speck of dirt?
What a reminder of my very own sins, before Jesus came into my heart!
Outside, a man may look white and pure, when inside, his heart is black.
Just like a snowflake, no one knows that there is anything that they lack!
But God, who looks beyond our sight, sees beyond the deceiving exterior.
He sees that sinful, dirt inside, and looks carefully at our interior!
God will make us "whiter than snow", when we release that sin to Him;

He can make His children more beautiful, than a white snowflake has ever been!
So, as we gaze at that flake of snow, let's take a little glance within.
Let Jesus make us "whiter than snow ", and cleanse our hearts from sin!
Reprinted with permission from faithreaders.com

SCRIPTURES


Genesis 9:8-17

Psalm 25:1-9

1 Peter 3:18-22
Mark 1:9-15


SCRIPTURES for the MONTH of MARCH


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Announcements
+ 2009 Lenten Season
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
228 Dennison Ave. SW

Birmingham, AL 35211
205 322-8449

• Wednesday, March 11, 2009 6:00pm - 7:30pm Program, Supper, and Compline&nb sp; (Speakers to lead discussions)
  
• Wednesday, March 25, 2009 6:00pm - 7:30pm Program, Supper, and Compline(Speakers to lead discussions)
  
• Sunday, April 5, 2009 10:00am Palm Sunday Service
  
• Thursday, April 9, 2009 6:00pm Maundy Thursday Service
• Friday, April 10, 2009 6:00pm Good Friday Service
  
• Sunday, April 12, 2009 10:00am Easter Sunday Service ;Easter Egg Hunt (After Service)
  
  
  +SUNDAY SCHOOL -Intergenerational Sunday School for all ages will be held throughout Lent by Rev. Sara Scott from 9:00 - 9:45 am
  We'll be making pretzels and learning about prayer.
  Plan to come every Sunday during Lent
  

+The Adult class will remain the same during Lent. The class will meet separately and continue to study the current curriculum.
+ Maundy Thursday observes the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with his Disciples.During Lent we will be sponsoring a food drive. There will be collection boxes in the narthex. How fitting to distribute food to those who are hungry on Maundy Thursday. More details to come

+Wednesday March 11th. A special program from 6:00p.m. until 7:30 p.m. on the History of St. Mark’s will be presented by a guest speaker. Supper will follow the special program.

+HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO EVERYONE BORN IN THE MONTH OF MARCH

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