Concert at St. Mary’s Today Sunday April 28 3:00 p.m. Harlem Chamber Players & Opus 118 Harlem School of Music Hear acclaimed students from Opus 118, meet founder and master teacher Roberta Guaspari, the inspiration behind the award-winning documentary “Small Wonders” and inspiration behind Miramax’s film, “Music of the Heart.”

It’s time for the CROP Walk! Walk or raise funds to stamp out hunger!                                              NYC Walk Day: Sunday, 5/19/2013; 2pm. Starting Location: 86th Street and West End Avenue A portion of the funds raised through the NYC CROP Walk will come right back to the St. Mary’s pantry! Donations received before May 1st will be counted towards the Feinstein Challenge, each bit bringing back more of a million dollar pot!     Get started right away!                                                 Contact 646-499-3908,stmarys.facebook@gmail.com“

Current exhibit at General Seminary shows St. Mary’s role in 1970′s struggle for ordination of women as priests in the Episcopal Church, Today Sunday April 28,  Special trip–with tour of Seminary & exhibit.   Leaving from St. Mary’s at 2:00 p.m.  We can be proud.  Join in the fun. Transportation covered, Check out:  kellerlibrary.wordpress.com    

BIBLE STUDY will take place on April 30th at 7pm at the home of Fr. Pellaton, 2186Fifth Ave., Apt. 7D (135th St. and Fifth Ave.) As in the past Fr. Tom will make diner including a Vegans alternative, and the class can bring soft drinks and dessert. We are well into our study of the Gospel of Mark and will continue our journey with the Evangelist.

The next Baptisms will take place on Pentecost Sunday, May 19th. If you or your child or grandchild would like to be baptized please see Fr. Pellaton. In addition, Bp. Chilton Knutson, an assisting Bishop in the Diocese and long time friend of Fr. Pellaton’s will be here for Confirmation Sep. 8, 2013. Confirmation classes have already begun. If you would like to join the class or begin an adult class please see Fr. Tom

      Commentary on the Readings by Arthur Cash

First Reading: Acts 11: l – 18

   The earliest Christians were Jerusalem Jews. The major theme of Acts is the story of how, under the urging of Peter and Paul, the church decided to convert gentiles. (May I remind you that the term “gentile” means anyone who is not Jewish?) In our reading, we hear how the Jerusalem church was shocked to hear that Peter had been converting gentiles. They called him to return, and today we hear his defense. He begins with the fascinating vision he had of being told by God to eat meat prohibited in Jewish law. Then he tells of how he was called to the house of Cornelius, a centurion (officer over a hundred Roman soldiers), who had had a vision of an angel who told him to fetch Peter. (The story had been told in the previous chapter.) As Peter preached to the family, something happened, perhaps a trance fell on them, or they began speaking in tongues; the text says only “the Holy Spirit fell upon them.” After such a sign that God was with this family, Peter was happy to baptize them.

Second Reading: Revelation 21: 1– 6

    We are close to the end of Revelation. John is allowed to see the renewal of life that initiates the new era. From heaven descends the new Jerusalem, like a bride, an image that always puzzles my imagination. Then God takes leave from the scene, announcing his new dwelling among men in the holy city, his care of them, his renewing the entire world. There yet remain brief dramas of measuring and illuminating the holy city and the reevaluation to John of the river of life and the tree of life. Our next two readings will be taken from the final verses of the prophecy.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Ms. Lillian Spann and Ms. Enita Hinkson both long time member’s of St Mary’s Church. The service for Lillian Spann will take place Tuesday April 23, at 12 noon; preceded by a viewing in the Church from 10:am to 12 noon. The service for Enita Hinkson will be held on Wednesday April 24, at 11:am, preceded by a viewing in the church at 10:am.  May the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace.  The Rev. Earl Kooperkamp will participate in both services.

Leadership Seminar: Vestry members and any others interested are invited to a leadership Seminar at the Cathedral, Saturday April 27, 9: am-1:pm If you are interested in attending , see Father Tom or the Wardens of the Church.

It’s time for the CROP Walk! Walk or raise funds to stamp out hunger!                                              NYC Walk Day: Sunday, 5/19/2013; 2pm. Starting Location: 86th Street and West End Avenue A portion of the funds raised through the NYC CROP Walk will come right back to the St. Mary’s pantry! Donations received before May 1st will be counted towards the Feinstein Challenge, each bit bringing back more of a million dollar pot!     Get started right away!                                                 Contact 646-499-3908,stmarys.facebook@gmail.com“

Current exhibit at General Seminary shows St. Mary’s role in 1970′s struggle for ordination of women as priests in the Episcopal Church, Next week, Sunday April 28    Special trip–with tour of Seminary & exhibit.   Leaving from St. Mary’s at 2:00 p.m.  We can be proud.  Join in the fun. Transportation covered,  Check out:  kellerlibrary.wordpress.com    

 Harlem Chamber Players & Opus 118 Harlem School of Music.  Concert at St. Mary’s Sunday April 28 3:00 p.m. Hear acclaimed students from Opus 118, meet founder and master teacher Roberta Guaspari, the inspiration behind the award-winning documentary “Small Wonders” and inspiration behind Miramax’s film, “Music of the Heart.”

BIBLE STUDY will take place on April 30th at 7pm at the home of Fr. Pellaton, 2186Fifth Ave., Apt. 7D (135th St. and Fifth Ave.) As in the past Fr. Tom will make diner including a Vegans alternative, and the class can bring soft drinks and dessert. We are well into our study of the Gospel of Mark and will continue our journey with the Evangelist.

The next Baptisms will take place on Pentecost Sunday, May 19th. If you or your child or grandchild would like to be baptized please see Fr. Pellaton. In addition, Bp. Chilton Knutson, an assisting Bishop in the Diocese and long time friend of Fr. Pellaton’s will be here for Confirmation Sep. 8, 2013. Confirmation classes have already begun. If you would like to join the class or begin an adult class please see Fr. Tom

                   Commentary on the Readings by Arthur Cash

First Reading: Acts 9: 36- 43

      In Acts, Chapter 9, Peter brings about two miracles, the second of which you will hear about today. Both result in many conversions to “the way.” Throughout Acts, miracles lead to faith, Yet in the gospel of John the risen Christ says to doubting Thomas, ‘have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe” (20:29).

    It is significant that Peter stayed with a tanner. In Jewish law tanners were unclean because they worked with animal carcasses. Aside from law, raw animal hides are vile. They stink and attract vermin. Peter chose to stay in the very pit of society, an act of love toward humanity. Yet the church he helped to establish flourished largely because people of wealth supported it. See the recent work by Peter Brown, Through the Eye of  the Needle: Wealth, the Fall of Rome, and the Making of Christianity in the West 350-550 AD. 

Second Reading: Revelation 7: 9 – 17

   Revelation was written to give courage and comfort to Christians who were threatened by their Roman rulers. In 64 CE, the Roman emperor Nero blamed the Christians for the great fire of Rome, setting off vast numbers of arrests usually resulting in death, often by horrible tortures (described by the Roman diplomat and historian Tacitus in Annals.xv.44). Peter and Paul are thought to have died in these persecutions.

In our reading, John is still in the throne room of God. A great crowd of people dressed in white robes appears before God, and one of the elders explains to John that they have “come out of the great ordeal,” meaning they have died under torture, still loyal to Christ. In a wonderful metaphor f washing their robes in the blood of the lamb, we are told they have been forgiven their sins. Now God will dare for them and “will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

 BIBLE STUDY will take place on April 30th at 7pm at the home of Fr. Pellaton, 2186 Fifth Ave., Apt. 7D (135th St. and Fifth Ave.) As in the past Fr. Tom will make diner including a Vegans alternative, and the class can bring soft drinks and dessert. We are well into our study of the Gospel of Mark and will continue our journey with the Evangelist.

The next Baptisms will take place on Pentecost Sunday, May 19th. If you or your child or grandchild would like to be baptized please see Fr. Pellaton. In addition, Bp. Chilton Knutson, an assisting Bishop in the Diocese and long time friend of Fr. Pellaton’s will be here for Confirmation Sep. 8, 2013. Confirmation classes have already begun. If you would like to join the class or begin an adult class please see Fr. Tom

Ecclesia: Marcus Garvey Park: St. Mary’s is the lead congregation on the first and fifth Sunday each month. Today we will supply the lunches for Ecclesia. The services in Marcus Garvey park start, at 2:pm All are welcome to attend

Leadership Seminar: Vestry members and any others interested are invited to a leadership Seminar at the Cathedral, Saturday April 27, 9:am-1:pm If you are interested in attending , see Father Tom or the Wardens of the Church.

St. Mary’s Homeless Street Outreach: Saturdays, 12:00 noon preparation and 2:00 pm Street Outreach. Please let us know if you can help and keep the Homeless Street Outreach in your prayers.

Father Tom will be away next week for a funeral in Munich, Germany. The Rev. Rhonda Rubinson, recently Priest-in charge at St. Phillips in Harlem will be taking the services on April 14. Please give her a warm welcome.

                                Commentary on the Readings by Arthur Cash

First Reading: Acts 9: 1 – 20

   We begin today a series of eight readings from the earliest history of the Church, the Acts of the Apostles. Not history in the modern sense, it is more like the story of the advancements of the Holy Spirit. From as early as the second century, the authorship has been attributed to Luke, the evangelist.  Although no certain proof has been found, the vast majority of Biblical scholars have agreed. No doubt Luke had intended his gospel and history of the church to appear together, two volumes of one work, but some ancient editor separated them. Although the church relegates Acts to a position inferior to the gospels, some of its scenes are of primary importance to our religion, especially the assumption of Christ, and the Pentecost.  There is much speculation, but no definitive explanation of why late in Acts some passages switch from a third-person narrative to a first-person, the so-called “we passages’ (16:1-17; 20:5-16; 21:1-18; 27:1-28:16).

Second Reading: Revelation 1:4 – 8

   We being today with a series of readings from Revelation, a work written to encourage Christians to remain faithful under persecution and, as often was the case, torture.

Today scholars treat apocalyptical narratives as a literary genre. Revelation is the mist fully developed, but others appear in Daniel, Joel, Amos, Zechariah, and the apocryphal books of Baruch and II Esdras. There poetic fiction envision the past as a series of eons or ages, beginning with a golden age and then getting worse and worse until the present time, and age so evil that God will bring to an end. Numerology and astrology gives clues to the approach of the end. Fantastic beasts and elaborately figured angels play a part. As the world nears its end, there are earthquakes, crumbling mountains, blotted-out sun, and other “woes,” often shaped as allegories of historical disasters (the beast of ten horns and seven heads, for instance, represents Rome:13:1). The woes are followed by a battle of the forces of good and evil in which Satan is defeated finally, there is a parousia, in which the “son of man” appears to judge the living and the risen dead. The damned are sent to Sheol, and the good are translated to a new life in a new aeon, a kingdom of God.

Thanks to all of you who made Palm Sunday and Holy Week and Easter so special here at St. Mary’s. From the choir, the altar guild, acolytes, and readers to those who put the Garden of Repose together and our special Bagpiper, it was a massive effort which produced fine services during this spiritually heightened time. And we should not forget the cooks who put together the brunch after the Easter Services. Thank you all (and especially you Ms. Gwen Walker who produced all the bulletins.

                        Alleluia, Christ is Risen! The Lord is Risen indeed, alleluia!

Ecclesia: Marcus Garvey Park: St. Mary’s is the lead congregation on the first and fifth Sunday each month. Today we will supply the lunches for Ecclesia. The services in Marcus Garvey park start, at 2:pm All are welcome to attend

Leadership Seminar: Vestry members and any others interested are invited  to a leadership Seminar at the Cathedral, Saturday April 27, 9:am-1:pm If you are interested in attending , see Father Tom or the Wardens of the Church.

St. Mary’s Homeless Street Outreach: Saturdays, 12:00 noon preparation and 2:00 pm Street Outreach. Please let us know if you can help and keep the Homeless Street Outreach in your prayers.

Father Tom, will be away next week for a funeral in Munich, Germany. The Rev. Rhonda Rubinson, recently Priest-in charge at St. Phillips in Harlem will be taking the services on April 14. Please give her a worm welcome.

Commentary on the Readings by Arthur Cash

First Reading: Acts 5: 27-32

   We begin today a series of eight readings from the earliest history of the Church, the Acts of the Apostles. Not history in the modern sense, it is more like the story of the advancements of the Holy Spirit. From as early as the second century, the authorship has been attributed to Luke, the evangelist.  Although no certain proof has been found, the vast majority of Biblical scholars have agreed. No doubt Luke had intended his gospel and history of the church to appear together, two volumes of one work, but some ancient editor separated them. Although the church relegates Acts to a position inferior to the gospels, some of its scenes are of primary importance to our religion, especially the assumption of Christ, and the Pentecost.  There is much speculation, but no definitive explanation of why late in Acts some passages switch from a third-person narrative to a first-person, the so-called “we passages’ (16:1-17; 20:5-16; 21:1-18; 27:1-28:16).

Second Reading: Revelation 1:4 – 8

   We being today with a series of readings from Revelation, a work written to encourage Christians to remain faithful under persecution and, as often was the case, torture.

Today scholars treat apocalyptical narratives as a literary genre. Revelation is the mist fully developed, but others appear in Daniel, Joel, Amos, Zechariah, and the apocryphal books of Baruch and II Esdras. There poetic fiction envision the past as a series of eons or ages, beginning with a golden age and then getting worse and worse until the present time, and age so evil that God will bring to an end. Numerology and astrology gives clues to the approach of the end. Fantastic beasts and elaborately figured angels play a part. As the world nears its end, there are earthquakes, crumbling mountains, blotted-out sun, and other “woes,” often shaped as allegories of historical disasters (the beast of ten horns and seven heads, for instance, represents Rome:13:1). The woes are followed by a battle of the forces of good and evil in which Satan is defeated finally, there is a parousia, in which the “son of man” appears to judge the living and the risen dead. The damned are sent to Sheol, and the good are translated to a new life in a new aeon, a kingdom of God.

 The flowers on the Altar are given to the glory of God by Mr. Radford Arrindell and in loving memory of his mother, Mrs. Janet Arrindell.

Thanks to our special musicians today, Ms. April Armstrong, soloist and accompanist Mr. Ishmael Wallace, and to Mr. Nabate Iles, trumpet. Thank you so much for helping St. Mary’s Church celebrates a special Easter this year.

Leadership Seminar: Vestry members and any others interested are invited  to a leadership Seminar at the Cathedral, Saturday April 27, 9:am-1:pm If you are interested in attending , see Father Tom or the Wardens of the Church.

Eccelsia: Marcus Garvey Park: St. Mary’s is the lead congregation on the first and fifth Sunday each month. Today we will celebrate Easter with Ecclesia in the park, at 2:00pm. A caterer will be supplying the meal this Sunday!                      All are welcome.

 Easter Egg Hunt!! Following the service, all children are invited to join in the Annual Easter Egg Hunt in the garden! Thanks to our ECW Woman and our Sunday School leaders for organizing this event!

 Easter Brunch will be served after today’s Easter Egg Hunt in the undercroft

                                                  “Donations are accepted”

Commentary on the Readings by Arthur Cash

                “Easter Day March 31, 2013”

For this, our most holy, mysterious, and joyful day of the year, only one comment is appropriate:

“Christ has risen”

Reblogged from St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Harlem Blog:

Bagpipes and Drums!! Many thanks to Tommy Chang, Ray Lewis and the St. Mary’s Choir and Acolytes for leading our Palm Sunday Procession this morning. Once again we are blessed to start our Holy Week observance by going forth into our neighborhood to witness where God is working among the poor and oppressed. Thank you!!

Today, Palm Sunday: March 24th: 8am and 10am                                                                                          With procession and the Reading of the Passion narrative.

Holy Week and Easter Services

 *Tenebrae: Wednesday March 27th: 6:30pm:                                                                                                 A service of Psalms and Scripture for Holy Week

* Maundy Thursday: March 28th: 6:30pm:                                                                                                                         Foot Washing, Holy Communion, followed by all night vigil at the Altar of Repose

*Good Friday: March 29th: 12 noon: The Good Friday Liturgy,                                                                     Music by the Harlem chamber Players, Holy Communion form the Reserved Sacrament

*Holy Saturday: March 30th: 12 noon: A short service of prayer in the garden

*Easter Sunday: March 31st: 7:30am Vigil and First Eucharist Easter:10.am Festal

Stewardship and your pledge - As a community, we share in many ways. We give God and each other prayer, time, togetherness, talents and tithing. Turning in a pledge card is a demonstration of your commitment, and helps with planning for 2013. We thank you if you have already pledged. If you have not pledged, please prayerfully consider your pledge to St. Mary’s for 2013, and turn in pledge card today.

A leadership workshop will be held at the Cathedral, Saturday April 27, from 9am-1pm for the Vestry and others interested parishioners of St. Mary’s. If you are interested in attending the workshop please see Father Tom Pellaton.

Vestry members meet today after the 10:am service.

Sunday, March 10 at 1:30, the Orfeo Duo (Vita and Ishmael Wallace) will present a concert entitled “HOME Lost, Imagined, Found,” including St. Mary’s Choir’s presentation of Ishmael’s setting of words by Charles Kelly.

A monthly Bible Study will begin during Lent beginning Feb. 26, starting with dinner at 7.00 pm at the home of Fr. Tom Pellaton at 2186 Fifth Ave. Apt. 7D (off of 135th St.) The actual study will begin at 7.45 pm. Once again Fr. Tom will make the main course and salad and those of you who attend can bring soft drinks and dessert. Also bring your own Bible if you can. We will begin a thorough study of the Gospel of Mark and continue the class monthly till we accomplish the full reading of the Gospel.  The second session will take place March 19th

Lent at Mary’s, this year as in the recent past years St. Mary’s is encouraged to attend all or some of the Wednesday evening prayer services being offered by various churches here in Harlem. See the schedule below. Usually a light supper is s  the service.

Manhattan North Inter Parish Council 2013 Service Schedule Wednesdays in Lent at 7:pm

 DATE                                                      LOCATION                                               ADDRESS

March 6, 2012                         Church of the Intercession       550 West 155^th Street

    March 13, 2013                                   St. Philip’s Church                   204 West 134^th Street

March 20, 2013                                   St. Luke’s Church                    435 West 141^st Street

We are once again asking for those of you who may be called to be a Sunday Saint and help out as an usher or a Lay Eucharistic Minister/Acolyte. Please see Fr. Tom if you are interested.

Stewardship and your pledge - As a community, we share in many ways. We give God and each other prayer, time, togetherness, talents and tithing. Turning in a pledge card is a demonstration of your commitment, and helps with planning for 2013. We thank you if you have already pledged. If you have not pledged, please prayerfully consider your pledge to St. Mary’s for 2013, and turn in pledge card today.

March 10, after the 10am service is the Annual General Meeting. We will elect new Vestry Members, delegates to Convention and to the IPC. The Budget for 2013 will be presented. What we also want to do is have a good time. We encourage you to bring food to share for a pot luck lunch. All are invited to attend.

Thanks to all of you who shared with us in poetry and song last Sunday. It was a very moving experience.

Commentary on the Readings by Arthur Cash

First Reading: Exodus 3: 1-15

Moses, the youthful outlaw from Egypt, found shelter and employment at Midians, and married one of the daughters of the mysterious priest of Midian, Jethro. The Midianites worshiped a single, universal God who, I believe, was Yahweh. God’s commissioning of Moses takes place in the area of a Midianite altar. I am among those who hold that Moses learned the worship of Yahweh from Jethro.

   Our translation along with many others may not get right the name God announces is his. In the original Hebrew text, it is spelled without vowels, YHWH.  No one knows for sure what the missing vowels were. Most translations, supply vowels and render the name as Yahweh, which has the advantage of being pronounceable. But the choice of vowels is guess work; consequently, the meaning of the name, if there was one, remains in doubt. Folk tradition holds that the name means “I am.” But some scholars think it means something like “He causes to be.”

Second Reading: First Corinthians 10:1-13

   Paul is addressing Greeks who have recently been baptized, warning them against self-indulgent sins. He tells them how his own people had survived the exodus from slavery in Egypt, had crossed the deserts, but had sinned among themselves and displeased God. They were struck down, dying before the forty-year journey came to an end. True, Exodus tells us that among those who began the exodus in Egypt only Joshua and Moses were still alive when they reached the Jordon and stood looking at the Promised Land. Moses was still leading a Jewish population, but these were men and woman who had been born along the way. I think it is disingenuous for Paul to say that their parents had been struck down because of their sinfulness. They sinned, all right, building a golden calf to worship at Sinai, but God had forgiven that, The implication in Exodus is that they died of old age and natural causes. Be that as it may, Paul warns his listeners not to fall into self-indulgent behavior that displease God. They will be tested by God, who may send evils and temptations; so watch out.

   The tradition that the water-giving rock trekked along after the Israelites on their long journey is not to be found in scripture. Paul accepts this folk myth and interprets the rock as Christ. Paul was the first Christian theologian. In his theology, Christ. Existed prior to Jesus’ birth at Bethlehem.

Harlem Chamber Player, Please set aside Sunday Feb. 24, at 3pm for the 5th annual Black History Month Concert by the Harlem Chamber Player. A diverse and exciting program is planned. For more information check the website http://www.HarlemChamber Players.org.

 February is Black History Month. As is the tradition here at St. Mary’s the last Sunday of the month, February 24, is a time when we share some poetic composition that tells us about the Back experience. If you would like to read that day please sign up on the sheet on the table in the back of the church.

A monthly Bible Study will begin during Lent beginning Feb. 26, starting with dinner at 7.00pm at the home of Fr. Tom Pellaton at 2186 Fifth Ave. Apt. 7D (off of 135th St.) The actual study will begin at 7.45pm. Once again Fr. Tom will make the main course and salad and those of you who attend can bring soft drinks and dessert. Also bring your own Bible if you can. We will begin a thorough study of the Gospel of Mark and continue the class monthly till we accomplish the full reading of the Gospel. The second session will take place March 19th.

Vestry members please remember that the next Vestry meeting is Feb. 24, starting at noon after the 10am Eucharist

Lent at Mary’s, this year as in the recent past years St. Mary’s is encouraged to attend all or some of the Wednesday evening prayer services being offered by various churches here in Harlem. See the schedule below. Usually a light supper is served after the service.

Manhattan North Inter Parish Council 2013 Service Schedule Wednesdays in Lent at 7: pm

DATE                                         LOCATION                             ADDRESS

February 20, 2013                   St. Martin’s Church                  230 Lenox Avenue

February 27, 2013                   St. Andrew’s Church               2067 Fifth Avenue

March 6, 2012                          Church of the Intercession     550 West 155^th Street

March 13, 2013                        St. Philip’s Church                   204 West 134^th Street

March 20, 2013                       St. Luke’s Church                    435 West 141^st Street

We are once again asking for those of you who may be called to be a Sunday Saint and help out as an usher or a Lay Eucharistic Minister/Acolyte. Please see Fr. Tom if you are interested.

Stewardship and your pledge - As a community, we share in many ways. We give God and each other prayer, time, togetherness, talents and tithing. Turning in a pledge card is a demonstration of your commitment, and helps with planning for 2013. We thank you if you have already pledged. If you have not pledged, please prayerfully consider your pledge to St. Mary’s for 2013, and turn in pledge card today.

Lent at Mary’s, this year as in the recent past years St. Mary’s is encouraged to attend all or some of the Wednesday evening prayer services being offered by various churches here in Harlem. See the schedule below. Usually a light supper is served after the service  Manhattan North Inter Parish Council 2013 Service Schedule Wednesdays in Lent at 7:pm  

DATE                                                LOCATION                                ADDRESS

February 20, 2013                   St. Martin’s Church                  230 Lenox Avenue

February 27, 2013                   St. Andrew’s Church               2067 Fifth Avenue

March 6, 2012                         Church of the Intercession       550 West 155^th Street

March 13, 2013                                   St. Philip’s Church                   204 West 134^th Street

March 20, 2013                                   St. Luke’s Church                    435 West 141^st Street

St. Mary’s Wednesday services February 13. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday The Liturgy and Imposition of Ashes will take place at 7.30am, 12 noon and 6.30pm (with hymns). We are encouraged to keep a Holy Lent. Please join us in worship on Ash Wednesday.

Available on Ash Wednesday will be Lenten meditation booklets produced by Episcopal Relief and Development. They are free for your use during Lent. Please take a copy.

A monthly Bible Study will begin during Lent beginning Feb. 26, starting with dinner at 7.00pm at the home of Fr. Tom Pellaton at 2186 Fifth Ave. Apt. 7D (off of 135th St.) The actual study will begin at 7.45pm. Once again Fr. Tom will make the main course and salad and those of you who attend can bring soft drinks and dessert. Also bring your own Bible if you can. We will begin a thorough study of the Gospel of Mark and continue the class monthly till we accomplish the full reading of the Gospel. The second session will take place March 19th.

February is Black History Month. As is the tradition here at St. Mary’s the last Sunday of the month, February 24, is a time when we share some poetic composition that tells us about the Back experience. If you would like to read that day please sign up on the sheet on the table in the back of the church.

We are once again asking for those of you who may be called to be a Sunday Saint and help out as an usher or a Lay Eucharistic Minister/Acolyte. Please see Fr. Tom if you are interested.

Stewardship and your pledge - As a community, we share in many ways. We give God and each other prayer, time, togetherness, talents and tithing. Turning in a pledge card is a demonstration of your commitment, and helps with planning for 2013. We thank you if you have already pledged. If you have not pledged, please prayerfully consider your pledge to St. Mary’s for 2013, and turn in pledge card today.