themessenger Monthly Newsletter of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church APRIL 2014
IN THIS ISSUE: STEWARDSHIP & FINANCIAL REPORT Page 2 LENTEN LUNCHEON VOLUNTEER FORM Page 3 ADULT FORMATION Page 4-5 YOUTH NEWS Page 6-8 SHROVE TUESDAY Page 9 CHILDREN & FAMILY Pages 10-12 MUSIC NOTES Page 13 BIRTHDAYS & MEMORIALS Pages 14-15 HOLY WEEK AND EASTER Back Page
ST. MARK’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 315 E. Pecan St. San Antonio, Texas 78205 (210) 226-2426 www.stmarks-sa.org stmarks@stmarks-sa.org Office hours: Monday thru Friday 9:00a.m.-5:00p.m. Emergency Pastoral Care: 210-507-0256
VOLUME 103
ISSUE 4
Palm Sunday Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. -Zechariah 9:9 The 6th Sunday of Lent is known as Palm Sunday. On that day, we remember and relive Jesus’ entering into Jerusalem at the beginning of the Passover, which was his last week before he was convicted and put to death. This entry into Jerusalem is often referred to as The Triumphal Entry, based on Zechariah 9:9. Entering the city in this way would have meant something to both the Jewish people and the Roman occupiers: an entry on a donkey, an animal of peace, as opposed to a horse, an animal of war; people laying their clothes along the way to show honor; waving palms, known to symbolize a triumphant procession to the Romans – all of this could have been understood as Jesus declaring that he was the King of Israel to the anger of the Sanhedrin and the Romans alike. Yet palms also symbolized funeral processions to parts of the ancient world, and we know, as Jesus and his followers certainly did, that Jesus’ coming to Jerusalem was risky and likely meant Jesus would be arrested and put to death. Joy mixed with sorrow; hope mixed with fear. On April 13, we will gather in the newly renovated Travis Park to begin our worship with the Liturgy of the Palms. As we enter the church, we will sing and wave palms and wear our palm crosses to remind us of the week to come, Holy Week, when we remember the great love poured out to the world in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. We will say together, as we do each week, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, remembering Jesus’ journey and passion in the rhythm of our own liturgical year. Palm Sunday invites us into a contemplative week, when we come face to face with a suffering Savior who in love pours out himself for the love of the world. By observing the holy days of Passion Week, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday, we will experience the steps of Jesus and his disciples, finally celebrating the Resurrection on Easter Sunday, a truly triumphant day.