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Aloha!
With the start of the second semester of the school year coming just days before the formal end of the Christmas season and the Feast of the Epiphany tomorrow, I am reminded of a small lesson in scientific certainty versus faith that I share with my students every year. Right before the holidays I have them read and comment upon a column written by Professor Keith Devlin analyzing Santa Claus' one-night trip around the world from a mathematical perspective which, unsurprisingly, results in some ridiculous and hilariously impractical numbers. Though unabashedly ironic, lighthearted, and tongue-in-cheek, Professor Devlin's column does, perhaps inadvertently, raise some interesting issues about the sometimes-uneasy juncture between science and faith.
While scrutinizing our Christian celebration of the Incarnation and the manifestation of Jesus to the magi--epitomized in the secular world by Santa Claus--with the tools and methods of science provides an interesting intellectual exercise, in a very real sense it misses the point entirely. While I do believe that science and faith are merely two sides of the same coin that can complement each other wonderfully in our understanding of the majesty of God's creation, I also maintain that it is a tragic mistake to try and justify one entirely in terms of the other. Does it matter whether the Star of Bethlehem occurred as the result of a planetary conjunction between Jupiter and Saturn in the constellation Pieces, a supernova, Halley's Comet, or unverifiable and mystical Divine inspiration? If we really believe in the miracle of the Word made flesh coming to dwell among us, it shouldn't matter at all.
With the spirit of the magi--those original three astronomers and natural philosophers--join me in reveling in the inexplicable wonder of a child in a stable through whom comes the salvation of the world.
Blessings,
Michael Ida, ObJN
Sr. Warden of St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Honolulu
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Join us this weekend!
January 7 & 8
The Baptism of Christ
SATURDAY:
Evening Prayer in the Mary Chapel, 4:45 pm
Sung Vigil Mass, 5:15 pm
SUNDAY:
Morning Prayer in the Mary Chapel, 7:00 am
Low Mass, 7:30 am
Godly Play for Children, 9:00 am
High Mass, 10:00 am
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Pilgrimage to the Holy Land
December 25 - January 8Father Lillie will be leading a pilgrimage of parishioners to the Holy Land during the Twelve Days of Christmas. The daily mass schedule will be covered by Father Hitchcock and Father Sasaki. Please note that the Saturday morning mass on January 7 will not be celebrated. Otherwise the worship schedule remains consistent.
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Coming Up at St. Mark's
| 05 | Th |
Christmas Weekday
Fr. Hitchcock's Ruby Ordination Anniversary
Noonday Prayer 11:40
Mass 12:00
| 06
| F | EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD
No Friday Abstinence
Morning Prayer 07:40
Mass 08:00
Youth Overnight Epiphany Party 18:00
| 07
| Sa |
Epiphany Weekday
No Morning Mass & Rosary
| 07
| Sa |
EVE OF THE BAPTISM OF CHRIST
Evening Prayer 16:45
Sung Vigil Mass 17:15
| 08
| Su |
THE BAPTISM OF CHRIST
Morning Prayer 07:00
Low Mass 07:30
Godly Play for Children 09:00
High Mass 10:00
| 09
| M |
Epiphany Weekday
Morning Prayer 07:40
Mass 08:00
| 10
| T |
William Laud
Noonday Prayer 11:40
Mass 12:00
St. Mark's Choir Rehearsal 18:30
| 11
| W
| Epiphany Weekday
Morning Prayer 07:40
Healing Mass 08:00
Vestry 18:00
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Save the Date for these Future Events!
Check out the parish website to find out about future events including the following:
The Epiphany of Our Lord, January 6
Annual Meeting & Parish Elections, January 22
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St. Mark's Episcopal Church is an inclusive church in the Anglo-Catholic tradition.
We are dedicated to sharing the good news of God in Christ through our celebration of the Sacraments, Liturgy, and Music, and by attending in Jesus' Name, to the needs of our members and the wider community. We are a welcoming ohana, cherishing our catholic and Hawaiian mission roots, and we rejoice in our diversity.
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SUNDAY
7:00 am Morning Prayer
7:30 am Low Mass
9:00 am Godly Play
9:00 am Forum
MONDAY
7:40 am Morning Prayer
8:00 am Mass
TUESDAY
11:40 am Noonday Prayer
12:00 noon Mass
WEDNESDAY
7:40 am Morning Prayer
8:00 am Healing Mass
9:00 am Preschool Chapel
THURSDAY
11:40 am Noonday Prayer
12:00 noon Mass
FRIDAY
7:40 am Morning Prayer
8:00 am Mass
SATURDAY
8:40 am Morning Prayer
9:00 am Mass & Rosary
4:45 pm Evening Prayer
5:15 pm Sung Vigil Mass
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Weekly Collection
for the Needy
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 Every Sunday we collect food and hygeine products for the homeless and the hungry. Will you remember the neediest among us? Donations may be placed in the basket at the entry of the church on Sunday mornings. The donations are blessed at the offertory of High Mass. Please be generous.
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Did you miss last week's E-Newsletter? Read it online. E-NEWSLETTERS
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St. Mark's Episcopal Church
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