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Aloha!
This coming Sunday our Gospel reading is the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ. We will hear how James, John and Peter will witness Jesus shining with glory, flanked on each side by Moses and Elijah. We always have this Gospel on the Sunday before Lent begins as a reminder of the resurrection feast that shall come at the end of Lent.
There are two spots in the Holy Land that commemorate the event of the Transfiguration. One of them, Mount Tabor, has a beautiful church situated on the top. Inside there is a glorious high altar that basically breaks all of the popular liturgical rules deemed sacred today. Whereas today everyone tries to get the altar as close as possible to where the people are sitting, at this church, the high altar sits high above in the church, and there is a gaping chasm between the altar and the people seated in the church. When you attend mass, you are invited to look to the heavens at the transfigured Jesus, in this case, the transfigured bread and wine that is our Lord, being offered for you as you gaze upwards. It is a brilliant example of sacred architecture making the most of a Gospel passage.
And yet, the transfiguration is not just a bunch of euphoric gazing into the heavens at Jesus, escaping the problems of our world and society today. As we gaze upwards, and as we elevate our minds and hearts to things heavenly, we are called to take the glorious light of our Lord into the darkest recesses of our world. Mountaintop experiences are wasted experiences if they do not translate into sacrifices that share the love of Christ with those who are in the most need. In other words, we are given the glorious vision of the transfiguration, so that we can share the hope that is in us when we face the Good Fridays of our world. We are given this glimpse so that we can carry on to Easter.
This Sunday I invite you to gaze upwards at the transfigured Christ so that you can be assured of the hope of the resurrection. I also invite you to take that hope to where it is needed the most in your world. Gaze upwards and reach outwards for the sake of the Gospel. Receive the hope that our Lord provides, and then go forth and share that good news with others. Such action will ensure that none of us waste the mountaintop experiences of our faith.
Blessings to you and your loved ones, and I hope to see you this weekend.
Father Paul+
The Rev'd Father Paul Lillie, Rector
St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Honolulu
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Join us this weekend!
February 18 & 19
The Last Sunday Before Lent
SATURDAY: Hawaiian Arts, 3:30 pm Confessions, 4:30 pm
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 Mardi Gras Breakfast, 8:45 am Godly Play for Children, 9:00 am
High Mass with the Men of the Choir, 10:00 am
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So . . . why the Palm Cross E-News Banner?
No . . . Sunday is not Palm Sunday. The Palm Cross Banner is a reminder for you to bring your palm crosses, as well as palms, this Sunday, so that we can burn them for the ashes on Ash Wednesday.
AND WHY PANCAKES BEFORE LENT?
It is a tradition to use up sugar, flour, eggs, and other fatty foods, before the Lenten fast. Traditionally, such foods are consumed on Shrove Tuesday, or the day before Ash Wednesday. Other names for Shrove Tuesday include Pancake Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, or even Greasy Tuesday (Mardi Gras)!
BUT FROM WHERE DOES THE WORD "SHROVE" COME?
"Shrove" is the past tense of the word "shrive" which means "to hear a confession." Shrove Tuesday, amidst all of the pancakes, is a reminder that we are entering into a penitential season. Believe it or not, traditionally one would make their confession prior to Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent, often on Shrove Tuesday. In terms of confession, Shrove Tuesday is the day by which to make one's conscience clean before entering the disciplines of Lent.
PANCAKES, FRIED RICE & MORE
This Sunday the Catechumens and the ukulele students will serve up a Mardi Gras feast for the parish. Come and enjoy a morning of delicious foods between our two masses, and if you are so called, offer your confession on Saturday night at 4:30 pm. Enjoy a bit of self-indulgence and take the time to clean your conscience before the rigors of Lent begin next Wednesday.
MARDI GRAS BREAKFAST INFORMATION
OFFERING YOUR CONFESSION
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Mardi Gras Brunch
February 19The Last Sunday before LentServings begin after Low Mass in the Parish Hall  On this Sunday we will have our Mardi Gras breakfast, a delicious feast before the Lenten Fast. Come and enjoy breakfast with your fellow parishioners. Breakfast will be served following the 7:30 am Low Mass, and servings will continue until 9:30 am. We ask for a suggested donation of $5 per person to help defray the cost of food; children eat free. And by the way, if you cannot pay the $5, find Father Paul on Sunday. No one will be turned away from the Mardi Gras Feast. FROM THE WEBSITE
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Ash Wednesday & the Lenten Fast
 Blow the trumpet in Zion;
sanctify a fast;
call a solemn assembly;
gather the people.
Sanctify the congregation;
assemble the aged;
gather the children,
even infants at the breast.
Let the bridegroom leave his room,
and the bride her canopy.
Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests,
the ministers of the LORD, weep.
Let them say, "Spare your people, O LORD,
and do not make your heritage a mockery, a byword among the nations.
Why should it be said among the peoples,
`Where is their God?'"
--From the Prophecy of Joel
Lent, a period of forty days and forty nights, begins with Ash Wednesday on February 22 and concludes with the Great Feast of Easter on April 8. ASH WEDNESDAYFebruary 22Morning Prayer in the Mary Chapel, 9:30 am Low Mass & the Imposition of Ashes, 10:00 am Evening Prayer in the Mary Chapel, 5:30 pm High Mass & the Imposition of Ashes, 6:30 pm After both masses, simple Lenten meals will be served in the Parish Hall. The choir will sing for the evening mass. The offering on Ash Wednesday is designated for Episcopal Relief and Development. Please note that the 8:00 am Healing Mass will not be celebrated on Ash Wednesday. MORE INFORMATION ABOUT LENT
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Forty Days & Forty Nights
St. Mark's has a variety of ways for you to observe the holy season of Lent. Check out our LENTEN WEBPAGE for the following offerings. FRIDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDYFridays, 8:45 - 9:45 amEvery Friday we gather at 8:45 am in the Parish Hall for a study on the following Sunday's readings. Lively discussion is encouraged, and we use our Oxford Annotated Bibles as reference tools. Come early for the 8:00 am mass in the Mary Chapel. Newcomers are always welcome. LENTEN SERIES: EMBRACING THE PROPHETS & CONFRONTING OUR PHAROAHSFebruary 26, March 4, 11, 18, 25For the five Sundays in Lent we will gather at 8:45 am in the Parish Hall for a study of the prophets and their relevance for today. This series features a DVD of Walter Brueggemann, renowned Scripture scholar, and the sessions will also allow for our own reflection as a group. STATIONS OF THE CROSS & BENEDICTION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENTFebruary 24, March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30For the Friday evenings of Lent, we will gather in the church at 6:00 pm to walk the way of the cross and adore our Lord in the Sacrament. Come early for the recitation of Evening Prayer in the Mary Chapel at 5:30 pm. LENTEN SERIES: A HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITYFebruary 24, March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30Following Stations and Benediction on Friday nights, we will gather in the Parish Hall at 7:00 pm for this BBC series hosted by Diarmaid MacCullough. The series will take us from the early church, to the rise of Rome, to a view of the Orthodox Church, to the Reformation, and eventually to the issues facing the modern day churches. Each session will end around 8:15 pm. CONFESSIONSaturdays, 4:30 - 4:45 pmAll may, none must, some should. This is the Anglican view regarding confession. A priest is available in the church every Saturday from 4:30 - 4:45 pm to hear confessions, prior to the recitation of Evening Prayer in the Mary Chapel at 4:45 pm. Other times may be scheduled with the clergy if one so desires. LENTEN BROCHUREWe have created a brochure with all of our Lenten activities. They will be handed out on Sunday morning. Place it on your fridge, or on your car dashboard. Take extra copies for your desk at work and for your gym bag. Let us help you remember to observe a holy Lent. MORE INFORMATION ABOUT LENT |
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May light perpetual shine upon them
 Saturday, February 18
Requiem Mass, 9:00 am
Masey Chan
Jim Gowler
William Leialoha
George Lum
Lawrence Ono
Chiyo Tokushige
Chris Xigogianis
To have a name added to the list contact the rector. REQUIEMS |
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Remembering Father Turnbull
 As mentioned in last week's Evangel E-Newsletter, we are currently having the church bell repaired and refurbished. We have not been able to use the bell for quite some time now, and we are excited that soon we will be able to ring the bell. This work has been made possible due to generous donations by the children of the late Father Joseph Turnbull. Many of you have fond memories of Father Turnbull, and you have asked if you might also contribute to the cost of refurbishing the bell. To donate, simply write a check to St. Mark's, writing "church bell" on the memo line. Your donation will help us celebrate the legacy of a faithful priest, who was not only an important priest in the past for our church, but who also helped form us for our ministry and presence today. --from the Rector
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Hawaiian Arts Offerings
 Every Saturday from 3:30 - 4:30 pm St. Mark's offers a variety of sessions celebrating our Hawaiian heritage. Some weeks are ukulele lessons and other weeks are dedicated to hula. Newcomers are always welcome. For more information speak with Marvin Mero, or just stop by on a Saturday. HAWAIIAN ARTS |
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Coming Up at St. Mark's
| 16 | Th |
Epiphany Weekday
Noonday Prayer 11:40
Mass 12:00
| | 17 | F | Janani Luwum
Friday Abstinence
Morning Prayer 07:40
Mass 08:00
Lectionary Bible Study 08:46
| | 18 | Sa |
Epiphany Weekday
Morning Prayer 08:40
Mass & Rosary 09:00
| | 18 | Sa |
EVE OF THE LAST SUNDAY BEFORE LENT
Hawaiian Arts 15:30
Confessions, 16:30
Evening Prayer 16:45
Sung Vigil Mass 17:15
| | 19 | Su |
THE LAST SUNDAY BEFORE LENT
Morning Prayer 07:00
Low Mass 07:30
Mardi Gras Breakfast 08:45
Godly Play for Children 09:00
High Mass 10:00
| | 20 | M |
Epiphany Weekday
Morning Prayer 07:40
Mass 08:00
| | 21 | T | John Henry Newman
Noonday Prayer 11:40
Mass 12:00
St. Mark's Choir Rehearsal 18:30
| | 22 | W
| ASH WEDNESDAY
Fast & Abstinence
Preschool Chapel 09:00
Morning Prayer 09:30
Mass & Imposition of Ashes 10:00
Kupuna Lenten Lunch 11:00
Evening Prayer 17:30
High Mass & Imposition of Ashes 18:30
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Save the Date!
Mark your calendars for these future dates in addition to the events listed above. For more information click on the event.
Enrollment of Catechumens, February 26
Bishop's Annual Visitation, March 9
United Thank Offering Ingathering, March 11
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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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SATURDAY VIGIL
4:30 pm Confessions
4:45 pm Evening Prayer
5:15 pm Sung Vigil Mass
SUNDAY MORNING
7:00 am Morning Prayer
7:30 am Low Mass
9:00 am Godly Play
MONDAY
7:40 am Morning Prayer
8:00 am Mass
TUESDAY
11:45 am Noonday Prayer
12:00 noon Mass
WEDNESDAY
7:40 am Morning Prayer
8:00 am Healing Mass
9:00 am Preschool Chapel
THURSDAY
11:45 am Noonday Prayer
12:00 noon Mass
FRIDAY
7:40 am Morning Prayer
8:00 am Mass
SATURDAY MORNING
8:40 am Morning Prayer
9:00 am Mass & Rosary
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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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