A weekly email blast written by Daniel Vigilante to members and friends.

 

 

February 10, 2011

 

 Sunday Worship

9:30 a.m.

 

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS DAN VIGILANTE?

The theme of healing continues this Sunday as we'll hear two biblical stories concerning leprosy, one from 2 Kings 5: 1-14, the other from Mark 1: 40-45.  According to one commentary on the texts:  

 

In all of Scripture, only one holy man - Elisha - is known to have channeled God's power over skin disease... Elisha's wonders, including his cure of Naaman's illness, pointed forward to the outpouring of God's power in the messianic age... But the messianic era will far transcend Elisha's times. It will witness the cleansing not only of skin disease but also of the entire cure of alienation from God for which it stands. God's messiah will break the hold of all demonic forces upon the living.  

 

In other words, Jesus' healing of the man in our reading for this week goes beyond simply curing a skin disease - it points to a disregard for the religious rules that place people into categories like "outsider," "outcast," and "unclean." It's powerful stuff, isn't it? 

 

Don't miss worship this week at 9:30 a.m. To hear the readings click on the corresponding reading above.

A PRAYER FOR WHOLENESS FROM THOMAS MERTON

My Lord God,

I have no idea where I am going.

I do not see the road ahead of me.

I cannot know for certain where it will end.

Nor do I really know myself,

and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.

And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.

I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.

And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road,

though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore I will trust you always

though I may seem lost and in the shadow of death.

I will not fear, for you are ever with me,

and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. Amen.

                      From Thoughts in Solitude

COME LEARN SOMETHING NEW!

If you missed last week's talk by Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, an Islamic scholar, theologian, and chairman of the Fiqh Council of North America - don't. miss it. again! Dr. Siddiqi will continue his series on Islam at 8:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall.

 

Then, at 11:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall, Nina Berman and Susan Seely will lead our adult education series on Palestine and Islam. It should make for a wonderful morning - all are welcome!

SOME OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUNDAY:

Stop by the Deacons' tables on the patio after worship to sign your name - and maybe even add a personal note - to the Care Cards 

St. Mark sends to its members and friends who are unable to join us on Sunday mornings. You don't need to know these folks to send them your best wishes.  Simply stop by, sign your name, and show some love to our homebound sisters and brothers.

  

And speaking of signing your name - if you're a registered California voter and if so choose, stop by the table on the patio where you can join the petition for the Death Penalty Repeal Initiative.  Learn more at: www.safecalifornia.org.

FAMILY PROMISE

Many thanks to all of the volunteers - nearly FIFTY of them - who signed up to help out with Family Promise!  As it turned out, most of the week went by with no families enrolled in the program - that is, until tonight, when a family of three will become our guests for the weekend.  Although most of those who signed up to serve this past week weren't needed, your willingness to volunteer and welcome those in need is worthy of acknowledgment.  And to those of you who WILL be "working" - cooking, cleaning, serving, spending 

the night - on behalf of the whole congregation of St. Mark, 

THANK YOU! 

See you in church, 

- Dan

 

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