Saturday, November 07, 2009

Lenten Pilgrimage to Jordan and Israel, 2010

TUE, FEB 9
Depart Dulles International Airport 9:55 p.m., Air France connecting in Paris to Amman, Jordan.

WED, FEB 10, DAY 1: ARRIVE QUEEN ALIA AIRPORT / TRANSFER TO
AMMAN
7:10 p.m. Arrive on AF #3886, Transfer to Ramada Hotel, Amman

THU, FEB 11, DAY 2: PETRA [map]
After breakfast, full-day tour to the Red Rose City Petra. (See information here and here and video here.)Upon arrival you will begin an unforgettable trip on horseback to the
Siq and by foot walk through the Siq to the Treasury. The local guide
will give a brief history. The Nabateans carved this capital of theirs
from the living rock of the surrounding mountains in Petra. Among other
monuments to visit today are Pharaoh's Castle, the Triumphal arch, the
Amphitheater and Monastery. Return to Ramada Hotel, Amman for dinner and overnight

FRI, FEB 12, DAY 3: MT. NEBO / MADABA / SCHNELLER [map]
After breakfast drive the King's Highway to Madaba to visit the unique Byzantine Mosaics map of the holy places. Continue to Mount Nebo
with its spectacular view of the Holy Land. Lunch in Madaba. This
afternoon we meet with Fr. George Kireh, visit the rope garden and tour
the school at Schneller. We will have Dinner at the Schneller School
with locals. Overnight at the Ramada Hotel, Amman

SAT, FEB 13, DAY 4: JOFEH / BAPTISMAL SITE / JERUSALEM
Jofeh Rehabilitation Center in the Jordan Valley, visit the Baptismal site, continue to Hussein Bridge (Allenby) to cross the River Jordan into the West Bank [read description of the process here]. Meet our guide Canon Iyad Qumri, and visit Qumran, site of the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, Dead Sea. Welcome by Bishop Suheil Dawani. Dinner and Overnight at Saint George's Cathedral Guest House in the cathedral complex, Jerusalem

SUN, FEB 14, DAY 5: HORIZONS OF JERUSALEM / HOLY SEPULCHER
Introductions. Walk down to Damascus Gate to get the feel for the distance and our surroundings. Sunday Eucharist at Saint George's Cathedral. Lunch at Saint George's Guest House. Afternoon: Mt. Scopus, view the Judean desert, Mt. of Olives, City of David, Church of the Resurrection (aka, Church of the Holy Sepulcher). Dinner & Overnight at Saint George's Guest House

MON, FEB 15, DAY 6: SHEPHERD'S FIELD / BETHLEHEM / HOLY SEPULCHER [ map]
Depart Jerusalem for Bethlehem and the Shepherd's Field. We visit the Nativity Church Peace Center. Lunch in Beit Sahour (Shepherd's Field). Visit SUNBULA.
Founded in 1996 is a Jerusalem-based non-profit organization committed
to promoting social justice and economic empowerment of the
marginalized. Its mission is to support Palestinian women's
cooperatives and disabled people's self-help groups by providing
marketing and sales opportunities for their products. We enter through
Jaffa gate to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Guest Speaker: Contemporary Issues: A Palestinian Perspective. Dinner and Overnight at Saint George's Guest House

TUE, FEB 16, DAY 7: WESTERN WALL / DOME OF THE ROCK / NAZARETH
We depart for the Western Wall near El haram Esh Sharif (The Dome of The Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque) with Dr. Ali Qleibo,
artist, author and anthropologist. Born in Jerusalem and educated in
the USA his books and artworks have taken him all over the world. His
book Before the Mountains Disappear is an ethnographic
description of everyday Palestinian life. The book provides a narrative
vista rich with anecdotes from personal experience into the manners and
customs of modern Palestinians. St. Anne's Church and the pool of Bethesda. Then to Nazareth [map] to visit the Church of St. Gabriel and the Basilica of the Annunciation. Dinner and Overnight at the Sisters of Nazareth

WED, FEB 17, DAY 8: SEA OF GALILEE / JORDAN RIVER / CAPERNAUM / BEATITUDES
Today we depart for the Sea of Galilee-Lake Kinnereth. Stop at the Jordan River from the Northern side for the renewal of Baptismal vows. We then visit Capernaum where we see the Ancient Synagogue and St. Peter's House. We continue to the Mount of Beatitudes, boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Lunch is by the Sea of Galilee, followed by a visit to Tabgha (Heptapegon) , The Loaves and Fishes Church and the Chapel of St. Peter's Primacy. We drive via the Jordan Valley to Jerusalem, on the way we will stop at Wadi Qelt to get the feel of the desert and view the Mt. of Temptation and the Old Roman Road. Ash Wednesday service at Saint George's Cathedral. Dinner and overnight at Saint George's Guest House

THU, FEB 18, DAY 9: BETH-PHAGE / DOMINUS FLEVIT / GETHSEMANE
Depart for Bethphage and Dominus Flevit Church on the Mt. of Olives walk down the Palm Sunday Road ending at the Garden of Gethsemane. Farewell dinner in Jericho at the
Qumris'. Overnight at Saint George's Guest House

FRI, FEB 19, DAY 10: WAY OF THE CROSS / EMMAUS
Early this morning we walk and pray the Way of the Cross. Later we
depart for Emmaus Nicopolis. We celebrate the Eucharist at the ruins of
the Byzantine Church
, Lunch. Free Afternoon - Dinner and Overnight at
Saint George's Guest House

SAT, FEB 20, DAY 11: RETURN TO USA
4:30 a.m. transfer to Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv for our flight that
departs at 8:15 a.m., Air France connecting in Paris to Dulles
returning 7:15 p.m.

Ayelet tours produced the following 8-minute video, prepared specifically for Jewish congregations. To view it, click here.

Friday, November 06, 2009

Announcements, 11/06

St Mark's Presents "An Evening with Valentino Deng" - Nov 6

With perspective and humor, Valentino Deng, one of the “Lost Boys of Sudan”, uses his extraordinary life to illuminate the lives, and the struggles, of millions. With storytelling grace, he takes you from the senseless tragedies of his early life (civil war in Sudan, refugee camps in Kenya) to his time in America to the hard-won triumphs of today (the opening of the Marial Bai secondary school in 2009). The powerful story that emerges is a testament to both the senselessness of war and the resilience of the human body and mind. Deng is a speaker of bottomless compassion, and of hope and integrity -- a man whose unforgettable life has humbled and enlightened thousands around the world.
 

Click here for more information.
 

Friday, NOVEMBER 6th, 8-10pm

Tickets: minimum $25 donation/person

Includes Lecture, Q&A, Reception/Book Signing

100% of Proceeds to Benefit the VADF

LIMITED SEATING!!!!!!!! Register NOW @ 410-531-1269 or

madonna1269@verizon.net (provide name, contact info, and # of tickets)


Status Report - 2010 Pledge Campaign

As of this posting, we have 38 pledges. averaging $5,543 each and totaling $210,624. We are praying for your pledge, and hope you are praying about it too. At this rate, we need only 55 more pledges to reach our goal. You may pledge online or you may download a pledge form and mail it in.

Advent Wreath Making Event during the Sunday School Hour, November 29

Desperately seeking a Coordinator!

Several years ago we began making Advent Wreaths on the First Sunday of Advent. This has been great fun for singles and families alike, and we would love to offer it again this year! Sunday School students and families gather together in the fellowship hall during the Sunday School/Christian Formation hour. Families often work together. Afterward, everyone takes their wreaths home with them, and we provide information about observing Advent at home.

 
Melanie has coordinated the event for the past few years, so we need someone to step up to coordinate it, if it is going to happen. Are you that person?
 

If you would like to be the coordinator of this event or this year, we need to hear from you soon! All the supplies are on hand. All that is needed is your interest and skill. For questions or to volunteer to lead, please email Diane Roca or call her at 410-964-3523


OUTREACH NOTES:

Thank you!

We collected $18.20 for the Guardian Angel food pantry - donations can be put in the "globe" bank during coffee hour.

Guardian Angel's Community Thanksgiving

Sign up for Guardian Angel's Community Thanksgiving on November 26. Approximate 160 dinners will be served. We have been asked to bring:

2 bags walnut pieces

5 bags mini marshmallows

10 large cans sweet potatoes

2 cases 16 oz applesauce

6 cases gravy (small cans)

6 cases 16 oz green beans

10 cans (large) sauerkraut or 2 cases 16 oz

20 cans cranberries (whole, crushed, jellied)

15 bags stuffing mix

15 cans 16 oz chicken broth

2 cooked 10-12 lb turkeys (can be taken up on Wed morning Nov 25 )
 

We are collecting smaller sized cans this year so that any not opened can be put in the food pantry. Also, if you want to participate on Thanksgiving Day: Set up and kitchen duties will begin at 9:30 am. Dinner will be served beginning at 11:30 am. Clean up will begin at 1 pm.
 
Sign up sheets in the parish hall on the outreach table.

MDG Contribution

The Outreach Committee meet on Monday and decided to send $1000 to St. Luke's school in Ghana (we sent them $1000 in the spring for uniforms and school supplies), add $500 to our Scholarship Fund, and give $300 to St. Andrew's in Pasadena in support of their project to supply solar cookers for refugees in Chad.


DreamBuilders Christmas Fundraiser

Support our DreamBuilders mission trips by purchasing fresh Christmas greens from the Pacific Northwest. We will be taking pre-orders for greens on Sunday Oct 25 and Nov 1. A table will be set up in the Parish Hall. The greens will be delivered in early December. As last year, we'll have the following greens to offer:

22" Noble Fir Wreath - $20

22" Mixed Evergreen Wreath - $20

28" Noble Fir Wreath - $30

Door Swag - $20

10 ' Western Cedar Garland - $18

Centerpiece - $15
 

Checks should be made payable to St. Mark's. If you would like to order greens and won't be at church on Oct 25 or Nov 1, please email Lisa Ghessie at lghessie@verizon.net or call her at 301-490-4207.



Diocesan Men's Retreat, Mar 5-7

Download the flyer here.

Maryland Episcopal Cursillo

Maryland #99 is scheduled for the 3rd weekend following Easter, April 22-25, concluding on the Feast of St Mark. This would be a fitting weekend for St Markers to participate! Fr. Laribee is to be the lead spiritual advisor for that weekend, and would love to see a dozen or more members of St Marks make this particular weekend the weekend for their own Cursillo experience! For more information, see
What is Cursillo?" and Reflections on Cursillo by the Rt. Rev. Robert W. Ihloff" and Question to the Pastor: So what about "Cursillo"? -- by Richard Laribee

 

Cursillo graduates: Download your sponsor application here and begin inviting friends to participate in their weekend. An easy and effective way to encourage potential participants is to invite them to attend Clausura with you. Just like in sponsoring, you should pick them up, drive them to Claggett, and take them to dinner afterward!

 
Also, the leadership team is NOW being formed. Information about serving on team that weekend is online here. Rick would love to serve on team with you!

 

Keep in mind that Maryland #98 begins this Thursday, Nov 5, and concludes this Sunday. Clausura is at 3:45pm.



SCRIPTURE READINGS: Prepare for Worship by Reading Sunday's Scriptures: RCL, Year B, Track 2

Select from below, or go to the Online Lectionary Calendar and click on "RCL" ("Revised Common Lectionary") for any listed date to read Sunday's Scriptures.

 
Which Scriptures do we use?

The RCL usually offers TWO sets of readings and Psalms each week, and we are using the SECOND set at present. (This is because the RCL uses a 2-track system in a 3-year cycle. We finished a 3-year track-1 cycle and switched to 3-year track-2 at Advent 2007. We will complete the current 3-year track-2 and switch back to track-1 at Advent 2010. So for now, when you practice to read the Scriptures for Sunday, always practice the second set.)
 


Nov 08, Pentecost 23, Proper 27


Nov 15, Pentecost 24, Proper 28


Nov 22, Pentecost 25, Proper 29 (Also the Feast of Christ the King)


Nov 29, Advent 1, Year C


Dec 06, Advent 2, Year C (Also the Feast of St Nicholas)


Dec 13, Advent 3, Year C


Dec 20, Advent 4, Year C


Dec 27, Christmas 1


Jan 03, Christmas 2


 


Lector Preparation Notes   |  
Index for Pronouncing Biblical Words   |  
Lector's Customary   |  
Lector Rota   |  
Clergy Rota