St. Barnabas Episcopal Church

Rev. Horton J. Scott, Celebrant

Frank Waiters Jr., Senior Warden,

Louise Meggett, Junior Warden

March 12, Second Sunday in Lent:

Clicking on one of the readings below will bring up that reading.

Psalm 16 Genesis 22:1-14; Romans 8:31-39; Mark 8:31-38

It's the Second Sunday in Lent, and all are welcome! today’s readings focus on turning toward Jesus Christ. In baptism we offer ourselves to God in Christ—a sacrifice of our selves reinforced in the reference to self-offering found in each Eucharistic prayer. One of the Day’s Saints is St. Maximilian of Tebessa (also known as St. Maximilian of Theveste) On the 12th day of March during the consulship of Tuscus and Anolinus [295], when Fabius Victor had been brought into the forum at Tebessa, together with Maximilianus, and their advocate Pompeianus had been granted an audience, the last declared, "The temonarius Fabius Victor is present, together with Valerianus Quintianus, the praepositus Caesariensis, and the fine recruit Maximilianus, Victor's son. Since he is acceptable, I ask that he be measured." The proconsul Dion said, "What are you called ?" Maximilianus replied, "Why do you want to know my name ? It is not permitted to me to serve in the military since I am a Christian". The proconsul Dion said, "Ready him". When he was being got ready, Maximilianus replied, "I cannot serve in the military; I cannot do wrong; I am a Christian." The proconsul Dion said, "Let him be measured". When he had been measured, an official reported, "He is five feet ten inches tall." Dion said to the official, "Let him be marked." And as Maximilianus resisted, he replied, "I will not do it; I cannot serve in the military." Dion said, "Serve so that you do not perish." Maximilianus replied, "I will not serve; cut off my head; I do not serve the world, but I do serve my God."Dion the proconsul said, "Who has persuaded you of this ?" Maximilianus replied, "My soul and he who has called me." Dion said to his father Victor, "Advise your son." Victor replied, "He himself knows - he has his purpose - what is best for him." Dion said to Maximilianus, "Serve and accept the seal." He replied, "I will not accept the seal: I already have the seal of my Christ." Dion the proconsul said, "I will send you to your Christ right now." He replied, "I wish that you would do so. That is even my title to g lory." Dion said to his staff, "Let him be marked." And when he was resisting, he replied, "I do not accept the world's seal, and if you give it to me, I will break it, since I value it at nought. I am a Christian. It is not permitted to me to bear the lead upon my neck after [having received] the saving seal of my Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, he whom you do not know, who suffered for the life of the world, whom God surrendered for our sins. (From the passion of the African martyr St. Maximilian of Tebessa)

MUSIC THIS WEEK

Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart

Beneath the Cross of Jesus

I am thine o lord

Have thine own way, Lord

Where He Leads Me

Let us pray for: peace in our world. The repose of the soul of Tom Fox, the other members of Christian Peacemaker Teams who are being held hostage in Iraq The famine stricken African countries of Niger, Mali, Mauritania and Burkina Faso, the troubled lands of Africa (especially Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire [former : Ivory Coast ] and Sudan) and the people of Guyana. We also pray for The Archbishop of York John Sentamu, Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold, Diocesan Bishop John Croneberger, his wife, and assistant Bishop Carol Gallagher. We remember in prayer Hazel Carter, Francis Coleman, Carolyn Goodwin, Eula Jefferson, Louise Meggett, Janice Nugent, Rudolph Perry, Tony Pina, Victoria Sawyer, Amanda Scott, Rev. Mildred J. Solomon, and Aquinda Toppins. Finally, with the Church throughout the ages we pray: Kyrie Eleison: "Lord have mercy".