Rev. Horton J. Scott,  Celebrant          

Frank Waiters Jr., Senior Warden,

Louise Meggett, Junior Warden

Forrest Drennen, Organist 

E-mail stbarnabas1.1@juno.com

March 26, Fourth Sunday in Lent: 

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

Psalm 122; 2 Chronicles 36:14-23; Ephesians 2:4-10; John 6:4-15 

 

It's the Fourth Sunday in Lent, and all are welcome! The Fourth Sunday in Lent traditionally called Mothering Sunday is also known as 'Refreshment Sunday' or 'Mid-Lent Sunday'. It was often called Refreshment Sunday because the fasting rules for Lent were relaxed, in honor of the Feeding of the Five Thousand, from today's Gospel. In contrast to Mother's Day, Mothering Sunday is not a celebration of motherhood. During the 16th century, people returned to their "mother church" for a service to be held on the 4th Sunday of Lent. It was often the only time that whole families could gather together, if prevented by conflicting working hours. March 26^th is also a date set aside on the church's calendar to commemorate the Venerable Richard Allen. His Feast is often celebrated on February 13^th together with Absalom Jones as they together championed the black church in America. When the Saint Thomas African Episcopal Church was erected in 1794 Richard Allen rejected an offer to become the pastor of the church the Free African Society had built, a position ultimately accepted by Absalom Jones. To reconcile his (Methodist) faith and his African-American identity, Richard Allen formed "The Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church". Latter Became Bishop of the denomination,and published it's first hymnal (the source material for many "Negro Spirituals") The preface to the AMEC 1984 hymnal says it was “the first book of songs published by the Children of Oppression, and the very first to give expression in their own selected language telling of the Christian hope of the race.” (see) Hymnal 1801

MUSIC THIS WEEK

LEVAS II 89* “My Jesus I love thee, I know thou art mine”

690 Guide me, O thou great Jehovah

620* Jerusalem, my happy home

321 My God, thy table now is spread

LEVAS II 108 'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus

 

* The Words of the hymn “ My Jesus I love thee, I know thou art mine” share the sentiment and even the meter with "O Jesus, my Savior, to thee I submit" Which is first found in Richard Allen's COLLECTION OF SPIRITUAL SONGS AND HYMNS SELECTED FROM VARIOUS AUTHORS (Philadelphia: 1801) which he compiled for his African Methodist Episcopal Church. where it is attributed to Mrs. Sarah Jones. Because of the variants of this hymn as published in the various collections, ranging from New Hampshire to Virginia, it is apparent that it circulated in oral tradition before it was published. (Dictionary of American Hymnology, Oberlin College Library.) It next appears as “O Jesus, my Savior, I know thou art mine” Attributed to Caleb Jarvis Taylor, 1803. The version we now sing, is attributed to William R. Featherston, 1864; Featherston was only 16 years old at the time. Also included in the collection is the hymn “Jerusalem, my happy home”.

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".

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