VERSION: 29 April 2002
ST MARK, EVANGELIST
(25 April)
These notes assume the Festival of St Mark falls in Easter, which is usually the case. If the day falls in another season, use the appropriate propers.
ST MARK
'John Mark, after breaking an association with Paul, became the companion of Peter. Papias, writing c. 140, calls Mark the interpreter of Peter. According to tradition, Mark was martyred at Alexandria, and in 829 his relics were moved to Venice. Mark's symbol is a winged lion (suggested by Ezekiel 1:1-10).'
(Contemporary Worship 6: The Church Year: calendar and lectionary, 1973)
IN YEAR B
In year B the lectionary focuses on the Gospel according to St Mark. Thought could be given to highlighting this festival in year B, either by transferring it to the nearest Sunday, or by celebrating it during the week.
LITURGY
SENTENCE
See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder for suggestions on using a Sentence.
The apostles went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere, Alleluia!
while the Lord worked with them
and confirmed their message by signs. Alleluia!
(Mark 16:20 NRSV alt.)
PRAYER OF THE DAY (COLLECT)
Modernised traditional
Lord, come to your church with your love.
Bring the light of your gospel truth,
which you made known through your holy evangelist, St Mark.
Strengthen our faith in you,
and let us inherit the kingdom
that you have prepared for us.
We ask this through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
OR, alternative
Almighty God,
you enlightened your holy church
by the inspired witness of your evangelist, St Mark.
May we be firmly grounded
in the truth of the gospel
and be faithful to its teaching,
both in word and deed.
We ask this through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
FIRST READING
Isaiah 52:7–10 The messenger of salvation
PSALM
Psalm 57
Antiphon:
(Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;) let your glory be over all the earth. (Ps 57:5 NRSV)
SECOND READING
2 Timothy 4:6–11,18 The good fight of faith
ALLELUIA VERSE
Alleluia, alleluia.
(Since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again;
death no longer has any power over him.
Alleluia!)
Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God,
and saying: 'Repent, and believe in the good news.'
Alleluia.
GOSPEL
Mark 1:1–15 The beginning of the good news
SEASONAL PREFACE
The seasonal preface given here is a modernised text recommended for use by the Department of Liturgics with all forms of the liturgy during Easter. For the various original texts from the Supplement to Lutheran Hymnal, see the document 'Easter season', under 'Seasonal preface', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.
It is indeed right and good,
Lord God, holy Father,
that we should at all times and in all places
give thanks to you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
But most of all we praise you
for the glorious resurrection of your Son,
the true Passover Lamb,
who has taken away the sin of the world.
By his death he has destroyed death,
and by his rising again he has restored life.
And so, with Mary Magdalene and Peter
and all the other witnesses of the resurrection,
with earth and sea and all their creatures,
and with angels and archangels,
cherubim and seraphim,
we adore and praise your glorious name:
COMMUNION INVITATION
The following invitation may be used throughout Easter. The congregation may respond with the words 'Thanks be to God' after the verse, before the invitation, 'Come . . .'
Jesus says: 'Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life,
and I will raise them up on the last day.'
(Thanks be to God.)
Come, everything is ready.
DISMISSAL AFTER COMMUNION
The dismissal after communion could be modified to:
The body of our risen Lord Jesus Christ,
and his precious blood
strengthen and preserve you in body and soul
to life eternal.
Go in peace.
Amen.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
See the document 'Easter season', under 'Prayer after communion', in the 'General and seasonal' folder, for a post-communion prayer. Alternatively, use the following.
Almighty and eternal God,
you light the flame of love
in the hearts of all your saints.
As we have received
the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ,
grant us the same faith and power of love
that we may follow their example.
We ask this through your Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
SEASONAL BLESSING
This seasonal blessing is used together with (ie before) the usual blessing in the order of service.
(May) the God of peace,
who raised from the dead our Lord Jesus,
provide you with every good thing you need
in order to do his will . . . (the blessing follows)
HYMNS AND SONGS
'BY ALL YOUR SAINTS'
Horatio Bolton Nelson wrote this hymn, which has various middle verses, for various minor festival occasions. It may be sung to the tune Nyland (LH 16), or to the original tune King's Lynn (LBW 177, 178; LW 193, 194; TIS 249). The first and last verses given below are as they appear in Lutheran Worship and Lutheran Book of Worship; the middle verse is Nelson's original that has been slightly modernised. The first line of verse 1 could be changed to: 'By saints on earth who struggle'.
By all your saints in warfare,
for all your saints at rest,
your holy name, O Jesus,
for evermore be blest!
For you have won the battle
that they might wear the crown;
and now they shine in glory
reflected from your throne.
For Mark, O Lord, we praise you,
the weak by grace made strong.
His labours and his gospel
enrich our triumph song.
Give us, in all our weakness,
your strength in heart and mind.
May we, as fruitful branches,
remain in you, the Vine.
Then let us praise the Father,
and worship God the Son,
and sing to God the Spirit,
eternal Three-in-one,
till all the ransomed number
fall down before the throne,
ascribing power and glory,
and praise to God alone.
'THE SAINT WHO FIRST FOUND GRACE TO PEN'
This hymn, by Laurence Housman, has been slightly modernised. It may be sung to the tune Brockham (LH 273, TIS 504) or any other 8.8.8.8 (LM) tune.
The saint who first found grace to write
the Life who first brought life to light
and shed abroad the gospel's ray:
his name we celebrate today.
First drawn by Pentecostal fire,
the Spirit gave him his desire,
and pure of mind, inspired, he heard
and with his hand wrote down the Word.
Then, clearly written, God's word shone
serene and fair to look upon,
and through that record still comes power
to strengthen hearts in death's dark hour.
With holy life and holy mind,
he wrote and lived in Life divine;
may we, through lives of like accord,
live in the image of our Lord.
And so may we whose lives are dark
be led to truth by this saint, Mark,
and when we end this earthly strife
stand written in the Book of Life.
ADDITIONAL HYMNS
LHS
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274 Lord, Thy Word abideth
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TIS
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235 A man there lived in Galilee
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TIS
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427 Lord, your word abiding
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TIS
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461 God, your glory we have seen in your Son
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VISUAL
SYMBOLS FOR ST MARK
The symbols of the four evangelists may be traced back almost to the beginning of the Christian church. Most frequent are the four winged creatures of the book of Ezekiel and Revelation, but the actual allotment of creature to evangelist varied over the centuries. Since the Middle Ages, the winged lion has been the symbol for St Mark. Also used for the evangelists are symbols of four scrolls, four rivers, four urns, four books, four fountains, and four pillars.
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