SELMA, Ala. — St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Birmingham and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Selma will join together on Palm Sunday, March 29, 2015, for a worship service in the spirit of ongoing reconciliation between people of all races in the church, state and country.
This service will also reaffirm St. Paul’s and St. Mark’s commitment to welcome all people in the name of Christ.
Fifty years ago on March 27 when racial tensions were high, the vestry of St. Paul’s reaffirmed to abide by Canon 16, Section 4 of the Canons of the Episcopal Church. The canon declared that no one should be excluded from worship based on “race, color or ethnic origin.”
Previously during March of 1965, members of St. Mark’s parish, a historically Black church, were not permitted to worship at St. Paul’s because leaders of the church identified these members of St. Mark’s as “outside demonstrators.” However, other leaders of St. Paul’s walked out of worship to join those who were excluded. Together on the steps of St. Paul’s, they joined to say together the General Confession before parting ways.
“In the spirit of those who prayed on the steps together, and as is customary on Palm Sunday, we will share in the Blessing of the Palms as well as say together the General Confession in which we will recognize that no one is worthy to enter the household of God except by the grace and merit of Jesus Christ our Savior,” said Jack Alvey, rector of St. Paul’s. “Everyone then will process into the nave, where members of St. Mark’s and St. Paul’s will serve in the leadership of worship. All are welcome to worship our Lord Jesus Christ with us on Palm Sunday.”
As a sign of a continued commitment to work together, members of both parishes will come together and identify ways to promote peace and reconciliation in both churches and communities.
During the season of Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015, St. Paul’s will also host a Lenten Lecture Series entitled “Opening Doors,” as they prepare for this historic worship on Palm Sunday. The series will take place on Wednesday evenings from 5:30-7 p.m. beginning with soup and salad followed by a speaker.
Five speakers have been confirmed, including the Rev. Doug M. Carpenter, retired priest in Alabama and son of former Episcopal Bishop of Alabama who served during the Civil Rights Era, the Rt. Rev. Charles C.J. Carpenter Sr. (Feb. 25); Mrs. Sharon J. Jackson of Brown Chapel AME in Selma and author of Images of America: Selma (March 4); the Rev. Charles L. Fischer III, rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Atlanta (March 11); the Rev. Candice Frazer of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Montgomery (March 18); and Ms. Ruby Sales, Founder/Director of Spirithouse Project in Atlanta and participant in Selma to Montgomery marches (March 25). All are invited and welcome.
For more information, please visit St. Paul’s website at stpaulsselma.dioala.org.
