The Lion's Roar

Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4757202204

Monday        Morning Prayer, on Facebook and YouTube 

Tuesday        Alpha 7pm-8:30pm (sign up here) Zoom

Wednesday   9am Holy Eucharist Rite II in the Sanctuary

                      7PM Adult Forum:  Prologue (beginning Feb 3) Zoom
Thursday      12noon Midday Mindfulness on Facebook

Saturday       5pm Holy Eucharist Rite II 

Sunday         8am Holy Eucharist Rite I

                      10am Holy Eucharist Rite II 

All our services are also broadcast on Youtube and Facebook. In addition, they can be seen directly from the front page of our website.

St Mark’s has joined up with St. Luke’s in Gladstone for a virtual Alpha. This unique program combines video learning with meaningful discussion about our Christian faith. You can do it all from the comfort of your home! We began the course January 19th but it's not too late to join. We encourage you to register in advance so that you receive the Zoom link. Click here to register. For questions about the program, email Lea O’Shea (leaoshea4@gmail.com).

2020 Year-to-Date (YTD, through December) and Full-Year Financial Results

·Operating Income was $389K, +$13K (or +4%) above budget.  December included the recognition of PPP funds on the P&L (see below for additional details on PPP), recorded in full in December as operating income (+$35.9K).  Overall, for 2020 full-year, pledge income actuals exceeded budget by +$11K, Donations exceeded budget by +$10K and Holiday Offerings exceeded budget by +$0.8K.  These surpluses were offset partially by unfavorable income variances in plate income (-$5K), Building Use Donations (-$17K) and Rummage Sales (-$22K).  The majority of unfavorable income results were due to the effects of COVID-19. 

·Operating Expenses was $370K, $6K (or 1%) below budget, driven in part by reduced worship expenses, utilities, and grounds maintenance expenses.

·Operating Net Income was +$19K, +$19K above budget, driven by favorable pledge income and donations, PPP funding, and favorable overall operating expenses.

As communicated previously, in April 2020, St. Marks received a loan of $35,900 via the US Cares Act Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).  PPP enabled small businesses (including non-profits and faith-based organizations like St. Marks) to access federal funding via forgivable grants and loans and loan deferrals to alleviate the adverse financial impact and uncertainties caused by COVID-19.  The Finance Committee is pleased to report that the Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved St. Mark’s PPP loan forgiveness application.  Since St. Mark's forgiveness application was for full forgiveness (greater than or equal to our PPP loan amount) and St Mark's did not receive an Economic Injury Disaster Loan advance (another US Federal Government COVID relief program, for which St. Marks did not qualify), no interest or principal payments will ever be required as the SBA has paid-off St. Mark's loan in full.

Planning has begun for some fun and active fellowship events locally in the Basking Ridge area and also to be held at St. Mark’s outside. Do you feel like getting outside in the great outdoors may be something that interests yourself and your family or friends? If so, then please plan on joining us for a fun and beginner friendly hike at Jockey Hollow. The plan includes a two-mile hike on the Red trail that is 2 miles long. The hike will take approximately 30-45 minutes. A virtual hiking information session will be held prior to the actual hike via zoom. Please sign up with your Fellowship Chair as soon as possible, Sandy Gogerty, sgogerty@optnline.net, emailing your interest to participate. A signup sheet will be sent and confirmation made regarding the best date/time. Plan for one Saturday in February, depending on the weather, to begin at 10 a.m. and end with hot chocolate in the parking lot.  Please check the Church bulletin for other virtual adventures in the future also.

We are headed down to Keansburg next Wednesday.  Please click here to view our needs list as we require some (you guessed it!) meatloaves.

Thank you!

Remember to check out the weekly Sunday School lesson that can be found on the Sunday School Tab each Sunday on the St. Marks Website.  Every week is a new lesson modeled after one of the weekly readings and includes a color page, word search and most weeks a short video from Sermons4Kids.

We will be starting our first quarter Family project in February to coincide with lent which starts early this year.  Following Jesus’ teachings to Feed the Hungry, we will hold our first ever CANSTRUCTION event.  Rules and timelines will be coming soon.  Canstruction is building a sculpture from cans of food (Google Canstruction!).  You can use as many cans as you like to build a structure of your choosing and put it on display for all to see in the church hall for holy week.  There is no better time to purchase cans of food than during the ShopRite Can-Can sale so stock up now.  Families or Covid Pods who want to participate can sign up for a build time in the hall. All cans of food will be donated to our local food pantries.  Start thinking of what you want to build and get those cans ready! Rules and sign up will be coming out soon.  Lets have some fun while following Jesus.  I really liked this bee hive…but you can build anything!