February 21

The First Sunday in Lent

You can click on "Bulletin" above to print out a bulletin for the services.

You can also go to our website, click on the Bulletin buttons and print a PDF directly from there.

Sign ups are required for all in-person services. We will also broadcast on YouTube & Facebook. Please make yourself familiar with our current protocols for participating in in-person gatherings at St. Mark's

Weekend Services

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Weekly Offerings

Monday Morning Prayer, on Facebook and YouTube

Tuesday Alpha, 7PM-8:30PM

Wednesday 9am Holy Eucharist Rite II in the Sanctuary

7PM Adult Forum: Prologue
Thursday 12noon Midday Mindfulness on Facebook

Saturday 5pm Holy Eucharist Rite II

Sunday 8am Holy Eucharist Rite I

10am Holy Eucharist Rite II

Canstruction Lent Project

During Lent this year, all the youth groups, Sunday school children and the entire St. Marks family have the opportunity to Follow Jesus’ teachings to Feed the Hungry.

We will hold a Lent-long canned food drive culminating in a “Creative Can Collection” build out during Holy Week. If you ever saw any of the CANSTRUCTION sculptures posted on-line, think much simpler. We want to focus on participation rather than huge sculptures (click here to see Google images of some amazing creations).

Here are the rules –

Anyone can participate. Individuals, family units, Covid pods. Make your intent known by registering below.
Start collecting a bunch of canned food with some design in mind. We suggest all designs are limited to 200 cans or less but there is no limit especially if your group is large.
Decide on your design and start practicing putting it together in case you need more cans or a different type of can.
You can use non-can support materials like thin wood or cardboard or non-permanent adhesive like double stick tape, but all cans must be easily taken down for donation.
Sign up for a build time which will take place during Holy Week by contacting the office. If you choose to build at home please let us know that so we can make sure we print out the image for display.
The J2A and J2B youth groups will make a video of all the displays so all of St. Marks can vote. Results will be announced on Easter Morning and all cans of food will be delivered to the food bank during Easter week.

Start thinking of what you want to build and get those cans ready! Let’s have some fun while following Jesus. You can build anything while Feeding the Hungry.

Canstruction Lent Project

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Food Bank of Somerset County General Needs

As you know, the Foodbank is in great demand these days. You can help by making a monetary donation by clicking here. This will allow the staff to purchase much needed food to deal with the increase in demand at their door and reduce the need for in-person contact during this time. Thank you!

This weather has certainly been conducive to knitting and crocheting! The Stitchers continue to work on making up those 9-inch squares (any washable yarn, any pattern) which are then sewn or crocheted together by one of the members.

All are welcome to join in this prayer/healing ministry. Please contact Dawn Knill at dkknill@hotmail.com or 908-303-7351 for more information.

What to do for Lent

Lent is a time of self-reflection, introspection, and turning away from those things which keep us on the path that God has for us. It’s a time for spiritual renewal and reconnection.

Here’s some ideas for this coming Lent:

Commit to praying Morning Prayer every day. You can dust off your Prayer Book, or you can use the ready-made form on our website at stmarksbr.org/morning office

Commit to listening to and praying with the Pray-As-You-Go podcast—a daily meditation offered freely by British Jesuits at pray-as-you-go.org or on your favorite podcast app.

Follow along with the wildly popular Lent Madness, which introduces you to many saints and holy people who have made the Kingdom of God manifest in their place and time. It’s fun—you learn about two of them, and then you “vote” on your favorite. Eventually, there’s a winner. lentmadness.org

Commit to reading through a specific book of the Bible, the four Gospels, or even the whole New Testament through the 40 days of Lent. (One year I did the Bible in 100 Days Plan, and read it during the 40 days of Lent and the 50 days of Easter.)

Commit to fasting from your usual daily Starbucks/Dunkin, and perhaps consider giving the money you’ve saved to the Food Bank.

Commit to fasting from Social Media, from Netflix, or from the overconsumption of news/politics for the 40 days. Consider using that time you’re saving for something beneficial to you, and those around you.

Commit to sending regular notes or text messages of encouragement to those who you think could use it. Assure them of your prayers, and your love for them.

After spending some time evaluating your current life choices and patterns, commit to turning towards a way of life that is truer to who God wants you to be, for yourself and those around you.

These are just a few options—and the possibilities are, of course, limitless.

But, whatever you choose to do this Lent, may it be a holy one.

Fr Rick

GroupMe Prayer Group

Are you looking for a way to stay connected with your fellow parishioners? Well, look no further! St. Mark’s now has a group prayer chat through an app/website called GroupMe. GroupMe is a text messaging app/website that can be used on a phone, tablet, or computer. Join the group to chat and pray with other parishioners. Click the following link to join and create an account (if you don’t have one already): https://groupme.com/join_group/66032125/ewp7m7zH

Jockey Hollow Hike/Walk

Join us for some fresh air and fellowship on a beginner hike through Jockey Hollow! The hike will take place on March 6th at 11:00am. We will walk the paved loop which is currently closed to all vehicle traffic. The 3-mile hike will take approximately 45 minutes. There is also an option to walk a shorter distance that will walk a half loop guided by a volunteer. The event will start and end at a marked, spaced out location within the parking lot. We will end at the parking lot site location with hot cocoa and a bring-your- own lunch which we will enjoy together while socially distanced. Bring your own lawn chair and lunch or snack. Hot cocoa and waters will be provided.

Please sign up with your Fellowship Chair, Sandy Gogerty, as soon as possible, by emailing her at sgogerty@optnline.net.

Jockey Hollow is located at 600 Tempe Wick Road inMorristown. While the visitor center will not be open, information about the location can be found here: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60906-d102753-Reviews-Jockey_Hollow-Morristown_Morris_County_New_Jersey.html

Red Cross Blood Drives continue at St. Mark's

Please consider signing up to donate blood - the need is great! You can click here to view and signup for drives scheduled at St. Mark's.