The Lion's Roar

March 2021

Join us this Sunday after the 10am service for a Zoom Coffee Hour

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

Weekend Services

The last Sunday of March is, of course, Palm Sunday. And, as you may have heard, we’ve rented a large tent for the parking lot for a COVID-Safe Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday.

We are trying to think through every detail so that as many people as possible might feel safe enough to come together. So, while we still have a month of planning ahead of us, I wanted to give a brief rundown on the plans as they are right now.

We’ve rented a 30x60 tent. The tent does not have “walls” so it will have maximum airflow.
We’re also busy finding other smaller tents, to go around the larger one, so that we can fit even more people around.
People are obviously welcome to bring their own chairs and, weather permitting, sit in the Memorial Garden, or on the rectory patio to be even further away from people if that makes them more comfortable.
Everyone will still need to be socially distanced and masked, and everyone who is attending will still need to pre-register.
The bulletins will be distributed electronically—and there will be the usual QR codes and NFC chips around to make that easier.
The current guidance says that if people are socially distant, masked, and outdoors—that limited singing is allowed. SO, we’re going to be able to sing some hymns! The band will be playing on Palm Sunday, and Mike and some brass will be leading the music on Easter.
We’re working out the parking situation, and we’re getting some wheelchairs to help people with mobility issues to get from a drop-off point to their seat.
Communion will be offered to those who’d like to partake, but if people don’t feel comfortable with that, the prayer for “spiritual communion” will still be offered.
And, we are going to still broadcast it on YouTube and Facebook for those who are unable to come in person.

I am really, really excited about this, and the opportunity that this might afford us to be able to come together on our most Holy Days. If you have any questions, or any ideas on how we could make this safer for you and your family, please don’t hesitate to let me know.

Peace,

Fr Rick

Weekly Offerings in March

Monday Morning Prayer, on Facebook and YouTube

Tuesday Alpha 7pm-8:30pm Zoom

Wednesday 9am Holy Eucharist Rite II in the Sanctuary

7PM Adult Forum: Prologue 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.

Visit our website, stmarksbr.org for links and schedules to all upcoming services, music offerings, signups, and more.

Please make yourself familiar with our current protocols for participating in in-person gatherings at St. Mark's

Finance Report

2021 Year-to-Date (YTD, through January) Financial Results
• Operating Income is $84K, +$1K (or +1%) above budget, driven by full and partial year pledge income received in January and higher donations. • Operating Expenses is $36K, $1K (or 2%) below budget, driven by timing of expenses.• Operating Net Income is +$48K, +$2K above budget, driven by favorable donations.

Jockey Hollow Hike/Walk - March 6th

There is a scheduled hike at Jockey Hollow Park on Tempe Wick Road in Morristown scheduled for March 6th at 11:00 a.m. Meet in the parking lot. The moderate to difficult hike will be approximately three miles (paved roadway) and take an hour to hour and fifteen minutes. The short hike will be approximately two miles and take a half hour to forty five minutes without as many elevations to hike up and down. Enjoy the great outdoors and spend some time with your St. Mark’s community!

Jockey Hollow is located at 600 Tempe Wick Road in Morristown. 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

Sunday School News

Weekly Sunday school lessons and material will continue to be posted weekly on the St Mark's home page each Sunday taken from our curriculum Sermons4Kids. Posted weekly is a color page, word search, and either a short written children's sermon or a video aligned with one of the bible readings for Sunday. These are the same materials we had been using in the face-to-face classes which likely will not start back up until Fall at the earliest.

For this year we will be adding, from time to time, lessons taken from the book “the Heart of Discipleship” of which we have several copies available in the Narthex for the taking or Fr. Rick can drop one by. This book contains very short colorful lessons appropriate for children and adults alike presented in a way that will stimulate discussion, one missing element in the Sunday school program right now. Try it out and let us know how you like it; send a note into the office or send me an email at jwlyga@gmail.com.

Canstruction Lent Project

Sign up for the Canstruction event has been strong. There is still time to sign up to build your “Can”Structure either at St. Marks in the large classroom or at home with a photo submission. The goal of this event is to collect and donate a huge pile of canned food as you will find each structure can easily take a hundred + cans. What better way to help support those in need during this unprecedented time.

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

Sign Up

Buildings News

We have a small but active team of handypersons working behind the scenes on the numerous small projects that come up continuously keeping our buildings operating. The most recent project completed by Roger and Norm was more clearly labeling the circuit panel in the electrical room so we can address any electrical outages more quickly. We have a growing list of these small projects available to anyone. All work on projects within the building require following St. Mark's Covid policy. If you want to be included on the route list to view the list just send a note to the office or me at jwlyga@gmail.com. Also, if you see something around the church and buildings that you feel needs attention, send it to us.

Laughter in the Pews

March Birthdays

3/1 Nicholas Hale

3/3 Eli Seitz

3/4 Noel McCormick

3/5 Marcie Hanhart

Kaitlynn Vella

3/6 Andrew Phillips

Christopher Richardson

3/8 Louise Hale

Abigail Spindler

3/11 Caroline Graff

3/12 Lisa Wiatroski

3/13 Lois Buesser

Jim DeCoste

Sharon Defeo

Jim Lunny

3/14 Nathaniel Pasquale

3/18 Robert Phillips

3/19 Kristen Glass

Julia Sanchez

3/23 Layston Badham

3/26 Gregory Heiner

James Heiner

3/27 Carol DeCoste

Martin Kendall

Ann Millan

3/28 Marilyn Lyga

3/30 Hannah Solon

March Anniversaries

3/2 Rob & Lisa Wiatroski

3/5 Matthew & Elizabeth Seitz

3/7 Jeff & Libby West

3/21 Doug & Anne Post

3/23 Martin & Jean Kendall

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

Keansburg Soup Kitchen

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!

The Easter Garden

Would you like to remember or honor a loved one with a donation to the Easter Garden?

Please contact the office with the name(s) you would like listed in the Easter bulletin by Wednesday, March 31st.

Your $30 donation will go towards the purchase of the plants and flowers that will brighten up our outdoor Easter service this year. We will bring them in to adorn the altar after Easter and eventually many will find their way into the St. Mark's garden or at the Ross Farm.

Thank you for making the Easter Garden possible!

Mindfulness & More

Hello St. mark’s friends. I’m Christine, parishioner, holistic health coach, and yoga teacher (right here in our own parish hall). If you are interested in taking a yoga class, reach out to me or the church office.

Did you know I offer Midday Mindfulness each Thursday on the St Mark’s Facebook page? Stop by and check it out! This past visit, we explored one idea on how to manage feelings of overwhelm and gave a gentle stretch to our spines and last week we discovered stress relief and mindfulness options we can use in the car. It’s a 15-minute investment that can yield greater peace, release tension, and maybe even make you smile. Recordings are also available on our website and YouTube.

Christine Marston, CHHC

200 hr. RYT Yoga Instructor

harmonyholisticcoaching@gmail.com

Do you need a ride for your Covid vaccine appointment? If so, please call the office and we will find someone who can get your there.

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.

Our Online Directory

Have you downloaded our online directory app to your smart phone or tablet yet? It's really easy and so convenient to have! Follow this link for step-by-step instructions.

Prefer to use your computer? No problem! Click here for instructions on how to get connected with your computer.

Once you are in the directory you will be able to update your own information and even upload a new photo.

Give the office a call if you need any assistance.

Just a reminder, we have over 30 puzzles here in the office...our own "Puzzle Library". Feel free to come and borrow as many as you like!

Vestry members:

Rector: The Rev. Richard M.C. Morley
Senior Warden: Jeff West
Junior Warden: Sean Gogerty
Grounds: Pete Kochek
Buildings: John Lyga
Outreach: Jody Hough
Finance: Matt Seitz
Stewardship: Shirley Baker
Christian Ed. Laura Mooney
Comm. / Evangelism: Marliese Knill

Fellowship: Sandy Gogerty
Membership: Marcie Hanhart

Non-Vestry Positions:
Warden Emeritus: Jim Lunny
Treasurer: Teri Passarello
Recording Treasurer: Doug Post
Assistant Treasurer: Bruce Walker
Sunday School Director: John Lyga
J2A Coordinator: Chip Rubendall
Music Director: Mike McCormick