The Lion's Roar

July 2021

A Message from Father Rick...

In January we had our annual vestry retreat, but we kept it to a half-day retreat - because we had no idea what the rest of the year was going to look like! When would we be able to get back to "normal?" What would "normal" even look like?

So, a few weekends ago, we had the second half of our vestry retreat, on the little knoll in the middle of the big field at the Ross Farm. It was a beautiful day, and it provided us ample opportunity to change our focus to see the "big picture."

As terrible as the whole pandemic has been, it has provided an opportunity to think differently about things, and to not just "do what we did last year."

We have some ideas, some plans, and some action items - I'll be sharing those as the rest of the year unfolds. But, the big theme that we kept coming back to was RECONNECTING with each other and ENGAGING with new folks who don't know what St Mark's was like before COVID.

These are the two things that we, the leadership of the parish, can't just do on our own. We need your help with this.

So, please consider joining the GrubClub - the dinner groups that will be starting up soon. They will be an excellent way to reconnect with old friends, and make new friends.

We HAVE added new members to St Mark's in the past year! So, if you see someone who isn't familiar to you, please take a moment to greet them and let them know who you are.

And, if you're still watching online - as many of you still are - please take a moment to say "hi" in the chat box, and encourage others to do the same. We have anecdotal evidence that people are watching from far-flung places - and so take the time to greet them just like you'd do at a coffee hour in the parish hall.

Thank you!

Rick+

Combined July 4th Service at Moorland Farm

St. Mark's, St. John on the Mountain, St. Bernards, and St. Luke's will have a combined outdoor worship service on Sunday, July 4th at 9am at Moorland Farms, (50 Route 202) in Far Hills. Combined choir, brass sextet, and a light brunch to follow. Chairs and tent provided - just bring yourself!

St Luke's is going to livestream the service on their own YouTube channel. The link will be on the front page of our website.

Weekly Offerings in July

Wednesday 9am Holy Eucharist Rite II in the Sanctuary
Thursday 12noon Midday Mindfulness on Facebook

Sunday 8am Holy Eucharist Rite I

9:15am Holy Eucharist Rite II

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

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

Finance Report

2021 Year-to-Date (YTD, through May) Financial Results

Operating Income is $200K, $16K (or 9%) above budget, driven by favorable pledge income and donations received YTD.
Operating Expenses is $148K, $1K (or 0%) below budget, driven by favorable Buildings Maintenance expenses and timing of expenses partially offset by higher Grounds Maintenance expenses from snow removal and additional Worship expenses (e.g. Easter tent rental).
Operating Net Income is $53K, $17K above budget, driven by favorable pledge income and donations.

Pledge statements covering January - June 30, 2021

will be mailed out next week

Outreach News

27th Annual Curbing Hunger

The pandemic and summer months = low food supplies. Please give generously, if you are able. Here are two ways you can continue to support the Food Bank of Somerset County

Online Donations: To purchase fresh fruits and vegetables online, visit www.CurbingHunger2021.org. Donations are delivered directly to the Food Bank Network of Somerset County.

Monetary Donations: Checks can be made payable to Curbing Hunger, Inc. and mailed to 140 South Finley Ave., Basking Ridge, NJ 07920.

God's Giving Garden

Over 400 lbs of produce harvested so far this season. That's more than double our production for last year at this time! This week we delivered zucchini, radishes, celery, early tomatoes, beets, cucumbers and shallots.

The garden at Ross Farm is thriving and we are ready to welcome back garden volunteers!

Our regularly-scheduled work sessions are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings from 9-noon, weather permitting. Please note that there will NOT be a work session on Saturday, July 3.

Come join us! (and don't forget the sunscreen!)

Sunday School News

Weekly postings of Sermons-4-kids Sunday School mini-lessons will continue over the summer so please check them out on the St. Marks home page. (you can also access by clicking here) We also encourage you to keep up your weekly readings in the book “The Heart of Discipleship”. Copies are still available in the church narthex.

Our third quarter family project called Blast-off with Jesus will be starting in August. Each week, a new unique bible lesson video will be posted showing you how to build a portion of your rocket step by step (4 lessons total). The rocket selected this year is a bit more complex so you are encouraged to attend all 4 sessions. At the end of summer, bring your creation to the Annual Rocket Launch at the Church picnic in mid-September to watch it soar and hopefully come back to earth.

If you want to build a rocket, we will be ordering them in bulk to get a nice discount but you must sign up before July 18th. Everyone will get a rocket kit and blast off engines. All you need to supply is glue and paint.

We are asking as a donation for everyone to complete (at least) 10 color pages of your choice and turn them into the church office in exchange for your kit. Access the color page templates here.

Remember, to reserve your Rocket Kit, sign up on the Blast-off with Jesus sign up that will be posted each week in the Weekly Roar or on the St Marks web site. Space at the launch pad is limited so we will need to limit participation to the first 24 who sign up.

Rocket Kit

Sign Up

Sign up to reserve your rocket kit

Grub Club

Sign Up

If anyone is interested in attending the Grub Club and/or hosting one dinner for 6-8 people, please sign up by TODAY. We will be forming groups and planning districts over the next two weeks.

Laughter in the Pews

Birthdays

7/2 Aiden Murray

7/4 Sandy Gogerty

Beth Kujan

7/6 Joan Graff

David Eweka

Sherry Palmer

7/7 Maddy Denechaud

Tim Keenan

Jeff West

7/8 Tom Defeo

Joseph Hughes

Sue Smith

Ruth Smith

7/9 Charlotte McCall

7/10 Gretchen DeCoste

Pete Kochek

7/11 Luke Ittycheria

7/13 Michael Millan

Julie Sheppard

Marty Urbas

7/14 Benjamin Larner

7/16 Gerald Creighton

Caitlin Taylor

Leo van der Valk

7/17 Jacob Wojnar

7/19 Chuck Knill

Tim Opremcak

7/20 Mary Urbas

7/22 Bucky Menter

Warren Phillips

7/24 Annabelle Trucco

Stephen Woolford

7/25 Chip Campbell

7/26 Ethan Licata

7/27 Ryan Sheppard

7/28 Maryanne Moreck

Sydney Spindler

7/29 Rick Morley

7/30 Tim Campbell

Christine Thoma

Anniversaries

7/2 David & Jackie Taylor

7/4 William & Susan Wilkes

Brian & Larena Lettow / Rolli

7/27 Michael & Noel McCormick

7/29 Daniel & Betsy Spindler

Volunteers Needed for our Gardens

Some years ago, we had volunteers who would spend a little time in the gardens at St. Mark's and pull up weeds-The St. Mark's Growers. This is probably not the best week to ask (what with 100+ temps!) but we would love to put a team together that could help keep the grounds free of weeds. It's looking lovely right now, by the way - come over and take a walk around.

Please contact the office if you would like to volunteer.

Keansburg Soup Kitchen

We are headed down to Keansburg next Wednesday, July 7. Please click here to view our needs list as we require some (you guessed it!) meatloaves.

Thank you!

Rummage Sale this September 17th & 18th

The sale is back!

After a long hiatus, we are once again ready to gather in the parish hall to enjoy some fellowship and sort the many donations you have been holding onto; however, please do not bring your treasurers to the church until the Sunday before the sale, September 12th, as we do not have sufficient storage prior to setting up in the parish hall.

Please consider volunteering:

Set Up: Saturday, 9/11, 9:30

Sorting & Pricing: Sunday - Thursday

Sale Days: Friday & Saturday, 9am-2pm

If you have any questions, please reach out to someone on our team, Annabelle Wilmer, Harry Woods, Kit McLaughlan.

As a reminder, we cannot accept:

Large desks; Entertainment centers for non-flat screen TVs
Particle Board or Homemade Furniture
Bed Frames, Roll-a-way Beds, cribs, or Incomplete Beds
Box Springs and Mattresses
Carpet and Padding (area rugs are okay – not larger than 6’ x 9’)
VCRs, VHS and Cassette Tapes
Children’s Car Seats or Booster Seats
Encyclopedias, Readers Digest Condensed Books, Magazines, or Periodicals
Charcoal and “Old-hookup” Propane BBQs
Exercise Equipment
Non-Durable Medical Goods
Large sofas (over 6 ft long)
Wall and ceiling mounted lights
Skis, Ski Boots, or Ski Poles
Luggage without wheels

Donations to Altar Guild

Fresh flowers are always a welcome site on Sunday mornings. Please contact the office if you would like to dedicate altar flowers in memory or celebration of a loved one.

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 50 puzzles here in the office...our own "Puzzle Library". Feel free to come and borrow as many as you like!

We also have a few fun coloring books for the taking!

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

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:Joan Graff
Treasurer: Teri Passarello
Recording Treasurer: Doug Post
Assistant Treasurer: Bruce Walker
Sunday School Director: John Lyga
J2A Coordinator: Chip Rubendall
Music Director: Mike McCormick

Covid19 Vaccine Clinics during the month of July

Wednesdays, July 7, 14, 21, & 28

3-5pm

BT Community Center,

289 South Maple Avenue

J&J (single dose)

Click here to schedule your appointment or call the Bernards Township Health Department, 908-204-2522