I have two important items to share with you—in this season of important items!

First, there’s a group of St Marksers who have joined with other local houses of worship in the Somerset Hills to embark on a listening campaign. The purpose is to identify what are the commonly understood needs of our church community, and the wider community.

The question that we’re asking is: What is one thing you would change in northern Somerset County or in your local community that would make life better for you and your family? Put another way, what is one issue / concern that keeps you up at night?

We’ve already had some really great conversations with people, and if YOU would like your voice heard, please, please, please let us know. It would take about 20-30 minutes of your time.

Second, now that I’ve dusted off the flour, sugar, and cinnamon from Project Cinnamon Bun, I’m off on my next thing: Project House Blessing. Last year we were not able to do them, and so this year I want to do them BIG.

As in year’s past, I’d love to bless the home of everyone in the parish, right after the Feast of Epiphany on January 6th. But, I’d ALSO love to bless the home of a friend or family member. Or several friends or family members! Sometimes it’s hard or awkward to invite someone to church… so invite the church to come to them!

I’m crafting the brief liturgy of blessing so that it could be completely done outside, if people are worried about close contact within the home. A sign-up will be on the church website soon!

Peace,

Fr Rick

Click here to watch a quick video on how to connect with St. Mark's calendar

The Second Sunday of Advent

8am        Holy Eucharist Rite I  (Bulletin)

10am      Holy Eucharist Rite II  (Bulletin) 

The Advent Brunch!

5pm        Evening Holy Eucharist (Bulletin)

               Sunday School meets

NO COMMUNITY DINNER (come to the brunch!)

6:15pm   Youth Groups Meet

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

Sunday         8am Holy Eucharist Rite I

                      10am Holy Eucharist Rite II  

                      5pm Holy Eucharist

Dec 19th        Creche Service, 10am (children will be virtual)

Dec 24th        Family Service at 1pm

                       Holy Eucharist Rite II at 5pm & 11pm

Most of 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.  

My husband, Jeff, and I moved to Basking Ridge in 1990, although it was a return for me. I grew up down the street from St. Mark’s and attended with my family from the age of 11. Although I had to change my ways of addressing parishioners as “Mr. So-and-So” or “Mrs. So-and-So” and start using their first names, it was so great to return to church as an adult at St. Mark’s. We have three sons, Jeff Jr. (29) and twins Greg and Jimmy (26) who enjoyed growing up here. My time away from Basking Ridge was spent at Bucknell University where I majored in music and mathematics. I then spent 5 years in Boston, MA in a career of installing 401(k) plans at companies. As life got busy with three boys, I stopped the full-time pursuits and joined the sports, chauffeuring, and general well-being pursuits. I now work with Jeff at Dave Heiner Associates, Inc., a sales rep organization in the wastewater treatment industry. Using Quickbooks, I am back to the numbers I love. I have also had a long career of unpaid musical pursuits. These days I can be found singing in the choir and directing the handbell choir at St. Mark’s, as well as handbell substituting at BRPC. In addition, I have enjoyed being involved with ASP over 5 different trips, enjoyed the company of awesome women who completed the needlepoint kneeler project, served one term on the Vestry as Finance chair, and I continue to be a part of the Finance Committee.  I have such gratitude for these experiences with people and with Fr. Rick, that now I am delighted by the chance to serve as Junior Warden.

I came to the United States to pursue my doctoral study in 2000. Originally from Taiwan, my previous religious background was ancestral and idol worship like most Asians. Being trained as a professional singer, I was quickly introduced to the church choir as section leader and frequently offered sacred music even before I understood the meaning of Christian worship. Thankfully I got baptized in 2001 in Columbus, Ohio, and from then on embark my journey as Jesus’ follower.  Attending church and participating ministries have provided tremendous help for me to grow a new life in Christ. In 2014, I moved to Martinsville with my husband Casey for his new job in Basking Ridge. Casey and I both want to build our spiritual life with a Christian community within reach for we appreciate fellowship and bible study opportunity in addition to Sunday worship. Coming to St. Mark's is truly by the grace of God and generosity of Father Rick who unconditionally welcomed me to practice the church organ. We learn and grow to like the Episcopalian worship style, and believe we still have a lot to learn. It is an honor for me to be invited to serve on the vestry in the role of Membership commission. I hope there will be more people in our community to get to know how beautiful St Mark's represents in God’s kingdom and become involved in spreading the seeds of faith, hope and love as St Mark's has been earnestly doing.

While I'm an avid golfer, Beth, my wife of 18 years, is a devoted gardener. Our blended family includes Michael 31, Nicole 28, and Layston 24. The older two are married and we have a grandson. Graduated Arizona State University (ASU) 1980 with a BS in General Business Administration. I’ve been with Rutgers University - New Brunswick as an application/web developer for 17 years. Baptized and confirmed in the Episcopal church on Long Island. Limited church activity between ages 15 and 21. At ASU in my last year fell in with the Navigators, a Jesus movement. Immersed and attended churches of Christ for 38 years where I lead prayer, Bible study, and singing. Joined Beth at St. Mark's in 2018.  Happy to be involved with the grounds at St. Mark's; Beth's experience as a construction consultant will be invaluable. Incumbent Pete Kochek was very kind to give us a walkthrough of the various switches and grounds. Afterward Beth drafted a manual!

I have been attending St. Mark’s with my two children, Samantha (18) and Owen Glass (15) since 2007 or 2008, after bringing Samantha to watch a Créche service following our move to Warren from Hoboken in 2006.  Samantha was baptized at All Saints Episcopal Church in Hoboken, a great parish on Washington St. if you ever get the chance to visit.  The kids and I are part of a blended multi-faith family with my husband (since 2017), Allen Zellman, and my ex-husband, Neil, and his wife, Liz. For work, I have been in-house litigation counsel at Hearst Corp. since 2012, with a focus on defending the company and its subsidiaries in complex commercial matters. 

I grew up an Episcopalian at St. John’s in Cornwall, NY, acolyting, sleeping over at Super Nightwatch at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine and camping out at the Diocese of NY’s Summer Youth Conferences in Connecticut as a teenager (returning one summer as a counselor in my 20s).  At St. Mark’s, some of you may recognize me (or my voice) from my stints as a Sunday School and Rite 13 teacher, behind the curtain at the Créche service, or lesson reader or as Owen, the pandemic service livestreamer’s, mom.  I love interacting with the children and youth and am excited to help the next generation of families find as much community for their children at St. Mark’s as we did.  For that, I am forever grateful to John Lyga, Father Rick, the Sunday School and Youth leaders, and all of my predecessors in this vestry role, including, most recently, Laura Mooney.

Patty and I moved here to Basking Ridge in 1994.  Soon after settling here we joined the St. Mark’s community.  We’ve been fortunate to have found here a wonderful welcoming family and have been blessed to have made many of our closest friends here.  We have four daughters, Kristen, Meg, Samantha and Jaime, all who grew up spiritually here.  The four no longer live in the immediate area, but we are now also blessed with 4 wonderful sons-in-law and 7 grandchildren.  Meg and Mike’s wedding was the first here at St. Mark’s performed by Father Rick.  I graduated from Lehigh University with a BS in Chemical Engineering.  I am currently part of the management team of a small, private company that develops projects focused on sustainability.  In my spare time I enjoy golf, gardening, working on projects around the house and being with my family and friends.  Here at St. Mark’s, I have been privileged to have served 2 terms on the vestry in various capacities and 2 terms as Warden.

 

Lifelong member of St. Mark's.

Activities: Chorister, Acolyte, Lay Reader, Organist/Choir Director, Vestry, Delegate to Convention and Convocation.

Business: Principally in the IT field, last active position in non-profit Arts Administration.

Family: married to Anne, three children, four grandchildren.

 

In accordance with the By-Laws, additional nominations from the floor at the Annual Meeting are not permitted.  However, additional nominations may be made by petition as follows:

Faithfully, 

your Nominating Committee

Laura Mooney, Gerry McDonnell and Jim Lunny     

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

Calling all angels, shepherds, lambs, donkeys, kings, stars, readers and figure presenters.  We are looking forward to our hybrid Creche service on December19th!  

This year, families have the option to participate live at the service or by video ahead of time.  We'll be filming here at church on Monday 12/13 from 7-8 pm and Wednesday 12/15 from 7-8 pm. On Sunday the 19th, we'll combine our video performances with those able to join us in person.   Pick a slot by clicking on the sign-up genius link below and send me, Kristen, any questions by email at klhglass@gmail.com.  

Please help make the holidays complete for families in need by donating turkeys or hams. You can also make a monetary donation and we will do the shopping for you!
Turkeys or hams can be placed in the cooler outside the church beginning 11/7 or in the large freezer in the kitchen. Thank you for your kindness!

Donations for the food bank are being accepted  through December 15th.