The Lion's Roar

January 2022

A Message from Father Rick...

When I was in seminary, I was—I think—your typical student. I stayed up way too late. I woke up way too late—setting my alarm to be able to just skid into my first class of the day.

When I was in Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s class, I learned a lot. Honestly, I still think about many of the things that he taught us twenty years later. But, I was also shamed a little bit…

One day in class someone asked him about his own prayer practices. He told us that he got up sometime between 4am and 5am, then he’d go for a walk, then he’d pray for about an hour, and then he’d partake of the Eucharist.

“Oh,” I thought. That was a far cry from my late wake up, Diet-Coke-and-a-Pop-Tart, and sprint to class.

In 2011 Tutu told an interviewer: “I could myself not have survived had I not been buttressed by my spiritual disciplines of prayer, quiet, and regular attendance at the Eucharist.”

There is something to a disciplined devotional life. I didn’t really understand that in seminary, but I do now. The rhythm. The practice. The praying even-when-you-don’t-feel-like-it.

Tutu was onto something. And, it’s something that we could all be on too.

Happy New Year,

Fr Rick

Our Church Calendar

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

This Sunday - Jan 2

The Second Sunday after Christmas

8am Holy Eucharist Rite I (Bulletin)

10am Holy Eucharist Rite II (Bulletin)

Weekly Offerings in January

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

Saturday 5pm Holy Eucharist Rite III (beginning 1/8)

Sunday 8am Holy Eucharist Rite I

10am Holy Eucharist Rite II

Jan 16th 5:30pm Community Dinner

6pm Youth Groups Meet

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.

Sunday, January 16th, following the 10am Service

2022 January Finance Submission

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

Operating Income is $341K, $11K (or 3%) favorable to budget, driven by favorable Pledge, Plate, and Donations income received YTD offset partially by unfavorable Building Use Donations and Rummage Sales income.
Operating Expenses is $324K, -$2K (or -1%) unfavorable to budget, driven by higher Grounds Maintenance expenses from snow removal, additional Worship expenses from the Easter tent rental, Telecommunications expenses from wifi upgrade and elevator phone installation, and from IT expenses from an unexpected hardware and software issue in a church office computer.
Operating Net Income is $17K, $9K favorable to budget, driven by favorable operating income cited above.

Coffee Hours

Sign Up

Please only sign up for a second slot on a day if you have agreed with someone to do coffee hour together. Otherwise, you will both not know who the other person signed up is.

Laughter in the Pews

January Birthdays

Jan 3 Lance Marshall

Jan 4 Laura Taylor

Jan 6 Andrew Hargy

Ryan Hargy

Jan 9 Christopher Hale

Jan 10 Francis Sanchez

Jan 11 Norm Graff

Kathleen Kendall

Nancy Wojnar

Jan 14 Jamie Overley

Jan 17 Lauren Keenan

Jan 20 Katie Lyga

Tim O'Shea

Jan 21 Gordon Ahalt

Jan 23 Claire Buesser

Dev Ittycheria

Alisa Larner

Jan 25 Emma Moussally

Jan 26 Jeremy Richardson

Jan 27 Libby West

Jan 30 Miyako Urbas

Keansburg Soup Kitchen

We are headed down for our first 2022 visit on Wednesday, January 5th.

Please check out our needs list if you are able to help by making a meatloaf (or two). Thank you!

Food Bank

Thank you to everyone who donated turkeys and hams to the Food Bank over the holidays. We were able to provide 52 turkeys and hams for their clients!

In addition, the gift card collection was a huge success as well. In total, we were able to donate over $3,700 in gift cards that the Food Bank distributed to their clients.

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.

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

Bernards Township Alert:

JANUARY COVID-19 VACCINE CLINIC SCHEDULE

NEW LOCATION: Saint James Church, 184 South Finley Ave, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920

Pfizer (5-11) will be given on Mondays from3:00-5:00pm at the Saint James Church, 184 South Finley Ave, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920.

Clinic dates for Pfizer (5-11) - January 10, 31
First and second doses available.
Individuals under 18 MUST be accompanied by parent/guardian.
These Pfizer appointments are NOT for individuals ages 12+.
Make your child's appointment here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/bthdpfizerkids

Pfizer (12+) will be given on Tuesdays from3:00-5:00pm at Saint James Church, 184 South Finley Ave, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920.

Clinic dates for Pfizer (12+) - January 4, 11, & 18.
Primary series for 12+ (first and second doses) and boosters for 16+.
These Pfizer appointments are NOT for individuals ages 5-11.
Make your appointment here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/bthdpfizer

Moderna and J&J will be given on Wednesdays from 3:00-5:00 pm at Saint James Church, 184 South Finley Ave, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920.

Clinic dates for for Moderna and J&J – January 5, 12 & 19.
Moderna primary series (first and second doses) or boosters for 18+
Visit https://www.signupgenius.com/go/bthdmoderna to make your Moderna appointment.
J&J primary dose or boosters for 18+.
Visit https://www.signupgenius.com/go/bthdjj to make your J&J appointment

Submitted by Jeanne Wyatt, found in a drawer from the 1980's

Obituary of an old friend....

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend by the name of Common Sense who has been with us for many years.

No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm and that life isn't always fair.

common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not kids, are in charge).

His health began to rapidly deteriorate when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place.

Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teach fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer aspirin to a student; but could not inform the parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Finally, Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten commandments became contraband; churches became businesses and criminals received better treatment than their victims did.

common Sense finally gave up the ghost after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot, she spilled a bit in her lap, and was awarded a huge settlement.

common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust, his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son Reason.

He is survived by two stepbrothers; My Rights and I'm a Whiner.

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.