The Lion's Roar

February, 2023

Last year, Bruce Nelson told me about his long-standing commitment to Compassion International and the children that he has directly sponsored. His story was powerful, and he encourage me to plan a “Compassion Sunday” here at St Mark’s.

With a focus on child development, Compassion International helps children break the cycle of poverty through programs that provide essential services like education, nutrition, medical care, and spiritual guidance.

Founded in 1952, Compassion International has helped millions of children in 26 countries, providing them with the resources they need to grow into healthy, successful adults.

One of the key aspects of Compassion International's work is its commitment to child sponsorship. Sponsorship allows individuals and families to directly support a specific child, providing them with the resources they need to succeed. Sponsors receive updates on the child's progress, and can correspond with the child through letters, helping to build a meaningful and personal connection.

They have also expanded their offerings, where instead of an ongoing commitment to a child you could make a one-time purchase of some chickens, or a goat, or something else that could make a family’s life easier.

On Sunday, February 26, Father Rick and I will be introducing you to Compassion International, an organization dedicated to releasing children from poverty in Jesus’s name. Helping an individual child who is in dire poverty is a wonderfully rewarding experience. With most charities you do not know how the money is spent or where it goes. For the past eight years I have sponsored two boys through Compassion International. With Compassion I know to whom the money goes and what they get out of it. Knowing this and having a relationship with one of these children is especially rewarding. Come and hear about how you can help some youngster in poverty aspire to a better life in Christ.

If you would like to know more about the organization, you can visit their website, www.compassion.com

Bruce Nelson

Sunday February 26th will be our Compassion Sunday.

Peace,

Fr Rick

Saturday       5pm Holy Eucharist Rite 

Sunday         8am Holy Eucharist Rite I

                      10am Holy Eucharist Rite II  

                       9am The Forum, The Exodus

Monday        10am Morning Prayer via Zoom

Wednesday   9am Holy Eucharist Rite II

                       7:30pm The Forum, The Exodus (on Zoom)

Feb 21st                  Shrove Tuesday, Pancake Supper

Feb 22nd                 Ash Wednesday

Feb 5th & 19th        Youth Group & Sunday School, 5pm

Feb 1st & 15th         Keansburg Soup Kitchen

Feb 26th                  Compassion Sunday

We are continuing youth group and Sunday School every other Sunday evening from 5-6:30, including dinner. Please check the calendar for dates.

Office Hours:  Monday - Thursday, 9am-3pm. The office is closed on Friday.

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

Saturday, January 28, was a marvelous day for the Diocese of New Jersey. Delegates from all churches gathered, or joined in via Zoom, to elect the 13^th Bishop of New Jersey.  The Rev. Canon Dr. Sally French was elected to succeed Bishop William H. “Chip” Stokes, who is retiring.  She will be consecrated and installed on June 24, 2023.  Delegates from St. Mark’s, along with some of the delegates from St. Bernard’s and St. John on the Mountain, joined together in our Heritage Room to take part in the Zoom event, and to electronically vote  for our next bishop.  You can read more about Rev. Canon French here https://www.bishopsearchnj.org/.  With God all things are possible.  

This Saturday, February 4, our Vestry will be holding a retreat, where we welcome our newest Vestry members and make plans for 2023.  I look forward to the day and wish all good things for 2023.

Martha Heiner

2022 Year-to-Date (YTD, through December) Financial Results