Alpha kick-off event, Tuesday February 19th at 7pm
The Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany
There is a Saturday evening service this week in Chapel at 5pm
8AM Holy Eucharist Rite I
9AM Forum & Youth Group Meet
10AM Holy Eucharist & Baptism Rite II & Sunday School
In an effort to be sure that we get important information out to you in a form that you are likely to see it on a timely basis, we are putting together a "Text Message Group". If you would like to be notified via text message should there be a weather-related closing or last minute changes to programs here at St. Mark's, for instance, please sent the office an email with your cell phone number and we will add you to our list.
Fr. Rick's Blog
Luke’s version of the beatitudes is strange. I mean who feels blessed when they are poor, when they are hungry, or when they are weeping? Who feels blessed when we are hated, reviled, and excluded?
Read Father Rick's full entry at stmarksbr.org/blog
Alpha - Kickoff Tuesday, 2/19
The storm forced us to reschedule our Alpha KickoffAlpha is a great way to learn about the Christian faith, talk about it with other people without judgement and without the constraints of an organized religion. Each night begins with fellowship, where we enjoy dinner together. It is followed by a 30 minute video of Nicky Gumble discussing the topic for the week including Who is Jesus, Why and How do I Pray, and How Does God Guide Us. Then we break into small groups to discuss the topic in an open and easy way – share if you want to, or don’t.
Join us on Tuesday, February 19th at 7:00pm for dinner and to learn about Alpha. You’ll see a taste of the format and hear an introduction to the program. You can see if you would like to continue through the program
Questions? Email Lea O’Shea (leaoshea4@gmail.com)
Keansburg Soup Kitchen - Wednesday, February 20th
We will be going down to Keansburg next Wednesday to serve lunch. Please click here to view our needs list.We would love to have you join our team or just come down to help on any of our visits which are the first and third Wednesdays of each month. Please contact Jan Williams, rjwillia16@gmail.com.
The Sunday Forum
This winter we’re exploring The Way of Love—the model of Christian living that our Presiding Bishop, Michael Curry, talked about during the royal wedding. There are seven parts to the Way of Love: Turn, Learn, Pray, Worship, Bless, Go, and Rest. This Sunday the adults and the youth will gather together to talk about what it means to Turn.Shrove Tuesday
While it may seem a little hard to believe, March is right around the corner and you know what that means - SHROVE TUESDAY PANCAKES! And we are calling all volunteers ready, willing and able to lend our youth a hand, to please join us, on Tuesday, 05 March, for the annual feast. All positions are available, from setter-uppers to breaking-downers, and everything in between - cooks, adult overseers, servers (and of course anyone who would just like to lend an appetite!)If this sounds like the ministry you’ve been looking for, please drop me a line. I’d love to put you on our list. And be certain to watch for upcoming details as the time grows closer.
Rev. Tammy
Calling all teens and parents.
As part of our Youth Group collaboration efforts with St. Bernard's and St. John on the Mountain, all teens and their parents are invited to attend "Be Encouraged & Be a Good Encourager,” a four-week series designed to build strong support interpersonal support systems by helping to develop the fine of art of listening and presence. This interfaith program begins on Sunday, 20 January and will run every other week through 24 February from 4:00 - 5:15 PM at St. Bernard's. Refreshments will be served. RSVP's are not necessary but would be greatly appreciated. The cost is free. Please see Tammy for further information and/or flyers.Sunday School classes continue
We are continuing to use the Digin program. We are starting a new module this winter, Digging Into Discipleship. Digging Into Discipleship brings a fresh approach to growing a lifelong relationship with God. As kids explore God’s character throughout the Bible, God transforms them from the inside out. Kids discover what it means to reflect the heart of God in everyday life.As a reminder to new families; children preschool up to 5th grade meet in the large classroom by 10 am. We start our Chapel service at 10 where we are joined by the youth groups R13 and J2A for a brief service and singing then back to the classroom for our weekly short video and lesson and most often a fun craft or science project related to the bible lesson. Children are back with their families ahead of communion.
All children are welcome, regular members and visitors alike. Adults of all ages are welcome to help or teach a class. All materials are provided and lessons are available in advance on line.
Spring Rummage Sale - April 5th & 6th
Mark your calendars, join the fun!
We need significant donations of your unwanted goods. Tell your friends and families of the opportunity to donate to our fund raiser. We also need your help during the week. Everyone of all ages can get involved.Set Up will be Sat, March 30th at 9:30AM.
Sorting and Pricing will be from Sunday, March 31st 1:00 Pm – Thursday, April 4th. Sale will be Friday, April 5th from 9:00 - 2:00 PM and Saturday, April 6th from 9:00 - 2:00 PM.
Clean Up will be Saturday, April 6th at 2:30 PM.
Please consider volunteering in this important fund raiser in any capacity possible. Let us all help make this Rummage Sale another huge success for St. Mark's. Thanks. Harry Woods, Kit McLaughlan and Annabelle Wilmer
Making Donations to St. Mark's
While we encourage all members to pledge, you do not have to make a pledge to use offering envelopes. Simply contact Doug and he will provide envelopes to you. This will facilitate the correct recording of your donation.We know that some of our regular attending members put cash in the offering plate week-by-week. Some of you may want your contribution to be anonymous—and we thank you for your generosity. If, however, you would like to be credited for your donation, please indicate on an envelope your name, or contact the recording treasurer,Doug Post, at dougpost140@gmail.com (or 908.766.6621 )and he will see to it that the donation is properly attributed to you. This will then be reflected in the quarterly and annual giving statements that can then be useful come tax time.
Art Studio
Come and join us for painting on a Tuesday, 12pm to 3pm in the large Sunday school classroom. We work on our own projects and help each other out. It’s fun, relaxing, and we’re a friendly group.Any questions, contact Jenny Phillips 908-451-9638, jrpw26@gmail.com
The King's Singers with the Somerset Hills Chorus
Fifty years after its foundation in Cambridge, England, the King’s Singers is still one of the best know all-male a cappella groups in the world, witness its 2019 GRAMMY nomination.Saturday, February 23, 2019, 7:30pm St. Mary’s Abbey at The Delbarton School
For tickets, visit Music SH.org/Concerts, or call 973.339.7719
Lost & Found
We have a basket in the Narthex that contains hats, gloves, glasses, etc... Are you missing something?Snow Policy
For weekday/weeknight events and activities, we will follow the Bernards Township Board of Education. If school is cancelled, or if school evening activities are cancelled, then St Mark’s will be closed during those times as well.For Sundays, barring some catastrophic event, there will ALWAYS be at least a 10AM service. All parishioners are strongly urged to use their best judgement, and not to attempt any feats of heroism to get to church. On occasion we will cancel the 8AM service while roads and walks are cleared. This will be communicated by email by 7AM.
The 10AM service is nearly always broadcast live on Facebook: facebook.com/stmarksbr Every effort will be made to ensure that snowy Sunday 10AM services are indeed broadcast.
Please be sure that you are on the St Mark’s mailing list, as any cancellations or notices will be communicated by email. You can sign up for the list on the website, or by calling the church office at (908) 766-9058.