The Lion's Roar

November 2020

Monday         Morning Prayer, on Facebook and YouTube 

Tuesday        7pm Devotion, on Instagram 

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

Saturday       5pm Holy Eucharist Rite II 

Sunday         8am Holy Eucharist Rite I

Sunday         10am Holy Eucharist Rite II 

                      Confirmation Class, 7pm via Zoom

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

Sean Gogerty and his wife, Sandy, have lived in Basking Ridge and been members of St. Mark’s for the past 22 ½ years.  Although Sean grew up in Randolph most of his life, his family lived in Basking Ridge for three years in the late 60’s and belonged to St. Marks during that time period also.  Sean and Sandy have two children, Danielle, who is 23 and a recent graduate of the University of Miami, and Ryan, who is 20 and attending his third year at Lehigh University.

Sean and Sandy have been involved in teaching Sunday school, Rite 13 and J2A groups for several years.  Sean previously served as Treasurer from 2003 – 2005 and he was the Finance Chairperson on the Vestry from 2011-2014.  He also previously headed up the acolytes.  Sean was a member of the Profile Committee back in 2008-2009 that resulted in Fr. Morley becoming the rector of St. Marks and he was a member of the 2009 Nominating Committee.

Sean was a member of the Vestry and Chairman of the Finance Committee at his prior church, St. Paul’s Church, in Morris Plains from 1993-1996.  He has worked as a tax accountant for 35 years, the past 33 at Deloitte LLP where he has been a partner for the past 24 ½ years.

My husband, Howard, and I moved back to Basking Ridge in January of 2012, and we were glad to join St. Mark’s again. My husband’s family started at St. Mark’s in 1971. Two of our 5 children were baptized at St. Mark’s, and our daughter, Melissa Malinak, is a member and was married at St. Mark’s by Father Rick. I work as a Project Manager in the Patient Access department of the Hospital for Special Surgery, in NYC. It has been quite a year there, as you can imagine. I was humbled to be nominated to serve as the Stewardship chair. I believe very strongly in tithing, and have reaped the benefits of God’s favor when doing so. I have loved participating in the rummage sales, making food for Keansburg, and being involved in the first Alpha class. I now appreciate being considered for Stewardship, and working once again alongside our St. Mark’s family.

I have been a member of St. Mark's for most of my life. My family first joined this community when I was 5 years old. I have been a part of the Sunday School program and continued through Rite 13, J2A, and YAC. I have always done my best to stay involved with St. Marks starting from the time I joined youth group. I volunteered to assist with Sunday School activities in addition to planning and running Vacation Bible School in 2014. 

I recently graduated with a BS in Human Services from Old Dominion University and started my career at Tri-County Care Management Organization. The community at St. Mark’s has always played an important role in my life. Furthermore, my fellow parishioners have always provided me with a safe and comforting environment throughout my years growing up in the church. I would not be the young woman I am today without the values and lessons I learned from both my family at home and my family at St. Mark’s.

I am excited to be a part of the St. Mark’s vestry and I am prepared to bring a new perspective to the communications/evangelism commission. I hope to reach a broader audience both within and beyond our community about the wonderful programs that are offered at our parish. I look forward to having the opportunity to give back to St. Mark’s and be a part of continuing to grow our community for the next generation. 

I first moved to Basking Ridge in 1983 with my husband, Bill, and our two boys, Caleb and Jeremy. Amelia was born two years later. She was baptized and all three children were confirmed in St Mark’s. In those early days, I was involved with many fundraisers, the Art Auction among many others. I sang in the choir and taught a few sessions of Sunday School.
I was also very involved in the community with scouts and PTOs. I served on two boards of different community organizations in the Morristown area. I started part time teaching swimming at the Y when Amelia was 4 then full time when she entered kindergarten. I worked my way up to the Aquatic Director, training the staff and lifeguards.
After Bill’s passing I moved to Massachusetts in 2001. I sang in the church choir and Choir North Shore in Gloucester, MA. I was briefly married then I moved to California to live near Jeremy and his family for 18 months. Again, I was involved with the church choir and also a knitting group making prayer shawls for those needing prayers and comfort. My next move was to New Hampshire to be near Amelia. I was asked to join the vestry at Trinity Episcopal Church in Meredith, NH. There I became a warden for three years before moving back to Basking Ridge in July of 2019.
While in Meredith, I served on a board to open a thrift shop with two other community churches. I also served on the local board of ALTRUSA INTERNATIONAL. This started out being a women’s volunteer organization promoting reading programs for children.
I’m honored to be asked to join the vestry and am looking forward to becoming more active in the church and getting to know more people and sharing some of my ideas and experiences.

Hello,

Hope everyone is starting to enjoy the fall weather and are able to get out and enjoy the fresh air. The Fall is lovely in the Somerset Hills and I think we all hope it will be a long, mild Fall to make it easier to get out during this interesting time.  It seems like the challenges keep coming. Halloween is arriving and we have to think about how to handle giving out candy during Covid-19.  Do we put on masks and gloves, leave a basket of candy on the front porch or perhaps, not answer the door. In the end, like everything else, we will all figure out what works best for each of us. 

Thanksgiving may well be different this year.  Probably not as many people will be around the dining table as we try to safely maintain social distance. Yet, we still have so much to be thankful for.  I am thankful for the continued health of my family and in some ways the pandemic has not been all bad.  We have had the pleasure of having our adult children stay with us for an extended time as they have fled the city and are working from home.  I have spoken to friends and relatives who I usually only hear from around the holidays. We have also attended a few of the St Mark's Church services in person which gave us more to be thankful for. 

Wishing all a happy and healthy Thanksgiving.

Stay well,

Joan Graff

Senior Warden

The Ridge High School First Responder's Club is hosting a drive up, food donation drop off on Saturday, November 14 at the front of St. Mark's from 10-3.  Please place your donations in the back seat of your car and we will safely unload them for you.

The Somerset County Foodbank is in great demand and graciously accepting all non-perishable food items. Thank you for your support of The Somerset County Foodbank. 

We are headed down to Keanburg again next week to serve lunch.  Please visit our needs site if you are able to make a meatloaf (or two).  Thank you!

Once again, we will be collecting turkeys and hams for the food bank to help spread joy to families in need during the holiday season.  We will start collecting this week, November 1st, and collect straight through until Sunday, December 13th.  Please bring the items directly to the kitchen or during the week, to the office. If you would rather donate and have us do the shopping, there is a basket in the narthex, or send a check to the office.  Thanks so much for your generosity!

We checked in with the Food Bank and they are in particular need of mini-boxes of cereal, as well as instant and ground coffee.  If you are willing to donate, please place in the link and Jackie Taylor with pick up and deliver (thanks Jackie!).

As you know, the Foodbank is in great demand these days. You can help by making a monetary donation by clicking here.  This will allow the staff to purchase  much needed food to deal with the increase in demand at their door. Thank you!

This past year, we’ve had to reimagine what being TOGETHER means. Tuning in to Morning Prayer on YouTube. Watching Sunday services from the living room couch. Music with Mike on Facebook. Sung music by video. Devotions on Instagram. Christian Education and Coffee Hours on Zoom. 

As we enter into our fall stewardship drive, and as we look forward to 2021, perhaps we’d do well to think about what St Mark’s means to us, how this community supports each other through thick, thin, and a global pandemic. Perhaps we could relish and be filled with gratitude for how we are TOGETHER, even when
we’re not TOGETHER, and looking forward to that day in the not too distant future when we can be TOGETHER again.

Thank you to all who have already sent in their pledge cards. In order to help the vestry in their budgeting process for 2021, we ask that you please return your pledge card by November 8th if possible.

Please contact the office if you haven't received your stewardship mailing.  You can also fill out a pledge card online  by clicking here

There will be a St. Mark’s fellowship activity on Friday, November 13^th at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. The virtual painting party will be hosted by your fellowship chair, Sandy Gogerty, and the event will be led by parishioner and local artist, Andrea Giordano.   Don’t miss the opportunity to join your St. Mark’s family for this fun event. Materials can be delivered to your home or you may pick them up at the church...more details to follow. 

The activity will be presented virtually, however, feel free to join together with your friends in socially distanced/appropriate gatherings to watch the lesson and paint together. Questions and for sign -up please contact Sandy at sgogerty@optonline.net.

Sign up at https://www.agfineartgallery.com/; Once on the website, Go to:  More then book online. Cost is $25 which includes lesson and all needed supplies.