A Note from the Flower & Altar Guilds
This week's flowers are given in continuing gratitude to Father Rick, Ann Millan, and Mike McCormick for keeping up an amazing pace to keep us all connected spiritually through word and music throughout the continuing pandemic with increased services, music recitals and dedication in getting out the word to all of us.
We also honor those heroes who have kept us and our families safe and our essential businesses going and all who have passed away in these hard times.
May we look forward to the holiday season and to a new year filled with joy, peace, and health.
God Speed,
Flower & Altar Guilds
Creche Service, 2020 Style
Like everything this year, we're planning our Creche service a little differently to accommodate social distancing guidelines. We'll have a short service at 7pm each evening, Mon-Sat, Dec. 14-19, to present the figures to the creche. Fr. Rick will livestream it for everyone to watch from home.
There are lots of ways for the Sunday School students and youth to participate. Pick a night that works for you and your family and fill out our signup sheet. We would like to keep the total number of families attending per night small so please look for a night that best works for your family size. As always, we're very flexible on costume choices.
Please click here for the signup genius
We'll be sending all of our Sunday school students the music and words to
Go Tell it on the Mountain, asking them to record themselves singing it at home and then our maestro, Michael, will put it all together for one of his masterful mashups!
Here's the link of Mike playing so the kids can practice.
Christmas Gifting Time Again!
Remembering all the Sunday creche services of our past, as we smilingly marched forward down the St. Marks center aisle with our gifts for the clients of the Food Bank… well, this year we will be experiencing yet another change. However, we will still have a chance to give to families in need - just in a different way.
We have been asked to provide Gift Cards instead of actual purchased items. These were specifically requested to be for Target or Walmart. Good idea as at either store, one can purchase both food or “anything else”.
- Cards or donations will be needed by December 6– ideally starting this coming week. The FB would like to get them to the clients a little early this year to allow time for them to shop.
- Envelopes with cards should be left in the church mailbox or office. You may also drop them in the donation plate on Sunday.
- Please be sure to include your purchased card with receipt showing the amount.
- Mark the envelope, Christmas Gift so it doesn’t get mistaken as a donation or pledge payment. Add your name and phone to the outside of the envelope just in case we need to reach you.
- Any dollar amount is welcome – from $5 up. If $25 - $50 is possible, that would be very appreciated. NOTE: If you wish to give more, please keep the denominations to $50 or under.
If you are not able to purchase the cards yourself but would like to participate, no worries - we will do the shopping for you! Just enclose your donation in an envelope marked Christmas Gift and we will take it from there.
If you need someone to come by and pick up your donation (cash to purchase gift cards), please leave a message at St. Marks office phone, or call Marcie directly, 908 962-1892.
We will report back how much we have gathered and gifted by Christmas.
Thank you all.
Let’s make this “COVID Christmas” giving as joyful as marching down the aisle!