Come One, Come All to the Annual Parish Meeting on Sunday, January 29

Sunday, January 29, following the 10:00 am service

All are invited to participate in St. Mark's Annual Meeting, which will take place in Carroll Hall on Sunday, January 29, immediately following a single 10:00 am morning service (please note the change in our service schedule to accommodate this event). A light lunch will be served. Come and hear about what St. Mark's has done in worship, outreach, and community life during 2011, hear about what's planned for 2012, and bring your own ideas. We will also distribute the compilation of annual reports and hold elections for open Warden and Vestry positions. For more information, please contact the Wardens (Jeff and Karen at wardens at stmarksteaneck dot org) or the Rector (Valerie at rector at stmarksteaneck dot org).

Celebration of New Ministry Message of Thanks / DVD of the New Ministry Service Available

Valerie would like to thank everyone who helped to put together the installation service and celebration of new ministry on January 14. The hard work and generosity of many made this event possible. Donations toward the costs of the event and the special offering are still being accepted. To make a donation or for more information, please contact Parish Treasurer Sheri Urinyi at treasurer at stmarksteaneck dot org. In the event you were unable to attend the service or would like to relive the festivities, you have an opportunity to purchase a DVD of the event. Interested? Please speak with or email Amy Fink (amyhhs at gmail dot com) to order your own DVD. The fee is $10.00 with ALL proceeds going to offset costs related to the installation service.

We also invite you to enjoy this short (nine-minute) video excerpt from the service featuring The Rt. Rev. Mark M. Beckwith, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark, Valerie, and a host of St. Markers.

Family Promise Volunteers Needed the Week of January 23 - Can you Help?

January 23 - 27

Hosting congregation Temple Emeth has reached out to St. Mark's (their support congregation) for assistance with their upcoming week housing and feeding homeless families. Temple Emeth could use a St. Marker to cook on January 24th and 27th. They could also use a server/clean-up person (no cooking) on the 23rd, 24th, and 26th. If you can volunteer in one of these slots, please contact Linda Cushman (551-486-0101) or Liz Hibbard (201-357-4384).

St. Mark's Book Group, "Reading Between The Lines," Meets January 28

Saturday, January 28, 8:30 - 9:30 am

The book group is beginning discussion of a new book, "The Lost History of Christianity: The Thousand-Year Golden Age of the Church in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia - and How It Died" by Philip Jenkins. The book unveils a vast and forgotten network of the world's largest and most influential Christian churches that existed to the east of the Roman Empire. These churches and their leaders lived in the Middle East, India, and China for centuries and became the chief administrators and academics in the new Muslim empire. The author recounts the extraordinary history of how these churches, those that had the closest link to Jesus and the early church, died. If you wish to join the group, please speak with Tom Crotty or just show up Saturday morning. All are welcome, so please join us!

Lion's Den Coffee House and Open Mic on Saturday, January 28

Saturday, January 28, 7:00 pm

On Saturday, January 28, the Lion's Den Coffee House and Open Mic begins its seventh consecutive year at St. Mark's! Musicians, poets, comedians, dancers, and other performance artists are invited to the monthly Lion's Den Coffee House and Open Mic in Carroll Hall. Participants are invited to offer acoustic or lightly amplified music, poetry, comedy, dance, dramatic readings, or other types of performance art. Individuals and groups who wish to participate may sign up on arrival. For refreshments, we'll be offering some mighty fine home-baked treats, along with hot coffee and tea to keep you warm on a winter's night. Lion's Dens are held on the last Saturday evening of each month, and they run about two hours. For more information, contact Richard Kearney at 201-928-0070. We'll see you there!

Rector to Host Youth and Adult Confirmation Classes - Information Session on Sunday, February 5

Starting Sunday, February 26 through March 25, 4:00 - 5:00 pm

All youth in grades 8-12 are eligible for this year's diocesan confirmation, which is scheduled for April 29 at Trinity and St. Philip's Cathedral in Newark. Beginning Sunday, February 26, Valerie will lead weekly preparation classes through March 25. Another date will be added for a field trip. Adults who are interested in being confirmed in the Episcopal Church are also welcome to participate. The Diocesan Confirmation Retreat will be held April 20 to the 21st. All classes will be held from 4:00 to 5:00 pm at the church. All interested parents and youth are invited to join Valerie for an informational session on February 5 following the 11:00 am service.

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper Hosted by St. Mark's J2A Youth Group on February 21 / J2A Updates

Tuesday, February 21, 5:00 - 6:45 pm

Are you ready for Mardi Gras? Join St. Mark's Journey to Adulthood Youth Group as they host this year's Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on February 21st from 5:00 to 6:45 pm. the suggested donation is $10.00 per person with proceeds going to future youth events. Please save the date and join us on February 21st!

Journey to Adulthood (or J2A) is held on Sunday evenings from 5:00 to 7:00 pm and is a complete ministry program of spiritual formation using Bible study, prayer, music, rites of passage, outreach ministries and both serious and fun activities for youth in grades 6-12. The following arre some program calendar updates for the next several weeks:

• January 15 - No meeting
• January 22 and 30 - Regular meetings
• February 5 - Super Bowl Party
• February 12 - Regular meeting
• February 19 - No meeting
• February 21 - J2A Hosts Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper

2012 Commitment Cards Now Available!: Time to Further Our Stewardship

Each Sunday During Stewardship Season

Our ingathering was last year, but there is still much to do to prepare for our mission and ministry in 2012 and beyond. Please consider, prayerfully, making a 2012 commitment of financial support and sharing of your precious time and abilities to this St. Mark's family. Commitment cards are available in the Church - in the pews, the Narthex, and on the Welcome Table. If you already have a card, we ask that you spend some time considering what gifts you believe you can bring to the community in the coming year. If you need more time to consider, that's fine too. Thanks be to God for your commitment to St. Mark's and all we do together!

Adult Choir and Chorister Rehearsals Continue Each Thursday - Please Join Us!

Choristers, 4:15-4:45 pm and Adult Choir, 7:30 pm on Thursdays

Choir and Chorister rehearsals have resumed and will continue throughout the program year. The Choristers (St. Mark's Children's Choir) rehearse on Thursdays at 4:15 pm for a half-hour. The Adult Choir also rehearses on Thursdays starting at 7:30 pm. Please speak with St. Mark's Music Director Eugene Sirotkine (917-359-5906 or music@stmarksteaneck.org) to participate. All are welcome, so please consider being part of the music at St. Mark's!