Lent at St. Mark's

Ash Wednesday, February 18 through Saturday, April 4

Lent is a season of preparation leading up to Easter. The 40-day period, plus the six Sundays before Easter, begins on Ash Wednesday (February 18) and ends on Saturday, April 4 with the Great Vigil of Easter. For centuries, Lent has been observed as a special time of self-examination and penitence. Lent is a time for concentration on the fundamental values and priorities of the Christian faith. If you have found yourself away from church and wondered about giving it another try, Lent is the perfect time. Throughout Lent, worship services take on a simpler and more solemn tone appropriate to this season. At certain times, crosses are veiled. The word "Alleluia" is not used in the liturgy or hymns. These practices help the worshipping community mark this season of renewal as a special time in the church year. The season of Lent is designed to help us enter into the mystery of the Resurrection through our own period of penitence, fasting, reconciliation and restoration. St. Mark's will be running a variety of services and programs to help us all focus more clearly on the redemptive power of Christ’s atoning death and resurrection. Please join us as your schedule permits.

• Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper (see below) - Tuesday, February 17 (5:30 - 7:00 pm)
• Ash Wednesday - Wednesday, February 18 at 7:30 am, 12:00 noon, and 7:30 pm
• Palm Sunday - Sunday, March 29
• Maundy Thursday - Thursday, April 2 - Service time TBA
• Good Friday - Friday, April 3 - Service time TBA
• Easter Vigil - Saturday, April 4 - Service time TBA
• Easter Sunday - Sunday, April 24 - Service times TBA
  and Children's Easter Egg Hunt

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper - St. Mark's Journey to Adulthood youth and other helpers will serve pancakes and more at the annual Shrove Tuesday supper on February 17. The suggested donation for a plate of homemade food is $10.00 and will be served in Carroll Hall from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. Please invite friends to this great event.

Tuesday Morning Prayer Services at 8:30 am

Tuesdays, 8:30 am

Tuesday morning prayer provides commuters and others with a simple, intimate service (about 30 minutes long) that is an opportunity to learn about and pray the Daily Office with others. For questions please contact Brenda Allen (bjstarx at gmail dot com). All are welcome, so please join us!

Giving Statements and Important Tax Information

Starting this Sunday, there will be a request for permission to receive your giving statement online printed in the bulletin. To receive your giving statement electronically instead of by paper mail, simply tear out the completed permission slip it out and place in the offering plate, or give it to the treasurer. Electronic dissemination of your giving statement is convenient and easy for you while also saving St. Mark's saves time and postage. Not going to be at church this Sunday? Simply click here to print the request form out and mail it into the church.

All who pledged or donated last year are invited to read a brief summary of important tax information related to charitable giving. It provides examples of what is deductible in 2014 or 2015. Please click here for a copy of the summary.

Altar Flower Donations Needed

November 2 through December 21

The seasons are changing and the bounty from Grace's garden will soon be ending so we are in need of altar flower donations. Please consider making such a donation in thanksgiving for or in memory of a loved one. We will need flowers beginning November 2 through December 21. The cost of flowers is $50 and payment must be received in the parish office the Friday before the Sunday you designate. Please make checks payable to St. Mark's and be sure to note "Altar Flowers" in the memo section. A sign-up sheet can be found on the table at the entrance to Carroll Hall. Please indicate the date for which you would like to donate flowers, your name and contact information, including email address, and who you would like the flowers donated in memory of. You will be contacted to confirm your donation. If you have any questions, please contact Liz Hibbard at eehibbard at gmail dot com or 201-357-4384. Thank you!

Ingathering for the 2015 Stewardship Season Continues - Please Support St. Mark's!

We are now collecting pledge cards for the 2015 pledge drive. St. Markers are being challenged to give in response to their love for God. We believe this is a decision between you and God. The budget that funds the upkeep and ministries of St. Mark’s is computed based on what we receive in pledges, but the act of pledging is a spiritual practice. So we invite you into this spiritual practice by pledging your time, talent and treasure to God through a financial and time commitment to St. Mark’s. In other words, each pledge card is like a vote for St. Mark’s. For while pledging is a spiritual practice, our giving does enable St. Mark’s to operate as a church and to serve the community and the world. So please, give as you are able. Turn in your pledge cards and vote for St. Mark’s! Pledge cards are available in the foyer or from any Vestry member. For more information, contact Stewardship co-chair Jackie MacLeod or the Priest-in-Charge, The Rev. Bob Shearer.

St. Mark's Book Group, "Reading Between The Lines," Continues on Saturday Mornings

Saturdays, 8:30 - 9:30 am

The Book Group began meeting again on Saturday, September 20th, in Carroll Hall (Room 6), at 8:30 am, and will continue to meet during the program year. We are currently reading Simone de Beauvoir's "The Coming of Age." The book and our conversation explores age, especially old age. The Amazon Website blurb says of the book: "What do the words elderly, old, and aged really mean? How are they used by society, and how in turn do they define the generation that we are taught to respect and love but instead castigate and avoid? Most importantly, how is our treatment of this generation a reflection of our society's values and priorities?" Come to the meeting and join the conversation. There is no requirement to be old to participate in the group. The Book Group's only rule for membership is to show up at the meeting. Reading the book is optional. See Tom Crotty if you want information on getting the book or more on the Book Group. All are welcome, so please join us!

Looking for a Great Ministry? Consider Hosting Sunday Coffee Hour!

Each Sunday Following the 10:00 am Service

Coffee hour is an important part of worship and fellowship, a weekly opportunity to relax and share in building a "beloved community" at St. Mark's. To make this happen, we need coffee hour volunteers. Coffee hour can be as simple as bagels and coffee (preferably), or something more elaborate, according to your preference. Given the economic times, we strongly suggest that simplicity be your guide. What is most important about coffee hour is the time it provides for fellowship and togetherness as we share in the many gifts of the Spirit, so please consider being a coffee hour host. There is a sign-up sheet on the table near the entrance to Carroll Hall. Thanks!