St. Mark and All Saints Parish Newsletter February 2017

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THE LION429 S. Pitney Rd. Galloway Twp., NJ 08205 |609-652-6222 | smasnj.com |

The Diocese of New Jersey recently awarded St. Mark and All Saints two grants totaling $45,000 to assist with major repairs, the implementation of programs, and employee compensation. The Diocesan Loan and Grant Committee approved $25,000 for major building repairs including fixing the water saturation on the back wall of the building. The money will also be used to install new gutters, windows, and heating/air window units. A $20,000 grant will be used toward Fr. Terry’s compensation package, and the secretary’s salary. It will also help SMAS to budget for items such as outreach and rebuilding our youth program, explained Kathy O’Hagan, Mission committee liaison. “One of the benefits of being part of the Diocese of New Jersey is that parishes with Mission status such as St. Mark and All Saints are eligible to receive different types of financial assistance,” O’Hagan said. “God is good! It is one of the glories of being part of the Diocese of New Jersey: we are all one and we all help each other.” In early January, members of the SMAS vestry, finance, and grounds committees met with Diocesan representatives. Along with SMAS clergy, the group toured the property to determine priorities. SMAS received full approval of the grant request on Jan. 14. The SMAS grant application was prepared by O’Hagan, Gair Helfrich and Alice Kohler.

SMAS receives $45K in Diocesan grantsInclement Weather?

In the event of poor weather conditions or emergencies that may affect Sunday or week day services, please

check your e-mail for cancellations or time changes.

You may also call the parish office at 609-652-6222. The voicemail greeting will be

updated with the information.

 

Save the Dates!

Wednesday Noon Healing Services will not be held on Feb. 22, March 1, and March 8. They will resume when Deacon Tom returns from R&R.

SMAS will host area churches for a noontime Lenten Ecumenical Service Wed., March 22. Volunteers are asked to prepare sandwiches, baked goods, and provide beverages. Please contact a member of the clergy or Alice Kohler if you can help out.609-652-6222

In early January, Diocesan representatives, SMAS clergy and parishioners toured the grounds and listened as Junior Warden John Spencer pointed out areas in need of attention.

St. Mark and All Saints Parish Newsletter February 2017

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Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Our annual parish meeting was held recently. We are grateful to our outgoing Senior Warden,

Ralph Lombardo, who stepped in and provided us with his time and leadership during trying

times. Thank you, Ralph! Special thanks also to our Mission Committee members who served

for the past few years: Paul Murphy, Charlie Newkirk, and Karen Knudson. Your time and

dedication were blessings for our parish and are appreciated, as well.

As we press on into 2017, we have so much for which to be thankful. We have a new Senior

Warden, Vicki Sharp, and we welcome new members: Stan Kozlowski, Jeffrey Harrison, Mark

Link and Robin Husta. We thank you, along with our current Mission Committee members, as

we work together for the good of the parish and the world.

Mission status as a congregation has enabled us to present a balanced budget! In addition,

we are being supported financially by our diocese--very helpful to

us for sure! The number of people pledging are not only on the rise

but also the amounts pledged by many have increased

significantly. Planning is underway for religious education for adults, youth,

and children, with a Lenten program on the horizon! Look for

information on these programs soon. Our parish is alive and well. There is a continued energy that

fills our church. New faces are being welcomed in our pews, and

our outreach ministry is also on the increase. Thank you one and

all for your continued support of The Church of St. Mark & All

Saints, Galloway. YOU are the Church--and what a Church you

are!! With ongoing excitement and blessings, in Christ’s Service,

Fr. Terry+

Greetings from your Senior Warden, We at SMAS are looking forward to another wonderful and exciting year of growth, fellowship and outreach. I am encouraged and thankful for everyone's enthusiasm and dedication to the future of this church. I look forward to working with Father Terry and our Mission Committee. Please feel free to approach any one of us with your questions and concerns. My mother gave me a devotion book called Diamonds in the Dust by Joni Tada that I started reading this year. I would like to close with a prayer from it for all of us to pray as we move forward. “Lord of beginnings, I’m ready to have You do something new in my life this year. Thank you for leading me into the untouched days ahead. I’m ready to follow.” Amen. Yours in Christ, Vicki Sharp

For the first time in SMAS history, we ended the year with a surplus, allowing the Finance Committee and Vestry to present a balanced budget for 2017, another first.

God Bless each and every one of our SMAS family for your continued support of our Church. You have laid the foundation for our growth and renewal. - Lisa Winneberger, Treasurer

St. Mark and All Saints Parish Newsletter February 2017

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SMAS Annual Congregational Meeting

Book Club: Getting Started

Feb. 12Several parishioners are interested in being part of a SMAS book club. Like the idea? Join us in the Basket Room on Sunday, Feb. 12 at 9 am (after the first service) . We’ll meet one another and decide:

• the kinds of books we’ll read and how we’ll choose

• how often we’ll meet

• where and when will be most convenient, and. . .

• who will bring the snacks?!

Can’t make it? Email Mary Dovey at smaslion@aol.com for details.

SMAS women go to Washington. Faith Penrose, left, daughters Samantha and Andrea Brandt, and Leslie Lombardo, joined thousands taking part in the Women’s March on Sat., Jan. 21. No matter your political point of view, we can all be grateful for our right to free speech. Kudos!

2016-17 Stewardship Report. More than 66 percent of SMAS families pledged monetary support to the parish this year totaling nearly $150,000. Dave Dunlevy, left, who co-chaired the Stewardship Drive with Fr. Lee Powers, assured the group that if their circumstances changed during the year, SMAS would always be willing to make changes to their pledge. “We’ll be glad to accept more money,” he added, laughing along with the audience.

Fr. Terry O’Connor opened the meeting with prayer, and presented each attendee with an annual report of numerous SMAS committees and ministries. In addition to budget information, and reports from clergy and vestry leadership, parishioners were updated on ushers, greeters, lectors and LEMs, music, Peggy’s Cupboard, Daughters of the King, Cameroon, acolytes, Scrips, Adopt a Road, recycling, Cub Scout Pack 12, fellowship time, and The Lion.

A few highlights below:

Drawing smiles, Junior Warden John Spencer, left, introduced himself as “Mr. Doom & Gloom,” then very seriously detailed the need for a renewed focus on the SMAS church building in 2017, including work on the courtyard. Diocesan grants will assist with some of the repairs to the building this year, but many serious issues remain, he said.

Scott Winneberger, right, sketched the planned features of the SMAS Columbarium and answered questions about the design of the structure and the surrounding garden area. The concrete work for the Columbarium is expected to begin this month.

St. Mark and All Saints Parish Newsletter February 2017

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St. Mark and All Saints Episcopal Church 429 S. Pitney Rd., Galloway, NJ 08205

Sunday Services: 8 and 10 a.m.

SMAS Members: Stepping up for Vestry, Convention and Convocation

SMAS newest Vestry members include (l. to r.) Senior Warden Vicki Sharp, Jeffrey Harrison, Robin Husta, and Mike Link. Not pictured: Stan Kozlowski. On-going Vestry members include Jr. Warden John Spencer, Dave Dunlevy, Gair Helfrich, Mary Link, Kathy O’Hagan, and Faith Penrose.

A hearty thank you was extended to outgoing Vestry members Karen Knudson, left, Charlie Newkirk and Paul Murphy (not pictured), and Senior Warden Ralph Lombardo.

It’s been said that if you want to get something done, ask a busy person. That axiom certainly applies to the men and women who volunteered to fill church leadership roles in 2017. In addition to the new Vestry/Mission Committee members, the following were elected:

Deputies to the Convention: Ralph Lombardo, Shelly Hartman, and Gair Helfrich. Alternates: Stacie Gustray, Joann Spencer, Lisa Winneberger.

Delegates to the Convocation: Alice Kohler, Joyce Martin, Jeffrey Harrison, Lisa Winneberger, Mary Dovey, Vicki Sharp.

Feb. 28- Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper. 5 to 7 pm. Pancakes,

sausage, beverage & dessert. Help is welcomed; free will offering.