Dear Friends in Christ,

Because of my surgery on Monday, I will not be with you on Sunday, but will be traveling to Baltimore to be with my family.   I am honored to tell you that in my absence, my own priest and pastor, and our beloved bishop, The Rt. Rev. George Councell will be preaching and presiding at the 10:00 service.   Bishop Councell and I spoke this week, and he wants to be the one to care for you, and be among you this Sunday.  I know you will show him wonderful hospitality and will welcome him on my behalf.  

Because of the snow, and Bishop Councell's travel schedule, we will only have one worship service on Sunday, at 10:00.    The loose plate offering on Sunday morning is designated for the Bishop's Discretionary Account, as our small token of thanksgiving for his presence among us. 

Father Malloy will be with you on Ash Wednesday at 7 pm. for the next two Sunday mornings.

Thank you all for your kindness to me and to my family.  We are strengthened by your prayers, and moved by the many ways you have demonstrated your love to us.

Yours, in Christ,

Susan+

•   7 pm      Holy Eucharist Rite II with Imposition of Ashes, in the                    Church, with the Parish Choir

Thank you to our chefs and servers for raising $291.23 for charity.  Click here to view photos.

Throughout Lent, the Sunday School will be collecting money for the Saint Mark's Center for Community Renewal in Keansburg, NJ.  The center offers meals and counseling to the Keansburg community that was affected by Hurricane Sandy.  This Sunday, the children of SJOTM are each receiving a canister that will be used to collect as much money as they can during Lent.  Click here to learn more about the organization.

The February Ladies' Luncheon will be a Valentine's Day party, on Thursday, February 14th, at 12 noon in the Parish House Meeting Room.  Please bring a sandwich; drinks and dessert will be provided.  RSVP to Janet Brozynski jwbroz@gmail.com.   The knitting group will meet prior to the party at 10:30 am in the same location.

Click here to learn more about the two weeks of events and activities between February 16th and March 3rd, that focus on the music, art, sports, food and spirituality of the Celtic nations. The Fortnight kicks-off with a reception and unveiling of "A Journey through Britain in Watercolors"  by the artist Daniel Paul Turner Thomas, on Saturday, February 16th at 4 pm.  Tickets can be purchased online.  Volunteers are needed.  Please see sign-up sheets on the bulletin board near Parish Hall.

• Art Reception and Celtic Concert

Saturday, February 16 - 4:00 p.m. 

Opening of Art Exhibition and Concert featuring Celtic Music, Readings and Bagpipes

Includes Shepherd's Pie Dinner - $25.00 per person

On Tuesdays evenings at 6:00 pm, the community will gather for Evening Prayer in the Chapel, followed by a simple pot-luck supper. Members of our community will preside at this simple service of prayer. Bring a dish to share for supper, and come and allow the word of God to wash over you, and pray with the assembled community, as our ancestors did before us.  Join us February 19th, 26th and March 5th, 12th, 19th.

Do you love music but consider yourself more of an instrumentalist than a singer?  The Hand Bell Choir of St. John on the Mountain has several openings for ringers.  No prior experience with hand bells is required but reading music is necessary, especially being able to count those naughty half notes, quarter notes and eighth notes!  If you are interested in trying it, please contact Rick Morgan, Director of Music for more information.  It's really very rewarding and a lot of fun.

We baptize primarily on those dates set aside for baptism, as listed in the Book of Common Prayer.  Since the presence of the community of faith is essential for welcoming the newly baptized into the church, baptisms take place in the principal service on the appointed Sunday. The 2013 dates for Holy Baptism are as follows: 

• Saturday, March 30     7 pm           The Great Vigil of Easter
• Sunday, May 19          10 am          The Day of Pentecost
• Sunday, Nov 3             10 am          All Saints' Sunday