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To be a church aglow, ignited by the fire of God's Holy Spirit, lighting the way in our community and warming the hearts of those we meet.
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Change of
Contact Information?
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Contact Us?
Saint Mark UMC
616 Quincy Road
Seneca, SC 29678
Call us:
9 am - 5 pm (M-Th)
(864) 882-2603
Pastoral Care
Emergencies or after regular office hours
call or text
(864) 888-7072
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Saint Mark 2017 Ministry Guidebook
Click here
to view the entire Saint Mark 2017 Ministry Guidebook with information about church structure, leadership, ministries and our 2017 budget.
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Check Out Our Entire Church Calendar of Events
Click here
to see what is going on at Saint Mark this week and the weeks to come.
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November 12, 2017
Sunday
Schedule
8:30 am
Usborne Children's Book Sale
9:00 am
Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary
9:00 am
Celebration Worship
Saint Mark Center
9:15 am
Children's Church
Room A101
10:15 am
Sunday School
for all ages
11:15 am
Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary
12:30 pm
Adult Council
4:00 pm
Wings 'N Things
5:30 pm
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Quick, easy and available
HERE
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Join us every day at 3:20 pm to pray for Saint Mark - our people and ministries.
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Listen to Last Week's Sermon Today
If you were not able to attend worship on any given Sunday, you can still listen to the sermon.
Click here to select and listen to sermons that you may have missed.
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Got Information to Share in Next Week's Heart Beat?
Click here
to send your Heart Beat post to us by no later than 12:00 noon next
Thursday. On the subject line, please type in "Heart Beat" so that we can easily find your article among the other emails.
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Got Good News To Share With Your Saint Mark Family?
Good news lifts our spirits. Share your good news with us. We will publish your good news in our
"People 'Neath Our Steeple" feature. Your news will be sent out as an email.
Click here to share your good news (achievements, births, awards, etc.). Include pictures if you have them.
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Got Pictures?
We are creating an archive of pictures taken at Saint Mark events and activities. If you have taken pictures and want to share them, please
Or use our hashtag
#stmarkumc and post your photos on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
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Interested in LGBTQ+ Inclusion?
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Prayer Focus for This Week
Pray for the families and friends who lost loved ones in the mass shooting at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, on Sunday, November 5. Pray for solutions to the problem of gun violence.
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Submit Your Prayer R
equests
Saint Mark is pleased to receive your prayer requests . . . for yourself or for friends or loved ones.
Click here
to submit your request.
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Worship With Us This Week
Sunday, November 12
We return to our sermon series
on Jesus' disciples
Meet the Disciple - Matthew
Traditional Services 9:00 am and 11:15 am
Sanctuary
Celebration Service 9:00 am
Saint Mark Center
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Usborne Children's Book Sale
THIS Sunday morning, November 12
through Wednesday evening,
November 15
Saint Mark Atrium
Shop in our atrium, or you can
click here to order online
(click "Shop" and then click "St. Mark").
This book sale will allow our Saint Mark library to earn free children's books for our library. Thank you for your support.
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UMW Sponsored Coat Drive
Will Continue Through
Sunday, November 19
Our Saint Mark United Methodist Women (UMW) are sponsoring a coat drive. Ladies, look through your closets and see if there are lightly used coats that you would be willing to donate to this important outreach. Donations will to go the women and children at the Safe Harbor. You may drop your coats off in the atrium entrances. Give the gift of warmth!
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RENEW Schedule
RENEW Dinner
5:15 - 6:15 PM
Saint Mark Center
or call the church office at 882-2603
Menu
Thanksgiving Meal
with all the trimmings
Kids' TREK (K4 - 5th grade)
Worship Arts and Activities
6:00 - 7:15 PM
Youth Journey (6th grade - college)
6:00 - 7:15 PM
Moving Forward in the Wesleyan Way
a time of learning, conversation,
and sharing in holy Communion for Adults
(See details below)
6:00 - 7:15 PM
Commons Room
RENEW Fellowship
Feel free to just hang around in our gym to fellowship with friends - or make new ones!
6:00 - 7:15 PM
Saint Mark Center
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Next Wednesday, November 15
Topic
Sacraments
Discussion and Holy Communion led by
Rev. Shawna Darnall
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Order Your Thanksgiving Turkey
to Benefit Saint Mark's
Ann Hope Feeding Ministry
What: We are smoking half-turkeys for Thanksgiving, $25 per half (comes with a special dipping sauce)
When: Click here to reserve a turkey or see us in the atrium this Sunday, November 12. Turkey pick-up will be on Wednesday, November 22, at 5 - 6pm at Saint Mark.
Why: They are good! And, proceeds will benefit Saint Mark's Ann Hope Feeding Ministry
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Blood Drive to Benefit
David Garland
Sunday, November 19
8:30 am - 12:30 pm
Saint Mark is sponsoring a blood drive to benefit one of our Saint Mark disciples, David Garland. He suffers with an autoimmune disorder that kills his red blood cells, so it could take over 90 units of blood to produce enough immune globulin to get him through this latest episode.
We invite you to give blood. Watch for more information about how to sign up. The Blood Connection will take walk-ins, but prefer donors make appointments.
Just for your information, David's blood type is A-, but any blood that is donated will help.
Donors will receive a
$10 Walmart Gift Card that the Garland family hopes you will prayerfully consider donating to the McNair family. (See below)
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Benefit for Bobby McNair
Saturday, November 18
10 am to 2 pm
Hamilton Career Center
100 Vocational Drive
Seneca, SC 29672
There will be hot dog plates and live music. For advanced tickets on the hot dog plates, call the School District of Oconee County Maintenance Department at (864) 886-4420.
A "Go Fund Me" page has also been set up to help cover the medical expenses that are mounting. Click here to contribute.
As mentioned above, if you plan to donate blood to benefit David Garland, the Garland family invites you to consider donating the $10 Walmart gift card that you will receive to help relieve the financial pressure that Bobby's long-term hospitalization is creating for the McNair family. Thanks for your generosity.
Please continue to hold Bobby and his family in your hearts and in your prayers.
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Thanksgiving reminds us of the many, many blessings we receive from God. Saying "thank you" to God is certainly an appropriate response, but it doesn't go far enough. Disciples of Jesus express their gratitude for God's gifts, by "paying it forward" - by blessing others through acts of love and service. If you are exploring opportunities to serve God by serving others, join us in the atrium next Sunday, November 12.
Representatives from 12 local agencies and ministries will be available to provide information, and to answer questions about the persons they serve in our community. These are the agencies that will be represented: Mentor Oconee, Ripple of One, Days for Girls, Our Daily Bread, Our Daily Rest, Marvin's Kids, Golden Corner Food Pantry, Ride to Work, Wilderness Way Girls' Camp, Ann Hope Feeding Ministry, Safe Harbor and BabyRead.
Show your gratitude by getting involved!
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During our meeting, we will learn how parents are being empowered and children blessed through the mission of
Marvin's Kids, and also install the 2018 UMW officers. The luncheon is
$10.00. We need an accurate count of those attending, so please register at circle this month, or by calling Mona Fleming at (864) 646-8414. You may also
click here to email her. Please make your reservation by Sunday,
November 26. Join us!
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Join us on December 3
as together we celebrate the
First Sunday in the Holy Season of Advent
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Come and Support our Precious Children
Sunday School classes, we encourage you to suspend your lesson for that day and join us in the sanctuary for a different kind of "lesson" - through the gift of our children's voices.
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Elderberries (folks 50+), we want to spread some Christmas cheer to the folks at Seneca Residential,
an independent living community that serves adult men and women who cannot live on their own.
Here are ways you can participate:
Purchase gifts. Please don't wrap them. Here are some ideas for both men and women:
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Chapstick
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Socks |
| Slippers |
Gloves |
| Scarves |
Small Stuffed Animals
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| Puzzle Books |
Toothbrush |
| Toothpaste |
Deodorant |
| Hand Cream |
Life Savers |
| Werther's Candy |
Peppermint Sticks |
| Fruit (Apples, Oranges) |
Candy Kisses |
Provide food for the meal that will be served on December 12.
Help
serve the meal on December 12.
Next week, you will have the opportunity to volunteer for one or more of these tasks. Watch for more details.
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For more information,
click here to contact David Wilcox.
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Eleuthera 2018 Pilgrimage
in Planning Stages
We are in the beginning stages of planning Saint Mark's 6th trip to the Bahamian island of Eleuthera - the dates are
March 10 - 17, 2018! 25 seats have been booked. Unlike most mission endeavors, construction projects are not our primary focus
(although we do hope to replace the roof of the Cancer Society building as our project) - we want
YOU, the participants, to help define what we do - if you are interested tell us the gifts you might utilize in helping the residents to have a better life! The opportunity is to partner with someone in the
One Eleuthera Foundation as OEF strives to teach sustainability and increase the opportunities for graduating with a skill and improve the agriculture on the island.
We usually work in teams on whatever tasks we together with our hosts might come up with Monday-Friday. We will have a touring day, a day of worship and relaxation, daily devotions, yoga, and who knows what else!
Your total cost of the trip is anticipated to be $1100; the fundraisers defray the costs of materials we will use in our work. Souvenirs and incidentals are not included, but airfare, lodging, meals and local transportation are included.
We will have an informational/planning meeting Sunday, November 19 at 12:30 pm in the Commons Room. If you cannot attend, let us know you are interested! Note that we are asking you to identify YOUR gifts and talents and where they might be used during our journey! More on that later. Contact Bob or Lynn Dobson (864) 723-1854 or (864) 247-1320 or
click here to email for more information.
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OUR SAINT MARK CHILDREN . . .
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THIS Sunday November 12
All children will sing THIS SUNDAY, please meet in the upstairs music suite by 8:45 am to rehearse and lineup.
Christmas Program Preparation
Speaking parts (grades 1 - 5) for the Christmas program are ready to go home, if you haven't already picked them up. And please play those CD's at home, in the car, and everywhere!
CDC Parent Night Out
Friday, November 17
5:30 - 9:30 pm
Childcare is available for children age birth to 12 years. The cost is $10 for 1 child, $15 for 2 and $20 for 3 children. If you are interested, please contact the Saint Mark Child Development Center at 882-0333 and let them know you are coming.
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ELDERBERRIES EVENTS (FOR 50+)
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ARE YOU 50+?
Here are some Elderberries Events
that might interest you. Save the date(s) on your calendar.
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Trip to Winston-Salem
Cancelled
Christmas Outreach to Seneca Residential
Lunch and Christmas Gifts
Tuesday, December 12, 12 noon - 1:30 pm
2018
Bellamy Brothers Concert
followed by dessert and coffee at the church
Saturday, January 20
7:30 pm
Walhalla Civic Auditorium
Cost: $29.00 per person
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Marvin's Kids Santa Shop
Saturday, December 9
Special Friends/Youth Christmas Party
Sunday, December 10
5:30 pm
Saint Mark Center
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Winthrop Singers
will perform at
Trinity Baptist Church
NEXT Tuesday, November 14
7:00 pm
They will be joined by the
Seneca High School Madrigal Singers. The concert is free.
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Wilderness Way Girls' Camp
"Bringing Help and Hope to Hurting Girls
and Their Families"
Turkey-in-the-Hole
Thanksgiving Dinner
Saturday, November 18
175 Camp School Lane
Fair Play, SC
Dear Friends:
Please come join us in thanking God for His blessings on Saturday, November 18, 2017. This is our annual Turkey-in-the-Hole Thanksgiving dinner. We also want to use this time to say "Thanks" to our community for all the good support that we receive.
We will be hosting campsite tours from 10:45 to 11:20 a.m. The girls will share some skits and songs before digging up the turkeys around 12:15 p.m. A great dinner will follow with a little more program as we finish dessert.
Camp will supply the turkey, gravy, dressing, bread, cranberry sauce, drinks, and all the paper and plastic goods. We ask guests to bring either two favorite side dishes or a side and a dessert that is sliced and ready to serve. Veggies are quite welcome! We do ask that children stay with parents and pets remain at home. We will be outside so please dress appropriately.
If you can join us for this celebration, please RSVP by November 16 at (864) 972-0611. There is NO CHARGE, but donations are gladly received. Praise God! We hope to see you here.
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Foothills Chorale
presents
Handel's "Messiah"
3:00 PM, Sunday, December 10
Trinity Baptist Church
504 S. Oak Street
Seneca, SC
Give yourself an early holiday treat, and enjoy the Foothills Chorale performance of Handel's Messiah, with outstanding guest soloists and accompanied by full chamber orchestra.
Directed by Justin Durham, a highly experienced musician, and Director of Choral Singing at Clemson University, the Foothills Chorale has gained an outstanding reputation in the Upstate over the last 25 years.
For more information, click here to contact David Wilcox.
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Called to be Peacemakers
The United Methodist Church Responds to the Mass Shooting at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas
Should the Church of Jesus Christ have a voice in response to tragedies like the one in Sutherland Springs, Texas this past Sunday? Absolutely! The Church is called to take action against injustice and suffering in our communities, states, nation and the world.
Click here
to read the response of Rev. Dr. Susan Henry-Crowe, top executive of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society. She outlines specific actions that we, as disciples of Jesus Christ, can take to help change the culture of violence that takes the lives of innocent men, women and children.
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As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are on mission with God in our world. One of the greatest ways we can participate in God's mission is through faithfully participating in and supporting the ministries of God's church through offering our prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness. It is time to renew your commitment to God as we prayerfully plan for ministry in 2018.
Click here to find this year's
pledge card. Print it, fill it out, and turn it in to the church office so that we can begin putting our 2018 budget together. As always, thank you for your generosity!
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We Still Need Marvin's Kids
Toy Shoppers
The
Marvin's Kids ministry is off and running for 2017! Through work with Oconee County's elementary school guidance counselors,
36 families and 135 children have been selected to participate in Marvin's Kids this year. Your help is needed in getting "Santa's Secret Shop" fully stocked with toys from which parents can choose their children's Christmas gifts.
We only have 38 children that have not been assigned a shopper, 21 girls and 17 boys. We hope you will sign up to buy gifts this Sunday morning in the atrium or in the narthex after the traditional services. Gifts do not have to be wrapped and need to be brought to Saint Mark by Monday, December 4. More information about other ways you can assist Marvin's Kids will be coming in the next few weeks. Thanks for supporting this ministry!
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The 2018 Disciplines Are Now Available
This book of daily devotions is now available for your to purchase.
$17 - Regular Print
$20 - Large Print
To reserve your copy, click here to contact Marla Fuller
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6th Annual
Meal Packaging Event
Our Saint Mark family (children, youth and adults) loves to participate in this annual event to package food for hungry children around the world. Mark your calendars now for
Saturday morning, March 3, and save the date.
Before we package the meals, first we need to pay for them at $.29 per meal. We hope you will give generously toward this ministry outreach so that we can reach last year's goal of 50,000 meals! To make a contribution, make your check out to Saint Mark UMC and note that it is for "Rise Against Hunger."
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SAINTS IN SERVICE
HELPING YOU PLUG IN . . .
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LET US KNOW HOW YOU WANT TO PLUG IN!
Click here to discover the many ways to serve at Saint Mark. Fill out the form and return it to Marla Fuller in the church office. We will get you plugged in!
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