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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?
Click here to fill out an online form to help us update your information for our records. |
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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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First Sunday in Advent
December 3, 2017
Sunday
Schedule
9:00 am
Hanging of the Greens Service
Sanctuary
9:15 am
Children's Church
Room A101
10:00 am
Advent Traditions Workshop
Saint Mark Center
11:15 am
Hanging of the Greens Service
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 all men, women and children who live in constant fear and uncertainty because of governmental instability which threatens peace and security in so many places, including Zimbabwe, Lebanon, Germany, and Syria. Pray for the leaders of these nations that they will rule with wisdom and for the benefit of all of their citizens.
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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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FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT
THIS Sunday, December 3
TWO Special Services Of Worship
BOTH in the Sanctuary
9:00 and 11:15 am
ALSO
Advent Traditions Workshop
"Make It, Take It, Give It"
(for all ages)
10:15 am (between services)
Saint Mark Center
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This Sunday, during our normal time for Sunday School, let's come together as an entire faith community for a special Advent experience that will naturally flow from and flow to our
Hanging of the Greens services of worship at 9:00 am and 11:15 am in the sanctuary.
Come to the Saint Mark Center as early as 10:00 am for a time of refreshments and fellowship. Then the workshop will begin at 10:15 am.
Experience some old and new Advent traditions in a multi-generational
"Make It, Take It, Give It"
time for all ages. Enjoy several hands-on traditions that will truly bless you, your family and our community throughout this holy season.
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It's Crunch Time!!
Here Is How You Can Help Marvin's Kids Over the Next 9 Days
Final preparations moving ahead for the Santa Secret Shop on December 9 and your help is needed!
- Come join in the fun of accompanying Marvin's Kids parents as they choose and wrap toys for their children, selected from the toys you've donated!
- Or, how about baking a few extra cookies so we can treat the parents as they shop and wrap?
- Speaking of wrapping, we need wrapping paper, gift tags, stick on bows, and large gift bags for parents to wrap all those fabulous toys you've generously provided! You can drop those wrapping supplies into the Marvin's Kids bins located in each atrium entrance by next Thursday, December 7.
If you can "work" in Santa's Secret Shop or donate cookies, please click here to contact Nell Hodge or call her at (864) 423-6083.
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UMW Shortbread Cookies
Go On Sale
THIS Sunday, December 3
Atrium
What do you get when you combine over 70 pounds of butter, 100 pounds of flour, 30 pounds of sugar, a pint of pure vanilla, a pinch of salt, and lots of love? A church kitchen full of flour-dusted, laughing woman who together baked over 3100 shortbread cookies! The fruits of their labors have been attractively packaged and will be available for you to purchase on Sunday, December 3 in the atrium beginning at 9:30 am.
Cost is $8/each or 2/$15.
All of the proceeds will benefit local missions.
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RENEW Schedule
Wednesday, December 6
RENEW Dinner
5:15 - 6:15 PM
Saint Mark Center
or call the church office at 882-2603
Menu
Beef Chili
White Chicken Chili
Baked Potato with Toppings
Steamed Broccoli
Dessert
Drinks
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
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
PLEASE NOTE:
THIS IS OUR FINAL RENEW
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Next Wednesday, December 6
Topic
Going Forward in the Wesleyan Way: Present and Future Challenges
Wrap Up, Panel Discussion and Holy Communion
Panelists:
Rev. Shawna Darnall
Rev. Bob Stillwell
Rev. John Evatt
Jens Holley
Rev. Ken Minton
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UMW Christmas Luncheon
Saturday, December 2
11:30 am
Commons Room
FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Hanging of the Greens
Sunday, December 3
Two services of worship
9:00 and 11:15 am
Advent Traditions Workshop
Sunday, December 3
10:15 - 11:00 am
Saint Mark Center
Marvin's Kids Santa Shop
Saturday, December 9
11:30 am
Children's Choir Rehearsal and Pizza Party
Saturday, December 9
12 noon - 3 pm
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Children's Choir Christmas Program
Sunday, December 10
10:15 am
Sanctuary
Special Friends/Youth Christmas Party
Sunday, December 10
5:30 pm
Saint Mark Center
Elderberries Provide Lunch and Gifts
for Seneca Residential
Tuesday, December 12
12 noon
Celtic Lessons and Carols Rehearsal
Saturday, December 16
2 - 5 pm
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Celtic Lessons and Carols
Festival Choir
Emerald Road Celtic Folk Band
Sunday, December 17
4:00 pm
Sanctuary
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Sunday Morning Worship
Sunday, December 24
One Combined Service of Worship
10:30 am
Sanctuary
No Sunday School for Children or Youth
Adults are welcome to meet, if desired
Christmas Eve Services
Sunday, December 24
Candlelight Communion Service
with New Harmony UMC
3:00 pm
Sanctuary
Family Service
5:30 pm
Saint Mark Center
Candlelight Communion Service
9:00 pm
Sanctuary
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A CHANCE TO GIVE BACK
In this season of giving, Saint Mark is offering an opportunity to give back, not just give. We need nursery assistants for the following time slots:
- Sunday, December 10 at 11:00 am
- Sunday, December 17 at 11:00 am
- And if anybody is wants additional stars in their crown, on Sunday, December 24 for the 5:30 pm Family Service.
We also have lots of slots in January to fill. Contact Jens Holley at the church office (864-882-2603 or churchoffice@smumcsc.org) to help. Thanks for all you do for Saint Mark.
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REMINDER!!!
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:
Donate Empty Shoe Boxes
(before December 3).
Do you have empty shoe boxes lying around? We
need them as gift boxes. Drop them off in the atrium entrances, next to the wooden bins
Purchase gifts. Please don't wrap them. There are 30 residents at Seneca Residential
(15 men and 15 women). Here are some gift ideas:
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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 |
Please bring the gifts to the atrium entrances and place them in the wooden bins.
Bake Cookies. We are looking for about 200 cookies. Bring them to the church office by Monday, December 11.
Assemble Sandwiches for the lunch. Gather in the Saint Mark kitchen on Tuesday, December 12 at
10:00 am to make sandwiches for the residents. The ingredients will be provided.
Pack Gift Boxes for the residents. Gather in the Commons Room on Tuesday, December 12 at
10:00 am to sort through the gifts that have been received and pack the gift boxes for the Seneca Residential residents.
Volunteer to
Serve the Meals and distribute the gifts at Seneca Residential on Tuesday December 12 - arrive at about
11:30 am.
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Wednesday Evenings at Saint Mark 2018
The GATHERING
Third Wednesday of each month
January 17
February 21
March 21
April 18
5:30 pm - Supper and Fellowship
6:15 pm - Worship and Communion
PLEASE NOTE: Children and youth will continue to meet
weekly from 6 - 7 pm.
ALSO: Weekly RENEW meals and adult programming will be discontinued, and the monthly Wednesday evening program,
(the third Wednesday of the month)
will takes its place.
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We have
30 tickets available for $29 per person.
Click here to reserve your ticket(s) today.
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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." We are grateful to Trinity Baptist Church, our partner in this event.
If you haven't had the chance to participate, you many not realize that this event not only provides meals for hungry children, but it creates a environment where people of all faiths and cultures can work together, side-by-side, to enhance our interfaith/intercultural relations, and we will benefit our local food bank, as well.
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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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Christmas Outreach to Seneca Residential
Lunch and Christmas Gifts
Tuesday, December 12, 12 noon - 1:30 pm
2018
Bellamy Brothers Concert
Click the link below to see the video
Saturday, January 20
7:30 pm
Walhalla Civic Auditorium
Cost: $29.00 per person
Game (Bunko) and Grazing Night
Friday, February 23
6:00 pm
Commons Room
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Sunday Morning Worship - New Year's Eve
ONE Combined Service
Sunday, December 31
10:30 am
No Sunday School for Children or Youth
(Adult Classes are welcome to meet at 9:30 am)
Contact: Todd Davis
Leadership Orientation 2018
Sunday, January 7
5:30 pm Light Supper
6:00 pm Orientation
Human Relations Sunday
Sunday, January 14
Wings for the Lord Dinner Theater
"Critter County Easter Surprise"
Sunday, January 21
Revolution Youth Retreat
January 26 - 28
Columbia, SC
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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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Stewardship Commitment Update
The results of our Stewardship Commitment campaign to support our 2018 Ministry Budget continue to be encouraging,
BUT...we have not heard from many of you! If you have not yet turned in your commitment to return to God a portion of what He has given you, please do so as soon as possible.
The Saint Mark Council of Stewards will not finalize our ministry budget for 2018 until January, but we need to hear from you soon!
- Cards and confidential envelopes will be available on the worship resource table in Celebration worship and in the Narthex in Traditional worship Sunday.
- You can also find our pledge card online. Click here and simply print the pledge card!
- You may also go to the Saint Mark UMC home page (http://sumucsc.org) and click on the last link under the "Connect" tab,
- OR simply contact the Saint Mark UMC Operations Manager, Karen Holcombe with your pledge by calling 882-2603.
Thank you for your commitment to the ministries of Saint Mark UMC!
Your Stewardship Ministry Team
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Saint Mark CDC Christmas Outreach
The Saint Mark Child Development Center is collecting items for the residents at Lila Doyle Nursing Care Facility for Christmas. They are collecting Christmas socks, Chapstick, notepads and pens. These items will be delivered on Monday, December 18 when the CDC children go to sing for the residents. Donations can be dropped off in CDC office. Click here to contact Becca Williams for more information.
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We are Blessed!
Thank you to our incredible Saint Mark family for your prayers, visits, goodies, etc. during Bill's stay in the hospital. We feel so blessed to be part of such an amazing group of disciples.
Bill and Diane Caster
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Thank You, Saint Mark!
Thank you for the generous donations of winter coats for the UMW coat drive to benefit
Safe Harbor. We had so many coats that we were able to take some of them to
Our Daily Rest, where they were greatly appreciated.
What an outpouring of love
from our congregation!
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Report from the
Annual Minister's Cook-off
"We (the 2017 Cook-off Committee) are tickled pink to report proceeds of $12,025 from the Fifteenth Annual Clemson Area Minister's Cook-Off held on November 2, 2017, to support the work of the Oconee and Anderson County shelters of Safe Harbor." The money will be used to help victims of domestic violence rebuild their lives.
Thanks to Pastors Todd Davis and Shawna Darnall (with the help of Cara Davis) for representing Saint Mark so well, and bringing home a first place win in the Sweet Tooth category.
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December Calendar and Birthdays
Click here to check out our December calendar and December birthdays. Click here to let us know if we have inadvertently missed your "special day."
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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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