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To Be and Make Disciples of
Jesus Christ
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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 2018 Ministry Guidebook
Click here
to view the entire Saint Mark 2018 Ministry Guidebook with information about church structure, leadership, ministries and our 2018 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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January 28, 2018
Sunday
Schedule
9:00 am
"Come to the Table" Worship with
Holy Communion
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
12:30 pm
Church and Society Team Meeting
NO Youth Activities
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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 health care workers who put their health and well being on the line to care for the sick and dying. Pray for all medical personnel who have direct contact with those who are sick. Pray for those who care for family members and care-givers. Pray for a fair and just health care system that serves everyone who needs care, regardless of their circumstances and their ability to pay.
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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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"Come To the Table" Worship
with Holy Communion
THIS Sunday, January 28
We continue with our 9:00 am sanctuary service worship format that has been modified to provide a deeper sense of community among those who come to worship each week. We will continue prayer, proclamation and song in new and more intimate ways, anchored by shared experience of finding grace at the Lord's Table.
"The Apostle Paul Takes a 'Selfie'"
Bringing the message
Rev. Todd Davis
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Celebration Worship
THIS Sunday, January 28
9:00 am
Saint Mark Center
"A Witness Under Conviction"
Bringing the message
Rev. Bob Stillwell
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Traditional Worship Service
THIS Sunday, January 28
"The Apostle Paul Takes a 'Selfie'"
Bringing the message
Rev. Todd Davis
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Our Saint Mark Youth Head to
Columbia TOMORROW
for a Weekend of Inspiration and Fun!
Our youth are so excited about our United Methodist Conference led Revolution Retreat in Columbia this weekend. They will be attending sessions at Township Auditorium along with over 2,000 other Methodist youth from South Carolina. After sessions on Friday and Saturday, they will join other youth from Anderson district for a pizza party and mission opportunity. Our Wings for the Lord youth choir has been asked to sing for worship on Sunday morning when our Bishop presides.
Please be in prayer for hearts to be open for Christ, friendships made and for safety. Our youth and leaders going are Erin, Colleen, Amelia, Emma E., Lacey, Destiny E., Camille, Liberty, Destiny G., Noah, Austin, Elizabeth, Emily, Eva, Haylinn, Madison M., Eli, Ryan, Adrian, Hope, Caroline, Angelina, Mary, Scott, Russ, Lance, Erica, Berti, and Donna
Click here to see the highlight video from last year's Revolution. You will see some familiar faces!
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T.R.E.K.
Next Wednesday, January 31
For more information about TREK, click here to contact Lisa Kiser, our Minister of Children's Discipleship.
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Youth Journey Home Group
Next Wednesday, January 31
For more information about
Journey,
click here to contact Donna Poston, Minister of Youth and College Discipleship.
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Essentrics with Susan Ross
Schedule Change
The Essentrics class with Susan Ross will meet only on Thursdays, beginning next week, February 1. She will no longer offer a Tuesday class.
For more information, click here to contact Susan.
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Souper Bowl Sunday Offering
Sunday, February 4
All three services
Each year, our youth participate in Souper Bowl Sunday, an opportunity to help the hungry in our community. This year, all of the offering that you drop into the soup pots at the end of each service, will go to help our Aldersgate Sunday School Class fill boxes of non-perishable food for folks who come by the church looking for assistance to feed their families. For more information, click here to contact Donna Poston.
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Lent is a holy season of preparation. Watch for a schedule of Lenten services and activities, including Ash Wednesday Service; Community Lenten Services; Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter services.
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Scouting Ministry Celebration Sunday
On Sunday, February 11, 2018 we will celebrate Scouting Ministries in the United Methodist Church. All Scouts (in uniform) and their families are invited to join us in Celebration Worship at 9 am in the Saint Mark Center (gym). Saint Mark's Scout Troop 226 (led by Rex Blanton, Scout Master, and Joe Patterson, Asst. Scout Master) will help lead our worship celebration. Hope to see you there!
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Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of
Lent, a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline.
Ash Wednesday emphasizes two themes: 1) our sinfulness before God and 2) our human mortality. The service focuses on both themes, helping us to realize that both have been triumphed through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
During some Ash Wednesday services, the minister will lightly rub the sign of the cross with ashes onto the foreheads of worshipers. The ash cross on the forehead is an outward sign of our sorrow and repentance for sins.
Will you join together with our brothers and sisters from New Harmony UMC as we make our preparations for the journey through the holy season of Lent? For more information, click here to contact Pastor Shawna Darnall.
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One way to observe Lent is to participate in our ecumenical Community Lenten Services. Let's join with other Seneca faith communities during this season of introspection and preparation.
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Tickets continue to be on sale in the atrium. For more information, click here to contact Donna Poston.
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An Evening of Games and Grazing
Are you 50+? Let's chase away the winter blues and come together for great food and an evening of Bunco. Bring either an appetizer or dessert to share - for a time of "grazing" and chatting from 6 - 6:45 pm. At 6:45 pm, we will form our teams and play a couple rounds of Bunco. No skill is required to play - it is totally a game of chance.
We need to know how many plan to attend, so click here to make your reservation. Also, let us know if you will be able to provide a card table for the event, and if you need transportation.
There will be prizes! Bring your friends and neighbors. The more the merrier!
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Here is What You Need to Know
- There will be only ONE session at 9 am in the Saint Mark Center
- We are co-sponsoring the event with Trinity Baptist Church
- We want to raise $8000 (out of a total of $14,500) to purchase the ingredients to package 50,000 meals that will go to a part of the world where hunger is a life or death problem.
- Brochures and offering envelopes will be in the bulletins this Sunday and will be available in the atrium and Narthex.
- Make your check out to Saint Mark UMC and note that it is for Rise Against Hunger. You may put your envelope in the offering plate on Sunday mornings, or drop it off at the church office during the week. Help us reach our goal of $8000 by no later than February 25.
- This Sunday, you may sign up to participate in the meal packaging event. You will find volunteers in the atrium before the 11:15 service, or in the Narthex following the 11:15 service.
- You may also make your reservation online. Click here to sign up today.
- One of the major benefits of this event is gathering together as the larger community, and working together for a common purpose - alleviating hunger. We will work alongside and enjoy the fellowship of children, youth and adults of different faiths and races.
Click here to look at our Rise Against Hunger brochure.
Need more information? Click here to contact Jody Gaulin.
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PLEASE NOTE: All donated jewelry should be dropped off at the church office ASAP.
For more information, click here to contact Donna Poston
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The Gathering
Wednesday, February 21
5:30 pm - Supper in the Saint Mark Center
6:15 pm - Worship and Communion
in the Sanctuary
Eleuthera Mission Trip
March 10 - 17
The Gathering
Wednesday, March 21
5:30 - Supper
6:15 - Worship
Saint Mark Festival
with Rev. Susan Leonard-Ray
Sunday, April 22
9:30 am - Sunday School
10:30 am - Worship
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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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Game (Bunco) and Grazing Night
Friday, February 23
6:00 pm
Commons Room
Electronic Devices Class
Saturday, March 24
Commons Room
(watch for details)
Day Trip to Hagood Mill
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Council of Bishops and the
Commission on the Status and Role of Women
Release a Statement About
the #MeToo Movement
As allegations of sexual misconduct rock the U.S. from the sets of Hollywood to the halls of Washington, United Methodist leaders acknowledge that the church also has seen such abuses of power.
In a statement released on Tuesday, January 23, the Council of Bishops of the United Methodist Church, and the Commission on the Status and Role of Women
"strongly encourage and support the reporting of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment allegations within the church."
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What does it mean when we vow to 'resist evil, injustice and oppression'?
In our baptismal vows, we commit to
"renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world" and
"resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves."
Why do we make this vow? How should the vow affect the way we live?
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Ride to Work Ministry
Recognizing that work is part of God's loving plan and fundamental to the dignity of a person, Ride To Work Ministry Non-Profit Inc. was created with a mission to provide temporary affordable transportation to residents of Oconee County so they can transition to stable employment with a living wage and become self sufficient.
Ride To Work needs several more volunteers to interact with clients scheduling their rides to and from work. The time involved is typically 2-4 hours per week and can be done from home or wherever you are, using your UBER/Lyft app and/or texting.
Ride to Work will set up your UBER/LYFT app and train you!
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An Opportunity to Serve
Heath's Haven
Heath's Haven is a 501c3 United Way Sponsored Program in Oconee County which helps to equip individuals and communities for healthy relationships. Training topics and services include: Personality Styles, Learning Styles, Love Languages, Ages and Stages of Social-Emotional Development, Communication Strategies, Dealing with difficult people, Conflict Resolution, Bullying, Stress Management, Team building and Overcoming Trauma. If you would like to support the Heath's Haven Program, please check out the following Volunteer Opportunities.
- Assist putting training materials together: Tuesdays and Thursdays at Heath's Haven - 528 Hwy 123, Suite F, Seneca - copying, stapling and binding various training materials for classes and workshops. Office opened from 9-4; call 864-710-4085 to arrange hours.
- Preparing meal for Strengthening Families Program: Current cohorts meet Monday 6-8 (United Assembly of God-Seneca) Thursday 6-8 (Clemson Church of Christ) dinner need to be there at 5:30; 55-60 people-contact Lisa Fields 864-710-4085 to arrange date for meal preparation.
- Assist with dinner service for Strengthening Families Program - 5:45 - 6:30 pm Mondays (UAG) Thursdays (Clemson CoC) at Strengthening Families Program; meals for 10 families and staff served cafeteria style; light clean-up of kitchen afterwards; Heath's Haven staff on site to direct service.
- Assist with childcare on Mondays 6:30 - 8 pm; younger siblings birth to 5years old are in childcare group while family members in their peer group classes; Heath's Haven trained staff on site; volunteers are extra "hands."
- Reading at area schools for Read Across America Day Friday March 2; volunteers will be assigned a classroom at a local school to read typically for 20 to 30 minutes with the entire class; we provide Dr. Seuss books to volunteers to check out of our lending library for this event.
- VITA - Volunteer Income Tax Assistance - Free taxes for anyone making less than 60K annually. Call 211 for an appointment. Volunteer positions available. No liability incurred for individual who volunteers to prepare taxes, all liability is handled through United Way. We have the taxes internally checked 3 times before being sent to IRS. Word doc and PDFs included.
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A love offering will be collected to benefit
Our Daily Rest
Click here to contact David Wilcox for more information.
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16th Annual
Chick-fil-A 5K Race, Mile and Fun Run
supporting
Volunteers in Medical Missions
Saturday, April 21, 2018
South Cove County Park
Click here to learn more and/or to register before April 20.
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Saint Mark Discipleship Tour
Video Series
Beginning on August 20 of 2017, and continuing through the fall until the first Sunday in Advent, we spent almost every Sunday exploring what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Each week we had the opportunity to watch a short video clip of Jane Harlin catching one or more of our Saint Mark folks in the act of being disciples.
Click here to enjoy the Saint Mark Discipleship Tour video series.
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Our New Saint Mark
Mission Statement
Our Council of Stewards recently approved our new Saint Mark Mission Statement that you see above. It is simple and straight to the point - and easy to remember. We hope and pray that you will enthusiastically embrace our mission, and more importantly, live into our mission each and every day.
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Spring Anderson District
Lay Servant Ministries School
April 14-15
Grace United Methodist Church
Williamston, SC
It's spring, a time full of new possibilities and new opportunities for serving the Lord. Have you heard a call to be a Lay Servant and want an overview of what it means to be a Lay Servant? Would you like to learn how to plan an effective worship service? Would you like to learn how to share your faith with others in a more meaningful way? Would you like to be a better disciple? Now is the time for you to explore these options.
Please join us for the Spring Anderson District Lay Servant Ministries School.
Courses offered:
Basic Lay Servant Ministry, Worship Planning, Evangelism, and Discipleship
Cost:
$45 if registered before March 2,
$50 if registered between March 2 and March 9, 2018.
Classes are open to everyone, regardless of whether or not they are interested in becoming a certified lay servant. For those who are or wish to be a certified lay servant, remember that you must take a course beyond the Basic course at least once every 3 years.
For more information contact Gwendolyn Brown, Chair of the Anderson District Lay Servant Ministry Board at 678-480-5176 or
click here to send her an email.
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We Are Looking for Singers and Instrumentalists!
You are invited to join our Celebration Praise Team! Do you sing or play an instrument? Do you enjoy contemporary worship? If so, this "gig" is for you!
There are only two "rules."
1. Love Jesus
2. Plan to have fun
For more information, or to volunteer, click here to contact John Glenn, our Celebration Worship Leader.
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Subscribe to The Advocate
The Advocate helps give voice to churches and individuals in every corner of the state, with a commitment to excellent journalism-and making sure all viewpoints are heard in a Christian and prayerful manner.
The Advocate is also intentional about ensuring every aspect of The United Methodist Church is represented within its pages: local, district, conference, jurisdictional and global.
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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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