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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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Second Sunday in Advent
December 10, 2017
Sunday
Schedule
9:00 am
Traditional Worship
Sanctuary
9:00 am
Celebration Worship
Saint Mark Center
9:15 am
Children's Church
Room A101
10:00 am
Children's Choir Program
"A Shepherd's Story"
4:00 pm
Wings 'N Things
5:30 pm
Special Friends/Youth Christmas Party
Saint Mark Center
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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 children who have been victims of senseless acts of violence. Pray for the families of children who have been murdered or who have died from excessive abuse at the hands of an adult. Pray for the children who have survived acts of violence, and who are at risk for long-term emotional and psychological difficulties. Pray also for the perpetrators of these crimes against children, as well as their families.
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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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SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT
THIS Sunday, December 10
Traditional Services 9:00 am and 11:15 am
"Circles or Straight Paths"
Sanctuary
Bringing the Message
Rev. Todd Davis
Celebration Service 9:00 am
Saint Mark Center
Bringing the Message
Rev. Shawna Darnall
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Please, come and support our Saint Mark Children's Choir
THIS Sunday. They have worked so hard and are excited to share their gifts and talents with their church family!
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Marvin's Kids Santa's Shop
Saturday, December 9
11:30 am
Is isn't too late to help.
Click here to contact Nell Hodge.
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UMW Shortbread Cookies
Continue on Sale
THIS Sunday, December 10
Beginning at 9:30 am
Atrium
Cost is $8/each or 2/$15.
All of the proceeds will benefit local missions.
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For more information,
click here to contact Donna Poston.
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For your information, Monday evening Pickleball will take a break for the holiday season, and will resume again on Monday, January 8 from 6:30 - 8:30 pm.
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There is still time to get involved in this Elderberries Outreach to Seneca Residential. For more information,
click here to contact Ilene Lund.
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Next Wednesday, Don't Forget . . .
We have celebrated our last
RENEW, so there will be no more Wednesday evening programming for the remainder of this year.
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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 Christmas Outreach
for Seneca Residential
Tuesday, December 12
12 noon
Celtic Lessons and Carols Rehearsal
Saturday, December 16
2:30 - 5:30 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 at 9:30 am, 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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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.
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The Bellamy Brothers:
The Love Still Flows
An Elderberries Event
Howard and David continue to prove that the trail they've ridden to fame has been as unique as their music itself - music that is now celebrating 40 years of success. The Bellamys officially lifted off the launch pad in 1976 when their single,
"Let Your Love Flow," became an instant smash in both the U.S. and Europe.
Tickets are now available for you to purchase at the cost of $29 per ticket.
Click here to reserve your ticket(s). We only have 30 tickets so make your reservation SOON.
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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
Next 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
with Rev. Ed Stallworth
Sunday, January 14
Revolution Youth Retreat
Wings for the Lord
will sing for Sunday Worship
January 26 - 28
Columbia, SC
Wings for the Lord Dinner Theater
"Critter County Easter Surprise"
Please note that the original date was January 21
Sunday, February 18
5:30 pm
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For more information, contact the Oconee Humane Society at (864) 882-4719
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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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The Body and Human Rights:
An Exercise
We have an ambiguous, often antagonistic, relationship with our bodies. Society is quick to devalue particular bodies: black and brown bodies; women's bodies; gender-nonconforming bodies; immigrant, migrant, and refugee bodies; and more.
Despite this devaluation, Genesis tells us that God created us in God's image and likeness. (Gen. 1:26) This sentiment is reaffirmed elsewhere in the Bible.
God's image is in each of us, no matter our weight and skin tone, which body parts we have, or how well our bodies work. God has created us with inherent worth and dignity.
Theologians have spent millennia debating what precisely this means. What is sure, however, is the ways society devalues our bodies run counter to the image of God found in each of us.
Draw
We can use the often-stigmatized body as a metaphor for often-denied human rights. Here is an exercise you can do on your own or in a group.
First, draw a simple stick-figure. Then, label the various parts of the body. Be
thorough!
After you've labeled the drawing, ask the following questions:
- What rights do we associate with what you see from our own body?
- When are you most aware of your exercising these rights?
Notice
Notice the body parts you may have drawn. How do they connect with human rights?
Brain: We have the right to the freedoms of thought and conscience, and we have a right to dissent. We have a right to education and cultural expression.
Eyes: We all have a right to access the press, media and to information.
Mouth: We have a right to freedom of speech and expression.
Nose and lungs: We have a right to a clean and sustainable environment. Remember Eric Gardener pleading, "I can't breathe!"
Heart: Everyone has a right to love and the right to religious affiliation.
Arms: We have a right to work and to have leisure. Each of us has a right to equitable collective organizing.
Stomach: All people have a right to access to quality, affordable food and water.
Legs: People have an inherent right to migrate, to movement and to association. We have a right seek asylum and sanctuary.
Reproductive body parts: We all have a right to reproductive health, justice, and care.
Reflect
Our bodies are more than the sum of their parts.
- Did you give your drawing a race or ethnicity? How does skin tone effect one's life experience?
- Did your stick figure have a gender? How might that change the rights to which we are entitled?
- What is the age of the stick figure body you have drawn? Do rights differ based on one's age? Are there rights granted to adults but not to children?
- Was your drawing of a fully-able-bodied person? What rights should differently-abled people have?
- What spiritual as well as social needs do we associate with the body?
- How do we privilege some bodies over others?
- Do we associate with bodies inscribed with narratives that resemble our own?
- What are the consequences of our recognition of human rights and the need to secure them among vulnerable peoples?
- In what way do human rights point to human responsibilities?
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Celebrating Kelsey!
Just a reminder that we will say "Good-bye" to
Kelsey Harbin, our Children's Ministry Intern, this coming Sunday. Don't forget to bring your cards filled with words of affirmation, encouragement and gratitude.
There will be a box in the atrium where you can place your cards on Sunday morning, or drop them off in Pastor Shawna's box at anytime. We will be giving thanks for her ministry and praying farewell blessings for Ms. Kelsey at all three services. There will be a reception in the atrium between services.
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Welcome to Doug and Elaine Wilson
Doug and Elaine Wilson joined our family of faith on Sunday, November 26 at the 11:15 traditional worship service by transfer of discipleship from St. John's Lutheran Church in Walhalla, South Carolina. You may have noticed that Elaine is already using her gift of music and is singing regularly in our Chancel Choir, and playing in our handbell choir. Please make Doug and Elaine feel welcome when you see them.
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Many of you will remember Wally and Phyllis Storm with great fondness. They were faithful Saint Mark disciples for years. Phyllis died on Saturday, November 25 and the celebration of her life will be held at Copley United Methodist Church in Copley, Ohio on Sunday, December 17.
You can send your love and condolences to Wally at the following address:
Wally Storm
Greenfield Estates
Alzheimer's Special Care Center
3522 Commercial Drive
Akron, Ohio 44333
Daughter, Kim Shaw, shared with us that he would love to hear from his Saint Mark friends!
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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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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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