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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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May 6, 2018
All Choirs Sunday
Sunday
Schedule
9:00 am
All Choirs Worship
with Holy Communion
Sanctuary
9:15 am
Children's Church
Room A101
10:15 am
Sunday School
10:15 am
Eleuthera Planning Meeting
11:15 am
All Choirs Worship
with Holy Communion
Sanctuary
4:00 pm
Wings 'n Things
5:30 pm
In His Eyes
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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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Interested in LGBTQ+ Inclusion?
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Prayer Focus for This Week
Pray for our Council of Bishops who will continue their deliberations in Chicago through Saturday. Pray for wisdom and for discernment as they plan for the future of the United Methodist Church.
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Submit Your Prayer Requests
Saint Mark is pleased to receive your prayer requests . . . for yourself or for friends or loved ones.
Click here
to submit your request to Pastor Todd Davis.
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All Choirs Sunday
THIS Sunday, May 6
TWO Identical Services
with Holy Communion
9 am and 11:15 am
BOTH in the Sanctuary
Participating:
Children's Choirs
Wings for the Lord
Youth Choir
In His Eyes (Youth)
Saint Mark Ringers (Bell Choir)
The Gospel According to Saint Mark Singers
Celebration Praise Team
Chancel Choir
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Keep the Good Going, Pass it On
THIS Sunday, May 6
BRING YOUR
PURPLE BRACELETS TO WORSHIP WITH YOU!!
In worship on May 6, you will have the opportunity to give back your bracelet, we will bless them, and then we will send them to a congregation in South Africa where a friend of Pastor Shawna is serving as the Associate Pastor. They will distribute the bracelets to their people in their worship as reminders to them of their identity as beloved children of God, to live as disciples, and that despite living with an ocean between us we are connected as the body of Christ and committed to pray for one another. PASS IT ON . . .
(Of course, if you want to keep your bracelet as a reminder of your commitment to be a disciple, please do!)
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Alms Offering THIS Sunday
This Sunday's alms offering will primarily support the work of
Safe Harbor in Seneca.
Safe
Harbor provides a variety of services to domestic violence victims, as well as to their children. These services include emergency shelter, counseling and legal advocacy, and transitional housing.
Safe
Harbor also works to eliminate the cultural acceptance of domestic violence.
In the words of a former client,
"I am finally free. I have hope for my future."
Thank you for supporting this and other important ministries through your alms offerings every month.
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Top Secret!!!
VBS 2018
"Agency D3" will be accepting new cadets (pre registration for VBS)
THIS Sunday, May 6 (and also later, on Sunday, June 10). Cadets, kindergarten through 5th grade, can register in the atrium during the Sunday School time (10:15 - 11 am). Dates for VBS are
Sunday, July 29 through Thursday, August 2 in the evening.
Volunteer opportunities are available. For more information,
click here to contact Lisa Kiser.
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Pastor Todd Leaving for Vacation
Pastor Todd will be on vacation Monday, May 7 through Sunday, May 13. If you have a pastoral care emergency, please contact Pastor Shawna. For care after office hours, please call (864) 888-7072. Pastor Todd says "Thank you for this time to rest and refresh!"
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Don't Forget Your Mothers or
Epworth Children's Home
Next Sunday, May 13!
Next week is Mother's Day. We will buy flowers, call the mothers in our lives and remember those mothers who have impacted our lives in the past. Most of the children at Epworth Children's Home will not be celebrating Mother's Day with their mothers. Instead, they will be surrounded by loving staff and volunteers who walk with them daily to provide spiritual, educational, emotional and physical support.
Consider what God is calling you to give to support our church's ministry to children. Your generous contribution to our church's ministry enables transformation to happen for the children who call Epworth home. Epworth does not receive apportionments from the United Methodist Conference. This offering is our opportunity to support this vital ministry.
Click here for more information about Epworth Children's Home.
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Elderberries is sponsoring a 4-hour class to help you use your electronic devices more effectively. Your facilitators will be our own Jim Redmond and Anna Baldwin. Click here to register online. If you have further questions, click here to contact Marla Fuller, or call her at the church office (864) 882-2603.
Please note: If several weeks ago you filled out a survey/questionnaire about your devices, we were just collecting information about interests and needs. It was not a registration form. If you plan to attend, and haven't registered, please do so now by clicking the link above.
If possible, please plan to bring your device(s) with you to the class.
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For more information, click here to contact Donna Poston.
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Your sponsorship helps to pay for meals for our youth who will be on choir tour from June 16 - 23. With your gift of $25, you will receive a photo of your youth, a ribbon to wear and an itinerary to guide your prayers each day your youth is on the road.
This year, Wings for the Lord will be singing in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. While in Texas, they will be working in the homes of flood victims in the Galveston area.
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Are you managing your estate and planning for "end of life" issues well???
Guess what? 70% of adults over the age of 55, living in South Carolina, have not completed their estate planning! SHOCKING??? Not really, since the problem is usually simply a combination of lack of knowledge and procrastination. Most folks just think that they have plenty of time to "Get 'er done!". That may work for "Larry the cable guy," but it certainly doesn't work for the average disciple at Saint Mark UMC.
Raymond Lanham, SMUMC member, who is retired from the American Cancer Society as the Estate and Asset Services Manager, will speak at an educational seminar luncheon on May 20, 2018 immediately following the 11:15 am Traditional worship service in the Commons Room. If you've "got it all together," come and share your expertise with our group! However, if you still have more questions than answers, then please join us for a bit of lunch and an informative discussion of the "perils of procrastination" when it comes to end of life issues.
No reservation is required to attend the event, however if you would like a bag lunch (turkey and cheese sandwich, chips, cookie, fruit, and drink is $8 per person - cash or check made out to Donna Jaynes on day of event), click her to email Donna Jaynes.
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For more information,
click here to contact Pastor Todd Davis
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Reconciling Ministries of South Carolina
Annual Breakfast
during Annual Conference
Monday, June 4
7:15 am
First Baptist Church in Greenville
Reconciling Ministries of South Carolina will hold its annual breakfast during the South Carolina United Methodist Annual Conference in Greenville, SC. The speaker will be Dr. Jim Dant, Senior Minister of First Baptist Greenville. His topic is "This I Know: A Simple Biblical Defense for LGBTQ Christians," which is also the title of his new book published earlier this year.
The program will also include stories of faith, personal testimonies, music and praise, and recognition of the Reconciling Communities in South Carolina.
Cost of the breakfast buffet is $15 which includes gratuity and online reservation fees. Click here to make your reservation.
If you are interested in riding to the event in the church bus, click here to contact Marla Fuller.
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We would love a large contingency from Saint Mark to gather at the TD Convention Center in Greenville to support and to show our love for Pastor Shawna as she is ordained as an elder in the United Methodist Church. This has been a long and arduous journey for her, and we have had the great privilege of traveling part of the road with her these last two years.
The service of ordination will be held in the Ballroom, and the reception following the ordination will be in the Concourse on Level 2
Limited transportation is available, so if you would like to ride the bus on the evening of June 4, click here to contact Marla Fuller.
PS - Jeff Childress will be one of the candidates being ordained that evening.
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The Saint Mark Elderberries (a ministry for seniors 50+) invites you to a community-wide workshop for family caregivers who have loved ones with dementia. If you, or someone you know, is caring for someone with dementia, please make them aware of this event.
Click here to register or to get more information.
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For more information, click here to contact Becca Williams, director of our Saint Mark Child Development Center.
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By now, you should have received your letter from Pastor Todd, Pastor Shawna and Jeff Weicksel, Chair of the Worship Ministry Team, regarding the plans to find new and exciting ways to promote unity within our congregation and to make connections on Sunday mornings, by modifying the worship/Sunday School schedule.
Beginning on Sunday, July 8, we will have two concurrent worship services at 10 am - one traditional style in the sanctuary and one contemporary in style in the Saint Mark Center. Sunday School will move to 9 am until 9:45 am, with a time of fellowship and refreshments in the atrium beginning at 9:40 am - before worship. This schedule provides more flexibility for folks from both services to gather together before and after worship for food and fellowship, and to live more fully as one body of Christ.
To read the entire letter that went out to our congregation, click here.
Got questions? Click here to contact Jeff Weicksel, or feel free to be in touch with either of our clergy.
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Graduate Sunday
Sunday, May 27
Wings for the Lord Choir Tour
June 16 - 23
Wings for the Lord
Homecoming Concert
Sunday, June 24
Sunday School at 9 am
One Service at 10:00 am
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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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Need Help With Your Electronic Devices?
Electronic Devices Class
Saturday, May 19
10 - 2 pm (lunch included)
Cost: $10
"A Walk in My Shoes"
Virtual Alzheimer's Tour
Thursday, June 7
6 - 9 pm
(Includes a light supper)
Square Dancing at Oconee State Park
Friday, June 22
Supper at Puerto Nuevo Mexican
& Seafood Restaurant in West Union
6 pm
Square Dancing
8 - 10 pm
Tailgate at The Gorge
Saturday, July 28
More details to come . . .
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Deconstructing White Privilege
with Dr. Robin DiAngelo
All of us must seek the light of God, the light of truth in recognizing oppression. We begin to do so in this video, which focuses on the oppressive behavior that is born out of
white privilege. Dr. Robin DiAngelo is transparent about white privilege couched in explicit and implicit biases in the video
"Deconstructing White Privilege."
She describes the most obvious and explicit aspects of racism and white privilege, while going beyond the surface of racism.
Click here to to watch the video.
Click here to learn more about the General Board of Religion and Race of the United Methodist Church.
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Seneca High School
Spring Choral Concert
Sunday, May 6
3:00 pm
Seneca Baptist Church in Seneca
The Seneca High School Choral Department will be presenting their annual spring concert this Sunday, May 6 at 3:00pm. The program will feature the Women's Chorus, Mixed Chorus, Honors Women's Chorus, Honors Chorale and Madrigal Singers.
Admission is free and open to the public.
For more information, contact the school at 886-4460.
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Foothills Chorale Spring Concert
Sunday, May 6
3:00 pm
Trinity Baptist Church in Seneca
The Foothills Chorale will present Franz Shubert's
Mass in G, Joseph Haydn's
Little Organ Mass, and other works for an exciting and diverse afternoon musical performance.
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Sponsored by Heath's Haven
"Strengthening Families"
(an overview of the 14-week program
where parents and children
participate in a series
of interactive fun family nights)
Friday, May 18
12 noon - 2 pm
The Strengthening Families Program (SFP) serves families with children ages 6 to 11. It is designed to help families develop positive discipline practices, stay resilient in tough times, reduce conflict, improve parenting skills, and assist children with social skills, relationships, and school performance. All of these factors play an important role in keeping families strong while protecting against potential abuse or neglect and adverse childhood experiences.
For additional information or to pre-register, call Lisa Fields at (864) 710-4085. Or
click here to send an email. SPACE IS LIMITED!
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Saint Mark Endowments
The Saint Mark Endowment Committee: Marlene Edlund, Randy Collins and Steve Figueroa serve under the Finance Committee. We would like to inform you that Saint Mark has twelve endowments. There are four endowments which have not reached the required principal to produce income, however, they are close to meeting that principal. Two are for scholarships for higher education: Anna Emily Guynn Memorial Trust and the Fennel Rutherford Thomasson Endowments. The other two endowments are the Dr. and Mrs. Russell Sammeth Endowment which is for Saint Mark Operating Budget, and the Ed and June Osgood Fund for CDC Scholarships.
We are asking you, our church family, to consider a donation to grow the principal of these four endowments. Click here to contact Marlene Edlund, or call her at (864) 886-9166 for more information. If you would like more information on the twelve endowments we have at Saint Mark UMC, please click here. Thanks from each of us!
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THANK YOU!!
Thank you, Saint Mark family, for your generous contributions toward the purchase of four stoles for Pastor Shawna as an ordination gift. The total received to date is $2215, which more than covers the cost of the stoles. The remainder will go into a discretionary account that she will be able to use toward expenses for Faith Formation activities and events.
Once again, Saint Mark, through your generous giving, you have shown the depth and breadth of your commitment to being disciples of Christ.
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(Photo: Susan bringing the message at our
Saint Mark Festival)
Celebrating the Ministry of
Rev. Susan Leonard-Ray
Rev. Susan Leonard-Ray has faithfully served as our District Superintendent for the last eight years, and we at Saint Mark have been the beneficiaries of her God-given gifts and graces. She has been appointed to serve as pastor at Bethel UMC in Charleston, SC. She will be missed.
You have the opportunity to show your appreciation for her leadership and ministry by making a contribution toward a "love offering" that will be given to Rev. Leonard-Ray at a reception later in May. If you would like to contribute, please make your check out to
"Saint Mark UMC" with
"Leonard-Ray gift" in the "for" line, and drop it by the church office by no later than next
Tuesday, May 8.
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Security Cameras on Campus
Toward enhancing security on the Saint Mark campus, we have installed video cameras at the entrances to the CDC and to the Atrium (south exterior door). Those cameras record (both video and audio) whenever someone enters or exits via those doors. There (are/will be) signs posted at each entrance advising everyone that recordings are being made. Here is a sample view (from each of the door cameras):
If you have questions,
click here to contact Trustee Chair, Peter Salis.
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UMC Abundant Health Initiative
As United Methodists, we are committed to creating abundant health for all - a global connection striving for mental, physical and spiritual well-being. Lifesaving health ministries are enriching the lives of people around the world, from South America to Africa, from India to the Philippines and the U.S.
UMCOR Health Kits cost $12 each, so the South Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church needs your help to raise at total of $122,400 by Tuesday, May 15. Click here to watch a short video about the initiative.
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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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