Update for the week of August 2 - 8, 2018
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Our Mission Statement

To Be and Make Disciples of  
Jesus Christ 

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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. 
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.
August 5, 2018
 
Sunday 
Schedule 
  
9:00 am 
Sunday School
   
9:40 am
Fellowship Time in the Atrium
   
10:00 am
Celebration Worship
Saint Mark Center
 
10:00 am
Traditional Worship
Sanctuary  
 

Quick, easy and available HERE 
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.
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.
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. 
Interested in LGBTQ+ Inclusion?

Click here for more information. 
Prayer Focus for This Week  
 
Pray for all persons affected by the devastating wildfires around the world, including those in California and in Greece.  Pray for the families who have lost everything, including their homes and loved ones. Pray for the safety of the firefighters who are trying desperately to get these fires under control. Pray for the people who will be struggling from the lasting effects of these wildfires. Pray that the Body of Christ, the Church, will be actively involved in helping individuals and families put their lives back together.  
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.
WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY  

MOVING FORWARD AT SAINT MARK
We Continue Our NEW Regular  
Worship Schedule  
THIS Sunday, August 5 
BOTH Services at 10 am  
 
The Covenant Sermon Series Continues  
"Covenant: New Covenant"
 
with Holy Communion
 
Traditional Worship - in the Sanctuary  
bringing the message
Rev. Shawna Darnall
 
Celebration Worship - in the Saint Mark Center
bringing the message
with Rev. Todd Davis 
     
Fellowship time in the atrium  
begins at 9:40 am

Sunday School for all ages  
is at 9 am

Our Alms Offering
This Sunday, August 5

This Sunday's alms offering will primarily support the Pastor's Discretionary Fund, which Pastor Todd uses to help families and individuals who come to our church asking for help with basic needs - housing, utilities, food, etc. Pastor Todd does not give out cash, but may help pay rent or a utility bill directly, or give out grocery store gift cards to help a family buy food.  Many families have been helped by this fund over the years, and we cannot possibly know what a difference it has made in their lives. As always, thank you for your generosity toward those in our community who are in need.  
THIS WEEK AT SAINT MARK 

The Next Memory Cafe
Monday, August 6
1 - 3 pm
Commons Room

Memory Cafe is for family caregivers and their loved ones with memory challenges and early stages of dementia.  Our goal is to socialize and have fun.


On Monday, we will be enjoying many fun activities including making fishing spoons and spinners from pennies that really work when fishing.  This activity will be a preview of the following month's field trip adventure.  You don't want to miss this meeting to have fun and to find out about the field trip that will follow. 

Please tell your friends and neighbors who are caregivers of loved ones with memory challenges and early stages of dementia.  We look forward to seeing you.

For more information, click here to contact Bonnie Holmes.
LOOKING AHEAD

Grab Your Cleaning Supplies and Help Us Give Saint Mark a Good Fall Cleaning!!
 
Adult Sunday School Classes will primarily be cleaning their classrooms.  We invite others of you to help with cleaning the sanctuary and areas on and around our front porch.  Can you help?  If so, contact Hayes Cross at (864) 719-0059 at your earliest convenience.
 
Click here to see a detailed list of what needs to be done and what to bring. 

Wesley Covenant Renewal Service
Sunday, August 12
10 am
Both Services
 
In 1775, John Wesley introduced the covenant service as an important part of spiritual life in the Methodist Societies. This renewal service was a time for the Methodists to gather annually in a time of self-examination, reflection, and dedication, wholly giving up themselves and renewing covenant with God. 
 
On August 12, as the perfect culmination of our Covenant Sermon Series, we will celebrate and recommit ourselves to the covenant relationship that God offers to each of us by participating together in a Wesley Covenant Renewal Service.
 
Join us for this meaningful service of renewal. 

Saint Mark Knitted Knockers Group
Monday, August 13
(Second Monday of each month)
1 - 4 pm
Room B212 (Bess' Table Room)

This Saint Mark group is knitting prosthetics for breast cancer survivors on the Island of Eleuthera.  For more information, click here to contact Carolyn Johnson.

Escape Zone Retreat
for 5th Graders (rising 6th Graders)
Friday, August 17
6 pm 
 
On Friday, August 17, 5th graders will go to Escape Zones of Seneca . (Click here for information about this venue.) This retreat will be a celebration of the promotion of our young pre-youth into our youth ministry.  These children will have just completed the book, Know God, a 28-day Devotional for our 5th graders, to start them on a journey toward knowing God better.  Because even though there is no checklist for knowing everything about God, there are a few things we can do everyday that will help us to know God better . . . HEAR, PRAY, TALK and LIVE.  This wonderful book allows the kids to journal daily and actually experience knowing God.   
 
For more information about this retreat, click here to contact our Children's Minister, Lisa Kiser.

We were able to get excellent seats behind the opponent's dugout! We have 12 tickets left, and there are only 6 seats left on the bus, so make your reservation soon!!   
 
Click here to reserve your ticket(s)!   


Join us for our annual celebration of
Faith Formation Sunday
Sunday, August 19
  • 9 am - Sunday School and Promotion Celebration
  • 10 am - Special Faith Formation Service of Worship in the Sanctuary - ONE COMBINED SERVICE ONLY
  • 11:15 am - Covered Dish Fellowship Meal in the Saint Mark Center.  Bring a side dish and/or dessert . . . and a friend!!

All children and youth are invited to bring their school backpacks to our one combined service of worship at 10 am during Faith Formation Sunday on August 19.  They will be invited to come forward with their backpacks to have them blessed before they head out to begin a new school year the next day.  For more information, click here to contact Pastor Shawna.

 
Calling All Singers!!
Chancel Choir Rehearsals Resume 
Wednesday, August 22
7 pm
Choir Room 
 
For more information, click here to contact David Wilcox. 

Memory Makers Needed!!!
Sunday, August 26
Beginning at 3 pm 
 
We are so excited about our upcoming Lake Progressive Dinner on Lake Keowee as our Saint Mark youth group kicks off our new year.   
 
We will be traveling by boats and are looking for three host families or individuals, who live on the lake, to serve as memory makers - who will set up their back yards and serve just one course of the meal to our youth. We will need:
 
1) one host to provide an appetizer  
2) one host to provide an entrée  
3) one host to provide a dessert   
 
It will be a great opportunity for you to spend time with our youth and really get to know them. We are expecting about 35 people to participate.
 
If you would like to be a memory maker, click here to contact Donna Poston. 

This event will kick off the new program year for our Saint Mark youth, grades 6 through college.  For more information, or to RSVP by Sunday, August 12, click here to contact Donna Poston.

Attention All Women!  
Save the Date!!!
Circles of Faith - Circles of Hope -  
Circles of Love in Action 
 
Saint Mark UMW (United Methodist Women) is collecting products to use in putting together feminine hygiene kits for homeless women and girls in need. Kits will be assembled following the August 28 UMW General Meeting and subsequently made available locally through distribution points like Safe Harbor, Grace's Closet, Our Daily Rest, etc. Containers for collecting hygiene products are located in the atrium entrances. Items needed are pads, tampons, panty liners, and individually packaged non-alcohol cleansing wipes. Please support this effort with your contributions!     
Click here to visit the Homeless Period Project website for more information. 

For questions, or to make a reservation for the UMW August 28 General Meeting, please click here to contact Becky Hazelwood or call her at (770) 633-2434.

Are you 50+? 
Another Elderberries Event!!!  
 
Join us for a relaxing evening of fun, food and fellowship at beautiful Biggerstaff Retreat Center, right here in Seneca. The evening will begin at 5 pm with conversation and hors d'oeuvres, followed by our meal at 6:30 pm.   
 
Plan to bring a dish to share (hors d'oeuvres, salad, side dish, dessert), plus $5 to cover meat, beverages and paper products.    
 
Transportation is available, if you prefer not to drive there.   
 
LET'S HAVE A GREAT TURNOUT!!!    
 
Click here to RSVP and to indicate that you would like to reserve transportation for that evening.    

An Elderberries Event 
The Lettermen in Concert
Sunday, October 14
7 pm
Walhalla Civic Auditorium
Tickets are available now: $37 per person
 
Only 14 of 35 tickets are left . . . Don't wait too long to make your reservation!! 
 
Click here to reserve your ticket(s)!  You may pay for your ticket(s) and pick them up from Marla Fuller.   
OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS 

Tasty Tuesday for Youth Resumes (weekly)
Tuesday, August 28 
7:30 am
Chick-fil-A 
Contact: Donna Poston  

 
 Wings 'n Things for Youth Resumes (weekly)
Sunday, September 9
4 - 5:30 pm
Contact: Donna Poston 
 
TREK for Children Resumes (weekly)
Sunday, September 9
4 - 5:30 pm
Contact: Lisa Kiser
 
Journey for Youth Resumes (weekly)
Wednesday, September 12
5:30 - 6:15 pm
Contact: Donna Poston
 
The Gathering Resumes
a time of food and fellowship for all ages
 (2nd Wednesday of each month)
Wednesday, September 12
5:30 - 6:45 pm
Contact: Todd Davis  
 
Mini Mission Auctions 
Sunday, September 16
8:30 am - 12 noon 
Atrium 
Contact:  Jane Harlin 
 
"A Way Forward" Conversation  
with Pastors Todd and Shawna
Sunday, September 16
4 - 5:30 pm
Commons Room
Contact: Todd Davis 


Estate Planning Workshop
with Ray Lanham 
Sunday, October 7
11:15 am
Commons Room
Contact: Marlene Edlund
   
Youth Fall Retreat at Look Up Lodge 
October 12 - 14
Contact:  Donna Poston
 
FIRST Monthly Elderberries Lunch Bunch
Tuesday, October 23
12 noon
Commons Room
Contact: Marla Fuller
 
Fall Festival for Children
Wednesday, October 24
5:00 pm
Contact: Lisa Kiser 

ELDERBERRIES EVENTS (FOR 50+)   

ARE YOU 50+?
Here are some
Elderberries Events
that might interest you.  Save the date(s) on your calendar. 

Greenville Drive Baseball
Saturday, August 18
7:05 pm
Transportation will be available
 
Covered Dish Supper at Biggerstaff Retreat
Friday, September 28
5 pm - hors d'oeuvres
6:30 pm - supper
Transportation will be available 
 
The Lettermen in Concert
Sunday, October 14
7 pm
Cost: $37 per ticket
TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE NOW!
Transportation will be available
 
Monthly "Lunch Bunch" Gathering
beginning on Tuesday, October 23
(4th Tuesday of each month) 
12 noon
Commons Room  
 
PLEASE NOTE:
It has been reported that a few of you have made reservations for Elderberries events online, but for some reason, they didn't make it through. Going forward, if you do not receive an email confirmation (in a reasonable time) that your reservation has been received, please resubmit your reservation, or contact Marla Fuller at mfuller@smumcsc.org to get your name on our list.
CHURCH AND SOCIETY  

Saint Mark Disciples!
A Great New Discipleship Opportunity  
 
We now have another great opportunity to make a difference in the lives of real, local families through the Family Promise sheltering program, with a minimal investment of time - a few times a year.

We are moving forward as a support church for Clemson United Methodist Church for the 4 times per year that they host the Family Promise families. Our commitment will be for Thursday night of each of those four weeks - a total of 4 nights per year, at Clemson UMC's facility. The responsibilities include:
  1. Provide the evening meal for the family or families (up to 14 people) plus the evening volunteers. (2 or 3 volunteers, or one family could handle this)-- dinner is at about 6:00pm.
  2. Provide volunteers to spend the evening with the family or families, helping with homework, reading to younger children, rocking babies, playing games, or doing nothing because sometimes the families are exhausted and they just want some quiet time after dinner and before bed. These volunteers are asked to arrive in time to eat with the families and then stay until the overnight volunteers arrive, usually about 8:30-8:45. (2 or 3 volunteers or one family could handle this)
  3. Provide overnight hosts-- 2 volunteers who will sleep on cots in a separate room from the families, being available in case of emergency, but other than that, just sleeping! There is wi-fi available. All you bring is your sleeping bag or sheets and a blanket. This is from about 8:45 pm until 5:45 the following morning, when the families load onto the church bus to go to the Family Promise office to start their day. Breakfast is grab and go-- fruit, cereal bars, granola bars, etc.
Our first night for helping will be Thursday, August 30 at Clemson United Methodist Church. But first, we need to be trained! JoAnn Brink from Family Promise will lead a one-time, two-hour training workshop to help our volunteers feel comfortable with the Family Promise model and to understand their policies and procedures, and then we can jump in! The coordinators from Clemson UMC will help us get started and then once per quarter, we will take our turn at hosting the families at Clemson UMC's campus. Because the families move through the program and become independent as quickly as possible, we may see these families only once, so let's use our opportunity to show Christian love and hospitality as they make their journey back to self-sufficiency.
 
Click here to watch this informative 7-minute video that describes the difference this interfaith ministry makes in the lives of families who are homeless.

For more information about Family Promise, check out their website by clicking here.

Interested?  Click here to contact Jane Harlin.
IN OUR COMMUNITY  

Farm and Landowner Workshop
Wednesday, August 8
5:30 - 7:30 pm
AIM Charity Center
1208 S. Murray Ave
Anderson, SC  29624

South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development, in conjunction with the Center for Heirs' Property Preservation, AIM Charity and our South Carolina Annual Conference, invites you to attend this workshop, the purpose of which is to improve our "neighbors'" prospects for better quality of life.  The workshop will introduce landowners and small farmers to USDA consulting and financial resources to improve the productivity of their land and grow their economic independence.

If you, or someone you know could benefit from this workshop, please RSVP to Kristi King Brock at (864) 224-9256, or click here to send her an email.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION . . .   

Short-Term Paid Position Available

Through Disaster Recovery Ministries, many volunteers have stepped up to serve, and many homes have been repaired that were damaged by the October floods of 2015 and Hurricane Matthew in 2016. 
 
Disaster Recovery Ministry is looking for folks who would be willing to take on short-term paid employment for one to three months. They are looking for people who can assist with gathering materials, completing repair tasks, and working with volunteer teams and individuals on the last 80+ homes that are on a waiting list to be repaired.  Men and women with construction and mission experience could be instrumental in helping displaced families return to their homes sooner. 

For more information, click here to contact Ward Smith, or call him at (803) 603-1790.
SAINTS IN SERVICE
HELPING YOU PLUG IN . . . 

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!    
 
 

Saint Mark United Methodist Church

616 Quincy Road
Seneca, South Carolina 29678-3820
mfuller@smumcsc.org
 

864-882-2603
Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors