We have just completed an election season -- thank God, right? Up to Election Day, we were inundated with commercials about the strengths and weaknesses of the candidates seeking to be our leaders. Isaiah the prophet shares a list of incredible attributes which a future leader of God's people will have. Worship with us Sunday to find out who this coming Leader is! ~ Pastor Todd

Marvin's Kids Secret Santa Shop 2022 will soon be under way! Volunteers are needed to help bring joy to underprivileged families. Help is needed on the following days:

Monday, December 12 & Tuesday, December 13

Help set up the Santa Shop - Contact Sandy James

Wednesday, December 14

Packing food boxes - Contact Sandy James

Saturday, December 17

Help run the Santa Shop - Contact Nell Hodge

REMINDER: If you signed up to purchase gifts for a child and have not yet brought them to the church, please drop off your gifts at the church atrium or Commons Room closet by Sunday, December 11th. Thank you!

SAINT MARK

ADVENT GIVING PROJECT

The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) needs our help. Due to two devastating hurricanes which hit the Southeast this fall, UMCOR is running short of “Flood Buckets” containing cleaning supplies to be sent to those impacted by these storms. As this year's Advent Giving Project, the Saint Mark Service/Missions team has decided to provide UMCOR with at least 50 of these flood buckets.

We ask that the disciples of Saint Mark take a bucket (available for pick up in the Atrium on Sunday, November 27 and after) and, following the instructions provided in the bucket, please fill it with cleaning supplies and return the filled buckets to the church Atrium (place filled buckets under stairs) no later than January 1, 2023. 

CLICK HERE for detailed instructions on assembling a bucket.

CLICK HERE to watch a quick video from UMCOR on how to assemble a flood bucket.

Please contact Service/Missions chairperson, Alicia Spivey with questions. Thanks for your support!

Saint Mark disciples, week four of our 2023 Pledge Campaign was a short week due to the Thanksgiving holiday, but I am happy to report that it was a good week. We now have a total of 151 pledges totaling $801,000. As a reminder, our 2022 pledge campaign results were 181 pledges totaling $848,000, so we need those disciples who have not yet pledged to do so as soon as possible. 

You can put your pledge card in the offering basket on Sunday at church, or you can mail your pledge card to the church, or you can fill out the pledge card online at the Saint Mark UMC website. Thank you for your prayerful consideration.

Peter Salis, Stewardship Team Leader

Jane Harlin, Bell Ringer Extraordinaire

COME SUPPORT OUR SAINT MARK

SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGERS

It's that time of year-- the Salvation Army's little red buckets are all over town, with cheerful bell ringers standing next to the buckets, hoping to see a few dollars dropping through the slot. Those dollars add up to rent, utilities, food and clothing for low-income families right here in Oconee County. If you weren't able to sign up to ring the bell, can we ask you to make an effort to stop by and encourage our Saint Mark bell ringers by dropping a donation into the bucket while they are on duty? Look for Saint Mark disciples standing by the buckets on the following dates:

Monday, November 28 at the Belk's in Seneca

Saturday, December 10 at the Ingles in Seneca (Children & Youth)

Saturday, December 17 at the Ingles in Seneca

This past Sunday we celebrated Debbie Barton and the joyful CDC Music Ministry she has led for the past six years!

Click on the video link above.

THANK YOU FOR THE DONATION!

A big thank you to disciples Randy and Ann Collins for the donation of a bicycle in response to our recent "grapevine" request. Donny Tydings, a community member who has been worshipping lately at Saint Mark, relies on public transportation to get around town but would like to have a bicycle for shorter trips. This generous donation will surely be a blessing to Donny.

• GriefShare's Surviving the Holidays Seminar December 6
• The Gathering Mexican Night December 7

Everyone is invited to the Fall Concert event presented by Laura Ritter and her community youth choir, Young Voices of the Foothills, Sunday, December 4th at 7 pm in the Saint Mark sanctuary. The choir is comprised of students grades 1 through 6, including our very own Sophia Keese. Come and enjoy!

UWF Holds Christmas Faire II!

Did you miss the Christmas Faire a couple of weeks ago, or find that you forgot to get something special for a neighbor or friend? Or do you wish you had grabbed 

another pumpkin bread or soup mix? Now’s your chance for a “do over”!

The UWF will hold a “mini sale” of decorations, cookbooks, and craft items in the atrium on Wednesday, December 7 from noon until 7pm and on Thursday, December 8 from 10am until 2pm. Please stop by and select something special for someone special! Remember that all proceeds benefit local missions in Oconee County.

Questions or special requests if you can’t make the sale? Contact Becky Hazelwood.

Saint Mark's Chancel Choir and Festival Ensemble will present a Service of Lessons and Carols on Sunday, December 11 at 4pm in the sanctuary. Special guest this year will be harpist,

Kari Novilla. Kari is currently working on a double master's degree in classical harp and jazz harp at London's Royal Academy of Music. She completed her bachelor's degree at Indiana University's School of Music and is a native of Morristown, TN.  

The children's musical "A Shepherd's Story" will be presented during the traditional worship service on Sunday, December 18. This cute musical tells the story of Jesus' birth through the eyes of the shepherds (all of whom are in elementary school and anxious to share with the congregation their costumes, songs, and speaking parts!)

Time To Say Thank You!

We are so blessed at Saint Mark with a wonderful staff. 

They are always ready to help and do a great job making sure our church runs smoothly.  

At this special time of year, the Staff Parish Relations Committee sets aside a time when you can make a donation to the church for "Staff Appreciation". We have designated November 28 - December 10 as the time for you to make a gift to honor our church staff. Just make a gift to the church and designate it as "Staff Appreciation Offering".  

On December 11, we will get a total of the gifts made and divide it among all staff, based on the number of hours they work each week.

This is a great and easy way for you to say "thank you" to our staff and help make their Christmas a little brighter. In advance, thank you so much for your participation in this project.  

Debbie DuBose, Chair SPRC

• December Birthdays
• Pickle Ball Mondays
• Opt-In for Texting

Events for 2023 are being planned. Stay tuned!

PROGRESS REPORT

Session Three of our pilot groups' conversations resumes December 6th and 8th with the theme of "Sacred Listening". 

You are encouraged to speak with someone who's involved to discover in more detail what this experience is like.

Participants in the Tuesday morning group are Stacy Keelor and Bob Graves (co-facilitators), Frank and Pam Lamson-Scribner, Debbie DuBose, Cheryl Stevens, Danny Markus, Gary and Jody Gaulin and Sally Boggs. Those meeting on Thursday evenings are Bob Stillwell and Pat Herrick

(co-facilitators), Bob and Lynn Dobson, Mona Fleming,

Gary Baker, Jeff Weicksel, Cecil Turner and Kim Herren.