The Remarks

Wednesday, April 3, 2024

For reservations, please email Robert Gilleo at RJGilleo@stmarkumc.org no later than 5 PM Tuesday.  Dinner begins at 5:30 PM. Program begins at 6:00 PM.



Tickets: $10 for seniors, $11 general

SCAM ALERT

WARNING



Phishing email scammers are targeting churches. Please note that Pastor Carolyn will NEVER ask for “confidential” help nor gift cards. If you receive a scam email, please report the scam to your email provider. The Gmail address being used does not belong to her. Always check the email address it was sent from. It could have slight variations in spelling. Pastor Carolyn’s only email address is CStephens@stmarkumc.org.

They are also targeting you via Phishing text. Pastor Carolyn will never ask you for a favor via text to secure gift cards for her.

UMC 101 | Young Adult Small Group 

Wednesdays 6:30-8:00pm 

April 3rd - May 22nd 

Are you a young adult interested in learning more about Saint Mark’s connection to the Methodist tradition? Join the young adult ministry in our upcoming UMC 101 small group series! Whether you're new to the United Methodist Church or grew up in the UMC, this series will provide you with a deeper understanding of Methodist beliefs, practices, and history. Join us on Wednesdays at 6:30 pm, April 3rd - May 22nd at Saint Mark UMC.

General Conference Listening Sessions

Sunday, April 7 | After 2nd Service | Chapel

Wednesday, April 10 | Wednesday Night Supper | Wade Fellowship Hall

Regarding our denomination’s upcoming General Conference, which will be held in Charlotte, North Carolina, from April 23 to May 3. This is the postponed 2020 General Conference, which was delayed because of the pandemic. General Conference is the official legislative body of our denomination that is able to revise The Book of Discipline – the polity that governs our denomination, and The Book of Resolutions – the statements on social issues that represent the position of the denomination. The decisions that are made at General Conference will impact conferences and local churches across the denomination.

2024 Arab American Heritage Month

Celebrating culture and contributions

April is National Arab American Heritage Month, a time to recognize Arab Americans’ culture, heritage, achievements, and contributions to the United States. This initiative was launched in 2017 with support from only a small number of states. Since then, its observance has become permanent in four states, recognized by President Biden in 2021 and 2022, and proclamations for National Arab American Heritage Month have been issued by governors of 45 states and Congress.

According to the Arab American Institute, there are approximately 3.7 million Arab Americans living in the U.S. While some people may confuse the terms “Arab” and “Middle Eastern,” these words are not interchangeable. Arabs are connected by a shared culture and history, not race. Arab countries include those within as well as outside of the geographical Middle East region such as Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia. The Middle East encompasses some non-Arab countries as well, such as Iran, Israel and Turkey. Each Arab country has its own distinct culture, history and Arabic dialect. There are 22 Arab countries across the Middle East and North Africa: Algeria, Bahrain, the Comoro Islands, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon and Yemen. Most Arabs in the U.S. are of Lebanese, Syrian, Palestinian, Egyptian or Iraqi descent.

Listed below are a few prominent and notable Arab American individuals who made significant contributions to their respective fields and have helped shape Arab American identity and representation in various industries.

• Steve Jobs (half Syrian) - Co-founder of Apple Inc., renowned for his contributions to the technology industry.
• Casey Kasem - Legendary radio personality and voice actor, known for creating and voicing the character Shaggy in the Scooby-Doo franchise.
• Mia Hamm (half Lebanese) - Retired professional soccer player, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and FIFA Women's World Cup champion.
• Donna Edna Shalala - Politician and academic who served in the Carter and Clinton administrations, as well as in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2019 to 2021.
• Jerome “Jerry” Seinfeld - Stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and producer. From 1989 to 1998, he played a semi-fictionalized version of himself in the sitcom Seinfeld, which he created and wrote with Larry David. The show aired on NBC from 1989 until 1998, becoming one of the most acclaimed and popular sitcoms of all time. 

MAC needs volunteers to help grow the mission. We see clients in the office on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10AM - 1PM, and on Tuesday afternoons/evenings from 4PM – 6PM. We need volunteers to help provide assistance in 2 main categories – Food Pantry and In Person Interviewers.

• Food Pantry volunteer – packing up requested items for clients based on their requests, and stocking the shelves with various items.

• In Person Assistance Interviewer – sits down with clients to help fill out any paperwork and coordinate services they request. You need to be a good listener and have a compassionate heart. All clients are prescreened by MAC staff prior to their appointments. You will meet with the client and give a short interview, take notes on their situation, and help coordinate providing services (ex. MARTA for new jobs/interviews, required clothing, referral information on services at other organizations) and then enter that assistance. Training is provided. We will have you shadow an experienced volunteer/ staff member for a while until you are comfortable.

MAC has additional volunteer opportunities. Below are some examples of opportunities outside of the normal assistance hours.

• Unloading food bank pickups – this is usually scheduled for most Mondays mornings from 10am - 12noon, and on one Thursday per month from 1PM – 3PM.

• Food drives – Organize a food drive through your community (business, congregation, civic group, school, etc.).

• Thrift shopping for MAC’s New Worker clothing closet – We need volunteers who can go shopping for specific uniform items, like black pants, white shirts, jeans, khakis. MAC will provide shopping guidelines and pay for the purchases.

• Midtown Race for MAC 5K - Saturday, May 11^th in Piedmont Park. There will be a variety of volunteer shifts available to assist with race set up, cheer for runners along the course, work water tables, event clean-up, etc. This will be from approximately 7AM – 10:30am. 

Gear up for a remarkable community celebration on Saturday, May 11th, at 8:30 am as we mark the 10th Anniversary of our Midtown Race For MAC 5K Run/Walk. It's not merely a race; it's a vibrant testament to our shared commitment to making a positive impact. Whether you're a seasoned athlete or simply enjoy a leisurely stroll, there's a place for you in this jubilant event.

Haven't secured your spot yet? Fear not, there's still time to register! And in honor of our 10th Anniversary, we're introducing a special tribute:

MOTHER'S DAY RECOGNITION

In recognition of the tradition of our race falling on Mother’s Day weekend, participants this year have the opportunity to run “In Appreciation” or “In Memory” of a cherished mother figure in their life, with an additional donation to MAC of $10 or more.

Every step taken contributes to our mission of providing a safety net for our neighbors in need. From assisting with rent and utilities to stocking our food pantry and beyond, your participation directly impacts the lives of those in our community who need it most.

Let's make this milestone 10th Anniversary race an unforgettable experience! Sign up now and become part of something truly extraordinary.

Tithes & Offerings

Your generosity allows us to love, accept and serve the people of our community. 

Using your Smartphone’s camera, scan a QR Code below and follow the prompts.

Open Doors Planning Session

Sunday, April 21 | After 2nd Service | Wade Hall

For those who are interested in helping with Open Doors this year, we will have an informational and brainstorming session on Sunday, April 21. Our first Open Doors this year are:

·        Sunday, May 19th

·        Sunday, June 16th

·        Sunday, July 28th

These are the same dates that Atlanta will be having Streets Alive! Peachtree St. will be closed to vehicle traffic and pedestrians will be free to walk, ride, or scoot down Peachtree St. from 1-5 pm.  For more information, please contact, Pam Davis, at fireflyrd@yahoo.com.

As a United Methodist Church we are proud to be a congregation with open hearts, open minds, and open doors. We strive to be a congregation that embodies God’s absolute love and hospitality, proclaiming Jesus as our savior and as our model of the ultimate embodiment of God’s love. We believe that all persons are of sacred worth and dignity as part of God’s good creation. Saint Mark United Methodist Church welcomes all persons into the full life and ministry of our congregation, regardless of race, culture, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, family, or socioeconomic status, physical or mental ability, or faith history.

The Remarks is a weekly publication of Saint Mark United Methodist Church, Atlanta, Georgia.

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