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For the most part, salt water is pretty useless. Apart from nursing the occasional sore throat, or putting together a stellar fish tank, what good is salt water? Today, the process of desalinating water has become increasingly helpful around the world. While desalination is a good thing when it comes to water, Jesus tells us that it is a really bad thing when it comes to his people. Worship with us Sunday to learn more!  Pastor Todd

UPDATE ON 2023 MINISTRY PRIORITIES AND 2024 GENERAL CONFERENCE

Pastor Todd and the Council of Stewards (COS) would like to update you on two discussions that took place at our Monday, January 23rd meeting.

CLICK HERE to read the letter in its entirety.

PASTOR TODD AWAY FROM OFFICE

Pastor Todd will be out of the office Monday, February 6 through Monday, February 13 attending the 2023 Bishop's School of Ministry. If you have a pastoral care emergency during this time, please call 864-882-2603, ext. 104 and leave a message. The pastor-on-call will respond.

Saturday, February 4th is Facilities Manager Donna Jaynes' birthday. You can CLICK HERE to wish her a happy day.

MISSION OPPORTUNITY FOR LENT

Pilgrim Seminary in Myrtle Beach, SC is organizing Prayer for Prisons for the season of Lent. There are 1,000 federal and state prisons throughout the United States. We have students in many of these prisons and hope to add more as the year goes on.

Would you (and your family) be willing to accept a short term missionary assignment as a Prayer Missionary? The Prayer Missionary's responsibility would be to pray for one specific prison each day from Ash Wednesday (February 23, 2023) to Pentecost (May 28, 2023). You can select the prison to pray for, or one can be assigned. Prayers will be offered for the believers in prison communities, as well as the believers-yet-to-be.

We need 1,000 men and women who are strong in faith and diligent in prayer to be part of this effort. Those willing to serve should email [email protected]. Details will be provided. Thank you!

www.pilgrimseminary.org

The newly-formed class will hold an official "kick off" brunch in A203 on Sunday, February 5th at 10:15 am for anyone interested. You are invited to stop by and learn more. Contact Lynn Dobson at 864-247-1320 with questions.

GriefShare Begins Tuesday, February 7

CLICK HERE to watch a short video about GriefShare.

Due to increased food costs, prices for The Gathering have increased to the following: $10/per adult; $20/per family; $5/child; kids under 5 eat free. Please RSVP to

Donna Jaynes. To see February's menu, CLICK HERE .

CLICK HERE to visit the Saint Mark website and hop on the love train!

• Lenten Bible Study with Pastor Todd starts 2/13
• Life Line Screening at Saint Mark 2/28

This CPR class is a community refresher and is not for full recertification. You may sign up in the atrium between Celebrate! Worship Service and Sunday School, or you can call/text/email Sandra Lowe to sign up at 864-888-7755.

The 2023 Disciples Directory is now available online. The directory is accessible here in the Heart Beat by clicking on the graphic in the right hand column. It is also available on the church website in the upper right corner of the home page.

Please consider remembering, honoring, or celebrating someone by giving Sanctuary flowers for our worship time.

The 2023 Flower Calendar is available for sign up on the wall by the Music Suite. The month of March is currently blank, so please consider giving flowers in March. Thank you in advance.

And did you know? The flowers you give not only bless those you honor and the congregation in the sanctuary, but after worship service, those flowers are divided by members of the Caring Ministry and taken to Saint Mark disciples who are in medical or assisted living facilities to brighten their day. A blessing three times over!

Please contact Sarah Boylston with any questions.

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

• Mental Health First Aid Course at Zion UMC

CLICK HERE to read all the news relating to Saint Mark's Children and Youth Ministries!

The Greenville County Museum of Art is considered the premier American art museum in the South and is home to the world’s largest public collection of watercolors by iconic American artist Andrew Wyeth. The GCMA also has an impressive collection of paintings and prints by contemporary artist Jasper Johns, the largest institutional collection of pottery by enslaved artisan David Drake, and the largest collection outside the Smithsonian of works by South Carolina-born artist William H. Johnson. Ranging from Federal portraits to contemporary abstractions, the GCMA’s acclaimed Southern Collection invites viewers to survey American art history through works with ties to the South. 

We are confirming whether the church bus will be available; if not, we will carpool. We will also arrange to have lunch in Greenville after the museum visit.

Contact Kristine Montgomery with questions or to RSVP, or sign up online by CLICKING HERE.

CLICK HERE to visit the museum's website.

Please join our Saint Mark Church and Society Team in recognizing the importance of February’s focus on Black History Month. Not only is it important to us as Christians because we believe we are all God’s people, but it’s important to our shared humanity as we strive to understand and love one another.

We challenge each Saint Mark disciple to choose one of these 29 ways (see link below) you can participate in Black History Month (or one of your very own!). If you want to send a photo of your participation in Black History month or simply a “snippet” explaining what you did to honor Black History Month, we will share these with our congregation via the Heart Beat. Send them to Mona Fleming at monaguyflemin[email protected].

https://www.r2hub.org/library/29-ways-you-can-participate-in-black-history-month

2023 Environmental Stewardship Challenge

Reduce . Reuse . Recycle . Rethink

The Saint Mark Church & Society Team hopes that you will join us in the 2023 Environmental Stewardship Challenge!

CLICK HERE to link to our web page for details and to sign up to participate (and possibly win a prize!)