The Remarks

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Trans Awareness Week takes place the week before Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20. Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), is an annual observance on November 20 that honors the memory of the transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence that year.

Read more about Transgender Awareness Week and Transgender Day of Remembrance below, and find out how you can participate.

What is Transgender Awareness Week?

Transgender Awareness Week is a week when transgender people and their allies take action to bring attention to the trans community by educating the public about who transgender people are, sharing stories and experiences, and advancing advocacy around issues of prejudice, discrimination, and violence that affect the transgender community.

For more about how GLAAD has observed Transgender Awareness Week this year and through the years, check out: https://glaad.org/tag/trans-awareness-week

What is Transgender Day of Remembrance?

Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) was founded in 1999 by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a vigil to honor Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed in 1998. The vigil commemorated the one year anniversary of Hester’s death and all the transgender people lost to violence that year. That initial event began the world-wide observance that is the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance. You can participate in TDOR by attending or organizing a vigil on November 20 to honor all those whose lives were lost to anti-transgender violence that year. Vigils are typically hosted by local transgender advocates or LGBTQ organizations, and held at community centers, parks, places of worship and other venues. The vigil often involves reading a list of the names of those who have been killed.

For more resources to learn about our transgender siblings, check out: https://glaad.org/transgender/

Bishop Robin Dease has called a special session of the North Georgia Annual Conference for Saturday, November 18, 2023. The session will be held at The Classic Center in Athens beginning at 10 am. 

What is the purpose of this session of the Annual Conference?

Called in accordance with ¶603.5 of the 2016 United Methodist Book of Discipline, the sole purpose of the special session is to vote on the ratification of local church disaffiliation requests per ¶2553 of our Book of Discipline.

Will the session be live streamed?

Yes. The special session will be live streamed at www.ngumc.org/November-2023-special-session.

Are visitors permitted?

Yes. Visitors may sit in the area marked Guest Seating. 

The Trustees report is available at www.ngumc.org/November-2023-special-session.

Pastor Carolyn, Michelle Levan, Mitch Foster, and Robert Gilleo will be in attendance.

Trinity Table Volunteers Needed

December 2 & December 3

Saturday, December 2 | 12:00 pm

6 volunteers needed for ONLY 1 hour

Make 175 To-Go Bags in Wade Hall

December 3 | 11:00 am

5 volunteers needed for ONLY 1 hour

Wrap 300 hot dogs in Wade Hall (Kitchen)

December 3 | 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm

Pass out meals at Trinity Methodist Church Table

10 volunteers needed.

Come Be a Part of the Table

For more information or to volunteer, contact Jena Mozley at jenamozley@yahoo.com or text at 770-329-1445.

Donations accepted from now through Monday, December 11, 2023.

This year, Saint Mark is again proud to support Pride for Parents. We will collect toys through Monday, December 11, 2023 at Saint Mark or you can order directly off their Amazon and Target wish lists below. The December 11th deadline is so that they can pick up, sort, and price the toys before the store opens. The store will be officially open this year from December 14th to 23rd.

Pride for Parents is an opportunity for South Atlanta families to provide for their loved ones at Christmas. Toys and gifts area available to purchase at a reduced cost. Families from the neighborhood get to shop for that perfect toy for their loved ones. The revenue generated from the store goes right back to the community supporting affordable housing.

Toy donations are needed!

Amazon Wish List: https://tinyurl.com/4ccj8ur6

Target Wish List: https://tinyurl.com/4z626zs9

Volunteer at the Store

Once the store is open, Pride for Parents is always welcoming the support of community partners. There are various tasks, including gift wrapping, register support, toy sorting, pricing, and stocking. If you are interested, in volunteering use the following link to register: https://form.jotform.com/FCS_/pride-for-parents-join-the-joy

Supper Club Volunteers

Every Tuesday afternoon, Supper Club prepares and serves a hot meal to 60 people who are in need. Similar to Breakfast Club, this ministry provides a meal to individuals in a loving and respectful environment.

In 2024, similar to Breakfast Club, we are looking for people to volunteer on a rotational basis a few times a month. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Viveca Richards at 864-884-1206 or via email at viveca1956@gmail.com.

Give Poinsettias in Honor or Memory of a Loved One

$10 each | Order before December 13

A Saint Mark tradition, the beautiful, red-leafed plants adorn our Sanctuary during the weeks leading up to Christmas Day. The plants are $10 each (purchased from a local nursery). The last day to order for our annual poinsettias list is Wednesday, December 13. The poinsettias list will be published on Sunday, December 17, 2023.  

https://www.stmarkumc.org/store/p/poinsettia

Task Forces

Thank you to everyone who participated in the two listening sessions on September 17, 2023 and October 1, 2023 and for many who shared their thoughts through other forms of communication.

The Church Council is recommending the formation of two unique task forces for two of the consistent themes from the feedback.

If you would like to be on either of the task forces below, please email Robert Gilleo at rjgilleo@stmarkumc.org. He will compile the list of those interested. When we gather in the initial Task Force Meeting, as a group, you will determine how to best facilitate and move forward.

Vision Task Force

We have a vision and now we need a strategy and action plan to ensure the uniqueness and diversity of Saint Mark is celebrated and visible to all. This Task Force will be responsible for creating a near-term and long-term plan for Saint Mark to be a viable and thriving destination church as well as a place of worship for the growing community around us. 

Communication Task Force

We need to improve the way we communicate with each other. This Task Force will be responsible for gathering input from the congregation, creating a plan for thoughtful, timely and effective communication, and presenting an action plan for all to follow.

SAVE THE DATE

Family Movie Night | ELF!

Friday, December 8 | 6:00 PM

Join us for a Holly Jolly Family Movie Night!

Get ready to spread Christmas cheer with our FREE Outdoor Family Movie Night featuring the heartwarming classic, "ELF"!

Free movie, popcorn and hot cocoa for everyone!

Bring your family, friends, and your coziest blankets (and one blanket to DONATE to our Saint Mark Outreach Ministry Closet) to our festive movie night.

Dress in your comfiest PJs as this will be outside, in the neighborhood and bring your holiday spirit.

Share the joy and invite your neighbors and loved ones. The more, the merrier! Let's celebrate the season with Buddy the Elf and his hilarious adventures!

Mark your calendars and we'll see you there!

SAVE THE DATE

Christmas with Sentimental Journey Orchestra and Amy Holloway

Monday, December 11 | 7:30 PM

Join us for an unforgettable night of music and nostalgia!

Experience the magic of the season with our "Christmas with Sentimental Journey" concert, where timeless classics and heartwarming melodies come to life.

Get ready to be swept away by the enchanting sounds of the holiday season. Share this special evening with loved ones and create cherished memories.

Let's make this holiday season even more memorable together.

For reservations, please email Robert Gilleo at RJGilleo@stmarkumc.org or complete the Microsoft Forms survey (https://forms.office.com/r/29Xbv198wy) no later than 5 PM on Tuesdays.

Diane Haase's Celebration of Life

If you were unable to attend the beautiful service we had for Diane Haase. The celebration of life was recorded and has over 150 views already: https://stmarkumc.church/DianeHaaseService

Outreach Closet Donations

As we head into fall season, we need to outfit our outreach closet with winter items. We have created a link and a QR code below for you to order much needed items.

or head over to www.BAGSINBULK.com to order items in bulk.

Search for: coats, hats, gloves, blankets, and sleeping bags.

Congratulations to the Saint Mark Supper Club

Winners of the 2023 Fall North Georgia Housing and Homeless Council Operational Grant.

https://www.nghhc.org/2023-grantees

Your generosity allows us to love, accept, and serve the people of our community. To donate to Saint Mark, click the button below.

The Church Offices will be closed from Wednesday, November 22, 2023 - Sunday, November 26, 2023.

This Sunday, November 19, 2023, Rev. Dr. Carolyn A. Stephens, will be preaching at both 9 AM and 11 AM.

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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