Update for the week of March 29 - April 4, 2018
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Our Mission Statement

To Be and Make Disciples of  
Jesus Christ 

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Contact Information?
 
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Contact Us?
 
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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to  
send an email
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.
April 1, 2018

Easter Sunday 
 
Sunday 
Schedule 
 
9:00 am 
Traditional Worship
with Holy Communion  
Sanctuary 
  
9:00 am 
Celebration Worship
with Holy Communion 
Saint Mark Center 

9:15 am
Children's Church
Room A101 
 
 
10:15 am
Sunday School 
 
11:15 am 
Traditional Worship
with Holy Communion
Sanctuary
 
NO YOUTH ACTIVITIES
 

Quick, easy and available HERE 

Join us every day at 3:20 pm to pray for Saint Mark - our people and ministries. 
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. 
Got Pictures? 
 
We are creating an archive of pictures taken at Saint Mark events and activities. If you have taken pictures and want to share them, please
click here and send them to us.

Or use our hashtag #stmarkumc and post your photos on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. 
Interested in LGBTQ+ Inclusion?

Click here for more information. 
Prayer Focus for This Week  
 
Our Passover, Son of God's passion, Story Weaver:

On this day You directed two disciples to follow a man carrying a water jar and so to know where to eat the Exodus meal. We bless You that Lent's journey now brings us to the waters of baptism and to the Paschal Mystery.

Gather us together for story, footwashing, and Eucharist so that we may proclaim anew Your saving deeds, your cross-shaped glory. In these three days enfold Your church in the central story of Your passion: the arrest, "trial," crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection.

Birth new disciples in the rites of initiation and let us be awestruck at the wonder of our shared dying and rising with Christ.

Reconcile penitents with towel and basin, and mutual forgiveness for hurt we have caused one another.

Draw seekers to observe and be amazed at these dramatic acts of Your extravagant grace.

In all our ritualizing and reflection, remember the suffering ones among us
and touch them with our hands in Your name.  
Submit Your Prayer R equests
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  
Easter Sunday Celebration! 
with Holy Communion 
THIS Sunday, April 1
three services      
   
  9 am Traditional Worship
11:15 am Traditional Worship
bringing the message
Rev. Todd Davis
"Seeing is Believing???"

9 am Celebration Worship
 bringing the message
Rev. Shawna Darnall
"Promises!"
John 20:1-19

Easter Alms Offering  

The alms offering this Sunday will go to Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen, an interdenominational Christian ministry committed to addressing the needs of the poor and underserved. Our Daily Bread provides daily, nourishing meals in a pleasant, friendly setting designed both to alleviate physical hunger, as well as provide an encouraging and supportive environment to enable hope. They also provide informational support to help their guests find ways to resolve the problems that complicate their individual situations.
THIS WEEK AT SAINT MARK 

Holy Communion 
Service of Shadows 
Chancel and Gospel Choirs
Soloist: Sean Anderson 

Participate in our
Annual Easter Tradition
Living Cross 
Easter Sunday, April 1

 
You are invited to bring flowers and greenery to cover the crosses on the front lawn of the church and/or in the Saint Mark Center as you come to worship Easter Sunday morning. Easter is early this year, and there aren't as many flowers blooming in our yards as usual. Consider stopping by the grocery store on Saturday before Easter, and pick up a bouquet of spring flowers to contribute to the effort.

Members of the Saint Mark Worship Team will assist you as you place flowers on the cross, in joyful celebration of our Risen Christ.

LOOKING AHEAD

Are You 50+? 
Hagood Mill
Music in the Mountains Series

We will travel to Hagood Mill on April 21 for the Greater Clemson Music Festival and Pickens County Sesquicentennial.  Admission is free.  There is a $5 charge for parking.  There is food on the grounds, as well as a gift shop.  Bus transportation is available or you may drive there on your own.  We will plan to meet at 10 am at the water-powered gristmill.

You may stay as long as you want to, or join us for lunch at Aunt Sue's Restaurant at 1:30 pm. We will leave the Hagood Mill venue at 1 pm to drive to the restaurant. Click here to learn more about the location and menu.

Reservations aren't necessary to attend the Hagood Mill event, but if you would like to ride the bus, and/or join us for lunch at Aunt Sue's, please click here to contact Marla Fuller. (Those riding the bus will be going to Aunt Sue's.)

The estimated cost to ride the bus will be $5 per person. The bus will leave Seneca at 9:30 am. 

In partnership with Clemson UMC, join us at Asbury Hills April 28-29 for a weekend retreat focused on living spiritually alongside the challenges of daily life. The retreat will be led by Rev. Shawna Darnall and Rev. Jim Morgan. The cost is $125 per person including lodging and all meals. Adults of all ages are welcome! For more information, click here to contact Pastor Shawna.

This will be the last time that Rev. Susan Leonard-Ray will bring the message to us as our Anderson District Superintendent.  Let's give her a good send-off and an enthusiastic expression of our appreciation for her leadership over these eight years.  We hope you will plan to attend, if you will be in town. 

PLEASE NOTE:
There will be no Sunday School that morning so that we can all enjoy a time of food and fellowship at the Festival Luncheon after worship. Adult classes are welcome to find another time to meet, if you want to. 

UMW Luncheon Fundraiser
 
Since its formation in 1869, UMW members have supported countless missions that help women, children, and youth at home and abroad. In the last three years alone, the UMW of Saint Mark has contributed almost $10,000 of fundraiser proceeds to local missions that help our neighbors in need in Oconee County. We could not have done this without YOUR support!
 
Once again, we are offering a luncheon following the Saint Mark Festival service as our spring fundraiser. We are pulling our favorite recipes from past Saint Mark and other church cookbooks to provide you with delicious choices of an entrée, sides, salad, bread, and dessert. So, please join us in the Saint Mark Center immediately following the service on April 22 to enjoy the meal, decorations that will bring back memories from the past, great fellowship, and support three local missions: Wilderness Way Girls Camp, Oconee Presbyterian Service Fund, and Rosa Clark Clinic.
 
Ticket prices are $12/adult, $8/children 6-12. Children under 6 eat free! You may purchase tickets online (click here) or in person on Sunday mornings in the atrium (9:45-10:15 am) or in the
Narthex before and after the 11:15 am service through April 15.

Are You Befuddled By Your  
Electronic Devices? 
We'd Like to Help!! 
 
Elderberries is sponsoring a 4-hour class to help you use your electronic devices more effectively.  The class will be on Saturday, May 19 from 10 am - 2 pm.  A light lunch will be included. Watch for instructions on how to register for this class.

To find out which devices you want us to cover during the seminar, we invite you to fill out a simple questionnaire. There are only 5 questions. Click here to answer the questions.  If you have further questions, click here to contact Marla Fuller, or call her at the church office (864) 882-2603.    

Estate Planning Event 
Sunday, May 20
12:30 pm 
Commons Room
 
Are you managing your estate as well as planning for "end of life" issues??? 
Guess what?  70% of adults over the age of 55, living in South Carolina, have not completed their estate planning! SHOCKING??? Not really, since the problem is usually simply a combination of lack of knowledge and procrastination.  Most folks just think that they have plenty of time to "Get 'er done!". That may work for "Larry the cable guy," but it certainly doesn't work for the average disciple at Saint Mark UMC. 

Raymond Lanham, SMUMC member, who is retired from the American Cancer Society as the Estate and Asset Services Manager, will speak at an educational seminar luncheon in the Commons Room on Sunday, May 20, 2018 immediately following the 11:15 am Traditional Service.  If you've "got it all together," come and share your expertise with our group! However, if you still have more questions than answers, then please join us for a bit of lunch and an informative discussion of the "perils of procrastination" when it comes to end of life issues. 

No reservation is required to attend the event, however if you would like a bag lunch (turkey and cheese sandwich, chips, cookie, fruit, and drink is $8 per person - cash or check made out to Donna Jaynes on day of event), please click here to place your order with Donna Jaynes.   

An exciting announcement about "Summer at Saint Mark" will be made during the Saint Mark Festival Worship Service on Sunday, April 22. You certainly won't want to miss it!  However if you can't be with us that morning, be on the look out for the announcement in your inbox later that week.
OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS 
 

Spring Break 
April 1 - 7 
NO TREK or Journey activities on April 4 
Contact: Lisa Kiser or Donna Poston
Confirmation Retreat 
Lake Junaluska 
April 13 - 15
Contact: Donna Poston
Spring Anderson District
Lay Servant Ministries School
April 14 - 15
Grace United Methodist Church
Williamston, SC
Contact:  Gwendolyn Brown    
 
The Gathering 
Wednesday, April 18 
5:30 - Supper
6:15 - Worship
Contact: Rev. Shawna Darnall 
 
Thursday Morning Women's Bible Study Resumes 
Thursday, April 19 
10 am 
Contact: Sandy James  
 
Lions Club Pancake Breakfast 
Saturday, April 28 
7 - 10:30 am
Contact:
Dean Garland   


All Choirs Sunday 
Sunday, May 6
TWO services 
Contact:  David Wilcox

Elderberries Electronic Devices Class
Saturday, May 19
10 am - 2 pm 
Contact: Marla Fuller

Pentecost and Confirmation Sunday 
Sunday, May 20
Contact: Donna Poston

Graduate Sunday 
Sunday, May 27
Contact: Donna Poston
 
ELDERBERRIES EVENTS (FOR 50+)   

ARE YOU 50+?
Here are some Elderberries Events
that might interest you.  Save the date(s) on your calendar. 
   
Day Trip to Hagood Mill
Greater Clemson Music Festival  
and Pickens County Sesquicentennial
138 Hagood Mill Road 
Pickens, SC  29671 
Saturday, April 21
Click here for more information

Need Help With Your Electronic Devices? 
Saturday, May 19
10 - 2 pm (lunch included)

"A Walk in My Shoes" 
Virtual Alzheimer's Tour 
Thursday, June 7
5:30 pm
(Includes a light supper)

CHURCH AND SOCIETY  


Robin Myers is a minister, distinguished professor, best-selling author, columnist and an award-winning commentator for National Public Radio.

Click here to learn more about Robin Meyers.

This event is sponsored by the Anderson Forum for Progressive Theology
IN THE COMMUNITY . . .  

Movie Night
THE PASSION OF CHRIST
TOMORROW, Good Friday, March 30
6:30 pm
Seneca Baptist Church

The Passion of Christ is a powerful and gripping movie that depicts the final 12 hours of Jesus' life on earth leading up to His crucifixion. The term "passion" originates from Latin word "passio," which means suffering and pain. However, our faith tradition has broadened the meaning of "passion" to include the selfless and loving act of Christ, who willingly offered up His life for us on what has become known as "Good Friday."  
 
This is a free event, and child care will be provided for birth - 3rd graders by request only. To reserve your spot(s) please call Seneca Baptist Church at (864) 882-2731, or click here to send an email.


Epworth Children's Home
Cookout for Kids
BBQ Fundraiser
Saturday, April 14
11 am - 3 pm
Epworth Children's Home
2900 Millwood Avenue
Columbia, SC

Click here to see the event flyer
for more detailed information. 

Lunch and Learn
"Strengthening Families"
Friday, May 18
12 noon - 2 pm
Seneca Church of God Fellowship Hall

Heath's Haven strives to provide training that equips individuals with relationship building skills. Their goal is to improve the community by promoting healthy, nurturing relationships between children and adults.

"Strengthening Families" is an overview of the 14-week program where parents and children participate in a series of interactive fun family nights.

For more information or to make your reservation, click here to contact Lisa Fields, or call her at (864) 710-4085.  Space is limited.
THE "E" WORD . . . 

The ten letters in the word, "EVANGELISM," cover many of the activities the Evangelism Ministry Team upholds:

E-everyone
V-visions
A-answers
N-needy
G-God
E-enthusiasm 
L-loving
I-inclusive 
S-service
M-mission

FOR YOUR INFORMATION   

UMCOR Health Kits cost $12 each, so the South Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church needs your help to raise at total of $122,400 by Tuesday, May 15.  Click here for more information.

Radical Hospitality

Chances are that one of the reasons you are at Saint Mark is because of the welcome you received from someone in our Saint Mark family.  Beginning at our Saint Mark Festival worship on Sunday, April 22, we plan to recognize our visitors during all of our services of worship.

Let's all be especially vigilant to extend a warm welcome to our guests who are sitting near us after they introduce themselves. Your kind gesture may be the very thing that brings them into our family of faith.   

Did You Donate This Cross? 

The Aesthetics Team found a 6" metal cross, made of 2 nails, that we assume was donated to hang in our Gallery of Crosses extension. The cross was placed in paper, and the word, "cross" was written on the top. It was found in the hallway where the gallery is located. 

We would like to know who donated it so that we can acknowledge your gift in our album.  If you donated the cross, please click here to contact Joyce Carney and give her the pertinent information.  Thank you! 

April Calendar of Events and Birthdays

Even though Easter will be over, there are still plenty of things going on at Saint Mark during the month of April.  Click here to see what is going on, and the list of Saint Mark disciples who are celebrating birthdays. HAPPY BIRTHDAY APRIL DISCIPLES! 
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