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God can deliver us when we are a basket case and put us where we need to be. ~ Pastor Alex

• Golden Corner Food Pantry
• Ann Hope UMC Feeding Ministry
• Collins Children's Home

A New Mission Outreach Opportunity 

The Saint Mark Mission & Service Team has accepted an invitation to partner with The Dignity Project to provide feminine hygiene products to women in need in Oconee County.

Pink collection bins have been placed near the entrances to the atrium. The most needed items are regular and overnight pads, regular and super tampons, panty liners, and ½ gallon zippered storage bags.

Please help us fill the bins with the requested items. The disciples of Saint Mark are always generous, and we trust that you will support The Dignity Project.

Saint Mark Mission & Service Team

CLICK HERE to learn more about the Dignity Project.

EPWORTH IS OUR MINISTRY! 

Because of faithful supporters like you, Epworth served 2,230 children, youth, and families through its statewide programs in 2025. On Sunday, September 13th, our congregation will participate in the Annual Epworth Work Day Offering to support the children, youth, and families served through Epworth's ministries across South Carolina.

Please prayerfully consider how God is calling you to participate in this special offering. To learn more about Epworth, visit www.epworthsc.org.

Church Finances through the Month of July 2026

Expected Contributions to Date $ 569,923.85 

Received Contributions to Date $ 585,275.08 

Expenses Paid to Date $ 546,136.16

Uplifting Campaign Status through the Month of

July 2026



Amount Pledged through 5/31/28 $ 364,702.00 

Outstanding Amount to Date $ 152,017.81

A detailed Analysis of Revenues & Expenses is posted on the bulletin board outside the church office.



Your Planned Gift can help provide scholarships, maintain church buildings, fund missions or support our music programs -- whatever speaks to your heart for ministry.

Come learn "Everything You Need to Know about Planned and Endowment Giving" from the Endowment Committee with special guest speaker, Rev. Bob Vincent, President of the South Carolina United Methodist Foundation. A light lunch will be provided, and a Q&A session will follow the presentation.

Please RSVP to Beth Baker by Thursday, September 10.

CLICK HERE to email Pastor Alex with your prayer concerns.

PECAN SALES FOR MISSIONS: The United Women in Faith are selling extra large Georgia pecan halves. Each one-pound bag is $15. These will also be sold at the Mission Faire in December, but we are having advanced sales to give a head start to holiday baking!

Pre-orders will be taken via email by Ilene Lund (click on the blue link) now until October 20. Pick up will be on Sunday, November 1 and Sunday, November 8 in the atrium after the Celebrate! service and in the narthex before and after traditional service.

We prefer cash or check, but credit cards will also be accepted.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 30

ONE COMBINED WORSHIP SERVICE

10:30 AM IN THE SANCTUARY

On Sunday, August 30^th we will celebrate Peace with Justice Sunday during one combined worship service at 10:30 AM in the Sanctuary. This will be a “blended” intergenerational experience focused on strategies for us all to respond to Jesus’ call to become peacemakers. Our youth and our Church and Society Ministry Team have worked together to plan the teaching, dialog and reflections on the Holy Spirit’s gift of peace. Please pray for this hour together to make a real difference in all our faith journeys and relationships. Sunday School classes will meet at 9:30 am.

What is Peace with Justice Sunday?

Peace with Justice Sunday is one of six church-wide Special Sundays designated to support ministries and causes important to the entire United Methodist Church. On this day we come together to support ministries that work for peace and fairness around the world. It’s a day when the church speaks out against violence and inequality and renews its commitment to be peacemakers—just as Jesus taught. CLICK HERE for details from UMC.org.

NEW FALL OFFERING BY FAITH FORMATION COUNCIL

The practice of holy listening has roots in the Bible: Moses and Jesus often asked how the Holy Spirit figures in one's life. This was done in small groups, sharing stories and listening for God's response.

This fall the opportunity to become a part of a Belong Group will begin. Two sessions will be offered in September to introduce the practice of being fully present. You are encouraged to attend one of these sessions in September with a day or evening option:

Wednesday, September 2, @ 1:00 pm

Thursday, September 3, @ 7:00 pm

With prayerful discernment, small groups of 4-8 participants will then form in October. Each group will determine when and how often they meet (in person or ZOOM). You do not have to attend the intro session to sign up for a Belong Group.

Contact Lynn Dobson at lynndobson64@gmail.com or 864-247-1320.

In the Bible, we have four books that tell the story of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These gospels offer us four different perspectives on the meaning and importance of Jesus and his ministry and miracles. Beginning on Monday, September 14th, and hopefully finishing before Thanksgiving, we will look at these gospels in parallel, looking at how they are similar and different in the way they tell the same basic story.

Come join us on Mondays at 11 am in the Table Talk Classroom for these studies. Contact Pastor Alex with questions.

 DucksRow is a 6-session course designed to support you as you tackle the immense task of organizing the life you’ve spent decades building in order to ease the administrative and emotional burden on loved ones when your time comes. Classes will meet at 10:00 am every other Tuesday, beginning 9/15. 

CLICK HERE for details about the course.

RSVP to Kam Flynn at DucksRow@outlook.com

INTERGENERATIONAL

RECHARGE! SEPTEMBER 16

Come one and come all to our Wednesday night Recharge meal and entertainment on September 16. Our fellowship meal will begin at 5:15 pm followed by a "People Bingo” night. 

To celebrate the different generations at Saint Mark, we will fill out unusual bingo cards by “mingling around” and learning about each other. It will be a fun night of bringing our church family together.

Note: Invite your friends and neighbors. The Evangelism Committee will pay for first-time guests' meals!

The menu is yet to be determined. RSVP to Donna Jaynes by noon on Tuesday, September 15.

Join Sandy James and Linny Ledbetter as they lead a

10-week Women’s Bible Study of God of Covenant: A Study of Genesis 12-50, by Jen Wilkin. Classes will begin Thursday, September 17 at 10:00 am.

With school starting, all our youth will be doing all their great extracurricular things! Show your support by signing up and being made aware of school events that our amazing Saint Mark youth are involved in. You can email or text Julie and let her know how you prefer to be contacted each week with that week's events. Please make an effort to greet the youth or their family if you attend an event so they know you were there. It means a lot to them when they see familiar faces supporting them! Thank you in advance for this special care!

CLICK HERE for the Family Ministry newsletter 

to see all that's happening with children and youth!

A New Musical

Special Workshop Presentation

October 9–10, 2026

at Centre Stage Theater

in Greenville

La Zafra (The Harvest) is a powerful new musical by playwright Mario Suarez that explores family, sacrifice, identity, and the enduring hope that drives generations of immigrants to pursue the American dream. Rooted in the experiences of Mexican immigrants in the American South, this moving story invites audiences into a deeply human journey of resilience, belonging, and love.

This special workshop presentation marks an exciting new chapter in the musical’s development, featuring a newly revised script and brand-new arrangements and orchestrations by Greenville-based Cuban-American composer-arranger Iliana Rose. Performed by a professional cast in a semi-staged format, the workshop offers audiences a unique opportunity to experience a new work as it continues to grow and evolve.

Following each performance, audiences are invited to stay for a facilitated community talkback with members of the creative team. These conversations offer a chance to explore the themes of the musical, learn more about its development, and share feedback that will help shape the future of La Zafra.

This project is supported in part by a grant from the Jolley Foundation, whose investment is helping advance the creation of this new American musical.

Tickets are $10 General Admission. CLICK HERE for ticket information.

• August Birthdays
• Pickle Ball Mondays
• Church Directory on Your Mobile Device
• Need a Replacement Name Tag?