Any red banner, text, or icon that is linked to more detailed information will turn into a "pointing glove" when you scroll over it. When the pointer appears, click to be taken to the link.

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.

• 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.

HOW CAN WE HELP? 

Every day, Epworth provides hope and healing for

children, youth, and families who have experienced trauma, abuse, neglect, or loss. Through compassionate

care and supportive services, lives are transformed and brighter futures become possible.

On Sunday, September 13th, our congregation will receive the Annual Epworth Work Day Offering. Thank you for

prayerfully considering your support of this important ministry. Learn more at www.epworthsc.org.

DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT

AND ADMINISTRATION FUND

Through apportionments, Saint Mark supports the worldwide ministry of the church. Apportionments are the funds that we give for the ministry of the larger United Methodist Church and they would make up about 8% of our annual budget, if we included them all. Today we focus on the District Superintendent and Administration Fund.

The District Superintendent and Administration Fund provides the annual salaries of the ten superintendents, plus workers compensation and travel/accident insurance coverage. District Superintendents oversee the churches in a geographical region of an Annual Conference. In our case, it is the Anderson District, which includes the United Methodist churches in Oconee, Anderson, Pickens and part of Greenville Counties. They advise the bishop about pastoral appointments, assist churches when needed, and administer the district committees, boards, and ministries. It also provides for the administrative costs of the District Offices. Our new district office is at Bethesda UMC in Powdersville.

“Our-portion-ment” for the District Superintendent and Administration Fund is $5,388 this year. Only half of that has been included in the budget for 2026. Please give faithfully so that Saint Mark can, hopefully, support all these apportionments in full.

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.

REMINDER: Expense Reimbursement Procedure

Adherence to the established expense reimbursement procedure is required to maintain financial accuracy, meet auditing standards, and eliminate unnecessary administrative delays.

Approved Ministry Team leaders must execute the following steps for all reimbursement requests:

• Verify Available Funds: Confirm the purchase falls strictly within your authorized annual budget or designated account limits before initiating the transaction.

• Provide Exact Details: Every submission must explicitly identify the budget line item or designated fund to be charged, provide a written explanation of the specific church business purpose, and include the recipient's mailing address.

• Obtain Prior Signatures: It is the requester's responsibility to secure all required approval signatures BEFORE submitting the documentation.

• Submit Complete Documentation: Provide the fully signed receipt, voucher, or invoice to the Administrator in a timely manner. Standard expense reimbursement forms are available to facilitate this step.

Incomplete submissions that lack required details or signatures will be returned to the originator for completion.

Don't miss out!

Have you signed up to attend the Planned Giving Lunch & Learn on September 13th?

(see below )

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.

SERMON SERIES ON EXODUS

The Exodus was a formative event in Israel’s history and an important part of our faith story. God redeemed Israel out of slavery in Egypt and led them to the Promised Land.

On August 23 we began a sermon series on the Exodus. We will be continuing this series next week and into October. The remaining dates of these sermons are below:

September 6: Exodus 12:1-14 “Exodus: Lamb of God”

September 13: Exodus 14:19-31 “Exodus: Surrounded”

September 20: Exodus 16:2-15 “Exodus: Manna”

September 27: Exodus 17:1-7 “Exodus: Water”

October 4: Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20

“Exodus: Commandments”    

October 11: Exodus 33:12-23 “Exodus: God”

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

Room A202 (Parlor)

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.

 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 will be Roasted Pork Loin, Creamed Potatoes with Gravy, Green Beans, Rolls, Dessert and Beverages.

RSVP to Donna Jaynes by noon 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.

PLEASE NOTE: BEGINNING DATE CHANGED TO MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21ST.

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 (A201) for these studies. Contact Pastor Alex with questions.

Our third Intergenerational Lunch & Learn will be a fun interactive session on Sunday, Sept 27 from 12:30-2 in the Commons Room. Anyone is welcome to attend, whether you participated in a previous session or not. You will hear about what our team learned at our most recent training and have the opportunity to discuss and give feedback about some potential goals to set for 2027. Please RSVP to

Julie by Thursday, September 24 and reach out with any questions. 

CLICK HERE for the Family Ministry newsletter 

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

Photo courtesy of Mitch Crisp

BERRIES AUGUST LUNCH BUNCH

A large and enthusiastic crowd met for the Lunch Bunch at Spot on the Alley on Thursday, August 20. We predict regular lunch gatherings with the Berries are going to make a comeback! Kudos to Spot on the Alley in Seneca for opening early as our backup venue when G3B Cafe cancelled on us at the last minute!

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

FLOWERS NEEDED FOR FALL

We have many vacancies on the sanctuary flower calendar for September and October. Please consider donating flowers to beautify the sanctuary during worship service. And remember, our Caring Ministry will share those flowers afterwards with disciples who are homebound or in medical facilities. Contact Sarah Boylston with questions.