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Get WACKE at Faith Formation Sunday while we bless backpacks and acknowledge rising K, 3rd and 6th graders! There will be a special performance from our WACKE campers and worship led by the WACKE band. All are especially invited for this special service in the gym! Let’s start the school year with a show of support for all our children and youth!! 

Sunday School classes will be held at 9:30 am.

RAYMOND LOCKHART

We extend our sympathies to the family and friends of Saint Mark disciple Ray Lockhart, who passed away Sunday, July 26th. Graveside will be Sunday, August 2 at 2:00 pm in the Heritage Memorial Gardens, 4500 S. Highway 11, Westminster, SC.

BARBARA SMITH

We extend our sympathies to the family and friends of Saint Mark disciple Barbara Smith, who passed away Tuesday, 

July 28th. Arrangements are pending. We will provide updated information as it becomes available.

CONGRATULATIONS ALLYSS!

TEACHER OF THE YEAR

Saint Mark's Chancel Choir Director, Dr. Allyss Haecker, was awarded the 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year Award at Seneca Senior High School. Allyss is the head of SHS's award-winning chorale program, one of the best in the state.

CONGRATULATIONS JON!

NEW POSITION AT SMS

We also congratulate Jonathan Reid, Saint Mark's Associate Director of Music, on his new position as Chorus Teacher at Seneca Middle School. The students of SMS and SHS are certainly fortunate to have Jon and Allyss educating them, and Saint Mark is blessed to have them on our staff.

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

SUMMER VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

AT THE FOOD PANTRY

Summer is always a challenging time at the food pantry. Kids are out of school eating three meals a day at home instead of just one or two, so the number of local residents visiting the pantry can spike at this time of year. Plus, many of our volunteers are taking trips or hosting extended family from out of town. On any given day, we might find ourselves missing 5-10 of our regular volunteers. Can you help?

People are needed on weekdays from 8:30 am -12:30 pm

to help sort food and stock the shelves, help clients shop for their food in the "grocery store" part of the pantry, or load cars once the clients are finished shopping. We can also use help on the first Saturday of every month.

If you can help out this summer, whether for one day a week, or one day a month, please visit our website at goldencornerpantry.org and click on "Volunteer" for more information or to sign up as a volunteer. Our clients are all low-income residents of Oconee County, and they are very appreciative of the volunteers who help them feed their families when they can't make ends meet. 

LAY LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Every Christian has a calling. God calls each of us to serve in one way or another. In the coming months, the Lay Leadership Committee will be seeking out the people God has called to serve in various ministries in this church. We need your help.

You can fill out the insert included in the church bulletin, or you can CLICK HERE to link to the online form. You may also contact Lay Leader Peter Salis or Pastor Alex Stevenson. We appreciate your participation.

AFRICA UNIVERSITY 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 Africa University Fund.

The “Africa University Fund” continues development of the first United Methodist Related University on the Continent of Africa. This is the first and only fully-accredited institution of higher learning on the continent of Africa. It was established in 1988 by the General Conference of the UMC. It offers post-secondary education through schools of agriculture, theology and management and business. For over 25 years Africa University has been equipping students with the knowledge to alleviate poverty, build peace, stability and drive development. Because of your gifts to the Africa University Apportioned Fund, a new generation is equipped to build lasting peace on the continent. For more information go to: Africa University Resources | ResourceUMC.

“Our-portion-ment” for the Africa University Fund this year is $286. 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 June 2026

Expected Contributions to Date $ 488,506.16 

Received Contributions to Date $ 514,613.34 

Expenses Paid to Date $ 452,214.28

Uplifting Campaign Status through the Month of

June 2026



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

Outstanding Amount to Date $ 158,472.81

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

2ND QUARTER

CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS EMAILED

Second Quarter Contribution Statements have been sent via email. If you did not receive an email, please contact Deborah Herrick at dherrick@smumcsc.org.

Planned Gifts are seeds of hope that keep growing after we are gone.

CLICK HERE to email Pastor Alex with your prayer concerns.

The Faith Formation Committee and the CDC are seeking donations of school supplies for our CDC children. There will be baskets at both atrium entrances for donations to be placed. We are asking for all donations to be brought in by Friday, July 31st. The donations will be given to the CDC and blessed by Pastor Alex on Sunday, August 2nd at the Faith Formation Service.

CLICK HERE for a list of supplies needed.

Contact Lisa Simmons or Margaret Axson with questions.

Aldersgate Special Needs Ministry was born at the 2003 Annual Conference. We are all familiar with Epworth Children’s Home, which has served children in SC for over 100 years. Aldersgate is the new kid on the block serving adults with special needs. Currently there are six homes in operation. Each serve either six men or six women in a supervised group living setting. There are hopes of building more homes around the state. Please keep this important ministry in your prayers. August 16th has been designated as the day when Saint Mark will receive a special offering for Aldersgate Special Needs Ministry. Please plan to give a little extra to support this valuable ministry. To learn more about Aldersgate Special Needs Ministry go to aldersgatesnm.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.

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.

Children & Youth Volunteer/Support Needs



Our Wednesday Programs start back up on August 5th! Up to 30 children/youth attend this fun filled faith formation experience throughout the school year. Besides our amazing interns, we need additional volunteers to join us in order to make these programs successful. Please reach out to Julie if you are interested in knowing more.

Spark meets on Wednesdays from 5:30-7:30. We have lessons, dinner, music and activities. Spark is for all elementary age kids, and we split into lower and upper grades for our lesson and music time.

Ignite meets from 6-8pm on Sunday AND Wednesday. Middle and High School ages engage in games and special projects like drama on Wednesdays at the ReCharge dinners along with the Spark Kids. On Sundays we worship and build relationships with each other in age-related break out groups to study the Bible and learn more about Jesus!

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!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR

CIRCLE OF GRACE AT MT. ZION

Volunteer Training will be offered Saturday, August 15 from 10:00 am to 12 noon at Mt. Zion UMC in Central. Circle of Grace will be held on the third Wednesday of each month. The cost is $45 per participant and includes lunch. Financial assistance is available via Appalachian Council of Governments.

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