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THE ST. MARKER

April 2014

St. Mark United Methodist Church 413 Geddes Avenue, Charleston, SC 29407 Church Office Phone: 843-766-5239 Email: mystmarkchurch@gmail.com

Rev. Jonathan Holston, Resident Bishop Rev. Patti Parrish, District Superintendent Rev. Scarlett Hester, Pastor Ms. Michele Russell, Director of Music Mrs. Libby Massalon, Administrative Assistant Mr. Rich Sweazy, Director of Children and Youth

SUNDAY Worship services 9:00 & 11:00

Sunday School 10:00 UMYF 5:30

MISSION STATEMENT

St. Mark United Methodist church seeks to live as a witness to the Kingdom of God through worship, teaching and evangelism. Our purpose is to make disciples for Jesus Christ by reaching up to God in worship, prayer and spiritual disciplines, reaching down into the scriptures and the Christian faith in study and obedience and reaching out to each other and our world in service, witness and friendship. We rely on the guidance, gifts and power of the Holy Spirit as we carry out the mission of this congregation. *********************************************

Our sympathy and prayers are expressed to:

Steve and Kitty Duncan on the death of his son Jackson Duncan on March 2. Susan Feldman, Gary Shealy, Greg Shealy, and their families on the death of their mother Leila Shealy who passed away March 10. Francis Shaw and her family on the passing of her husband Pratt Shaw March 14.

IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS Home: George Muckenfuss, Rhonda & Newell Cummings, Tim & Nancy Strickland, Jack & Barbara Shaw, Ronnie & Betty Knight, Ron Buchheitt, Harold McMillan, Jacque Donoho, Bill Smith, Kenneth Gough, Lib Way, Randy & Neva Atkinson, Alva Mims, Nelda Gaines, Ann Willis, Buddy & Deloris Elsey & family, David Chandler, Dean & Lora James, Bernell & Margie Shuler, Susan Porter, Miles & Savannah, Juanita Maranville, Jae, Susan Watson & family, Rocky & Jackie Brinson, Pat & Rex Connor, Barbara Chandler, Georgia Odom, Davidson family, Glenn Massalon, Dot Pace, Bill Harris

Ashley Park – 1451 Tobias Gadsden, C’ston 29407: Dot Connor(Apt. 111), Tommy & Margaret Johnson; Virginia Swintz (Apt. 345)

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Heartland – Thelma Muckenfuss Life Care: Dot Caulder (2600 Elms Plantation Blvd. North Charleston, SC 29406) Mt. Pleasant Manor - Robert and Mary Jane Scaffe Summit Place, Beaufort – Ann Smith Presbyterian Home – Margaret Skinner Ashley River Plantation – Norma Oliver Military & their families - Master Sgt. Jay Piersol, SFC Mark Elsey, Sgt. Maj Chris Barnard & Susan Barnard, LT Edward Dawson, LCDR Spencer Baker, Romello Leach Chandler Place, Rock Hill – Roy Baker

APRIL BIRTHDAYS

1 Michele Russell 1 Christopher Brownlee 3 Tony Malone

3 Vicki Davidson 4 Vicki DuBose 4 Amber Fulford 5 Jack Shaw

5 Jarby Brown 6 Bob Duncan 6 Eli Richberg 8 Patricia Eddy 8 Kevin Shealy 9 Bunnie Buchheit 10 Norman Meyer 10 Gary Petersen 11 Dana Sweazy 11 Ellie McCabe 13 Nancy Strickland 13 Linda Curry 14 Dennis McCoy Jr. 14 Kylie Smith 14 Kaitlin Petersen 15 Lydia Seel 16 Tommy Massalon 16 Paula Brownlee 18 George Muckenfuss 19 Brandi Seel 20 Michael Motley 21 Andy Own 21 Nathan Collins 22 Amanda Seel 23 Jim Ratledge 24 Thelma Muckenfess 24 Pete Jarvis

26 Susan Caulder 26 Zachary Choate 30 Timmy Linker

APRIL ANNIVERSARIES 4/5/97 Trevor & Meg Capps 4/6/03 Al & Jennifer Seel 4/6/13 James & Kathrine Parham 4/13/96 Emmanuel & Amy Leprettre 4/28/79 Dean & Lora James 4/29/06 Chris & Andrea Dolan

MAY GOD BLESS YOU WITH MANY MORE Note: If you have a birthday or anniversary and we omitted it, please let us know so that we can correct our records.

VOLUNTEERS Children’s Sermon

April 6 Timmy Linker April 13 Patty Barfield April 20 Rich Sweazy April 27 Susan Brooks

Children’s Chapel April 6 Gail Lanter April 13 Abbie O’Toole April 20 None - Please worship as a family April 27 Keri Weiss

Acolyte/Crucifer Schedule April 6 Laura Boofer/Madison Wilcox April 13 Samantha Hester/Molly McCabe April 20 Claire Withrow/Cameron Smith April 27 Alex Sweazy/Emily O’Toole

Scripture Readers 9:00 11:00 April 13 Gail Lanter Renee Wilcox April 20 Scarlett Hester Scarlett Hester April 27 Emily Lanter Edie Kent

EASTER SUNDAY PICTURES

Please bring fresh flowers to adorn our flower cross for Easter Sunday. Ricky Linker will be available to take Easter pictures beside the Cross in between services and after the 11:00 service.

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FROM OUR PASTOR

The Language of Methodism

The Social Principles address human and social issues from biblical and theological perspective. While agreement is not required, everyone is encouraged to listen and think prayerfully and carefully. The social principles consider everything from space exploration, to genetic research to living in community to the use of alcohol and tobacco. The Social Principles are included in the Discipline and reviewed every 4 years at General Conference. You may also read our Social Principles at www.umc.org under the What We Believe menu. www.umc.org is a phenomenal resource for United Methodists with information about who we are, what we believe and how we serve. There are links to all sorts of resources such as online Lenten meditations, online trainings, and scholarships.

LENT AT ST.MARK

Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. This is a season of preparation for Easter and historically began as a period of fasting and prayer. It is a time for us to remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us and to examine our own lives as we seek to walk more closely with our Lord. Lenten services continue at John Wesley UMC. St. Mark will be the host for lunch on April 9, and Pastor Scarlett will give the message. Lunch will be served at 12:00 and 1:00 with a brief worship service at 12:30.

“Text on Tuesday?” During the Lenten season, on

Tuesdays at noon, Pastor Scarlett has a time of discussion and discernment based upon the previous Sunday’s text. Please feel free to bring a bag lunch if you are taking your lunch break to join the group.

Wonderful Wednesday has been a part of St.

Mark UMC for many years. Cost is $5 for adults, $3 for children 3 – 12 and free for those under 3 years.

April 2 – Beef Stew, rice, salad, caramel cake April 9 – Chicken pot pie, salad, cherry truffle April 16 – Pork loin, twice baked potato, green beans, ice cream sundae

Wonderful Wednesday Clean up Schedule April 2 – June Smith Class April 9 – UMW April 16 – Family Fellowship Class

Easter Egg Hunt – April 19; 10:00 – 1:00. Please note the change of date. This is the Saturday

before Easter! We are trying a little something new this year. We plan on having a new kind of egg hunt, games, lunch and a family movie. This is a no stress kind of egg hunt, everyone will get the same amount of goodies and some an extra prize. Our movie will be “Twas the Night Before Easter” (a Veggie Tale movie). Afterward we will have a small discussion with more prizes. Start getting the buzz out now! Feel free to invite your friends and neighbors!

From the book Stages on the Way by Iona Community, Wild Goose Worship Group: From Bethlehem to Nazareth, from Jordan to Jericho, from Bethany to Jerusalem, from then to now, COME, LORD JESUS. To heal the sick, to mend the broken-hearted, to comfort the disturbed, to cleanse the temple, to liberate faith from convention, COME, LORD JESUS. To carry the cross, to lead the way, to shoulder the sin of the world and take it away, COME, LORD JESUS. Today, to this place, to us, COME, LORD JESUS.

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The following recipe is a great activity to do with your children/grandchildren. As you do each step, have your Bible close by to read the scripture. If you decide to do it, please take a picture or two and send to me for next month’s issue.

EASTER STORY COOKIES

You will need: 1 c. whole pecans, 1 tsp. vinegar, 3 egg whites, 1 pinch salt, 1 c. sugar, zipper baggie, wooden spoon, tape and Bible Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with a wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested he was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19: 1-3. Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30. Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10: 10-11. Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27. So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 c. sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because he loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Psalms 34:8 and John 3:16. Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 – 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain the color white represents the purity in God’s eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 & John 3:1-3. Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper-covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’s body was laid. Read Matthew 27: 57 -60. Put the cookie sheet in the oven; close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that the tomb of Jesus was also sealed. Read Matthew 27: 65-66. GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus’

followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16: 20, 22. On Easter morning open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter, Jesus’ followers were amazed to find the tomb open empty. Read Matthew 28: 1 – 9.

HE HAS RISEN!

KINGDOM OF GOD MINISTRY Please contact KOG ministry if you would like someone to pray with you...our ministry is to serve our Lord by praying for His people at St Mark. Susan Caulder (sec1023@comcast.net) Amy Alexander Linda Shealy Nancy Strickland

ST. MARK DAY SCHOOL NEWS

St. Mark Day School

The Day School is selling Easter Lilies until March 31st. If you have not ordered yours yet you still have a few weeks. The price of the Easter Lilies will be $12.00 each. Please make checks payable to St. Mark Day School.

The new playground is being started!! Check it

out!

PLEASE DON’T FORGET TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THE

DAY SCHOOL. WORD OF MOUTH IS THE BEST ADVERSTISEMENT.

Registration is going well, but there is room for a few more. Again, thank you for all your love and

support.

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UMW NEWS

RECIPES NEEDED

HELP US CELEBRATE OUR 60TH ANNIVERSARY

WITH A SPECIAL COOKBOOK

Please share your recipes with us! A box has been placed in the Narthex for you to place recipes. Some categories will be soups, salads, main dishes, side dishes, meats, vegetables, fruit dishes, desserts, vegetarian dishes, dairy free dishes, as well as gluten-free dishes . We also would like to include a canning section. Any other recipes you would like to share will be welcome. Be sure to give a title to your recipe as well as sign with your name. If you would like to note a recipe in memory or honor of someone, please include that too! This special project is being carried out by the Connie Wieck Circle as a fundraiser for mission and in honor of the 60th Anniversary of Saint Mark. Please help us make this a big success and join the history of Saint Mark cookbooks of the past. A cookbook was done 2004 and 1994. This cookbook will be published in 2015.

We appreciate your help!

MICHELE’S MUSIC NOTES

Please make plans to attend the performance of "The Risen Christ" at Grace United Methodist Church on Palm Sunday, April 13, 2014, at Grace United Methodist Church (1601 Sam Rittenburg Blvd.) at 4:00 PM. Music will be provided by the combined choirs of Grace and St. Mark and there will be dramatic speakers as well, including our own Richard Hatcher as the apostle Peter and Kevin Shealy as the apostle John. You won't want to miss it! Admission is free.

UMYF MEETING DATES April 6 - 5:30 April 13 - 5:30 April 20 - EASTER - No MYF April 27 - 5:30

UMM NEWS Make plans now to visit the UMM Yard Sale on Saturday April 5! The sale opens at 7:00 a.m. and will shut down at 11:00 a.m. Whether you are a collector or need something that is hard to find, you should make plans to visit our LARGEST yard sale ever. We will also be serving the best Boston butts ever cooked. Do not hesitate to order yours in advance as they are sold out and gone very quickly. And to conclude our day of fundraising for Salkahatchie and Red Bird Missions, we will be serving Barbeque chicken lunches from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. One-half BBQ chicken, two sides and a roll for $8.00. It promises to be mouth-watering delicious! All profits from this three-in-one fundraiser will be used towards missions. UMM works hard to assist our mission teams so that they can make life a little easier for others, as well as share God’s love and concern for all. The UMM thank you in advance for your support in these endeavors.

HANDS AND FEET WEEKEND

Hands and Feet Weekend was a great experience!. We had the opportunity to do mission work, grow closer together and have fun - all in one weekend! St. Mark’s first job was cleaning up the stretch of highway that Asbury Hills Camp has taken care of over the years. During this we were able to joke along with each other and learn more about one another while cleaning up the litter. Afterwards we had a wonderful lunch that filled us up, and powered us for our next task. Now we were off to help stain some porches of the camp cabins. This was so much fun with our group! We sang, danced, and had a blast with each other! Oh, and we also stained the porches. After dinner we played some games and had worship with the rest of the camp. The worship was beautiful! We learned that we need to do missions for God, not for ourselves. We learned how you can learn that the hard way, like falling on

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Hands & Feet weekend – cont.

your face. We sang beautiful songs that tugged at my heart strings. After worship we all learned how to do some Contra dancing where we all laughed and joined in doing. After the dancing it was time for a bonfire and off to bed. The next morning we enjoyed a delicious breakfast together, packed our bags and got ready for the final worship together. We walked to this beautiful lake where there was a balcony and seats for us all to sit and worship our beautiful Lord in the glory of all He has made. We learned to continue to make a difference and do God's work. We sang some new songs that echoed as we sang and made us want to lift up our hands and sing with all our might. We learned a great deal that weekend - how to handle litter on the highway, how to stain wood, and how to Contra dance. We also learned to work together. We bonded and learned about each other. Most importantly we learned how to show our love through action for God.

-Dana Sweazy

Participating in Hands and Feet Weekend were Matthew Caulder, Haile Johnson, Emily Lanter, Christian Leprettre, Logan Leprettre, Keenan Shine, Dana Seazy, Emily Sweazy, and leaders Amy Alexander and Rich Sweazy.

See more pictures of our weekend on page 8.

VBS As you all know VBS doesn’t just happen. It takes many hours of work and preparation! This

year’s theme is WORKSHOP OF WONDERS! During the week of JULY 28 – AUGUST 1, children will discovery how with God, the ordinary becomes the EXTRAORDINARY! They will meet people from the Bible who used their creativity, imagination and materials they had to make something amazing with God. And they will experience the love of Jesus, as they hear His message: Expect great things with God! On March 29, from 10:00 – 12:00, Rich is looking for folks to start helping with decorations. He could also use a couple of overhead projectors to help with this. Many hands make light work – Please come out and lend a hand. If you cannot help this Saturday PLEASE contact Rich (sweazyjr@gmail.com or 580-678-8448) and let him know where your talents lie and when you would be able to help out, either before VBS in preparation and/or during the week of VBS.

RED BIRD MISSION TRIP

The Red Bird team will have an after church Luncheon on April 27th. We plan to offer hamburgers, hot dogs, French fries, and all the fixings. Price of tickets: $6 for adults; $3 children 4-10; children under 4 Free. Desserts will be offered at an additional fee. We also will have Red Bird handmade crafts for sale after each church service and during the lunch on the 27th. All funds will be applied to supporting this mission activity, donations are welcomed. Proceeds from the fundraiser will go to help defray expenses of the Red Bird team, to provide items for the Red Bird home not included in the cost of construction (eg. curtains, mats, towels, etc.), and to help with the cost of gasoline. Currently we have nine team members signed up for the mission trip. Six are from St. Mark UMC, two from North Charleston UMC, and one from Indiana (Bernie's Brother). It is not too late to join the Mission Team. Let Scarlett Hester or Frank Morley know if you are interested.

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RELAY FOR LIFE

We earned $180 at our Shrove Tuesday Pancake supper, and I am excited to announce that we have now collected over $1000 towards our goal of $2500. Thank you all for your support of our fundraising. Your donations help to save lives from cancer through the Relay for Life movement. RELAY FOR LIFE will be May 16 – 17. We will have luminary and track sign forms available beginning April 19th as well as the sign-up sheet for those that plan to walk the track representing St. Mark. Luminaries are $10 each and are in honor or memory of someone and will be used to line the track the night of Relay. If you do not want to decorate your bag, we can do this for you, just let us know when you are completing the form. Track signs are $100 each and are typically purchased by businesses but can be for a loved one and will be displayed around the track. This is a great way to advertise your business while showing your support. You can also go to the website, www.relayforlife.org to donate directly in our team name. Under “Home”, go to “Support a Participant or Team” and type in our team name: St. Mark UMC and you should be able to locate our team for your donation. Make sure you choose the one with Cynthia Sunde as the team captain. We ask that all survivors please go to the website as soon as possible to register so that you will be sure to get your free survivor t-shirt. We plan to have paper registrations soon for you to complete if unable to do so on the website. Remember there is a fabulous dinner in your honor the night of Relay with great prizes given away. You then kick off the evening with a walk or ride through a cheer tunnel and then go around the track (they have golf carts available for those survivors that cannot walk the track). This really is a fun evening and a great event supporting a wonderful cause. Please plan to participate in whatever way that you can.

- Cynthia Sunde

EVANGELISM, OUTREACH & MISSIONS

WATER MISSION WALK

Pictured above are many of those from St. Mark who participated in the Water Missions International Walk for Water Day on March 22. Approximately $250 was raised by St. Mark. Those participating were (standing): Rich Sweazy, Amy McCabe, Ruth Smith, Ellie McCabe, Dana Swezy, Emily Lanter, Donnie Lanter, Edie Kent, Christian Leprettre, Logan Leprettre, Amy Alexander, Michele, Russell, Scarlett Hester in front: Samantha Hester, Madison Wilcox, Emily Sweazy. Not pictured are Emmanuael Leprettre, Patty Barfield, Peggy Edgerton.

FLOOD BUCKETS We are collecting "flood buckets" as our Lenten offering this year. These “flood buckets” are used in areas hit by natural disasters. We would like as many people/groups in the church as possible to have a "hands-on" experience by purchasing an item or items for the buckets. Please prayerfully consider making this part of your Easter giving. There is a sign-up sheet in the narthex with a list of the items included in the buckets. We would like all items or buckets back in time to pack the buckets during the Easter Egg Hunt so that we can dedicate our buckets on Easter Sunday.

-Edie Kent, Evangelism, Outreach & Missions

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AROUND ST. MARK IN MARCH

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper to benefit Relay for Life. Pictured on right preparing supper are Vicki Davidson, Kali Sunde, Cynthia Sunde and Susan Brooks. Enjoying the pancakes on the left are Bridget Legare, Sydney Brown, Jean Brown and Harold MacMillan.

HANDS AND FEET WEEKEND FUN!

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APRIL 2014

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

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10:00 a.m. Prayer group

10:00 Staff Meeting

12:30 J. Wesley UMC Lenten worship

6:00 Wonderful Wednesday

SPRC 7:00 p.m.

Girl Scouts

UMM Yard Sale

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TH Sunday in Lent

4:00 Bible Study

12:30 J. Wesley Lenten Worship – SMUMC host

5:00 – Staff Meeting

6:00 Wonderful Wednesday

10:00 a.m.Louise Massalon Circle

7:30 p.m. Shawn Ramsey Circle

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10:00

17 18 19 Palm

Sunday

4:00 “The Risen Christ” cantata at Grace UMC

10:00 Staff Mtg.

12:30 J. Wesley UMC Lenten Worship

6:00 Wonderful Wednesday

Noon – Good Neighbors

Girl Scouts

Good Friday Service 7:00 p.m.

10:00 – 1:00

Egg Hunt Lunch Movie

Fun

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EASTER

HE IS RISEN!

Worship services 6:30, 9:00, 11:00

Breakfast served following 6:30

service.

10:00 Staff Mtg.

27 28 29 30 Lunch to benefit Red Bird Mission Trip

7:00 Evangelism

10:00 Staff Mtg.

The St. Marker is published each month and is distributed primarily by email and our website (www.stmarkchurch.info). We mail copies to our shut-ins and provide copies in the Narthex to those who do not have Internet access. To be added to the email list or to have a copy mailed to a shut-in, please contact Jacki Ratledge at jsratledge@gmail.com . Also, if you have any concerns, information, pictures or praises to share in our newsletter, please email them to Jacki, or call her at 843-571-0054.