The Remarks is a weekly publication of Saint Mark United Methodist Church, Atlanta, Georgia.
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O, Come Let Us Adore Him

Join us for worship on Christmas Eve

There will be one Morning Worship service at 10 am.

Later services include:

• Family service at 4 pm
• Communion service at 6 pm
• Candlelight service with the Lessons & Carols at 11 pm

Merry Christmas from the Saint Mark staff!

Wishing you a season of peace, love, and joy.

The church office will be closed on Christmas Day and on Tuesday, December 26.
No Remarks will be published next week.
To reach a minister in case of emergency, please call 888-334-9490.

Remarks Announcements

MISSIONS / OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES AT SAINT MARK

Here are two opportunities to share God’s love with those who are less fortunate during this special season.

Share Your Warmth: The Midtown Assistance Center (MAC) and Saint Mark are asking for your support to donate used or new coats and blankets to be distributedto the working poor and homeless during this winter season. All sizes are needed for men and women, adults and children. Please drop off any donations at the church office; Phillip Thomason will deliver them to MAC on behalf of Saint Mark. Thank you for your support and assistance! Click here for more information about MAC and its Coat Drive 

Trinity Table Volunteers Needed to Prepare and Serve: We need 20 volunteers to help prepare sandwiches for Trinity Table on Saturday, December 23, 1 pm, at Saint Mark. We will also need 20 volunteers who would be willing to serve at Trinity Table on Christmas Eve. For more information, please contact Phillip, 404-873-2636 x12. This is a wonderful opportunity to share in God's love with those who are less fortunate during this special season. Click here to read more about Trinity Community Ministries.

FAMILY & CHILDREN CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE

We will hear, see, tell, and sing about the Christmas story together at the Family and Children's Christmas Eve Service this Sunday, December 24, 4pm in the Sanctuary. All children are invited to take a part in acting out of the story by playing the role of either a shepherd or an angel. Those who are interested in participating in this way should plan to arrive by 3:45 pm in order to select and put on a costume. There will be angel and shepherd costumes in the narthex and some adults there to help with dressing. Children are also welcome to bring their own angel or shepherd costume from home. Please come and share in the storytelling and celebrating this Sunday! For additional information, please contact: Susan Ray, sray02@emory.edu, cell 404-660- 7807.

HONDURAS CROSSES AND BIRDHOUSES FOR SALE

Birdhouses and cross pendants, each hand crafted by a resident of El Pino, Honduras, are now available for purchase. Cost is $35 per birdhouse and $5 per cross. Proceeds will benefit the El Pino workers, helping to support their families and encouraging them to use their skills to build a successful business. Contact the church office for more information.

SPECIAL THEATRE OFFER FOR CHURCHGOERS

To start the Christmas Week off right, why not consider bringing a friend or loved one to see Theatrical Outfit's annual holiday tradition A Christmas Memory and Thanksgiving Visitor? Tom Key brings two short stories by Truman Capote to life in this heartwarming production that is an Atlanta favorite. Theatrical Outfit is offering a special discount to our final show on Saturday, December 23, 7:30 pm. Please call the box office, 678-528-1500, ask for the "Special Holiday Discount for Churches", and you will receive up to four tickets at half price - regularly $30 each! Don't wait - there is no such thing as a bad seat at The Balzer Theater - but there are only 200 seats, and they won't last!

ATTENTION, COMMITTEE CHAIRS!

Don’t forget to contact Christia, 404.873.2636, cholloway@stmarkumc.org, in the church office to confirm that your committees’ regularly occurring meetings carry over from 2006 and are scheduled on the 2007 church calendar. Thank you for your cooperation!

Club M.A.R.K. - Making a Real Konnection

Book Club

Thursday, January 4, 7 pm at Jason’s Deli (at the corner of Piedmont and 10th Street). Suggested donation of $2. January’s book is The Places in Between by Rory Stewart. Deena Booth will facilitate January’s meeting.

Click here for more information about Club M.A.R.K.

Remarks Reports

Worship Attendance: Sunday, December 17

8:45 am - 175, 11:15 am - 325, Total - 500

Morning Worship: Fourth Sunday of Advent, Christmas Eve Sunday, December 24

• One Morning Worship service at 10 am
• Jimmy Moor preaching, Luke 1: 39-45

Wednesday Fellowship Dinner: Wade Hall, 6:15 pm

Our dinner programs have ended for 2006 and will resume on Wednesday, January 3.
Details about upcoming programs and menus will be announced soon.

Click here for more information about AND to make a reservation for a Wednesday Dinner program, call 404.873.2636 x50, or complete the registration form in the pews and place in the offering plate.

Financial Report

Year-to-Date Operating Budget through December 15:
Income: $ 1,035,453
Expenses: $ 1,062,768
Surplus/Deficit: $ 27,315

Continuing the Legacy Report Our stewardship campaign for this year is off to a strong start! Deana is out of the office this week, so we don't have up-to-the-minute figures, but we have heard from over 200 individuals and families, including a number who did not make a pledge last year, and our average pledge is up 15% from 2006. This is good news indeed as we work to continue our rich legacy, and take the next faithful step in ministry. We do still have a ways to go, however, in order to see new growth in the ministries and mission that we believe God is calling us to fulfill. This means the final success of our campaign is now in the hands of those who have not yet made a pledge for 2007. Perhaps you made a pledge for 2006 and just haven't gotten around to 2007 yet. Perhaps you haven't made a pledge before and have been wrestling with what to do. In any event, we are counting on you! Help us finish well a campaign that is off to a generous start. We want our next faithful step to be a bold one.

Click here for more information about Financial Stewardship, Year-End Giving, and pledging online for 2007.

Gift Acknowledgements

• Callie Leaver and Cheryl Grisham gave a gift to the infant nursery.
• Robert Norris gave a gift in honor of Jimmy Moor.
• Vanessa Meeks and Dave Jenkin gave gifts in memory of Glenn Clark.
• Pat and Robert Meaher gave a gift to the Breakfast and Supper Club in honor of Stanley Ellis.
• Tom Adams and Bob Thomas gave a gift in honor of Mary Woelper and gifts to the Art Bailey Memorial Piano Fund; to the Children’s Ministry in honor of Bill and Mary Murray; to the Music Ministry in honor of Warren Williams and Ken Baggs; and to the Choir Robe fund in honor of Bill & Mary Murray and Sally Foster & Glenda Joiner.

Congregational Care

Coming up at Saint Mark

Click here to view the December 2006 Schedule of Events.

Links to www.stmarkumc.org

CONTACT US!

Please submit all announcements for the Remarks to Christia Holloway, Remarks Editor, no later than the Friday prior to the week that the information should appear.

Saint Mark United Methodist Church

781 Peachtree Street NE
Atlanta GA 30308-1205
Phone: 404.873.2636
After hours emergency: 888.334.9490
Prayer line: 404.873.2636 x31 or prayer@stmarkumc.org
Fax: 404.873.2639
E-mail: office@stmarkumc.org
Web: www.stmarkumc.org

STAFF DIRECTORY

The Rev. Jimmy Moor, Senior Pastor
   jmoor@stmarkumc.org, telephone extension 11

The Rev. Phillip Thomason, Associate Minister of Outreach & Pastoral Care
   pthomason@stmarkumc.org, extension 12

The Rev. Kimberly Broerman, Associate Minister of Christian Education & Nurture
   kbroerman@stmarkumc.org, extension 13

Natalie Dellinger, Director of Children's Ministries
   ndellinger@stmarkumc.org, extension 24

Adam Ployd, Director of Youth Ministries
   aployd@stmarkumc.org, extension 17

Boyd Darsey, Staff Assistant
   bdarsey@stmarkumc.org, extension 10

Deana Hilton, Business Administrator
   dhilton@stmarkumc.org, extension 14

Christia Holloway, Assistant to Rev. Moor
   cholloway@stmarkumc.org, extension 16

Amy Holloway, Music Assistant

Kathi Urban, Music Assistant
   kurban289@comcast.net, extension 22