The Remarks
For the week of January 5, 2010
Saint Mark United Methodist Church
Atlanta, Georgia
www.stmarkumc.org
Loving • Accepting • Serving
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The Remarks
Saint Mark United Methodist Church Loving • Accepting • Serving |
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In This Issue
Quicklinks to stmarkumc.org
About The Remarks The Remarks is a weekly publication of Saint Mark United Methodist Church, Atlanta, Georgia. The email addresses used in this mailing were provided by the addressees for church use. To unsubscribe from our emails, follow the SafeUnsubscribe link at the bottom of this email. You can also update your email address for the eRemarks at the bottom of this email. To ensure that you continue to receive emails from us, add remarks@stmarkumc.org to your ISP address book & ISP safe list today. Click here to provide general updates to your church record. Please submit 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 |
Resume January 13 Dinner is served at 6:15pm followed by a different weekly program. To make your reservation, complete a form in the pew on Sunday morning, call the church office, or register online. To learn more about or to help with a particular program, email Rev. Mandy Flemming, 404.873.2636 x13. January programs include:
Financial Matters Happy new year! It is brutally cold as I start my eighth year among you, but we are starting a new year with God’s presence and grace, and that feels good! There are two items I want to share with you about our financial situation: First, something to celebrate. You are an amazing people! Because of your generosity, we had a wonderful December financially. (It was wonderful in other ways as well, but my focus here is on our finances.) We have met all of our obligations for the 2009 operating budget, and will end the year with approximately $30,000 in our reserve fund. (These figures are approximate because the books are not yet closed and there could be some minor adjustments one way or the other.) Last winter the Administrative Council approved spending all of the reserve fund if needed to meet our obligations, but your generosity meant we did not have to do that. Thanks also to our committees who worked very hard to hold costs down, to members who took on most of our building/yard upkeep, and to all who helped us save thousands of dollars on utilities and office expenses. It has been a difficult year, but we have reason to be grateful. Second, a reality check. We begin 2010 with some troubling financial figures. The biggest concern we face is that compared with this same point in our operating budget process last year, our estimates of giving are down by $145, 000 for 2010. What does this mean for us? Obviously, $30,000 in reserve is not enough to offset this number. The Administrative Council will meet on January 23 and plans to adopt a budget on that day. If our estimates of giving don’t improve substantially by then, it means that in one form or another our ministries will suffer. It means that we will be limited in our ability to impact the lives of people. Many of our ministries are already operating on a bare-bones budget. One example: our music ministry spent $7500 all of last year. That we have the caliber of music we do on such a small budget is miraculous and it is a credit to our musicians. Other ministries could tell similar stories. And keep in mind that utilities and staff salaries are part of ministry too. If we don’t have heat and lights we can’t host programs or have worship or do much of anything. This Sunday we will be looking at all of the ministries that make up our church program and that depend on our support to touch lives. I pray that you will be here to see the scope of what we do and how Saint Mark’s story makes a difference in people. It takes us working together to make our story flourish. What can we do? Most critically, if you are able to make an estimate of giving for 2010 – and we know some simply cannot – and have not yet done so, now is the time to do it. Every estimate, in any amount, will move us closer to being able to provide the ministries we believe we are called to provide. But now is the time. Some of you may be at a point where you can increase your original estimate for 2010. That will obviously help as well. You are a faithful, generous people, and you want the best for ministry at Saint Mark. Together, with God’s grace, we will make it happen. Blessings, Jimmy To make your 2010 estimate of giving, simply drop your card in the mail, bring it by the church office, or place it in the offering plate at any worship service. Estimate of giving cards are available through the church office or in the pew racks. You can also make an estimate of giving online now. Your prayerfully considered estimate allows us to be good stewards by planning appropriately for this year’s ministries. Thank you! |
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Saint Mark Book Club Returns! January’s book is The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery. We will meet this Thursday, January 7, 7pm, at Jason’s Deli (10th Street). Everyone is welcome to participate. More information ... Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University Saint Mark plans to offer Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University early this year. This 13 week course will enable participants to learn how to manage their money and become debt free. There is a fee for the course, and Saint Mark will provide partial scholarships for participants. Two no obligation, informational sessions will be offered in Wade Hall for those who want to learn more about the course: Wednesday, January 6, 7pm, and this Sunday, January 10, 5pm. The course schedule will be determined by the participants. All are welcome! For more information, contact Jimmy Moor, 404-873-2636 x11. Communion Servers Needed Looking for a way to get more involved at Saint Mark? Do you want to act on the "service" portion of your membership vows? Julie Arms is our new coordinator for Communion servers, and she is seeking servers for our Communion services during Morning Worship on the first Sunday of each month. Whether you have served in the past or if you have never served before, if you would like to participate in this meaningful part of our United Methodist life, please contact Julie Arms. Administrative Council News Our first meeting for 2010 has been scheduled for Saturday, January 23, 9 am to 1 pm, in Room 111. During this meeting, we will do some team building and discuss our plans for 2010. Regular meetings are scheduled on Monday evenings, March 22, May 24, July 26, September 27, and November 22, in Room 111 beginning at 6:45 pm; following dinner at 6 pm. Upcoming Food for the Hungry Soul Short-Term Classes!
More details about all of these classes will be announced soon. Mission Opportunities The Coat Drive Continues Our coat drive continues through January. Many of us get new coats this time of year—please remember to pass your old one along to keep someone else warm this winter. The coats will benefit Saint Mark's outreach ministry and Atlanta's Task Force for the Homeless. Contact Rev. Phillip Thomason for more details. Thank you for your support! Listen Now or Listen Later Did you miss the worship service last week? Did you hear a sermon recently that you found especially meaningful? Is there a service that you would like for a friend to experience? Saint Mark has always had CD recordings of the 11:45 morning worship service available for purchase. Now our recent services are available online at no cost to you. You can Listen Now which let's you listen to the service online. You can Listen Later which let's you download the service and listen anytime on any MP3 player. From Saint Mark's main web page, click on Recordings of Worship towards the bottom of the page. CD's can still be purchased if you would rather have your copy in that format. Worship Attendance:
Morning Worship: Sunday, January 10
Financial Report Click here to make a contribution securely online. Gift Acknowledgements Don Holcomb gave a gift in memory of Bob Silva. The following people gave gifts in memory of Henry Thompson: Frank Atkinson, Steve Sheppard, Lee & Sue Edwards, Warren Williams, Doug & Deena Sasser, John and Jeri Hannula; and Katie and Mike Rabalais. Nan Harper, Sally Foster & Glenda Joiner gave gifts in memory of Ernest Welch. Sally & Glenda also gave gifts in honor of Tom Adams and Bob Thomas; in honor of Warren Williams and Ken Baggs; and in memory of Elaine Greene. In Sympathy Saint Mark extends heartfelt sympathy to Jason Boutwell on the death of his mother Hilda Jo Williams Boutwell on January 3, in Atlanta, after a brief illness. Christian sympathy also to the family of Ernest Welch on his death on Saturday, December 26. Ernest was 103 years old and had been a member of Saint Mark since 1921. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 16, 11:30 am in the Saint Mark Chapel. A memorial service will be held for Jeffrey Brown this Saturday, January 9, at Saint Mark. Visitation will begin at 1pm in the Parlor and the service will begin at 2 pm in the Chapel with Rev. Phillip Thomason officiating.
Click here to view the January 2010 calendar.
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