The Remarks
For the week of January 19, 2010

Saint Mark United Methodist Church
Atlanta, Georgia
www.stmarkumc.org

Loving • Accepting • Serving

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Saint Mark
United Methodist Church
781 Peachtree Street NE
Atlanta GA 30308-1205
Phone: 404.873.2636
Fax: 404.873.2639
E-mail: office@stmarkumc.org
Saint Mark Care Line
(for after-hours emergencies):
770.438.3741
Prayer line: 404.873.2636 x31
or prayer@stmarkumc.org
Web: www.stmarkumc.org
Complete Staff Directory

Holiday eRemarks

Due to the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial holiday, this is an abbreviated edition of the eRemarks.

From the Pastor

United Methodist Communications is working to provide timely and relevant information about how The United Methodist Church is responding to the tragic earthquake in Haiti and how United Methodists can support these efforts. United Methodists have had a long-standing relationship with Haiti through the Methodist Church of Haiti.

The United Methodist News Service has already posted stories on the tragedy and will have ongoing coverage about United Methodist mission teams that are in Haiti, response efforts by the United Methodist Committee on Relief, and what local churches are doing to provide aid. Stay tuned to http://www.umc.org/haiti for more information.

Support for relief efforts can be made to Haiti Emergency, UMCOR Advance # 418325. 100% of gifts to UMCOR through the Advance support the designated project.

On January 15, 2010, Senior Minister Rev. Jimmy Moor sent this message to the Saint Mark family:

Dear Saint Markers,

Most of us have been stunned by the devastation in Haiti resulting from the recent earthquake. The scale of the tragedy is almost beyond belief. And many of us want to help. Here are some suggestions for what we can do.

1. Pray for the people of Haiti and all who are working on the relief effort.

2. Give money. We will receive gifts this Sunday that will go to the United Methodist Committee on Relief. This is our denominational relief agency that does some of the best relief work in the world. 100% of money given to them goes directly to the relief effort. (Administrative costs are covered through regular apportionments.) You might want to go to their website for more information.

3. Make health kits to send to Haiti. We will have information on how to complete kits at church on Sunday. If you want to get started before Sunday go to their webpage about health kits for information. If you make a kit, it is critical that that you include ONLY the items called for. Otherwise it slows the process down and/or your kit will not be sent. Current kits do NOT include toothpaste.

Later I would love to see us send a team to Haiti, but that is not appropriate at this time. However, our own Richard Kauffman has gone down as part of the relief effort. Be in prayer for all involved. Thank you for your generosity.

Blessings, Jimmy

More information ...

Stewardship, Cake Tins, and the February 14 Offering

A message from Jackie Jenkins, Children's Minister:

What are the kids supposed to do with those cake tins?

The quick take:

• Kids received cake tins on January 10 as part of ongoing stewardship education.
• Talk with your child about this (yeah, you’ll have to read all the details that follow!) and keep reminding him/her to fill the tin.
• Make sure your child brings the tin back to church on February 14 to present during the Children’s Time in worship.
• If your child was not present on January 10, please contact me to get a tin.

And now, for the DETAILS:

This past Sunday, I gave the children each a loaf-sized, disposable cake tin – complete with ribbon, bow, and a plastic lid with a slot cut out. As a final accessory, each cake tin sported a Three Kings ornament and a piece of paper, on which was written one gift we can give to Jesus. Some of the suggested gifts were “I will be generous;” “I will be patient;” I will be kind;” “I will tell others about Jesus.”

The Magi joined us for the worship service, in their richly-colored, regal clothes, carrying the precious gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The cake-tin distribution was an attempt to connect the children with the meaning of “GIFTS given to God.”

We do not do a good job, I believe, in teaching our children about STEWARDSHIP. In fact, for many of us adults, we think of stewardship simply as a few Sundays in the fall when the budget for the upcoming year is set, and we are badgered to turn in a pledge card with a monetary estimate of giving. We put a different spin on it each year, with themes, or catch-phrases, or a sermon series. But really, most of us continue to view stewardship as a particular, compressed “season” in the church when we try to raise money.

Conceptual teaching and learning, both, are ongoing processes. We do not learn concepts such as “Charity,” “Commitment,” or “Stewardship” in one sitting. And, I would venture to say that we never learn any concept fully; throughout our lives, we learn, and expand our understandings of, and we see fresh applications for these abstract concepts.

So what does this have to do with those cake tins? The cake tins are part of an ongoing learning environment in which we are teaching our children about stewardship. Last summer, we had a series of lessons about Creation and incorporated some “caring for God’s earth” aspects. As part of the theme for the 2010 Vacation Bible School, “going green” will be a major emphasis. This summer’s Sunday School lessons are going to be based on caring for God’s earth as we spend the entire summer learning about the Parable of the Sower.

We are accustomed to having our children collect money for specific mission projects (the Honduras mission team’s activities, John Hope Elementary School for supplies, the Nothing But Nets ministry, etc.). I think it is time to teach our children that, in addition to OUTREACH ministries, every person has a responsibility for CARING FOR his or her CHURCH HOME. Just as we care for our family units as well as caring for neighbors, we also are responsible for being good stewards INSIDE the church, as well as outside.

So, I gave the children those cake tins and asked them to fill them with two very different items: MONEY; COMMITMENTS. The money they will understand. The commitments are things they can write, similar to the slips of paper on the outside of the cake tin, that they can give to honor Jesus (being kind, etc.); or, notes from, parents put in the tin to affirm a good and kind action the child has taken.

On Sunday, February 14, Valentine’s Day, the children are asked to return the tins, filled with their monetary gifts and their commitment gifts. The money will be used in the same way that your Sunday offerings and pledges are used: to help us keep the building warm, to purchase Sunday School supplies, to keep all our ministries and programs (including outreach) financially healthy.

Here’s what I’m asking of YOU:

• Explain to the children that “STEWARDSHIP” means “taking care of” and it includes ALL the ways in which we take care of people and resources.
• Help your child understand the non-glamorous, but oh-so-essential, needs that require money (electricity and toilet paper!)
• Discuss with your child, and carefully consider, how he or she – and your entire family – can respond to this effort to learn more about the concept of stewardship.
• Make sure YOUR CHILD brings the cake tin back on February 14, filled with evidence of being good stewards!

A Decade of Drama at Saint Mark UMC

The Drama Ministry has been alive and well for ten years here at Saint Mark, bringing quality theater to the community.  From flying monkeys to tap dancing sailors; from Biblical two-stepping to singing nuns; shining a light on Nazi oppression and racial bigotry.

During this time, we have built inventories of costumes, props, set pieces and lighting equipment, in an effort to be good stewards of our resources.  Recently, our storage room flooded, and we were forced to move what we could salvage to the gym. 

We are asking for help sorting, organizing and restoring our wares.  If you are handy with a hammer or screwdriver, can sort costumes and fabric, or just follow some basic direction we need you!  We estimate it will take about twenty people, in four teams to accomplish this task.  Please join us on Saturday, January 30th.  We’ll be working from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm, and would welcome any time you can give us.  Lunch will be served, so a quick RSVP to assist us in having enough lunch for all would be great.  (drama@stmarkumc.org)

We couldn’t have made it ten years without your constant support, and we’re looking forward to the next decade with much anticipation.  Thank you all.

Diane Haase Clausen for the Drama Ministry Board

Remarks Reports

Morning Worship: Sunday, January 24

• Rev. Jimmy Moor preaching

Financial Report

Click here to make a contribution securely online.
Click here to make your 2010 Operating Budget Estimate of Giving online.
Click here to make your make your Capital Campaign Pledge online.

Congregational Care

Coming up at Saint Mark

Click here to view the January 2010 calendar.