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Diversity Celebration 2007
 Saint Mark United Methodist Church has a long and rich history of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the midtown Atlanta community and well beyond. In the 1950's Saint Mark was one of the first churches in the city to racially integrate, in the 1970's the church became known for it outreach to the disadvantaged, and in 1992 it became one of the first “mainline” churches in Atlanta to fully welcome the LGBT community (for more history see a February 2007 article from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution).
Atlanta Pride is June 22-24 in Piedmont Park. The Parade is Sunday, June 24. The theme for this year’s Atlanta Pride Festival is Our Rights, Your Rights, Human Rights. Click here for more information on the Pride parade and other related community events. 
Saint Mark Pride Guide
Thursday, June 21, 2007
- Annual Diversity Dinner (6:00 p.m., $10)
- Menu: Beef Tenderloin, Colossal Shrimp with Thai Chili sauce, Caprese Salad, Rosemary Roasted Potatoes, Honey Dill Carrots, Asparagus, Mini hocolate and Key Lime cheesecakes with Fruit
- Diversity Worship Service (7:00 p.m.)
- Presentation of
Diversity Award
- Special guest speaker Beth Stroud
This year’s service and dinner will be held on Thursday, June 21. Dinner is at 6:00 in Wade Hall. Click here to make your dinner reservation online, or call the church office at 404-873-2636 x50. Please note that "standing" reservations for Wednesday dinners are not applicable for this event, so you must make a reservation.
Dinner will be followed by our annual Diversity worship service with Beth Stroud as our guest preacher. Ms. Stroud served as an ordained United Methodist pastor for six years before losing her clergy credentials in a 2004 church trial. In the trial, Beth was found guilty of “practices declared by the United Methodist Church to be incompatible with Christian teaching” because she acknowledged living in a committed relationship with another woman. Click here to learn more about Beth.
During the worship service we will also acknowledge an individual or group who has shown what it truly means to embrace caring and support for the GLBTQ community by honoring him or her with the Saint Mark Diversity Award. Past recipients have included Henry Thompson, Craig Pigg and Michael Prudent, Georgia State Representative Jill Chambers, Jeff and Patti Ellis, and Ronald Moore. |
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Friday - Sunday, June 22-24, 2007
Sunday, June 24, 2007
- Diversity Sunday Worship Services (8:45 and 11:15 a.m.)
- Join us in the Pride Parade which starts at 1:00 p.m.
- If you chose not to walk, help us provide refreshments to the marchers during our traditional Saint Mark water stop during the Pride Parade
We Need Your Help This Weekend!
 We need you to be a “face of Saint Mark” in our booth at the park this weekend. Come by for an hour or two (we really need folks late Saturday afternoon and Sunday after the parade). It's easy - just say "hey" to everyone who walks by. If they look interested, or want more information, that's your cue - tell them some of the wonderful programs we have to offer, how much YOU love Saint Mark, and invite them to a service. You never know whose life you may touch by inviting them to church. - Are you an early riser? We need help decorating the church - if you can, please come early on Sunday (8 a.m.) to help blow up balloons.
- Wear your Saint Mark Pride T-Shirt, shorts, and comfortable shoes to walk in the parade on Sunday! We'd love to show everyone how GREEN we are! If you still need to purchase this year's T-Shirt, they will be available ($15 each) at Thursday night's Diversity Service or Sunday morning after each service.
- Please bring a cooler (and a bag or two of ice) either Thursday night or Sunday morning so that we can chill and store the bottled water prior to the parade. (Make sure your name is written somewhere on the cooler if you bring it Thursday evening.)
- Not wanting to walk? That's okay, too, because we need you (and your beautiful smiling face) to help give out water.
- If you have ANY questions, please contact Cheryl Thompson, 404-918-9240, cherylcrt@aol.com.
Thank you for ALL your help! Happy Pride!
Sincerely, Saint Mark Diversity Committee 2007
Mike Beecham Receives 2007 Diversity Award
Mike Beecham was awarded the 2007 St. Mark Diversity Award for his work with CHRIS Kids Rainbow Program. Five years ago, Mike began Seasons of Love to help provide funding to support the program. His involvement not only met an immediate need in providing financial support to this worthy group, and the program has grown not only to continue that financial support, but also to make thousands of Georgians aware of, and sympathetic to, the existence of and needs of homeless GLBTQ youth.
History of the Saint Mark Water Stop
| Saint Mark was the first church on the Pride Parade route to offer water to participants in the parade. This simple gesture that began 15 years ago represents the vision that has enabled Saint Mark to continue to be a vibrant and growing church. Plan to join us in front of the church on Sunday to help continue this gesture of acceptance and God's love. Bring a cooler of ice, dress comfortably, enjoy the parade, and help us spread God's spirit as indicated in Mark 9:39-41 (The Message). Jesus wasn't pleased. “Don't stop him. No one can use My name to do something good and powerful, and in the next breath cut Me down. If he's not an enemy, he's an ally. Why, anyone by just giving you a cup of water in My name is on our side. Count on it that God will notice.” |
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