The Remarks is a weekly publication of Saint Mark United Methodist Church, Atlanta, Georgia.
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Administrative Council Meeting

Our first Administrative Council meeting for 2008 will be held this Monday, January 28 in room 111 (note new location) at 6:45 pm, following dinner in Wade Hall at 6 pm. To make a dinner reservation, contact Christia 404.873.2636 x16, cholloway@stmarkumc.org, by Friday, January 25.

If you are new to the position of chairperson, did you know Saint Mark has created a handbook especially for you? It contains all the information you need to know about how to schedule and publicize your group’s events, make arrangements for Ministry Moments during Morning Worship services, manage your committee’s budget and reimbursement for expenses, etc., etc. Click here to view the Leader's Guide online.

Club M.A.R.K. Gala!

Mark your calendars! Saint Mark’s 6th annual dance, the 2008 Club M.A.R.K. Gala, will be held on Saturday, February 9 at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church (formerly the Abbey restaurant) located at 163 Ponce de Leon Avenue (the corner of Ponce and Piedmont) at 7:30 pm.

The cost is $20 for dinner, dancing and soft drinks or $30 for dinner, dancing and adult beverages. The dinner will be catered by Keith Hand, Saint Mark’s new church chef. Evelyn Mims and Tom Sullivan will serve as our Masters of Ceremony for the evening. Tickets are on sale now. Click here to purchase your tickets online. Tickets can also be purchased on Sunday mornings in the narthex or at the Wednesday night dinners in Wade Hall.

Click here for more information about the Gala .
Join us for an evening of fun, fellowship, dining, and dancing with your church family!

On My Heart

by Pastor Jimmy Moor

For me this is a special season in our life together here at Saint Mark. Yesterday marked the beginning of my sixth year at this great church. It was January 12, 2003, when I first went into the pulpit – with a good bit of fear and trembling! - began my journey with you. It has been quite a five years. I have learned a lot. I have made mistakes. And I hope I have contributed to our life together. I was reminded during communion a week ago just how much I love you, and how grateful I am to be among you. Today I turned in my form to our District Superintendent asking to come back for another year. I’m looking forward to what is to come.

Yesterday (January 13) was a good day at Saint Mark, the kind of day that makes me eager to see what God has in store for us in the days to come. We had a baptism. I was moved by the baptismal renewal service. Four people joined after the second service. My friend Kathleen Weber worshipped with us. There was energy in the air. This Sunday I want to think with you about what we have before us in 2008. We have now closed on the three properties behind us that front Juniper Street. What does this mean for us? What kinds of ministry opportunities do we have in our rapidly changing neighborhood? Where does our focus need to be in this new year? I hope you will join us as we explore the future God has for us.

Keep your eyes open for two special opportunities coming in the next few days. Watch for a chance to sign up for the ministry area of your choice, a chance to offer your time and talent to ministry through Saint Mark. And watch for a town hall meeting to discuss ways we can be more proactive in advocating full inclusion of the GLBT community in the United Methodist Church. We need your ideas.

It is an exciting time to be a part of Saint Mark!

Blessings, Jimmy

Do Justice

by Pastor Jimmy Moor

The date of April 4 seems to show up time and again for important events in my life. It was the birthday of a college girlfriend (pre Julie!). It was the date of my mother’s death, Easter Sunday of 1999. And it is the date of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination.

I remember that day in 1968 well. I was a sophomore at Emory. That night some of us were working on a friend’s campaign for Student Government President, and I had to go down to the Village to get some supplies. A clerk at the long-gone Horton’s gave me the news that King had been shot. Later at the dorm it was the only thing on TV. Like so many others, King had stretched my thinking and inspired me, and this news was devastating. His was the most eloquent and powerful voice for the beloved community I have ever heard. I believe the only time I ever flat out defied my daddy was when he called me and asked me to come home, fearing that Atlanta would go up in flames. I said I couldn’t. I didn’t know what to do, but I knew I needed to be in town. I wound up volunteering to drive to the airport for SCLC, staying up all night to bring people coming in to the funeral. I remember the long line on Auburn Avenue of people waiting patiently to see the body. These images are etched in my mind.

King’s dream has been used and abused since then, but it still has power. King was first and foremost a preacher, and his dream retains power in part because it is rooted in the biblical vision of the reign of God, a vision powerfully expressed in prophets like Amos and Micah, and a vision incarnated in the life and work of Jesus. King’s dream also retains power because injustice remains so present in our lives and in the world. While we have come a long way, racism remains real in our country. Certainly the GLBT community does not yet know justice. And we can all name other groups who do not have justice in our community.

The tendency for every holiday is to become just a time to be off, to rest, and to get away from routine. I understand that. But I invite us this week to renew our commitment as a community of faith to work for justice in our world. It is the best way to honor this good man whose life inspired so many.

Jimmy

Remarks Announcements

PRETZEL SUNDAY

On Sunday, February 3, the last Sunday before Lent, our children will observe the (unofficial) liturgy of “Pretzel Sunday.” Pretzels are still an item of Lenten food in many parts of Europe and are sometimes distributed to the poor. We are looking for 20 volunteers who are willing to bake 2 dozen homemade pretzels each and bring them to church on Sunday, February 3 (we will provide you with the recipe). That Sunday the children will share the pretzels with the entire congregation as they learn more about the connection between pretzels and Lent. We will learn more about Lent throughout the season in Sunday School, Morning Worship, and Children’s Church. If you would like to help with this project, please contact Jackie Jenkins, 404.873.2636 x24, jjenkins@stmarkumc.org.

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY MISSION REQUEST

We are starting the year off with a fast-track mission project. We have only 2 weeks to start and complete our goal to collect 100 children's books in Spanish to send to our friends in Honduras. The shipping container that will hold our supplies for this summer's trip to Honduras will leave at the end of January, and we want our books to be included!

We need ANY books for children of all ages that are published in Spanish. Babies will enjoy picture books; toddlers and preschoolers like to have their parents read to them from simple storybooks. They all enjoy Dr. Seuss books (can YOU say "Green Eggs and Ham" in Spanish? Huevos Verdes Con Jamon). Younger elementary children love to laugh at the escapades of Frog and Toad, Madeline, Olivia, The Berenstain Bears and other characters. Older elementary children and preteens are ready for chapter books to read independently. Books that enhance math and reading skills also are useful.

So go to a bookstore RIGHT AWAY and select a wonderful book for a wonderful child in Honduras. You might even want to write your name and address inside the book. Let's see if we can ship 100 books at the end of January!

Books are needed for children of all ages. You can drop your donated books off on the children’s wing of the Education building. For more details, contact Jackie Jenkins, 404.873.2636 x24, jjenkins@stmarkumc.org.

MISSIONS OPPORTUNITY

Joseph Juma, a bishop in violence-torn Kenya, became dear to many of us while he lived and worked at Saint Mark when he was a seminary student in Atlanta. He has stayed in touch and visited Saint Mark over these last several years. If you know him, you know that he is doing such important work in Kenya.

As you may have recently heard in the news, that area of the country is now in great turmoil, and Joseph is desperately trying to assist people who have been chased out of their homes. Churches and homes have been burned, and it is a terrible situation. Joseph needs funds to help care for all the refugees now in his care.

We are organizing an effort to send monetary relief to assist Joseph in aiding these refugees. If you are able to contribute to this emergency relief effort, please send your contributions to Saint Mark with a notation that it is for Joseph Juma’s Kenya ministry.

MAC WINTER CLOTHING DRIVE

“Thank you” to everyone who helped with the men's clothing drive. It was a huge success! In general, thanks to all your support of the Midtown Assistance Center in 2007.

The Midtown Assistance Center (MAC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing homelessness and hunger among families living in Midtown and Downtown Atlanta. Did you know last year, MAC assisted 589 families with rent or mortgage to avoid eviction, assisted 453 families with utility payments to avoid disconnection, provided 1,447 families with groceries. For those seeking employment, MAC gave 1,904 individuals transportation passes to get to interviews and employment, provided vouchers so 386 individuals could obtain a Georgia ID, supplied 134 persons with shoes, pants or tools, and 597 men received clothes from the clothing closet.

CALLING ALL PIPES!

Saint Mark is missing some organ pipes from the attic (the former location of the historic 1912 Austin antiphonal organ division). Some of this pipe work had been damaged and some might have been thrown out - or given out. Saint Mark is shy of just more than a dozen of these pipes to have a complete set! If you can provide any information about their locations, or if you were given one as a keepsake, please contact John Richardson, jrichardson@stmarkumc.org, 404.873.2636 x22, and help us restore some history of our pipe organs!

PARENTING CLASS NEWS

This Christian Education class meets at 10:10 Sunday mornings in room 211. This year, you are invited to join other parents for thoughtful discussions of topics such as: Scream Free Parenting, “Don’t Make Me Count to Three”, Wise Words for Parents, Everyday Talk and Shepherding a Child’s Heart. Weekly guided discussions are offered as well as a “Coffee and Chat” on the last Sunday of each month to cover current topics, questions or concerns for the group. For more information, contact Ashley Johnson, ashhome@bellsouth.net.

2008 OPERATING BUDGET UPDATE

The Finance Committee is completing its work on the 2008 operating budget. Their recommendation will be discussed and voted on by the Administrative Council on January 28. We ended 2007 with a surplus of $35,000 in the operating budget. The committee would like to point out that we received $39,000 of interest income funds in the money market account last year from the sale of the old CVI property. These funds were drawn out of the account when the purchase of the 768 Juniper property closed in late December; therefore we will not enjoy this much interest income in 2008.

At this time, pledges toward the 2008 operating budget are $120,000 less than the amount pledged for 2007. We recognize that some folks have not had the opportunity to send their pledge, while others are awaiting year-end bonus and salary information prior to doing so. However, we ask that you prayerfully consider making your pledge as soon as possible so that we may continue to support the ministries and programs that make Saint Mark special to all of us.

You can make your pledge online, or by placing your pledge card in the offering plate during Morning Worship, or by contacting Deana Hilton in the church office, 404.873.2636 x14, dhilton@stmarkumc.org.

Click here to make a contribution securely online.
Click here to make your make your 2008 Operating Budget Pledge online.
Click here to make your make your Capital Campaign Pledge online.

Green Team Tip of the Week

To report a water restriction violation, call:

• City of Atlanta, 404.982.1414
• Fulton County, 770.640.3040
• Dekalb County, 770.270.6243
• Cobb County, 770.419.6278
• Gwinnett County, 678.376.7100

Click here for the Green Team's previous Tips of the Week.
Click here for more information about Saint Mark's Green Team.

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

Book Club

The Book Club meets on the first Thursday of each month at Jason’s Deli (located at the corner of Piedmont and 10th St) at 7 pm. The next Book Club will meet on Thursday, February 7. All are invited to participate!

• February: Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez; Steve Hargrove, facilitator
• March: Old School by Tobias Wolff

Click here for more information about the Club M.A.R.K. Book Club or contact Cheryl Thompson, cherylcrt@aol.com 404-918-9240.

Saint Mark Gala (6th Annual Dance), Saturday, February 9, 7:30 pm at St. Paul at the Abbey (the former location of the Abbey restaurant).

Club M.A.R.K. events are open to everyone - all are invited to participate!
Click here for more information about Club M.A.R.K.

Remarks Reports

Worship Attendance

• Sunday, January 13: 8:45 am - 185; 11:15 am - 335; Total - 520
• Sunday, January 20: For the safety of our congregation, due to the threat of snow and icy conditions, Morning Worship services for Sunday, January 20 were cancelled. Thank you for your understanding.

Wednesday Fellowship Dinner: Wade Hall, 6:15 pm

• January 23 - Ministry Opportunities at Saint Mark; Menu: "Italian Night" - Soup/Salad/Dessert Bar: Italian Wedding Soup, Salad Bar with Pesto-Rubbed Grilled Chicken, Bread and/or Rolls, Assorted Desserts; Hot Meal: Ricotta and Spinach Stuffed Shells, Chicken Parmesan, Roasted Italian Vegetables
• January 30 - Compline Service

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.

Welcome New Members

We are pleased to welcome Samuel Vaught, Marlan Brinkley, Jr., Rosemary Lee and Karin Lee to our church family!

Gift Acknowledgements

Terry Davis gave a gift to the Breakfast Club to defray the cost of one breakfast for all of the club members in honor of Matthew Malok’s birthday.

The Harriet W. & Edward P. Ellis Charitable Trust gave a gift in memory of Mr. Ellis.

In December, Estelle Runyan gave a gift to the children’s ministry in honor of her grandson Blake Runyan.

Robert Gilleo gave a gift to the Breakfast Club in honor of Michael Bosarge and Andy Thompson and a gift to Saint Mark’s Outreach ministry in honor of Justin Mercer.

Bob Thomas and Tom Adams gave a gift benefiting John Hope Elementary School in honor of Bill & Mary Murray and a gift to the Capital Campaign in honor of Warren Williams and Ken Baggs.

Financial Report

Year-to-Date Operating Budget through January 18, 2008:
Income: $ 43,268
Expenses: $ 58,145
Surplus/Deficit: $ 14,877

Click here to make a contribution securely online.
Click here to make your make your 2008 Operating Budget Pledge online.
Click here to make your make your Capital Campaign Pledge online.

Congregational Care

Coming up at Saint Mark

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

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

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

Rev. Mandy S. Flemming, Associate Minister of Christian Education & Spiritual Formation
  mflemming@stmarkumc.org, extension 13

Rev. Joshua M. Noblitt, Deacon in Residence
  jnoblitt@stmarkumc.org, 404.739.5162

Jane Burke, Minister of Fine Arts
  jburke@stmarkumc.org, extension 15

Jackie Jenkins, Children's Minister
  jjenkins@stmarkumc.org, extension 24

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

John Richardson, Associate Director of Fine Arts & Organist
  jrichardson@stmarkumc.org, extension 22

Amy Holloway, Fine Arts Assistant
  extension 22

Kathi Urban, Fine Arts Assistant
  kurban289@comcast.net, extension 22