Saint Mark’s United Methodist Church The Beacon No. 54 Shining Christ’s light in the community July 22, 2011 The Sanctuary was torn up, carpet and padding removed, pews unscrewed from the floor, glue applied for the black tile that was installed under the pews. It was a mess but was ready for Sunday. New carpet is installed in Saint Mark's Sanctuary After 20 years, the original carpet in the Sanctuary needed to be replaced. The Trustees headed by Chad Thompson have discussed the project for more than a year and included it in this year's budget. Work began this month and this was how it looked on Thursday, July 14. By Sunday, all pews were back in place and the choir area was ready. A neutral speckled gray and black color was chosen. When pew pads need to be replaced, color change choices will be easier. Black tile replaces the carpet under the pews and was chosen not only for its longevity but also because it will eliminate the need to move the pews the next time carpet is replaced. The contractor is Gary Simons of Gary's Carpets. He is the brother of Larry Simons, a member of Saint Mark's. The present padding and carpeting were buckling and creating a tripping hazard. This new carpet is glued directly to the floor. This week, the crew returned to finish laying tile and carpet and was finished by Sunday, July 24. Unpadded carpeting gives a crisp look to the altar stairs. Pews were removed and black tiles were glued to the floor. Tiles will last longer than carpet and therefore be more economical. Padding was rolled up that over the years caused the carpet to buckle and create tripping hazards. The new carpet has been glued directly to the floor. Tiles that have been placed under the pews will outlast carpet and prevent the need for unscrewing and removing pews again. This is a big Trustee project that required much thought and planning.
Transcript
Saint Mark’s United Methodist Church
The Beacon No. 54 Shining Christ’s light in the community July 22, 2011
The Sanctuary was torn up, carpet and padding removed, pews unscrewed from the floor,
glue applied for the black tile that was installed under the pews. It was a mess but was
ready for Sunday.
New carpet is installed
in Saint Mark's
Sanctuary
After 20 years, the original carpet in
the Sanctuary needed to be replaced.
The Trustees headed by Chad Thompson
have discussed the project for more than
a year and included it in this year's
budget. Work began this month and this
was how it looked on Thursday, July 14.
By Sunday, all pews were back in place
and the choir area was ready.
A neutral speckled gray and black
color was chosen. When pew pads need
to be replaced, color change choices will
be easier. Black tile replaces the carpet
under the pews and was chosen not only
for its longevity but also because it will
eliminate the need to move the pews the
next time carpet is replaced. The
contractor is Gary Simons of Gary's
Carpets. He is the brother of Larry
Simons, a member of Saint Mark's.
The present padding and carpeting
were buckling and creating a tripping
hazard. This new carpet is glued directly
to the floor. This week, the crew
returned to finish laying tile and carpet
and was finished by Sunday, July 24.
Unpadded carpeting gives a crisp look
to the altar stairs.
Pews were removed and black tiles were
glued to the floor. Tiles will last longer
than carpet and therefore be more
economical.
Padding was rolled up that over the years caused the carpet to buckle and create tripping
hazards. The new carpet has been glued directly to the floor. Tiles that have been placed
under the pews will outlast carpet and prevent the need for unscrewing and removing
pews again. This is a big Trustee project that required much thought and planning.
1. Fast one meal per week
2. Pray for those who are hungry
3. Give the equivalent of one meal per week
As four million Wesleyan people do these three things as a lifetime sustained commitment,
rather than a short seasonal practice, then four million people can be fed every day! The
target level of sustained giving is equivalent to 25 cents per day per person, or the cost of a
single fasted meal weekly ($1.75). Families are asked to do this together, and thereby
support a meal for an equal sized hungry family. A family of four could pledge $1.00 per
day as a response to Christ's command.
A resolution will be offered to the World Methodist Council,
and presented on August 4 at the World Methodist Conference
(WMC) in Durban South Africa. Larry Malone, president of the
World Methodist Council men's affiliate, and Ray Buchanan,
president of Stop Hunger Now, will challenge the world
Methodist/Wesleyan faith family to package 100,000 meals
during the meeting in Durban and to personally embrace the three
hunger-overcoming commitments to fast, pray and give.
$50,000 is needed for the packaging event in Durban.
$10,000 has been raised in the Mississippi Conference for this
purpose. Gifts continue to be needed for this purpose. Thank you
for your generosity.
Mike and I will be at the WMC, along with Turner
Arant, Vickie White, Jimmy Barnes and possibly others
from Mississippi. Let us all pray about the next steps for
Mississippi in this unfolding vision for a world in which all
are fed, as on a hillside long ago in Galilee.
With gratitude for our ministry together.--
Hope Morgan Ward
Bishop Hope Morgan Ward
We can help change the world by
using our change. I urge everyone
to be more intentional in contributing to this ministry. The
Coins for Christ container is
located in the narthex of the Sanctuary.
Thanks, Rob
A Worldwide Wesleyan Movement to End Hunger You give them something to eat.-- Mark 6
Men are leading the way toward the launch of a worldwide Wesleyan movement to end
malnutrition and hunger. The vision is simple and compelling: that Wesleyan people, at
least four million worldwide, be known for their perseverance in ending hunger
as they do three things:
Rankin
Countians
attend
Community
Picnic July 17
Three Saint Mark's members sing in a group called Luckenbach and
perform locally, most recently at the Community Picnic at Pelahatchie
Shore Park on Sunday, July 17. Raymond Hall, Trey Jones and Bill
Dillon sang their traditional Willie Nelson songs to a crowd including
many Saint Mark's members.
WLBT News Anchor Howard Ballou was part of
the Community Picnic program. Along with the
entertainment, candidates in the August 2 primary
were introduced and food was served.
Everyone is encouraged to vote in the election on
Tuesday, August 2.
Saint Mark's will once again be a precinct.
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One more thank you to the
many Vacation Bible
School volunteers who
made PandaMania such a
success and meaningful
experience for the nearly
200 children who attended
the night sessions from
June 19-23.
Directors were Amy Bell
and Amanda Fontaine.
Mission project money
raised benefitted
the Little Light House
children in Brandon.
Cynthia Morgan, Sydney Bell, Addie Bell, Matt Carroll,
Abigail Carroll, Carly Morgan and Amy Bell stand in
front of the Little Light House sign.
Children sang songs and interacted with children at the Little Light
House this month. Little Lighthouse Special Needs, located in
Brandon, is a preschool that serves children ages 0-6. It has a
capacity of 32 children. Photos by Amie Taylor
Maureen Harbison, Director of the
Little Lighthouse with
Amy Bell, Director of VBS.
Amy Bell and Saint Mark's children presented two iPads to
the Little Lighthouse children from money raised through
the Saint Mark's VBS mission project.
Cotton Patch Gospel rehearsals are in progress.
On Sunday afternoons and other times during the week, one can hear the sounds of Southern style gospel
music complete with banjo, guitar, bass, mandolin and fiddle. As the music fills the air, actors are learning the
lines and blocking scenes in preparation for "Cotton Patch Gospel."
Anyone is welcome to join us as there are parts for extras and people to sing in the choir. This is not book
singing, but just fun singing.
"Cotton Patch Gospel" will be presented Wednesday and Thursday, August 24 and 25, at 6:00 p.m.
For more information, contact Sandra at 601-992-2131
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EXPERIENCES OF HONDURAS MISSION TRIP - JUNE 16-25, 2011 by Julie Blake
I don’t know why I am surprised when God shows His amazing grace. Every year God provides the team He wants to
share his love and service with the people of Honduras. This year was no exception.
The devil tried his best to stop the Saint Mark’s mission team from going to Honduras but God showed us that His
strength is mighty. A team of 38 people, 33 from the USA representing 11 different churches from Mississippi, Louisiana,
Alabama, Georgia, and Florida plus 5 from Honduras had a spirit filled week of hard work. We were in the new village of Las
Lomitas where they do not have electricity or running water. Also, we went back to El Campanario for one day. It was good to see
and visit with the friends we have made over the past five years in El Campanario.
Our team built three homes in Las Lomitas, provided VBS for six days to more than 200 children in Las Lomitas and El
Campanario, had women’s Bible study while doing sewing and crafts, did in-home health visits and assessments, administered
fluoride treatments and gave vitamins to the children in both villages and assisted the dentist in the Sal y Luz medical and dental
clinic.
This year for the first time we did door-to-door home evangelism. In the very first home the question was asked, “do you
have Jesus in your heart” and we were told no. The lady was asked if she would like to know how she could have Jesus in her heart
and she said “yes.” Before our team left her home, she accepted Jesus Christ and was filled with the Holy Spirit and all were
praising God.
Each morning at 6:45 our team started the day with devotionals and closed each evening with devotionals or church
services. We were constantly reminded that Christ’s love goes before us providing for our every need. The people of Honduras
may be poor financially, but they are rich in spirit. We prayed, laughed, cried, sang, ate, worked and worshiped God together.
To God be the glory for all that He has done.
Members of the Honduras Mission Team who went to
Las Lomitas from June 16-25, 2011
Saint Mark's members were
Bobby and Julie Blake, and
their family, Chris, Emilia,
and Skyler Blake,
Melissa Boland,
Denise, Lawson, and
Jackson Parker,
Shirley McKenzie,
Libby and Louise Dove.
From other churches were
Anita McKenzie,
Phil Hinton,
Ken and Hallye Stringer,
Hugh Stubbs,
Patsy McCarty,
Mickey and Cathey
Plunkett,
Rob and Carol Moss,
Anne Marie Moreton,
Dennis Meek,
Kelly Livingston,
Guy Jackson,
Suzanne and Melanie Hull,
Susan Duke,
Don Dunagan,
Madison Clausel,
E.A. Walt, Guy Jackson,
David, Fred, Mary and
Rachel Flores. Not
pictured, Melvin Flores.
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Stop Along the Way By Bobby Blake
As Christians living in the USA we often see poverty in light of our own experience, which is basically economic poverty.
In reality poverty exists in many forms some of which are: poverty of spirit, poverty of relationships, poverty of power, poverty of
love, poverty of health. While economic poverty can be harmful to an individual often we find one of the other poverties to be far
more devastating.
When we look closely at Jesus’ miracles we see that he was most often addressing a type of poverty that was anything but
economic. We find that Jesus would stop and address someone’s poverty even though he was on his way to some other important
destination. He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, enabled the lame to walk, saved the prostitute from being stoned. The Bible
tells us the reason Jesus performed His miracles was to Glorify God.
As Christians when we are born again we became new creatures. Another way of putting it is before we accepted Christ
into our lives we were orphans, but when we accept Him as our savior we are adopted into the family of God.
What does all this mean to us right now, today? As new creatures born again, orphans adopted into the family of God we
carry on as Jesus did in His day. In our hurried lives going from point A to point B, we are to stop along the way and minister to the
poverty we encounter. As Christians we minister to those who are poor in spirit, those who have suffered loss or rejection, those who
are poor in health just as Jesus did every day. Often big mission trips address economic poverty. When every Christian stops along
their way every day to address ANY kind of poverty the world changes. “Thy Kingdom Come.” Matthew 6:10.
The many faces of the Honduras
Experience. Much needed to be
done and much was done.
Photos by Melissa Boland,
Denise Parker, and others.
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The sweet potato baggers: Front: Brenna Little, Carter Chapman, Jeanne
Chapman, Conner Chapman. Left side: Don and Barbara Jackson, Currie
Gill, Leslie McGinnis, Kayla Stover, Robbie Harris, Melissa Bolland, Taylor
Bolland, Cason Gill. Right side: Rob Gill, Beth Little, Graham Gill, Greg
Murphey, Stacey Wilcox, Jordan Wilcox, Ron Tisdale. The whole Gill
family helped.
Sweet potato bagging was fun on the July 9 Second Saturday at Saint Mark's
These are pictures from the Second
Saturday, July 9, Sweet Potato drop.
According to Leslie McGinnis, "We
bagged enough sweet potatoes to fill a
pickup truck load. The potatoes were
delivered to Salvation Army." This is
the monthly Second Saturday project
in which Saint Mark's members are
involved in helping others in many
local areas, and in many ways.
Next Second Saturday, August 13,
Saint Mark's will return to the
Wingard House which helps the
homeless in the Jackson area. Meet in
the parking lot at 8:00 a.m., return at
noon.
Rev. Rob Gill cleaned up
after the sweet potato work
was finished.
Sweet potatoes were sorted and bagged by
20 members of Saint Mark's on July 9, the
Second Saturday in July.
Thanks to all who helped.
Leslie McGinnis was the contact person and
the photographer. The group bagged the sweet potatoes,
and then the bags were taken to the
Salvation Army.
Y O U T H N E W S Sunday Night Youth Group - Students will meet from 6:00-8:30 p.m. for dinner, Bible study and fellowship. Bible studies
are based on scenes from the movie "Soul Surfer." Fellowship is after the Bible study. For the last two Sundays:
July 24 - Lesson: "Purpose." Fellowship: Mega Relay (wear tennis shoes).
July 31 - Bowling: High School - 6:00-9:00 p.m. Cost: $10.00. Dinner at 6:00 in the Youth Building. Leave for bowling at
6:30, return to Saint Mark's at 9:00 for pick up. Cost includes bowling and shoe rental.
July 27-31 - Middle School students will go to Student Life Camp at Covenant College at Lookout Mountain, GA.
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A skit named the "McJesus Drama" was presented Sunday, July 10 by
Raymond Hall, Vavra Curran, Kyle Morgan, Jesse Hinton and Cole Dillon.
The question was, "Which Jesus do you want today?"
Welcome New Members
Adam, Lindsey and baby
Haden Briscol
Barbara and Al Rapier
(All joined July 10, 2011)
New Member photos by Barbara Jackson
Rev. Rob Gill's sermon,
"Seeing the Blessings,"
tied in with the altar table
showing our blessings.
He said Jesus sees things
differently. Those who
have ears, listen. Count
your many blessings.
Right: Greg Bell sang
"All Good Gifts."
Upcoming Trendsetter Events
Wednesday, September 14 - Luncheon and art show in the CLC.
Wednesday, October 12 - Senior Day at the Fair.
Wednesday, November 2 - Luncheon in the CLC.
December 5-9 - Christmas trip to Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Asheville:
Features the Biltmore, Dollywood, Festival of Trees, Christus Gardens.
Trendsetter members and guests attended the
Mississippi Braves/Tennessee Smokies baseball
game Friday, July 15, at Trustmark Park in Pearl.
They watched the game from the
stands and also enjoyed the
comfort of the air conditioned
suite.
Threat of rain caused a
delay so the game didn't
start until 8:05 p.m. The
Braves won 5-4 but not
until nearly midnight. The
group left at 10:00 p.m.,
however, but enjoyed the
food, fun, and fellowship
in the
Rankin First Suite 16
which they are able to
go to every year.
A New Member session will be
held July 31.
Classes for
new members will begin
in August and will
be held in the Sanctuary
during the
Sunday School hour.
They will also receive a book
that includes information
about Saint Mark's and
all its activities.
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