Adult Ministries
Below are some of the ways adults have been involved and active at Saint Mark.
Sunday School
Saint Mark has nine adults Sunday School classes to pick from, offering a wide variety of options for all ages from traditional Bible studies to topical conversations to build faith and form disciples.
Click here for more details about each class.
Studies, Seminars, Retreat and Special Events
Faith formation is always a priority at Saint Mark and takes many forms. In addition to Sunday School, other opportunities to learn and grow are available throughout the year. There are ongoing groups, short-term Bible and topical studies and seminars on a wide variety of topics. Retreats are special times away to refocus, refresh and renew. Special events include meals with guest speakers.
United Methodist Women
United Methodist Women is very active at Saint Mark. There are seven active circles to pick from. Click here to learn more.
Music
Music is highly valued at Saint Mark as an critical part of worship. If you have a gift for creating music, there are four choirs or ensembles that you may want to consider.
Chancel Choir - leads music weekly in our Traditional Service in the Sanctuary. During special liturgical seasons (Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter), the Chancel Choir, supplemented by additional singers and musicians, prepares special music and concerts, with special invitations to the larger community. Rehearsals are on Wednesdays at 7 pm in the choir room
Celebration Team - leads music weekly in our contemporary service - with vocalists, guitars, keyboards and percussion. Rehearsals are on Thursday evenings at 6:30 pm in the Saint Mark Center (gym).
Handbell Choir - Rehearses weekly in the Handbell Room (Music Suite) and performs occasionally for Traditional worship and for special celebrations
Gospel According to Saint Mark Singers - an ensemble that practices weekly in the choir room, and sings modern gospel music, primarily a capella and without music. The group performs on occasion during worship in both services, but also at venues outside the church, including for Clemson baseball and basketball games.
There are opportunities for soloists and smaller ensembles to rehearse and present the Word in music and song to weekly worship, special services and special events.
Fellowship Events and Activities
An important component of community is fellowship - just spending time having fun together. Once a month, there is a time of table fellowship around a catered meal. We call it The Gathering.
Elderberries is our ministry for active seniors - 50+. Each month there is a special activity - a sporting event, a concert, a meal out, a meal in, a game night and so much more.
Also once a month, a group of seniors meets for Lunch Bunch at a local restaurant.
Opportunities to Serve
There are plenty of opportunities to serve at Saint Mark - in very practical ways. Saint Mark disciples provide assistance with communion, serve as ushers and greeters, provide refreshments, maintain our buildings and grounds, teach Sunday School, lead studies and other small groups, prepare and serve meals, add to the aesthetics of our building, participate in a prayer group, offer care to homebound disciples . . . and so much more.
Our signature mission project is Marvin's Kids, a ministry that provides Christmas gifts for poor children in Oconee County. Parents are able to "shop" for their children, selecting toys that have been purchased by our Saint Mark disciples. However, this ministry reaches beyond the Christmas holiday season, providing other kinds of services as needed.
Each year, Saint Mark participates in the Rise Against Hunger program where an interfaith collection of people gathers to that package nutritious food that is shipped to feed starving children around the world.
There are other seasonal projects such as providing school supplies for local children before school begins. There are fundraisers for Epworth Children's Home on Mother's Day and in the fall. Our United Methodist Women sponsor fundraisers throughout the year to support missions.
Saint Mark sponsors mission trips, most notably to the Bahamian Island of Eleuthera, and wherever there may be natural disasters.
These are just a few of the ways that Saint Mark disciples get involved - to make a difference in the lives of the "neighbors" Jesus told us to love and serve.
Watch for ways to get involved in mission/service in our weekly digital newsletter, the Heart Beat.
