The focus is on the Healing Ministry of Christ this weekend

Women who have been the spiritual heartbeat of St Mark's for many years renewed their friendships at Phyllis Diesel's 90th birthday party. Our thanks go to Janet Drysdale for the pictures. 

The Rev David Hutt will be conducting a "healing workshop" at St Marks on the weekend of the 31st July and 1st August. The format is as follows:

Saturday:
09h00  "Who is this God that heals?
10h30  Tea
11h00  The Gospel and Healing.
12h30  Lunch - Bring and share.
13h15  Acts of the Holy Spirit.
15h00  Time of Healing Ministry

Sunday
10h30 Time of Healing Ministry.

Please indicate you attendance via the church office.

NOTE: And good news is that Kay Patterson has walked for the first time after having a hip replacement operation. She says the pain is less severe today (Monday). Thoko Ndlovu, who celebrated her birthday on Sunday. Her son was scalded by boiling water on this special day. Joy Vardy has pneumonia and all are in need of our prayers.

The St Mark's Editorial Team.

Budget Implications for Inviting a Minister

Phyllis Desel .... she turned 90 in July and she is still a regular in the pews

The Vacancy Committee considered three applicants and made a recommendation that Solomon Surwuumwe be invited to be the next Minister of St Mark's.

The Session endorsed this recommendation and was very much aware that:

• Such a move had implications for the church budget.
• To meet the budget, whether or not an appointment is made, you as the congregation have a major role to play.

The Next Step:

The congregation has to express its mind on the proposed invitation at a duly constituted meeting.

To indicate that, all registered members in good standing, will be asked to sign a letter of invitation in which the invitee is informed about what to expect in the form of stipend, housing, transport and other congregational responsibilities.. set out in the church Manual.

The letter, together with the signatures, will be forwarded to Solomon for his prayerful consideration.

If he accepts the invitation, Presbytery will have to be satisfied that due process was followed, and that the total emoluments (stipend) is not below the minimum, set by the assembly.

A date for ordination and induction will be set by Presbytery. 

In the Meantime

We have to update our membership roll, again whether or not Solomon is invited, this is something that we have to do anyway.,

Make the congregation aware of the need for everyone to not only pray for the Witness of St Mark's in Yeoville, but to contribute financially. The absolute minimum to run the church is R35 000 a month. 

Remember God loves a cheerful giver.

St Mark's Planned Giving ... what you need to know

Solomon, Jotam and Roger ... about to get to work on St Mark's clean up day 

We believe that our Lord has planned great things for His congregation at St Mark's. In order to support this work we must all help to ensure that the congregation has the funds available to carry out the work.

To this end we ask you to prayerfully consider your giving towards the Lord's work in this place and commit yourself to an amount that you can contribute regularly.

"Each one should give as he has decided, not with regret, or out of a sense of duty; for God loves the one who gives gladly."

2 Corinthians 9:7.

Now it is possible to get close to the projected budget of R500 000 in 2011, if all members of the congregation put their hands to the plough. Assume we have 110 active members and we give as follows:

• 5 Members each contribute R1 500 a month    R7 500
• 5 Members each contribute R1 000 a month    R5 000
• 10 Members each contribute R 750 a month    R7 500
• 10 Members each contribute R 500 a month    R5 000
• 20 Members each contribute R 250 a month    R5 000
• 30 Members each contribute R 100 a month    R3 000
• 30 Members each contribute R 50   a month    R1 500
• 110 Members                                                R35 000 

• Hire of the Hall and other gifts that may come   R5 000

                                                                                R40 000     


The St Mark's Editorial team

New Saturday women's fellowship is off to a good start

Solomon briefs the women of St Mark's about the planned Saturday fellowship

Dear friends,

Last Sunday we had our first meeting with the women, who would like to meet in fellowship on Saturday afternoons. The first meeting has been set for 14th August and I will remind the congregation tomorrow. The following have already confirmed their interest in our new initiative.  
Lidia Asamoah
Tshaka Nozipho
Chamke Paulien
Timah Miranda
Mbela Wampanga
Mathibe Messie
Kefiwe Matampi
Sharai Simango
Isabella
Perpetue Surwumwe
Yolisa Mayongo
Olive Sewornu

Blessings,
Solomon Surwumwe 

St Mark's financials ... R8 500 a month more is needed

Dear friends,

St Mark's is facing financial challenges amidst the Global Depression and the growth of a new and exciting ministry in Yeoville. The bottom line is that we need to increase our fund base drastically - by about R8 500 a month - if we are to call a Minister. Your ideas on how we can supplement planned giving, cake sales and other iniatives would be most welcome.

The situation is spelled out in tomorrow's Sunday diary which the editorial team has included in this article for your convenience.

"ST MARK’S INCOME and EXPENDITURE Jan-Mar 2010
                                               To 31 March 2009     To 31 March 2010
TOTAL INCOME                                90,392.86                  92,480.08
TOTAL EXPENDITURE                     79,503.50                  88,340.79
Profit as at 31 March:                          10,889.36                    4,139.29

Note:  Income for Jan-Mar 2010 is up by just over 2%, compared with 2009, but Expenditure for the same period is up by over 11% and so far increases for salaries and electricity have not been taken into account. Salary increases will only take effect in April, and as well as the above, St Mark’s currently receives R2 500 per month from the Ministry Committee towards Solomon’s stipend.

There have also been effectively no motor car expenses. A permanent minister will immediately increase expenditure by a minimum of R6 000pm when the Min Comm contribution falls away & Medical Aid, Pension, motor car costs begin, so we must aim at least for an increase in income of approx R8 500 per month."

Use the Comment button below to give you inputs.

Blessings,
The St Mark's Editorial Team.

Solomon replies to Heidi in Huntsville

Solomon, now a fully qualified minister chats to Women for the Lord last week.

Dear Friends in Huntsville,

I am glad that you e-mailed us to give you my input into what should be a great Sunday school meeting this weekend. St Mark's Presbyterian Church is in a transition period, where we are trying to see whether we are able to call a full time minister and build our congregation.

The activities that we would like to run in the near future are to grow the Church whether spiritually or numerically. This is why we focus on inviting people,encouraging relationship groups, having many functions (with mainly Men for the Master and Women of the Lord)  having different fellowships that we trust will attract new people to our pews. Our couples' fellowship will function both for evangelism and equipping the local community to cope with the challenges of modern life.We hope that Norman Mangena will return from Alabama with new ideas that will help us in the future.

We are having Elders' retreat, a congregation retreat and at the end of the year the Men for the Master will also have their retreat.

The end of this month will focus on healing seminar with David Hutt. This will take 2 days. It will be in the form of  a workshop. All neighboring communities are invited.

Please we ask you to pray with us for the success of all these future plans and programmes.
God bless you all

Emmanuel Solomon Surwumwe
St Marks, UPCSA,
P.O. Box 27945,
Yeoville, 2143
Cell +27823643139

Word from our friends in North Alabama

Dear Geoff,

On Sunday (25 July) we will get to share a little bit during the Sunday school hour about our partnership with St. Mark's and about any activities you are involved with now. We'd also like to know if anyone from St Mark's will get to join the group that will be coming to North Alabama in September.

We are glad to have your blogspot so we can know what is going on at your church. We're happy that you got to host the World Cup - my friend Heather said it was quite an event, having all the athletes and the world focus on your country. And we are also happy to celebrate Mandela Day with you all: you have given the world a great leader in Mr. Mandela and we all appreciate that!

In His love,
Heidi
First Presyterian Church, Huntsville