The following paragraphs provide specific details about the various Circles. If you are not part of a circle, we hope you will plan to join one and become part of their meaningful activities.
CIRCLE 1 was disbanded in 2010. Efforts are underway to reconstitute this circle.
CIRCLE 2, led by Diane Hirt, meets at Saint Mark (3:00 pm) on the first Monday of each month from September to June. If you want to know anything about the history of UMW at St. Mark, this is the group to contact. They have rich, solid backgrounds and contribute much to the UMW commitment of giving their time through study, reflection, and action. The members
take pride in giving monetary donations to Our Daily Rest, a local shelter for the homeless.
The shelter provides support for families in job placement and life skills.
CIRCLE 3, led by Sally Fischer, is also known as the Abigail Circle. These active women who enjoy supporting various ministry projects meet in members' homes at 7:00 pm on the first Monday of each month from September to June. Topics significant to women are a big priority, and guest speakers at the meetings have addressed health issues, and other worthy projects such as sponsoring elementary-age girls in a campus cottage at the Tamassee DAR School. A privately funded, non-sectarian, not-for-profit agency, Tamassee DAR provides a "family" environment for school-aged children needing out-of-home care. Circle 3 members help the girls celebrate birthdays with parties, which have included a pool party, miniature golf, movies, dinner at a restaurant, bowling, and a pontoon boat ride on
Lake Hartwell. In February 2010, the circle had a Valentine's Day party for the girls from Wilderness Way Girls' Camp. Abigail Circle "sisters" feel blessings abound when they gather and take on a mission!
CIRCLE 4, led by Nancy Evatt, meets at 6:30pm at the church on the first Monday of each month from September to June. These ladies collect, trim, and distribute Campbell Soup Labels for Red Bird Mission in Kentucky, which redeems them for items that are much needed at their campus. Red Bird Mission is a Methodist-based camp that helps to provide spiritual, educational, health, and community outreach ministries for children and adults. Some labels were redeemed to purchase buses that are needed for their mission work. How can Saint Mark members help? Baskets are provided in the Narthex and outside the Church Office for folks to deposit their labels. Thanks!
CIRCLE 5, led by chairperson Nell Hodge, meets at 10:00 am in Room 201 at the church on the first Monday of each month from September to June. This group has been pleased to provide Oconee Memorial Hospital's Maternity Section with two baby layettes for underpriviledged families each month. Each of the Circle Five members is assigned certain items to buy each month for completion of the baby layettes. Items typically included in each layette are a hooded bath towel, washcloths, a onesie, long pants, a gown, undershirts, a bottle, diapers, a rattle or toy, receiving blanket, wipes, burp cloths, and other miscellaneous items. The women in Circle Five say, "We certainly hope that those who receive the layettes enjoy them as much as we have enjoyed putting them together." Guess what else Circle Five members do? They donate to their Sunshine Fund each month and any monies left at the end of the year are given to a local or global mission decided on by Circle members.
CIRCLE 6, led by Jan Stevens, meets in members homes at 7:00 pm on the first Monday of each month from September to June. The age of its members spans a wide range, and they are energetic! This past year the group has taken
Our Daily Rest as its special project. They provide a dinner for the shelter each quarter.
Working in groups of four, they plan a meal, decide to cook at home or at the church, deliver
the meal and stay to help serve. They enjoy interacting with residents as they set up, serve and and clean up after the meal. Members also visit as individuals to donate items and to help this worthwhile ministry in other ways.
CIRCLE 7, led by Carolyn Keese, meets in the Church Parlor at 7:00 pm on the first Monday of each month from September to June.This circle has members who represent a range of ages from young adult to retirees. They enjoy sharing their different life stages together in fellowship as a part of their Christian journeys. Their special project is to sponsor Senior Brownbag Meals at the Golden Corner Food Bank. These meals are provided monthly to help seniors in Oconee County supplement their limited food supply.
For more information about any of these Circles contact Joanna Donegan, or 944-5799 or the church office at 882-2603.