The newsletter for St. Mark's UMC in Murfreesboro, TN
 

"The Messenger" Online Newsletter

October 22, 2025

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From the Senior Pastor...

  

We begin a new sermon series this Sunday. Faithful Living, Lasting Impact will focus on the way we live our lives and how we use the gifts that God has given us. We'll explore how living faithfully today can have a lasting impact for generations to come. 


October 26, 2025: Leaving a Mark with our Time (Ecclesiastes 3:1-13)

Is God blessed by the way we use our time?


November 2, 2025: The Impact of Faithful Saints (Revelation 7:9-17)

We'll remember those whose faith has shaped us and we'll give thanks that their impact still lingers. We'll also consider how our own faithful living can leave a lasting mark on earth and in heaven.


November 9, 2025: The Impact of Using our Talents (Matthew 25:14-30, 1 Peter 4:10-11) God has entrusted each of us with gifts to be used in ways that bless God and leave a lasting impact on others.


November 16, 2025: The Impact of Generosity (2 Corinthians 9:6-15)

Generosity is like planting seeds. When we give faithfully, God multiplies our gifts into ministry that shapes lives and leaves a lasting impact for the future. 


November 23, 2025: The Impact of Witness (Acts 1:6-8; Matthew 5:13-16) Our witness should shine brightly enough to bless God and leave a lasting impact.


It is a privilege to serve God as one of your clergy.

Tommy

November 2nd, 2025: WNT Service Projects

This month's communion rail offering supports our Wednesday Night Together Service Projects. In November and December of each year, St. Mark's provides members and friends with opportunities to come together for worship and service. Our mission projects benefit individuals and families in our community.

Food, Fellowship, Faith, and Fun for All Ages!

 

Featuring food preparation and service by

THE SWEET ADDICTION catering and

St. Mark’s United Methodist Men.

Next Week’s Menu, 10/22:

Pork Ribs, Corn on the Cob, Roasted Rosemary New Potatoes, Rolls, Salad Bar, and Apple Spice Cake.

Reservations Due on Monday Prior!

October 22 Adult Classes and Groups, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.

BOOKS OF FAITH: The Gospel of John focusing on the theological discourses, prayers, and conversations of Jesus, God’s eternal Word made flesh. Study books, $10 each. This week’s discussion of Lesson #3 will be led by Rev. LeNoir Culbertson in the Banquet Hall.

CRUISE CONNOISSEURS Whether you love to cruise or are just curious about cruising, come share your experiences and learn about the best options for your next cruise! Led by Kelly Wiley, Owner/Agent of Castle and Crown Travel Boutique.

SAVING GRACE: A GUIDE TO FINANCIAL WELL-BEING helps people of faith create healthy relationships with money and bring their financial lives in line with their faith values. Six Sessions, October 1 – November 12. Led by Rev. Mike Waldrop in Room 503/505.  Note: This Class is Full!


COLLEGE STUDY SESH: Enjoy a little peace and quiet among friends every Wednesday, Room 502.

Coming Up at WNT!

Pumpkin Painting led by Kent Kigar and St. Mark's Watercolor Class

Bring your own pumpkin or purchase a small one upon arrival. Reserve one at martha@stmarkstn.org. All painting supplies are provided free of charge. October 29, 6-9 p.m.

America's Footpath: The Appalachian Trail On the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Appalachian Trail Conference, Greg Denton will share the history of this celebrated trail, a practically unbroken 2100 mile linear stretch of wilderness, arguably the most famous footpath in the world. November 5, 6 - 7 p.m.

News!

Fall Festival is November 1st!

St. Mark’s Fall Festival will be on Saturday, November 1st from 4-6 p.m.! All ages are invited to attend. Bring your kids, grandkids, neighbors, and friends!


A meal will be provided. Donations will be accepted to help cover the cost of the meal. Please call the church office to RSVP by Monday, October 27th!


Thank you to the adult Christian Education classes and ministry groups who signed up to host a carnival game!


Fall Festival Donations

St. Mark’s Family Ministries is collecting the following items for the upcoming Fall Festival:

·      Candy

·      Yum Earth Allergy Free Candy

·      Prizes for children

Please place all donations in the blue bins located in the Narthex. Thank you for supporting this community event! 
 

Wesley Pickleball Tournament

The Wesley Pickleball Tournament is this Saturday, October 25th beginning at 9:30 at St. Mark's UMC. Two divisions: "Just for the Fun of it" and "We're a little more competitive." $50 per team.
More info!

Thank You's Received from San Lucas Methodist Church, Matamoros, Mexico

St. Mark’s UMC has maintained a supportive friendship with the churches or Matamoros, Mexico for many years. Our October Communion Rail offering of $829 was dedicated to go toward improvements needed at San Lucas Church. A number of notes and photographs have been received in appreciation for this gift, including these: 
Notes and pics!

Service Opportunities

We are in need of some members to help make and clean up the coffee we all enjoy on Sunday mornings. It would involve being at church around 8:30 a.m. to get it ready and cleaning up after Sunday school. Ideally, we need 4 Sundays covered each month so you would only have to be available 1 time a month. If you have any questions or interest, please call Kathy Edwards at 6154787859.

Adult Discipleship Special Event

Cultivating a Theology and Life of Generosity, with Rev. Dr. David Comperry, 9:15-10:15 a.m. Sunday November 16 in the Sanctuary. All St. Mark's Adults and Adult Christian Education Classes are invited and encouraged to attend!
All about it!

College Ministry

All college students and friends are invited to be part of the College group, meeting Sundays, 9:15-10:15 a.m. in Room 502 across from the church office. A light breakfast is served, everyone is welcome, bring a friend!

St. Mark's UMC & Preschool Thanksgiving Dinner & Worship

On Wednesday, November 19th, we'll have a Thanksgiving dinner at 5 p.m. in the Banquet Hall. Turkey with Dressing and Gravy, Sweet Potatoes, Green Beans, Cranberry Sauce, Rolls, Pumpkin Pie. $10 per Adult. Children, Youth, & College FREE. Reservations due Wednesday, November 12th.


Following at 6 p.m. will be Stone Soup Worship, featuring music sung by the children of St. Mark's Preschool and St. Mark's Chancel Choir.
 

A Legacy of Generosity: Strengthening St. Mark's for Generations to Come


Throughout its history, St. Mark’s United Methodist Church has been blessed by the generosity and vision of those who came before us, individuals and families who believed deeply in our mission to love God, serve others, and make disciples of Jesus Christ. Their faithful stewardship built the foundation we stand on today. Now, we are invited to do the same for those who will follow in our footsteps.


One of the most meaningful ways to ensure the continued vitality of our ministries is through legacy giving, planned gifts that support St. Mark’s Endowment Fund. These gifts are not simply one-time donations; they are lasting investments in the future of our church. Endowment funds are carefully managed so that the principal remains intact, while the earnings are used year after year to support ministry, outreach, maintenance, and mission, long after the original gift is given.


Imagine the impact:

  • A scholarship that helps a young person answer God’s call to ministry.
  • Support for local and global missions that extend Christ’s love to those in need.
  • Resources for worship, music, education, and outreach that continue to enrich our church family.
  • Maintenance and care for our facilities so that St. Mark’s remains a welcoming and vibrant place of faith for decades to come.


Legacy gifts can be made in many ways: through wills or estate plans, gifts of stock or insurance, or by designations of retirement assets. Each gift, large or small, becomes part of a living legacy that continues to bear fruit long into the future.


By including St. Mark’s United Methodist Church Endowment Fund in your planning, you are making a powerful statement of faith: “I believe in what God is doing through St. Mark’s, and I want it to continue for generations.” Your generosity today ensures that future members of our church family will experience the same love, worship, and service that have shaped your life.


We encourage you to prayerfully consider how you might participate in this enduring ministry. Legacy giving is not only a financial decision, it’s also a spiritual one, reflecting gratitude for God’s blessings and a commitment to sustaining the mission of Christ through St. Mark’s.


If you would like to learn more about how to make a planned gift or add St. Mark’s to your estate plans, please contact the church office. Together, we can build a legacy of faith, hope, and love ensuring that the light of St. Mark’s continues to shine brightly for generations to come.

SAGES News

The next outing of the Sages will be to The Muddy Pond near Clarkrange, Tennessee. The date is Tuesday, October 28. The bus will leave at 8:30. This is a Mennonite Community with several stores leather mills, and sorghum- making facilities. Lunch will be taken in one of the general stores. Please make your reservation in the gathering room or the church office. Look for the book!

 

The next meeting of the Sages Ministry Team is Monday, September 10 at 9:30 AM in Room 503-505.

 

Following the November meeting at 10:45 there will be a meeting of all those who are interested in serving communion to our homebound and those in the nursing homes and other facilities. Please let others who may be interested know about this meeting. 

 

The Alzheimer’s/Dementia Support Group will meet Thursday, October 23, in Room 503-505. If you are caring for someone for who has dementia, or if you just want to learn more about the disease, or to be supportive, you’re invited.

 

Please check out all our Wednesday evening programming. The Study of the Book of John is now on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

 

And remember, each Monday SAGES deliver the Sunday altar flowers to our homebound and nursing home residents.

 

Thank you, Sages!

Music Ministry Updates

Missions Updates

St. Mark's Disaster Response Team

Recently, Reverend Sally Millsaps from Murfreesboro First United Methodist Church (FUMC) contacted Paul about a tree that needed to be cut down for the Norrod family in Lavergne who needed a wheelchair ramp built. On October 10, 2025, St. Mark’s Disaster Response Team cut down the tree. FUMC will build the wheelchair ramp in the next couple of months.



The following is an excerpt from an email sent to Paul by the Norrods: “I would like to thank all the people involved with cutting our tree down today so we can get a ramp built so I can get a power chair to be able to go and from the doctor’s office. The gentlemen were very quick and very sweet. Thanks. It’s truly a blessing. God bless y’all.”

St. Mark's Furniture Ministry

On September 28, 2025, Murfreesboro FUMC, as part of their Service Sunday, built 15 sets of end tables with matching coffee tables and 20 cubbies for St. Mark’s Furniture Ministry to deliver to the Murfreesboro community. On October 11, 2025, we delivered 7 cubbies and 3 sets of end tables/coffee tables. Our thanks to FUMC for including us again this year in their Service Sunday!

Society of Saint Andrews Sweet Potatoes

On October 10, 2025, members of St. Mark’s Disaster Team picked up 1,400 pounds of sweet potatoes in Smyrna from the Society of Saint Andrews. One thousand pounds were delivered to our local Nourish Food Bank on Memorial Boulevard to be given out with food boxes for our Murfreesboro community. The remainder of the potatoes will be given out to residents of Legacy Pointe in a couple of weeks.

Preschool Updates

Fundraiser alert! - LAST CHANCE TODAY

St. Mark's Annual Trike-a-Thon Fundraiser

Now Thru October 22

Support your preschooler with a contribution in their name! Or, if you just want to contribute to the total, you can do that, too. We appreciate your support!
Contribute Today!

Get excited for our next fundraiser, a Winter Flower sale! Open now through November 21. Thank you for your continued support of our preschool.
Buy a Christmas Cactus or Poinsettia!
St. Mark's Preschool Brochure
 

Flower Dates Available


The flowers on the altar each Sunday are available to be sponsored in honor of in memory of loved ones. To reserve a date, please call the church office or sign up on the Flower Calendar at the receptionist desk in the church office.


Each bouquet (there are two per Sunday) is $30 which can be paid by placing a check in the offering plate with "Flowers" on the memo line or contacting the church office for other arrangements.


The next available Sundays are:

October 26 (one bouquet)

November 2 (one bouquet)

November 9 (one or both bouquets)

November 23 (one or both bouquets)


Several more 2025 dates are available. Call the church office at 615-893-3455 for more information.
 

Upcoming Calendar


Wednesday, October 22

Preschool Closed with Murfreesboro City Schools

3:30 p.m. Chair Yoga - RM 1203

5:00 p.m. Wednesday Night Together Dinner - Banquet Hall

6:00 p.m. WNT Classes, Kids Connections, Youth Bible Study, College Study Sesh

6:00 p.m. The Books of Faith: John - Banquet Hall

7:00 p.m. Chancel Choir - RM 1119


Thursday, October 23

9:00 a.m. Women's Bible Study - RM 1203

10:00 a.m. Quilting Bee - Banquet Hall/Kitchen

10:30 a.m. Knitting - RM 503/505

1:30 p.m. Alzheimer's/Dementia Caretakers Support Group - RM 503/505

6:30 p.m. ACOA Meeting - RM 503/505


Friday, October 24

10:00 a.m. The Books of Faith: John - RM 503/505


Saturday, October 25

8:00 a.m. Wesley Pickleball Tournament - Gym/Banquet Hall

8:30 a.m. AA Group - RM 503/505

5:00 p.m. Cub Scouts Trunk or Treat - Field


Sunday, October 26

9:15 a.m. Christian Education

9:15 a.m. The Books of Faith: John - RM 504

10:30 a.m. Worship - Sanctuary

11:30 a.m. Birthday Buddies - Narthex

4:00 p.m. Bible Study - RM 1203

4:00 p.m. GriefShare - RM 405

4:00 p.m. SONlight Youth Choir - RM 1119

5:00 p.m. Chancel Ringers - RM 1117

5:00 p.m. Finance Meeting - RM 503/505

5:00 p.m. Youth - Rec Center/Youth Center/Banquet Hall


Monday, October 27

9:40 a.m. Preschool Chapel - Sanctuary

10:00 a.m. Watercolor Class - Banquet Room

5:00 p.m. Cub Scouts - Banquet Hall/Rec Center/Youth Center/Kitchen/Select Classrooms

5:30 p.m. Big Book Group - RM 503/505

6:00 p.m. Sanctuary Ringers - RM 1117


Tuesday, October 28

SAGES trip to Muddy Pond - Van 2018

9:30 a.m. Note Writers - RM 506

9:40 a.m. Preschool Chapel - Sanctuary

10:00 a.m. Staff Meeting - RM 503/505

5:00 p.m. Girl Scout Troop #2408 - RM 212

6:00 p.m. Woodworkers - Banquet Hall


Wednesday, October 29

Halloween Fun - Preschool

9:00 a.m. Spares & Pairs Outing - Van 2018

3:30 p.m. Chair Yoga - RM 1203

5:00 p.m. Wednesday Night Together Dinner - Banquet Hall

6:00 p.m. WNT Classes, Kids Connections, Youth Bible Study, College Study Sesh

6:00 p.m. The Books of Faith: Luke - Banquet Hall

7:00 p.m. Chancel Choir - Choir Room 1119


Thursday, October 30

Halloween Fun - Preschool

9:00 a.m. Women's Bible Study - RM 1203

10:30 a.m. Knitting - RM 503/505

6:30 p.m. ACOA Meeting - RM 503/505


Friday, October 31

Halloween Fun - Preschool

10:00 a.m. The Books of Faith: Luke - RM 503/505


Saturday, November 1

7:30 a.m. UMM Meeting & Breakfast - Banquet Hall

8:30 a.m. AA Group - RM 503/505

4:00 p.m. Fall Festival - Preschool Circle/Kitchen/Banquet Hall/Gym


Sunday, November 2

9:15 a.m. Christian Education

9:15 a.m. Coffee with the Clergy - Banquet Room A

9:15 a.m. The Books of Faith: John - RM 504

10:30 a.m. Worship - Sanctuary

11:30 a.m. Children's Choir Rehearsal - Sanctuary

11:30 a.m. Church Council Meeting - Banquet Room A

4:00 p.m. Bible Study - RM 1203

4:00 p.m. GriefShare - RM 405

4:00 p.m. Little Lights Pack Food Boxes - RM 407/409

4:00 p.m. SONlight Youth Choir - RM 1119

5:00 p.m. Chancel Ringers - Music Room 1117

5:00 p.m. Youth - Rec Center/Youth Center/Banquet Hall


Monday, November 3

9:40 a.m. Preschool Chapel - Sanctuary

10:00 a.m. Watercolor Class - Banquet Room B

10:00 a.m. Wings of Hope - Banquet Room A/Kitchen

5:00 p.m. Cub Scouts - Banquet Hall/Rec Center/Youth Center/Kitchen/Select Classrooms

5:30 p.m. Big Book Group - RM 503/505

6:00 p.m. Sanctuary Ringers - Music Room 1117


Tuesday, November 4

9:30 a.m. Note Writers - RM 506

9:40 a.m. Preschool Chapel - Sanctuary

10:00 a.m. Staff Meeting - RM 503/505
 
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St. Mark's UMC | 615-893-3455 | www.stmarkstn.org
 

St. Mark's UMC | 1267 N. Rutherford Blvd. | Murfreesboro, TN 37130 US

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