Cold Patrol Communion Rail Offering

Our Communion Rail Offering for Sunday, December 7th will go to Murfreesboro Cold Patrol. Originally an effort to protect people on the street from exposure-related injuries and death, Cold Patrol now works hard year round to give the most vulnerable the resources they need to survive.

It's a Charlie Brown Christmas!

To compliment the Advent sermon series, the Family Ministries team is offering A Charlie Brown Movie Night on December 14th from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. in the Gym. RSVP to Hannah at hannah@stmarkstn.org by December 7^th.

Blue Christmas Service

Blue Christmas is a gentle, contemplative worship service designed for anyone who finds the holiday season difficult. While the world celebrates with lights and laughter, many carry grief, stress, illness, loneliness, or memories that make this time of year heavy. Blue Christmas creates sacred space to acknowledge those feelings and meet God in the midst of them.

Our service will include quiet music, Scripture, honest prayers, and a candle-lighting ritual that names loss, pain, courage, and hope. You’ll also have the opportunity to light a personal candle in memory or prayer. The tone is warm, reflective, and deeply rooted in the compassion of Christ—the One who meets us in every shadow with unfailing light. All are welcome to breathe, rest, and simply be.

Join us on December 21 at 5pm in the Narthex, using Door #1 (Office) to enter.

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, 12/10:

Country Fried Steak with Gravy, Onion/Mushroom Roasted Potatoes, Green Beans, Salad Bar,

and Blueberry Cobbler



Wednesday, December 3^rd, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. in the Gym

Merry Mission Marketplace

At St. Mark’s UMC, we believe God can be present in every part of life, even in our Christmas gift buying and giving! You are invited to shop and purchase your Christmas gifts at this special sale, where every purchase benefits a non-profit agency, mission, or ministry.



Your purchase - a gift that gives twice - will benefit a variety of missions in our community including The Journey Home, Stepping Stones Safe Haven, Rutherford County Habitat for Humanity, The ALS Association, The Lions Club, The Sweet Addiction, Child Advocacy Center, and the Lupus Foundation of America, and St. Mark’s Children, Youth, Food Bank Ministries.

Coming Up at WNT!

Wednesday, December 10^th: Put your Faith to Work with these Mission Projects: Assembling Reeves Rogers Playground Toys, Begin Again Boxes, Christmas Cards for Inmates, and Supplemental Food Bags for Children of Reeves Rogers.

SAGES News

The Sages Ministry Team will meet Monday, December 8, at 9:30 a.m. in Room 503/505.

The Sages will be going to Christmas At Beersheba Thursday, December 4. This is always a wonderful experience which closes with a meaningful worship service. The bus will leave the church at 8:30. Please sign up in our gathering room or in the office. Look for the book!

Our Sages are now sharing communion with our homebound members and others. Several teams have been prepared for this ministry. After the consecration of the elements on December 7 first some of our teams will be meeting with our homebound members. Thanks to all the teams and those who will welcome them into your homes.

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

Thank you, Sages!

Music Ministry Updates

You're invited to the St. Mark's Christmas Cantata!

We invite you to attend the St. Marks United Methodist Church Christmas Cantata! On Dec 14th at 10:30AM and 2:00PM, the Chancel Choir accompanied with full orchestra will perform two showings of God Came Near by Tom Fettke and Max Lucado. All are welcome!

Missions Updates

St. Mark’s UMC

CHRISTMAS MINISTRY AT REEVES ROGERS

This year’s Christmas ministry for Reeves Rogers will provide a gift that all students in the school can enjoy year-round. Classes, groups and individuals are invited to donate toward these gifts.

Schools and teachers are no longer allowed to use school funds to purchase playground balls and toys, thus none are provided for the children at Reeves Rogers. You are invited to help rectify this situation for all 23 classes so that each class receives:

•  4 Playground Balls
•  2 Soccer Balls
• 4 Jump Ropes
• 2 Frisbees
• 1 Box Sidewalk Chalk
•  1 Air Pump

A $50 donation provides a complete set of playground toys for one class.

A $100 donation provides a complete set of playground toys plus two $25 gift cards so that each teacher and staff can purchase items that meet the needs of children and classrooms.

The Reeves Rogers Leadership Team will purchase all items in bulk for the best pricing. These items will be wrapped at Wednesday Night Together at 6:00 p.m. on December 10^th.

To make your donation, place your check payable to St. Mark’s UMC and designated for “Reeves Rogers” in the offering plate, or email written instructions to Business Administrator Buddy Howell (buddy@stmarkstn.org) to transfer funds from your class account. All donations must be completed by Sunday, December 7^th.

Thank you for your consideration of this Christmas outreach to the children at Reeves Rogers!  

Preschool Updates

St. Mark's Preschool Hires New Director

St. Mark’s Preschool Ministry Board is excited to announce that Lani Chamberlain has been hired as the Director of St. Mark’s Preschool, beginning December 1, 2025. This hire was approved by St. Mark’s Staff Parish Relations Team.

Lani was hired as Assistant Director in May, 2024 and has been capably serving as Interim Director. In addition to being highly qualified with a Bachelor’s degree in Child Development and Family Relations and a Master’s degree in Elementary Education, Lani brings her many years as a preschool teacher to this position,

as well as her experience as a licensing counselor and Early Childhood Quality coach with Child Care Resource and Referral.

Lani has grown to love St. Mark’s Preschool and have a wonderful vision for its future! We look forward to her capable and creative leadership as she seeks to create a nurturing, engaging environment for both students and staff.

Special thanks to members of the Preschool Ministry Board who served on the Search Team: Noland Noffsinger, Trish Clardy, Buddy Howell, Deanna Alexander, and Rev. Martha Touchton.

Rev. Martha Touchton, Chair Pro Tem

St. Mark's Preschool Ministry Board