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

"The Messenger" Online Newsletter

December 3, 2024

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From your Staff-Parish Relations Committee...

Dear Church Family,

This Christmas, we want to express our heartfelt appreciation to our church staff by collecting funds to distribute as Christmas gifts. This is an opportunity to bless them as they have blessed us, showing our gratitude for the countless ways they support and inspire us throughout the year.

If you would like to contribute, please send your donation to the church by December 20th. We will equitably divide and distribute the gifts to the staff the week of Christmas.

You can give in the following ways:

· Online Giving: To give online, open the Online Giving Form, choose "Other" as the fund, and then enter "Staff Gift" as a note.

· Check: Write "Staff Christmas Gifts" on the memo line and mail it to the church office or place it in the offering plate.

· Cash: Place your gift in an envelope marked "Staff Christmas Gifts" and drop it off at the church office or in the offering plate.

Thank you in advance for helping us show our staff how much we value their ministry among us.

Grace and peace,

David Farrar, outgoing Chair, Staff-Parish Relations Committee

Sarah Butler, incoming Chair, Staff-Parish Relations Committee

Online Giving Form

Make Plans to Join us in Worship on Christmas Eve

We will have an early Christmas Eve Worship service in the Rec Center featuring St. Mark's Youth and Children on December 24th at 4:00 p.m., then a traditional Christmas Eve service at 7 p.m. in the Sanctuary.

Wednesday Night Together

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.

Menu, 12/4:

Baked Chicken and Rice, Roasted Brussel Sprouts, Biscuits, Crème de Mentha Brownies

6:00 – 8:00 p.m. in the Gym! Shop with 20 wonderfully creative and varied vendors, and give to a non-profit mission, ministry or agency with every purchase!

6:00 - 7:00 p.m. The Grand Sweep will meet studying Lesson #49 with Rev. Mike Waldrop.

NEXT WEDNESDAY:

REEVES ROGERS CHRISTMAS MINISTRY

Gifts of playground balls and toys for 23 classes will be assembled/wrapped at 6:00 p.m. on December 11^th.

News!

Poinsettia Orders due December 9th

Poinsettia Orders – Dedicate a poinsettia in honor or in memory of a loved one. Bring order form and check to the church office, or email and pay online (with a comment saying the payment is for poinsettias). Cost: $15 per plant. Please make payments payable to St. Mark’s UMC and designate for Poinsettia. Order Deadline: Monday, December 9^th.

Email Order

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!

On December 15, our Chancel Choir, with orchestra, will present “A New and Glorious Morn” by Lloyd Larson as part of our morning worship service. That afternoon, at 2:00pm, we will reprise the performance at our church as our gift to the community. There will be no charge.

WE NEED YOUR HELP to begin “spreading the word” to your family, friends and neighbors about this special concert. It is our goal to bless everyone with the Christmas spirit!

FIVE Holiday Handbell Concerts!

All concerts are free* and open to the public! All concerts start at 7:00pm.

Dec. 2nd - 1st United Methodist Church (Family Life Center) Murfreesboro, TN

Dec. 5th - Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, Hendersonville, TN

Dec. 9th - Lebanon 1st Baptist Church, Lebanon, TN

Dec. 12th - Brentwood United Methodist Church, Brentwood, TN

Dec. 16th - Connection United Methodist Church, Nashville, TN

Concerts are appropriate for all ages.

*Donations gladly accepted.

Petting Zoo and Live Nativity at Wesley December 3

The Wesley Foundation at MTSU would like to invite you and your family to visit our Petting Zoo and Live Nativity to be held on December 3 from 5 - 7pm featuring camels, sheep, goats, a zebu, porcupine, African raccoon, pigs, llamas and alpacas. You will be able to meet some of our students (shepherds who will be helping in the Nativity), see our building, decorate a cookie and share some hot chocolate with us.

The address is 216 College Heights, right across from the Science building on Campus. For more information go to our website at www.wesleyfoundationmt.org.

Cedar Crest Camp Hiring Young Adults for Summer 2025

If you know a young person looking for a job that will be faith-focused, fun, and relationship-centered, ask them to consider applying to work with Cedar Crest! Positions are open for those who have finished their junior year of high school to college graduates.

Contact Audrey Jordan at

audrey.jordan@twkumc.org for more information. Here is the link to the application: Cedar Crest Camp Summer 2025 Staff Application

Apply here, young persons!

Project Transformation Summer Intern Applications

Apply here!

St. Mark’s a capella group will present sacred and secular Christmas music at 5:15-5:30pm in front of the Christmas tree (on the North/East Side of the Courthouse, a live nativity will be in front of it.). We hope to see our St. Mark’s family there!!

New Adult Studies in 2025

As a disciple of Jesus Christ, do you seek to:

- Deepen your spiritual walk with Christ?

- Grasp the Gospel story of Jesus and his disciples?

- Listen to and respond to God’s call as an individual, a family, and a church?

In the year ahead, as a means of deepening our mutual walk with Christ, our personal, daily spiritual practice, and our faithfulness, mission, and ministry as the Body of Christ, you are invited to read and study through the scriptures in an intentional, systematic, and devotional way.

We will be offering 8-week studies on each of the Gospels, which will allow us time to savor and enjoy the stories of Jesus and his disciples more fully. These studies, called “Books of Faith,” will include:

Matthew in February and March

Mark in April and May

Luke in August and September

John in October and November

Each study offers a guide for reading a few chapters of the Gospel each week and continues the devotional focus we have enjoyed with The Grand Sweep. To participate as a reader or serve as a reflection group leader, please sign up in the Foyer or email martha@stmarkstn.org.

We are also offering the opportunity to read through the Bible using The Grand Sweep, especially for those who are new to our congregation or who missed out on reading in 2024. To participate in a small group or serve as a reflection group leader, sign up in the Foyer, or send an email to martha@stmarkstn.org.

The number and times of reflection groups for both studies will be determined by your interest, so register today!

Adult Ministry

Adult Ministries Warms Up the Winter!

• Wednesday Night Together

• Merry Mission Marketplace is this Wednesday!

• College Ministry Available with Sunday Breakfast

• Register for “Books of Faith” studies on the Gospels

• Read through the Bible with The Grand Sweep

• Bring a Dish to the Churchwide Holiday Brunch

Also:

➤Support the Preschool and Make a beautiful Live Wreath!

➤ St. Mark’s Receives Special Christmas Gifts

Click here for details.

Student Ministry

Upcoming:

• Dancing Lights of Christmas!

• Christmas Party!

• Holiday break!

• Merry Mission Marketplace!

Click here for details.

Children's Ministry

Click here for more information about the upcoming GLOW Kids/Little Lights' event and the Children's Christmas Eve Play Rehearsals.

Click here for details.

SAGES News

The Sages “Gift-Giving-Extravaganza” for residents of Westbrook Towers has been a great success. Thanks, everybody.

The Alzheimer’s/Dementia Support Group will meet Thursday, December 19, 1:30 PM in Room 503-505. Anyone caring for those with dementia is invited as well as others who want to be supportive and learn more about the disease. Everyone is invited.

The next SAGES meeting is Monday, December 9th at 9:30 AM in Room 503/505 of the church.

Our Senior Serenity Luncheon is Saturday, December 14, 11am - 2pm in the St. Mark's Narthex. RSVP to the church office at 615-893-3455 this week or register in one of the SAGES Notebooks in the office or Narthex.

MERRY CHRISTMAS from all the Sages!

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:

December 29 (one bouquet)

January 5 (one or both bouquets)

January 12 (one or both bouquets)

January 19 (one or both bouquets)

January 26 (one or both bouquets)

No other 2024 dates are available, but there are many 2025 dates. Call 615-893-3455 for more information.

Upcoming Calendar

Wednesday, December 4

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

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

5:30 p.m. A capella Christmas Chorale Rehearsal - Choir Room 1119

6:00 p.m. Merry Mission Marketplace - Rec Center

6:00 p.m. Grand Sweep #1 - Banquet Hall

6:00 p.m. Youth Bible Study - Library

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

Thursday, December 5

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

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

2:00 p.m. Women's Chorale Rehearsal - Choir Room 1119

5:30 p.m. A capella Christmas Chorale Rehearsal - Choir Room 1119

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

Friday, December 6

10:00 a.m. Grand Sweep #2 - RM 503/505

11:00 a.m. Bible Study - RM 503/505

5:15 p.m. A capella Christmas Chorale Performance - Murfreesboro Town Square

Saturday, December 7

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

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

Sunday, December 8

9:00 a.m. MTSU Clarinet Choir - Narthex

9:15 a.m. Christian Education

10:15 a.m. MTSU Clarinet Choir - Narthex

10:30 a.m. Worship - Sanctuary

11:30 a.m. Children's Choir rehearsal - Sanctuary Front Row

2:00 p.m. Sewing Group - RM 503/505

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

4:00 p.m. Grand Sweep #4 - RM 504

4:15 p.m. SONlight Youth Choir - Choir Room 1119

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

5:00 p.m. Youth Outing to the Dancing Lights - Van 2018

Monday, December 9

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

4:30 p.m. Cub Scouts - Banquet Hall/Rec Center/Youth Center

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

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

Tuesday, December 10

10:00 a.m. Mary Martha Circle - Chapel/RM 502

10:00 a.m. Note Writers - RM 506

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

Wednesday, December 11

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

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

6:00 p.m. Reeves Rogers Christmas Ministry Project

6:00 p.m. Godly Play Training - RM 503/505

6:00 p.m. Grand Sweep #1 - Banquet Hall

6:00 p.m. Youth Bible Study - Library

7:00 p.m. Chancel Choir - Sanctuary

Thursday, December 12

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

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

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

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

6:00 p.m. Christmas Wreath Making Workshop, Preschool Fundraising Event - Rec Center

Friday, December 13

10:00 a.m. Grand Sweep #2 - RM 503/505

11:00 a.m. Bible Study - RM 503/505

5:00 p.m. Scouts sleepover at church - Rec Center/Banquet Halls/Youth Center

Saturday, December 14

8:00 a.m. Children's Christmas Eve Play Rehearsal - Choir Room 1119

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

9:00 a.m. Cantata Dress Rehearsal - Sanctuary

10:30 a.m. Senior Serenity Luncheon - Kitchen/Narthex

5:00 p.m. Stones River Woodworkers Christmas Potluck - Banquet Hall

Sunday, December 15

9:15 a.m. Christian Education

10:30 a.m. Worship - Sanctuary

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

11:30 a.m. Brave Women of Faith - McAllister's on Medical Center

11:30 a.m. Cantata Luncheon - Banquet Hall/Kitchen

2:00 p.m. Christmas Cantata - Sanctuary

3:00 p.m. G.L.O.W. Kids & Little Lights Christmas Caroling & Party - 2008 & 2018 Van/Rec Center

3:00 p.m. Preschool Staff Christmas Party - RM 503/505

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

4:00 p.m. Grand Sweep #4 - RM 504

4:15 p.m. SONlight Youth Choir - Choir Room

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

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

Monday, December 16

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

4:30 p.m. Cub Scouts - Banquet Hall/Rec Center/Youth Center

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

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

Tuesday, December 17

10:00 a.m. Note Writers - RM 506

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

St. Mark's UMC | 615-893-3455 | www.stmarkstn.org