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

"The Messenger" Online Newsletter

August 27, 2024

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A Note of Thanks...

Dear St. Marks Family,

We want to thank you for the generous communion rail offering gift. All your prayers, support, and gifts helped us navigate through such a challenging chapter in our lives. We appreciate you and love you very much.

Jerremy, Kirsten, Evan, and Alex Weaver

From your Pastor...

I am looking forward to the "Faith that Works" sermon series that begins this Sunday. Over the next five weeks, we'll focus on the lectionary readings from the New Testament letter of James, exploring how followers of Jesus can live out their discipleship in practical and meaningful ways. James doesn't simply tell us what faith should look like; he challenges us to put faith into action.

The beginning of a new sermon series is the perfect time to return to church after a long absence or to invite friends, neighbors, and colleagues to worship with you. I realize it's Labor Day weekend but I hope those who will be in town will make worshiping at St. Mark's a priority.

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

Tommy

"A Faith That Works" Sermon Series Begins September 1st

The book of James stands unique in the New Testament for its no-nonsense, practical, proverbial wisdom. For James, faith is to be expressed outwardly, to improve one’s relationships with others and to help those in need. Faith is not something that should be kept to oneself and faith challenges a culture that sees very little value in religion at all.

Upcoming Scriptures:

September 1, 2024: James 1:17-27

September 8, 2024: James 2:1-17

September 15, 2024: James 3:1-12

September 22, 2024: James 3:13,4:3, 7-8a

September 29, 2024: James 5:13-20

As part of our preparation for the sacrament of Holy Communion, you are invited to donate canned and dry foods to St. Mark's Food Bank every 1st Sunday. Collection tubs will be located just outside the Sanctuary, or you can bring your donation to the bins in the Narthex or Room 407/409.

This Sunday, September 1st is the next Communion Sunday!

Please bring Canned Corn, plastic jars of Peanut Butter and/or Jelly, and/or 1lb. boxes of Spaghetti Noodles.

"For I was hungry, and you gave me food..."

Matthew 25:35

Wednesday Night

WEDNESDAY NIGHT TOGETHER

Returns August 28^th

Food, Fellowship, Faith and Fun for all ages!

We are excited to welcome back THE SWEET ADDICTION catering and the United Methodist Men.

5:00 p.m. FREE MEAL, Reservations Needed

Menu: Chicken Teriyaki Sliders, Sweet Potato Fries,

Pasta Salad, Full Salad Bar, Ice Cream Sundae Bar

6:00 p.m. Speed Gaming Event

in the Gym

Your Favorite Games in Velocity, plus Cool Prizes!

Meet New Friends and Church Family Members! Children, Youth, and Adults are Welcome!

No Athletic Ability Required!

Everyone is Invited!

3-7pm Larry Ward Memorial Blood Drive in the new narthex -

Remember to come out if you signed up!

Walk-ins may be accommodated if there is time and staff available.

Wednesday Night Together

September 4 & 11 Classes and Groups, 6-7 p.m.:

PICKLEBALL 101 FOR BEGINNERS: Pickleball is fun, social, and friendly! The rules are simple, and the game is easy to learn. There’s a reason so many players get hooked on this sport – it’s easy to start, but hard to stop. Get the basics and start playing! In St. Mark’s Gymnasium.

ROMANS 1 – 7: Read: This study will help you appreciate the gift of righteousness with God.

Feed: Help you grow in your discipleship of Christ, and

Lead: Help you explain, illustrate, and apply Romans 1-7 to your own life

Bring your Bible and a friend and let’s dive into God’s Word! Led by Josh Brown, Room 407/409.

THE GRAND SWEEP: Join in a large group discussion of the week’s scriptures in the Banquet Hall.

9/4, Week # 37 – led by Rev. Mike Waldrop

9/11, Week #38 – led by Dr. Jim Clardy

News!

Family Ministries will soon begin Birthday Buddies, a multigenerational event celebrating all who have a birthday each month! If we don't know your birth month and day, please send it to stmarks@stmarkstn.org. We want to include everyone!

"Include me! Here's my birthday!"

COLLEGE CLASS REBOOT

All college students and friends are invited to be part of the College class! We’ll kick off the school year with a light breakfast this Sunday, September 1st, 9:15 – 10:15 a.m. in Room 502 across from the church office. Everyone is welcome, bring a friend!

Neighborhood Drive-Through Flu Shot Clinic

Saturday, September 14^th, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at St. Mark’s UMC, under the office portico. Get your fall vaccines at the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Drive-Thru Shot Clinic in the comfort of your vehicle! We will have high dose flu vaccines for seniors and regular flu vaccines for everyone else. Be sure to bring your insurance card. Everyone welcome, including those uninsured!

Bless the Youth with your superior cooking skills!

(or pizza)

Open Dates: 10/13, 20 & 27; 11/3 &10; 12/15

We are seeking volunteers willing to provide "Fellowship Dinners" for our St. Mark's Youth. These fellowship dinners are essential to creating a welcoming, comfortable space for our Youth where they know that they are cared for. Providing a meal can mean preparing something homemade or just simply ordering takeout (I'd be happy to place the order for you and pick it up myself, according to your preference). All Fall dates through December are now available for signup: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E48A8A823ABFFCE9-49452723-stmarks

Complete the 2024-2025 Children’s Ministry Registration Form!

Please complete your child’s registration form by the end of August! Our Safe Sanctuaries policy requires parents to complete children’s registration forms annually. This up-to-date information helps us keep families better informed! Click the link to access the digital form. https://forms.gle/SVLJvtPXjsvn2eEv6

If you don’t already have a copy of the 2024-2025 Children’s Ministry Calendar, you can access it here. We hope your family will plan to join us at these upcoming events!

Make a difference in the life of a child!

Everyone needs a friend, but some children need extra adults in their lives to help them learn, give them encouragement and love, and serve as a role model. Being a friend/mentor/buddy to a Reeves Rogers student provides this opportunity. MEN are especailly needed and encouraged to serve!

Mentors are matched with one student for the school year, and meet with that student at the school 15-30 minutes weekly, bi-monthly, or as your schedule allows. It is a meaningful and fulfilling ministry!

For more information, contact Mary Jane Henry (615-631-1902), Margie Jennings (615-202-7840), or Peggy Jackson (615-260-1817).

Little Lights and G.L.O.W. Kids – Water Day on Sept. 8^th!

Little Lights

This service/fellowship group is for families with children age birth to 2^nd grade. This is a family friendly group! Adults must remain with their child throughout the duration of the event. Invite a friend! Click here for the Fall 2024 schedule.

• Little Lights Kick-Off- Pool Party at 1920 Higgins Ln. @ 4-6 p.m. on September 8^th. Pizza will be provided. Please bring a drink or dessert to share.

G.L.O.W. Kids

This service/fellowship group is for children in 3^rd – 5^th grade. Invite a friend! Click here for the Fall 2024 schedule.

• G.L.O.W. Kids Kick-Off- Boat Day from 2-6 p.m. on September 8^th. Please meet at the church van by 1:45 p.m. Don’t forget to pack your swimsuit, sunscreen, and a snack to share. Drinks will be provided. Thank you to Noland and Jeanette Noffsinger for hosting us!

Music Ministry

St. Mark’s Children’s Choir

Invites Children ages 4years to 5^th grade to join us SUNDAY Sept.15^th at 11:30am. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Kathy Edwards (615-478-7859) or HyeLan Pearce (hyelan@stmarkstn.org)

Be the light

Acolyte Training

Sep. 8^th

11:30am

Incoming 3^rd – 5^th Graders

The St. Mark’s Music Ministry is ready to resume in September. We welcome singers for chancel choir, Christmas Cantata, SONLight Choir, Children’s Choir and Women’s and Men’s Chorales. We also need additional Hand Bell Ringers.

NEW!!!

Dust off your instrument, tune up together and make a joyful noise unto the Lord. Welcome to all ages! Please contact HyeLan Pearce if you are interested in contributing to this ministry.

Adult Ministry

Adult Ministries Welcomes the Fall!

• WNT Opening SPEED GAMING Event this Wednesday

• Wednesday Night Together Fall Classes and Groups

• COLLEGE CLASS Reboots with Sunday Breakfast

• Food Bank Offering this Sunday, September 1^st

“We are Fed that we might Feed Others”

• Donate to the Reeves Rogers SWEATPANTS PROJECT

• Flu Shots available at St. Mark’s

• Fall Women’s Bible Study now in session

Click here for details.

Student Ministry

St. Mark's Youth will be celebrating Labor Day weekend with a "Stay Late Game Night" event, while we look forward to the upcoming 'Wesley in the Woods' retreat at Cedar Crest Camp for students in grades 5-8.

Click here for all news.

Children Ministry

More information about Children's Ministry registration forms, 2024-2025 calendar, and Little Lights/GLOW Kids Kick-off events!

Click here for details.

SAGES News

The next meeting of the Sages Ministry Team will be Wednesday, September 11, 9:30 AM in Room 503-505.

The Alzheimer’s/Dementia Support Group will meet Thursday, September 26, 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.

“Adventures In Learning,” one of our community’s premiere offerings for Sages, is coming up September 9, 16, & 23, 2024, from 9:00-12:00 on each of those days. The location is First United Methodist Church, Murfreesboro. There are many different classes interest groups available. Registration blanks are in the church office. Our own Jeff Henry is Chair of the AIL program.

The Sages will go to the Midway Diner for breakfast on Friday, September 27. The bus will leave at 8:30. Please sign the Sages Book in either the church office or the narthex.

We have updated the Sages homebound/caring list. If you would like to add someone, please contact Cindy Flippin.

On Mondays our Sages continue to re-purpose the flowers from Sunday worship and make visits to share them with our members and others who are homebound, in the hospitals, or in care facilities.

Upcoming Sages’ events include a trip to The Top Of The Rock in Jasper, Tennessee, and the Center for the Arts in Murfreesboro. To make reservations for any of these activities, please register anytime in the office or the Narthex. Look for the Sages book of activities and you will find all the activities catalogued.

This year each week/month we are again offering worship experiences at five different SAGES Assisted Living and Memory Care Centers. We thank Wayne Bradshaw who is now conducting a worship service on Mondays at the Long-Term Care Facility of Adams’ Place. Thanks, Wayne.

Please join us for an outing. We believe you will enjoy it.

Mission Teams Updates

St. Mark's Disaster Team Returns from Valdosta, Georgia

Six members of St. Mark’s Disaster Team went to Valdosta, Georgia on August 13, 2024 and returned on August 19, 2024. For the first time, the team was accompanied by a Disaster Chaplain, Reverend Debbie Church, who ministered to the victims of Hurricane Debby while the team cleared the properties.

The disaster team worked with Inspiritus, a non-profit organization that deploys disaster teams to areas affected by hurricanes or tornados. The team lodged and ate at the Georgia Bible Camp. While in Georgia, the team cleared trees from seven houses. (See pictures.)

If you are interested in being a part of the Disaster Team ministry, please contact Paul Givens.

Thanks from Georgia...

Good afternoon Chaplain Church. I pray you are home safe. Thank you again for your team's help. Blessings to you, your church and the wonderful disaster response team.

Deborah W.

See Disaster Team Photos

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 Sunday is:

September 15 (one bouquet)

October 6 (one or both bouquets)

December 1 (one or both bouquets)

December 15 (one or both bouquets)

December 22 (one bouquet)

December 29 (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, August 28

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

6:00 p.m. Wednesday Night Together Speed Gaming - Rec Center

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

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

Thursday, August 29

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

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

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

Friday, August 30

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

Saturday, August 31

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

Sunday, September 1

9:15 a.m. Christian Education

10:30 a.m. Worship - Sanctuary

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

4:00 p.m. GriefShare - RM 405

5:00 p.m. Youth "Stay Late Game Night" - Rec Center/Youth Center/Banquet Hall

Monday, September 2

Office Closed - Labor Day

Preschool Closed - Labor Day

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

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

Tuesday, September 3

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

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

Wednesday, September 4

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

6:00 p.m. WNT Study: Romans 1-7 pt. 1 - RM 407/409

6:00 p.m. WNT Play: Pickleball 101 - Rec Center

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

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

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

Thursday, September 5

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

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

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

Friday, September 6

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

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

Saturday, September 7

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

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

Sunday, September 8