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

"The Messenger" Online Newsletter

July 30, 2024

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From your Pastor...

This Sunday marks a historic and joyous occasion for our church as Rev. Martha Touchton, an ordained deacon, will preside over the sacrament of Holy Communion for the first time. Earlier this year, the General Conference of The United Methodist Church granted deacons the privilege of presiding over the sacraments of the church, whereas previously the role of deacon was to assist elders in administering the sacraments. This decision is a recognition of the vital role deacons play in the life of the Church.

Ordained deacons in The United Methodist Church serve as a bridge between the church and world, embodying Christ’s call to serve and social justice. By granting them the privilege of presiding over the sacraments, the Church acknowledges the profound impact of their ministry and empowers them to more fully live out their calling.

As Rev. Touchton presides over the sacraments for the first time this Sunday, we invite you to join us in this sacred celebration. Her ministry has been one of dedication, faith, and unwavering commitment and she has touched countless lives, both in our church and beyond. Presiding over the sacraments will open even more doors for her to share Christ with others.

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

Tommy

PRAYER FROM SUNDAY

If you worshiped with us in-person or online this past Sunday, you know that Pastor Tommy ended his sermon with an invitation to pray a prayer like this in the coming weeks:

Come Holy Spirit. Make your home in my heart. Grant me the power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. Come Holy Spirit.

Then pray that same prayer for a family member, friend, business associate, colleague, etc:

Come Holy Spirit. Make your home in _______'s heart. Grant this person the power to grasp how long and wide and high and deep is the love of Christ.

The more we begin to grasp God's love for us, the more our goal will be to love God and the more we'll want to love others. In expressing that love, we'll realize that we are no longer strangers.

"No Longer Strangers" Sermon Series

Ephesians teaches us how to be a community worthy of the gospel. In the midst of interpersonal conflicts, we are reminded that we are in Christ Jesus. We are "no longer strangers" to God and no longer alienated from each other.

Using the lectionary passages from Ephesians, we're going to explore what it looks like to live rooted in reconciliation with God and with our neighbor. Join us as we highlight the keys to living as a community of faith!

Upcoming Scripture Passages:

Aug 4: Ephesians 4:1-16

Aug 11: Ephesians 4:25-5:2

Aug 18: Ephesians 5:15-20

THAT WE MIGHT

FEED OTHERS

WE ARE FED

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, August 4th is the next Communion Sunday!

Please bring Canned Tuna, Saltine Crackers,

and/or Instant Potatoes.

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

Matthew 25:35

Wednesday Night

Food Truck Wednesdays

St. Mark’s is hosting Food Truck Wednesdays, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. in Playground Circle, featuring a different food truck every week. Friends and neighbors are welcome! Indoor dining is available, or you may bring your own blanket or lawn chairs if you prefer to eat outside.

Food truck menus and pricing for each week will vary; water and lemonade will be provided in the Banquet Hall.

The playground is open to young children; all children must be accompanied and supervised by their parents. Fun and fellowship opportunities will be provided on occasion throughout the summer!

July 31 – Bussin’ Bowls - BYO Pool Party! Bring your sprinklers, kiddy pools, water toys, etc., and come celebrate the end of summer from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. in the front yard of the church!

August 7 – Codger’s: MTSU Night! Welcome Coach Derek Mason! Wear BLUE!

We are excited to welcome MTSU’s new Football Coach Derek Mason

to St. Mark’s UMC

Wednesday, August 7,

5:00 – 6:00 p.m.

News!

BYO Pool Party on July 31st from 6-7 p.m.!

Families are invited to bring their own pool party on July 31st! Bring your sprinklers, kiddy pools, water toys, etc. and come celebrate the end of summer with us! Please RSVP to Hannah Pratt.

WOMEN'S CHORALE

To perform August 18th, we rehearse on August 4th and August 11th at 5:00 p.m. in the choir room. Walks-ins welcome!

Bless the Youth with your superior cooking skills!

(or pizza)

Open Dates: August 25

We are seeking volunteers to prepare fellowship meals for our Youth during the summer of 2024. Providing a meal can mean anything from preparing something homemade (our Youth tend to love those!) to simply ordering pizza (I'd be happy to place the order for you and pick it up myself, according to your preference). If you choose to deliver the meal to us personally, we ask that volunteers arrive between 4:45 and 5 pm on Sunday evenings, and we would love it if you joined us at the table as we enjoy the meal that you've prepared (though it's completely fine if you can't stick around to eat with us). These fellowship dinners make all the difference in creating a welcoming, comfortable space for our Youth where they know that they are cared for by their St. Mark's family! If you are willing to serve the Youth Ministry by preparing a fellowship meal for the Youth to share, please follow this link for our signup page: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E48A8A823ABFFCE9-49452723-stmarks

St. Mark's UMC's office is looking spiffy after a much-needed repaint and carpet!

Staff took the opportunity to clean out their closets and tidy their shelves, so if you'd like to peruse the resulting free knickknacks, come on by the office sometime between 8am and 4pm Monday through Friday this week!

On a similar note, our lost and found is pretty full! If you or someone you know has lost an item at St. Mark's, it's time to check again to see if it has shown up! Call: 615-893-3455

St. Mark's Youth and friends are invited to "Be the Light" (Matthew 5:14) UMC Stones River District-wide Youth Lock-in on August 2-3, 2024 at Trinity UMC in Murfreeboro. Please note that we are still in need of 1 male and 2 female chaperones if we are going to be able to participate as a Youth Group! The plan would be to arrive at the St. Mark's Youth Wing by 6:30 pm so that we can make it to Trinity in time for outdoor grilling and campfire (think hot dogs and s'mores) followed by games, youth-led devotional, more games, and a whole lot of fun. Youth participants would need to bring a sleeping bag/blankets (and a blow-up mattress, if you are not a floor sleeper) and pillow. Pick-up/departure is at 9am (after a grab-and-go breakfast) for parents who prefer to pick up from Trinity, or 9:15 am for those who prefer to pick up from St. Mark's.

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!

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).

Grief Support Group Available at St. Mark's UMC This Fall

Looking for help and encouragement after the death of a spouse, child, family member, or friend? GriefShare is a special weekly seminar designed to help persons rebuild their lives after losing a loved one. St. Mark’s group is led by caring individuals who have experienced grief and want to help others through the difficult days ahead.

Sundays, 4:00 – 6:00 pm for 13 Sessions. Orientation Sunday, August 4, 2024.

Led by Cyndy Stone Allen and Paul Givens. Limit 10 participants. Open to the public. $20.00 Materials Fee Payable August 4. Scholarships available. Books will be distributed at the Orientation gathering Sunday, August 4. To register, click here.

Almost everyone knows someone going through grief: it might be a friend or a family member, a neighbor, or a coworker. You are encouraged to invite them to GriefShare!

To learn more about GriefShare, click here: https://vimeo.com/70809708

Recreation Ministry

St Mark’s will once again be hosting Summer Young Adult Volleyball League play from 7-11 pm in July this summer. For more info, contact louis@stmarkstn.org

The newly formed “Fellowship Fun Nights Club” has postponed its inaugural event until August (final date TBD). If you are interested in either attending or helping to organize this event, please contact louis@stmarkstn.org.

Adult Ministry

Adult Ministries is Heating Up!

• Food Truck Wednesdays continue through August 7th. Check out what’s coming up next, including meeting MTSU Coach Derek Mason.

• A new GriefShare course begins next Sunday, August 4, for persons who have lost loved ones.

• THE GRAND SWEEP schedules an additional adult learning session on the Prophets on Sunday, August 25th featuring Dr. Dan Boone.

• Wednesday Night Together returning soon!

• Make a difference in the life of a child – Be a Mentor!

• Bring your 1st Sunday Food Offering this Sunday!

• New Women’s mid-week Bible Study coming this fall!

Click here for details.

Student Ministry

St. Mark's Youth are fresh off a visit to Nashville Shores with our friends at Blackman UMC Youth, and are in need of volunteer chaperones for the UMC Stones River District Lock-In on August 2-3!

Click here for all news.

Children Ministry

August 4th is a MAJOR Sunday! Information about summer children's Christian education, BYO-Pool Party, Promotion Sunday, Parent Orientation, Back to School Worship, and more!

Click here for details.

SAGES News

The latest adventures of the Sages was a trip to see “Steele Magnolias” at the Cumberland County Playhouse. You’re welcome to join us on any of our outings.

The Alzheimer’s/Dementia Support Group will meet Thursday, July 25, 1:30 PM in Room 503-505. This is especially for those who are caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Others who would like to learn more about these devastating illnesses are welcome.

Our Sages will have a Potluck Luncheon on August 9th, 11:30 AM, in the Narthex. Please get our your recipes out and ready to prepare those delicious dishes for the feast. Games are planned for entertainment after the meal.

The Sages Ministry Team will meet on Monday, August 12, 9:30 AM, in Room 503-505.

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 Leiper’s Fork, 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 were recently asked to add another service at the Adams Place Long Term Care.

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

Mission Teams Updates

Thanks from St. Mark's UMC Mission Team

St. Mark’s UMC Mission Team would like to thank all who participated in Red Bird Day on 7/20/24!! We learned so much about what Red Bird Mission is doing for their southeastern Kentucky community and how we can help!

A special thanks to the United Methodist Men and all who helped decorate, prepare food, and house our Red Bird guests!! In addition, thanks to Pathfinders, Pairs and Spares, and Dimensions of Faith Sunday School classes who hosted Tracy Nolan for her presentation on Sunday.

If you weren’t able to attend, please check out the program on St. Mark’s Facebook page. Please contact Paul Givens (615-542-0568) if you would like to volunteer for the Red Bird food program and Karen Alexander (615-477-4244) if you would like to volunteer for Red Bird Christmas. (Please see the attached documents that contain Red Bird Mission’s QR codes and list of needs for all their programs if you would like to help!)

Red Bird Mission Needs List

Visit our Websites

Reeves Rogers Partnership

St. Mark's has been in partnership with Reeves Rogers for 10 Years! We hope to "regrow" our Mentoring Program now that schools are open to visitors again. Mentoring just means being a buddy or a friend to a student you are matched with. Mentors spend about 15-20 minutes a visit talking, reading or playing games. Schedules are worked out with the teacher, and a mentor can visit weekly, twice a month, or as your schedule allows. If you are interested or want to find out more about the program, please contact one of the following: Mary Jane Henry (615-631-1902), Margie Jennings (615-202-7840) or Peggy Jackson (615-260-1817).

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:

August 4 (one bouquet)

August 18 (one bouquet)

September 15 (one or both bouquets)

September 22 (one bouquet)

Many other 2024 dates are available. Call 615-893-3455 for more information.

Upcoming Calendar

Wednesday, July 31

11:30 a.m. Reeves Rogers Luncheon - Banquet Room A

4:30 p.m. Food Truck Wednesdays - Banquet Room

6:00 p.m. Children's Sunday School Orientation - RM 503/505

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

7:00 p.m. Summer Young Adult Volleyball League - Rec Center

Thursday, August 1

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

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

Friday, August 2

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

5:00 p.m. Youth Back-to-School Lock-in - Van 2018

Saturday, August 3

Youth Back-to-School Lock-in - Van 2018

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

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

Sunday, August 4

Promotion Sunday / Back to School Worship

9:15 a.m. Christian Education

9:15 a.m. Children's Ministry Parent Orientation - Banquet RM A

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 - Rec Center/Youth Center/Banquet Hall

Monday, August 5

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

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

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

Tuesday, August 6

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

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

Wednesday, August 7

Optimistic Garden Club - Banquet Room/Kitchen/Narthex/Garden