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

"The Messenger" Online Newsletter

April 9, 2025

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From the Senior Pastor...


We are pleased to share that Bishop David Graves is projecting the reappointment of the St. Mark’s clergy team—Rev. Tommy Ward, Rev. Dr. Jim Clardy, and Rev. Martha Touchton—for another conference year. He reminded us that projections are not official until our Annual Conference, scheduled for June 1-4 in Collierville.


This announcement affirms the continued ministry and leadership of our pastoral team as we seek to serve with faithfulness, vision, and compassion. We give thanks for the privilege of serving St. Mark's.



Please keep our pastors, their families, and all those in ministry across the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference in your prayers during this season of appointment-making.

Tommy
 
 

"God on the Move" Sermon Series

We are in the midst of our Lenten sermon series, "God on the Move." Jesus didn't stay in one place for long. His earthly ministry was one of moving from one place and encounter to the next. He also moved through every part of the human experience, encountering everything from temptation to joy to suffering and even death. This series will help us reclaim the movement of Jesus’ ministry from temptation to condemnation, through his teaching and miracles and finally through the story of his death and resurrection.


As we encounter the life and ministry of Jesus, we cannot stay the same. We ourselves are moved to grow and change as followers and imitators of the gospel. The comforting truth of Lent is that as we delve deeper into our own self-examination, we find that we are not alone. God is still on the move in our lives, walking with us every step as we travel the road to Easter.


Upcoming Sermon Scriptures:

April 13: Easter Cantata

April 20: Luke 24:1-12
 
 

Easter Sermon Series:

Meeting with the Risen Christ


A recurring theme in the gospel of John is that Jesus is victorious in every circumstance. There are no barriers Jesus cannot bring down, no waters he cannot cross, no valleys too dark for his presence, and no dominion that can thwart his power. 

 

Beginning Sunday, April 27, we'll join the early disciples as they meet with the risen Christ. They were engulfed in doubt, facing their failures, wandering in the valleys of life, and receiving new instruction on what it means to be a follower of Jesus. What will we learn about ourselves from these meetings with Jesus?

 

Upcoming Scripture Lessons:

April 27: John 20:19-31

May 4: John 21:1-19

May 11: John 10:22-30

May 18: John 13:31-35
 
 

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.


Upcoming Menu: 4/9

Chicken Cacciatore over Fettuccini, Sautéed Spinach, Bread Sticks, Salad Bar, Pineapple Upside Down Cake

 

COMING UP AT WNT:

April 17th – (Thursday) – Holy Thursday Dinner and Worship

April 23rd – Church Family Feud Fun Night!

April 30th – St. Mark’s Talent Show and Final WNT 
 

From the Office...


Directory Launch in April


ShelbyNext is an online secure platform where you can view your contribution statements, access and manage your giving, update your contact information, and access our soon-to-be new online directory!


How do you take advantage of this fantastic tool?


Step 1: Request access to your account!

  • Email directory@stmarkstn.org to request access to your account. Include your first and last name, birthday, and email.
  • The following Monday, we will email you with your account username and temporary password.
  • Note: Every individual must sign up with a unique username. Everyone must be 18 years or older to be included in the directory.


Step 2: Access your ShelbyNext Account!


Step 3: Join the Online Directory!

  • On your profile page, click the 3 dots that appear to the right of your name and select "Profile Visibility" from the list that appears. You may then adjust the visibility settings by clicking on the circle that best suits your preference.
  • Send an email to directory@stmarkstn.org to opt in to the online directory, giving your first and last name and your email - You must do this to appear in any version of the directory and to view the directory online.


What's Next?

  • For additional support, attend Directory Tech Support Sessions Sundays after church:

April 13, 12-1pm

April 27, 11:30am-12pm

May 4, 11, and 18

  • In the coming months, we will send more information on how to use the new online directory to those who opt in.
  • Email any questions or concerns to directory@stmarkstn.org.


Want a Printed Directory?

Call the church office during office hours (Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm) at 615-893-3455 to request a printed copy of the directory. We will take requests until July 14th, at which point this year's copies will be printed and be made available for pick up during the week of July 28th. There will be a couple of printed directories available to consult in the church office upon request.


You can also come by the church office to check your information and make changes in a copy of the printed directory and approve your appearance in the directory.

News!

MEET OUR HABITAT HOMEOWNER

Elizabeth was born and raised in Murfreesboro by her loving parents. The youngest of two, she and her older brother are still close to this day. Elizabeth was a very active child. She was a dancer all through elementary and middle school and then went on to join the color guard in high school.


When Elizabeth graduated from high school, she enrolled at Volunteer State Community College. She had hopes of doing something in the medical or education field. After three years of college, life circumstances caused Elizabeth to step away from school. In 2019, Elizabeth welcomed her son.



Elizabeth found herself in a season of life where she was working and raising her son but also still living at home. She knew she needed to make some changes to provide a stable future for her family. After much thought and research, she decided to go back to school to get her Dental Assistant Certification. Upon graduation, she started working as a Dental Assistant in the Medical Department of the Davidson County Sherriff’s Department. Over the next couple of years, Elizabeth worked very hard to pay everything down and establish good credit.


Becoming a homeowner was Elizabeth’s new goal. However, after unsuccessfully trying to qualify for a conventional loan, she quickly became discouraged. A dear friend suggested that Elizabeth should investigate the Rutherford County Area Habitat for Humanity Homeownership program. She did just that and decided to apply. When she received the news that she had been accepted, she cried tears of joy! “Honestly, I was in disbelief!” Elizabeth admitted. “I could not believe that something I had wanted for so long was finally going to happen.”


Elizabeth has enjoyed the Homeowner Education classes and getting to know some of her future neighbors. Her son has also enjoyed meeting kids his own age and making new friends that he will get to play with in the Legacy Pointe neighborhood. Elizabeth is so excited about everything that is yet to come because it will bring her one step closer to owning a home. Also, she has started learning more about cooking and is looking forward to having a nice kitchen.



Elizabeth feels deeply grateful and blessed by this opportunity. “We are incredibly thankful for the kindness and generosity of the sponsors, volunteers and staff that support the RCHFH mission in our community,” she said smiling. “Each of you are making a difference in our lives, and we feel very fortunate!
Sign Up for Panel Build!
 

Save the Date for St. Mark's Bunny Brunch and Easter Egg Hunt!

All families are invited to St. Mark’s Bunny Brunch and Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 19th from 9 – 11 AM located in the banquet hall/front lawn. Click here to RSVP by this Sunday, April 13th. Don’t forget to bring an Easter basket!

VBS Registration is OPEN!

Get ready for Road Trip VBS: On the Go with God! Registration is now open, and we’d love for you to join the journey.


Children ages 4 through 5th grade are invited to attend. Younger children of VBS volunteers and kids enrolled in St. Mark’s Preschool’s Summer Fun program are also welcome.


👉 Click here to register your child

👉 Adult and youth volunteers can register here

If you feel led to serve in this ministry area, please email Hannah Pratt at hannah@stmarkstn.org.

Save the Date for Church Family Feud Wednesday, April 23rd at 6 p.m.

You and your family are invited to witness the Church Family Feud between St. Mark's Staff and Clergy and St. Mark's Retired Clergy, hosted by Rev. John Weaver!


It should be a ton of fun and will be made even better by your participation in the Family Feud Survey.
Take the Family Feud Survey!
Learn More & Sign Up Here!

Don't Miss these Holy Week Events at St. Mark's!

Palm Sunday is this Sunday! Children participating in the parade will line up in the children's wing starting at 10:15 a.m.

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!  

Reception to follow Easter Cantata

The S.A.G.E.S. (St. Mark's Seniors) Group will be providing a reception for our Church's Choir, Orchestra, other participants, and the public attending the April 13th (Palm Sunday) following the 2:00 Easter Cantata. This is to show our appreciation for their sharing of their God given talent and hard work. Anyone that would like to donate some cookies (Fruit and cheese trays also welcome), we and I'm sure they will greatly appreciate it. Please put your food donations in the church kitchen, Palm Sunday morning.

Join us for the Church-wide Picnic on Sunday, April 27th, 11:30 AM - 2 PM!

You and your family are invited to the Church-wide picnic! Please bring a family-sized side dish or dessert to share. The Family Ministries Team will provide the main course. Enjoy fun and games for all ages! Kindly RSVP by Sunday, April 20th by clicking here or calling the church office. Join us for a wonderful time of fellowship with your church family!
 

Books of Faith New Study:

The Gospel of Mark

Join the conversation as we open the scriptures and dig deeper into the Gospels. These focused studies allow time to savor and enjoy the stories of Jesus and his disciples more fully.

 

Each study uses a guide for reading a few chapters of the Gospel each week with a devotional focus. The next study will be the Gospel of Mark, beginning in April. Study books are available for $10 each; email martha@stmarkstn.org for more information. 

 

Weekly study groups include:

 

  • Sundays, 9:15 – 10:15 a.m. led by Rev. Martha Touchton in Room 504, beginning 3/30
  • Wednesdays, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. led by our retired clergy in the banquet hall, beginning 5/7
  • Fridays, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. led by Claudia Hunter in Room 503/505, beginning 3/28
 

SAGES News

The Alzheimer’s/Dementia Support Group will meet Thursday, April 24, at 1:30 PM. That meeting is in Room 503-505.

 

The Sages will visit the Bell Buckle Café of April 24. The bus will leave at 10:30 AM. Please sign up for the trip in the Narthex or the church office. 

 

Some of the upcoming SAGES activities include a visit to the Scarritt-Bennett Center in Nashville on Wednesday, May 28, and a potluck dinner at the church on Friday, June 13.

  

The next meeting of the Sages’ Ministry Team will be April 14 at 9:30 am. Rev. Martha Touchton and Hannah Pratt will be our guests.

 

Please check out all our Wednesday evening programming. And remember, there is a meal at 5:00 PM before the activities.

 

The Easter Cantata, will be presented at 10:30 AM and 2 PM on Palm Sunday. Our Sages will host a reception for the attendees of the afternoon Cantata.

 

Thank you, Sages!

Preschool Ministry Updates

Spring is an exciting time for the Preschool. We have Easter celebrations, performances, and graduations happening!

 

Our Pre-K classes will be performing our traditional 3 Piggy Opera. The children have been practicing very hard. The performance dates are April 24th and 25th at 9:30 AM. A BIG thank you goes out to Mrs. Bonnie Ward for agreeing to be the accompanist during our performances. We truly appreciate you!

 

Pre-K graduations are May 15th and 16th.

Summer Fun We are still accepting registration for our Summer Fun program. Summer Fun begins May 20th and goes through June 26th. We will end our Summer Fun program to coincide with St Mark's VBS.  

Missions Updates

Two Red Bird Deliveries - March 24 & 27

Paul Givens and volunteers from St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee returned this week twice. They dropped 4,600 pounds of seed potatoes donated by the Society of St. Andrew on Monday. These potatoes were available on Tuesday for the 206 people qualified to receive Senior Commodities, as well as anybody in the community planting a garden this year. They were back on Thursday delivering 144 food boxes needed in our food pantry for hunger relief in the communities Red Bird Mission serves. A big shout out to everyone in middle Tennessee doing their part for hunger relief at Red Bird, and to Paul and his traveling buddies that logged in two days of driving this week!

St. Mark’s 2026 Adult Mission Trip


Relief work goes on year-round at the historic United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) Depot in Sager Brown, Louisiana, where most anyone of any age or ability can contribute directly to disaster response around the globe. The work available includes processing and shipping kits (in a climate-controlled facility) donated relief supplies including flood buckets and relief, repairing homes, serving in a women’s shelter or Food Bank, and tutoring young children.   

 

St. Mark’s has possible dates in Fall of 2025 and January of 2026 for mission at the UMCOR Depot. The cost of this trip is around $300/person for lodging and meals at the Depot, plus transportation, lodging and meals for the trips there and back. To express your interest in this trip and learn more information, email martha@stmark’stn.org.
Sign up for the Henderson Mission Trip!
 

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:

April 20 (one bouquet)

April 27 (one bouquet)

May 4 (one or both bouquets)

May 25 (one bouquet)


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

Upcoming Calendar


Wednesday, April 9

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

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

6:00 p.m. Freeing the Anxious Generation - Sanctuary

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

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


Thursday, April 10

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

9:00 a.m. Quilting Bee - Banquet Hall/Kitchen

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

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

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


Friday, April 11

Preschool Easter Egg Hunting

10:00 a.m. Bible Study - RM 503/505

6:00 p.m. Private Birthday Party - Rec Center/Banquet Hall

7:00 p.m. 18-week Big Book Study


Saturday, April 12

8:00 a.m. Easter Cantata Dress Rehearsal - Sanctuary

8:00 a.m. G.L.O.W. Kids Second Harvest Food Bank - 2018 Van

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


Sunday, April 13

9:15 a.m. Christian Education

10:15 a.m. Children line up for Palm Sunday Parade - Children's Wing

10:30 a.m. Choir Easter Cantata during Worship - Sanctuary

12:00 p.m. Directory Tech Support Session - Banquet Hall

2:00 p.m. Choir Easter Cantata - Sanctuary

3:00 p.m. Refreshments for Cantata from SAGES - Foyer

4:00 p.m. Little Lights Planting Day - Banquet Hall

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

7:00 p.m. Youth Tenebrae Service Rehearsal - Sanctuary


Monday, April 14

9:30 a.m. SAGES Meeting - RM 503/505

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

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

5:00 p.m. Stewardship Committee Meetings - RM 506

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

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

6:30 p.m. PEO Meeting - RM 501


Tuesday, April 15

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

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

5:00 p.m. Girl Scouts - RM 212


Wednesday, April 16

Preschool Easter Egg Hunting

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


Thursday, April 17

Preschool Easter Egg Hunting

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

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

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

6:00 p.m. Holy Thursday Worship - Sanctuary

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

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


Friday, April 18

10:00 a.m. Bible Study - RM 503/505

7:00 p.m. 18-week Big Book Study

7:00 p.m. Tenebrae Worship Service - Sanctuary


Saturday, April 19

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

9:00 a.m. Children's Bunny Brunch & Easter Egg Hunt - Rec Center/Banquet Hall/Kitchen

11:30 a.m. Boy Scout Eagle Court of Honor - Banquet Hall


Sunday, April 20

6:00 a.m. Easter Sunrise Service - Outdoor Worship Area

9:15 a.m. Christian Education

9:00 a.m. Children's Resurrection Scavenger Hunt

10:30 a.m. Worship - Sanctuary


Monday, April 21

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

6:30 p.m. PEO Skit Practice - RM 501


Tuesday, April 22

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

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

6:00 p.m. Woodworkers - Banquet Hall
 
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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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