Father’s Day Slideshow Pictures are due June 10!

Email your Father’s Day pictures to Photos@stmarkstn.org TODAY. Please include the names of those in the picture. 

From the Office...

Directory Launched!

The online directory is open and available for all of the St. Mark's family who have opted in. You can still request to join!

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 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!

• After you receive your account information, go to https://stmarkstn.shelbynextchms.com, then log in to ShelbyNext using your username and password.

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 opt in to appear in any version of the directory and to view the directory online.

What's Next?

• 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.

Vacation Bible School News

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.

I invite you to pray for all our leaders, helpers, and children throughout the week as we seek God’s guidance, help and strength. If your Sunday school room is being used during the week of VBS, please make sure all items are put away. Thank you to those who have donated funds, prayed for VBS, invited children, and volunteered their time and gifts. This would not be possible without YOU!!

Youth VBS Orientation is next Wednesday Night!

• Wednesday, June 18^th at 6:00-7:00 PM in the Youth Wing- Youth Volunteer Orientation

Water Bottle Caps Needed!

Our Elementary craft team has requested water bottle caps for VBS. Please bring them to Hannah Pratt in a Ziploc bag. 

2025 VBS Mission

Throughout VBS, we will be highlighting and supporting the Ronald McDonald House in Nashville. When children and their families are on the road, traveling to receive care at Vanderbilt Hospital, the Ronald McDonald House offers a welcoming and supportive place to stay. This helps ease the burden during difficult times. St. Mark's is excited to support their mission through our VBS mission this year!

You can support the VBS Mission during this Sunday’s Children’s Coin Offering! 

Order Your VBS T-shirt by Monday, June 16!

Click here to order your VBS t-shirt! The cost is $10 per shirt, and you may pay online or in the church office.

SAGES News

The SAGES had a wonderful visit to the Scarritt-Bennett Center in Nashville the week before last. Thanks to Rev. Touchton for driving. And we were honored to have Reverend Ward to accompany.

The next meeting of the Sages Ministry Team is Monday, July 7 at 9:30 AM in Room 503-505.

The Alzheimers/Dementia Support Group will meet Thursday, June 26 in Room 503-505. Pam Roberts and Lochia Farrar will be our resource guests again at this meeting.

The SAGES will be going on one of their famous trips to Granny Fishes this Thursday, June 12. The bus departs at 3:30 p.m.

The SAGES Potluck Luncheon will be at 11:30 on July 11 at St. Mark’s. This will honor one of our recent deseeded Sages’ Team members, Joyce Vaughan. The Sages will provide the meat. Chairperson Cindy Flippin asks that you bring a larger dish than usual to accommodate all the attendees.

Please check out all our Wednesday evening programming. The Study of the Book of Mark meets in the Banquet Hall at 6:00 PM.

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

Thanks to Beverly Leonard, at Creekside, and Wayne Bradshaw, at Adams’ Place, for coordinating our services there.

Thank you, Sages!

Missions Updates

Stats for the First Half (of the year)

Here are the stats for the following ministries for January 1-May 31, 2025:

Furniture deliveries-39

Begin Again Boxes with Pots/pans-14

Bath in a Box-13

If you are interested in volunteering on the St. Mark’s Furniture truck or donating furniture, please contact Karen Alexander at (615)707-3166. Financial donations are also accepted.

If you are in interested in helping with the Begin Again Box ministry, please contact Sherrie Gilliam at (615)406-2121. Financial donations are also accepted.

Ways you can support and participate in this mission:

• Give Financial assistance for our missionaries and projects
• Donate coffee mugs, disposable diapers, baby food, and gently used shoes for distribution at Henderson Settlement. These donations are due Wednesday, July 2^nd, and should be placed in the Narthex donation bins.
• Pray for these people as they prepare to be in mission:

o  Griffin Wright

o  Zoey Wright

o  Kyle Anderson

o  Sylvia Anderson

o  David Cowan

o  Bethany Cardenas

o  Deb Hobbs

o  Butler and Martha Touchton

ST. MARK’S UMC

PAPERBACK BOOK DRIVE FOR RUTHERFORD COUNTY’S CORRECTIONAL

WORK CENTER

May 4 – 25, 2025

Thank you for your generous donations of paperback books for The Rutherford County Workhouse and the Juvenile Correctional Center.  More than 700 books were donated!  The books will be delivered this week by our prison ministry coordinator, Robin Stone. 

Preschool Updates

What's happening in Preschool?

We are in week three of Summer Fun. This summer, we are reading Eric Carle books. A week from last Monday, Mrs. Samantha read The Very Hungry Caterpillar. The teachers provided materials for the children to make caterpillars. That Tuesday, we continued the theme with The Very Lonely Firefly. The children enjoyed making fireflies and learning all about fireflies. 

Last week, we read The Very Quiet Cricket. Mrs. Samantha taught us there are over 4000 different kinds of crickets. This book taught the children about a young cricket who was born in a loud world. He meets various insects-each greeting him with their special sounds. The little crickets try to respond, but no sound comes out. He is determined until finally he meets another cricket. It was a very sweet book about finding your voice, growth, and connection. 

Thursday, we read The Very Busy Spider, another fun book by Eric Carle. The children had the opportunity to make spider webs out of paper plates and yarn. We will continue with our theme until VBS starts on June 23rd.

St. Mark's Preschool Has Fall Openings!

St. Mark’s Preschool and Parents Day out (PDO) has openings available for enrollment in the 2025-2026 school year. Please help us share this news!



At St. Mark’s Preschool and PDO, we believe each child should have the opportunity to develop emotionally, socially, physically, faithfully, and intellectually to his or her fullest potential. We encourage each child to experience the joys of learning and growing.

Our purpose is to provide activities that meet the developmental needs of each child and offer a Christian atmosphere for group interaction and individual growth. We believe each child is special and prayerfully respect the trust families place in us to partner with them in their child’s development.

St. Mark’s Preschool and PDO, a ministry of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, enjoys a long tradition of providing the most nurturing care available for young children and their families. We share our faith as we love them, impart Christ-like attitudes and values, enjoy weekly chapel services using Godly Play, celebrate the Christian holidays, and offer daily thanks to God in prayer.

St. Mark’s Preschool and PDO offers classes for children ages one to five years old. Tuition varies based on class frequency.  For more information, visit St. Mark's Preschool and PDO.  

You are invited to explore St. Mark’s Preschool and Parents’ Day Out! We would love to meet you and your child, take you on a tour of our facilities, and tell you more about all the good things happening at St. mark’s Preschool. Please let us know when you would like to visit in person by calling (615) 895-1803 or emailing preschool@stmarkstn.org.

If you have a location or business where we could advertise St. Mark’s Preschool or drop of brochures, please let Director Samantha Daniel know at preschool@stmarkstn.org.