June Communion Rail Offering

The June 1st Communion Rail offering will go towards the medical/living expenses of Amber Den Exter. Amber, who has been a cello player for our cantata orchestra for years, was involved in a serious auto accident just days after our Palm Sunday cantata. This accident left her with extensive paralysis and she will be unable to work for the foreseeable future. Please join the choir and staff in praying for Amber.

As part of your 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.

The next Communion Sunday is June 1^st!

Bring pop-top cans of potatoes, corn, or green beans!

"For I was hungry and you gave me food..."  Matthew 25:35

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.

SAGES News

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

The Alzheimers/Dementia Support Group will meet Thursday, May 22 in Room 503-505. Pam Roberts and Lochia Farrar will be our resource guests.

The SAGES will visit the Scarritt-Bennett Center in Nashville tomorrow, Wednesday, May 21. Please sign up in the church office or the narthex. Look for the book!! The bus will leave the church at 10:30 AM.

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 thanks, as well, to Connie Kloos for the delivery of the altar flowers to our homebound and nursing home residents.

Thank you, Sages!

Missions Updates

Impact children’s lives for Christ

Read • Give • Pray

The joyful sights and sounds of Project Transformation (PT) day-campers will fill soon two Rutherford County host sites. You can impact children’s lives when you read, give and pray for these campers. Starting June 3, campers will participate in a variety of activities designed for literacy, social-emotional learning and personal enrichment. Please help share the love of Christ in these ways:

READ with PT campers during one or both weeks St. Mark’s will serve: June 3 – 5 at Smyrna First UMC and July 21 – 24 at Murfreesboro First Cumberland Presbyterian. Or, help with family fun night on Thursday, July 17. Sign up to serve.

GIVE online to offset the cost of supplies and books for campers. Choose Missions (fund) > Local Missions (sub-fund), and note “Project Transformation.” Or, send a check this week to St. Mark’s marked “PT.”

PRAY for PT campers, student interns, staff and churches throughout the summer. Thank you for helping share Christ’s love with children in Rutherford County through Project Transformation.

Contact for questions: St. Mark’s PT coordinator Jennifer Marlatt.

SERVING IN MISSION IN GUATEMALA

I recently returned from Quetzaltenango, Guatemala where I joined with staff and members of the MTSU Wesley Foundation including Beth Morris, Rev. John Weaver, Delaney Reynolds, and Katelynn Finchum, in a week of mission and ministry with ACD Guatemala (https://acdguatemala.org/who-we-are/). While the Wesley Foundation has sponsored several mission trips to ACD in previous years, they had not been there for two years and many changes and improvements had been made in the meantime.  I was excited to be invited to travel with them and see what the possibilities might be for St. Mark’s to become more deeply involved in this international mission.

Our team participated in five mission projects in three days: pouring of an 8’ x8’ slab of concrete flooring, delivery and installation of a EcoStove with outdoor ventilation, delivery and installation of an EcoFilter to provide clean water, painting a school classroom, and leading Bible lessons for about 45 children. The concrete slabs, stoves, and water filters aim to improve the health and sanitation of their recipients, enabling families to have clean water and cleaner, safer cooking facilities. Amidst these tasks, we sought to lift up the recipients’ dignity, and to generously express God’s love and hope to each person with whom we were in contact.

We also had opportunities to learn about ACD’s healthy cooking classes, medical clinics, and school scholarships, and took part in several enrichment experiences, including learning to make tortillas and guacamole, touring a local Chocolate Museum and factory, visiting ancient Mayan ruins, and shopping in Antigua. All these experiences helped us have a greater understanding of the local culture and the blessings and needs of our neighbors in Guatemala.  

If you would like to learn more about this trip and how you or your class or group might be in mission in Guatemala, I would be glad to share my experiences in the coming weeks!

Peace,

Preschool Updates

What's Happening in Preschool

We had 26 children graduate from our Preschool last week.

We will go straight into our Summer Fun Program Tuesday, May 20th. Summer Fun will conclude with VBS, June 26th. The preschool is still in need of staff and substitutes for the 2025-2026 school year. The preschool still has openings in our program for the 2025-2026 school year. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Mrs. Samantha.