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

"The Messenger" Online Newsletter

September 15, 2026

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A County Fair


With this being fair season, I would like to say just a bit about the biblical connection to county fairs. We may think that a county fair is solely a secular event. I must admit that some of what takes places is secular. However, much of what takes place has roots with the divine.


Scattered throughout Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy (mainly) one finds several times when God called upon the Hebrew people to celebrate the bounty and love of God. These are times in which the favor of God was displayed and the people were to stop and take note. In

other words, God expected people to take a break from their routine to give thanks, praise God, and worship. Over time three feast, or festivals, became prominent among the Hebrew people. All of these have some parallel in our American Christian culture.


The first and most prominent is the Jewish feast of Passover. This event celebrates God’s deliverance of the Hebrew people from bondage in Egypt and God “passing over” the Hebrew people when the angel of death went through Egypt; this is our celebration of Easter. The second

feast is that of Weeks. This is to be celebrated seven weeks after Passover. It is also known as First Fruits or In Gathering, and is connected to the Day of Pentecost. Pentecost means fifty. A

week of weeks is forty-nine days, Pentecost is the fiftieth day. The purpose of this celebration is to thank God for the wheat harvest. The third feast is that of Booths, or Tabernacles, which happens in conjunction with Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement). This was a time when the High Priest would sacrifice to God for the forgiveness of the nation. The Festival of Booths was also a time of thanksgiving and praise for the harvest. People gave thanks to God for the bounty that would see them through the winter.


The annual county fair (and Thanksgiving) is our connection to this biblical idea. At the county fair we bring our produce and livestock to show, yes, but also to say, “Look what God has done!” God has brought us to this good and fruitful land; God has blessed us with children

(hence the pageants), and given us this bounty. As a people we then gather to break from our routine and celebrate God’s goodness and gifts.


This does not make the county fair a church event, but it is always helpful to remember where we come from and the origins of the things we do. Whether or not you attend a fair of some sort, I hope we all take the opportunity to say a prayer of thanks for the harvest, the produce, and the blessings we celebrate. God bless.

Our upcoming series is:

Pressing On.

We will explore our membership vows: prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness.


October 4: Philippians 3:4b-14 (Press On) [Witness]

October 11: Philippians 4:1-9 (Rejoice in the Lord) [Presence]

October 18: Psalm 99 (A God who Hears) [Prayers]

October 25: Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18 (Quality not Quantity) [Gifts]

November 8: Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25 (Choose This Day) [Service]


This series will focus on stewardship with November 1 being All Saints Sunday, and November 15 will be Stewardship Sunday – God bless. Rick

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.

Next WNT Menu, 9/30:

Baked Lemon Chicken with Orzo Pasta, Buttered Peas, Salad Bar,

Dinner Roll, and Black Forest Cake

Adult Courses in October


HONORING YOUR LIFE: Obituaries, Funerals, and Body Disposition

led by Rev. Martha Touchton with Josh Brown, October 14, 21, & 28

Amidst all that occurs leading up to one's death, often the last thing given careful thought and planning is how your life will be remembered and celebrated. We can do better! Join the conversation as we prepare for one of life's ultimate moments and give your family the best gift.

 

 

NOT IN MY BACKYARD: Data Centers and Landfills

led by Greg Denton, October 4 and 21 in Room 407/409

Retired environmental scientist Greg Denton will explore the environmental issues associated with two current hot-button topics that have captured the public's attention, data centers and landfills. If you are interested in these topics and would like to learn more, please plan to attend!


COFFEE TALK: Current Events, Music, Culture and Faith!

led by Butler Touchton, October 28 in the Narthex

Join Butler Touchton in a lively discussion about what is happening in the larger community around us and how it intersects with our daily discipleship.    

 

FUN AND GAMES with David and Hannah

October 14, 21, & 28 in Room 502

All ages are invited to share, learn, and practice the best family friendly card games around! Bring your competitive spirit and your own games to share, and we’ll bring some new favorites as well. 



At Wednesday Night Together, we gather beyond the confines of our pews and classes and across generational boundaries to go deeper in our discipleship of Jesus Christ and our relationships with one another, our community, and the world around us.

News!

St. Mark's Celebrates World Communion Sunday and Special Offering This Sunday, October 4th

“Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.” 1 Corinthians 10:17

 

Holy Communion is more than a meal we share—it is a visible sign of our belonging to God and to one another in Christ. Though we come from different cultures, countries, traditions, and circumstances, we gather around one bread and one cup as one body. This coming Sunday, October 4th, we will join with other United Methodists and Christians to celebrate Holy Communion at a worldwide table, a place where divisions give way to connection, where diversity is celebrated, and where the global church is united in Christ. As the hymn “We are the Church” states, “All who follow Jesus, All around the world, Yes we’re the Church Together!” 

 

As we share in the bread and cup, we also share in a global mission: supporting diverse leaders through scholarships and training as we receive a communion rail offering for United Methodist Special Sundays. Your gift empowers students from underrepresented communities to serve and lead the church into the future. Half of all donations to our World Communion Sunday communion rail offering will fund scholarships for students of color pursuing ordained ministry, while the rest support leadership development and training that advance inclusion, diversity, equity, and access worldwide. 
 

Puzzle Tournament

Wesley Foundation is inviting you to their first Puzzle Tournament on November 9 at 2:00. Bring your team of 4 and be ready to compete! Each team will have a table and the same puzzle as everyone else. When the timer begins, the puzzles will be unwrapped and puzzling will start.


Prizes will be awarded to the 3 teams with the fastest times! But everyone wins as they support Wesley. The cost to enter a team is $80. You can get more information or register on our webpage: www.wesleyfoundationmt.org
Register Now!

College Students and Beyond invited!

People attending or recently graduated from college and graduate school gather to explore current issues of faith and life and grow together in The Orchard, a place to be loved, nurtured, grow in faith, and to bear fruit.


This class is led by Trish Clark and meets in Room 406. Contact David Cowan at (615) 893-3455 for more information

Sunday Youth Dinners

We have spaces still available if you would like to provide a meal for the youth! In the link below, you will find the open dates we need to feed our young people. We eat at 5 pm on Sunday nights and would love to eat with you all! If this is something you, your family, or your Sunday school would like to be involved in, sign up with the link below or let me know.
Youth Dinners Sign Up

Fall Festival is November 14th!

St. Mark’s Fall Festival will be on Saturday, November 14th  from 4-6 p.m.! All ages are invited to attend. Bring your kids, grandkids, neighbors, and friends!


If your adult Christian Education class or group can host a carnival game, please email Hannah Underwood by Sunday, October 11th. An email will be sent out to adult Christian Education classes/ministry leaders in the following weeks with more information. 


Fall Festival Donations

St. Mark’s Family Ministries Team is collecting the following items for the upcoming Fall Festival:

• Candy

• Yum Earth Allergy Free Candy

• Prizes for children 

• Monetary donations to help cover additional costs

Please place all donations in the blue bins located in the Narthex. Thank you for supporting this community event! 

Women's Bible Study

Thursdays, 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.

October 15 - November 12

We're getting a jump on Christmas with Joy of Every Longing Heart: An Advent Study

Led by Patti Daws, Room 1203. Please purchase your own book!
 

Join with others from St. Mark's for a day trip to Decatur, AL for hands-on mission work, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.!

Most volunteer tasks do require a good deal of physical activity

and for volunteers to be on their feet most of the time. 

Some tasks are available for persons with limited mobility.  



Current needs are:

· Building or verifying UMCOR cleaning buckets, UMCOR kits, or Tornado buckets

· Sorting, bundling and boxing supplies

· Cleaning: including sweeping, vacuuming and cleaning the restroom.

· As needed, labeling and loading supplies on pallets or in trailers.

· Boxing Christmas Shoe Boxes in cases, placing cases on pallets, building pallets with the appropriate # of girl and boy cases for missionary shipments. Packing requested school supplies for missionaries participating in the Shoe Box Ministry.

· Building pallets of supplies, which includes moving and stacking boxes, shrink wrap and stretch wrapping operations.

 

Transportation will be by St. Mark’s bus. 

Cost per Person: Lunch on your own at a local eatery 

THURSDAY, October 22

· 7:00 a.m. Departure from

St. Mark’s UMC

· 4:00 p.m. Return to

St. Mark’s UMC

Minimum: 5 persons

Maximum: 15 persons

For more information or to register by October 1st,

Email martha@stmarkstn.org
 

SAGES News

The Sages will meet October 12, 9:30 AM in Room 503-505.


The SAGES had an enjoyable time at the Glade Restaurant in Gladeville on September 28. Our next trip will be to Muddy Pond in October, date TBD. Please sign up in the office or The Gathering Room. Look for the book!


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

 

Thanks to all the Sages for each and every contribution you make to this ministry.

Preschool Updates

St. Mark's UMC Announces


Job Opening:

Preschool Director


Dear St. Mark’s,


With gratitude for the leadership in place during this season of transition with Interim Director Sarah Butler, and in accordance with state childcare licensing policies which require that an Interim Director may only serve for 60 days, St. Mark’s is opening a search process to discern the next permanent Preschool Director who will help us build on our strengths and continue long tradition of providing the highest quality, nurturing care available for young children and their families. We are also exploring ways to expand our program to better serve our neighborhood and community in the future.

Applicants must meet the requirements of the State of Tennessee Licensure Rules for Child Care Agencies. A Bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant field is preferred, along with experience in childcare administration appropriate business acumen, and familiarity with management software.

Application materials and job description for this position are available at https://www.stmarkstn.org/resources. All applications, resumes, and cover letters should be submitted to preschool@stmarkstn.org and jobs@stmarkstn.org by Friday, October 9, 2026.

Please keep St. Mark’s Preschool Ministry Board in your prayers as we move through this important process.

Peace,

Rev. Martha Touchton
Apply for Preschool Director

Mission Updates

Two-Ton Delivery

The trailer and pickup from St. Mark’s United Methodist Church was at capacity when it arrived at Red Bird Mission on Monday. Our hunger advocates in Murfreesboro, Tennessee were able to make connections with the Society of St. Andrew to get 4,000 pounds of sweet potatoes for hunger relief here in the hills of southeastern Kentucky.

 

Thankfully, there were several volunteers on campus from Alabama and Georgia available to help Mission staff unload quickly at God’s Storehouse and Community Outreach. The fresh sweet potatoes will be a welcome addition for dozens of families coming this week for Family to Family food boxes and Senior Commodity Supplemental Food Program distribution next week.


See below for a note from Eddie Robertson of Cash Savers, who was glad to participate in the donating and is doing everything he can to help St. Mark's UMC's mission to feed the hungry! Thank you, Eddie!
 

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:

October 18 (one bouquet)

November 1 (one bouquet)

November 15 (one bouquet)

December 13 (one or both bouquets)

December 20 (one bouquet)


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

Upcoming Calendar

Tuesday, September 29

9:00 a.m. Tai Chi for Arthritis & Fall Prevention (RSVP only) - Gym

9:40 a.m. Preschool Chapel - Sanctuary

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

5:00 p.m. Girl Scout Troop #2408 Meeting - RM 212

5:00 p.m. Little League Practice - Philpott Field


Wednesday, September 30

9:40 a.m. Preschool Chapel - Sanctuary

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

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

6:00 p.m. WNT Programming: Mahjong, Rev. Rickey's Bible Study

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


Thursday, October 1

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

10:30 a.m. Knit Together - RM 503/505

6:30 p.m. Adult Children of Alcoholics Meeting - RM 1203


Friday, October 2

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


Saturday, October 3

7:30 a.m. United Methodist Men Meeting & Breakfast - Banquet H

8:30 a.m. Alcoholics Anonymous - RM 503/505


Sunday, October 4

9:15 a.m. Christian Education

10:30 a.m. Worship - Sanctuary

11:30 a.m. Women's Chorale Rehearsal - Choir Room 1119

2:00 p.m. Ministry Council Meeting - Banquet Room A

4:00 p.m. Bible Study - RM 1203

4:00 p.m. GriefShare - RM 504

5:00 p.m. Chancel Ringers - RM 1117


Monday, October 5

Preschool Closed - Fall Break

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

12:00 p.m. Note Writers - Office Workroom

5:30 p.m. Cub Scouts - Banquet Hall/Rec Center/Youth Center/Kitchen/212/214/302/303

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


Tuesday, October 6

Preschool Closed - Fall Break

9:00 a.m. Tai Chi for Arthritis & Fall Prevention (RSVP only) - Gym

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

5:00 p.m. Little League Practice - Philpott Field


Wednesday, October 7

Preschool Closed - Fall Break

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

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


Thursday, October 8

Preschool Closed - Fall Break

10:00 a.m. Quilting Bee - Banquet Hall/Kitchen

10:30 a.m. Knit Together - RM 503/505

6:30 p.m. Adult Children of Alcoholics Meeting - RM 503/505


Friday, October 9

Preschool Closed - Fall Break

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


Saturday, October 10

8:30 a.m. Alcoholics Anonymous - RM 503/505


Sunday, October 11

9:15 a.m. Christian Education

10:30 a.m. Worship - Sanctuary

4:00 p.m. Bible Study - RM 1203

4:00 p.m. Finance Committee Meeting - Banquet Hall A

4:00 p.m. GriefShare - RM 504

4:00 p.m. SONlight Youth Choir - RM 1119

5:00 p.m. Chancel Ringers - RM 1117

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


Monday, October 12

Office Closed - Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day

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

9:40 a.m. Preschool Chapel - Sanctuary

12:00 p.m. Note Writers - Office Workroom

5:00 p.m. Cub Scouts - Banquet Hall/Rec Center/Youth Center/Kitchen/212/214/302/303

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

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

6:00 p.m. Staff Parrish Relations Committee Meeting - RM 506


Tuesday, October 13

9:00 a.m. Tai Chi for Arthritis & Fall Prevention (RSVP only) - Gym

9:40 a.m. Preschool Chapel - Sanctuary

10:00 a.m. Mary Martha Circle - RM 502

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

5:00 p.m. Girl Scout Troop #2408 Meeting - RM 212

5:00 p.m. Little League Practice - Philpott Field


Wednesday, October 14

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

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

6:00 p.m. WNT Programs

7:00 p.m. Chancel Choir - RM 1119
 
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1St. 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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