The newsletter for St. Mark's UMC in Murfreesboro, TN | | "The Messenger" Online Newsletter | | From Your Senior Pastor... | |
As I write my final newsletter article, I find myself reflecting on what a blessing it has been to serve as your pastor. While transitions can bring uncertainty, I want to leave you with a truth that has guided me throughout my ministry: the church is bigger than any pastor.
Long before I arrived, God was at work in this congregation and long after I leave, God will continue to be at work. This church belongs to Jesus Christ. Its strength is found not in one leader, but in the faith, generosity, service, and love of God's people.
I have seen those gifts in you time and again. I have watched you care for one another, serve your community, and remain faithful through both joyful and difficult seasons. Those qualities will continue to guide St. Mark's into the future.
Thank you for allowing me to walk alongside you in ministry. Thank you for your support, your prayers, and the many memories we have shared.
As I say goodbye, I do so with gratitude for our time together and confidence in God's future for this church.
Tommy
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Summer Office Hours
Beginning in June and continuing through August, the church office will be closed on Fridays. This change, approved by the Staff Parish Relations Committee, is designed to offer our staff greater flexibility during the summer months.
When possible, staff may complete their weekly responsibilities earlier in the week and enjoy a longer weekend. Others may choose to work on Fridays in a quieter setting, using the day for planning, study, or preparation without the need to keep regular office hours. As always, a clergy person will be available and responsive (by phone or appointment).
The SPRC appreciates your understanding as we take this small step to support the health, focus, and effectiveness of our ministry team.
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The United Methodist Church's New Vision Statement
The United Methodist Church is a worldwide family of faith, united by one mission: making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. We live out this mission through a covenant of connection that binds us together—across communities, cultures, and continents. Local churches and extension ministries of the Church provide the most significant arenas through which disciple-making occurs. Our connection gives us strength, resources, and the ability to accomplish more together than any single congregation could do alone.
THE MISSION
The United Methodist Church exists to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
OUR VISION
The United Methodist Church forms disciples of Jesus Christ who, empowered by the Holy Spirit, love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in local communities and worldwide connections.
LOVE BOLDLY We passionately love God and, like Jesus, embrace and include people of every age, nation, race, gender, and walk of life. [Matthew 22:37-39 | John 13:34-35]
SERVE JOYFULLY With the heart of Christ, we journey alongside the most vulnerable among us, offering care and compassion with joy. [Psalm 100:1 | Nehemiah 8:10 | John 13:14-15 | 1 Peter 4:10]
LEAD COURAGEOUSLY Following Jesus’ example, we seek to resist and dismantle all systems of evil, injustice, and oppression, striving for peace, justice, and reconciliation. [Joshua 1:9 | Ephesians 6:10
THE CALL TO ACTION
This vision is more than words—it is an invitation to embrace joy and hope as we live God’s mission. It provides a clear, Christ-centered framework for missional unity and collaboration across our worldwide connection. The Mission of the denomination is our driving purpose, our why. The Vision tells us where we are going and how we will continue to live into and accomplish our mission. In this season, God is calling United Methodists to embody this vision as we
§ Grow and form disciples
§ Develop Christ-like leaders
§ Stand in solidarity with the poor and the vulnerable
§ Seek health and wholeness for all people and creation
You will be hearing more about this vision in the coming months. Want to know more today? Visit www.ResourceUMC.org/Vision.
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Order Your VBS T-Shirt by Monday, June 15!
Click here to order your VBS t-shirt! The cost is $10 per shirt, and you can pay online or in the church office.
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2026 VBS Mission
Throughout VBS, we will highlight and support the Murfreesboro Cold Patrol. This non-profit works year-round to support vulnerable neighbors living outdoors by connecting them with essential resources, care, treatment, and pathways toward stable housing. St. Mark's is excited to support their mission through our VBS mission and June coin offering!
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The Orchard
Younger Adults, including current and recently graduated undergraduate and graduate students and early career folks, gather to explore current issues of faith and life, and grow together. The Orchard is a place to be nurtured, to grow in faith, and to bear fruit; all are welcome! This class is led by Trish Clark and meets in Room 502. Contact David Cowan (615) 893-3455 for more information.
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St. Mark's Name Tags
Learning and using one another's names is a valuable way to build connections and show our love for our neighbors. This is why we provide name tags for our church family to wear at church events.
It may also help our new pastor as he puts names to faces during his transition!
If you want a name tag or need an updated one, please do one of the following: visit the welcome desk, contact the office, or fill out the Shelby form linked below.
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Register Your Child for VBS!
Get ready for Snowball Mountain Challenge VBS: Find Your Strength in God! June 22-25 from 9 a.m. to noon. Children ages 4 through 5th grade are invited to attend. Younger children of VBS volunteers and kids enrolled at St. Mark’s Preschool are also welcome. Invite a child in your life!
Click here to register your child!
Adult and youth volunteers can register here!
I invite you to pray for our leaders, helpers, and children throughout the week of VBS 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 June 17th!
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Wednesday, June 17th at 6:00-7:00 PM in the Youth Wing - Youth Volunteer Orientation
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Cedar Crest Camp Registration
If you have registered your child or youth for Cedar Crest Camp this summer, please click here to let us know which week they’ll be attending. We will send camp scholarships for the students on this list!
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Prayer Garden Blooms
The Prayer Garden flowers are blooming beautifully. Be sure to visit them and enjoy. Many thanks to our volunteer gardeners!
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Goodbyes and Hellos - How You Can Help! - a word from Josh Brown
Experiencing a change in lead pastors is a significant event in the life of any congregation, and saying goodbye to Rev. Ward will be emotionally challenging for us as a church family. While it may feel like everything in our church is about to change, that is not the case! St. Mark’s will continue to be a vibrant congregation actively seeking to know, love, and serve God in a myriad of ways within our church walls and beyond, to our community and world.
The Staff/Parish Team and church staff are working together to make this pastoral transition as smooth as possible. You are invited to join us as say farewell to Tommy, Hillary, and Liliana, and welcome Rev. Wade and his family into our church family. Here are a few things you can do in the coming weeks to be an instrument of God’s grace in this time:
1) Pray. Pray for Tommy, Hillary, and Liliana as they prepare for ministry in a new setting and pray that their house will sell soon. Pray for Rev. Rickey Wade, his wife Becky and their family as they prepare to come to St. Mark’s. Please also pray for and encourage our staff as they go through this time of change. Together, we can trust that God will work through the decisions and processes of this transition in the best way possible.
2) Lend a hand. Look and ask for ways you can be helpful to both pastors as they are saying goodbyes and hellos, moving to new homes, and getting used to new places and faces. If you are willing to lend a hand at one of the special events happening in the coming weeks, please volunteer to Rev. Touchton.
3) Give a gift. We would like to send Tommy and Hillary off with a monetary gift that will make this move a little easier and express our appreciation for all they have done in their 8 years with us. You can place a check in the offering plate or give electronically through our website.
4) Plan to attend the farewell reception for Tommy and Hillary next Sunday after worship. We’ll be serving heavy hors d’oeuvres and dessert, along with special treats for the kids, so you don’t have to worry about going out to lunch after church! We will celebrate this season we have enjoyed with Tommy and give thanks for his pastoral leadership, especially through the pandemic and our denominational challenges. This will be a special time you won’t want to miss!
5) Finally, be sure to say your personal goodbyes. Most of us have received one of Tommy’s awesome notes, so this would be a perfect time to write a note back, telling him, plus Hillary and Liliana, what they have meant to you, and encouraging Tommy in his new appointment. We will have a basket at next week’s reception to collect your cards and notes.
Thank you for all you have already done to give your love and support to our pastors and staff. Let’s make the coming weeks of transition a meaningful time full of love and grace.
Josh Brown, Chair
St. Mark’s UMC Pastor/Parish Relations Team
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Milestones and Transitions
In the coming months, many milestones and changes are happening in the life of the St. Mark’s family, and the staff wants you to be prepared and participating as we celebrate each one together. Be sure and mark your calendar with the dates given below, and watch St. Mark’s various media so you can be fully engaged in all that is ahead. In the meantime, please be in prayer for each person and situation involved, as well as our church as a whole.
As we prepare for each of these special events, helping hands are needed. If you are willing to assist with any of the celebrations listed below, please volunteer to me at martha@stmarkstn.org.
May God bless St. Mark’s UMC in the days and weeks ahead!
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Save These Dates:
Sunday, June 14th – 11:30 a.m. Ministry Celebration Reception and Send-Off for Rev. Tommy Ward, Hillary and Liliana
Sunday, June 21st – Rev. Ward’s final Sunday at St. Mark’s UMC
Sunday, June 28th – Reception and Celebration in honor of the commissioning of Hannah Underwood
Sunday, July 5th – Churchwide Potluck Brunch, 9:15 – 10:15 a.m. in lieu of Christian Education
Sunday, July 12th – Rev. Rickey Wade’s first Sunday preaching at St. Mark’s UMC, Reception following.
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The Parkinson Support Group will meet Wednesday, June 24 at 10:30 in Room 1203.
The Sages will be leaving Thursday, June 18, at 9:30 AM from St. Mark’s going to Portland in the church van. Please sign up in the church office. Look for the book!
The Sages Ministry Team will meet at 9:30 AM on July 13 in Room 503-505.
And remember, each Monday SAGES deliver the Sunday altar flowers to our homebound and nursing home residents.
Our Communion Teams are scheduled to share communion with our homebound friends next on Sunday, August 2 or sometime during the following week.
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FOOD PROVIDED TO THE ATLAS PROGRAM FOR HOMELESS CHILDREN-6/1/2026
Information recently became available that there was an urgent need for food to support approximately 1,300 homeless kids in Rutherford County during their summer break. St. Mark’s Disaster Team, along with St. Mark’s Pairs & Spares and Pathfinders Sunday School Classes, provided money to purchase food. Members of St. Mark’s Mission Team purchased and delivered food on June 1, 2026. The food included chicken, tuna, microwavable pasta meals and macaroni and cheese.
If you are interested in supporting future Atlas Program food collection opportunities, please contact Karen Alexander at 615-477-4244.
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FOOD PROVIDED TO THE ATLAS PROGRAM FOR HOMELESS CHILDREN-6/1/2026
On May 28, 2026, members of the St. Mark’s Mission Team and volunteers packed 144 food boxes for Red Bird Mission. On June 4, 2026, members of the St. Mark’s Disaster Team delivered the 144 food boxes to Red Bird Mission-Community Outreach. These food boxes are delivered every 6 weeks and distributed to the Red Bird Mission community.
If you are interested in volunteering with this ministry, please contact Karen Alexander at 615-477-4244).
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Meeting People Where They Are
Seekers Class Continues Outreach Ministry at RuCo Pride
For the third consecutive year, members and friends of the Seekers Christian Education Class from St. Mark's United Methodist Church will participate in outreach mission at the annual Rutherford County Pride event, commonly known as RuCo Pride.
Held during Pride Month each June, the RuCo Pride Annual Celebration brings together community organizations, nonprofits, churches, businesses, and local residents for a fun day of fellowship, education, entertainment, and community engagement. Through informational booths, music, food vendors, and opportunities for conversation, the event seeks to foster connection, understanding, and support among the diverse members of the Rutherford County community in a family friendly environment.
Pride Month commemorates the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, a series of demonstrations in New York City that began on June 28, 1969, in response to police raids and the widespread harassment, discrimination, and denial of civil rights experienced by LGBTQ+ individuals. This was viewed as a major turning point in the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.
For many in the Wesleyan tradition, participation in outreach opportunities such as RuCo Pride reflects core principles of John Wesley's ministry and theology. Wesley famously declared, "The world is my parish," emphasizing that Christians are called to carry the love of Christ beyond the walls of the church and into the communities where people live, work, and gather. He consistently sought out those who were overlooked, marginalized, or disconnected from the church, believing that God's grace is at work in every person before the church ever arrives.
This outreach also reflects Wesley's understanding of prevenient grace, the belief that God is already at work in the lives of all people, as well as his commitment to acts of mercy, hospitality, and relationship building. Wesley's words from his sermon "Catholic Spirit" remain relevant today: "Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike?" By engaging in respectful conversation, offering hospitality, listening to others' stories, and extending Christ's love to all, participants seek to embody the Wesleyan conviction that every person is a beloved child of God worthy of dignity and compassion.
Through this outreach, members and friends of the Seekers Class continue a commitment to meeting people where they are, building bridges of understanding, sharing the love of Christ, and authentic Christian witness.
If you are interested in joining us at the Oakland Mansion this Saturday from 2-8PM, simply click on the link and sign-up for a shift. We hope to see you there!
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Summer Mission Trip
- Give financial assistance for our missionaries and projects
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Donate new packs of disposable diapers, baby food, sewing machines; and gently used fabric, children books, and shoes for all ages, all for distribution at Henderson Settlement. These donations are due Wednesday, July 1st and should be placed in the Narthex donation bins.
- Pray for these people as they prepare to be in mission:
YOUTH
Kyle Anderson
Sylvia Anderson
Connor Cahill
Brystol Christopher
Rachel Jones
Zoe Wright
ADULTS
Trish Clark
Cathy Cowan
David Cowan
Debb Hobbs
Butler Touchton
Martha Touchton
Hannah Underwood
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Red Bird Celebration of Life for Paul Givens
Red Bird School and Mission have planned a service to celebrate Paul at their settlement for July 2nd at 2 p.m. EST. There are limited overnight rooms available, but all must bring their own food. Contact Karen at 615-477-4244 for details if you are interested in attending. The service will be recorded.
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Support the Mission Through Faithful Summer Giving
At St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, our mission of Making Disciples of Jesus Christ continues throughout every season of the year. Even during the slower pace of summer, the ministry of the church remains active through worship, children and youth programs, missions, pastoral care, and ongoing outreach to our community. While schedules change and many families travel during the summer months, the work of the church continues week after week.
Summer often brings a decline in attendance and giving, yet the financial responsibilities of the church remain steady. Ministry programs, mission commitments, staffing, and facility operations continue regardless of the season. Faithful giving during the summer helps ensure that St. Mark’s remains strong, stable, and fully engaged in serving others both within our congregation and throughout the community.
One of the easiest and most convenient ways to continue supporting the mission of the church while away is through our secure electronic giving system. Included are simple instructions for setting up a personal account, along with information outlining the many flexible ways financial gifts may be shared through St. Mark’s. If you have questions or would like assistance finding the giving option that works best for your situation, please contact Buddy Howell in the church office.
Thank you for your continued generosity and for the many ways you help sustain the life, ministry, and mission of St. Mark’s throughout the year!
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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:
June 21 (one bouquet)
July 26 (one or both bouquets)
August 16 (one or both bouquets)
August 23 (one bouquet)
Several more 2026 dates are available. Call the church office at 615-893-3455 for more information.
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Upcoming Calendar
Wednesday, June 10
TWK Annual Conference - First UMC Murfreesboro
3:30 p.m. Chair Yoga - RM 1203
6:15 p.m. Dots Rehearsal - RM 1119
7:00 p.m. Chancel Choir - RM 1119
Thursday, June 11
10:00 a.m. Quilting Bee - Banquet Hall/Kitchen
10:30 a.m. Knit Together - RM 503/505
6:30 p.m. ACOA Meeting - RM 503/505
Friday, June 12
VBS Decorating - Gym stage/Children's Wing
10:00 a.m. Bible Study - RM 503/505
1:00 p.m. Youth Service Project - Journey Home
5:30 p.m. MT Triathlon Club - Parking Lot
Saturday, June 13
8:30 a.m. AA Group - RM 503/505
Sunday, June 14
9:15 a.m. Christian Education
10:30 a.m. Worship - Sanctuary
11:30 a.m. Reception for Rev. Tommy and Hillary - Gym
2:00 p.m. Sewing Class - RM 503/505
Monday, June 15
VBS Decorating - All VBS Areas
10:00 a.m. Watercolor Class - Banquet Room
5:30 p.m. Big Book Group - RM 503/505
Tuesday, June 16
9:40 a.m. Preschool Chapel - Sanctuary
10:00 a.m. Staff Meeting - RM 503/505
Wednesday, June 17
1:30 p.m. Youth Top Golf Nashville - Van 2018
3:30 p.m. Chair Yoga - RM 1203
6:00 p.m. VBS Youth Training - Youth Wing
7:00 p.m. Chancel Choir - RM 1119
Thursday, June 18
9:45 a.m. SAGES go to Portland - Van 2018
10:30 a.m. Knit Together - RM 503/505
6:30 p.m. ACOA Meeting - RM 503/505
Friday, June 19
10:00 a.m. Bible Study - RM 503/505
5:30 p.m. MT Triathlon Club - Parking Lot
Saturday, June 20
8:30 a.m. AA Group - RM 503/505
Sunday, June 21
9:15 a.m. Christian Education
10:30 a.m. Worship - Sanctuary
11:30 a.m. Brave Women of Faith - Brunch & Brew Cafe
12:00 p.m. Flying Solo Fellowship Lunch
2:00 p.m. Sewing Class - RM 503/505
Monday, June 22
9:00 a.m. Snowball Mountain VBS - All Rooms, Van 2018
5:30 p.m. Big Book Group - RM 503/505
Tuesday, June 23
9:00 a.m. Snowball Mountain VBS - All Rooms, Van 2018
2:00 p.m. Staff Meeting - RM 503/505
Wednesday, June 24
9:00 a.m. Snowball Mountain VBS - All Rooms, Van 2018
10:30 a.m. Parkinson's Support Group - RM 1203
7:00 p.m. Chancel Choir - RM 1119
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