The newsletter for St. Mark's UMC in Murfreesboro, TN
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"The Messenger"  Online Newsletter

January 2, 2018
Dr. Craig Goff
From the Pastor

This past advent and Christmas season, we heard a lot of wonderful music at St. Mark's.  From flute choirs on Wednesday nights to clarinets on Sunday morning to a great hand bell choir on a Monday evening and more. 

We now enter the Season of Epiphany.  The music we hear might be slightly different from the music we heard at Christmas, but we continue to celebrate God's coming to us.  At Christmas time we celebrate the shepherds who were the first to hear the good news of Jesus' birth.  At Epiphany we celebrate the coming of the magi.  Popular piety often collapses these two events, but in reality it took the magi who were coming hundreds of miles a little longer to get to Jesus than the shepherds who were just a few miles away. 

In remembering advent and the Epiphany are separate events we are able to continue the celebration of God coming to us.  What a joy to experience the dawn of redeeming grace and the light of the world in the manifestation and birth of our Savior!

Happy Epiphany!

Craig

January 7 - Can I believe in both science and the Bible?
January 14 - Does God really care about my sex life?
January 21 - Do I need to be "saved"?
January 28 - Is demonic possession a real thing?
February 4 - Why do bad things happen?

Come to wrestle with these questions in a supportive, welcoming community of faith.Come and worship! 8:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Sundays
SAGES News

The first meeting of the 2018 SAGES Ministry Team will be in Room 504 at 9:30 AM on Monday, January 8.

The SAGES first trip of the New Year is to Bell Buckle. We will leave St. Mark's at 10 am on Friday, January 12.

Signup sheets are in the Narthex (on the table as you enter from the sanctuary) and in the church office.We will have lunch before we return. There will be a $5 charge to ride the bus.
Youth News 
We leave for our ski trip on Thursday morning.  Call Beth now if you want to jump on the bus! 
 
This Sunday, we are back on our regular sunday evening schedule with SONlight choir at 4:00 and youth at 5:00. We will end at 6:50 so we can attend the Epipany Ring at 7:00 in the sanctuary. 
 
We are taking registrations for Warmth in Winter.  Our deadline is January 14 and the cost is $130 for this great weekend event!  After Jan. 14th, the price goes to $150 if space is available.  You can get the information at http://fusionumyf.org/warmth-in-winter/
 
On January 14, we will stay late after FusionYouth for 4-square!  Pick up will be at 8:30.
St. Mark's Gift Bag Ministry 

Thank you for participating in this ministry!  All 227 bags (plus a few last-minute additions!)  were returned to the Collection Center  in a timely manner  and delivered to Reeves Rogers  Monday, December 18th!  Thank you for blessing the children  with your generosity!

Family, Food, Fellowship, Faith, and Fun for the whole Family!
Wednesday Night Together offers a full menu of delicious food, warm table fellowship, and wonderful classes and groups for all ages!
5:15 - 6:00 p.m. Church Family Dinner
Reservations due by 12:00 p.m. Monday
$6.00/Adult, $2.00/Children and MTSU Students, $20.00/Family Max

Wednesday, January 10, 2018
FREE WNT MEAL and
BRING YOUR GIFTS TALENT SHOW
YOUTH CHOIR BENEFIT
 
Wednesday, January 17, 2018
Classes, Choirs and Groups Resume for All Ages!!

See our current W.N.T. Brochure HERE
Children's Coin Offering

Sunday, January 14th benefitting "Bless the Children" of Mexico.

Children who wish to attend public schools in Mexico must provide their own school uniforms and supplies.  This offering gives financial assistance to children and families who might otherwise not be able to afford these items and thus unable attend school.
Bring Your Gifts (a.k.a. Your Talent!)

We need your talent! The  "Bring Your Gifts" Benefit Talent Show will be Wednesday, January 10 at 6:15 p.m. All proceeds from this event will benefit the 2018 SONlight Youth Choir tour. The audience will vote for their favorite talent with monetary donations - so bring your friends and family for support! To enter the talent show, complete an  entry form by Sunday, January 7. Entry fee is $20 per act. Questions? Contact Rev. Mary by  email or phone (615-893-3455). 
St. Mark's Night at MTSU Basketball 
 
St. Mark's night at MTSU basketball is January 13th!  They will be playing Southern Miss and the game will begin at 5:00.  Tickets are $7.00 per person.  Any kids 12 and under can go on the court for the high five tunnel!  Sign up in your Sunday school class or in the church office to reserve a ticket for the whole  family!  Tickets will be held at will call in your name. 
St. Mark's Children Complete Old Testament Study,
Begin Walk Through The New Testament 

Our children are growing in grace and faith and coming to know God and Jesus in a more personal way through their study of Scripture in Christian Education classes! 
 
Children in Age 2 - Kindergarten "SPARK" classes and Grades 1 - 4 "HOLY MOLY" classes completed their walk through the Old Testament and will now embark on a journey through the New Testament beginning this Sunday, January 7th, 9:45 - 10:45 a.m.   All children are welcome and are encouraged to bring their Bibles to class!   

Classroom teachers, shepherds, helpers and substitutes are always needed!  Excellent curriculum and all supplies are provided.  If you are willing to serve in this way, please speak to your child's teacher, a member of the Children's Ministry Team, or Rev. Martha Touchton. 
Stocking Up on Christmas!
three-xmas-stockings.jpg


St. Mark's UMC is receiving an offering of children's underwear, socks, glue sticks, dry erase markers, highlighters and composition notebooks! All Items will be donated to the children of Reeves Rogers School for their use in 2018. Place your donations in the Narthex on Sundays, through January 7th!
Bishop McAlilly's Visit

Bishop McAllily will visit with the Stones River District on Thursday, January 25, 2018.
 
Meeting times are:
  • Clergy - 2:00 PM
  • Laity and Part-Time Clergy (who were not able to attend the earlier meeting) - 6:00 PM 
Location:
Fellowship UMC
2511 New Salem Highway
Murfreesboro TN 37128
In Other News...

Save the Date!   Our Annual Chili Cook Off will be held on January 21st!   

Golf Tournament - Our spring golf tournament will be held at Old For Golf Course on April 14.

View Our Current   Prayer List

See Our Full 

Missed a Sermon?  Click HERE to go to our sermons media page.
St. Mark's UMC | (615) 893-3455 | stmarks@stmarkstn.org