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

June 13, 2017
Dr. Craig Goff
From the Pastor

The staff here at St. Mark's has been studying and discussing a book by Patrick Lencioni called The Ideal Team Player.  Lencioni is founder and president of the Table Group, a management consulting firm specializing in executive team development and organizational health.

In The Ideal Team Player, Lencioni identifies steps members of an organization can take to become better team players...
 
SAGES News

Thanks to all who attended The SAGES ministry team on June 12.  It's always helpful to have everyone present for all our planning times.
 
All the seats are now taken on the bus for The Festival of Wisdom of Grace, Monday, August 7-Thursday, August 10 at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina. Thanks to all who have registered. Please remember the bus will leave at 7:30 A.M. on August 7 and return as soon the conference is over. ..

It's a Sizzling Summer at St. Mark's for Children!

All St. Mark's children and their friends are invited to enjoy a wonderful summer of fun, faith and friend-filled activities, including Music and Drama Camp, Vacation Bible School, The Storytelling Tree, Art Camp, Cedar Crest Camp and more!   Details are available in the BROCHURE HERE

Fill Your Child's Summer With Fun, Faith and Friends!

Lights, Camera, Action!

It's hard to believe summer is almost here. We had a great year of children's music at St. Mark's and are continuing the fun this summer at the 2017 Children's Music (& Drama) Camp - Monday, June 12 through Friday, June 16 (9am-2pm each day).The Children's Music Camp is a weeklong program filled with music (of course!), acting, instrument making (and playing!), movement, set and costume construction, and LOTS of fun! The week will culminate in a final performance of our music "JOSEPH: From the Pit to the Palace" for family and friends on Friday, June 16 at 7pm
Youth News 
We have a great time canoeing and starting our summer off with a "splash"!  Speaking of SPLASH! that begins this week at the Howell pool.  Snacks, swimming and bible study Wednesday  from 4:00 - 6:00pm.  

Our SMALL group, Movies with Bryson and Butler, begins on Thursday.  We will meet at 6:00pm to watch a movie and discuss.  
 
Be in prayer for our senior high mission trip that leaves on Saturday, June 17th.  We will return on the 24th.  
 
We WILL have FusionYouth on June 18th.  It will be dress as your favorite literary character night!  We will also have SPLASH on June 21st. 

We will not have youth on June 25th because we will be helping with vacation Bible school. It's not too late to sign up to help! Let Beth or Martha know if you would like to help or sign up on the bulletin board. Parents of youth! There will be a youth break room so bring your snacks to the youth center to help us feed those volunteers!
Come to the  The Storytelling Tree!


June & July Wednesdays, 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
(except for VBS Week, June 28th)
Especially for Younger Children.

Bring a friend to this special time in St. Mark's Library!

Enjoy stories, simple activities, play time, and check out books for the week ahead! 
St. Mark's UMC  Vacation Bible School -  June 25- 29, 2017
All Heroes Welcome!
Sunday, 4:00 - 7:00 p.m., Monday-Thursday, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Registration Open for Children Ages 4 - 6th Grade  and Younger Children of VBS Volunteers at www.stmarkstn.org/vbs   
 
Our children are surrounded by images of superheroes today, from Captain America to Wonder Woman, Marvel Comics, X-Men and Paw Patrol!  At VBS, your child will learn that Jesus is the only Superhero they will ever need, and that they can be superheroes in love and caring for others!
 
You can be a hero to the children of our church and our community by putting your skills and enthusiasm to work at HERO CENTRAL! To volunteer, contact Eryn Wilson, Kellie Spier, Becky Latta, Kathy Edwards, or Pam Forrest.

" Do good!  Seek peace, and go after it!"  - Psalm 34.14b

VBS SUPERHEROES NEEDED!
Superhero costumes and volunteers to wear them are needed every day of Vacation Bible School to greet the children as they are entering and leaving VBS!  Serve one morning or daily!  To learn more about this secret mission, contact Rev. Martha Touchton! 
 
BE A PART OF ST. MARK'S VBS HALL OF HEROES!
Who Has Been a Hero to You?  Submit a photo of your personal hero along with one or two sentences about why this person is your hero to martha@stmarkstn.org .  For more info, contact Kirsten Weaver. 
 
ST. MARK'S 2017 VBS MISSION: PROJECT TRANSFORMATION
DONATE $$$:  
$3.... Provides one book for a child   
$25.... Provides art supplies for a child
$55.... Supports a child for Day Camp
$100.... Provides housing for one young adult intern for one week
 
DONATE HEALTHY SNACKS: Individually wrapped snacks such as animal crackers, cheese crackers, goldfish, granola bars, pretzels, raisins, trail mix, peanut butter crackers, or fruit gummies for the children.
In Other News...

BREAKING NEWS: July ScheduleOur Sunday morning Worship and Sunday School schedule will be different in the month of July. On these five Sundays (July 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30), we will worship together as a whole congregation at one worship service, with Sunday School beforehand:

9:15 a.m. Sunday School
10:30 a.m. Worship Celebration

Please note that on Sunday, July 2, we will have a church-wide brunch at 9:15 a.m. in lieu of Sunday School. Worship will follow at 10:30 a.m. Thank you for making note of this month-long change!

Reception for Rev. Mary DickenThis coming Sunday, June 18, we will be celebrating the ordination of Rev. Mary Dicken.   Following the 8:30 am worship service, all are invited to a reception in the narthex in Mary's honor. This past Saturday, Rev. Mary Dicken was ordained as clergy in full connection of the United Methodist Church and into the Order of Deacon during the Indiana Conference UMC's Celebration Ministry Service. This ordination comes after a multi-year process of discernment, education, theological and ministry examination, interviews with the Board of Ordained Ministry, and - most recently - a three-year Residency in Ministry serving as provisional clergy in the church.  Please join us as we celebrate this milestone in Mary's faith journey! 

Holiday Worship Schedule - On July 2nd we will have brunch at 9:15 a.m. (no Christian Ed classes) followed by one combined worship service at 10:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary.

Stewardship SummaryAs of May 28, we have received gifts of $494,202.00. Based on the past giving trends, our anticipated goal is to reach 46% of the annual operational need or $615,868 by the end of June. Thank you for supporting the ministries of St. Mark's!
 
View Our Current    Prayer List

Mission Team Report and Stats - CLICK HERE

See Our Full 

Missed a Sermon?  Click HERE to go to our sermons media page.

Fran Hughes would like to thank everyone for the thoughtful cards, calls, and visits during her recent hospital stay. She's now at home doing better.
St. Mark's UMC | (615) 893-3455 | stmarks@stmarkstn.org