"The Messenger"
Online Newsletter
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From the Pastor
While fasting is a spiritual discipline that many incorporate into their lives during the season of Lent, we might also incorporate the spiritual discipline of feasting:
Fast from judging others; feast on Christ dwelling in them.
Fast from emphasizing differences;
feast on what unites us.
Fast from words that pollute; feast on words that purify.
Feast from anger; feast on patience.
Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation.
Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness.
Fast from discouragement; feast on hope.
Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude.
From what you will fast on what will you feast this Lent?
It is a privilege to serve God as one of your clergy.
Tommy
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SAGES News
The Older Adult Committee of the Tennessee Conference will present its Spring Conference on Thursday, March 14, 2019, at Franklin First United Methodist Church, 120 Aldersgate Way, Franklin, TN 37069. Registration starts at 9:00 A.M. The program starts at 9:30 and will conclude at 2:15 P.M. The cost of the conference is $15 which includes lunch. The conference leader is W. Craig Gilliam, an elder in the UMC, who has served much of his ministry working in the field of conflict resolution for individuals and congregations. You may register at tnumc.org or by sending an email to
register@tnumc.com.
SAGES will be seeing “Noises” at the Cumberland County Playhouse on Tuesday, March 26. Cost of the tickets are $25.00 each. The church bus will leave at 8:30 promptly. Cost to ride the bus is $5.00. Please make your reservations in the church office.
The Alzheimer/Dementia Support Group will meet in Room 504 on March 28.
Several other trips and activities are planned. These include another trip to the Cumberland County Playhouse, a visit to the Dutch Made Bakery/Restaurant in Tracy City, the Huntsville Botanical Gardens, the Loveless Café and Chaffins’ Barn, Granny Fishes, and the Midway Diner. Please watch this newsletter for lots of other information regarding our SAGES’ activities.
The SAGES will have an extended trip to the Ark and the Shaker Village in Kentucky. The date for this trip is May 20-22. The cost is about $250. Please sign up in the church office. Look for the book!!
The SAGES have been invited to provide a monthly worship service at Adams’ Place. The Rev. Linda Tunnell and her team are working with the SAGES to provide this service beginning this month. She is organizing two teams to rotate with each other to share with our friends and neighbors at Adams’ Place. If you would like to be a part of the team, please contact Linda.
We also offer services the second Tuesday of each month at Boulevard Terrace Rehab and Nursing each month at 2:00 P.M. If you would like to participate, please be there at 1530 Middle Tennessee Boulevard at that time.
We also are continue our services at the Rutherford Memory Care on Wednesdays at 11:00 A.M. Everyone is welcome to participate in these programs.
The Festival of Wisdom of Grace for older adults will be August 5-8 at Luke Junaluska, North Carolina. You can make your reservations now by calling Lake Junaluska at 800-222-4930.
The SAGES Ministry Team will meet on Monday, April 8 at 9:30 AM in Room 503.
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Youth News
Thank you to everyone who helped and participated in the Lenten prayer stations this past Sunday! The children enjoyed us going through the stations, and everyone set great examples for them to follow.
We have normal youth programming for the next few weeks with some special topics and activities planned - we hope to see everyone there! We are also planning to set up some extra events in the next month or so, starting with a hiking day.
Looking ahead to the summer, we are beginning to develop details for our mission trip. This year, we will be doing a combined middle school and high school trip to wonderful Denver, Colorado. The dates are July 6-13. This promises to be a unique and fulfilling experience for all those who attend. More details and sign-ups will be available soon. In the meantime, feel free to ask an adult leader if there are any questions.
Finally, we NEED volunteers to sign up for providing dinner on Sunday nights. Thank you to all who have done so in the past - this is a tremendous help to our ministry. Checkout the youth website (
fusionumyf.org
) to sign up or talk to one of the adult leaders.
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WEDNESDAY NIGHT TOGETHER!
Family, Food, Fellowship, Faith, and Fun for the whole Family!
Wednesday Night Together offers a full menu of
delicious food, warm table fellowship, and
fun and formative weekly classes, groups and events 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
If you need financial assistance to help pay for the WNT meal,
please contact Rev. Martha Touchton.
6:00 – 7:15 p.m. WEDNESDAY NIGHT PRAISE for Children
6:15 – 7:15 p.m. CLASSES AND GROUPS for Youth and Adults
New Adult Classes Coming in March:
Podcasts as Spiritual Practice – Led by Julie King
Forgiveness – Led by Rev. Tommy Ward
Exercising Your Gift of Leadership in Service to God – Dr. Jim Clardy
For more information,
CLICK HERE
to view the March 2019 WNT BROCHURE and Menus
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Deep Blue Kids Observe Lent with Their Families
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“Now is the time! Here comes God’s kingdom! Change your hearts and lives, and trust this good news!”
Mark 1:15
This month we enter the season of Lent, a time for preparing for the resurrection of Jesus on Easter. As we lead up to the holiest of days, your children will hear about the events leading up to Jesus’ death and resurrection. This month we begin with parables: the three “lost” parables (lost sheep, lost coin, and lost son), and the parable about the two debtors. All of these parables demonstrate God’s love and remind us that it is never too late to change our hearts and lives. Your children will then hear the stories of the Last Supper and of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane; both of these stories take place on the night of Jesus’ arrest. We take comfort in the knowledge that this is not the end of Jesus‘ story!
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Don’t Miss These Special SUNDAY MORNING Activities!
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Sunday, March 24
th - Children in Grades 2 - 5 will meet promptly at 9:45 a.m. for a 60-minute
ESCAPE GAME around the Last Supper! This fun activity will include puzzles, riddles and clues to help unlock the Upper Room. Bring a Friend and be on time (9:45!) in Room 214!
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Friday – Sunday, April 5–7 - 6th Grade Confirmation Retreat at Cedar Crest; Registration Due!
Saturday, April 20
th – St. Mark’s Easter Egg Hunt, 9:30 - 11:00 a.m.
Sunday – Thursday, June 23 -27: St. Mark’s
“TO MARS AND BEYOND!” Vacation Bible School
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The Gift of New Creation invites us to explore God’s saving and redeeming love through a study of the lectionary Bible readings for Lent and Easter. Key Scriptures call us to prepare and contemplate God’s restoration and new creation through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Through the readings, we hear the invitation to embrace God’s salvation and the new life offered to us through Christ.
Join us in Adult Christian education March 10 – April 21 as we explore these scriptures, seeking opportunities to reflect on God’s redemptive action and to explore means of grace that help us move into new life in Christ. If you need a study book, see Rev. Martha Touchton.
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Food Bank Needs - St. Mark's Food Bank needs donations of food, especially macaroni and cheese, cereal, spaghetti/pasta, and veggies.
Mission Team New and Stats
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