"The Messenger"
Online Newsletter
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Today, I'm filled with gratitude for the way the people of St. Mark's have gone out of their way to encourage your church staff during this pandemic. Every day, we receive emails, text messages, phone calls, notes, cards, and gifts expressing appreciation for our leadership during these difficult times. It's been a big boost for your staff.
If I'm being honest, the longer this "stay at home order" has been in effect, the more susceptible I've been to despair. I miss seeing you. I miss hugging and being hugged by you. I miss preaching to a sanctuary full of people. I miss dining together on Wednesday nights. I miss people just dropping by the office to say hello. I miss normalcy.
At our weekly staff Zoom meeting today, I encouraged our staff to be mindful of their own spiritual and emotional health during these days. We've been so focused on others that it's easy to neglect ourselves and you can't give what you don't have.
Your staff will continue to look for creative ways to communicate with you in the days ahead. If things we've been trying aren't working, we'll stop doing those and look for something else. One change that I'll personally make is no longer doing a midweek video. Very few people have been watching them and the numbers suggest that social media posts are a better way to communicate. We're always open to your suggestions and your feedback as well.
I pray that this newsletter finds you staying well and staying in love with God. May God bless you all and let me close by once again saying that is a privilege to serve God as one of your clergy.
Tommy
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New Sermon Series Coming April 26
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Beginning on Sunday, April 26, Pastor Tommy will be preaching a sermon series on the book of Job. The series will last for five weeks and take us up to Pentecost. During this time of staying at home, consider reading through Job as we prepare our minds and hearts for what this book might say to us today.
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SAGES News
Caring for Older Adults – From a Distance
Dr. Richard H. Gentzler, Jr.
As church leaders, our calling to love our neighbors is not something new, but it is ever evolving and changing as we understand the new normal being realized in our churches and communities as we face the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the coronavirus continues to invade countries, states, counties, and neighborhoods, healthcare workers, medical equipment, and resources are stretched to the limit. Churches and businesses are closed and families are staying home. There is growing concern about significant financial, physical, and mental health needs as social isolation is magnified.
Now more than ever older adult members of our congregations need our care and support. They are some of the most vulnerable and hardest hit by the pandemic.
Keep these helpful guidelines in mind as you and your church members work out new ways to care for older adult in your church and community.
2. Do all the good you can but recognize that you can’t do everything. Stay focused to the task at hand. Don’t try to take on more than you can handle.
3. Stay flexible. The world is changing rapidly and what we know to be true today may not be so next week…even tomorrow!
4. Take care of your needs. Respond to the crisis, but pace yourself and take care of your own physical and spiritual health and personal safety.
5. Think long term. What we are presently experiencing within our churches and communities may indeed be the new normal.
6. Keep your congregation informed. Communication with members of your congregation is vital for the over-all health and effectiveness of your ministry. Strategies for communication include:
a. One-to-one phone calls, emails, texts, Zoom conversations
b. Leadership team video meetings
c. Small group video meetings for study and sharing
d. Large group blast emails and texts
e. Social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram
f. Print media distribution such as newsletters and other mailings
Dr. Richard H. Gentzler, Jr., is director of ENCORE Ministry of the Tennessee Conference of The United Methodist Church. Contact him at Richard.
gentzler@tnumc.org
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ST. MARK’S CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES TEAM continues to help your children grow as disciples of Jesus Christ in fellowship with one another! Be sure you are connected to our private facebook page, St. Mark’s UMC Children’s Ministries.
STORIES FOR OUR CHILDREN
Many of St. Mark’s Sunday school teachers and children’s ministries leaders are making videos of themselves and/or their families reading stories that are then posted on St. Mark’s Children’s Ministries Facebook page every day. If you would like information about how to video and send a story for posting via DropBox, please email Rev. Touchton (
martha@stmarkstn.org).
ST. MARK’S SOCIAL DISTANCING EGG HUNT A GRAND SUCCESS!
St. Mark’s children and their families had a wonderful time participating in our Children’s Ministries “Social Distancing Egg Hunt” this past Saturday, April 11th. Thanks to all 30 families who posted eggs in their windows and on their doors, and to all the parents and children who participated! Special thanks to Chris and Natalie Anderson for working out the route to visit all the homes. It was a joyful time for all involved!
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Deep Blue Virtual Sunday school
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for children is provided Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. on St. Mark’s Children’s Ministries Facebook page. All children are receiving their weekly activity sheets for Sunday mornings by mail.
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After Easter Cross Art Project for Children
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All children of the church are invited to join in decorating the church for our next worship service, whenever that will be, with beautiful crosses. Here’s how the art project will work:
Print the 8.5” x 11” cross (
Cross.pdf) at home or draw your own cross. Then make it beautiful using one of the suggestions below or your own creative idea.
- Add a Bible verse that you love
- Add a personal sentence of faith such as
• I know God Loves Me because…
• I love my church because...
• I see God’s love whenever…
- Decorate it however you like:
• with crayons, markers, or paints
• cut small bits of colored paper or magazine photos and create a mosaic
• use dried leaves or flower petals
• use whatever you can find at home!
The crosses will be displayed in the church the very first Sunday we are able to return to worship together! A drop box is available inside Door #1, or you are welcome to mail your creation to Rev. Touchton or bring it in after our local social-distancing requirements are lifted.
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Ways to Be in Mission during this Pandemic
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Food Bank St. Mark’s Food Bank has been very active in the past few weeks, preparing food boxes and distributing them to individuals and agencies. The Food Bank needs monetary gifts or food donations to meet the needs of our greater community. To drop off a donation of food at church, please call 615-893-3455 to arrange a time.
Cards and Calls We would like to be able to reach out to persons who are alone with weekly cards or calls. If you are willing to reach out to persons in this way, email
martha@stmarkstn.org for more information.
Daily Tasks If you are willing to help a neighbor with day-to-day tasks or errands, please call the church office and leave a message or email one of the clergy.
Journey Home It’s hard to stay safer at home when you have no home! The Journey Home is in need of volunteers who are willing to prepare and serve meals for homeless persons at their facility during this pandemic. Email
sfoster@LoveGodServePeople.org for more information.
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How to Stay Connected to St. Mark’s Activities
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Much of St. Mark’s weekly ministry is being communicated via social media and email, so be sure you are connected:
- St. Mark’s UMC – Murfreesboro, TN is our church’s public facebook presence where daily postings, updates and resources are provided. Be sure you are a member of this page.
- St. Mark’s UMC Children’s Ministries is a private facebook group for families with children where daily postings include stories, resources for children, Virtual Sunday school and at home Sunday school lesson plans.
- Find us on Instagram and Twitter at stmarkstn
- If you are not receiving regular emails from St. Mark’s, sign up today in one of these ways:
- Visit St. Mark’s website (www.stmarkstn.org) and click on the link at the bottom of the home page inviting you to join our email list
- send an email with your preferred email address to mike@stmarkstn.org
- leave a message at church office, (615) 893-3455.
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As we journey through this difficult time, you may be hearing a variety of statements about how God is related to this pandemic, such as “God is in control,” “God is punishing the world,” or “It’s a sign of the end times.”
If we believe in the God of love, how do we understand God’s will for humanity and think about loss and other struggles theologically? The Will of God by Leslie Weatherhead is a tremendously helpful little book for adults and older youth that takes an in-depth look at God’s will for us and provides insights to help us better understand.
Rev. Touchton will lead a three-session “ZOOM” discussion of this book on Wednesdays, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., April 22, 29 and May 6. To register for the ZOOM discussion, send an email to
martha@stmarkstn.org
. All are welcome. The e-book is available on Kindle and Apple Books or you can order a paperback from Amazon.com.
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In Other News:
Birth Announcement
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Larry and Brittany Smith are proud parents of Lincoln Emmett born at 4:03 a.m. Wednesday, April 8. Grandparents are Wayne and Sheila Reburn.
If You Are in Need
- If you need help with day-to-day tasks, such as obtaining groceries or supplies, picking up a prescription, getting a ride to a medical appointment, have a pet that needs to be walked, or if you have other needs due to unemployment, sickness or isolation, contact the church office for assistance.
The St. Mark’s Spring Golf Tournament will be Saturday, May 16, 1:00 p.m. at Old Fort Golf Course. If you or your team would like to play, please contact Wendell Philpott.
Missed a Sermon? Click
HERE to go to our sermons media page.
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