"The Messenger"
Online Newsletter
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From the Pastor
Someone recently told me that better days are ahead for St. Mark's because I'm the senior pastor; it was meant as a compliment to me and I appreciate such words of encouragement. But while in many ways I represent the church and its hopes and dreams of a better tomorrow, I am no substitute for you.
I can preach a good sermon (hopefully every once in a while, I do) but unless the love of God proclaimed in my sermons is reflected in the life of its people, my preaching is fruitless. We can offer quality worship experiences and Christian education opportunities but if people are not regularly present to take advantage of them, it is in vain because people cannot share what they have not first received. And our church can desire to impact our community and world with its focus on mission but if one concludes that mission work is for anyone and everyone else, many of those ministries will go undone.
Hopefully you see my point. Better days for St. Mark's will much more likely be dependent upon your faithfulness than on your pastor. Your daily acts as a follower of Jesus will have a greater impact than my sermons. The gospel that you proclaim outside of our church walls will likely transform more lives than the gospel that I proclaim inside our church walls on Sundays.
God needs you. St. Mark's needs you. Our community needs you. I need you. Let's recommit to supporting the church with our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness...and that's when we can be sure that even better days are ahead.
It is a privilege to serve God as one of your clergy.
Tommy
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October 6:
"Do You Want to Get Well?"(John 5:1-9)
October 13:
"What's That In Your Hand?" (Exodus 4:1-17)
October 20:
"Do You Understand What I have Done for You?" (John 13:12-20)
October 27:
"What Are You Doing Here?" (1 Kings 19:9b-18)
November 3:
"Why Are You Crying?" (John 20:11-16)
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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!
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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
6:00 – 7:15 p.m. WEDNESDAY NIGHT PRAISE for Children
6:15 – 7:15 p.m. CLASSES AND GROUPS FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS
Parents Listening Session October 2nd
Murfreesboro’s Family Center invites you to a one-time discussion about the needs of today’s parents. Wednesday, October 2nd in Room 503/505. Snacks provided!
New Adult Class Coming in October:
Christianity’s Family Tree led by Rev. Tommy Ward
***WNT will be on Fall Break Wednesday, October 9th***
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SAGES News
Thanks to everyone who supported Adventures in Learning. The last session was held this week. Members from St. Mark’s who serve on the leadership team are Dr. Keith Carlson, Jeff Henry, Mary Richardson, Judy Stacey, Bonnie Ward, Mary Wilgus and Jim Clardy.
The SAGES enjoyed a trip to the Cumberland County Theater on September 17.
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The SAGES Ministry Team will meet on Tuesday, October 15, at 9:30 A.M. Please note this change as the meeting was originally scheduled for October 7.
The SAGES Cookout will be held at the St. Mark’s Banquet Room on Friday, October 18, at 11:30 A.M. We will provide the hamburgers and hot dogs. All SAGES are to bring dishes and desserts. Ross Moore will provide the entertainment. Everyone please make a special effort to come out and enjoy the day. Please call the church office or come by and sign up for the day.
The monthly Alzheimer’s/Dementia Support Group will meet at 1:30 on Thursday, October 24.
The SAGES have several other activities planned for 2019, including another trip to the Midway Diner. Please watch this newsletter for lots of other information regarding our SAGES’ activities. You may check our activities book in the church office for additional information and sign-ups.
Please remember to pray for our monthly worship service at Adams’ Place. Rev. Linda Tunnell, Liz Bennett and their teams lead these services. If you would like to be a part of one of teams, please contact Linda or Liz.
We also offer services the second Tuesday of each month at Boulevard Terrace Rehab and Nursing at 2:00 P.M. If you would like to participate, please be there at 1530 Middle Tennessee Boulevard at that time. Thanks to Dr. and Mrs. Joe Evans for their participation.
We also are continuing our services at the Rutherford Memory Care on Wednesdays at 11:00 A.M. Everyone is welcome to participate in these programs. Thanks to Lisa Chappell, Trish Clardy, Dorothy Sharber. Lisa Emfinger, and Joann Henley for their support every week.
The SAGES continue to offer birthday cakes and celebrations for those who are turning 90. Just this past Sunday we were happy to celebrate the birthday of Jack Jolly. There are other celebrations coming up shortly.
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St. Mark's will observe All Saints Sunday on November 3. On that day, we will name and remember those from our church family who have died and transferred their St. Mark's membership to the Church Triumphant.
Remembering those we love is an expression of our love for God and our commitment to further the ministry of the church they loved. If you would like to make a special contribution in memory of any of our recently departed saints, please use the pew envelopes and indicate that your gift is in memory of the person(s) named.
We invite you to check the list below and let us know if someone in our church family who has died since November 4, 2018 is not listed:
Tricky McDowell, Cecil Sweeney, Phyllis Damron, Dr. Guy Penny, John Carpenter, Joe Green, Janice Alexander, Jean Ussery.
For loved ones who have died in the past year but were not part of our church family, candles will be available for you to light as a way of remembering them.
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Deep Blue Kids: Sundays, 9:45 – 10:45 a.m.
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WE’RE BUILDING COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS!
I will be with you. (Exodus 3:12)
This October in
DEEP BLUE, we will be learning the epic stories of Moses and the Israelites. These stories are foundational to our faith community; they teach us about God’s mighty acts and God’s desire for all people to be free from injustice.
Moses is called by God to deliver the Israelites out of slavery and into the Promised Land. Moses confronts Pharaoh and the people are set free! God’s mighty act of parting the Reed Sea allows the Israelites a safe passage out of Egypt into the desert. Then God provides the people with food and water each day as they wander through the desert towards the Promised Land.
To help the people live well together, God provides the Ten Commandments. The first three commandments help the people have a good relationship with God and the remaining seven help the people have good relationships with each other.
SEND IN YOUR FAMILY PHOTOS!
To go along with our study of Moses and the Exodus story, we would like to create a bulletin board showing pictures of your family camping, hiking, or enjoying God’s creation. Please email your family pictures to
Hannah.underwood16@yahoo.com by Wednesday, October 2nd.
OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL IS GROWING!
Teachers, helpers and substitutes are always needed in our Children’s Sunday School! Excellent curriculum and all supplies are provided. If you are willing to serve as a teacher or helper, please contact Rev. Martha Touchton or Children’s Ministries Team Leader Julie King.
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It’s official we have started our Fundraiser for our Summer Mission Trips!
This year our fundraiser will go towards taking $100 or more off of the final price tag for our students to go on our Summer Mission Trips!
Our Middle School students will have an opportunity to go and partner with our sisters and brothers in Christ in Memphis, TN for Collide 2020. Our High School students will have an opportunity to go and partner with our sisters and brothers in Christ in Wilmington, North Carolina, working along side Praying Pelican Ministries.
How our fundraiser works: Come to the Narthex and you will find us there with a sign that says Youth Fundraiser above a pallet that has 100 envelopes, each envelope has a number on the front of it. That number corresponds with the suggested giving amount for that envelope. So, if you were to pick up the #34 envelope then the suggested giving amount with that envelope is $34. You do not have to just give that amount, you can give more if you would like. This is a one time gift and not a recurring gift. In October of next year we will have our “stockholder’s dinner” that each of folks who gave will be invited too. Thank you so much for your support!
Come and see us in the Narthex on Sunday - you’ll know it is us because you will see all of our students in the Narthex!
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JOIN THE FUN!
St. Mark’s JAM SESSION
CAMP OUT AT THE BAKER FARM
Friday- Saturday, October 18 - 19
For 5th/6th Graders Only
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Coin Offering for One Goal Sports
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Sunday, October 13 Children’s Coin Offering Benefits One Goal Sports
Our October 13 Children's Coin Offering is for One Goal Sports, a Christian-based competitive, youth sports organization where each player’s skills are encouraged and celebrated, and the love of Jesus Christ is shared and demonstrated. If any St. Mark's children have recently participated, we'd love to have a photo of them in their One Goal shirt to use in publicity! Please email your photo to Rev. Touchton at martha@stmarkstn.org.
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Sunday, October 27, 3:30 – 6:30 p.m.
at Reeves Rogers Elementary School
We are excited about St. Mark’s Fall Festival!
- New Games, Activities and Inflatables!
- Prize Drawings every 15 minutes for all Attendees!
- Petting Zoo!
Bring your Friends and Family to this Fun Neighborhood Mission!
$5 Tickets on Sale October 6 – 23!
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Save These Children's Ministries Dates:
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Sunday, October 13 – Children’s Coin Offering for One Goal Sports
Sunday, October 27, 3:30 – 6:30 p.m. – Mustang Mash Fall Festival
Saturday, November 23, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. – Children’s Advent Workshop
Tuesday, December 24, 4:00 p.m. – “His Name is Jesus,”Christmas Eve Worship Especially for Families with Children
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In Other News:
Parking Lot Paving
– The church parking lot is scheduled to be re-paved (weather permitting) the week of October 7
th
. Paving will include both entrances, so there will be no access to the building on those days. Staff will be in the office when possible or working remotely on those days and will be available by email or by leaving voicemails on their church phone extensions.
Note of Thanks - Thanks to all, for the prayers, visits, cards, calls and good wishes expressed to me during my recent surgery and recovery. Al Hartman
Sign Up Now for the St. Mark's Golf Tournament. Saturday, October 19 at 1:00 p.m. at Old Fort Park. $55 per person - $220 per team.
Mission Team News and Stats
HERE
Missed a Sermon? Click
HERE to go to our sermons media page.
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