The newsletter for St. Mark's UMC in Murfreesboro, TN
"The Messenger"  Online Newsletter
November 13, 2019
From the Pastor

If you were in worship on Sunday, you know that we began a new worship series on gratitude. I referenced an article that Rev. Martha shared with me highlighting different ways in which gratitude positively affects our lives. 

For instance, studies show that the hearts of people who are grateful are actually healthier hearts, that people who express gratitude are happier, more optimistic, sleep better, give more emotional support to others, have healthier relationships with others, and report fewer physical symptoms such as headaches, stomach aches, and runny noses. 

There is even a link between gratitude and generosity. Researchers at the University of Zurich, for instance, found that generosity makes people happier and happier, even if they're only a little generous. These researchers conclude that generosity "can be as effective at lowering blood pressure as medication and exercise. Moreover, there is an association between helping others and life expectancy, perhaps because helping others reduces stress." https://www.media.uzh.ch/en/Press-Releases/2017/Generosity.html

While increasing your gratitude quotient is a key component of our current sermon series, I'd also like to invite you to increase your generosity quotient. On Sunday, November 24, we will pass out estimate of giving cards and invite people to make a commitment to support our church financially in 2020. I hope you'll consider increasing your commitment to the church as an expression of your gratitude to God for the church and also with expectancy that it will make you healthier and happier. May God grant us all the grace to be grateful and generous. 

It's a privilege to serve God as one of your clergy.
Tommy
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

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 in November:
“Home for the Holidays”

11/13 – Decorating for the Holidays
Join Jeannie Almon of M & J Home for tips on decorating your home for the holidays

11/20 – Holiday Baking Tips
Lucy Cochran will share some of her best–kept baking secrets.  
Bring a cookie recipe to share!

CLICK HERE to view the current WNT BROCHURE

Tuesday, November 26th
Church Family Thanksgiving Dinner 5:15 p.m.
Menu: Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Sweet Potato Casserole, Squash Casserole, Green Beans, Gravy, Cranberry Salad, Pumpkin Pie .
Reservations Due Sunday, 11/24  

Thanksgiving Worship 6:00 – 7:15 p.m. 
SAGES News

The monthly Alzheimer’s/Dementia Support Group will meet at 1:30 on November 21. This group will meet again on Thursday, December 19.
 
There will not be a meeting of the SAGES Ministry Team in December.
 
The SAGES will be leaving the church at 8 A.M. on Friday, November 15, to go to the Midway Diner near Shelbyville for breakfast.  Please sign up in the church office.
 
The St. Mark’s SAGES will be hosts and hostesses for the Christmas at Beersheba on Thursday, December 12. The church bus will leave at 8:00 A.M. Those who have gone in the past know that this is an enjoyable day. The cost for the day is $18.00 plus $5.00 to offset fuel costs. This includes the lunch meal. Please sign up in the church office. Ross Moore is going and will be our musical program for the day.
 
St. Mark’s Senior Serenity Worship and Luncheon will be Saturday, December 14, beginning at 11:00 A.M. We invite our homebound who may not have had the opportunity to be at church all year. We will worship together. And then we will move to the Banquet Room where the homebound are treated to a delicious meal. The rest of us will pay $12.00 for our meals. Santa will make an appearance. There will be gifts and other hospitality items for our homebound members. We will enjoy some music as well. Please sign up in the church office to attend this special day for the Senior Serenity program.. 
 
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. The SAGES Team is busy planning a full slate of activities for 2020. It’s going to be a great year.
  
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. (During the service on November 12 we had the great opportunity to honor Kay Penny’s birthday with a cake.) 
  
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. 
  
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. 
  
The SAGES continue to offer birthday cakes and celebrations for those who are turning 90. Please keep an eye on this newsletter to see who will be the next celebrant.
Deep Blue Kids: Sundays, 9:45 – 10:45 a.m.
STORIES SHAPE OUR FAITH COMMUNITY!
Your word is a lamp before my feet and a light for my journey.
(Psalm 119:105)

This November in DEEP BLUE, we will hear core Bible stories that shape our faith:

11/17 - Daniel in the Lion’s Den: Daniel’s faith in God helps him be brave
11/24 - Jonah and the Fish: God gives Jonah a second chance to show love to his enemies.
 
These stories help us learn more about God’s character and how we can live well in creation with other humans, animals, and plants knowing that God is always with us no matter how many chances we might need.

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.  
Once Upon a Nativity 
Advent Brunch and Playshop
for Children and Families
Saturday, November 23 rd
9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
 
Menu: Breakfast Pastries, Fruit, and Bacon
Each child will paint their own Wooden Nativity Set! 
Advent Games, Stories, and More! Note: A Parent or Grandparent must accompany each child
 
Reservations due Monday, November 18th to Rev. Martha Touchton: martha@stmarkstn.org
 
“This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth
and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:12
Save These Children's Ministries Dates:
November 3 – 26: One Can Food Drive. Flyer HERE.

Saturday, November 23, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.ONCE UPON A NATIVITY
Children and Family Advent Brunch and Workshop. Each child will paint his/her own wooden nativity set as we learn about each character!

Tuesday, December 24, 4:00 p.m. – “His Name is Jesus,” Christmas Eve Worship Especially for Families with Children
Reeves Rogers Thank You
Dear St. Mark’s Church,
We are very thankful for our partnership!  The Fall Festival was a great success! We appreciate your willingness and love of our students to work with us!  Thank you for being a TRUE Community Partner!

The Faculty, Staff and Students of Reeves Rogers 
Merry Mission Marketplace

SAVE THE DATE
and SAVE YOUR SHOPPING DOLLARS!
Wednesday, December 4, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Help your Christmas dollars give twice – once to purchase a lovely gift, and again to support a local non-profit mission or ministry! Lots of new vendors and new gifts to purchase! Bring your friends and have fun shopping!
Smoked Thanksgiving Turkey
Boy Scout Troop 398 is smoking turkeys again for Thanksgiving to help fund our sailing and SCUBA high adventure trips to Seabase in the Florida Keys this coming summer. We will take orders for boneless cherry wood smoked turkey breasts to be picked up (still warm out of the smoker) Wednesday, Nov. 27th in time for Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, Nov. 28th. Our smoked turkey will keep well if frozen for 6 months or more so order extra.

We sell half or whole breasts only. There will be no sliced pounds or sides or sauce offered. A boneless (half) breast (averages 4 pounds and yields ten 6-ounce servings) sells for $35.00. A whole breast or 2 half breasts (averages 8 pounds and yields twenty 6-ounce servings) sells for $65. Orders will be ready for pick-up at the Eagle’s Nest behind St. Mark’s UMC from 4 to 7 PM on Wednesday, November 27th. 

Order from one of our scouts or adult leaders, Kyle Anderson, Aaron or John Brunner, Nathan or Fred Daniel, Steve Dix, Jesse Hofer or contact Scoutmaster Mike Warren mike11345@aol.com or (615) 473-7076. An order sheet will also be in the church office. All orders need to be turned in by Wednesday, November 20. Pay on pick-up. Card, cash or check to “BSA Troop 398”.
One Can, Two Can! Who Can? You Can!

St. Mark’s UMC 2019 Food Drive  November 3 – 26

Needed: canned chicken and tuna, peanut butter, jelly, cereal, oats, canned fruits and vegetables, soup, crackers, macaroni and cheese, spaghetti sauce/pasta.  

Please bring your offering to the altar rail during the first hymn of Sunday morning worship. All donations will assist the hungry in the Murfreesboro area via the St. Mark's Food Bank!   More information HERE .
 
Sponsored by St. Mark's 5th/6th Grade JAM Session
JAM Session 5th/6th Grade FOOD PACKING EVENT
Wednesday, Nov. 27th, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
St. Mark's Narthex/Banquet Hall
Lunch Following - Bring $$ for Lunch!
 
Siblings welcome with parents. All participants and volunteers please RSVP to martha@stmarkstn.org
 
"For I was hungry, and you gave me food..."  ~ Matthew 25:35
Poinsettia Orders

Please make checks payable to
St. Mark’s UMC and designate for Poinsettia.
Bring order form and check to the church office or put in the collection plate. Order Deadline: Monday, December 9th. Cost: $12 per plant.

Poinsettia is ______ in memory OR ______ in honor

Of: __________________________________________________________

By:__________________________________________________________
November and December Music Ministry Dates

St. Mark’s music ministry will host and present various concerts in our beautiful Sanctuary and Narthex. Please come and enjoy the beautiful music with your church family and neighbors.  

  • November 24th (Sunday @3pm) Lionheart Orchestra Concert in the Narthex
  • December 8th (Sunday @9:30am) Clarinet Choir Concert in the Narthex
  • December 11th (Wednesday @6:10pm) W.N.P. Children’s Program in the Sanctuary
  • December 15th (Sunday @8:30 & 11am Service) The Chancel Choir with orchestra will present a Christmas Cantata “Go Sing It on the Mountain” by Pepper Choplin in the Sanctuary
In Other News:

Red Bird Christmas for Kids - Thanks to your generosity, all of the kids have been adopted! We will be wrapping gifts at the warehouse this year on December 4th from 1:00-6:00 p.m.and December 5th from 1:00-8:00 p.m. Please bring your scissors and tape and join us! Call Karen Alexander (615) 477-4244 if you have any questions.

Job Openings at St. Mark's:
  • Child Care Needed: Work Hours - Wednesdays, 5:45 – 7:15 p.m. and Thursdays, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. Other Hours May be Available. Must be over 18 years of age, have childcare experience, be able to lift 20 lbs., provide excellent references and pass a background check. Excellent Work Environment! Starting wage $10.00/Hour. Apply in person to Rev. Martha Touchton Monday – Thursday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

  • Head Cook Needed: Responsible for weekly Wednesday night dinners for 100 persons, September – April. Applications due Monday, November 18th. For detailed job description and application requirements, email jobs@stmarkstn.org .

Lionheart Orchestra Fall Concert featuring the works of Holst, Vivaldi/Bach, Sibelius, Tchaikovsky, and Piazzolla. 3:00 p.m. Sunday, November 24, in the Narthex. FLYER HERE

Music City Bronze in Concert - Nashville's community handbell group will be performing seasonal music selections at several area locations. All concerts are free and open to the public. Donations are accepted.
  • Mon. Dec 2nd, 7:00 p.m. at 1st Baptist Church, Lebanon
  • Sun. Dec. 8th, 4:00 p.m. at Brentwood UMC
  • Sun. Dec. 15th, 4:00 p.m. at Woodmont Christian Church, Nashville
  • Mon. Dec 16th, 7:00 p.m.at Connection UMC, Nashville

View Our Current  Prayer List

Mission Team News and Stats HERE

See Our Full  Event Calendar

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