The newsletter for St. Mark's UMC in Murfreesboro, TN
"The Messenger"  Online Newsletter
August 27, 2019
From the Pastor

New Sermon Series
We begin a new sermon series on September 15 entitled "Questions God Asks." God often asks questions of us and our answers to the questions draw us into a relationship of deeper sharing and intimacy. Each week we'll alternate between the Old and New Testaments and consider some of the questions that God asks and how we might respond to those questions today.

September 15: "Where Are You?" (Genesis 3:1-11)
September 22: "What Are You Looking For?" (John 1:35-41)
September 29: "What is Your Name?" (Genesis 32:22-32)
October 6: "Do You Want to Get Well?"(John 5:1-18)
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)

It is a privilege to serve God as one of your clergy.
Tommy
In the coming weeks, you're invited to read through the Gospel of Mark during our “reMARKable" sermon series using the following guide:
 
August 25-September 1: Mark 13-14
September 1-8: Mark 15-16     
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

Beginning Wednesday, September 4th 
6:00 – 7:15 p.m. WEDNESDAY NIGHT PRAISE for Children
6:15 – 7:15 p.m. CLASSES AND GROUPS FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS
 
CLICK HERE to view the current WNT BROCHURE

WEDNESDAY NIGHT TOGETHER KICKS OFF AUGUST 28th WITH
Murfreesboro Around the World!
A Night of Fun, Faith and Fellowship for the Whole Family!
Reservations Due Monday, August 26th
Murfreesboro Around the World!
St. Mark’s Celebrates
MURFREESBORO Around the World

Wednesday Night Together 
Kick-Off 2019-2020
Wednesday, August 28th
5:15 – 7:15 p.m.

Join the Fun as we Enjoy a Taste of 
the Many Cultures Represented in 
our Church Family and our Community!

5:15 p.m. Free Meal – Reservations Required
6:15 p.m. Intergenerational Fun and Games
7:00 p.m. Closing Worship in the Sanctuary

Our Meal will include These Flavors:
Greek – Middle Eastern – Indian – Korean
American - Laotian – Mexican – Japanese – And More!

For Information about Contributing Food from your Ethnic
or Cultural Background, Contact Claudia Hunter or Rev. Martha Touchton
SAGES News

Please remember that Adventures in Learning will be held again this year for the Sages of our community on September 9, 16, 23, 30. AIL is held at First United Methodist Church, Murfreesboro. Registration blanks are available in the church office. 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.
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On August 20 the SAGES went to the Tennessee State Museum in Nashville. Everyone seemed to have a wonderful time. Lunch was at the world renown Swett’s Restaurant. We had a special treat on the return trip as we surveyed all the building and sites for future expansion, in particular, the Blackman/840 area.
 
The SAGES Ministry Team will meet on Wednesday, September 11, at 9:30 in Room 504.
  
The SAGES next trip is to the Cumberland County Theater to see “Young Frankenstein” on Tuesday, September 17. The bus will leave promptly at 8:30 AM from the church. Lunch will be at 11:00 at the Cumberland Mountain State Park. Please sign up in the church office.
 
SAGES still have several other activities planned for 2019. These include a Sages cookout and 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.  There are two celebrations coming up shortly.
You can Mentor a Child at Reeves Rogers
“Every kid is one caring adult away from being a success story.”
– Josh Shipp, former at-risk foster kid turned mentoring advocate

A new school year is upon us providing an opportunity for you to be a special friend (mentor) to a Reeves Rogers student.  The goal of our mentoring program is to provide friendship and be a support person in the life of a child.   You meet with your student as your schedule allows. To volunteer or receive more information, contact Mary Jane Henry (615-631-1902) Peggy Jackson (615-890-4605) or Margie Jennings (615-890-2221).

Reeves Rogers Recognized
Congratulations to our partner school Reeves Rogers Elementary, recently named a Tennessee Reward School.  They were among the top 5% of schools statewide to show student progress on the TN Ready tests given this past spring!
Deep Blue Kids: Sundays, 9:45 – 10:45 a.m.
The community of believers was one in heart and mind. (Acts 4:32)

This September in DEEP BLUE , we begin a new year with a special focus on what it means to be a part of a community. We will learn that we each have special gifts and talents to share, that everyone is a child of God, and that we can share God’s love with everyone.

At home, make an opportunity to talk about what each person in your family is good at and how that talent can help share God’s love. What if we have people in our community who think or look or act or believe differently than we do? Jesus shows us that no one is left out of his community. Jesus shows us that love is big enough for everyone.

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 in this way, please contact Rev. Martha Touchton or Children’s Ministries Team Leader Eryn Wilson. 
Music News
We have chosen the music for our major Christmas presentation “Go Sing It on the Mountain” by Pepper Choplin and we will begin rehearsing in September during the last half hour of the Wednesday evening Chancel Choir rehearsal (8:15pm - 8:45pm) in the Choir Room. If you are unable to commit to the Chancel Choir for the entire season (August - June), the Christmas musical presentation is a great opportunity to participate and celebrate the Christmas season. We are looking forward to having you join us.
Recreation News
St. Mark's UMC Day
at MTSU Football
Tickets are only $8

Reserved Seats in the Family Fun Zone
Kids can go on the field for the High-Five Tunnel
Contact Sean Orr for Tickets
More info HERE
Save These Children's Ministries Dates:
Wednesday, September 4th: Wednesday Night Praise Resumes,
6:00 – 7:15 p.m.
Sunday, September 8th: Come get a drink from the woman at the well! 
9:45 a.m. in the Preschool Hallway
Sunday, September 8th: Children’s Coin Offering at 8:30 and 11:00 a.m.
   for St. Mark’s UMC/Reeves Rogers Elementary Partnership
Disciple I: Becoming Disciples Through Bible Study
Register Now for this FastTrack
Joint Study with the MTSU Wesley Foundation
led by Beth Morris at St. Mark’s UMC
Old Testament – 12 Sessions , September – December 2019
New Testament – 12 Sessions, January – April 2020
Sundays, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., $35/person
Reserve your seat via Rev. Martha Touchton today!
See FLYER HERE .
Update From Miriam's Promise
The Miriam Promise Golf Challenge is scheduled for Monday, September 30th at the Old Fort Golf Club in Murfreesboro. It would be nice if some of our St. Mark's golfers could participate. You can find out more information HERE .

Miriam's Promise is a nonprofit ministry committed to carrying out God's work in our area by providing pregnancy, parenting, and adoption counseling and services. They serve all families within middle Tennessee whether or not they are affiliated with a faith community but they have a formal relationship with the Tennessee Conference of The United Methodist Church.

Miriam's Promise would also be glad to come speak to small groups in the church and community. If interested, contact Miriam's Promise at 615-292-3500
In Other News...
View Our Current  Prayer List

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