July 25, 2023

From the Pastor

On Wednesday nights this summer in SOULFULL worship, we've been featuring secular songs from different generations and asking what those songs might have to say to our faith and what our faith might have to say to those songs.

Last Wednesday we looked at Kris Kristofferson's 1972 hit, "Why Me Lord?" If you don't know this country classic, you might assume, in the spirit of a lot of country songs, that Kristofferson is asking God why his wife left, or why his truck won't start, or why his beer is flat. But actually, he's asking why the Lord has blessed him so much in his life.

It reminded me of a quote from one of my favorite authors and preachers, Barbara Brown Taylor: "For all the times people say, 'What did I do to deserve this?' when something terrible happens, I can't remember anyone saying the same thing when something gorgeous happens! So the next time when you're driving home after dark and see a full moon coming through the trees like a golden eye, please stop the car and ask, 'Why did THIS happen to me?'."

It is a privilege to serve God as one of your clergy.

Tommy

This Sunday, we continue our sermon series, “Broken: Good News for Tough Times.” We're looking at some of the most intriguing and inspiring passages in Romans and how God sustains God’s people in the midst of their brokenness.

Didn't Rev. John Wesley Hembree do a fantastic job this past Sunday? Notes of appreciation can be sent to him at 314 Brentmeade Dr, Murfreesboro 37130; email: johnwhembree@hotmail.com.

Upcoming sermon Scriptures:

July 30: Romans 8:26-39

August 6: Romans 9:1-5

August 13: Romans 10:5-15

August 20: Romans 11:1-2, 29-32

The SAGES Ministry Team will meet Monday, August 14 at 9:30 in regular session.

The Alzheimer’s/Dementia Support Group will meet Thursday, August 24, at 1:30 PM. at the home of Cindy Flippin, 2714 Tower Drive, Murfreesboro, TN 37129-1176.

On Tuesday, August 15 the SAGES are going to the Cumberland County Playhouse to see “All Shook Up.” Lunch will be at the Cumberland Mountain State Park. Tickets are $29.00. The bus will leave at 8:30 AM. 

A very special Encore Event for SAGES is coming October 26. It will be held at Franklin First UMC. Please watch this newsletter for further announcements and at the appropriate time register for the event.

Coming activities: September 22 – Senior Potluck Luncheon at 11:30 AM; September 24 - Senior Appreciation Day; October 30 – Loveless Café; November 17 – Midway Diner; In December – Christmas at Beersheba; Dec 9 - Senior Serenity at 11:00 A.M.  

The SAGES will host services at Adams Place Tuesday, August 15 at 10:30 AM and at Rutherford Senior Care (Wednesdays 11:00 AM); Rutherford Assisted Living (Fridays at 1:30 PM); and American House Senior Living (Tuesdays at 2:30 PM) each week.

A schedule of SAGES activities for 2023 is posted on the SAGES Bulletin Board outside the church office.

Our Second Annual SOULFULL Summer Concert series is underway on Wednesday evenings at 6 pm in the gym. Each week, we feature a secular song and ask what that song might have to say to us as people of faith and what our faith might have to say to that song.

This Wednesday night, our featured song will be The Beatles' "Help" (July 26).

Children have a natural sense of awe, wonder, curiosity, and imagination that helps shape their spiritual lives. In Sunday school, we hear and reflect on God’s Word, experience spiritual practices, play games, learn Bible skills, ask big questions, and help each other claim our spiritual identity as children of God.  

Preschoolers Explore the Names of God

This month in Celebrate Wonder Sunday School, our preschool children will explore well-known stories of the Bible including Noah and the Ark, Jonah and the Whale, and the stories of Daniel, including Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

Our theme word for July is “BIBLE.”  As we study these familiar stories in the Bible, we give thanks for God’s Word that teaches us to know God and Jesus and informs who we are in relationship to God and Jesus! Our Bible Memory verse for July is “So our ancestors trusted God’s words; they sang God’s praise.” Psalm 106:12.



The Preschool children meet in Room 307 Sundays at 9:15 a.m.

Coming This Summer!

Our Elementary children in Grades K - 5 join together this summer for some extra fun and faith! Sundays, 9:15 – 10:15 a.m. in Room 212.

JULY: DIARY OF A GODLY KID



Following, Attitude, Honor, and Time – what do these words have to do with being a disciple? Through this study of the life of Moses, we’ll learn how to be godly kids who live out our faith every day!

STARTING AUGUST 13!

Our Preschool (Ages 2 to PreK 5), Younger Elementary (Kindergarten to 2^nd Grade), and Older Elementary (3^rd Grade to 6^th Grade) children will join together for Sunday school at 9:15 A.M. to explore Spark: Activate Faith lessons. An activity-filled Sunday school curriculum that follows the salvation story from start to finish, helping kids explore key Bible stories from both the Old and New Testaments.

Spark helps kids learn at their level

Interact with the Bible in every lesson, helping kids navigate the story and begin to compare what they learn to their own life.

Focus on hands-on learning

Engage kids in the Bible story with lessons packed with activities, interactive games, and creative crafts.

Experience the Salvation Story arc

Help kids experience the Salvation story each year by exploring the Old Testament in the fall, and the New Testament in the winter and spring.

Frolic Nursery: Little Steps, Big Faith

Our Nursery-aged children (Birth to 1 year) will begin exploring Frolic Nursery lessons. Drawing on brain science as well as theology, Frolic was designed by early childhood experts to build faith through play in babies, toddlers, and young children from birth to age five. Frolic uses Bible lessons, music, and play to help build a firm Faith foundation. 

Start faith formation at birth

Uses a curriculum-based on early childhood best practices to help your little ones to take little steps to big faith—starting at birth.

Focuses on learning at their level

Frolic’s curriculum focuses on helping young children explore faith concepts in the way they know best— through play!

Equips caregivers to nurture faith

Equips leaders and parents to nurture faith in many ways—through storytelling, prayers, and music.

All children are invited to “Promotion Sundae” during Sunday School on Sunday, August 6th at 9:15 A.M. in Room 209. Children will enjoy free ice cream before departing for a small group time with their new Sunday school classes. All Children’s Sunday School teachers are asked to attend. 

Join us for a Children’s and Youth End of Summer Pool Party July 26^th from 1:00-3:00 PM at 1920 Higgins Ln, Murfreesboro, TN 37130. In case of inclement weather, meet at St. Mark’s and BYO sack lunch. All children must be accompanied by an adult; no drop-offs allowed. 

Please contact Hannah Pratt at hannah@stmarkstn.org if you have any questions.

Follow our St. Mark’s Children’s Ministry Facebook page and Instagram @stmarkstn_kids for more information!

-St. Mark’s Student Ministry is now hosting a weekly "Bible Study Hall" beginning at 6:00 pm (starting with the Wednesday night “SOULFULL” Worship Service in the Gym, and moving to the Library around 6:30), and ending at 7:30 pm. 

-On the afternoon of Wednesday July 26th, St. Mark’s Youth are invited to a Back to School Pool Party, hosted by the Beckmans & St. Mark’s Children’s Ministry. We will plan on gathering in the Youth Wing, from which we will depart for the Beckman’s home in the Church Bus at 1 pm and plan on returning to St. Mark’s by 3:30 pm (light snacks provided).

-MARK YOUR CALENDAR: On Wednesday August 2nd, St. Mark’s Youth, family & friends are invited to join us on the rear lawn of the St. Mark’s campus (behind the Youth wing) for our Back to School BBQ from 4-6 pm (if anyone can arrive at 3 pm to help set up and/or help with cleanup afterwards, that would be greatly appreciated!). We will have water balloons, kiddie pools, a giant slip’n’slide, gaga ball, and will be cooking up a BBQ dinner (hot dogs, bratwurst, burgers, chips, soda) for anyone in attendance who would like to partake. St. Mark’s Youth are also invited to join us on July 30th in an effort to “love our neighbors'' by inviting families in the neighborhoods immediately surrounding St. Mark’s campus to join us at the Back to School BBQ.

-We are in need of at least 4 Youth volunteers to serve as Ushers during the 10:30 worship service on Sunday 7/30 … we also need at least 4 Youth volunteers to help serve communion during the 10:30 service on Sunday 8/6. Please contact Louis Toedt (louis@stmarkstn.org) if you or someone you know may be interested!

-On the evening of Sunday August 6th, St. Mark’s Youth will be continuing our Bear Fruit Mission Series by packing boxes for the church’s Food Box ministry. 

-MARK YOUR CALENDAR: On Sunday August 13th, parents / guardians of St. Mark’s Youth are invited to a brief Fall Youth Orientation Meeting immediately following our Sunday Evening Youth Gathering. At this meeting, parents will be given a paper copy of our Fall Event Schedule, and asked to complete the annual Activity Waiver which enables Youth to participate in St. Mark’s events and outings.

-To stay informed about what St. Mark’s Student Ministry is up to, follow us on Instagram @stmarkstn_youth, or visit the landing page for all things related to St. Mark’s Student Ministry: https://st-marks-umc-student-ministry.mailchimpsites.com/

-To make your voice heard in shaping the future direction of St. Mark’s Student Ministry, please click here for the link to a brief survey that takes an average of 3 minutes to complete - your answers will be shared anonymously, so feel free to be completely honest! 

St. Mark’s Recreation is seeking softball players for our Co-Ed Softball team, which will play a season of about 7 games beginning in mid-August. Games will be played on Thursdays (tentatively), and each game will have a 1 hour time limit. If you are interested in joining the Co-Ed Softball team, please contact Mr. Wendell Philpott or Dr. Louis Toedt.

Attention College Students: St. Mark’s is proud to host College Volleyball Night on Monday evenings this summer from 7:30-10 pm in the gym. No RSVP required - just come as you are!

The speaker for the United Methodist Men breakfast meeting on Saturday, August 5 at 7:30 a.m. will be Michael Watson. He was a back judge for SEC football for many years. (Photo taken October 3, 2009.)

We meet in the Banquet Room.

Everyone is invited!

Saturday, July 29, 2023

11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

(Food served 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.)

Cotton Candy, Slushies, and Popcorn

$2 each or $5 for all 3!

Meals $8, Includes: Hamburger or Hotdog,

Baked Beans, Cole Slaw, Chips

Join us for some FUNdraising!

5 bounce houses, water rockets,

 food, treats, and games!

See FLYER HERE

The flowers on the altar each Sunday are available to be sponsored in honor of in memory of loved ones. To reserve a date, please call the church office or sign up on the Flower Calendar at the receptionist desk in the church office.

Each bouquet (there are two per Sunday) is $30 which can be paid by placing a check in the offering plate with "Flowers" on the memo line or contacting the church office for other arrangements.

The next four available Sundays are:

August 27 (one bouquet)

October 1 (one or both bouquets)

October 15 (one or both bouquets)

October 22 (one bouquet)

Grief Support Group Available At St. Mark’s UMC This Fall

Looking for help and encouragement after the death of a spouse, child, family member, or friend?  Grief Share is a special weekly seminar designed to help persons rebuild their lives after losing a loved one. St. Mark’s group is led by caring individuals who have experienced grief and want to help others through the difficult days ahead.

Sundays, 4:00 – 6:00 pm for 13 Sessions. Orientation Sunday, August 6, 2023

Led by Cyndy Stone Allen and Paul Givens. Limit 10 participants. Open to the public. $20.00 Materials Fee Payable August 6. Scholarships available. Books will be distributed at the Orientation gathering Sunday, August 6. To register, click here.

Almost everyone knows someone going through grief: it might be a friend or a family member, a neighbor, or a coworker.  You are encouraged to invite them to GriefShare!



To learn more about GriefShare, click here: https://vimeo.com/70809708

Wednesday, July 26

1:00 p.m. Back to School Pool Party at Beckman's

6:00 p.m. SOULFULL Worship - Rec Center

6:00 p.m. Youth Bible Study - Youth Center

Thursday, July 27

10:00 a.m. Quilting Bee - Banquet Room/Kitchen

10:30 a.m. Knitting - RM 506

6:30 p.m. ACOA Meeting - RM 503/505

Friday, July 28

6:00 p.m. Pickle Ball - RC

Saturday, July 29

8:30 a.m. AA Group - RM 503/505

11:00 a.m. Pack 398 BBQ - Back Yard

Sunday, July 30

9:15 a.m. Christian Education

10:30 a.m. Worship - Sanctuary

5:00 p.m. Bible Study - RM 1203

5:00 p.m. Youth - Rec Center/Youth Center

Monday, July 31

9:00 a.m. Preschool Teacher Meeting - RM 503/505

10:00 a.m. Watercolor Class - Banquet Room

11:30 a.m. Reeves Rogers Teachers Lunch - Banquet Room/Kitchen

5:30 p.m. Big Book Group - RM 503/505

7:30 p.m. College Volleyball - Rec Center

Tuesday, August 1

9:00 a.m. Note Writers - RM 506

Wednesday, August 2

3:00 p.m. Youth Back-to-School BBQ - Back yard

6:00 p.m. SOULFULL Worship - Rec Center

6:00 p.m. Youth Bible Study - Library

Thursday, August 3

10:30 a.m. Knitting - RM 503/505

6:30 p.m. ACOA Meeting - RM 503/505

Friday, August 4

6:00 p.m. Pickle Ball - Rec Center

Saturday, August 5

7:30 a.m. UMM Meeting & Breakfast - Banquet Room

8:30 a.m. AA Group - RM 503/505

Sunday, August 6

9:15 a.m. Christian Education

10:30 a.m. Worship - Sanctuary

4:00 p.m. GriefShare - RM 405

5:00 p.m. Youth - Rec Center/Youth Center

Monday, August 7

10:00 a.m. Watercolor Class - Banquet Room

10:00 a.m. Wings of Hope - Banquet Room/Kitchen

5:30 p.m. Big Book Group - RM 503/505

7:30 p.m. College Volleyball - Rec Center

Tuesday, August 8

9:00 a.m. Note Writers - RM 506

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