February 7, 2024

From the Pastor

What is Lent? Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday (February 14) and ends on Holy Saturday (March 30). Lent comes from the Anglo-Saxon word 'Lenten', which means "spring." The season is a time of preparation for celebrating Easter. 

On Ash Wednesday, Christians confront their own mortality and confess their sin before God within the community of faith. And while Ash Wednesday focuses on the dual themes of sin and death, it's done through the lens of God's redeeming love made known to us in Jesus Christ.

If you've never participated in an Ash Wednesday worship experience, I invite you to do so on February 14th at 6pm in the sanctuary. 

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

Tommy

Staff Introductions:

New Office and Facility Services Administrator

Dear Congregation,

It has been a joy and adventure to attend St. Mark's for six years now, serving in the choir, as a soloist, a vocalist in the SOULFULL worship band, and assisting with children's choir. I've grown close with a number of the congregation and familiar with many faces after years of leading the congregation in worship of our Lord. For the past three years, I've maintained communications for an administrative office at MTSU, and I have earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Music.

I'm honored to serve St. Mark's in the fresh role of Office and Facility Services Administrator. I will continue to serve in the choir, band, and children's choir and look forward to getting to know you all better and better every week. Praying for your grace as I transition into this new position, I am determined to serve you well.

Grace and peace,

Bethany Cardenas

Office and Facility Services Administrator

This Sunday, we continue our series, "Jesus, Man of Mystery." As Jesus began his public ministry, he was somewhat of a mysterious figure. Gradually, Jesus reveals more and more about himself and reveals more and more about us. 

Upcoming Sermon Texts in This Series:

February 11: Mark 9:2-9

A lot of people start the new year with resolutions of one kind or another. And chances are, you may have even already broken some or all of them. This three week series is not about losing weight or spending less time on social media; rather the focus will be on three concrete ways that Jesus invites his disciples to live. How would the world be different if followers of Christ...

Resolved to pray more (2/7/24) Matthew 5:1-2, 7:7-11

Resolve to join us for dinner at 5 pm each week (reservations required) and then SOULFULL worship at 6 pm.

Next Wednesday

Sunday, February 18

UNBREAKABLE LOVE SERIES BEGINS FEBRUARY 18

In the context of scripture, a covenant is often an agreement between God and human beings, where God makes promises to God's people and in turn expects a certain type of behavior or commitment from them. But even when people fail to uphold their end of the covenant, God remains faithful, a powerful testament to God's unbreakable love.

February 18: Genesis 9:8-17

February 25: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16

March 3: Exodus 20:1-17

March 10: Ephesians 2:1-10

March 17: Jeremiah 31:31-34

March 24: Mark 11:1-11

5:00 p.m.

UPCOMING MENUS:

2/7 Poppy Seed Chicken, Rice, Peas and Carrots, Salad Bar, Biscuits, Fruit Parfait

2/14 Pork Tenderloin, Mac-n-Cheese, Baked Apples, Salad Bar, Cornbread, Pie

$10/Adult; Children, Youth and College Students eat FREE!

6:00 p.m.

SOULFULL Worship Plus

Children, Youth, & Adult Ministries

Adult Ministries February 7th

The Grand Sweep Reflection Group

In the Banquet Room

or

COFFEE TALK with Butler Touchton in the Narthex

THE PENTATEUCH

ADULT CHRISTIAN EDUCATION EVENT

Sunday, March 17, 9:15 – 10:15 a.m.

in the Sanctuary with

The Reverend Rebecca Abts Wright, Ph.D.

The Rev. Dr. Wright, C. K. Benedict, Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Hebrew at Sewanee School of theology, will be our first plenary speaker for The Grand Sweep Sunday, March 17, 9:30 – 10:15 a.m. in the Sanctuary. While this special presentation is especially for those participating in The Grand Sweep, all adults are invited and encouraged to attend.   



Dr. Wright, who holds degrees from American University, Wesley Theological Seminary, and Yale University, is an ordained United Methodist minister whose primary objective is for students to encounter and enjoy the depths of biblical study. She uses a variety of teaching methods, introducing her students to a wide range of perspectives, both ancient and contemporary, "traditional" and "non-traditional," for encountering biblical texts. Her teaching style not only helps students understand the Old Testament in its historical context, but also how it is relevant to the church today. Her presentation at St. Mark’s will be interactive, and you are invited to submit questions ahead of time to martha@stmarkstn.org.

Recently the troop was interviewed by UM News. You can read that interview and the report at this website:

> https://www.umnews.org/en/news/scouts-continue-molding-leaders

Thank you, Scout Troop 398. 

The SAGES are going to Granville, Tn, for the Mayberry lunch and play on Wednesday, February 7th.  The tickets are $35.00 each plus $5.00 bus. We will leave the church at 10:00 a.m.  We will have time to visit gift shops, the general store, the quilt shop and the Granville Broom Works before lunch. Museums are not included. Lunch will be at 1:00 pm and the play is from 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

The SAGES Ministry Team will meet on Monday, Feb. 12, at 9:30 am in Room 503-505. The session will include a continuation of planning for 2024.

The Alzheimer's/ Dementia caregivers will meet on February 22 at 1:30 with guest Joy Ash-Galland at 2714 Tower Dr., Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

A trip is planned to Bell Buckle with lunch on March 8. Please sign up in the church office or the narthex. Look for the book!

Almost all the members of The SAGES Ministry Team are participating in The Grand Sweep Bible Reading Ministry and supportive of the church’s community Bible Reading.

This year we are again offering worship experiences at five different SAGES Assisted Living and Memory Care Centers.

We are sending cards, flowers and gifts. We make hospital calls and home visits. We support grandparent ministries. We attend Sunday School and worship.

SUNDAY MORNINGS AT 9:30!

Our Preschool (Ages 2 to PreK 5), Younger Elementary (Kindergarten to 3^rd Grade), and Older Elementary (4^th Grade to 6^th Grade) children will meet for Sunday school 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. The preschool class will meet in Room 305, the younger elementary class will meet in Room 214, and the older elementary class will meet in Room 212.

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 attend the Wednesday night children’s study, “Joining God at Work in the World”! Every Wednesday at 6:00 pm in Room 202 in the Children’s Wing.

Wonderfully Made Sexuality Seminar starts this Thursday!

The Wonderfully Made Sexuality Seminar starts this Thursday! If you haven’t paid the $20 fee already, please do so by Thursday. Please see the schedule below.

Thursday, 2/8

5:00-6:00 PM - Adult Helpers’ Dinner

6:00-7:30 PM – Parent Only Session (childcare will be available)

Friday, 2/9

6:30-8:30 PM – Students’ Only Session

Saturday, 2/10

9:00 AM-12:00 PM - Students' Only Session

12:00-1:00- Parents and Students Session

Children’s Lent Event is this Sunday!

All children and their families are invited to come make Lenten Activity Eggs to help your family prepare for the Lenten and Easter seasons! This event will be in the Banquet Hall from 2-4 PM. Each family is asked to bring one Easter basket or egg carton per family. Please RSVP to Hannah.

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 @stmarkstnkids for more information!

If you’d like to join us for an evening of MTSU Blue Raider Basketball on Thursday, February 15th, St Mark’s Recreation Ministry is currently offering tickets in our group block for the discounted (47% off) price of $8 apiece. Tipoff is at 6:30 pm, and tickets include access to free bounce houses and carnival games for the kids, as well as the opportunity for the whole family to participate in a post-game group photo on the court. Ticket orders and cash or check payments should be submitted to Louis Toedt by Sunday 2/11/24; contact louis@stmarkstn.org for more information.

Link to the ticket order form: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1a_Ghlzm_3Tt0aJw4b-P2TXTwMISFbIQKJMmy8Ilfzeo/edit?usp=sharing

• Congratulations to Sam McElroy on making the All-County Band! 

• Wednesday Night Bible Study continues this week (2/7) beginning at 6:00 pm in the Library (just off the Narthex) and ending at 7:30 pm; Youth & friends in grades 6-12 are invited to join us as we continue our exploration of Paul’s Letter to the Roman Church, also sometimes known as “The Book of Romans”. Dinner (Poppy Seed Chicken, Rice, Peas, Carrots, Salad Bar, Biscuits, Fruit Parfait) will be served in the banquet hall at 5 pm, and is free for Children, Youth and College Students.

• Please remember that there is no Sunday Evening Youth Gathering on Sunday 2/11 due to the fact that it’s Super Bowl Sunday. Youth Sunday School, on the other hand, will go on at the usual time (9:15 am) in the St. Mark’s Youth Wing.

• February 4th was Karaoke Night at St. Mark’s Youth- thanks to all of our spirited performers, to our friends Kathy & Roland for providing dinner, and to John & Katie for chaperoning! 

• If you were unable to attend the informational meeting regarding the Summer Youth Mission Trip on Sunday 2/4 but are still interested in attending or chaperoning the 2024 Youth Mission Trip, please contact louis@stmarkstn.org. You can view the slideshow presentation from the meeting by clicking here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1wE9EeO5ZlrC03aT90lQaU0SYcTzH8Oq3f0Ty2FVwSyg/edit?usp=sharing

• Any and all Youth or rising Youth who have not yet completed Confirmation in the United Methodist Church are invited to join us for Confirmation Class during the Sunday School hour in the Banquet Hall, continuing through May. For more information, please contact louis@stmarkstn.org or hannah@stmarkstn.org

• If anyone is aware of any loved ones who will be graduating from High School, College or Graduate School this May and would like to see them honored by St Mark’s Student Ministry, please communicate this information to Louis Toedt and he will follow up with further instructions. Graduation Sunday will be observed on May 5th, 2024.

• The Spring 2024 St. Mark’s Youth Programming Calendar is now here. To stay informed about St. Mark’s Youth events, please click the link below and add these dates to your personal calendar / planner: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1m-AZc7QprlSM_JRgk_Tao3jLciH2yvtQAk_EITGXUA8/edit?usp=sharing You can also follow us on Instagram @stmarkstn_youth, or visit the Youth Ministry landing page for all things related to St Mark’s Student Ministry: https://st-marks-umc-student-ministry.mailchimpsites.com/

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 available Sunday is:

February 18 (one bouquet)

February 25 (one or both bouquets)

March 3 (one or both bouquets)

March 17 (one or both bouquets)

March 24 (one or both bouquets)

Many other 2024 dates are available. Call 615-893-3455 for more information.

Wednesday, February 7

10:00 a.m. SAGES to Mayberry Valentine Dinner

5:00 p.m. WNT Dinner - Banquet Room

6:00 p.m. Grand Sweep #1 - Banquet Room

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

7:00 p.m. Chancel Choir - RM 1119

Thursday, February 8

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

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

5:00 p.m. JAM Session: Wonderfully Made, Leader/Mentor Meeting - RM 504

6:00 p.m. ACOA Meeting - RM 503/505

6:00 p.m. JAM Session: Wonderfully Made Parent Meeting - RM 1203

Friday, February 9

10:00 a.m. Grand Sweep #2 - RM 503/505

11:00 a.m. Bible Study - RM 503/505

6:00 p.m. JAM Session: Wonderfully Made Sexuality Seminar - RM 1203

Saturday, February 10

8:00 a.m. Cub Scouts Blue and Gold - Rec Center/Banquet RM/Kitchen

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

9:00 a.m. JAM Session: Wonderfully Made Sexuality Seminar - RM 1203

Sunday, February 11

9:15 a.m. Confirmation Class - Banquet Room

9:15 a.m. Adult Confirmation 2.0 - RM 406

9:15 a.m. Christian Education

9:15 a.m. Grand Sweep #3 - RM 504

10:30 a.m. Worship - Sanctuary

11:30 a.m. Food Bank Ministry Team - RM 407/409

11:30 a.m. SONlight - RM 1119

2:00 p.m. Children's Lent Event - Kitchen/Banquet Room, Narthex

4:00 p.m. Bible Study - RM 1203

4:00 p.m. Grand Sweep #4 - RM 504

5:00 p.m. Chancel Ringers - RM 1117

Monday, February 12

9:30 a.m. SAGES Meeting - RM 506

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

5:00 p.m. Cub Scouts - Banquet Room/Rec Center/Youth Center

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

6:00 p.m. Sanctuary Ringers - RM 1117

Tuesday, February 13

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

10:00 a.m. Staff Meeting - RM 503/505

10:00 a.m. UMW Mary Martha Circle - RM 501

6:00 p.m. Cornerstone Catered Dinner - Banquet Room/Kitchen

Wednesday, February 14

5:00 p.m. WNT Dinner - Banquet Room

7:00 p.m. Chancel Choir - RM 1119

Thursday, February 15

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

6:00 p.m. ACOA Meeting - RM 503/505

6:00 p.m. MTSU Basketball Recreation Outing

Friday, February 16

10:00 a.m. Grand Sweep #2 - RM 503/505

11:00 a.m. Bible Study - RM 503/505

Saturday, February 17

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

Sunday, February 18

9:15 a.m. Confirmation Class - Banquet Room

9:15 a.m. Adult Confirmation Class 2.0 - RM 406

9:15 a.m. Christian Education

9:15 a.m. Grand Sweep #3 - RM 504

10:30 a.m. Worship - Sanctuary

11:30 a.m. UMW Brave Women of Faith - Meet in Narthex

4:00 p.m. Bible Study - RM 1203

4:00 p.m. Grand Sweep #4 - RM 504

5:00 p.m. Chancel Ringers - RM 1117

Monday, February 19

Office Closed - Washington's Birthday

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

5:00 p.m. Cub Scouts - Banquet Room/Rec Center/Youth Center

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

6:00 p.m. Sanctuary Ringers - RM 1117

Tuesday, February 20

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

10:00 a.m. Staff Meeting - RM 503/505

In Other News:

View Our Current Prayer List

See Our Full Event Calendar 

Missed a Sermon? Click HERE to go to our sermon's media page.

St. Mark's UMC | (615) 893-3455 | stmarks@stmarkstn.org