"The Messenger"
Online Newsletter
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From the Pastor
In Sunday's sermon, I shared with you that your clergy want to hear your stories, stories of how you found yourself in some kind of desolate pit (Psalm 40:2) and waited patiently on the Lord until God heard your cry and lifted you out of the mud and muck, placing you on a sure and steady foundation. Your story, your song, may be what God uses to lead others to a deepening of faith.
To share your stories, call the church office and make an appointment, record a short video, send me an email, schedule a phone call, whichever and whatever is easiest for you.
If you don't want to talk in front of the congregation, that's okay. We can video your story, write about your story, or I can retell your story for you. If you have a story to tell and are willing to share it with me, we'll find a way to tell that story to others.
It is a privilege to serve God as one of your clergy.
Tommy
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Progress Report
Early this year, Pastor Tommy invited us to prayerfully commit to doing several things that will strengthen our faith and church. How are you doing with the following things:
Worshiping Regularly?
Serving Sacrificially?
Committing to Excellence?
Growing in Our Sense of God's purpose for our lives and for our church?
Creatively Expressing Our Faith?
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"Why Men Hate Going to Church" Discussion
At the February 1 United Methodist Men's meeting, Rev. Tommy Ward will lead us in a discussion about "Why Men Hate Going to Church." We will also examine the results of the recent survey that men of St. Mark's were invited to complete and we will begin to think about ways to involve more men in the day-to-day life of faith and church.
All men of the church are invited to join us at 7:30 am on Saturday, February 1 for a free breakfast followed by this important discussion.
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LIKE Your Church
One of the best ways to express your love for St. Mark's is following us on social media and sharing our posts on your social media platforms. Follow us at stmarkstn on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Currently, we're most active on Facebook but we plan to ramp up our Instagram and Twitter presence in the coming weeks. If there is another social media platform that you think we need to be using, please contact the church office.
You can also post comments about your positive experiences at St. Mark's on your social media platforms and encourage those who are looking for a church home to join you sometime.
Stay tuned for more information about our social media presence as some exciting things are in the works!
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Chapel Pews Available
In an effort to make the space more functional, the Trustees have decided to remove the nine pews from our chapel and replace them with chairs. These pews were part of the former St. Mark's church on Main Street and are approximately 6.5 feet long.
If there are those who would like a pew, please contact the church office. A monetary donation to the church of some kind is appreciated but not required.
Please contact Kathryn Wright, Business Administrator, if you're interested. Pews will be available on a first come first serve basis and anyone wanting one would be responsible for moving it.
Any pews not claimed by January 31 will be relocated.
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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
$8.00/Adult, $4.00/Children and MTSU Students, $25.00/Family Max
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Adult Classes Meeting in January
Feasting on the Word - led by Rev. Martha Touchton
The Transformative Power of Gratitude – led by Julie King
Beginning Watercolor Painting – led by Kent Kigar
Beginning 1/29 - Studying Sermon Texts - led by Rev. Tommy Ward
Click
HERE
to see the full January Brochure
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St. Mark’s Welcomes Chef Amanda Murphy
We are excited to have Amanda Murphy serving as our new cook! Amanda will cook for Wednesday Night Together and other meals and events at church, and is charged with overseeing the kitchen. For WNT, Amanda prepares home-style meals using more fresh foods and fewer processed products
VOLUNTEERS
are needed to prepare food, serve and clean up in the kitchen! If you would like to learn more about cooking for large groups or are willing to serve your church in this way, help is needed Wednesdays, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., and Wednesday afternoons 3:30 – 6:30 p.m. We would be glad to have persons serve one time a month or every week, whatever works well with their schedule. To volunteer, visit our Sign-Up Genius at
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508054fa9a82ea0fb6-wnthelpers
.
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SAGES News
The SAGES Ministry Team had a wonderful planning meeting earlier this month. Thanks to everyone for participating.
The Alzheimer’s/Dementia Support Group will meet at 1:30 P.M. January 23.
SAGES are taking a trip on January 27 to HWY 55 Burgers, Shakes and Fries, in Nolensville, Tennessee, leaving the church at 10:30 A.M. Please sign up in the church office. Look for the book!!
Each Wednesday we visit the Rutherford Memory Care with a program. That takes place at 11:00 A.M. and everyone is invited.
The next SAGES Team meeting will be February 10 at 9:30.
Some of the activities planned for 2020 include services at Adams Place ad Boulevard Terrace, the Senior Valentine’s Luncheon, the Encore Senior Conference at St. Mark’s, trips to the Cumberland County Playhouse, etc. Please check the newsletter regularly for more information on all these activities and a host of others. You’re welcome to join all the plans of the SAGES –
S
enior
A
dults
G
rowing
E
xploring,
S
erving
.
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Deep Blue Kids: Sundays, 9:45 – 10:45 a.m.
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Jesus and Others Lead the Community
So they went out and proclaimed that people should
change their hearts and lives. (Mark 6:12)
This January in
DEEP BLUE, the children are studying stories about Jesus and the beginning of his ministry.
1/26 Jesus begins calling followers. He teaches them and then sends them off two by two to also share the good news of God’s love for all people— we hear about this in our final story this month. We can look to Jesus as his followers today and continue to share the good news.
This February in
DEEP BLUE, we will study stories about different leaders in the Bible and how they led their communities.
2/2 Deborah, a judge in the Old Testament, helped the Israelites solve problems and helped the people be brave.
2/9 Samuel goes to Jesse’s family looking for a new king, but it isn’t the person Samuel thinks it would be. God calls David because he has good intentions and will show love to God’s people.
2/16 A servant girl who lives with Namaan, an Aram military leader, speaks up and helps Namaan find healing.
2/23 Josiah is an Israelite king who began his kingship at eight years old. He discovers a hidden scroll and helps the people rededicate themselves to God.
ARE YOU SERVING IN LEADERSHIP IN OUR COMMUNITY?
We are constructing a bulletin board in the elementary hallway that depicts members of our church family serving in leadership in our community. If you have a photo of yourself serving in a leadership role, either as a volunteer or as part of your employment, please send that photo and an explanation to
hannah.underwood16@yahoo.com
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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, contact Rev. Martha Touchton or Children’s Ministries Team Leader Julie King.
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Save These Upcoming Children’s Ministries Dates:
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Sunday, February 9, 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. Children’s Coin Offering for Special Kids
Saturday, February 15, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. Open Gym for Children
Sunday, February 23, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. Lenten Family Prayer Fair
Saturday/Sunday, March 14/15
BE Spiritual Life Retreat for Children Grades 3 – 5 at Beersheba. Full
FLYER HERE.
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Thank You, St. Mark’s UMC!
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Thanks to your generous Christmas Eve offering, more than
$2600 has been donated to the St. Thomas Rutherford Foundation Nursery Fund
to purchase car seats for newborns who are ready to go home but are lacking in a safe method of transport. These infants will now be surrounded by safety and love when they are at their most vulnerable.
Each family who receives a car seat will also receive a card from St. Mark’s giving thanks for their new baby, letting them know that the car seat is a gift from our church, and inviting them to come worship with us at St. Mark’s UMC.
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For All Men of the Church
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Gil Hanke, General Secretary of the General Commission on United Methodist Men has requested that all men of St. Mark's (not just those who attend the UMM meetings) respond to the enclosed survey. You can click on the direct
SURVEY LINK, or use your cell phone to go to the survey by aiming your camera at the QR Code image.
Please respond by the last Monday of January so we can view the results at our next UMM meeting on Saturday, February 1st. The United Methodist Men of St. Mark's meets on the first Saturday of each month in the Banquet Room at 7:30 a.m. All men of the church are invited!
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Let the Boy Scouts of St. Mark’s Troop 398 take care of your cooking on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 2
nd
.
We’ve smoked our own pork and turkey for 20 years!
Your order will be packaged and ready for pick up from 9:00 AM to 1:30 PM in the Banquet Room on Super Bowl Sunday. Our prices remain the same as last year.
You can choose from pulled pork $9/pound and/or sliced turkey $10/pound (order extra and freeze it for a treat later on!) Whole Boston Butts are available for $40 and boneless Turkey half-breasts for $35. Ribs are $15/slab. To complete your feast, we offer 16 ounce sides of Cole slaw and baked beans for $4 each. Back by popular demand are our sauces: 12 oz Hummingbird (mild) and Screaming Eagle (spicy) for $5.
Please remember to place your orders in advance, since only limited quantities will be available for sale on Feb. 2
nd
. Tickets are currently on sale by troop members, Kyle Anderson, Aaron Brunner, Nathan Daniel & Jesse Hofer. Scouts will have tickets for sale in the Narthex on Wed. nights and on Sundays thru Jan. 26
th
. Order forms are also available in the church office or you can place an order by calling or emailing Scoutmaster Mike Warren (615) 473-7076 or
mike11345@aol.com
.
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St. Mark's follows the Murfreesboro City Schools (MCS) system in determining whether or not the church office will be open and church-wide events held. When MCS are closed, the church office will be closed and all church-wide activities canceled.
For church-wide events taking place on weekends, please check social media, the church website, and/or your email for updates in the event of inclement weather.
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In Other News:
Program Staff Retreat - Rev. Tommy Ward, Rev. Dr. Jim Clardy, Rev. Martha Touchton, HyeLan Pearce, and Sean Orr will be out of the office Monday, January 27 and Tuesday, January 28 for a planning retreat. Please be in prayer for your program staff as they discuss programming for 2020.
Pancake Breakfast at the MTSU Wesley Foundation, February 8, 7:00—10:00 a.m. Tickets are $5.00 per person (purchase at the door). Local Clergy will be offering a taste of their favorite breakfast items. More info
HERE.
The St. Mark’s Spring Golf Tournament will be Saturday, May 16, 1:00 p.m. at Old Fort Golf Course. If you or your team would like to play, please contact Wendell Philpott.
Volunteers Needed - Tommy Walker needs volunteers to help with the Audio/Video Center on Sunday mornings and occasional other times. No special skills or experience required. See Tommy Walker at the center on Sunday morning with questions or to volunteer.
Flower Calendar
– The flowers on the altar each Sunday are available to be sponsored in honor or in memory of a loved one. To reserve a date, sign up on the flower calendar posted outside the kitchen on the bulletin board. Each bouquet (there are two per Sunday) is $25 and can be paid by check in the offering plate labeled "flowers" or in the church office.
Missed a Sermon? Click
HERE to go to our sermons media page.
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