"The Messenger" Online Newsletter
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From the Pastor...
This past weekend, we had 277 people to worship with us on-campus, the largest attendance we've had since March 2020, when the pandemic began. It's been encouraging to see our numbers increasing.
That being said, we're still well below our pre-pandemic average of 400 per Sunday. We've got some work to do if we expect to reach those averages again.
I'd like to invite you to think of someone that you haven't seen in worship or Christian Education classes in a while. Write their names down or type them into the notes/memo app on your phone and begin praying for them, that God would open their hearts and minds to the possibility of returning to onsite worship. After praying for several days, reach out to them. Tell them that we miss them at St. Mark's. Invite them to return to worship and Christian education. Offer to take them to brunch or lunch afterwards.
Who knows? God may use you to get someone reconnected to this community of faith.
Upcoming Sermon/Study Texts
Each Sunday morning, I lead a Sunday School class that takes a deeper dive into the scriptures being preached in worship that day. Because of the pandemic, the class has been offered online up to this point but we are preparing to move to either in-person or a hybrid onsite/online experience soon.
If you're interested in being part of the class, join us on Sunday mornings at 9:45am here.
Here are the texts that I'll be preaching and we'll be studying over the next three months:
June 27: Mark 5:21-43
July 4: 2 Corinthians 12:2-10
July 11: Ephesians 1:3-10
July 18: Ephesians 2:11-22
July 25: Ephesians 3:14-21
August 1: Ephesians 4:1-16
August 8: Ephesians 4:25-5:2
August 15: Ephesians 5:15-20
August 22: Ephesians 6:10-20
It is a privilege to serve God as one of your clergy.
Tommy
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Thursday Night Worship Opportunity |
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When our Staff Parish Relations Committee interviewed HyeLan Pearce for our Director of Worship and Music, one of the things that impressed them was that HyeLan is trained in traditional worship and choral conducting but also has experience starting other types of worship experiences as well. We are pleased to announce plans for a new worship opportunity at St. Mark's.
This new worship opportunity will take place on Thursday evenings at 6 pm in the sanctuary. The target audience for the service will be unchurched or nominally churched people in our community. Leading us in worship, in addition to our clergy, will be our Proclaim Praise Team. If you've been worshiping with us on Sunday mornings over the past year, you've been introduced to this praise team's amazing talent.
As we prepare for this new worship experience, we need your help. We'd like for some of our St. Mark's family to come participate in our "soft opening" services and then provide us with some feedback afterwards. We'll take that feedback and make whatever changes might need to be made before we begin advertising and promoting this new worship experience to the community.
Would you, your family, your Sunday School class, or small group be willing to attend our "soft opening" services on Thursdays at 6 pm and then give us your thoughts? Dress is casual. Feel free to invite others, especially any unchurched friends you may have.
Thank you for your help in fine-tuning this future ministry designed to reach more people in our community with the good news of God's love.
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SAGES News
The SAGES Ministry Team would like to make you aware of these dates for the remainder of this year:
1. Bell Buckle Café, August 18 - Bus leaving church at 10:30 A.M.
2. Midway Diner, September 8, Bus leaving the church at 8:00 A.M.
3. Senior Day will be Sunday, September 12
4. October 15 – Senior Cookout, 11:30 lunch, followed by entertainment: Bill Sleeter
5. November 5 – Bus leaving at 9:30 for Monteagle/Sewanee/University of the South (Pipe Organ Recital). Lunch at Simply Southern in Pelham, Tennessee
6. December 2 – Christmas at Beersheba TBA
7. December 11 – Senior Serenity Luncheon at 11:00 AM
Our monthly worship services begin at Adams Place June 21 at 10:30 A.M. Liz Bennett will lead the services. This will include songs, prayers, a message, Communion, and fellowship. The services will be conducted every third Monday at 10:30 A.M.
Our Fellowship Time resumes at The Rutherford Senior Care on Wednesday June 23 at 11:00-11:30 AM. Any Sages who would like participate should just be there at 11:00 AM.
Our Dementia/Alzheimer’s Support Group resumes on Thursday, June 24 at 1:30 PM. This will be led by Susan Green and Kathryn Wright. Anyone who is caring for someone with dementia or who would benefit from such a group is invited to St. Mark’s on June 24. The support group will continue to meet at St. Mark’s every fourth Thursday at the same time.
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Children’s Christian Education Is Back!
Children have a natural sense of awe, wonder, curiosity and imagination that helps shape their spiritual lives. In Celebrate Wonder, we hear and reflect on God’s Word, experience spiritual practices, play games, ask big questions, and help each other claim our spiritual identity as children of God.
We are excited to have all the children back to indoor Sunday school! These classes begin at 9:45 a.m.:
• Preschool (Age 2 – Age 5/Pre-K) – Room 305
Leaders: Trish Clardy, Leta Hood, Lori Gray, Matt Rogers
• Young Elementary (Kindergarten - Grade 2) – Banquet Hall
Leaders: Pam Forrest, Eudora Hargis, Dana Harvey, Bobbie Damron,
Tracy Read
• Older Elementary (Grades 3 – 5) Room 212
Leaders: Becky Latta, Cindy Flippin, Bernie and Rene Sharkey, John
Wilson, Sean Gilliland
Please Note! Children will be attending the Christian education class that matches the class or grade they will attend in the Fall of 2021.
Since children are unable to be vaccinated at this time, COVID protocols will remain in place. For more information, CLICK HERE.
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St. Mark’s Nursery Facilities Now Open |
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St. Mark’s Nursery is available during the 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. worship services and during 9:45 a.m. Christian education.
The nursery is open on Sunday mornings 8:15 a.m. –12:00 p.m. for children aged 3 months to age 4. COVID safety protocols and procedures are in place; you can read them here. All nursery staff are fully vaccinated. If you have any questions, please contact Anne Raymond (615) 218-1338 or Rev. Martha Touchton (615) 893-3455.
St. Mark’s is seeking to hire several new caregivers in the Nursery. More information is available here.
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All St. Mark’s children and their parents and/or grandparents are invited to participate in weekly gatherings for fun and fellowship.
Friends and Newcomers are Welcome!
All children must be accompanied by an adult.
June 23rd Mission “Hill o’ Beans” in St. Mark’s Narthex
Teamwork makes the dream work! We’ll bag dried beans for Red Bird Mission and learn about hunger and sharing.
June 30th Bowling at Murfreesboro Strike & Spare on Old Fort
$5 per person for 2 games, shoes included.
Lunch is available in the café afterwards.
July 14th Arts and Crafts in St. Mark’s Banquet Hall
We’ll assemble and paint our own wood craft. BYO hammer!
July 21st Sky Zone Trampoline Park, 1220 NW Broad St.
$15/person for 5 & under
$19/person for 6 & up
$3/person for socks (or BYO grippy socks)
July 28th July 28th Pool and Pizza Party at the Beckman’s
1920 Higgins Lane. Bring a 2-Liter Drink or Dessert to share.
Watch St. Mark’s Children’s Ministries Facebook page, Newsletter, and your email for more detailed information!
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CLASSES and GROUPS NOW IN SESSION IN PERSON:
Cornerstone, Sundays at 9:45 a.m. in Room 407/409
Dimensions of Faith, Sundays at 9:45 a.m. in Room 403 beginning July 11th
Discussion Class, Sundays at 9:45 a.m. in Room 506 beginning July 11th
Genesis Network, Sundays at 9:45 a.m. in Room 1204
Good News, Sundays at 9:45 a.m. in the Library beginning June 13th
In His Steps, Sundays at 9:45 a.m. in Room 406
Minerva Harrell, Sundays, 9:45 am. in Room 501 beginning July 11
Mixed Blessings, Sundays at 9:45 a.m. in Room 1203
New Horizons, Sundays at 9:45 a.m. in Room 1205
Pathfinders, Sundays at 9:45 a.m. in Room 503/505 beginning July 11th
Spares and Pairs, Sundays at 9:45 a.m. in Room 402/404 beginning June 13th
Woman to Woman, Sundays at 9:45 a.m. in Room 405
Young Adults, Sundays, 9:45 a.m. in Room 504
Alzheimer’s/ Dementia Support Group, 4th Thursdays, 1:30 p.m. in Room 1203
Knitters, Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. in Room 503/505
Watercolor Painting,
Beginners Mondays, 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. in the Banquet Room. Space Available.
Advanced Mondays, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. in the Banquet Room. Full.
Unless otherwise noted, newcomers are welcome in all classes and groups. For more information about these or other Adult Ministries, contact Claudia Hunter or Rev. Martha Touchton.
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Sunday, July 4th Special Schedule
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9:30 a.m. CHURCH WIDE POTLUCK BREAKFAST
Helping Hands needed!
Volunteer to Martha Touchton
10:30 a.m. ONE WORSHIP SERVICE
Click HERE for more information!
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Virtually awesome! Serve and give from home.
Project Transformation (PT) campers are coming back in person this summer at two host sites in Rutherford county, but St. Mark’s members will serve and give from home. PT campers will participate in a variety of activities designed for literacy, social-emotional learning, and personal enrichment. Please help share the love of Christ with campers!
Serve
Read virtually with PT campers during one or both weeks St. Mark’s will provide mentors:
• June 8-10 Smyrna First UMC campers
• July 12 – 15 First Cumberland Presbyterian campers (Main St., Murfreesboro)
You will receive a link in an email to log-on and read online with campers between 9:45a.m. and 12:15p.m. You simply need a computer with a video camera, internet access, and a willingness to genuinely interact with campers.
Click SERVE to email a coordinator with your name, cell phone number, and which week or days you will serve. Or, contact Dorothy Murphy (615-519-0669) or Jennifer Marlatt (615-631-9877)
Give
Donate the cost of supplies ($20) for at least one camper, or give one or more shares ($100) toward the purchase of a computer. As a partner church for PT, St. Mark’s will provide 60 sets of camper supplies, and at least two computers to enable online reading and interaction among campers and mentors like you.
Click GIVE, then choose MISSIONS and then PROJECT TRANSFORMATION from the list of funds. Or, send a check this week to St. Mark’s marked “PT”. Any and all support is helpful!
Please pray for PT campers, interns, staff and churches throughout the summer. Thank you for helping share Christ’s love with children in Rutherford County through Project Transformation.
Contact for questions: St. Mark’s PT coordinator Dorothy Murphy at 615-519-0669.
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Wednesday, June 23, 2021
10:00 a.m. Wonderful Wednesdays
2:00 p.m. Finance/Trustees Meeting - Rm 503/505
Thursday, June 24, 2021
9:00 a.m. Women's Bible Study on Zoom
Knitting - RM 503/50510:30 AM - 12:00 PM
1:30 p.m. Alzheimer's/Dementia Support Group - RM 506
4:30 p.m. Youth - Rec Center/Youth Center
6:30 p.m. ACOA Meeting RM 503/505
6:00 p.m. Soul-Full Worship - Sanctuary
Friday, June 25, 2021
6:00 p.m. Pickle Ball - Rec Center
Saturday, June 26, 2021
8:30 a.m. AA Group - RM 503/505
9:00 a.m. Praise Team - Sanctuary
Sunday, June 27, 2021
8:30 a.m. Worship - Sanctuary
9:45 a.m. Christian Education
11:00 a.m. Worship - Sanctuary
Monday, June 28, 2021
10:00 a.m. Watercolor Class - Banquet Room
12:30 p.m. Watercolor Class - Banquet Room
Tuesday, June 29, 2021
6:30 p.m. Stamped Book Club at Touchtons'
Wednesday, June 30, 2021
10:00 a.m. Wonderful Wednesdays
Thursday, July 1, 2021
10:30 a.m. Knitting - RM 503/505
6:30 p.m. ACOA Meeting - RM 503/505
6:00 p.m. Soul-Full Worship - Sanctuary
Sunday, July 4, 2021
9:30 a.m. Fellowship Brunch
10:30 a.m. Worship - Sanctuary
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In Other News:
The St. Mark’s Furniture Ministry will reopen effective July 10, 2021. Anyone who is wishing to donate furniture can do so by calling or texting the furniture telephone at (615)707-3166; photos of furniture will be requested. We will not be accepting any furniture “drop-offs” at the warehouse unless prior arrangements have been made with Karen Alexander or Paul Givens.
Missed a Sermon? Click HERE to go to our sermons media page.
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