"The Messenger" Online Newsletter
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Sunday was Pentecost. In my sermon, I pointed out that Pentecost wasn't the first time that the Spirit of God descended upon God's people. Up until that time, the Spirit typically visited particular people in particular places during particular times for particular purposes. At Pentecost, however, the Spirit descended upon ALL who gathered. From this point forward, God's spirit has been available to each of us, not just a chosen few.
It's worth noting that Jesus instructed his early followers to come together, waiting on and praying for the Holy Spirit. One of the reasons Jesus may have wanted his followers to gather together is because something precious is lost when people practice faith in isolation.
Our worship attendance is slowly climbing as we get ever so closer to a post-pandemic world. And yet many of our church members and friends have not returned. While we are blessed to have online worship opportunities and I pray that people are taking advantage of those opportunities, it does increase the chances of us flying solo in our faith.
Allow me to extend an invitation for our church family to rejoin us for on-campus worship and Christian education. A big part of the work that God wants to do in us and through us will occur in community. Together, let's wait on and pray for a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit on us and on our church.
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:
May 30: John 3:1-21
June 6: 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1
June 13: 2 Corinthians 5:6-17
June 20: Mark 4:35-41
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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SAGES News
Norman E. Hodges has a book entitled “It’s Great to Grow Older! A Biblical View.” Chapter 7 is “Exploding Myths About Aging.” And in the chapter Hodges lists eight myths about aging.
Myth 7 is that “older people can’t be self-sufficient.” Hodges says that most Sages want to be able to handle their own affairs without assistance from someone else. Of course, there are some who, for various reasons and circumstances beyond their control are unable to care for their own needs. Hodges writes: “The fact is that more and more adults are able to care for themselves well into their eighties and nineties, and this is most encouraging.”
Many older adults seek to be competent and in full control of their lives. And Hodges would agree that this is commendable.
The publishers call this book “A Must for People Over 50.”
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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 invite all the children back to indoor Sunday school! We will open at 9:45 a.m. Sunday, June 6th with these classes:
v Preschool (Age 2 – Age 5/Pre-K) – Room 305
Leaders: Trish Clardy, Leta Hood, Lori Gray, Matt Rogers
v Young Elementary (Kindergarten - Grade 2) – Banquet Hall
Leaders: Pam Forrest, Eudora Hargis, Dana Harvey, Bobbie Damron,
Tracy Read
v 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 Promotion Day is
Sunday, June 6th!
As we open up Sunday school after a year’s absence due to COVID, we are simultaneously promoting all the children into the class/grade they will be attending this fall, as follows:
Children who will have turned Age 2, 3, 4 and 5 by August 15, 2021, and are not planning to attend Kindergarten this Fall
will attend the Preschool Class in Room 305
Children who will be enrolled in Kindergarten, 1st or 2nd Grade in the Fall of 2021 will attend the
Young Elementary Class in the Banquet Room
Children who will be enrolled in 3rd, 4th or 5th Grade in the Fall of 2021 will attend the
Older Elementary Class in Room 212
As more children return to Sunday school, we will add more classes as we have volunteer teachers to do so! To learn more about our children’s Sunday school, email Julie King at julie.rp.king@gmail.com.
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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. services.
Beginning June 6, the nursery will be open on Sunday mornings 8:15 – 9:45 a.m. and 10:45 – 12:00 p.m.. COVID safety protocols and procedures will be 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
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A new family experience of worship, Bible study and interaction with God’s beautiful creation!
Friday and Saturday
June 25th - June 26th
at Baker Farm
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BIBLE STORIES
GAMES
FISHING and HIKING
BIBLE CRITTER PETTING ZOO
COOKING OUT
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CAMPFIRE and SINGING
S’MORES
SCAVENGER HUNT
NATURE CRAFTS
TENT CAMPING (optional)
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Children must be accompanied by a parent or grandparent.
Online Registration Now Available HERE. Cool T-shirts available soon!
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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 9th Getting to Know You! Bike and Playground Fun, BYO Bike/Trike and Picnic to Playground Circle. Drinks and Popsicles Provided.
June 16th Water Fun and Inflatables at St. Mark’s + Kona Ice
June 23rd Mission “Hill o’ Beans” at St. Mark’s
June 30th Bowling at Murfreesboro Strike & Spare on Old Fort
July 14th Arts and Crafts at St. Mark’s
July 21st Sky Zone on Broad Street
July 28th Pool Party – Location TBA
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 the Banquet Room; Moving to Room 407/409 June 6th.
Genesis Network, Sundays at 9:45 a.m. in Room 1204 beginning June 6th.
In His Steps, Sundays at 9:45 a.m. in Room 406 beginning June 6th.
Mixed Blessings, Sundays at 9:45 a.m. in Room 1203.
New Horizons, Sundays at 9:45 a.m. in Room 1205, studying The Sermon on the Mount.
Young Adults, Sundays, 9:45 a.m. in Room 405.
Knitters, Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. in Room 503/505
Watercolor Painting,
Beginner Group Mondays, 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. in the Banquet Room. Spaces Available.
Advanced Group Mondays, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. in the Banquet Room. This group is full.
GROUPS MEETING ONLINE:
Pastor’s Class, Sundays at 9:45 a.m. on Zoom
Woman to Woman, Sundays at 4:00 p.m. on Zoom
Women’s Bible Study, “God is Closer than You Think,” by John Ortberg, Thursdays, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. on Zoom.
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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Each year, Murfreesboro’s Read to Succeed selects one book for our community to read together to promote literacy and unity. This year, the One Book for Rutherford County is the Young Adult version of Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You. St. Mark’s has been designated as a “Book Crossing,” which means free copies of the book are available in our foyer.
St. Mark's members and students from the MTSU Wesley Foundation are invited to join together in discussion of this book over the summer. The group will gather at Rev. Touchton’s back porch (803 Greenbrier Dr.), Tuesdays, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. beginning June 8th and begin discussion of Section 1: 1415-1728. For more information or to take part in the group, email martha@stmarkstn.org.
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Sunday, June 20th
in Honor of Our Dads
In response to the economic hardships many students face,
the MTSU Marketing Department operates “Raiders Closet,”
a clothing closet that helps students acquire professional attire so they can put their best “nonverbal” foot forward
when seeking that internship or first job post-graduation.
Please bring a new or gently used tie
to donate to the “Career Closet”
in honor of the special men in your life.
All ties will be laid on the prayer rail.
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Father’s Day Photomontage |
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June 20, 2021
To have a “Dad” photo included, email your digital photo to mike@stmarkstn.org or bring it to the church office by Monday, June 14th.
Sponsored by St. Mark’s Family Ministries Team
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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, May 26, 2021
7:00 p.m. Chancel Choir - Sanctuary
Thursday, May 27, 2021
9:00 a.m. Women's Bible Study on Zoom
10:30 a.m. Knitting - RM 503/505
6:30 p.m. ACOA Meeting - RM 503/505
Friday, May 28, 2021
6:00 p.m. Pickle Ball - Rec Center
Saturday, May 29, 2021
8:30 a.m. AA Group - RM 503/505
3:00 p.m. Wedding Rehearsal - Sanctuary
Sunday, May 30, 2021
8:30 a.m. Worship - Sanctuary
9:45 a.m. Adult Sunday School on Zoom
9:45 a.m. Cornerstone Class - Banquet Room
11:00 a.m. Worship - Sanctuary
4:00 p.m. Woman to Woman Class on Zoom
5:00 p.m. Chancel Ringers - Music Room
5:00 p.m. Mixed Blessings Class on Zoom
Monday, May 31, 2021
Memorial Day - Office Closed
10:00 a.m. Watercolor Class - Banquet Room
12:30 p.m. Watercolor Class - Banquet Room
Thursday, June 3, 2021
9:00 a.m. Women's Bible Study on Zoom
10:30 a.m. Knitting - RM 503/505
4:30 p.m. Youth - Rec Center/Youth Center
Friday, June 4, 2021
6:00 p.m. Pickle Ball - Rec Center
Saturday, June 5, 2021
7:30 a.m. UMM Meeting & Breakfast - Banquet Room
8:30 a.m. AA Group - RM 503/505
9:30 a.m. Stephen Ministers
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In Other News:
Missed a Sermon? Click HERE to go to our sermons media page.
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