The newsletter for St. Mark's UMC in Murfreesboro, TN | |
"The Messenger" Online Newsletter | |
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From the Pastor
Back in February, Rev. Martha Touchton announced her desire and the Staff Parish Relations Committee's support to transition out of children's ministry, even requesting that her salary be cut to make a Children's Ministry position possible. Rev. Martha will shift the focus of her ministry to areas where she senses a deeper calling: adult spiritual formation, discipleship, fellowship and missions.
The Staff Parish Relations Committee has empowered a small group of parents and grandparents to begin the process of seeking and interviewing candidates for the Children's Ministry position. As this group prepares for this responsibility, they will be hosting Listening Sessions for the Children's Ministry of St. Mark's. It is their prayer that these conversations will be helpful as they begin their work.
Three options are available:
Tuesday, April 4 at Noon (Zoom Session)
Thursday, April 13 at 7pm (Zoom Session)
Saturday, April 8 (after Easter Egg Hunt, ≅11:30am) in Room 502
While parents and grandparents are especially encouraged to participate in these listening sessions, anyone with a heart for children is invited to attend. Please call the church office at 615-893-3455 or email stmarks@stmarkstn.org to register for the time that works best for you.
It is a privilege to serve God as one of your clergy.
Tommy
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The SAGES had a wonderful trip to the Bell Buckle Café for a Dutch-treat lunch last week. Thanks to everyone who went.
The next meeting of the SAGES Ministry Team will be Wednesday, April 12, at 9:30 AM in Room 503-505.
The monthly Alzheimer’s/Dementia Support Group will meet at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, March 23 at the home of Cindy Filppin, 2714 Tower Drive, Murfreesboro, TN 37129. This is open to all who are caring for those dealing with Alzheimer’s/Dementia.
The next trip of the SAGES will be to Cahoots in Fayetteville, Tennessee, for a Dutch treat lunch. The bus leaves at 9:15 AM and the bus fee is $5.00., Please sign up in the Narthex or the church office. Look for the book!
SAGES are invited and encouraged to participate in the follow-up meetings/groups related to the Waking To God’s Dream event a week ago. There are three different opportunities’ each week. Please consult this newsletter at another location for further details.
The SAGES continue to host services at Adams Place each month, and at Rutherford Senior Care, Rutherford Assisted Living, and American House Senior Living each week.
A schedule of SAGES activities for 2023 is posted on the SAGES Bulletin Board outside the church office.
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Holy Thursday Meal and Worship April 6 | |
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Holy (Maundy) Thursday is April 6. On Holy Thursday, Christians commemorate the supper that Jesus shared with his disciples before his crucifixion, when Jesus washed the disciples' feet and instituted the sacrament of Holy Communion.
You're invited to join us for a shared fellowship meal at 5 pm (reservations required), after which we will also experience elements of a Seder Meal, being reminded of what a Passover meal looks like and symbolizes.
Our worship service will include opportunities to confess our sin, receive pardon from God, hear God's word proclaimed, an optional foot-washing opportunity, and Holy Communion.
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April Communion Rail Offering | |
On April 2, our communion rail offering supports the MTSU Wesley Foundation Campus Ministry mission trip. They will be going to Guatemala in May. | |
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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 HOLY WEEK
During these last few weeks before Easter in Celebrate Wonder Sunday School, our preschool children are exploring the events of Holy Week, including The Last Supper, Palm Sunday, and Easter. Our theme word for April is “Resurrection,” and our memory verse is, “He isn’t here, but has been raised,” Luke 24:6a.
The Preschool children meet in Room 307 Sundays at 9:15 a.m.
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GRADES K – 2 STUDIES HOLY WEEK
During these last few weeks before Easter, children in the K – 2 Young Elementary Class are studying the events of Holy Week:
March 26 – Good Friday, Matthew 27:27-61
April 2 – Palm Sunday, Luke 19:28-40
April 9 – Easter, Luke 24:1-12
The Young Elementary children meet in Room 212 at 9:15 a.m..
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GRADES 3 – 5 STUDIES JESUS: THE SAVIOR
Children in Grades 3 – 5 are continuing a journey through the Bible, connecting with God’s big story through videos, engaging Bible exploration, and hands-on projects.
During these last few weeks before Easter, children in Grades 3 – 5 are studying Stories of Jesus’ final week, including his death and resurrection:
March 26 – Jesus’ Betrayal, Luke 22:31-33, 54-62
April 2 – Jesus’ Death, Mark 15:16-32
April 9 – Jesus’ Resurrection, John 20:11-18
The Older Elementary Class meets in Room 214 Sundays at 9:15 a.m..
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Order Easter Lilies Today! | |
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To place an Easter lily in our Sanctuary in memory of or in honor of someone, please fill out this form and return with check payable to St. Mark’s and designate for “Easter lily”. Cost is $15 per plant. Deadline for orders is Monday, April 3rd. Lilies can be taken home after the service on Easter.
_____ in memory OR _____ in honor
Of: ____________________________________________________________________________
By: ____________________________________________________________________________
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Make plans to join in a very special family event for kids and kids-at-heart, a walk through the Easter Story!
Each STORY WALK station will be interactive, including actors, items to touch, explore, or create, and other hands-on opportunities that connect with the Easter story. Each child should bring an Easter basket for collecting items from the stations. The walk will be open 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Brunch will also be provided 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. in the Banquet Hall, and will include biscuits, sausage and bacon, fruit, juice, and coffee prepared by Butler Touchton. The brunch is free and donations are welcome. To help in planning, please make a reservation for your family by emailing martha@stmarkstn.org with your family name and number expected to attend by Thursday, April 6th.
At 11:00 a.m., the children will gather in the Sanctuary for an Easter Egg Hunt and a visit from the Easter Bunny on the front lawn. Lots of photo ops will be available!
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Donations Needed for Egg Hunt!
Donations of Small, Individually Wrapped,
Nut-free Candy and Prizes are Needed!
Bring your Donations to the Easter Egg Hunt Display
in the Narthex by Palm Sunday, April 2nd
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“HERO HOTLINE: CALLED TOGETHER TO SERVE GOD,” is based on Romans 14:19, “So let’s strive for the things that bring peace and the things that build each other up.” This verse reminds us that peace comes from God, and as God’s people we are called to help create that peace and share it with the world. God has called us to live in community with one another, so we work together, help one another, and encourage one another, in both expected and unexpected ways, to bring peace, love, and justice to the world!
HERO HOTLINE Vacation Bible School will be held Monday – Thursday, June 26-29, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. for children Age 4 – Grade 5 and younger children of adult volunteers.
We can’t do VBS without YOU!!! The Children’s Ministry team is now recruiting team leaders. Leadership is needed in worship, music, recreation, snacks, storytelling, science, missions, and crafts, and we’ll need people to serve as class shepherds, helpers, and more.
Please prayerfully consider how you can support and serve St. Mark’s VBS ministry. If you would like to be a HERO to some wonderful kids, send a quick email to martha@stmarkstn.org and let Rev. Martha know how you’d like to serve.
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JOIN US EACH WEEK FOR
FAMILY FELLOWSHIP,
GOOD FOOD,
FAITH, & FUN!
5:00 p.m. Dinner
(Reservations Required)
6:00 p.m. Groups and Classes
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LENTEN SERIES FOR SOULFULL WORSHIP
During Lent each year, Christians often give up something as an act of sacrifice and spiritual discipline. Often it's something like chocolate, knowing that after Easter Sunday, they can once again enjoy what they have given up.
Why not give up something that we'd be better off NOT doing? Why not seek God's help to focus on eliminating habits or attitudes that are destructive, things like envy, jealousy, self-pity, apathy, procrastination, gossip, resentment, or negative thinking?
While other Wednesday Night Together programming (including dinner) will take March 29 off for Spring Break, SOULFULL worship will be offered. Please join us and invite a friend.
Upcoming Topics:
Giving Up Bad Habits (March 22)
Giving Up Pettiness (March 29)
SOULFULL worship will move to Thursday during Holy Week in observance of Holy (Maundy) Thursday, April 6, 2023 and return to Wednesdays on April 12.
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Casual conversation around a variety of topics (books, movies, music, current events) and occasional guest speakers. Led by Butler Touchton in the Narthex.
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SUNDAY MORNING LENTEN SERIES: BOOT CAMP FOR THE SOUL
We approach the Lenten season with an emphasis on interiority, personal investigation, and contrition--the intentional work of seeking a change of heart or actions. Reflection and change can take work, hard work, just like getting in shape. Lent can be like a boot camp for the soul, a restart in a focused area. We walk this season together, demanding the best of ourselves, ready to support one another, and prepared to see truths that shatter our self-understanding.
Join us on Sundays in Lent as we get our souls in shape!
Upcoming Scriptures and Themes:
March 26: Ezekiel 37:1-14 (When all hope is lost, God revives)
April 2: Easter Cantata
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One Book is an initiative to promote reading and unity in our community. Each year, the One Book Committee reads dozens of books to narrow down to just one choice to recommend. This literacy initiative is a partnership between Read To Succeed, Linebaugh Library and other Middle Tennessee non-profits and businesses.
This year’s selection, Maybe You Should Talk to Someone is revolutionary in its candor, offering a deeply personal yet universal tour of our hearts and minds and providing the rarest of gifts: a boldly revealing portrait of what it means to be human, and a disarmingly funny and illuminating account of our own mysterious lives and our power to transform them.
Books are now available in St. Mark’s foyer. Borrow a book to read today, then pass the book to a friend, return it to St. Mark’s, or drop it at Read To Succeed’s office on Maple Street.
Butler Touchton will lead a discussion on this book 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 10, in the Narthex. To sign up, email martha@stmarkstn.org.
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We are planning a Confirmation Class that will take place on Wednesday Nights this Spring at 6 pm (immediately following WNT dinner) in the St Mark’s Library (just off the narthex) for current 6th graders, as well as for older Youth who may have missed confirmation for whatever reason these past few years. If you know someone who may be interested in Confirmation Class this spring, please take a moment to register by clicking *here* (there is no cost for this class). Confirmation Orientation will be held in the St Mark’s library this Wednesday (3/22) after WNT dinner, but you can still join the class later even if you miss the orientation! Our first class meeting will be on Wed 4/5. Contact Louis Toedt (louis@stmarkstn.org or 615-893-3455, Ext. 20.) for more information.
If you know of any loved ones who will be graduating from High School, College or Graduate School this May and would like to see them honored during our "Graduation Sunday" service, please communicate this information to Louis Toedt and he will follow up with further instructions.
Please note that there will be no Sunday evening Youth Gathering on 3/26 (1st weekend of RCS Spring Break) or 4/9 (Easter Sunday).
St Mark's Student Ministry is in need of volunteers, especially for Sunday School! If you are interested in volunteering to help with Youth Activities in 2023, you can use our SignupGenius form (linked below) in order to choose the date(s) of your service.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E48A8A823ABFFCE9-youth1
The landing page for all things related to St Mark’s Student Ministry can be found here: https://st-marks-umc-student-ministry.mailchimpsites.com/
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Easter Cantata “Once Upon a Tree” | |
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The Chancel Choir and Full Orchestra will present Easter Cantata “Once Upon a Tree” by Pepper Choplin on Palm Sunday, April 2nd at 10:30AM in the Sanctuary.
Performance Notes: Luke (Rev. Tommy Ward) narrates the musical. The songs have been written to allow the events of the story to be fully dramatized.
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Spring is here, and the grounds at St. Mark's are calling for some TLC so that we can be as welcoming as possible to visitors, worshipers, and all our neighbors in the community. If anyone or any group is interested in helping with some small projects such as planting flowers, developing a butterfly garden, etc. please contact Jan Crossett, 901-326-6246 or jancrossett@hotmail.com. | |
Steven Scheid at April United Methodist Men | |
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The April meeting of our United Methodist Men is April 1. We gather for breakfast in the Banquet Hall at 7:30 followed by a brief devotional and then our guest speaker. April's speaker is Steven Scheid, from the General Council of United Methodist Men, where he serves as Director of the Center for Scouting Ministries.
You're invited to join us for a good time of food, fellowship, and faith.
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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.
April 30 (one or both bouquets)
May 21 (one or both bouquets)
May 28 (one or both bouquets)
June 4 (one or both bouquets)
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Wednesday, March 22
5:00 p.m. WNT Dinner - Banquet Room
6:00 p.m. SOULFULL Worship - Rec Center
6:00 p.m. WNT Programming
6:00 p.m. Confirmation Orientation - Library
7:00 p.m. Chancel Choir - RM 1119
Thursday, March 23
9:00 a.m. Women's Bible Study - RM 503/505
10:00 a.m. Quilting Bee - Banquet Room/Kitchen
10:30 a.m. Knitting - RM 503/505
1:00 p.m. Alzheimer’s/Dementia Support Group at Flippins'
1:00 p.m. Waking to God's Dream - RM 405
6:30 p.m. ACOA Meeting - RM 503/505
Friday, March 24
10:30 a.m. Bible Study - RM 503/505
6:00 p.m. Pickle Ball - Rec Center
Saturday, March 25
8:30 a.m. AA Group - RM 503/505
Sunday, March 26
9:00 a.m. Children's Choirs - RM 211, 304
9:15 a.m. Waking to God's Dream - RM 501
9:15 a.m. Christian Education
10:30 a.m. Worship - Sanctuary
5:00 p.m. Bible Study - RM 1203
5:00 p.m. Chancel Ringers - RM 1117
5:30 p.m. Disciple - RM 405
Monday, March 27
10:00 a.m. Watercolor Class - Banquet Room
5:00 p.m. Cub Scouts - Banquet Room/Rec Center
5:30 p.m. Big Book Group - RM 503/505
7:00 p.m. Waking to God's Dream - On Zoom
Tuesday, March 28
9:00 a.m. Note Writers - RM 506
6:00 p.m. Woodworkers - Banquet Room
Wednesday, March 29
6:00 p.m. SOULFULL Worship - Rec Center
7:00 p.m. Chancel Choir - RM 1119
Thursday, March 30
9:00 a.m. Women's Bible Study - RM 1203
10:30 a.m. Knitting - RM 503/505
6:30 p.m. ACOA Meeting - RM 503/505
Friday, March 31
10:30 a.m. Bible Study - RM 503/505
6:00 p.m. Pickle Ball - Rec Center
Saturday, April 1
7:00 a.m. UMM Meeting & Breakfast - Banquet Room
8:30 a.m. AA Group - RM 503/505
9:00 a.m. Cantata Rehearsal - Sanctuary
10:00 a.m. TWK Medicaid Advocates - Banquet Room
Sunday, April 2
9:00 a.m. Children's Choirs - RM 211, 304
9:15 a.m. Christian Education
9:15 a.m. Waking to God's Dream - RM 501
10:30 a.m. Worship - Sanctuary
5:00 p.m. Bible Study - RM 1203
5:00 p.m. Chancel Ringers - RM 1117
5:30 p.m. Disciple - RM 405
Monday, April 3
10:00 a.m. Watercolor Class - Banquet Room
10:00 a.m. Wings of Hope - Banquet Room/Kitchen
5:00 p.m. Cub Scouts - Banquet Room/Rec Center
5:30 p.m. Big Book Group - RM 503/505
7:00 p.m. Waking to God's Dream - On Zoom
Tuesday, April 3
9:00 a.m. Note Writers - RM 506
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