June 13, 2023

From the Pastor

On Sunday as I was driving to church, I heard on the radio that it was "National Making Life Beautiful Day." The purpose of the day (and yes, such a day does exist) is to celebrate those who make life more beautiful for others.

Once at church, those of us in worship heard Karen Alexander lift up our St. Mark's Furniture Ministry. As she shared one family's deep gratitude for receiving furniture and a Begin Again Box from our church, I thought to myself, "This is a story of St. Mark's making life more beautiful for someone else."

May I ask a personal question? What are you doing, as an expression of your faith, to make life more beautiful for others? If one or more things come to mind, let me borrow a line from one of Jesus' parables and say, "Well done, good and faithful servant." Thank you!

If you're looking for ways to make someone else's life more beautiful, there are plenty of opportunities for you to do that here at St. Mark's, one of which is responding to Karen's invitation to help deliver furniture once or twice a year.

Your church staff would love to help find the best way for you to share beauty with the world.

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

Tommy

The "God's Creative Communication" Sunday morning sermon series continues. Here are the upcoming themes and scripture passages:

June 18: When we welcome guests, we welcome God (Genesis 18:1-15)

June 25: God works to redeem what humans mess up (Genesis 21:8-21)

July 2: We trust God when we don't understand (Genesis 22:1-14)

July 9: God brings people together for lifelong relationships (Genesis 24:58-65)

Please make plans to join us for worship in person or online at www.youtube.com/stmarkstn.

The SAGES Ministry Team met in regular session on Monday, June 12, to plan for the rest of the year. You will see below many of those activities.

Thursday, June 15 the SAGES are off to Granny Fishes. The buses leave at 3:45 PM. Dinner will be Dutch Treat. The bus fee is $5.00. Please sign up in the church office. Look for the book.

The monthly Alzheimer’s/Dementia Support Group will meet at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, June 22 at the home of Susan Green, 3438 Northboro Ct., Murfreesboro, TN 37129. This is open to all who are caring for those dealing with Alzheimer’s/Dementia.

June 20 the SAGES will provide the Project Transformation meal. The SAGES Team will provide the BBQ. Members of the team will also bring the sides. Thanks to all who plan to participate.

On July 12 the SAGES are going to Smithville to eat and shop. The meal will be at Cheryl’s Beau Bees located just off the courthouse square. Please sign up in the church office. Look for the book!

On August 15 the SAGES are going to the Cumberland County Playhouse to see “All Shook Up.” Lunch will be at Forte on the Square. Tickets are $29.00. Lunch is Dutch Treat. Please make your reservations in the office or the narthex.

Coming activities: September 22 – Senior Potluck Luncheon at 11:30 AM; September 24 - Senior Appreciation Day; October 30 – Loveless Café; November 17 – Midway Diner; In December – Christmas at Beersheba; Dec 9 - Senior Serenity at 11:00 A.M.  

The SAGES will host services at Adams Place Tuesday, June 20 at 10:30 AM and at Rutherford Senior Care (Wednesdays 11:00 AM); Rutherford Assisted Living (Fridays at 1:30 PM); and American House Senior Living (Tuesdays at 2:30 PM) each week.

A schedule of SAGES activities for 2023 is posted on the SAGES Bulletin Board outside the church office.

Our Second Annual SOULFULL Summer Concert series is underway on Wednesday evenings at 6 pm in the gym. Each week, we'll feature a secular song and ask what that song might have to say to us as people of faith and what our faith might have to say to that song.

Upcoming songs include:

Jackie Wilson's "Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher" (June 14)

Jim Henson's "Rainbow Connection" (June 21)

Mr. Mister's "Kyrie" (June 28)

Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" (July 5)

Kris Kristofferson's "Why Me Lord?" (July 12)

The Beatles' "Help" (July 19)

Styx's "Crystal Ball" (July 26) 

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 THE NAMES OF GOD

This month in Celebrate Wonder Sunday School, our preschool children will explore the NAMES OF GOD, including I AM, Good Shepherd, Abba, and Alpha and Omega.

Our theme word for June is “IDENTITY.” As we study the names of God, we will explore who God is, how words we use for God symbolize our understanding of God, and how God works in the world and in our own lives. Our Bible Memory verse for June is “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name throughout the earth!” Psalm 8:9.



The Preschool children meet in Room 307 Sundays at 9:15 a.m.

Coming This Summer!

Our Elementary children will join together for some extra fun and faith this summer! Sundays, 9:15 – 10:15 a.m. in Room 212.

JUNE: THE GAME OF LIFE 



Just like there are rules for playing, God has given us specific rules for how we are to live.



During the month of June, we will play games and learn what they have to teach us about being disciples. NOTE: If you have one of these games: Chess (6/4), Chutes & Ladders 6/11), Sorry! (6/18), or Trouble (6/25), please bring it to play on the appropriate Sunday.  

JULY: DIARY OF A GODLY KID



Following, Attitude, Honor, and Time – what do these words have to do with being a disciple? Through this study of the life of Moses, we’ll learn how to be godly kids who live out our faith every day.

Join us for fun and/or lunch at some of the kid-friendliest places in town! We’ll meet at 10:00 a.m. and share in some fun activities; then we’ll head to lunch around 12:00 p.m. Come for the fun, for lunch, or for both! Come one Wednesday or every Wednesday! In case of inclement weather, meet at St. Mark’s and BYO sack lunch. All children must be accompanied by an adult; no drop-offs allowed. All ages and friends welcome!

Wednesday, June 14 - “Hill o’ Beans” food-packing event at St. Mark’s

Wednesday, June 21 – “Babe” at Premier 6 Theatre, purchase your tickets ahead at http://www.murfreesboromovies.com/

Wednesday, June 28 – Lunch at Casa Blanca after VBS

Wednesday, July 5 – No Wonderful Wednesday

Wednesday, July 12 – Bake and Decorate Cookies to share with the residents of the Rutherford Assisted Living Center. We might play a few games with them too!

Wednesday, July 19 – Arts and Crafts Day

Wednesday, July 26 – Music Day – Make Your Own Instruments

Wednesday, August 2 – Pool Party at Beckman’s!

Watch our St. Mark’s Kid’s Facebook Page every week for more detailed information!

REGISTER TODAY!

HERO HOTLINE

Vacation Bible School, Monday – Thursday,

June 26-29

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Age 4 – Grade 5

and younger children of adult volunteers.

Register at https://www.stmarkstn.org/vbs

 Children will learn how Jesus is our ultimate Superhero, that there are heroes in our community helping people in many ways, and experience ways to be a hero for Christ to our own neighborhoods!

Invite your Family, friends, AND Neighbors! Help us grow our VBS!  To invite others, share the QR code or web address above, share our St. Mark’s UMC Facebook event, or pick up an invitation card available in the foyer.

NOMINATE SOMEONE FOR OUR VBS HALL OF HEROES! Every child participating in St. Mark’s Hero Hotline is invited to nominate a person to be featured in our VBS Hall of Heroes. Heroes will be displayed in the Narthex, and each day during VBS worship, we’ll draw one Hero’s name to give a monetary gift to a non-profit or helping agency of their choice. All our Heroes will be invited to be our guests at our Thursday, July 29^th closing event, The Hometown Hero Hoedown!  

ORDER VBS T-SHIRTS TODAY!



Designate sizes as you register at www.stmarkstn.org/vbs or email sizes to Martha@stmarkstn.org.  Order by 6/12.



TO PAY $10/SHIRT: At www.stmarkstn.org, select “VBS T-shirt” in the Fund box, then enter $10 (or the amount owed) in the Amount box. Or, pay by check at the church office.

Sunday, June 18 Children’s Coin Offering for

VBS MISSION: HOMETOWN HEROES

Every child participating in St. Mark’s VBS is invited to nominate a person to be featured in our Hall of Heroes. These Heroes will be displayed in the Foyer for everyone to see!  Each day during VBS worship, we’ll draw one Hero’s name, and give a monetary gift to a non-profit of that hero’s choice.  This month’s Children’s Coin Offering will go toward those monetary gifts.

-Please note that there will be no Sunday Afternoon Youth Gathering on Sunday June 18th, in observance of Father’s Day. Sunday School will go on as usual, from 9:15-10:15 in the St. Mark’s Youth Wing.

-On Wednesday, June 21st, all St Mark’s Youth who plan on helping with VBS are asked to attend “Youth VBS Helper Training” in the Youth Wing, beginning at 7 pm.

-Starting on Wednesday, June 28th, St. Mark’s Student Ministry will begin hosting a weekly Bible Study beginning at 6:30 pm in the Youth Wing (immediately following the Wednesday night “SOULFULL” Service), and ending at 8 pm. This will continue on all future Wednesdays for the remainder of the summer unless otherwise announced (with the notable exception of Wednesday July 5th).

On Sunday, June 25th, St. Mark’s Youth are asked to help with setup for Vacation Bible School (VBS) from 3 to 5 pm, as they are able. To sweeten the deal, St. Mark’s Student Ministry is sponsoring an outing to Phazer Kraze once setup has been completed; we will leave at 5 pm from the Youth Wing for an evening of pizza and laser tag. We will plan on returning to the St Mark’s Youth Wing by 7:30 pm later that evening.

-St. Mark’s Children’s Ministry is STILL seeking Youth-age volunteers for Vacation Bible School, which will be held at St. Mark’s between 9 am and noon from Monday to Thursday, June 26th - 29th. Those interested in lending a hand are asked to please send an email to martha@stmarkstn.org to register their intent to serve at VBS.

-St. Mark’s Youth, Parents & Guardians are invited to share their feedback to help us make St Mark’s Student Ministry the most helpful spiritual resource it can be! To make your voice heard in shaping the future direction of this ministry, please click here for the link to a brief survey that takes an average of 3 minutes to complete - your answers can be as short or as long as you like (within the limits of SurveyMonkey’s design capabilities) and will be shared anonymously, so feel free to be completely honest! 

Do you know that we have some adventurers for God right here at St. Mark’s? We have 15 boys and girls who are going to leave their homes and go to Cedar Crest Camp to learn more about what it means to be faithful to God and Jesus Christ. Those with * are attending camp for their very first time!  One-third of each camper’s fee was provided by a St. Mark’s camp scholarship. 

Sylvia Anderson

Kyle Anderson

Andrew Christopher

Brystol Christopher

*Emily Harvey

Evan Harvey

*Carter Morgan

Lane Marlatt

Chelsea Read

Whitley Read

*Delaney Talbott

*Knox Talbott

Avery Wilson 

*Reed Wilson

Zoe Wright 

We also have one college student from St. Mark’s who loves camp so much that he is a counselor there this summer: Evan Weaver.  Please be in prayer for all our campers this summer!

Wednesday, June 21st, 4:00 p.m.

We are excited to announce the dedication of the Habitat home built for Mamii, and her sons Benoit and Benfait. St. Mark's is a "Full House Sponsor" of this home and many church members have been involved in its construction. Everyone is invited to the dedication Wednesday, June 21st, 4:00 p.m. at Habitat for Humanity’s Legacy Pointe off Twin Oak Drive.

All St. Mark's College Students are invited to join us on Monday evenings (7:30-10 pm) this summer for College Volleyball Night in the St. Mark's Rec Center. 

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 four available Sundays are:

June 25 (one bouquet)

August 6 (one or both bouquets)

August 27 (one bouquet)

September 3 (one or both bouquets)

Sunday, June 18^th

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.

Sunday, July 2, 9:15 – 10:15 a.m.

(In lieu of Christian Education)

Featuring Patriotic Music by the DOTS and the MARKSMEN

Please Bring a Family-Sized Breakfast Dish to share

Coffee, Juice, and Milk Provided

Kitchen Help Needed!  8:45 a.m.

Contact Rev. Touchton (615) 893-3455

or martha@stmarkstn.org

10:30 a.m. Worship

See flyer HERE

Wednesday, June 14

10:00 a.m. Wonderful Wednesday

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

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

Thursday, June 15

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

3:45 p.m. SAGES to Granny Fishes

6:30 p.m. ACOA Meeting - RM 503/505

6:30 p.m. Middle TN Choral Society - RM 405

Friday, June 16

6:00 p.m. Pickle Ball - RC

Saturday, June 17

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

Sunday, June 18

Annual Conference in Memphis

9:15 a.m. Christian Education

10:30 a.m. Worship - Sanctuary

4:00 p.m. UMW Brave Women of Faith - Library

Monday, June 19

Annual Conference in Memphis

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

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

7:30 p.m. College Volleyball - Rec Center

Tuesday, June 20

Annual Conference in Memphis

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

Wednesday, June 21

10:00 a.m. Wonderful Wednesday

4:00 p.m. Habitat Home Dedication - Legacy Pointe

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

6:00 p.m. Youth Bible Study - Youth Center

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

Thursday, June 22

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

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

1:30 p.m. Alzheimer’s/Dementia Support Group at Green's

6:30 p.m. ACOA Meeting - RM 503/505

Friday, June 23

6:00 p.m. Pickle Ball - Rec Center

Saturday, June 24

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

Sunday, June 25

9:15 a.m. Christian Education

10:30 a.m. Worship - Sanctuary

5:00 p.m. Bible Study - RM 1203

5:00 p.m. Youth to Phazer Kraze

Monday, June 26

9:00 a.m. Vacation Bible School

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

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

7:30 p.m. College Volleyball - Rec Center

Tuesday, June 27

9:00 a.m. Vacation Bible School

6:00 p.m. Woodworkers - Banquet Room

In Other News:

View Our Current Prayer List

See Our Full Event Calendar 

Missed a Sermon? Click HERE to go to our sermons media page.

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