January 9, 2024

From the Pastor

In my last newsletter, I asked for your help in making up the difference in our $130,000 budget deficit for 2023. You responded well. Strong year-end giving moved us closer to our $1,325,000 goal; we fell $29,362 short but still ended the year in good financial shape. Thank you, members and friends of St. Mark's!

As we begin a new year, I remind us of the vow that all United Methodists make when we become members: "to support the church with our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness." Join me in renewing this vow and living it out faithfully in 2024.

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

Tommy

The SAGES Ministry Team met on Monday to plan for 2024.

Some of the activities planned for the first quarter of 2024 include a local outing on January 26, a Valentine get-together on February 7, and a trip to Bell Buckle with lunch on March 8.

Please watch for further communications about these in the coming days.

The next meetings of the SAGES Ministry Team are at 9:30 AM on February 12 and March 11. The meetings are in Room 503-505.

Almost all the members of The SAGES Ministry Team are participating in The Grand Sweep Bible Reading Ministry and supportive of the church’s community Bible Reading.

This year we are again offering worship experiences at five different Sages Assisted Living and Memory Care Centers.

We are sending cards, flowers and gifts. We make hospital calls and home visits. We support grandparent ministries. We attend Sunday School and worship.

It is a joy to serve with St. Mark’s United Methodist Church.

WNT Resumes

January 17, 2024

TALENT/

NO TALENT SHOW

Benefitting St. Mark’s Youth Choir

6:00 – 7:00 pm in the Gym.

Those participating, should email HyeLan Pearce (hyelan@st.markstn.org) by January 14^th 

Emcees: Rev. Tommy Ward and Keith Latta

FREE MEAL! Reservations due Monday, 1/15.

NEW YEAR, NEW BIBLES!

As St. Mark’s begins a renewed focus on the scriptures, we have placed 150 new Common English Bibles in the Sanctuary. These Bibles were purchased with funds primarily given in memory of Virginia Hicks, mother of Rev. Martha Touchton, who died January 13, 2023. Regarding this gift, Rev. Touchton shared these thoughts:

“My parents were both constant examples of faithful discipleship to Christ throughout their lives, offering to God and the church regularly and extravagantly of their prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. When I was in high school, feeling that she did not understand scripture well enough, Mom took an Old Testament class at our local college. Her desire to learn more about the Bible made a huge impression on me. Mom and Dad were also incredibly supportive of my desire to respond to God's call to be a Christian educator. My family and I feel very blessed to be able to use the gifts given in memory of Mom in this way and know that our parents would be thrilled with this designation.”

The Common English Bible is a bold new version that avoids obscure words and outdated phrases, removing language barriers to ensure an enjoyable, natural reading experience for young and old, believers and seekers, resulting in a completely accurate translation of the original texts that is relevant, readable, reliable, and easily understood today.  Thanks to the United Methodist Men for helping to place the Bibles in the pews.

SUNDAY MORNINGS AT 9:30!

Our Preschool (Ages 2 to PreK 5), Younger Elementary (Kindergarten to 3^rd Grade), and Older Elementary (4^th Grade to 6^th Grade) children will meet for Sunday school to explore Spark: Activate Faith lessons. An activity-filled Sunday school curriculum that follows the salvation story from start to finish, helping kids explore key Bible stories from both the Old and New Testaments. The preschool class will meet in Room 305, the younger elementary class will meet in Room 214, and the older elementary class will meet in Room 212.

Spark helps kids learn at their level

Interact with the Bible in every lesson, helping kids navigate the story and begin to compare what they learn to their own life.

Focus on hands-on learning

Engage kids in the Bible story with lessons packed with activities, interactive games, and creative crafts.

Experience the Salvation Story arc

Help kids experience the Salvation story each year by exploring the Old Testament in the fall, and the New Testament in the winter and spring.

Frolic Nursery: Little Steps, Big Faith

Our Nursery aged children (Birth to 1 year) will begin exploring Frolic Nursery lessons. Drawing on brain science as well as theology, Frolic was designed by early childhood experts to build faith through play in babies, toddlers, and young children from birth to age five. Frolic uses Bible lessons, music, and play to help build a firm Faith foundation.  

Start faith formation at birth

Uses a curriculum-based on early childhood best practices to help your little ones to take little steps to big faith—starting at birth.

Focuses on learning at their level

Frolic’s curriculum focuses on helping young children explore faith concepts in the way they know best— through play!

Equips caregivers to nurture faith

Equips leaders and parents to nurture faith in many ways—through storytelling, prayers, and music.

The Great Christmas Card Exchange!

If you haven’t picked up your Christmas cards yet, please do so by this Sunday! They are located in the clear bins in the foyer. 

Warmth in Winter Hot Cocoa Bar on Sunday, January 28^th!

The Family Ministries team will be providing a “Warmth in Winter: Hot Cocoa Bar” on January 28th following worship in the Narthex. Come enjoy a warm beverage and a time of fellowship!

Confirmation Classes start January 28^th!

All children in 5^th-12^th grades are invited to attend the Confirmation classes starting Sunday, January 28^th at 9:15-10:15 AM. Classes will be located in the banquet hall. Please contact Hannah Pratt or Louis Toedt to register if you haven’t already!

Register for Be Retreat now!

All 3^rd-6^th graders are invited to attend the Be Retreat at Cedar Crest Camp on March 2-3, 2024. Please email Hannah Pratt at hannah@stmarkstn.org to register. The cost is $80 per child. Please make checks out to St. Mark’s UMC or pay online. In the memo line, write your child’s name and Be Retreat. Don’t let the cost stop your child from attending. Contact Hannah to discuss payment options. 

Children’s Church starting February 4, 2024!

This worship readiness program is for children ages 3 years-2nd Grade. Following the children’s sermon, children will go to the Narthex for an interactive, play-based time to explore the weekly Scripture reading in a deeper way. Children will return to their parents at the end of the sermon. Adult volunteers are needed to serve as helpers! If you are interested in serving, please contact Hannah Pratt.

Please contact Hannah Pratt at hannah@stmarkstn.org if you have any questions. Follow our St. Mark’s Children’s Ministry Facebook page and Instagram @stmarkstnkids for more information!

THANKS FROM REEVES ROGERS

This year, the Christmas ministry for Reeves Rogers included all children and classes, providing a gift that all students can enjoy year-round.

Since teachers are no longer allowed to use school funds to purchase playground balls and toys, none are provided for the children at Reeves Rogers. Through gifts from St. Mark’s adult Christian education classes and individuals, we were able to redeem this situation for all 20 classes, with each class receiving the following:

-         4 Playground Balls

-         1 Soccer Ball

-         4 Jump ropes

-         2 Frisbees

-         1 Sidewalk Chalk container

-         1 Air pump

Members of our Church/School Partnership Leadership Team who delivered mesh bags full of the toys to each class before Christmas break were so touched by the children’s responses, as they jumped up and down, said “thank you,” and even cried tears of joy!   To see a video as the gifts were delivered, click here.  

Many of the children and teachers have written thank-you notes, and they are available for you to read in the Narthex.  For a sample of notes from the teachers, click here.

-If you’d like to join us for an evening of MTSU Blue Raider Basketball on Thursday, February 15th, St Mark’s Recreation Ministry is currently offering tickets in our group block for the discounted (47% off) price of $8 apiece. Tipoff is at 6:30 pm, and tickets include access to free bounce houses and carnival games for the kids, as well as the opportunity for the whole family to participate in a post-game group photo on the court. Ticket orders and cash or check payments should be submitted to Louis Toedt by Sunday 1/28/24; contact louis@stmarkstn.org for more information. Link to the ticket order form is: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1a_Ghlzm_3Tt0aJw4b-P2TXTwMISFbIQKJMmy8Ilfzeo/edit?usp=sharing

Your Spring 2024 St. Mark’s Youth Programming Calendar is now here! To stay informed about St. Mark’s Youth events, please click the link below and add these dates to your personal calendar / planner: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mAZc7QprlSM_JRgk_Tao3jLciH2yvtQAk_EITGXUA8/edit?usp=sharing

-Any and all Youth or rising Youth who have not yet completed Confirmation in the United Methodist Church are invited to join us for Confirmation Class during the Sunday School hour in the Banquet Hall. For more information, please contact louis@stmarkstn.org or hannah@stmarkstn.org

-Because of your support, St. Mark’s Youth will be traveling to Pigeon Forge for their Winter Retreat on the weekend of January 19-21 in order to attend Resurrection ‘24, an annual event of worship and spiritual growth hosted by the youth ministry of the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church. We are partnering with Blackman UMC for this trip, which allows us to share the cost of housing in addition to providing an opportunity for our Youth to get to know their peers in the broader United Methodist community of Murfreesboro. Thank you for your faithful and continual support of this ministry, and special thanks to John McDaniel, Hannah Pratt & Zach Pratt for volunteering to chaperone!

-If anyone is aware of any loved ones who will be graduating from High School, College or Graduate School this May and would like to see them honored by St Mark’s Student Ministry, please communicate this information to Louis Toedt and he will follow up with further information. Graduation Sunday will be observed on May 5th, 2024.

-To stay informed about what St Mark’s Student Ministry is up to, follow us on Instagram @stmarkstn_youth, or visit the landing page for all things related to St Mark’s Student Ministry: https://st-marks-umc-student-ministry.mailchimpsites.com/

What a blessing that more than 120 people (40% of our worshipping congregation!) have accepted The Grand Sweep Challenge to read through the Bible in 2024! Thank you to each one who has taken this step on their walk of faith. 

Each adult reader is invited to be part of a weekly reflection group. These small groups will consider the scriptures read the previous week, address questions that arise from the readings, and support one another’s journey with encouragement and prayer. Please know that there is no reason to opt out of the small group participation because you will miss a week here or there; life happens, and we all will miss a gathering on occasion! 

Reflection groups are now meeting at these times:

·  Wednesdays, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. in the Banquet Room, led by St. Mark’s retired clergy. This group is at capacity. 

·  Fridays, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. in Room 503/505, led by Claudia Hunter.

·  Sundays, 9:15 – 10:15 a.m. in Room 504, led by Revs. Tommy Ward and Martha Touchton.  This group is especially for adults not currently members of another Christian education class.

·  Sundays, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. in Room 504, led by Hannah Pratt.

To register for a reflection group, email martha@stmarkstn.org the group you’d like to join.

Again, thank you for your enthusiastic response to this spiritual challenge. I pray it is a great blessing for you and for our life together as a community of faith!

Jackson Irvin Crossett, II was baptized at St. Mark's on Sunday, January 7, 2024. Jackson is the son of Nathan and Linh Crossett, sister of Lily Crossett and the grandson of Jan and Ken Crossett and Mai Anderson.

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 available Sunday is:

February 4 (one or both bouquets)

Many other 2024 dates are available. Call for more information.

The United Methodist News Service recently featured the St. Mark's Scouting Ministry in a denomination-wide article. You can read that article here. Let's give God thanks for our scouting ministry and the impact it's having in our community and world.

Project Transformation is a program designed to meet the needs of children, provide meaningful ways for college-age young adults to develop as young leaders and explore ministry opportunities, and help churches connect with communities. St. Mark's is proud to be a part of this important work.

Are you a college-age young adult looking for a summer internship? Or do you know someone else who might be? If so, please consider PT. Click here for more information about internship possibilities.

Wednesday, January 10

6:00 p.m. Grand Sweep #1 - Banquet Room

6:00 p.m. SPRC Meeting - RM 506

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

Thursday, January 11

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

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

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

Friday, January 12

10:00 a.m. Grand Sweep #2 - RM 503/505

11:00 a.m. Bible Study - RM 503/505

Saturday, January 13

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

9:00 a.m. Proclaim Practice - Rec Center

Sunday, January 14

9:15 a.m. Christian Education

9:15 a.m. Grand Sweep #3 - RM 504

10:30 a.m. Worship - Sanctuary

4:00 p.m. Bible Study - RM 1203

4:00 p.m. Grand Sweep #4 - RM 504

4:15 p.m. SONlight - RM 1119

5:00 p.m. Chancel Ringers - RM 1117

5:00 p.m. Youth - Rec Center/Youth Center

Monday, January 15 - MLK's Birthday

Office Closed

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

3:00 p.m. SOULFULL Worship Team Meeting

5:00 p.m. Cub Scouts - Banquet Room/Rec Center/Youth Center

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

6:00 p.m. Sanctuary Ringers - RM 1117

Tuesday, January 16

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

Wednesday, January 17

5:00 p.m. WNT Dinner - Banquet Room

6:00 p.m. Grand Sweep #1 - Banquet Room

6:00 p.m. Talent Show - Rec Center

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

Thursday, January 18

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

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

Friday, January 19

10:00 a.m. Grand Sweep #2 - RM 503/505

11:00 a.m. Bible Study - RM 503/505

Saturday, January 20

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

Sunday, January 21

9:15 a.m. Christian Education

9:15 a.m. Grand Sweep #3 - RM 504

10:30 a.m. Worship - Sanctuary

11:30 a.m. Food Bank Ministry Team - RM 407/409

11:30 a.m. UMW Brave Women of Faith - Meet in Narthex

4:00 p.m. Bible Study - RM 1203

4:00 p.m. Grand Sweep #4 - RM 504

5:00 p.m. Chancel Ringers - RM 1117

5:00 p.m. Finance Meeting - RM 503/505

Monday, January 22

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

5:00 p.m. Cub Scouts - Banquet Room/Rec Center/Youth Center

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

6:00 p.m. Sanctuary Ringers - RM 1117

7:00 p.m. Waking to God's Dream Discernment Group - RM 503/505

Tuesday, January 23

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

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