October 10, 2023

From the Pastor

When satellite radio came out years ago, I was smart enough to buy a lifetime subscription for what I expect some people pay for a one year subscription today. And I’ve enjoyed it, especially on my drives to and from Ole Miss games. But there’s one section of road between here and Oxford where I lose the signal. And it always frustrates me because it seems like I drive through that stretch during a critical point of a game I’m enjoying.

”How in the world is it possible to lose a satellite signal while driving on the interstate?” I always seem to ask myself. “I want to listen to this game and I have paid for this service! I ought to be able to listen to a ballgame uninterrupted!”

That’s just one of the ways that entitlement creeps into my life. I should be grateful that I can listen to a game that years ago wouldn't have been possible on a regular car radio, but instead, I'm frustrated because I missed a minute or so of a game because of a weak satellite signal. Entitlement can be an enemy of gratitude and that's the theme of this Sunday's sermon.

Speaking of gratitude, at SOULFULL worship on Wednesday evening, I’ll be suggesting that praying “thanks” is one of the most important prayers we should pray. Join us for Wednesday Nights Together and for Sunday worship and grow your gratitude.

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

Tommy

St. Mark's will observe All Saints Sunday on November 5, 2023. On that day, we will name and remember those from our church family who have joined the Church Triumphant since All Saints Sunday 2022.

Remembering those we love is an expression of our love for God and our commitment to further the ministry of the church they loved. If you would like to make a special contribution in memory of any of our recently departed saints, please use the pew envelopes and indicate your gift in memory of the person(s) named.

We invite you to check the list below and let us know if someone in our church family has died since November 6, 2022 (last year's observance of All Saints Day) and is not listed:

Mary Frances (Fran) Hughes 11/25/2022

Delores Mitchell 11/29/2022

Karen Sue Miller 1/9/2023

Mae Blansett 1/31/2023

Troy Festervand 3/2/2023

Jon Hall 3/16/2023

Kay Penny 5/25/2023

Larry McFarlin 6/25/2023

Families of these saints should receive a letter in the mail this week about specific plans to honor these women and men of God.

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

Tommy

The SAGES Ministry Team will meet at 9:30 AM in Room 503-505 on Wednesday, October 11.

The Alzheimer’s/Dementia Support Group will meet Thursday, October 26, at 1:30 PM. at the home of Cindy Flippin, 2714 Tower Drive, Murfreesboro, TN 37129-1176.

A very special event for SAGES is coming Thursday, October 26. It will be held at Franklin First UMC. The bus will leave St. Mark’s at 7:45 AM. The event, Building Community with Older Adults, is designed for anyone interested in issues and concerns of our aging population. Sponsored by ENCORE Ministry in partnership with engAGING Communities TN, UT Chattanooga’s School of Nursing’s older adult initiative, the day’s focus is on bringing hope to aging populations and their caregivers through education and support. Beginning with worship at 9 a.m., the day features presentations by area experts on caregiving, congregational care, mental health, legal services, and grandparenting/grandfamilies. In-person attendees will enjoy a hot lunch for a nominal fee and can browse resource tables during breaks. Closing worship and Holy Communion conclude the day at 3 PM. This event can be viewed by streaming on the internet. For more information please visit https://encoreministry.org/training/. To register, click here.

On Monday, October 30, the Sages are going to the Loveless Café. The bus will leave the church at 9:30 AM. There is a $5.00 fee for riding the bus. Breakfast/lunch will be Dutch treat.

Coming Activities: November 17 – Midway Diner.

Coming Activities: In December – Christmas at Beersheba ( December 4); Senior Serenity at 11:00 A.M. (December 9)

The Friday class at 10:30 AM is viewing “The Chosen” series. Several Sages are attending. All are welcome. The class meets in Room 505-505.

The SAGES will host services at Adams Place Tuesday, September 19 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. We have been asked to consider services at Parkview Meadows and to offer SAGES’ Care at the Stones River Manor.

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

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.

St. Mark’s Fall Festival is Saturday, October 21 from 4-6 pm!

Bring your kids, grandkids, neighbors, and friends!

A BBQ dinner will be provided for $10 per person. Please call the church office by 10/17 to RSVP. Other treats will be available to purchase as well. 

If your Sunday school class or group is interested in hosting a carnival game, please email or call Hannah Pratt as soon as possible.

All children are invited to attend the Wednesday night children’s study,

“Joining God at Work in the World”! Every Wednesday at 6:00 pm

in the Children’s Choir room.

JAM Session is this Saturday at 6 PM!

All 4th-6th graders are invited to attend the lock-in. Please RSVP to Hannah Pratt by this Thursday. Don’t forget to bring an air mattress or something to sleep on!

Mark your calendars! JAM Session calendar for 2023!

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 @stmarkstn_kids for more information!

Please join us in congratulating our own Nathan Daniel on having achieved the illustrious rank of Eagle Scout! While you're at it, please congratulate his parents Samantha & Fred Daniel as well for raising such an upstanding young man.

-On Sunday October 15th, St. Mark’s Youth are invited to a very special panel discussion at 6:30 pm in the Youth Wing entitled “Pastor on the Spot”. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to hear Reverends Jim Clardy, Martha Touchton and Tommy Ward offer their own wisdom and insights in an effort to address the spiritual questions that our Youth have expressed interest in further exploring. Our discussion will center on the following 3 spiritual questions:

    1.) What is the unforgivable sin?

    2.) What makes Christianity unique?

    3.) How should I share my faith?

-On Wednesday, October 18th from 6:30 to 8 pm, we will be hosting the Youth from Blackman UMC and Fellowship UMC for a special joint worship service in the St. Mark’s Youth Wing. Please join us in welcoming these brothers and sisters of ours in Christ, as this special worship service promises another unique opportunity for fellowship beyond the boundaries of our usual St. Mark’s Youth community.

-On Thursday October 19th (Teacher Admin Day - no school for RCS students), St. Mark’s Youth will be traveling to Fall Creek Falls State Park for a Ranger-led hike. Special thanks to our volunteers Susan McElroy and Marrie Lasater for helping to chaperone this trip! This trip is offered free of cost to Youth members; we will leave from the Youth Wing at 8 am and return around 3-3:30 pm.

- St. Mark’s Youth Fall Retreat ‘23 will take place during the first weekend in November. We will plan on departing in the Church Bus for the Barefoot Republic Retreat Center in Allen County, KY at 10 am on Saturday 11/4 and will return by approximately 2 pm on Sunday 11/5. For more information, contact Louis Toedt at (773) 699-2973 or louis@stmarkstn.org.

-You can find a printable PDF version of the Fall Events Calendar for St. Mark’s Student Ministry by clicking here.

-St Mark’s Student Ministry hosts a weekly "Bible Study Hall" beginning at 6:00 pm (starting with the Wednesday night “SOULFULL” Worship Service in the Gym, and moving to the Library around 6:30), and ending at 7:30 pm. 

-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/

-St. Mark’s Fall Golf Tournament will be held at 1 pm on Saturday October 28th at the Old Fort Park Golf Course. Signup sheets can be found in the hallway connecting the Sanctuary to the Narthex, or you may register using the Google Form linked here: https://forms.gle/cucQGun68LTQM8hm8

J.S. Bach “Magnificat”

Dec. 17th at 10:30am Worship

• Rehearsal every Wednesday from 8pm-8:30pm in the choir room.
• In December, there will be extra rehearsal days and extended time on Wednesday evenings.
• If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact HyeLan Pearce (hyelan@stmarkstn.org).

St. Mark’s UMC is developing a new online church directory to help us get to know one another better and stay connected! This directory will be easy to access and can be updated as needed.

Individual and family photos will be taken in Room 407/409 by Noel Hinote on Sundays, September 24 – October 22, during the Sunday school hour. Adult classes are assigned a particular Sunday when their members and families can come one at a time to have their photo taken, thus no appointments beyond that are needed at this time.  Thanks to the Cornerstone class for moving to Room 502 (Chapel) for the time being to make this possible.

The schedule is as follows:

      October 15 – In His Steps, Cornerstone

      October 22 – Spares and Pairs, New Horizons, Genesis Network

Individuals and families who are not part of a Sunday school class are invited to come Sundays 10:00 – 10:20 a.m. to have their photos made.  

Additional dates will be made available. As families are having their photos made, they will also be asked to update their contact information.

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:

November 12 (one or both bouquets)

December 10 (one or both bouquets)

December 17 (one bouquet)

December 31 (one or both bouquets)

Wednesday Night Together provides a delicious, healthy meal along with opportunities for children, youth, and adults to grow closer to Christ and to one another. Nursery is available 5:45 – 7:00 p.m.

Dinner Reservations are requested by 12:00 Noon each Monday and can be noted on the attendance pads in the pews or called in to the church office.   The regular price of WNT meals remains at $10/adult, CHILDREN, YOUTH, & COLLEGE STUDENTS EAT FREE EVERY WEEK in 2023!

This Week’s Menu (10/11) Baked Fish, Herbed Rice, Grilled Asparagus, Vegetable Soup, Biscuits, Salad Bar, Strawberry Cake

Adult Opportunities in October, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Coffee Talk, October 11^th:  An informal gathering to discuss current events, faith and culture, and meet the movers and shakers in our community.  Led by Butler Touchton in the Narthex.

100 Verses, October 11 & 18:  With just a little effort, God’s words can sink into your brain, permeate your subconscious, and satiate your soul! Jump start your spiritual growth and with this basic practice. Led by Josh Brown in Room 402/404.

Movie Mojo, October 18th:  It’s a Wonderful Life! Group discussion of this classic holiday movie and its message about faith and gratitude Led by Butler Touchton in the Narthex.

Coming later in October:

BOOKWORMS, October 25: A Simple Act of Gratitude: How Learning to Say Thank You Changed My Life by John Kralik.  Group discussion on this book led by Butler Touchton in the Narthex. 

The Journey Home, October 25: Join Russ Galloway, St. Mark’s volunteers, and other special guests as we learn more about the mission of The Journey Home, a Christian outreach serving the homeless and disadvantaged, and upcoming changes in its ministry. Led by Russ Galloway in Room 402/404.

A new ministry exploring ways to connect and expand each Sunday Sermon Series into our Monday – Saturday discipleship! 

Look for the Cross Connections logo which identifies upcoming events, including group experiences and studies, spiritual practices, service projects, books, movies, and more.

OCTOBER SERMON SERIES: THE ENEMIES OF GRATITUDE

Fall is typically the season in which most churches make their case for financially supporting their ministry while also teaching the biblical principle of giving. This series offers the opportunity to teach gratitude by calling out the things that keep us from being truly grateful. In each sermon, we see how a misplaced focus—on how things could be or used to be better, how we’re not getting what we think we deserve, or simply how life’s struggles are keeping us down—prevents us from seeing all the blessings that are right there in front of us.

TREE OF GRATITUDE:  Throughout October, you are invited to write something you are thankful for on a leaf and attach it to the tree in the Foyer.

SPIRITUAL PRACTICES:  You are invited to journal about gratitude each day of October. Small journals are available in the Narthex near the Tree of Gratitude.  And/or, write a thank you note to someone every day this month.

BOOKWORMS: A Simple Act of Gratitude: How Learning to Say Thank You Changed My Life by John Kralik.  A group discussion on this book will be held at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 25, in the Narthex led by Butler Touchton.

MOVIE MOJO: It’s a Wonderful Life (1946, Rated PG) 

We’ll explore what this beloved classic movie can teach us about gratitude and faith. A group discussion of this movie will be held at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 18th in the Narthex led by Butler Touchton.

Fall Bird Walk and Watch

Saturday, October 14,

7 a.m. – 9 a.m.

Cedars of Lebanon State Park

Calling all bird watchers and friends! Come walk the park trails to see, hear, and learn more about God’s beautiful, winged creatures. We’ll be led by bird enthusiast Bob Ingle. 

What to Bring: binoculars, bug spray, water bottle, personal snack. 

What to Wear: long pants and comfortable, closed-toed walking shoes. 

To help identify birds and their calls, participants are encouraged to download the free birding app, Merlin Bird ID, onto their phones prior to the walk. 

Limit 12 persons; reserve your spot by emailing martha@stmarkstn.org. Bus transport from St. Mark’s will be provided with 5 or more reservations, leaving church at 6:30 a.m.  

Age 14 and under must be accompanied by an adult. No dogs, please.

“Rejoice always, pray continually,

give thanks in all circumstances;

for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  

I Thessalonians 5:16-18.

United Methodist vow to faithfully participate in the ministries of the church by their prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. A new ministry which will offer our congregation more frequent and creative opportunities for prayer based on the liturgical seasons and other spiritual themes is now being formed. Persons who have an affinity for prayer, artists, writers, and others seeking new and deeper expressions of prayer are encouraged to become involved. For more information, contact Rev. Martha Touchton at martha@stmarkstn.org.  

You are invited to a benefit concert in support of "We Remember You," a non-profit group providing support for people caring for a loved one with dementia.

The concert features the Mac Frampton Trio, and will be held at First UMC of Murfreesboro on Sunday, October 22 at 2:00 p.m. Donations are appreciated.

Wednesday, October 11

9:30 a.m. SAGES Meeting - RM 503/505

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. Youth Bible Study - Youth Center

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

Thursday, October 12

9:00 a.m. Women's Bible Study - RM 1203

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

10:30 a.m. Knitting - RM 506

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

6:00 p.m. Softball Tournament

Friday, October 13

10:30 a.m. Bible Study - RM 503/505

6:00 p.m. Pickle Ball - RC

Saturday, October 14

6:30 a.m. Bird Walk at Cedars of Lebanon

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

4:00 p.m. JAM Session Lock-in

Sunday, October 15

9:00 a.m. Children's Choir - RM 211

9:15 a.m. Christian Education

10:30 a.m. Worship - Sanctuary

4:00 p.m. GriefShare - RM 405

4:15 p.m. SONlight - RM 1119

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

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

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

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

Monday, October 16

9:45 a.m. Preschool Chapel

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. Discernment Group - Sanctuary/RM 503/505

Tuesday, October 17

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

9:45 a.m. Preschool Chapel

Wednesday, October 18

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. Youth Bible Study - Youth Center

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

Thursday, October 19

8:00 a.m. Youth to Fall Creek Falls

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, October 20

10:30 a.m. Bible Study - RM 503/505

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

Saturday, October 21

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

4:00 p.m. Fall Festival

Sunday, October 22

9:00 a.m. Children's Choir - RM 211

9:15 a.m. Christian Education

10:30 a.m. Worship - Sanctuary

4:00 p.m. GriefShare - RM 405

4:15 p.m. SONlight - RM 1119

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

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

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

5:30 p.m. Disciple - RM 503/505

Monday, October 23

9:45 a.m. Preschool Chapel

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

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

5:00 p.m. PEO - Banquet Room

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

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

7:00 p.m. Discernment Group - Sanctuary/RM 503/505

Tuesday, October 24

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

9:45 a.m. Preschool Chapel

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