November 7, 2023

From the Pastor

A while back, Mike Rose announced his retirement as our Administrative Assistant and IT Coordinator. The Staff Parish Relations Committee is beginning the process of searching for Mike's successor.

Before we post it to the general public, I want to share it with our church family. If you or someone you know is interested in this full-time position, please submit a resume to stmarks@stmarkstn.org.

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

Tommy

New Sunday Series: The Good News About Death

Our current Sunday morning sermon series is "The Good News about Death." At the core of the Christian faith is a word about death and life beyond death. We do not grieve death as those without hope. Christ was raised to new life and promises that we will too.

Upcoming scripture texts:

Nov 12: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Nov 19: Psalm 90:1-12

New SOULFULL Series: Front Porch Tales

Perhaps you are old enough to remember, or perhaps you've just heard the stories, but there was a time when people sat on the front porch after supper and just talked. Typically the conversations were about the events of the day, about family, and yes, about faith.

Our new SOULFULL worship series is "Front Porch Tales" and you're invited to come sit for a spell and hear stories that will prepare you for the Thanksgiving and Advent season.

Nov 8: Family (Matthew 22:34-40)

Nov 15: God Remembers (Mark 15:33-37)

Nov 21 (Tuesday): Traditional Thanksgiving Worship in Sanctuary*

Nov 29: Merry Mission Marketplace*

Dec 6: Expectation (Luke 1:46-79)

Dec 13: Gifts (Romans 12:6-8)**

Dec 20 and 27*

* No SOULFULL worship

** Our annual charge conference with District Superintendent Chip Hunter immediately following SOULFULL worship.

The SAGES had a wonderful trip last week to the Loveless Café. Hope you will plan to go with us next time. 

The Alzheimer’s/Dementia Support Group will meet Thursday, November 16, at 1:30 PM. at the home of Cindy Flippin, 2714 Tower Drive, Murfreesboro, TN 37129-1176.

The SAGES will not meet on Monday, November 12. They will, however, meet after the return trip from the Midway Diner on Friday, November 17. the purpose of the meeting is to prepare for our Senior Serenity Luncheon coming up in December.

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. NOTE: The class will not meet on Veterans’ Day.

The SAGES will host services at Adams Place Tuesday, November 21 at 10:30 AM and at Rutherford Senior Care (Wednesdays 11:00 AM); Rutherford Assisted Living (Fridays at 1:30 PM); American House Senior Living (Tuesdays at 2:30 PM) each week, and Parkview Manor on Wednesday, November 22 at 2:30.

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

If you would like to order a poinsettia to be displayed in the Sanctuary this Christmas in honor or in memory of a loved one, please use the form below.

Bring order form and check to the church office, or email and pay online (with a comment saying the payment is for poinsettias). Cost: $15 per plant.

Please make payments payable to

St. Mark’s UMC and designate for Poinsettia.

Order Deadline: Monday, December 11th.

Poinsettia is ______ in memory OR ______ in honor

Of: __________________________________________________________

By:__________________________________________________________

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.

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.

All children and families are invited to make a Chrismon ornament for the Christ tree during Children’s Sunday school and Wednesday Night Together!

SAVE THE DATE!

All children and families are invited to begin the preparation for the birth of Jesus by creating an Advent Wreath and learning about its meaning on December 3^rd from 2-4 PM. We will conclude this event with a time of worship. 

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!

Because of your support, we were able to bring the Youth to the Barefoot Republic Retreat Center in Allen County, KY for St. Mark’s Youth Fall Retreat ‘23 on 11/4 & 11/5, where much fun and fellowship was shared over paintball, hiking, Gaga Ball, card games, and campfire roasted marshmallows. The spiritual focus of this year's Fall Retreat was 'What does it mean to love God and our neighbors?', as our students participated in an extended devotional study on the nature of Biblical love and its practical implications for our vertical and horizontal relationships. Thank you for making such spiritual retreats possible through your volunteer efforts and generous financial contributions to St. Mark's Student Ministry, and special thanks to Katherine Beatty, Kaylin Wiley & Thomas Hamlet for giving up their weekend to serve as chaperones. 

St. Mark’s Youth will be designing and leading faith-based programming for children from local nonprofit Endure Athletics, as our ‘Bear Fruit’ Mission Series continues on the evening of November 15th … If you are interested in volunteering to help with these ministry efforts, please contact Louis Toedt at (773) 699-2973 or louis@stmarkstn.org  

...Speaking of bearing good fruit, the most recent installation of our ‘Bear Fruit’ Mission Series took place on Sunday October 22, when St Mark’s Youth spent the evening packing boxes for the church’s Food Box ministry – thank you to our super-volunteer John McDaniel and our Youth members Nathan Daniel, Sam McElroy, Aidan Beatty, Kyle Anderson, Sylvia Anderson and Telmo Nieto for choosing to spend their Sunday night serving the needs of our community 

St Mark’s Student Ministry hosts a weekly "Bible Study Hall" beginning at 6:00 pm in the Library (just off the Narthex), and ending at 7:30 pm. Participants may attend the Soulfull worship service from 6-6:30 before joining us in the Library if they choose, or simply come directly to the Library at 6 if they prefer.  

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

If anyone is aware of any loved ones who will be graduating from High School, College or Graduate School this December and would like to see them honored by St Mark’s Student Ministry, please communicate this information to louis@stmarkstn.org ASAP.

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/

Attention College Students: St Mark’s is proud to host College Volleyball Night on Friday November 24th from 7:30pm –11:00pm Volleyball in the gym. No RSVP needed - just come as you are!

Big thanks to Wendell & Myra Philpott, as well as everyone else who participated in the St. Mark’s Fall Golf Tournament on Saturday October 28th, as over $1500 were raised for the St Mark’s Youth Fund thanks to your time and effort! 

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).

Our photographer has finished taking photos of Sunday School classes and will soon publicize additional dates for those who do not attend Sunday School. Be on the lookout for those dates in the bulletin, newsletter, and on social media.

You need not be a member of our church to have your photo taken and included in our directory; the goal is to photograph everyone who attends St. Mark's.

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 bouquet)

December 10 (one or both bouquets)

December 31 (one or both bouquets)

January 7 (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 (11/8): Lasagna - Meat or Veggie, with Green Beans, Whole Kernel Corn, Breadsticks, Potato Soup, Salad Bar, and Chocolate and Coconut Cream Pies.  

Adult Opportunities, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.

WRITING YOUR OWN (or Someone Else’s) OBITUARY, November 8: It’s never too early to begin writing your obituary, and it may even change how you live out the rest of your life! Bring your own laptop or notepad.   Led by Josh Brown of Woodfin Chapel in Room 503/505. 

BOOKWORMS, November 8: Cheerfulness by Garrison Keillor.  What kind of good news does Keillor bring to our preparation for the end of life? A group discussion on this book will be led by Butler Touchton in the Narthex.

CHRIST AND CARDS – November 15 in the Gym, led by Becky Waldrop and Robin Stone We will begin with SOULFULL worship in the gym, then have the option to partake in two missions:

*Assemble 350 Christmas cards for those in the Rutherford County Juvenile Detention Center and the Bedford County Jail to send to their loved ones.

*Make symbols of Christ ornaments to adorn a new Christ tree in the Narthex. 

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.

NOVEMBER SERIES: THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT DEATH

While we speak of death often at funerals, we rarely tackle the subject head-on in our Sunday routine. Yet at the core of the Christian faith is a word about death and life beyond death. If the book sales of Heaven is for Real and others in the genre are any indication, we are hungry for a word of life in the midst of death. The scripture texts for this period from All Saints to Christ the King offer a wonderful opportunity to model what it means to speak openly about death and the Christian hope of resurrection.

SPIRITUAL PRACTICES:

Writing Your Own Obituary – It’s never too early to write your obituary, it may even change how you live out the rest of your life! 

6:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 8, Led by Josh Brown of Woodfin Chapel in Room 503/505. Bring your own laptop or notepad.

BOOKWORMS:  

Cheerfulness by Garrison Keillor.  A group discussion of this book will be held at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 8th in the Narthex led by Butler Touchton.

Other reading suggestions:

Heaven Is for Real by Todd Burpo

Being Mortal by Atul Gawande

The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Ablom

TREE OF GRATITUDE Continues:

You are invited to write something you are thankful for on a leaf and attach it to the tree in the Foyer.

Boy Scout Troop 398 is smoking turkeys again for Thanksgiving to help fund our canoeing high adventure trip in Canada this coming summer.

We will take orders for cherry wood smoked boneless turkey breasts AND whole turkeys which can be picked up (still warm out of the smoker) Wednesday, November 22^nd in time for Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, November 23^rd. There will be no sliced pounds or sides or sauce offered. Our smoked turkey will keep well if frozen for 6 months or more, so order extra.

Our boneless breasts are made up of three pieces of breast meat. Our supplier is confident that he can fill our order for boneless breasts this year, but please place your order as early as possible. We decided to offer whole smoked turkey because of the positive feedback we received last year.

All orders need to be turned in no later than Wednesday, November 15.

 A boneless (half) breast (averages 3 1/2 pounds and yields fourteen 4-ounce servings) sells for $45.00. A whole breast or 2 half breasts (averages 7 pounds and yields twenty-eight 4-ounce servings) sells for $80.00. A whole turkey (raw weight is 10–12 pounds) sells for $60.00

Orders will be ready for pick-up at the Eagle’s Nest behind St. Mark’s UMC from 4 to 7 PM on Wednesday, November 22^nd. Pay when you pick-up your order. Card, cash or check to “BSA Troop 398”.

Order from one of our scouts or adult leaders, Kyle Anderson, Nathan or Fred Daniel, Steve Dix, or contact Scoutmaster Mike Warren mike11345@aol.com or (615) 473-7076. An order sheet will also be in the church office and in the Narthex.

Wednesday, November 15^th

6:00 p.m. Christ Ornaments and Cards

Join in this evening of worship and mission in the gym:

*We will assemble Christmas cards and write greetings to inmates at the Rutherford County Juvenile Detention Center and the Bedford County Jail.

*We will also make ornaments symbolizing the life of Christ which will adorn a new Christ tree in the Narthex.

One Can, Two Can!

Who Can? You Can!

Help feed our neighbors by donating to St. Mark’s Food Bank October 29 – November 19!   Click here for more information.

The season of ADVENT calls us to increase our faith and devotion as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ.  Each day's reading, from Sunday, December 3 to Christmas Day, is based on the Revised Common Lectionary and includes the Scripture, a short devotion, and a brief prayer or suggested spiritual practice. These daily devotions are available via email to guide you in your ADVENT Lenten journey.  To receive daily ADVENT Lenten devotions via email, CLICK HERE.

This year’s devotions are written by Reverend Sam McGlothlin, a member of the Tennessee/Western Kentucky Conference and senior pastor at Belle Meade United Methodist Church in Nashville. 

A limited number of printed devotional booklets will be available in the Sanctuary Foyer December 3^rd.

Music City Bronze will present their 2023 Holiday Handbell Concert at St. Mark's on Thursday, November 30th at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary.

See the FLYER for more information.

This "Gratitude" season, I am grateful for the soil, gardens and grounds of St. Mark's. I am also grateful for the many helping hands of volunteers who have removed dead shrubs, weeded, planted new shrubs and trees, dug holes, raked leaves, watered planters, planted bulbs and annuals in the ground and in planters, laid and cut landscape fabric, trimmed trees and shrubs, spread mulch, donated plants and bulbs, donated planters, and stopped by to enjoy, pray, eat a snack, or taken a walk around the grounds.

The fall color has been brilliant the past two weeks. Many of you may have noticed that there are several new trees planted in the area outside the prayer garden. One Sunday school class donated and planted 7 Rising Sun redbuds in memory of class members who have died in recent years, including one who died this past year. A member of another class assisted the fourth and fifth graders with planting a young dogwood tree. A couple from another Sunday school class quietly cut and removed some vines and weeds from an area near the sanctuary. The disaster team went into action on our own grounds and removed several sick and dying trees, while plans are in the works to re-plant those areas with hardier and more disease-resistant trees.

Today, I as I walked the grounds, I was reminded of Joyce Kilmer's famous line, "...Only God can make a tree" when I stopped to admire God's handiwork in one of the red maples as it glistened in the sun.  

If you would like to join some work groups this fall, winter or spring in some of the "groundskeeping and gardening" activities, please contact Jan Crossett at 901-326-6246 or jancrossett@hotmail.com.

Wednesday, November 8

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, November 9

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

Friday, November 10

Office Closed - Veterans Day

6:00 p.m. Pickle Ball - RC

Saturday, November 11

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

9:00 a.m. Chancel Choir - RM 1119

Sunday, November 12

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

9:15 a.m. Christian Education

10:30 a.m. Worship - Sanctuary

11:30 a.m. Nominations Committee - Banquet Room

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, November 13

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

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

Tuesday, November 14

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

9:45 a.m. Preschool Chapel

10:00 p.m. UMW Mary Martha Circle - RM 501

6:00 p.m. Trustees - Room 503/505

Wednesday, November 15

3:00 p.m. Endure Athletics - Playground

4:30 p.m. Endure Athletics - Youth Center

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, November 16

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

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

11:15 a.m. Stone Soup - Sanctuary/N/BR/K

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

Friday, November 17

8:00 a.m. SAGES to Midway Diner

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

11:15 a.m. Stone Soup - Sanctuary/N/BR/K

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

Saturday, November 18

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

9:00 a.m. Chancel Choir - RM 1119

Sunday, November 19

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

9:15 a.m. Christian Education

10:30 a.m. Worship - Sanctuary

4:15 p.m. SONlight - RM 1119

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

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

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

Monday, November 20

9:45 a.m. Preschool Chapel

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

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

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

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

Tuesday, November 21

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

9:45 a.m. Preschool Chapel

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

6:00 p.m. Thanksgiving Worship - Sanctuary

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