Dr. Craig Goff The newsletter for St. Mark's UMC in Murfreesboro, TN "The Messenger" Online Newsletter December 13, 2016 From the Pastor When you dive into the details of the first Christmas you discover things that are not exactly flattering. I have been reading a book called Scriptural Narratives for Today by H. Stephen Shoemaker. In one section of the book he explores the meaning of the nativity. He provides information about the shepherds that was completely new to me... Read the whole article HERE . SAGES News The SAGES calendar for 2016 is now beginning to wind down. It's been a spectacular year for which we give thanks to the One who loves us and cares for us all throughout the year. We are preparing to celebrate His birthday in a few days... SAGES News Continues Here Poinsettia Orders - If you would like to purchase a poinsettia in memory or in honor of someone special in your life, please call (615-893-3455) or email ([email protected])the church office by Monday, December 19th. Poinsettias are $10.00 each. Be sure to include your name, the name of the person, and "in honor" or "in memory."
Transcript
Dr. Craig Goff
The newsletter for St. Mark's UMC in Murfreesboro, TN
"The Messenger" Online Newsletter
December 13, 2016
From the PastorWhen you dive into the details of the first Christmas youdiscover things that are not exactly flattering. I have beenreading a book called Scriptural Narratives for Today byH. Stephen Shoemaker. In one section of the book heexplores the meaning of the nativity. He providesinformation about the shepherds that was completelynew to me...
Read the whole article HERE.
SAGES NewsThe SAGES calendar for 2016 is nowbeginning to wind down. It's been aspectacular year for which we give thanks tothe One who loves us and cares for us allthroughout the year. We are preparing tocelebrate His birthday in a few days... SAGES News Continues Here
Poinsettia Orders - If you would like to purchase apoinsettia in memory or in honor of someone special inyour life, please call (615-893-3455) or email([email protected])the church office byMonday, December 19th. Poinsettias are $10.00 each.Be sure to include your name, the name of the person,and "in honor" or "in memory."
WNT will resume Wednesday, January11, 2017 with a FREE MEAL and theBRING YOUR GIFTS Youth Choir Talent Show!
Youth News
The youth had a great time at their Christmas party.We want to thank the Howell family, the Beckmanfamily and MTSU Wesley foundation for hosting legsof our progressive dinner.
Check out the entries in the ugly Christmas sweater contest HERE. This Friday, December 16, the youth will meet at 10:30 AM to go to the Last MinuteToy Store in Nashville. We should return by 6 PM. Dress warm - we will be sortingtoys outside. Registrations are now being taken for Warmth in Winter which will be held inNashville January 27 - 29. Our cost is $130. The deadline to register is January 8.You may get a registration brochure off the bulletin board or on our websiteat fusionumyf.org/warmth-in-winter/ Congratulations to James Touchton and Spencer Howell who were elected to theCentral Magnet school homecoming court!
FusionYouth will not meet December 18, December 25 or January 1. We hopeeveryone has a wonderful holiday!
Bring Your Gifts (a.k.a. Your Talent!)We need your talent! The "Bring Your Gifts"Benefit Talent Show will be Wednesday,January 11 at 6:15 p.m. All proceeds from thisevent will benefit the 2017 SONlight YouthChoir tour. The audience will vote for theirfavorite talent with monetary donations - sobring your friends and family for support! Toenter the talent show, complete an entry formonline or on paper by Sunday, January8. Entry fee is $20 per act. Questions?Contact Rev. Mary by email or phone (615-893-3455).
That evening, the dinner preceding the talent show is FREE, but meal reservationsare required. (Menu: pot roast, mashed potatoes, carrots, and more!)
In Other News..."Starry, Starry Night" - 5:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Worship especially for familieswith young children. DETAILS HERE
THANK YOU FOR MAKING ST. MARK'S Merry MissionMarketplace such a Huge Success!We had an AWESOME SALE at the Merry MissionMarketplace! Great attendance, terrific vendors and a
huge amount of sales! Thank you for making shopping your mission by supportingthis unique event! Thanks to you, out of almost $9000 total sales, almost $6000went to non-profit and helping agencies in our community!
St. Mark's Gift Bag Ministry - Thank you for adopting all 211 Gift bags from ReevesRogers! Hallelujah! If you have not returned yourfilled gift bag, please do so immediately! The bags willbe delivered to Reeves Rogers Thursday, December15th.
STOCKING UP ON CHRISTMAS!During Christmas, St. Mark's UMC will receive an offering of children'ssocks, underwear, glue sticks, dry erase markers, highlighters andcomposition notebooks! All items will be donated to the children of ourpartner school, Reeves Rogers Elementary, for their use in2017. Please place your donations in the big red stocking on Sundays,December 18th, 25th or January 1st, or at the 5:00 p.m. Christmas Eve
Worship Service.
Blessing of the Toys, Sunday, December 25thOn Christmas Sunday, December 25th, we will have a "Blessing of the Toys"during 10:30 a.m. worship. Children will have the opportunity to bring one of theirnew toys to worship to receive the blessing. During the Children's Sermon, thechildren will be invited to share their name, what the gift is, and who gave it to them.They don't have to have the gift with them to participate! After all of thechildren have shared their gifts with us, and we have heard about the greatest
Christmas gift of all, there will be a closing blessing of the toys by the congregation.
Epiphany Fun Night - for Grades 2 - 6. Friday January 6th, 6:30 to 9:00 p.m.More Info Here.
JAM Session "Let Your Light Shine" Lock-In - Friday/Saturday, January 6/7 -DETAILS HERE
Nursery Volunteers Needed - Two persons needed for Christmas Sunday. Readabout it HERE.
The St. Mark's Chancel Choir recently made two$500 gifts to the Endowment Fund in memory offaithful choir singers Susan DeWinter and JohnWomack. Pictured here are members of the choirwith a newly-created plaque to recognize thesegifts.
The choir hopes these gifts will honor the legacy ofthese servants through the continuation of vibrantworship and music ministries at St. Mark's UMC.
SAVE THE DATE! The youth will be sponsoring a "Decades Dance" on Feb.11thas a fundraiser for our Summer Mission Trips. Everyone is invited to come andenjoy the music of their favorite decade!
Do we have any December College Graduates? If so, please let the churchoffice know
View Our Current Prayer List
Disaster Team Stats HERE
See Our Full Event Calendar
Missed a Sermon? Click HERE to go to our sermons media page.
When you dive into the details of the first Christmas you discover things that are not exactly flattering. I have been reading a book called Scriptural Narratives for Today by H. Stephen Shoemaker. In one section of the book he explores the meaning of the nativity. He provides information about the shepherds that was completely new to me.
I have known shepherds were poor, simple folk. What I did not know, however, is negative connotations related to the herding professions exceeded their bitter poverty. In the period of late Judaism leading to Jesus’ day, rabbis compiled lists of thieving and cheating professions. Shepherds always made the list. Shepherds could not hold office and could not be used in law courts as witnesses. To put it mildly, they tended not to be well-respected trusted members of society.
So to whom did the angel appear and tell the good news of Jesus’ birth? Those who could not even legally serve as witnesses in courts of law! Of course, wealthy, wise magi also came later, but the truth is out…The Good News really is for everybody!
The angel not only announced the good news to the poor shepherds: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord.” A multitude of heavenly host sang to them:
Glory to God in the highest. And on earth, peace. God’s favor upon all.
After the shepherds went and found the baby Jesus and worshipped him, they went out and told everybody what they had seen and heard. They may not have been able to testify in Palestine’s courts of law, but I believe them. Do you?
Merry Christmas to all!
Craig
SAGES News
December 13, 2016 The SAGES calendar for 2016 is now beginning to wind down. It’s been a spectacular year for which we give thanks to the One who loves us and cares for us all throughout the year. We are preparing to celebrate His birthday in a few days. We’re completing our 2016 activities this week with the Senior Serenity Homebound Luncheon and Program and our wonderful Christmas luncheon. Thanks to Rev. Mary Dicken and the Marksmen for coming to be our special musical guests. Also the last meeting of the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support Group will meet on Thursday, December 16 at 1:30 P.M. Anyone who is caring for someone with these issues is invited to come and participate. We will begin the New Year in a few weeks with a full calendar of programs, activities and trips. We encourage you to come and be a part of all of them. Merry Christmas to all. And Peace on earth good will toward all! Here are several pictures from SAGES’ recent activities. They represent trips to the Cumberland County Playhouse, Chaffin’s Barn, the Belvidere Mill, birthday celebrations, group studies, and all the rest.
BB R I N G R I N G YY O U R O U R GG I F T SI F T S Benefit Talent Show
ENTRY FORM
Name of Act:___________________________________________ Name(s) of Members in Act:_______________________________ ____________________________________________________ Brief Description of Act:__________________________________ Contact Person:__________________ Phone #:_____________ Technical Needs? Y N (CD Track, microphones, etc.) If so, please list:_________________________________________
PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM TO REV. MARY DICKEN BY SUNDAY, JANUARY 8!
The audience will vote with monetary contributions, and winners will be determined by how much money is raised for their acts! Invite friends and family, and encourage your
Sunday School class to support you in this endeavor.
The talent show will take place on Wednesday, January 11 at 6:15 p.m.!
“STARRY, STARRY NIGHT”
5:00 P.M. CHRISTMAS EVE WORSHIP
ESPECIALLY FOR FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN The Children’s Ministries Team offers a 5:00 p.m. Christmas Eve worship service especially for families with young children, which includes music, readings, drama and prayers led by our children and their families. Children who are willing to share their talents through singing, playing an instrument, reading or leading a prayer are invited to volunteer to Rev. Touchton as soon as possible. The Christmas story will be portrayed through a spontaneous Christmas pageant with all the children participating as animals, angels, shepherds, kings, and stars. The service will conclude with communion and candlelight singing (using glow sticks!), and each child will receive a beautiful Christmas ornament. Child care for infants and toddlers is provided during the service.
Friday, January 6th
6:30 – 9:00 p.m.
St. Mark’s UMC Gymnasium
EPIPHANY FUN NIGHT! For Grades 2 – 6
Featuring Games, Snacks, Devotions and More Games!
with Leadership by Special Guest Cedar Crest Camp Director Russell Steel Friends Welcome! Parent Help Needed!
NURSERY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! St. Mark’s is seeking two persons who are willing to offer the gift of hospitality to our fellow church members and any holiday visitors we may have on Christmas Sunday, December 25th. St. Mark’s will offer one worship service at 10:30 a.m.; Sunday school classes will not meet, but the Nursery will be open. We would like to give our wonderful Nursery workers the morning off to enjoy with their families, but in order to do so, we need at least two volunteer adults (who are over 21 years of age, Safe Sanctuary trained and have passed a background check) to serve as caregivers in the Nursery from 10:15 – 11:45 a.m. If you are willing to serve, please contact Rev. Martha Touchton at [email protected]. Safe Sanctuary training available!
Helen Alexander, David Badgett, George Beers, Mae Blansett, Ralph Burrell, Trinace Campbell, Bertha Chrietzberg, Maureen Clement, Keith Connors, Miriam Crawford, Ronald Cuccio, Marge Cushman, Rachel Dix, Renee Effler, Josh Ezell, Vivian Farrar, Bonnie Fentress, David Forrest, Adrienne Francis, Larry Goetz, James Goff, Margaret Gordon, Ethel Jackson, Amanda Keller, Tyne Lafevor, Jim Linnehan, Betty Jo Lowrey, Lena McDaniel, Tricky McDowell, Hailey Murray, Lyn Newman, Kaylie Pendergrast, Guy Penny, David & Louise Reynolds, Bill Rogers, Leroy Sesler, Judy Stacey, Annette Ward, Aleen Wasson, Evan Weaver In the hospital – Bill Bryant, Joe Green, Dan Whitt, Tyne LaFevor
Our prayers and sympathy are extended to the Bartlett family on the death of Caroline's mother, Sandra Bobo, to the Duncan family on the death of Tim's grandmother, Althea Duncan, to Untch family on the death of Sandra's mother, Cindy Rowland, and to Mary Leigh Beers and family on the death of Dr. George St. Clair Beers.
Disaster Team News
December 13, 2016
Disaster Team Report
Stewardship Summary as of November 30, 2016
Your donations since January 1, 2016 have provided assistance to families in Murfreesboro and throughout the southeast.
