Children, Youth & Families:

Fall 2025 Newsletter

In this Newsletter:

• A Note from Rev. Luke
• Join the St. Martin's Acolyte Guild
• Family Picnic + Work Day, September 27th
• Fall Confirmation Class
• St. Martin's Youth Meets Need in Deed, September 28th
• Join St. Martin's Children's Choir
• Looking Ahead

Dear St. Martin's Families,

This October will mark a double anniversary for me: my first year serving at St. Martin's, and my first year as a priest in The Episcopal Church! I have loved working with and getting to know you all over the past 10+ months, and, after a lot of listening and some trial and error last Program Year, I am excited to share what is in the works for the Fall of the 2025-2026 Program Year at St. Martin's -- created by, for, and with you all.

Since this January, the 9:00 a.m. Children, Youth, and Family Sunday service has been evolving and steadily growing. When I first began at St. Martin's, the 9:00 a.m. service was tucked away in the "soft space" of the church and tailored towards the spiritual needs of toddlers and infants. But with the feedback that I have received and the support of those most invested, the service has moved to the nave (except during the summer months, when it has been under the tent!), and while it remains a shorter service (under 45 minutes) it follows the full order for the Eucharist from the Book of Common Prayer and includes a short sermon on the Scripture lessons. It is now a truly all-ages service.

Yet, along with these changes, Mother Mary and I are committed to maintaining the original intimate and inclusive feel of the service. Thanks to the leadership of Julia Finegan and support of our Music Director, Tyrone Whiting, the simple, easy-to-sing-along-to music of the service has theological depth and spiritual resonance. And thanks to the leadership of Jean MacKenzie, Lorie Simmons, Joanne Conway, Erin McNamara, Minturn Osbourne, and Diane Pierce, spiritual formation for all ages continues after the service is over: this past Lent, we relaunched church school between the 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. services, which we plan to resume in late September this year.

But this is just the beginning. As we continue to listen and grow with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I ask for your help in designing the 9:00 a.m. service and church school for this coming program year. Linked below is a link to a survey -- please have one member of your family fill it out before September 7th, so we can ensure your family's spiritual formation needs are met.

As always my door is open: feel free send me an email, or drop by for a visit.

God's Peace,

The Rev. Luke Selles (they/them)

Priest Associate for Children, Youth, & Families

Join the St. Martin's Acolyte Guild!

All youth ages 8+ are invited to take a leadership role in our 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. worship services. On Sunday, September 14, the first Sunday of the church Program Year, St. Martin’s will host an Acolyte Training for new and returning acolytes at 9:30 a.m. in the church.

This is a wonderful opportunity for youth to deepen their understanding of the liturgy and develop leadership skills while serving our parish community.

Come and see how your child can grow in faith, leadership, and service. We look forward to welcoming new faces to the Acolyte Guild!



If your child can’t make it to this initial training but is interested in joining the Acolyte Guild, please email Anne Swoyer at swoyera@yahoo.com.

Family Picnic + Work-Day

Saturday, September 27th

9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Join Rev. Luke and the St. Martin's Buildings & Grounds Committee for food, fellowship, and fun as we beautify our community playground with fresh mulch and a new children's garden. We'll start at 9 o'clock on September 27th with donuts and coffee, and the Buildings & Grounds Committee will treat us to a cookout at noon. Yard games, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, and more will be available. If you’d like to participate in any planting, please bring your own hand trowel or gardening gloves. We will have a few spares.

If your family can attend, please RSVP with the number of folks coming by emailing Rev. Luke at lselles@stmartinec.org so we can ensure there’s enough food for everyone.

“A Faithful Journey:”

Confirmation, Reception, and Reaffirmation

This fall, Mother Mary and Rev. Luke will offer a refresher course on Episcopal theology and practice. All seekers, age 12 and over, are welcome to join us between the 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. service from 9:30 a.m. 10:15 a.m. for five Sundays in the Houston Room (Adults) or Library (Youth):

September 21st: “Baptism & Confirmation: Beginnings” (combined Adult/Youth session in Houston Room)

October 5th: “The Bible: Stories about Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow”

October 19th: “Anglican History & The Episcopal Church” 

October 26th: “What Do We Believe?” 

November 2nd: “Anglican Worship & Spirituality” 

If you are interested in making a public confirmation or reaffirmation of your baptismal vows or being received into the Episcopal Church at the end of this course, please follow the link below to register by August 25th, and please plan to attend all five parish-wide sessions as well this final session:

November 16th: “The Mission of God: What’s Your Ministry?” (combined session for all candidates for confirmation/reception in the Houston Room)

All are welcome to join for one or all of the five parish-wide sessions (Sep 21; Oct 5, 19, 26; Nov 2) without a desire to be confirmed/received.

St. Martin’s Youth Meet Need in Deed

Sunday, September 28, 2025 – 5-7:30 p.m.

in the Houston Room

All middle-school through high-school aged youth are invited to join St. Martin’s ministry partner, Need in Deed, to learn about their framework for advocacy and systemic change. After dinner and fellowship, Need in Deed will give a presentation on their partnership with Philly public school classrooms.

Youth who attend this session will then explore the possibility of launching their own Need in Deed site, meeting together regularly with Rev. Luke and other mentors throughout the school year to identify, research, plan, and implement a collaborative service project of their own choosing and design. This experimental partnership with Need in Deed has the potential foster a youth group at St. Martin's that celebrates their own agency and develops their understanding of systemic issues and advocacy, all while helping them get community service hours. Youth participants in this project need not attend St. Martin’s – all are welcome!

Please RSVP for this opportunity by emailing Rev. Luke at lselles@stmartinec.org.

October

• Sunday the 5th:
• St. Francis Day with the blessing of the animals
• “A Faithful Journey,” Confirmation Class: Second Session (9:30-10:15 a.m.)

• Sunday the 19th: “A Faithful Journey,” Confirmation Class: Third Session (9:30-10:15 a.m.)

• Sunday the 26th: “A Faithful Journey,” Confirmation Class: Fourth Session (9:30-10:15 a.m.)

• Wednesday the 29th: CYF Halloween Party (5-6 p.m.)

November

• Sunday the 2nd: “A Faithful Journey,” Confirmation Class: Fifth Session (9:30-10:15 a.m.)

• Sunday the 9th: St. Martin's Day, No 9 a.m. Service

• Wednesday the 12th: Life of St. Martin Puppet Show (time TBD)

• Sunday the 16th: “A Faithful Journey,” Confirmation Class: Final Session (9:30-10:15 a.m.)

• Sunday the 23rd: Advent Wreath Making (8 a.m. - noon)

December

• Wednesday the 3rd: Christmas Pageant Rehearsal #1 (5-6 p.m.)

• Wednesday the 10th: Christmas Pageant Rehearsal #2 (5-6 p.m.)

• Wednesday the 17th: Christmas Pageant Rehearsal #3 (5-6 p.m.)

• Sunday, 21st: Christmas Pageant Rehearsal #4 (time TBD)

• Wednesday, the 24th: Christmas Pageant at 5 p.m. service, call time 4:30 p.m.

Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields | 215.247.7466 | 8000 St. Martin's Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19118 | StMartinEC.org