The Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields

Field Notes

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Sunday Worship

October 20th, 2024

8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist (spoken)

9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist for Children, Youth, and Families

10:30 a.m. Choral Holy Eucharist

5:00 p.m. Congregational Evensong

“If you see something, say something,” is familiar if you ever ride the subways or buses in New York. It’s a mantra for keeping the city safe.

It came to mind recently because I’ve made it a point when I see people on our campus to go over and introduce myself. 

Last week a motorcyclist stopped in front of the church and was soon taking pictures. I introduced myself and he said he was a mason, captivated by our stone carvings. I invited him inside and he was awestruck. “What we make these days will fall down in 50 years, but what you’ve got here will last forever.”

Days later, I noticed James was chatting with three women in front of Hilary House. Lo and behold, one was Libby, the daughter of our former rector, The Rev. Philemon Fowler Sturges, who served from 1945-1967. Libby was showing the parish to her granddaughter and her friend. Libby told me that her mother, Rosalind, created the Rector’s Garden which I have enjoyed and tended for the past two years. We toured the sanctuary and the Parish Hall together. Continue reading here.

Features

Congregational Evensong

This Sunday, October 20th at 5:00 p.m.

Join us this Sunday at 5 p.m. for a service of Evensong sung by Choir and Congregation together. Featuring hymns and chants which everyone can sing, this service will offer an opportunity to join our voices in prayer and worship in the ancient and beautiful service that is Evensong. No experience necessary! 

Cantate Domino!

-Tyrone Whiting

Director of Music & Arts

twhiting@stmartinec.org

Sunday Coffee & Conversation

This Sunday at 9:00 a.m. in the Houston Room

Join us this Sunday for the first in our series of four “Sunday Coffee & Conversation” Stewardship events.  Scheduled in between the 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday services, St. Martin’s Stewardship Committee is hosting this series to provide insight into both the 135-year history of St. Martin’s as well as exciting opportunities ahead for our parish!   

This Sunday's topic will be:

‘St. Martin’s Architecture – Then & Now’

Presented by Dave Schaaf

Learn about our generous patrons. The architects that defined St. Martin’s style. The role of the railroad … and more! 

We’ll also provide a glimpse of future Buildings & Grounds plans and a Q&A session.  

Future Sunday Coffees are scheduled for October 27, November 17 and December 8.

A Thank You From the Rev. Tanya Regli

"Thank you beloved St. Martin's. It is hard to believe a month has flown by since my ordination to the priesthood! I so appreciate your contribution to my clergy robe fund through your purse gifts. With your help I will be able to get a purple chasuble and stole in time for Lent. Most importantly I am grateful for having such a beautiful community walk with me in this journey. It was great to see many loving faces from St. Martin's at the ordination. I look forward to continuing to foster the connections between Grace Epiphany and St. Martin's.

Peace,

Tanya+"

Next Week's Adult Forum:

"A New Way To Do College"

Wednesday, Oct. 23rd, at 7:00 p.m.

Led by Oscar Wang, Founder of College Together

Parish House or via Zoom here

Passcode: 074688

Our city is full of bright students who lack the resources to attend a traditional four-year college, or the support and skills needed to succeed in that environment should they manage to make it there. College Together is an innovative, relatively new, Philadelphia-bred program that offers such students an accessible, different and consistently supportive pathway to a college degree. We'll hear from Oscar Wang, the hyperkinetic founder of College Together, and hopefully from a couple of students who've benefited from the program as well!

Sermon Transcript

The Rev. Luke Selles

October 13, 2024

“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

One of my least favorite parts of sewing by hand is threading the needle. Unless you have had a lot of practice or have incredible close-range vision, neither of which I have, the operation usually takes a lot of tries – and some curses – before I can thread the needle. But it doesn’t take sewing experience or knowledge to know that a camel cannot fit through the eye of a needle. There is no expert hand that can guide a camel into that tiny hole. In his parable, Jesus is teaching the disciples and us in no unclear terms that it is impossible without divine intervention for a rich person to enter heaven. Continue reading here.

Children, Youth, & Families

To learn more about these and other upcoming CYF events, please join our CYF mailing list! To sign up, please email the Rev. Luke Selles at lselles@stmartinec.org

Youth Meet & Greet with the Rev. Luke Selles

This Sunday, October 20th

5:00 p.m. in the Houston Room

All kids ages 12+ and their parents are welcome to join Rev. Luke Selles in the Houston Room before Congregational Evensong this Sunday. There will be tea, snacks, and time to get to know Rev. Luke and each other, sharing hopes and desires for youth programming for the rest of 2024 and into next year. Stay afterwards for Congregational Evensong in the sanctuary at 5:00 p.m.

If any youth are interested in being a part of the service at 5:00 p.m., either as a lector or as an usher, please email Rev. Luke at lselles@stmartinec.org.

CYF Halloween Treasure Hunt Party

Wednesday, October 30th

5:00 p.m. in the Parish House

On the eve of Halloween, Choristers rehearsal will end early and there will be a Halloween party for all kids, whether they are in the Chorister program or not, age 10 and under! During the party, there will be a treasure hunt, costume contest, games, crafts, and more. 

Join us after for our Food & Fellowship hour, which will be a Chili Potluck from 6:00-7:00 p.m. Please email Rev. Luke at lselles@stmartinec.org if you would like to contribute cornbread, chili with meat, or vegetarian chili, or if you have any questions about the Halloween party beforehand.

Fauré Requiem with Orchestra

Friday, November 1st, at 7:00 p.m.

Click here for tickets

Mark your planners and get your tickets now for the kick-off event of our 135th anniversary year! On November 1st at 7 p.m. our Director of Music & Arts, Tyrone Whiting, will lead an orchestral and choral concert featuring Gabriel Fauré's Requiem, a masterpiece of choral repertoire. Fauré completed revisions of his requiem in 1889, which this year along with St. Martin's, celebrates its 135th anniversary. 2024 marks 100 years since the composer's death and also the 40th anniversary of our Resident Ensemble, the Fairmount String Quartet, which will form the core of the orchestra on November 1. The Choir of St. Martin's will also be joined by singers from our community. What better way to honor such celebrations than with an evening of exquisite music! A reception will take place in the Parish Hall after the concert. All are welcome! Click here to learn more!

Save the Date:

Requiem Choral Eucharist for the Feast of All Saints

Sunday, November 3rd

5:00 p.m.

On Sunday, November 3rd, St. Martin's will offer a Requiem Choral Eucharist for the Feast of All Saints (not to be confused with our Fauré Requiem on Nov 1) with Renaissance and Baroque music led by the Section Leaders of St. Martin's. This service offers a time for reflection, remembrance, and hope as we remember those we have lost as well as praying for the future. Preceding the service, a reception and time for prayer in the Columbarium will be offered from 3:30 p.m. All are welcome.

Take Action

Guatemala Scholarships Update

It is time to complete payment for pledges made for the 2024 Guatemala Scholarship Drive.



45 pledges have been received for the Guatemala Student Scholarship Drive through October 2nd totaling $10,295. 64% of pledges have been paid to date. Thank you all for your donations to support scholarships for students of San Juan Apostol in Chichicastenango. Your support opens the door to a better future for these students and provides hope to them, their families and their community.

We will be continuing to collect pledges through the month of October. 25 pledges are still outstanding. To check your pledged amount please email Karen West at karenwestlefty@gmail.com

Donations are accepted even if you did not have the opportunity to pledge, during the scholarship drive.

Pledges may be paid via the St Martin’s website or via the plate. If pledges are paid via the online payment option, please use the “Guatemala Scholarship” choice when paying the pledge. If a check is provided via the collection plate, please write “Guatemala Scholarship” in the memo section of your check. 



The Guatemala Companion Parish Committee is very thankful for the outpouring of support from the St Martin’s Community. We will be sending the scholarship money to Guatemala in early December for the school year beginning in January 2025.

Coming Up

Chili Potluck

Wednesday, October 30th

6:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall

As we enter into the heart of autumn, all are invited to a special Food & Fellowship on Oct. 30th where we will be serving up a variety of different chilis and corn breads. Both vegetarian and meat-based chilis will be available. Interested in bringing your own chili recipe to share? Please email Kate Maus at kmaus@stmartinec.org to sign up!

Guatemala Tapestry Raffle and Saint Martin’s Day Craft Sale

Sunday, November 10th (St. Martin's Day)

The Guatemala Companion Parish Committee will be holding the annual Guatemala Craft Sale on Sunday, November 10th as a part of our Saint Martin’s Day Celebrations. Come and join us in the Houston Room to do some shopping for Christmas. Proceeds support projects in Guatemala and committee activities. To promote our sale and increase parish interest we will once again be holding a raffle for a chance to win a beautiful handmade tapestry. Raffle tickets will be sold on Sundays on October 20th, 27th, November 3rd and November 10th. Tickets will be 1 ticket for $1 and 6 tickets for $5 with the raffle drawing taking place on St. Martin’s Day at the end of the Guatemala Craft Sale. Please support these fundraising efforts that help us support our companion parishes in the western highlands of Guatemala.

Prayerful Looking

Sunday, October 27th, 2:00-4:00 p.m.

Philadelphia Museum of Art

Co-sponsored by Wellspring

Join us for a unique and reflective museum tour at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The program will begin with a guided meditation on contemporary works of art from the museum’s Asian Art Collection. Next, each participant will find a work that speaks to them and spend time contemplating it. We will end with a visit to each work selected and discuss its impact with the one who selected it.

Led by Rev. John B. Hougen, PhD, Art of Interfaith Understanding Coordinator for Interfaith Philadelphia and volunteer guide at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. 

Interfaith Philadelphia is handling registrations: Go to  https://www.tfaforms.com/5145250

Upcoming Adult Forum

Wednesday, Oct. 23rd, at 7:00 p.m.

"State and Federal Court Reform"

Led by Deborah Gross of Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts

Parish House or via Zoom here.

Passcode: 074688

Stay tuned for more details.

Wednesday Noon Eucharist

Mary Chapel

Wellspring Worship Reflections

After the 10:30 a.m. service

Houston Room