Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields: Weekly Field Notes

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

Field Notes

For Pastoral Care

Call 215-247-7466 and leave a message. If you are experiencing a pastoral emergency text or call the Rev. Dr. Mary Barber at 845-527-9545.

Have you had an address, email, or phone number update?

Send us your update here.

Field Notes submission requests must be emailed by Tuesday at noon to ndiskan@stmartinec.org.

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Sunday Worship

September 28th, 2025

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

In Person

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

In Person

10:30 a.m. Instructed Choral Holy Eucharist

In Person & via livestream here

A Farewell Message from

the Rev. Laura Palmer

Gratitude has always meant to me a “love that knows it’s been blessed” which is why the profound gratitude I feel towards all of you at St. Martin’s also humbles me.

My farewell Sunday was exhilarating because of the choir – always because of the choir—but also because Rutter’s, “The Lord Bless You and Keep You” and Widor’s Toccata opened the heavens and my heart. (The Widor became an anthem of gratitude for me when I discovered that the words “Now thank we all our God,” slip right into the build-up to its conclusion).

But surpassing even the music were the kind and most generous words parishioners offered up in thanksgiving for my ministry in the Litany of Farwell. I was stunned.

Stunned because it surely wasn’t me, it was we. “You know it’s a vocation if it keeps making more of you,” are words from Gail Godwin’s Evensong. Continue reading here. Click here for photos from Sunday.

Features

Community Picnic and Work Day

This Saturday, Sept 27th

9 a.m.- 1 p.m.

Everyone is welcome to join the Buildings and Grounds Committee and Children, Youth, and Families for fun and connection Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the church. We’d love to see you there for all or part of what we have planned. Please click here for more information!

Pet Blessings

Next Sunday, October 5th

During the 9:00 a.m. Service and following the 10:30 service (~Noon)

Join us for pet blessings on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi! Please bring your pet on a leash or in a carrier. Those attending the 9:00 a.m. service are encouraged to bring a stuffed animal or photo to be blessed. We look forward to seeing you and your animal companion(s) there!

Next Week's Adult Forum: A Reading from Parishioner David Contosta's New Novel, "Happenstance."

7:00 p.m. in the Houston Room and via Zoom here.

Zoom Passcode: 074688

The title reflects the simple reality that much of our lives are shaped by the often-unexpected consequences of the places where we find ourselves and the people we meet and embrace along the way. Two other themes are at work in the novel: The question of who and what is a family, which Ellen and Jane explore throughout their lives together. The other is a paraphrase of Sigmund Freud’s belief that our humanness is grounded in the search for genuine love and satisfying work, which proves as difficult for the two women to find as it does to most of us.

St. Martin's Art Fair and Auction

Sunday, October 12, 2025

Art Fair & Silent Auction: Following the 10:30 a.m. service - 5:00 p.m.

Live Auction: 4:30 p.m.

Join us for an all-day celebration of art and creativity on Sunday, October 12. Beginning after the 10:30 a.m. service and running into the afternoon, St. Martin's will have a multitude of artworks for sale and in silent auction. Refreshments and food will be available throughout the day. There will be special Creation Stations for children and youth (and adults!).

All proceeds from the event help to support St. Martin's in a very tangible way, and your generosity and participation is greatly appreciated. It will be a day full of fun and creativity for all ages—bring your friends, neighbors, and family!

Do you have artwork you wish to sell at the Art Fair & Auction? We are accepting art pieces from our community for inclusion in this sale. Artworks should be original pieces rather than reproductions. The last day to submit artwork is Wednesday, October 1st. Please reach out to Director of Music & Arts, Tyrone Whiting (twhiting@stmartinec.org) for more information on offering your work(s) for sale.

St. Martin's To Be Honored at St. James School's 2026 Dr. Audrey Evans Benefit!

A message from Dave Kasievich, President and Head of School:

"We are so proud to recognize the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields and your entire congregation for your steadfast partnership with St. James over the years. From the earliest days of volunteering during our founding to faithful board leadership, outreach, and pandemic support, tutoring, and, most memorably, your current commitment to providing homemade baked goods for the Welcome Table, your parish has been at our side through every season. You have embodied what it means to walk in true partnership, and we cannot imagine our journey without you." Stay tuned for more information on the Dr. Audrey Evans Benefit in May 2026!

Children, Youth, and Families

St. Martin's Church School

Now Through-Sunday, Dec 14th

9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.

Church School continues this Sunday! For a full schedule with locations (subject to some change as we adapt to the needs of those who join), you can click here. To learn more about Godly Play, the curriculum that we will be using, you can click here.

St. Martin's Youth Meets Need In Deed

This Sunday, September 28th

5:00-7:30 p.m. in the Parish House

Youth 12+ are invited to join for dinner, fellowship, and to learn about a new model for community service with our ministry partner, Need In Deed! No need to attend St. Martin’s – all are welcome. Please RSVP by emailing Rev. Luke at lselles@stmartinec.org

St. Martin's Families: Game Night

Saturday, October 25th

5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Parish House

Join us for pizza and games in the Parish House. All ages, families, and single folks are welcome! Bring a drink or dessert to share and a favorite game. Halloween costumes and spooky games or treats are welcome.

Music Notes

Each week, Tyrone Whiting, our Director of Music and Arts, will dive into specific aspects of our service music, highlighting liturgical, historical, and musical elements of our music-making. Click here to read this week's Music Notes.

Ringing for Joy!

Do you want to make music and contribute to our growing Music & Arts Ministries? St. Martin’s is launching a brand-new Adult Beginner Handbell Choir starting Monday, October 6 at 7:30 p.m. in Choir Room! No music experience is needed! Led by volunteer handbell leader, Wendy Leaver, we’ll learn step by step while ringing beautiful and simple hymn tunes. Come give it a try—you might just discover a new hobby!

Interested? Reach out to Wendy (braidedset@gmail.com), or chat with her or Tyrone at church. We’d love to have you join the fun!

Our Thursday 6:00 p.m. Handbell Choir is looking for just ONE more ringer who can read music to complete the team! Playing the bells is simple—the real joy comes from bringing the notes on the page to life. If you can read music, we need you to help us make our sound even more joyful!

Choral Evensong at Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral

Next Sunday, October 5th, 2025

4:00 p.m.

Join us at the Episcopal Cathedral (19 S. 38th St, Philadelphia, PA 19104) for a service of Choral Evensong featuring music by Parker Kitterman, Erik Meyer, C. V. Stanford, and Ireland, sung by the Choir of St. Martin's and conducted by our Director of Music & Arts, Tyrone Whiting. All are welcome!

Take Action

Need in Deed Soirée

Thursday, Oct. 9th, 6-9 p.m.

BNY Mellon, 1735 Market Street

The staff and friends of Need in Deed (NID) like to eat well, play well and honor teachers. Join them for a chance to support the good work happening in NID classrooms around the city. If you like, you can also tear it up on the dance floor with DJ JAMZ. Got a silent auction offering? Can you teach someone how to make a lap quilt, or play chess? Do you have a piece of pottery to donate? To make a contribution or for more information about the Soirée, contact Barbara Dundon or Pam Prell. Tickets start at $120 and are available here.

No One Should Walk Alone

Are you eager to support immigrants who have been targeted for mass deportation?

If so, sign up for a two-hour training offered by the New Sanctuary Movement

(NSM) of Philadelphia that will teach you how to be a supportive companion to an

immigrant as you accompany them to an immigration hearing in Center City. The

training will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 10. Click here to sign up

go to and fill out the volunteer form. You will then be contacted by NSM. Continue reading here.

Teacher Supply Drive

Support Philly Public School Teachers & Their Classrooms

Each year, public school teachers across Philadelphia dig into their own pockets to provide essential supplies for their students. This year St. Martin's is partnering with Need in Deed to support 25 dedicated teachers in supplying their classrooms.

Here are the most-requested items:

Post-it Notes (all colors)
Sticky Chart Paper (large easel pads)
Printer Paper (white and colored)
Markers (regular and dry erase)

Please deliver any donations to the Welcome Desk in the Parish House by this Sunday, September 28th.

San Martin, Obispo de Tours in Totonicapan

St. Martin’s Successful Guatemala Scholarship Drive

Muchas Gracias, Saint Martin’s parishioners for your support through the pledge drive for the 2026 San Juan Apostol Scholarship Fund and the Totonicapán Scholarship Fund. Sixty-four pledges totaling $19,110 were received for the Guatemala Student Scholarship Drive in the month of June.

So far $13,710 in pledged funds has been received. 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 in the drop-down box, when paying the pledge. If a check is provided via the collection plate, please write “Guatemala Scholarship” in the memo line.

Pledges are kindly due by September 30th. Donations are accepted even if you have not had the opportunity to pledge, during the scholarship drive. Thanks to everyone who supports this wonderful mission!

Sermon

The Rev. Laura Palmer

September 21st, 2025

Tenure In My Heart

Exhilaration and dread make strange bedfellows. I know because I’ve been toggling between both recently. A new call as interim rector at St. Christopher’s Gladwyne was exhilarating at first. But then the dread washed in, as surely as the wave that knocks you to the sand in the ocean.

The new call meant today would soon be here, my farewell Sunday at St. Martin’s. Dread pulled me under. But then everything changed. I realized I had it wrong. Continue reading here.