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, July 19th, 2026

8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist (Spoken)

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

Under the Tent

10:00 a.m. Sandwich Making for Face to Face

Parish Hall

10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Music

Also via livestream here

Followed by Worship Reflections (in person only)

This Sunday's Readings

Genesis 28:10-19a | Psalm 139: 1-11, 22-23 | Romans 8:12-2 | Matthew 13:24-30,36-43

Rector's Note

A major capital campaign is on the horizon, with wishes for a new heating system for the sanctuary, air conditioning of the sanctuary space, and full access to all levels through the narthex with the addition of an elevator. All of this will make our worship space much more accessible and hospitable to church members, guests, and staff. 

This major project has been under discussion since before I started as your rector. And we are getting closer to the next push. But it’s going to be a little while before these dreams become reality. 

In the meantime, our buildings and grounds committee and our vestry are moving forward in smaller ways to improve everyone’s experience on campus. 

This past week, air conditioner ductless units were installed in the rectory and the Houston room. (These are also called minisplits, because they can also give supplemental heat in winter.) It was a significant project involving updating some electrical systems and drilling through rock. 

All of the many groups who use the Houston room for meetings and gatherings should find a much quieter, more comfortable, and safer experience during these hot weeks. 

Thank you to everyone who supports St Martin’s through pledges and contributions, for making projects like this possible, and thank you to vestry, B&G, finance committee, and Lorie, for making it happen!

Mary+

Features

A Message from the Medicine Cabinet: Taking Care of Yourself in Extreme Heat

Intense heat waves like the one leading up to and during the 4^th of July are seriously risky for infants and young children, pregnant people, seniors, and folks with chronic health conditions. More than 700 people die every year in the US from extreme heat.

Guarding against over-heating is pretty simple: Stay cool and stay hydrated. Dress for the heat, even if that means coming to church in more casual clothes than you might normally wear. We have it on good authority that shorts are okay in the Episcopal Church. Attending virtually is also an option. Since St. Martin’s lacks air conditioning in the church and parish hall (for now!), the best we can do is fans for cooling. We will also have plenty of chilled water in both locations. CDC recommends carrying a water bottle with you and refilling it over the course of the day. (CDC also suggests limiting drinks that are high in sugars and sodium, caffeine, and alcohol.) Please help yourself liberally to water or bring your own! 

Commonly prescribed medicines for high blood pressure, heart failure, depression, anxiety and other chronic conditions and over-the-counter drugs like antihistamines increase the risk of heat-related illness. Be alert to what your body is telling you. Symptoms of over-heating include:

• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Headache

• Nausea
• Muscle cramping

• Unusually heavy sweating
• Shortness of breath

If you have any of these symptoms, please tell someone immediately. Talk with your doctor about a heat and medication management plan. It’s important to know if the heat will be dangerous and plan accordingly. You can see the National Weather Service area forecast and active alerts here, and you can sign up for Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management alerts by clicking here.

Morning Prayer: Let Us Know Your Prayer Requests

Our Morning Prayer fellowship invites anyone who would like us to pray for your concerns to contact Bill Jacobsen (609-468-5548), Jane Good (267-679-2425), or Al Pearson (215-803-5904.) Morning Prayer meets on Zoom Monday-Friday from 7:30-8:00 a.m. If you would like to join, please email morningprayer@stmartinec.org to receive the Zoom link.

Iced Tea & Chess In the Houston Room Today!

Weekly on Thursdays from July 16th to August 27th

4:00-6:00 p.m.

This summer’s Iced Tea & Chess series kicks off today and continues each Thursday through the end of August! Usually we'll meet under the tent on the Hilary House lawn, but on days like today, with inclement weather, we'll gather in the Houston Room instead! Our Iced Tea & Chess series is a great way to get to know each other, enjoy some snacks, and beat the summer heat with cool drinks and/or chess. No RSVP needed, but if you are able, please consider bringing a snack to share. Contact Kate Maus with any questions. We look forward to seeing you there!

Wellspring’s Spiritual Classics Book Group Coming This Fall 

C.S. Lewis, Henri Nouwen, Julian of Norwich, Thomas Merton, Teresa of Avila, Meister Eckhart—we’ve heard their names but often haven’t had a chance to read their books. Is there a title you’ve heard about and always wanted to read? Is there a favorite that you’d like to read again? Would you value reading such books in a small group so you can talk about their insights together?

The Spiritual Classics Book Group will function like many book groups, meeting monthly in participants’ homes, deciding together on the year’s list of titles. Although Christian writers are the main focus, spiritual classics from other traditions could be considered as well. Watch for further notices about our first meeting in September, and meanwhile, if you’d like to express interest in it, contact Lorie Simmons (loriesimmons@comcast.net) or Mike Gillum (mikegillum@gmail.com).

Training Sessions for New Stephen Ministers

St. Martin's Stephen Ministry program is planning a training session for the fall for interested potential ministers. Are you called to be a Stephen Minister?

Stephen Ministry is St. Martin’s one-on-one ministry of pastoral listening and care for people going through difficult times.

Stephen Ministers are parish and community volunteers trained to offer compassionate and prayerful support to people who are experiencing challenges such as job loss, grief, divorce, illness, care-giving or other life transitions. A Stephen Minister has a calming presence and is comfortable with a process of care that involves listening, prayer and supportive feedback as her or his care receiver walks through difficulty or crisis. Stephen Ministers usually meet with their care receiver weekly for about an hour and attend supervision meetings 2 times a month.

A 50-hour training course is required of all Stephen Ministers before they can begin offering care. The training will involve weekly sessions of about two or two-and-a-half hours and will start in the fall and continue for 4 to 5 months. If you are interested in more information please contact Kim McNulty ( 313 523-0325) or Cary Nicholas ( 215 350-3561) by July 22 for applications. Applications will be due by July 29.

Summer Bible Series: The Parables of Jesus

Sundays, Now - Aug 16th

Between the 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. services

All ages are invited to encounter the parables of Jesus -- those elusive, challenging, and deceptively simple stories with imagery from everyday life, which teach something about spiritual realities -- with a story told using Godly Play followed by a collective activity led by members of St. Martin's community that corresponds to the story (i.e. singing, planting, baking). If you have a skill you'd like to teach related to one of the following stories, email Rev. Luke at lselles@stmartinec.org.

• July 19: “The Good Samaritan” (Luke 10:25-37)
• July 26: “The Pearl of Great Price” (Matt 13:45-6)
• August 2: “The Mustard Seed” (Mark 4:30-2)
• August 9: “The Sower” (Matt 13:1-23)
• August 16: “The Leaven” (Luke 13:20-1)

Short Stories by Jesus: A Study of the Parables

Saturdays, July 18-August 22

11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. in the Houston Room

Using Amy-Jill Levine's Short Stories by Jesus, join a summer youth and adult study of Jesus' parables, looking at how they teach us about the Kingdom of Heaven, or God's dream for our lives. If you'd like to join the email list and/or lead one of the six sessions, please reach out to Rev. Luke. Reading is optional, but if you'd like to follow along, please get a copy of the "participant guide" version of Short Stories. This Saturday, July 18th, we will be discussing material from Levine's "Introduction" and "Session 1: Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, Lost Son" (Luke 15).

Children, Youth, & Families

Summer Meal-Serving

THIS Saturday, July 18th

11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Face to Face (123 E. Price St.)

What does it mean to love your neighbor? Come find out! Every third Saturday of the month starting this Saturday, July 18th, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., St. Martin's Youth and their Families have a standing meal service shift at Face to Face, Germantown. Get to know St. Martin's families while preparing and serving a meal to our neighbors in need. Ages 12 years old and over welcome (children under 12 must have a guardian). Be sure to eat lunch before! If you have any questions or you'd like to sign up, please email Rev. Luke.

Sandwich-Making for Face to Face, Germantown

THIS Sunday, July 19th

~10 a.m. to 10:20 a.m. in the Parish Hall

After hearing the Parable of the Good Samaritan under the tent ~9:45 a.m., we'll be making sandwiches for our partner Face to Face, Germantown to distribute to our unhoused siblings in need. Everyone is invited to join us in loving service of our neighbors.

Summer Movie Series: Frozen Sing-along

Saturday, August 8th

5:30 - 8:00 p.m. in the Parish House

All ages are invited to join for pizza and a movie Saturday, August 8th! Please RSVP by the Friday before the movie night with your dietary restrictions and number of folks by emailing lselles@stmartinec.org. Please note: the July 25th showing of Encanto has been cancelled.

Diocesan Youth Wild Adventure at Valley Forge

Sunday, August 30th

4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Washington Memorial Chapel 

2000 Valley Forge Park Road, King of Prussia, PA 19406

Get ready for a fun evening of adventure, music, food, and fellowship to kick off your fall! Youth and their family members from across the diocese are invited to join us for our Diocesan Youth Wild Adventure at Valley Forge National Historical Park on 8/30 from 4 pm - 6:30 p.m. Enjoy live music, wilderness walks, hands-on craft projects like nature mandalas, dinner, and outdoor worship under the open sky that will inspire you for the coming school year. The Rev. Dr. Charles Lattimore Howard will be our homilist. To register, go to this link.

Summer Sunday Musicians

Our Choir, Choristers, and Staff Musicians are now on vacation for the summer. I want to invite and encourage those of you with musical talents who play an instrument or sing to help support our 9:00 a.m. and/or 10:30 a.m. Sunday worship from June 28 through August. If you are interested or curious, please contact me at twhiting@stmartinec.org. It is always so great to share in music-making with you all! -Tyrone Whiting, Director of Music & Arts

Take Action

Guatemala Companion Parish Measles Outbreak Update

On June 1st we received a WhatsApp communication from Padre Roberto of San Marcos parish in Xela, Guatemala that included information regarding a serious measles outbreak in the Quetzaltenango Department and a request for emergency assistance to purchase medications for treatment of mothers and babies at the Nina/Madre home to prevent further loss of life.

A team of people from St. Martin's was able to respond quickly and with the assistance of Tom Sibson, our Accounting Warden, we were able to forward the requested $1,600 directly to Rev Dr Armas by June 5th to begin interventions immediately. That quick action may have saved lives. We are thankful for the contributions of our parishioners to the Craft Account through our yearly sale and raffle. Those funds are available to respond to emergencies in Guatemala, like this measles epidemic. Thank you St. Martin's for your generosity!

We are also thankful for the work of Reverend Doctor Roberto Armas, whose quick actions saved lives. Padre Roberto sent us the following thank you note: Click here to read.

Sermon

The Rev. Dr. Mary Barber

July 12, 2026

One day at Mass while I was on retreat in Gloucester, Massachusetts, someone prayed for Fr. Ben, a local Catholic priest who had just died. Fr Benjamin Okwy Made was from Nigeria, and I later learned that his death came after he was ordered to return to his country because his clergy visa was not renewed. In a letter to his congregations, Fr Ben wrote, “It is not my wish to return home…my heart is broken.” The death was later ruled a suicide. He was serving two churches in the Gloucester area and working as a chaplain at the local hospital. Continue reading here.

Wednesday Noon Eucharist

Mary Chapel

Wellspring Worship Reflections

After the 10:30 a.m. service

Houston Room

Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA)

Thursdays 7-8:30 p.m. (Library)

Al Anon

Sundays 6-7 p.m. (Houston Room)

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

1 - Tuesdays 8-9 p.m. (Houston Room)

2 - Thursdays 7-8 p.m. (Houston Room)

3 - Fridays 7-8 p.m. (Houston Room)

4 - Sundays 8-9 p.m. (Houston Room)