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

October 26th, 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

Followed by Worship Reflections in the Houston Room

This Week's Readings

Joel 2:23-32 | Psalm 65 | 2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18 | Luke 18:9-14

Rector's Note

We have many special worship events coming up over the next couple weeks. On Sunday, November 2, we will observe All Saints Day at our morning services. Everyone will be invited to decorate an altar of remembrance, placing photos, names, and mementos of loved ones deceased over the years onto the side altar during the service. You can also choose to bring in your remembrance items ahead of time and put them on the altar any time between now and November 2. Continue reading here.

Features

Consecration Sunday Is Coming!

If you missed last Sunday’s services, Harry & Sandy Gould gave us a wonderful announcement of what’s coming and how it connects to them personally. Consecration Sunday is the same day as St. Martins Day on November 9^th at 10:30 am. Only one service! There will be a free celebration luncheon after the service, that is a catered meal, not a pot luck dinner, that all of you will make reservations to attend (details provided at all services on Sunday Oct 26th).

I encourage you to click the link below to view the 10:30am service last Sunday, plus you can also hear Harry & Sandy’s announcement which really hits the spot. As we approach Consecration Sunday, I invite everyone to join our prayer team in praying for the following:

The success of the Consecration Sunday program.
That all members may grow spiritually as they grow in their giving.
That the leadership team and the congregation will find that in addition to spiritual growth, they find stewardship fun and fulfilling.

As Harry and Sandy said so warmly in their opening remarks, “How can I say thanks, for the things you have done”.

Alan C. Good, Jr.

CS Governing Board Dinner Chairperson

What Percentage of My Income is God Calling Me to Give?

Click here to view last Sunday's service and announcement.

Learn more about Consecration Sunday here.

Lost and Found: Come Grab Your Missing Items!

Please stop by the lost and found table in the Parish Hall this Sunday to pick up anything you may have left at the Church over the last few months! Items that have not been claimed after this weekend will be donated.

Requiem Choral Eucharist for the Feast of All Souls

Sunday, Nove. 2nd at 5:00 p.m.

Join us for a service of hope and remembrance with choral music by Byrd, Croft, Friedell, and Purcell. A reception and time of reflection and prayer in the Columbarium precedes the service, starting at 3:30 p.m. All are welcome.

All Souls’ Day Columbarium Reception

Sunday, Nov. 2nd at 3:30 p.m.

Join us on Sunday, November 2nd at 3:30 p.m. in the Mary Hare Taylor Knight Memorial Columbarium to celebrate and commemorate those we have loved and lost with prayers and reflections while reconnecting with long-time St. Martin’s

friends and neighbors. Come early to place a votive candle on the marker of those you remember and hold dear. All are welcome.

❖ 3:30 pm Reception in the Columbarium with light refreshments

(If inclement weather, reception will be held in the Houston Room.)

❖ 4:00 pm Blessing by The Rev. Dr. Mary Barber

❖ 5:00 pm Choral Requiem Eucharist service featuring the

Section Leaders of the Choir of St. Martin’s.

Submit Names for All Souls' Day Prayers by Wed., Oct. 29th

The Feast of All Souls is Sunday, November 2nd. On that day we will honor family and friends who have died since last November (All Souls' Day 2024). The necrology will be read aloud at the 5:00 p.m. Choral Requiem Eucharist and included in the leaflets of our morning services. Those who were on our recently deceased prayer list or whose funeral was held at St. Martin’s will automatically be included. Please email the names of those you would like included in the necrology to Noor Diskan at ndiskan@stmartinec.org by Wednesday, October 29th. Please note that last week's FN listed the wrong email address. If you emailed choirconnie@stmartinec.org last week, please resend your email to Noor at the address above.

Safe Church, Safe Communities

Last month, the Vestry was trained and committed to the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania's Safe Church policies, part of The Episcopal Church’s effort to end abuse. All members of St. Martin's are encouraged to complete the core "Safe Church" training to prevent abuse and ensure the safety of everyone, especially those who are vulnerable. This training fosters a culture of respect, care, and accountability. Participation from lay leaders, volunteers, staff, and clergy is vital to uphold these values. For more information or to complete the training, don't hesitate to get in touch with the Rev. Luke Selles at lselles@stmartinec.org.

Children, Youth, and Families

St. Martin's Families: Game Night

This Saturday, October 25th, from 5-7 p.m. in the 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.

CYF Halloween Haunted House Party

Wednesday, October 29th, from 5-6 p.m. in the Parish House

The week of Halloween, Choristers rehearsal will end early and there will be a Halloween party for kids, ages 7-12, from 5-6 p.m. in the Parish House. This year our party will be Haunted House themed, and will include games, snacks, and more spooky fun. Costumes encouraged!

InPOWER: A Free 4-Week Program for Teens

Sundays Nov. 2nd, 9th, 16th, and 23rd

4-6:30 p.m. in Hilary House

High school students are invited to join the WillPower Foundation’s InPOWER Program, a free, four-week group experience designed to build emotional resilience, confidence, and real-life readiness through meaningful conversation and practice. Led by a certified coach and youth minister, sessions will be held Sundays, Nov. 2–23, from 4:00–5:30 PM at The Hilary House (St. Martin-in-the-Fields) — pizza included! To register by Oct. 29, email leslie@willpower-foundation.org or call 610-220-4207.

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 the weekly Music Notes.

Dr. James Palmer Piano Lecture Recital

Sunday, November 16th

5:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary

We are excited to welcome pianist, Dr. James Palmer for a special recital on Nov 16th at 5 p.m. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear a wonderful program by a great pianist! Works include Mozart, Scriabin, Verdi, Liszt, and more.

ARTZ Notes: Music is Medicine

Saturday, November 1st at 1:30 p.m. in the Houston Room

Hosted by ARTZ Philadelphia

ARTZ Philadelphia is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life and well-being of people living with dementia and their care partners through joyful interactions around arts and culture. Join us for one such interactive program on Nov. 1st featuring Raji Malik on acoustic guitar. Learn more and register here.

Take Action

Guatemala Raffle Continues Sunday

Good things come in twos, right? Our treasured tradition of raffling off a handmade Guatemalan tapestry is underway and this year, we have two pieces to raffle! (Sneak preview of one tapestry in the picture). For three weeks, starting Sunday, Oct 19th, we’ll sell raffle tickets with the drawing of winners taking place on Saint Martin’s Day. Tickets will be 1 ticket for $1 and 6 tickets for $5. In more good news, our annual Guatemala Craft Sale will be held on two days this year, allowing you more time to purchase beautiful handmade crafts. Continue reading here.

Team Green Bean Canned Food Drive

St. James School is once again putting together Thanksgiving meal bags for those who might not otherwise be able to prepare a Thanksgiving dinner. The bags will be given out shortly before Thanksgiving. Like previous years, St. Martin's has been asked to be on Team Green Bean! Please consider purchasing a few cans of green beans to contribute to this effort - we are aiming for at least 300 cans of beans. In addition, St. James asks you to consider donating a $25 gift card to either ShopRite or Aldi so that all families can purchase a holiday turkey or ham. A gift card is placed in each meal bag. Please deliver your green beans by Nov. 17th to the bench in the Parish House foyer. For safekeeping, gift cards should be delivered to Noor Diskan, Director of Communications & Events.

Sneakers4Good Shoe Donation Drive

We’ve partnered with Sneakers4Good to provide a socially responsible way to donate your used sneakers and running shoes to a good cause. The sneakers will help benefit Face to Face in Germantown as well as support micro-enterprises in 25 developing countries. The athletic shoes will be given a second life as well as kept out of landfills where they can take decades to fully decompose. There is no limit, so clean out your closets! We accept only gently worn, used or new athletic sneakers and running shoes. Please place any lightly used or new sneakers/running shoes in the sneakers4good boxes at the entrance to the church. Lightly worn sneakers/running shoes only, please! The Sneaker Drive is a lead up to the 33rd Face to Face Turkey Trot on November 27, (Thanksgiving Day) at 9 a.m. along Forbidden Drive in Fairmount Park. Register here!

Immigrants Under Siege: Learn the Facts. Work Together. Take Action

Sunday, Oct. 26th from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.

First United Methodist Church of Germantown

Join the Northwest Regional Refugee and Immigrant Network to hear from national and local experts, immigration leaders, and advocates about the crisis facing migrant and refugee communities today - and how we can respond together.

Come Meet Coleen Hedglin, the new Co-Director of Beyond Borders

Sunday, Nov. 2nd and Monday, Nov. 3rd

Coleen will be attending the 10:30 a.m. service on All Saints' Day (Nov. 2nd). All are invited to come a little early to meet her, and stick around for a bit after church also. She’s in the area to meet supporters in Baltimore and Philadelphia and is very grateful for St. Martin’s long support of Beyond Borders work.

She also wants to have a conversation with whoever can come at 1:00 p.m. on Monday Nov. 3. We will just have coffee and maybe cookies in the Houston Room - it will be very informal. Please stop by! Continue reading here.

Family Promise of Philadelphia’s Empty Bowl Dinner

Wednesday, November 5th

Hosted By William Penn Charter School

All are invited to an all-you-can-eat feast of fresh soups, breads, and desserts - all proceeds support FPP’s mission to end family homelessness, one family at a time. Learn more and get your tickets here.

Sermon

Kyra Atterbury, Executive Director of Need In Deed

10.19.25

Why Bother?

I’m so grateful to Rev. Barber for inviting me, and it’s truly an honor to be here with you today. Now, let me say up front—I am not a pastor or a reverend, far from it. But I’m happy to share how today’s passages resonate with me and with the work I get to do every day. I grew up as a member of Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, and while this sermon won’t be as long as a Baptist one, I do appreciate that Baptist preachers always put a tag on their text. They name their sermon. So this morning, I’d like to call this one: “Why Bother?” Continue reading here.

Coming Up

Save the Date: A Celebration of a New Ministry

The Institution & Induction of the Rev. Dr. Mary Barber,

10th Rector of the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields

Saturday, November 8th, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.

The Wardens and Vestry of the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields invite you to join us in celebrating the official installation of the Rev. Dr. Mary Barber as our 10th Rector. Please mark your calendars for Saturday, November 8th at 10:00 a.m. for this momentous service, presided over by our Bishop, The Rt. Rev Daniel G.P. Gutiérrez. The Rev. Joseph Wallace-Williams will preach. Also plan to join us for a reception following the service!

Save the Date: St. Martin's Day & Consecration Sunday

Please mark your calendars for St. Martin's Day & Consecration Sunday on November 9th! There will be ONE service at 10:30 a.m. Also plan to attend our Consecration Sunday luncheon following the service (more details to come!), as well as the Guatemala Craft Fair Sale throughout the day. We can't wait to see you there!