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.

This email is best viewed as a webpage. Click here to make sure you don't miss anything!

Sunday, October 11, 2026

8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist (Spoken)

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

10:30 a.m. Ch0ral Holy Eucharist

Also via livestream here

Followed by Worship Reflections

5:00 p.m. Ch0ral Evensong

Also via livestream here

This Sunday's Readings

Exodus 32:1-14 | Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23 | Philippians 4:1-9 | Matthew 22:1-14

Rector's Note

In a given week here at St Martin’s, there are many activities. Some are done by us. We blessed animals and worshiped on Sunday, children came for choir practice Wednesday, we had dinner and heard a lecture on the upcoming election, some folks met on zoom for Morning Prayer, volunteers worked at the front desk. A Stephen minister may have met with someone receiving care. The Refugee and Immigration Committee met on zoom. Choir will practice Thursday, preparing for Sunday worship and Evensong.

Some activities are led by outside groups. This week folks come to our campus for morning meditation, AA and Al-Anon, MALT classes, and change ringing practice.

And some activities have us going out to partner with others and engage with our wider networks. Continue reading here.

Features

Choral Evensong

This Sunday, October 11th

5:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary

Also via livestream here.

All are invited to a service of quiet prayer and beautiful music sung by the Choir of St. Martin-in-the-Fields this Sunday at 5:00 p.m.

Parish Office Closure: This Upcoming Monday, Oct. 12th

The Parish Office will be closed on Monday, October 12th in observance of Indigenous Peoples' Day. If you experience a pastoral emergency while we are closed, you can still reach Rev. Mary by text or phone call: (845) 527-9545.

Team Green Bean Canned Food Drive

It's time for the Thanksgiving meal bags at St. James School. 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. The bags will be given out shortly before Thanksgiving. Please deliver your green beans by Friday, Nov. 6th to the bench in the Parish House foyer. For safekeeping, gift cards should be delivered to Noor Diskan, Director of Communications & Events.

Keep the Coffee Coming!

What makes Sunday worship even better? Coffee, conversation, and a little nosh afterward! This week, the Flower Guild will be sponsoring our informal coffee hour. We're so appreciative of Stephen Ministry, Altar Guild, and Flower Guild for getting us started. Thank you!

We’re looking for other ministries and parishioners to step up. It’s an easy and fun way to bring people together—and you don’t have to be a gourmet chef.

Sponsor a week by bringing juice and treats to share. Homemade, store-bought, or somewhere in between—all are welcome. Coffee and tea are provided by the church.

Have a birthday, anniversary, family milestone, or just want to celebrate your fellow parishioners? Coffee hour is the perfect opportunity.

Sign up here or on the clipboard in the Parish Hall and help keep the coffee—and the fellowship—flowing! Important: Please be sure to include your phone and email so Lydia Ogden can follow up with you.

Spirituality of Aging: Special Meeting at Maguire Hall!

Wednesday, October 14th

10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Our Spirituality of Aging group is taking a field trip this month! We will meet at Maguire Hall of Woodmere Museum for a tour hosted by group member and museum docent Jim Fairburn. The recently transformed 18th century mansion features Philadelphia's artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. Located at 9001 Germantown Avenue (just past Norwood-

Fontbonne Academy), it is fully accessible, with an adjacent parking lot. Jim will guide us on an approximately hour-long tour, and we will have access to the museum afterwards. For more information, or to let us know you would like to join us, please contact Elizabeth Morrison by October 12,

at elizabeth.donnell.morrison@gmail.com.

Save the Date: All Soul's Day Columbarium Reception

Sunday, November 1st

4:00 p.m. in the Mary Hare Taylor Night Columbarium

Join us on Sunday, November 1st at 4:00 p.m. 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.

Please contact Cathy Glazer (cathyglazer@verizon.net) or Debra Roberts (DebraDRoberts@comcast.net) with any questions.

Children, Youth, & Families

Introducing Our New Associate Rector for Children, Youth, and Families: The Rev. Shanna Hawks

Click here to read Rev. Mary's announcement in full.

"Dear Members and Friends of St. Martin's,

I am happy to announce our new Associate Rector for Children, Youth, and Families, The Rev. Shanna Hawks. Shanna will start at St Martin's on November 1. She comes with a heart for CYF ministry and a wealth of experience. I know she will be a great addition to this community and will carry forward the work Rev. Luke has so ably begun. I can't wait for you to meet her! 

Mary+"

St. Martin's Church School 

Weekly on Sundays, 9:45 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.

Join us weekly immediately following the 9 a.m. service in Hilary House, around 9:45 a.m., for time with Bible stories and stories of our faith. To learn more about Godly Play, the curriculum that we will be using for ages 4-12, you can click here.

Third Sunday Music Series

5:00 p.m. Sunday, October 18

Join us next Sunday for the second in our brand-new music series of chamber concerts throughout this program year. Each third Sunday of the month we will welcome wonderful musicians from Philadelphia and beyond. On October 18, we welcome Augustine Mercante, countertenor, who will delight us with a fabulous concert celebrating music that speaks to the heart, connected by the power of words and story-telling.

ARTZ Notes: Music Through the Generations 

Saturday, October 10 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. Learn more and register here. Reservations are limited to keep programs on a scale that everyone feels comfortable and at ease.

Sermon

The Rev. Dr. Mary Barber

The Feast of St. Francis of Assisi

Sun., Oct. 4th

St Francis of Assisi died 800 years ago. He is from another time. And we could certainly use his spirit in these times.

We are living in a world that often seems to be about what the powerful can get for themselves. What if we could be more like Francis? Francis, who renounced his family’s wealth. Francis, who didn’t even go to live in a monastery, to have a comfortable home and a nice chapel to pray in and some sort of trade like making books or raising honeybees with which to pay for food and clothing. Francis chose to live in the poor part of town, and to beg for his food.

We are living in a world where some folks are being discarded and worse, where a Doordash driver in Austin was shot by ICE and then imprisoned overnight, with the bullet still lodged in his back. We need a Francis. Francis, who overcame his own prejudices and resistances and kissed a leper on the mouth. Francis, who chose to live among people with leprosy and minister to them. Continue reading here.

Coming Up

Philadelphia Eleven and Bishop Barbara Harris Exhibit Center

This Upcoming Monday, October 12th at 1:30 p.m.

225 S. 3rd St., Philadelphia, PA 19106

In 2024, the Rt. Rev. Daniel G.P. Gutierrez expressed a deep desire to commemorate two historic moments in the Episcopal Church:

• The ordination of the Philadelphia Eleven - the first women ordained in the Episcopal Church
• The consecration of Bishop Barbara Harris —the first woman bishop of the Episcopal Church

In response to this vision, a dedicated committee was formed to establish a lasting space to honor these courageous women. The result is The National Center for Courageous Women of Faith—a place where their stories, struggles, and triumphs can inspire future generations. Join the National Center for Courageous Women of Faith on Oct. 12th for the grand opening of the exhibition.

Learn more 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)