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 12th, 2026

8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist (Spoken)

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

Under the Tent

10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Music

Also via livestream here

Followed by Worship Reflections (in person only)

This Sunday's Readings

Genesis 25:19-34 | Psalm 119:105-112 | Romans 8:1-11 | Matthew 13:1-9,18-23

Rector's Note

Hello from Eastern Point Retreat House in Gloucester, MA! I am just finishing up an 8 day silent retreat. I have entered many St Martin's prayer intentions into the book in chapel here, and they are prayed for daily at Mass. The usually breezy Cape May was a bit hot for three straight days, but otherwise, it has been a rich and sweet time away with God. 

I can't wait to see you all on Sunday! 

Mary+

Features

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, July 12th - 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 12: “The Good Shepherd” (John 10:1-18)
• 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)

Alongside this learning, Rev. Luke will lead a Bible study on the Parables using Amy Jill Levine's Short Stories by Jesus: The Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi: a slim and accessible book, in which Levine reconstructs how Jesus' original first-century Jewish audience would have heard his parables. This opportunity is open to ages 12 and up. Reading is optional to participation. All are welcome.

Iced Tea & Chess Under the Tent Starts Next Week!

Weekly on Thursdays from July 16th to August 27th

4:00-6:00 p.m. Under the Tent on the Hilary House Lawn

Rain space: Houston Room

This summer’s Iced Tea & Chess Under the Tent series kicks off Thurs., July 16th, and continues each Thursday through the end of August! Iced Tea & Chess Under the Tent is a great way to get to know each other, enjoy some snacks, and beat the summer heat with cool drinks and/or chess in the shade. 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!

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. If you have any difficulty acquiring a copy, please let Rev. Luke know.

St. Martin's Pride Collection Sale!

Pride Month may have come to an end, but St. Martin's is proud year round! Show your pride beyond Pride Month with our Pride merchandise, now on sale for the month of July.

• Hats: $15
• Mugs: $10
• Notebooks: $9
• Tote Bags: $20

Items are available for purchase in the Parish House Monday through Friday. Cash, check, and online payment via credit or debit card are all accepted. Thank you!

Children, Youth, & Families

Summer Movie Series: Soul!

THIS Saturday, July 11th

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

All ages are invited to join for pizza and a movie this Saturday, July 11th! Parents are welcome to drop their kids off, as childcare will be provided, or join for a family movie night. All are welcome! Please RSVP by the Friday before the movie night with your dietary restrictions and number of folks by emailing lselles@stmartinec.org. Mark your calendars for our other movie nights too!

• July 25th: Frozen
• August 8th: Encanto

Summer Meal-Serving

Next 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.

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

Sermon

The Rev. Luke Selles

July 5, 2026

250 years and a day ago, thirteen colonies of the Kingdom of Great Britain ratified a public justification of their war against the Crown. Fifty six members representing each of these thirteen colonies signed the document, an act of treason, which makes its defense upon the foundation of a claim to universal human rights: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” 

Seventy six years later, Frederick Douglass, a man born in slavery, gave a speech in which he posed this question to his homeland: “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” Continue reading here.

Coming Up

Diocesan Youth Back to School Picnic

Valley Forge National Historical Park

August 30th, 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Get ready for a fun evening of adventure, music, food, and fellowship! Youth and their families from Episcopal parishes across the diocese are invited to join an evening of fun and worship at Valley Forge National Historical Park before school starts up again.

There will be hiking, games, eco-crafts, BBQ dinner, and outdoor worship! Registration link coming soon.

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)