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

Field Notes

All are Welcome. All Belong!

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, June 7th, 2026:

8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist (Spoken)

9:00 a.m. Ministry Fair

Lawn/Parish Hall

10:30 a.m. Instructed Choral Holy Eucharist

Also via livestream here

11:30 a.m. Annual Meeting

Parish Hall

Childcare & Church School in Houston Room

Note: There will be NO 9:00 a.m. service or Worship Reflections.

This Sunday's Readings

Genesis 12:1-9 | Psalm 33:1-12 | Romans 4:13-25 | Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

Rector's Note

What a year it’s been, St Martin’s! This Sunday we get a day to celebrate it all -- all that we have accomplished, and all that we are. Please come to as much of the day as you can, to get information, ask your questions, and enjoy being together.

Sunday Schedule

8:00 Spoken service

9:00 Ministry Fair

10:30 Choral Eucharist with Vestry in Procession

11:30 Festive Coffee Hour sponsored by Vestry, Annual Meeting Presentation

Note there is no 9:00 service this Sunday because of the Ministry Fair. There is no Worship Reflections because of the Annual Meeting. There will be childcare in the Houston room during the annual meeting. Continue reading here.

Happy Pride Month!

A Collect for Pride

O God, you are made visible through the incarnation of Jesus Christ our Savior, and you call us to make you visible in the world: we thank you for creating each of us in your image. We give thanks, especially O God, for all LGBTQIA+ individuals in our community and throughout the world. Strengthen us to bear witness to your infinite beauty, steadfast in the knowledge that we are all your beloved children; through your beloved child Jesus, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

All-Ages LGBTQ+ Dance Party

This Upcoming Wednesday, June 10th

6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Parish Hall

Come celebrate Pride Month with joy, movement, and connection at our All-Ages LGBTQ+ Dance Party! Whether you love to dance or just want to be in community, this is a celebration for everyone—all ages, all identities, all are welcome. Join us for an evening filled with:

• Great music to get you moving;
• Delicious food and refreshments;
• A safe, joyful space to celebrate love, identity, and community.

Let’s honor Pride month with energy, inclusivity, and a whole lot of fun. Bring your friends, family, and your dancing shoes—we can't wait to see you there! All are welcome. All belong! 

LGBTQIA+ Pride Evensong

Next Sunday, June 14 at 5:00 p.m.

Celebrate Pride Month with joy, music, and sacred community at our LGBTQ+ Pride Evensong—a beautiful, affirming service of sung Evening Prayer honoring the diversity and faith of our LGBTQ+ communities.

The Choir of St. Martin's will sing music exclusively by LGBTQ+ and other underrepresented composers. Singers interested in joining us for this event should email Tyrone Whiting, Director of Music & Arts, at twhiting@stmartinec.org or sign up here. More information: www.stmartinec.org/pride

Diocese of PA LGBTQ+ Resource Guide

The LGBTQIA+ Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania wants to help Queer youth, Queer adults, their parents, and their families find an affirming spiritual home within our faith community. Click here for a collection of free online resources they have identified that might help you, your families, and your children learn more about LGBTQIA+ topics and their intersections with spirituality.

St. Martin's Pride Collection

Join us in celebrating Pride Month with St. Martin's Pride merchandise! Our limited-edition collection includes mugs, notebooks, tote bags, and baseball caps. Items will be available for purchase at our All Ages LGBTQ+ Dance Party, our LGBTQ+ Pride Evensong, and in the Parish House Monday through Friday starting June 11th. Whether you're looking for something to wear, carry, or gift, our Pride collection is a great way to celebrate inclusion, love, and community during Pride Month and beyond!

Features

Annual Meeting and Ministry Fair

This Sunday, June 7th

1. Ministry Fair: 9-10:15 a.m.
2. Annual Meeting: Directly following 10:30 a.m. service

Join us this Sunday for our Ministry Fair and Annual Meeting! Start off the morning with our ministry fair to learn from over 20 different ministry representatives about ways you can get involved and see how fellow parishioners are dedicating their time and talents to St. Martin's and beyond. Then, stay for the Annual Meeting to hear reports from the Rev. Dr. Mary Barber and the Rev. Luke Selles, members of the Vestry, our Director of Music & Arts Tyrone Whiting, the Stewardship Committee, and more. We will also be holding elections for our new Vestry class and delegates to the Diocesan Convention. Please note: there will be no 9:00 a.m. service or Worship Reflections this day. Childcare & Church School will be available during the Annual Meeting.

Community Picnic and Work Day with Water Fun!

Next Saturday, June 13th

9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Join St. Martin's Climate Action Team (CAT) and Buildings & Grounds Committee (B&G) for food, fellowship, and fun as we clean off memorial benches, remove invasive species, and tend to our campus. We'll start at 9 o'clock with donuts and coffee, and the Buildings & Grounds Committee will treat us to a cookout at noon. If you’d like to participate in any planting or invasive species removal, please bring your own hand trowel or gardening gloves. We will have a few spares. We’ll also have slip n’ slides and a small pool – bring your bathing suit if you’d like to enjoy some water fun! If you or your family can attend, please RSVP with the number of folks coming by emailing Rev. Luke at lselles@stmartinec.org so we can ensure there’s enough food for everyone.

Waking Up Old: Second Printing

Thanks to the positive response to parishioner Barbara Dundon’s illustrated book: Waking Up Old: An illustrated ballad for Baby Boomers and those who love them, Barbara has arranged for a second printing! Books are available for purchase at the Welcome Desk in the Parish House, Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost is $25. You can pay by cash, check or online here. Benefits from the first round went to support Stephen Ministry, and sales from the second printing will support the ongoing work of St. Martin’s. Thank you!

Father's Day Reception in the Columbarium

Please join us on Sunday, June 21st after our 8 a.m., 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. worship services for coffee, tea, and small bites in celebration of Father’s Day.

Location: Mary Hare Taylor Knight Columbarium & Lawn

(weather permitting - rain space: Parish House)

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

Snapshots

Flower Guild Luncheon

Members of the Flower Guild gathered for a luncheon organized by Betsy Masters this past weekend. Sarah O'Connor set up an elegant space, and members came bearing gifts — Jim Fairburn, Dave Harrower, and Dennis Lucey, Betsy Masters, Dani Reed, Kim Kopple, Donna Hecker, and Lucretia Robbins brought food and flowers. The highlight of the afternoon was a presentation by Dennis Lucey on Liturgical Flowers, exploring how floral arrangements can reflect the seasons, readings, and themes of the church calendar. Text Dani Reed to request a recording or transcript of Dennis's talk (267-280-3248). 

The Tent is Up!

Huge thanks go to the Tent Team for assembling our tent on the Hilary House lawn as we approach the start of the summer. Be sure to mark your calendars for the return of Iced Tea Under the Tent on July 16th!

Children, Youth, & Families

Annual Meeting Church School: Transformations

End of 10:30 a.m. service to 1:00 p.m.

Houston Room (Parish House)

Children of all ages are welcome to join a special study on Acts 9:1-19, the story of Saul's transformation from enemy of the early followers of Jesus to the apostle Paul, during the Annual Meeting time. Using Godly Play storytelling, we'll hear and reflect on the Bible story before exploring the themes of forgiveness and transformation in it. Games, crafts, and snacks included. 

A Faithful Journey: Preparing for Confirmation, Reception, and Reaffirmation

This fall, Mother Mary and Rev. Luke will offer confirmation classes for youth and adults. All seekers, age 12 and over, are welcome to join us between the 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. service for five Sundays: Sept. 20th and 27th; Oct. 11th and 18th; and Nov. 8th. If you are interested in making a public confirmation or reaffirmation of your baptismal vows or being received into the Episcopal Church at the end of this course, please fill out this form by August 14th. All are welcome to join for one or all of the five parish-wide sessions and the additional opportunities even if you are unsure about being confirmed/received. Click here for more details.

Honoring St. Martin’s Graduates

If you have a graduate in your life that you would like us to honor at St. Martin's services in June, please submit their name and information using this form.

Purse Donations for Brooke Witherite

Brooke Witherite's last Sunday as our Children's Choir Chorister Leader is June 10. Please, as you are able, show your appreciation for all of her amazing work with our young musicians by contributing to a purse as she embarks on her next chapter.

Brooke has been with us for 4+ years and her infectious enthusiasm for sharing music and youth education will be greatly missed. We look forward to welcoming Julia Finegan who will take over from Sept 1 as Children, Youth, and Families Music Director. Thank you, Brooke, for all you have brought to and achieved at St. Martin's!

— Tyrone Whiting, Director of Music & Arts

To contribute towards Brooke's purse:

• Write a check to St. Martin's with "Brooke’s Purse" in the memo line 
• Go to the Giving page of St. Martin's website: https://www.stmartinec.org/give. Click the "Give Now" button. Under the "Select a Fund" drop down menu, select "Purse Gifts" and put "Brooke's Purse" in memo line

Summer Sunday Musicians - Do you play a musical instrument or sing? 

Our Choir, Choristers, and Staff Musicians will soon be 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

Mis'rable Sinners Folk/Bluegrass Mass

Sunday, June 21, at 10:30 a.m.

The return of our annual Folk/Bluegrass Mass! Co-led this year by David Dieck and Children, Youth, & Families Music Leader Julia Finegan, the service will bring together musicians from the congregation who will share a variety of wonderful music. We look forward to seeing you there! If you are interested in playing with the band of "Mis'rable Sinners", please contact Julia Finegan at cyfmusic@stmartinec.org.

Take Action

Help Trim St. Martin's Beard

The weed pullers of St. Martin's need your assistance! St Martin's has grown a very shaggy and unbecoming beard around the edges of the church buildings and gardens. This "beard" is called the "Dog Strangling Vine" and is all over Chestnut Hill. We need your help keeping the beard trimmed during the growing season either by a simple yank out, or a trim with scissors. Piles may be left on the side walks or grass, out of foot traffic, and Wendy Leaver will clear them away. Eventually the weeders will hand dig out the roots (which takes all summer), but your help right now will allow us to concentrate on our other more urgent projects. THANK YOU SO MUCH! Please contact Wendy with questions.

Guatemala Student Scholarship Fundraising Campaign 2026

St. Martin’s Guatemala Companion Parish Committee will be collecting pledges for the 2027 San Juan Apostol and Totonicapán Scholarship Funds from Sunday, May 24th through Sunday, June 21st. 

Our parishioner’s generosity has enabled scholarship programs in Chichicastenango and Totonicapán in the Western Highland parishes of San Juan Apostol and San Martin Obispo de Tours. The Reverend Alvaro Fidel Miranda Velasquez manages the scholarship programs in both communities. Scholarship programs are critically important in Guatemala because they enable children to go to school and have a chance of breaking the cycle of poverty. They are important for another reason as well: education gives students and their families hope for the future and happiness in the present as they pursue that education in their own community.

In 2025 St. Martin’s parishioners generously pledged and donated over $22,000 to support young learners otherwise unable to attend school due to economic hardships. The annual awards of $550 per student support tuition, uniforms and healthy nutrition for students and provide families with hope for bright futures. The young people we sponsor and their families are so very thankful for our support.

This year our goal is $15,000. Please consider pledging a contribution to this scholarship fund for the 2027 school year in Guatemala. Pledges beginning at $25 dollars can be made. A full scholarship for a student is $550. Committee members will be available at the end of all services with clip boards for you to sign up or you can contribute directly online or via the plate. Contributions of pledged funds are expected to be paid on or before September 30th. Thank you for your continued support for these children and their families!

Sermon

The Rev. Luke Selles

May 31, 2026 - Trinity Sunday

Yesterday morning, I had the honor of witnessing some Jewish teenagers at Germantown Jewish Center share their reflections at a special Shabbat service as part of their “Confirmation,” for them a year of interfaith study, which included a visit to St. Martin’s to learn about Christian faith in the Episcopal tradition. All of the four Confirmands’ reflections were searching and insightful in different ways. Continue reading here.

Coming Up

Spirituality of Aging

Meets Monthly on the Second Wednesday

10:30 a.m. - 11:55 a.m.

The Spirituality of Aging group meets next Wednesday, June 10, at 10:30 am in the Houston Room and on Zoom. We will be welcoming special guest Barbara Dundon, author/illustrator of Waking Up Old: An illustrated ballad for Baby Boomers and those who love them. Barbara will share some of her own experiences of growing older, along with her creative process in developing this delightful book. Barbara will have copies of her book available for purchase with cash or a check for $25 made out to Church of St. Martin in the Fields.

Spirituality of Aging is a conversation group bringing older adults together to share our stories, questions, insights and reflections about aging, in a supportive, companionable spirit. We meet year round on the second Wednesday of the month, at 10:30 am in the Houston Room and on Zoom. Our meetings conclude by 11:55, so that those who wish to attend the Wednesday Noon Eucharist may do so. The group is open to all who want to explore with others the experience of growing older (and, we hope, wiser). To RSVP, or for more information, please contact Elizabeth Morrison at elizabeth.donnell.morrison@gmail.com.

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