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 12th, 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

12:00 - 5:00 p.m. Art Fair & Auction!

Worship Reflections will not be offered on the 12th so that all may attend the Art Fair & Auction. We will return on the 19th in the Houston Room after the 10:30 service!

This Week's Readings

Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7 | Psalm 66:1-11 | 2 Timothy 2:8-15 | Luke 17:11-19

Rector's Note

I am back from a whirlwind tour of a few states, for a little work and a little relaxation. I spent the first week at Kanuga, an Episcopal camp and conference center near Asheville, NC, at the trustees meeting for Episcopal Divinity School. My seminary is in a transition period, and I am a relatively new trustee, so it was a good time of learning what is happening and meeting other trustees from around the country.

From North Carolina I flew to Detroit, to preside and preach at the wedding of my seminary friend, in her Presbyterian church in Ann Arbor. The weather was beautiful, I got to see some other seminary friends, and it was moving and special to witness and lead the service. While I was in the Detroit area I stopped at the Detroit Institute of Arts and saw the famous Diego Rivera murals and some beautiful ofrendas on display for Día de Muertos. Continue reading here.

Features

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!

Consecration Sunday Is Coming!

Congregations that approach financial stewardship from a biblical perspective do not view the money Christians give to their church merely as a way to pay its bills. Rather, such congregations see financial contributions as a way to help people grow spiritually in their relationship with God by supporting their church’s mission and ministry with a percentage of their incomes.

Our congregation’s finance committee has selected the Consecration Sunday Stewardship Program as a way to teach the biblical and spiritual principles of generous giving in our stewardship education emphasis this year.

Consecration Sunday is based on the biblical philosophy of the need of the giver to give for his or her own spiritual development, rather than on the need of the church to receive. Instead of treating people like members of a social club who should pay dues, we will treat people like followers of Jesus Christ who want to give unselfishly as an act of discipleship. Consecration Sunday encourages people toward proportionate and systematic giving in response to the question, “What percentage of my income is God calling me to give?”

During morning worship on Consecration Sunday (Nov. 9th), we are asking our attendees and members to make their financial commitments to our church’s missionary, benevolent, and educational ministries in this community and around the world. Continue reading here.

St. Martin's Art Fair and Auction

This Sunday, October 12, 2025

Art Fair & Silent Auction: Following the 10:30 a.m. service - 5:00 p.m.

Live Auction: 4:30 p.m.

Join us for an all-day celebration of art and creativity THIS Sunday, October 12. Beginning after the 10:30 a.m. service and running into the afternoon, St. Martin's will have a multitude of artworks for sale and in silent auction. Refreshments and food will be available throughout the day. There will be special Creation Stations for children and youth (and adults!).

All proceeds from the event help to support St. Martin's in a very tangible way, and your generosity and participation is greatly appreciated. It will be a day full of fun and creativity for all ages—bring your friends, neighbors, and family! Those interested in volunteering for the event should please email Tyrone Whiting, Director of Music and Arts, at twhiting@stmartinec.org.

View the Art Catalogue for Sunday's Art Fair and Auction!

Please click here for a preview of artworks available for purchase at next Sunday's Art Fair and Auction! Choose from over 135 pieces generously donated by parishioners and community members, carefully curated by Sean Nesselrode Moncada, who holds a PhD in Art History, and Tyrone Whiting, our Director of Music and Arts.

Immigrant Organizations Field Guide

How can I make a difference in supporting immigrants unjustly targeted for mass deportation?

If this is a question you have pondered, look no further than the field guide to volunteer and giving opportunities developed by St. Martin's Refugee Resettlement and Immigration Ministry. The ministry has carefully vetted six Philadelphia organizations that have a proven track record in supporting immigrants who lack permanent legal status. Whether it's making a phone call to an immigrant family or accompanying an immigrant to court, you can have an impact as we rise as a faith community to meet the current immigrant crisis. Click here to access the guide online and save it to your computer.

Interested In Working with Flowers and Meeting Others?

Please do join the Flower Guild on Saturday, October 18th , 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for a special event in the Parish Hall. All are welcome! It is an informal social occasion, and

Annette Lareau-Freeman will provide lunch. In addition to chatting, Jane Good will offer a demonstration of flower arranging. We will also do some planning for the fall. It you

are interested or have questions, please reach out to Annette Lareau-Freeman: alareau@sas.upenn.edu

Children, Youth, and Families

St. Martin's Church School

Now Through-Sunday, Dec 14th

9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.

Church School continues this Sunday! For a full schedule with locations (subject to some change as we adapt to the needs of those who join), you can click here. To learn more about Godly Play, the curriculum that we will be using, you can click here.

St. Martin's Families: Game Night

Saturday, October 25th

5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

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

5:00 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!

Volunteers Needed for Art Fair!

Set Up: This Friday, October 10th

Art Fair/Auction: This Sunday, October 12th

Please consider volunteering this Friday, October 10th (4:30 p.m. onwards) to help set up the Art Fair/Auction, as well as this Sunday, October 12th (all day) to assist with the Art Fair day of. Those interested in volunteering should please email Tyrone Whiting, Director of Music and Arts, at twhiting@stmartinec.org.

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 Music Notes.

Stained Glass at St. Martin’s: What’s the Story?

Sunday October 19th from 3:15 – 4:45 p.m., followed by Evensong at 5:00 p.m.

No RSVP Needed + Free to Attend

Repeat Event November 16th from 2:30 – 4:00 p.m.*

Attendees will be guided in a process of sacred looking (visio divina), exploring how light, color, and content inspire and teach. As a group, we will look at and discuss a window or two. Then you (alone or with others) will select a window to contemplate. Finally, we will each share the story of our experience, helping one another be inspired by the spectacular windows of St. Martin’s.

*A repeat event will occur on Sunday, November 16th, from 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. Guests from Interfaith Philadelphia will be joining us - members and friends of St. Martin’s are encouraged to attend and help them feel welcome!)

Facilitator: Rev. John Hougen, PhD, co-chair of Wellspring at St. Martin’s and coordinator of The Art of Interfaith Understanding at Interfaith Philadelphia.

Take Action

Face to Face Volunteer Day

This Saturday, October 11th

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

Saturday October 11th is our day this month for St Martins members to volunteer for meal prep at Face to Face Germantown from 9:30 am - 1 pm. It’s always lively, meaningful and a chance to make a tasty contribution to the welfare of our community. If you are able to participate this month, please contact Mark Birdsall at 610-202-6235 or Jason Martin at 215-356-6764 or jason.martin.temple@gmail.com. Thank you.

Check Out "The Warrior Ethos"

By Diana Butler Bass

Click here to read an excerpt from A People’s History of Christianity, which discusses St. Martin's and the story of our patron saint, St. Martin of Tours, as they relate to Pete Hegseth’s recent speech to generals gathered from around the world.

Interfaith Philadelphia: Facilitating Civil Conversations

October 30, 2025

This half-day workshop equips facilitators with practical tools to lead meaningful dialogues across lines of difference—in their communities, on campus, in the workplace, and in the classroom. Facilitators will gain knowledge, techniques, and incremental confidence in conversing across differences, explore case studies and practice skills for navigating conflict in conversations, and receive a companion Facilitator Toolkit and Online Resource Guide. Click here to learn more and register.

Sermons

The Rev. Dr. Mary Barber

October 5, 2025: The Feast of St. Francis of Assisi

"I will pull down my barns and build larger ones." So says the man in Jesus’ parable about wealth, about a character we often call “the rich fool.” He has more than he needs, so he plans to just build bigger barns for all his stuff. Continue reading here.

The Rev. Dr. Mary Barber

October 5, 2025: Evensong

The miracle story we heard in today’s second reading is dramatic, almost cinematic. The crowd of supporters and mourners processing out of town to the cemetery. The grieving mother. The dead body with the pall bearers. Continue reading here.

Pictured: Horses waiting to be blessed during Sunday's Pet Blessings, our annual tradition in honor of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi

Coming Up

Next Week's Forum: The Human Stories Behind Gun Violence

7:00 p.m. in the Houston Room and via Zoom here.

Zoom Passcode: 0746884

Our speakers will be Jim MacMillan, founder of the Center for Gun Violence reporting, and Eric Marsh Jr., the organization's director of operations. The Center works to help journalists cover gun violence in a way that stresses prevention, accurate data, context and the needs of survivors, while avoiding counterproductive stereotypes. MacMillan a long-time, Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist for the Philadelphia Daily News, founded the Center a decade ago. Marsh joined the center last year, after serving as head of civic engagement at WHYY. He's also very involved in initiatives to promote good fathering.