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

Field Notes

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Sunday Worship

October 13th, 2024

8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist (spoken)

9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist for Children and Families

10:30 a.m. Choral Holy Eucharist

Northern lights over St. Martin's

October 10, 2024

Photo courtesy of Tyrone Whiting

A Note From Rev. Laura

There are many moments that take my breath away as your priest. Some exhilarating others, tragic, and others surprising in ways I never could have predicted or expected.

How many of you knew that St Martin’s was dedicated to a woman when the church was consecrated? 

Her name is Edith Atlee Corlies Houston and she died shortly after giving birth on April 16th, 1895. She was 30 years old and the mother of two daughters and her newborn son. Edith was married to Samuel Houston, whose father, Henry Houston, was the founder of St. Martin’s. 

While the first baptism at St. Martin’s was of Edith’s daughter and namesake, Edith, on Feb. 2nd, 1889, the parish was not officially consecrated until six years later on November 11th, 1895, on the Feast Day of St. Martin. Shortly before his own death that year, Henry Houston had decided to dedicate St. Martin’s to his beloved daughter-in-law, Edith. But it didn’t stop there.

Edith’s widower, Samuel, created the Baptistry (adjacent to the soft space) in honor of his wife. The French Gothic columns, detailed carvings, and exquisite stained-glass window of Mary and her infant son, Jesus, are a lasting tribute to Edith Atlee Corlies Houston.

I owe this discovery to longtime parishioner, David Schaff, an architect and our resident historian. David was taking photographs outside the church on Tuesday and we started talking. He told me about Edith, who is memorialized on one of the two engraved stones just to the left of the sacristy. (see photograph below)

Continue reading here.

Features

Building Named In Honor Of The Rev. Carol Duncan

It’s a very big deal to have a building named after you. Full stop. But thirteen years after you left a non-profit? Definitely an even bigger deal. Yet that’s still not the end: Carol is being honored with “Duncan Square”, a brand-new facility to help the homeless in Canton, Ohio.

A quote from the newspaper article (which you can read here) describes a Carol some of us might not know.

“Duncan Square is named in honor of Carol Duncan, who worked at ICAN from its founding in 1988 to 2011. Carol Duncan was the heart of our agency” Sparks said. “She was a little bit of a pistol, often being arrested and such. She was the one that started the (homeless) count for our community. She’s the one that was behind a lot of the building that ICAN did early on. She just had that community spirit. She was one of those special people.”

Please be sure to congratulate Deacon Duncan the next time you see her!

Rev. Laura

Save the Date: CYF Halloween Treasure Hunt Party

Wednesday, October 30th

5:00 p.m. in the Parish House

On the eve of Halloween, Choristers rehearsal will end early and there will be a Halloween party for all kids, whether they are in the Chorister program or not, age 10 and under! During the party, there will be a treasure hunt, costume contest, games, crafts, and more. 

Join us after for our Food & Fellowship hour, which will be a Chili Potluck from 6:00-7:00 p.m. Please email Rev. Luke at lselles@stmartinec.org if you would like to contribute cornbread, chili with meat, or vegetarian chili, or if you have any questions about the Halloween party beforehand.

Last Chance to Register for Our Holy Cross Retreat!

Tuesday, October 29th - Friday, November 1st

Facilitated by the Rev. Gwyneth MacKenzie Murphy

Click here to register by October 15th

Listening for Utterances of God’s Love in Ourselves and in ALL that Has Life: A retreat grounded in Celtic Spirituality

During the retreat we’ll spend time together in prayer, reflection and conversation; there will also be free time. We’ll create our own altar: you are invited to bring a poem, stone, photo …any symbol of journey. Celtic Spirituality will guide us on the journey.

Rev. Gwyneth is an Episcopal priest and retreat leader. She was introduced to Celtic Spirituality over 25 years ago and it has become integral to her life and ministry. This past June, she and Rev. Laura Palmer met on the Isle of Iona, Scotland, the birthplace of Celtic Spirituality. Gwyneth writes: 

The roots of Celtic spirituality are ancient, but it is especially relevant today. It is about one’s personal journey AND about how we live in the world. Continue reading here.

Next Week's Adult Forum:

"How to Survive the Election and Beyond - Like a Christian - Part 3"

Wednesday, October 16th at 7:00 p.m.

Led by Chris Satullo

Parish House or via Zoom here

Passcode: 074688

In the first two parts of this series on civil dialogue in a time of national division, we reviewed the Scriptural wisdom and the civic purpose that push us to hold difficult conversations with fellow Americans with whom we disagree. In the final session, we'll dig into some tools that can help you prepare to hold such challenging one-on-one or small group exchanges. Before you come, think about a difficult conversation that you once were involved in or one you're planning to have. (Doesn't have to be about politics; it could involve family or workplace or even ... church.) You can take part in person or on Zoom.

Sermon Transcript

The Rev. Canon Betsy Ivey

October 6, 2024

Our readings this morning all seem to be pushing us into a better relationship with each other through our understanding of who God is, and what God intended that relationship to be. 

The reading from Job is part of what sounds like a legal examination of a defendant in a trial. In this case, the examiner is God, and the defendant is Job, or us. This examination began with Job’s testimony of God in Job 37, a pretty good testimony by my estimation, but I think that’s where God took issue with Job’s testimony of God. God’s judgment is that Job cannot give testimony of God, no human can, because we do not have and cannot have and will never have sufficient knowledge of God to be able to testify about God. 

Continue reading here.

Congregational Evensong

Sunday, October 20th at 5:00 p.m.

A Congregational Evensong may sound entirely contradictory to a Choral Evensong and it is… and isn’t! The Choir and congregation are one; the congregation a choir, and the choir the congregation. 

Join us on Sunday, October 20th at 5:00 p.m. to discover more about the tradition of Evensong, its purpose, power, and relevance to today through words and music in our beautiful sanctuary. The Choir will sit in the pews leading the music, and as part of, the congregation; all sung elements of the service will be enriched by all present joining together.

A short reception will follow the service. All are invited and encouraged to attend, no matter what your level of singing ability or even if you wish to remain silent. 

Cantate Domino!

Tyrone Whiting

Director of Music & Arts 

twhiting@stmartinec.org 

Save the Date: Fauré Requiem with Orchestra

Friday, November 1st

7:00 p.m.

On Friday, November 1st, at 7:00 p.m. the members & friends of the Choir of St. Martin's will perform the Requiem by Gabriel Fauré. We will mark the centenary of the composer's death in 2024, as well as the 135th anniversary of its composition - a perfect kick off to St. Martin's own 135th Anniversary Celebration. The Fairmount String quartet, celebrating their 40th anniversary, will be joined by the Fairmount Chamber Ensemble to create a 14-piece orchestra for this performance. Not to be missed!

Tickets will go on sale in the middle of next week. All proceeds help sustain our Music Fund and defray costs from the evening's concert. Your generosity and support is greatly appreciated. 

British Bellringers Visit St. Martin's

Wednesday, October 16th

2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Be sure to visit St. Martin's between 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 16th. A visiting band of British bellringers will join forces with the St. Martin's ringers to ring peals together, filling the air with the sound of our beautiful bells which are themselves from Britain!

All are invited to hear our tower bells and meet our bell ringers at the 6:00 p.m. Food and Fellowship. 

Choristers Rehearsals

Every Wednesday from 4:30-6:00 p.m.

Do you know a child who loves to sing? Sign up for our Children's Choir Chorister program! Rehearsals run Wednesdays from 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. If you know a child interested in joining Choristers, please email Tyrone Whiting, Director of Music & Arts, at twhiting@stmartinec.org.

Take Action

Philly Souls to the Polls - Get a Ride. Give a Ride

Philly Souls to the Polls is a Quaker-Initiated, interfaith, non-partisan, neighbor-to-neighbor effort to provide free round-trip rides to the polls on Election Day and/or to drop box locations in the weeks leading up to November 5th. If you are willing (perhaps even eager) to help get every single voter to the polls, please email phillysoulstothepolls@gmail.com or sign up here. Need a ride yourself? Click here to request one!

Guatemala Scholarships Update

It is time to complete payment for pledges made for the 2024 Guatemala Scholarship Drive.

45 pledges have been received for the Guatemala Student Scholarship Drive through October 2nd totaling $10,295. 64% of pledges have been paid to date. Thank you all for your donations to support scholarships for students of San Juan Apostol in Chichicastenango. Your support opens the door to a better future for these students and provides hope to them, their families and their community.

We will be continuing to collect pledges through the month of October. 25 pledges are still outstanding. To check your pledged amount please email Karen West at karenwestlefty@gmail.com

Donations are accepted even if you did not have the opportunity to pledge, during the scholarship drive.

Pledges may be paid via the St Martin’s website or via the plate. If pledges are paid via the online payment option, please use the “Guatemala Scholarship” choice when paying the pledge. If a check is provided via the collection plate, please write “Guatemala Scholarship” in the memo section of your check. 

The Guatemala Companion Parish Committee is very thankful for the outpouring of support from the St Martin’s Community. We will be sending the scholarship money to Guatemala in early December for the school year beginning in January 2025.

Coming Up

Guatemala Tapestry Raffle and Saint Martin’s Day Craft Sale

Sunday, November 10th (St. Martin's Day)

Enter Our Raffle to Win a Handmade Tapestry! Raffle Tickets Will Be Sold Every Sunday Oct. 20th Until Nov 10th.

The Guatemala Companion Parish Committee will be holding the annual Guatemala Craft Sale on Sunday, November 10th as a part of our Saint Martin’s Day Celebrations. Come and join us in the Houston Room to do some shopping for Christmas. Proceeds support projects in Guatemala and committee activities.

To promote our sale and increase parish interest we will once again be holding a raffle for a chance to win a beautiful handmade tapestry. Raffle tickets will be sold on Sundays on October 20th, 27th, November 3rd and November 10th. Tickets will be 1 ticket for $1 and 6 tickets for $5 with the raffle drawing taking place on St. Martin’s Day at the end of the Guatemala Craft Sale. Please support these fundraising efforts that help us support our companion parishes in the western highlands of Guatemala.

Chili Potluck

Wednesday, October 30th

6:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall

As we enter into the heart of autumn, all are invited to a special Food & Fellowship on Oct. 30th where we will be serving up a variety of different chilis and corn breads. Both vegetarian and meat-based chilis will be available. Interested in bringing your own chili recipe to share? Please email Kate Maus at kmaus@stmartinec.org to sign up!

Prayerful Looking

Sunday, October 27th, 2:00-4:00 p.m.

Philadelphia Museum of Art

Co-sponsored by Wellspring

Join us for a unique and reflective museum tour at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The program will begin with a guided meditation on contemporary works of art from the museum’s Asian Art Collection. Next, each participant will find a work that speaks to them and spend time contemplating it. We will end with a visit to each work selected and discuss its impact with the one who selected it.

Led by Rev. John B. Hougen, PhD, Art of Interfaith Understanding Coordinator for Interfaith Philadelphia and volunteer guide at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. 

Interfaith Philadelphia is handling registrations: Go to  https://www.tfaforms.com/5145250

Upcoming Adult Forum

Wednesday, Oct. 23r, at 7:00 p.m.

"A New Way To Do College"

Led by Oscar Wang, Founder of College Together

Parish House or via Zoom here.

Passcode: 074688

Stay tuned for more details.

Wednesday Noon Eucharist

Mary Chapel

Wellspring Worship Reflections

After the 10:30 a.m. service

Houston Room