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The Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields
Field Notes
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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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This week I’m away at Roslyn Retreat Center for my first CREDO clergy conference. I’m meeting and reflecting in small groups and lectures, about my vocation and my rule of life.
I’m also taking my free time to think about upcoming events -- vestry meeting, vestry retreat, and capital campaign planning meetings.
A group of us is working with our consultant, Seanna Crosley of Rowse Consulting, in this early phase of the campaign. We have drawings for the project and a good idea of its scope:
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- A/C and new heating for the church
- a lift going up and down and stairs going down in the church entry for access to sanctuary and basement (undercroft)
- building out the undercroft and increasing bathroom capacity
- restoring the parish hall and adding A/C
Continue reading here.
| | Consecration Sunday is Coming! | | | | |
A Consecration Sunday Reflection
Written by Parishioner Audrey Reid
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I’m still learning to be generous. I can be quick to give, eager to give even when my time and talents are the offering but I'm in a season of life when regular tithing feels hard. Chris, my husband, and I are raising four kids on one income and, while that is a choice and therefore a privilege, it is not without some burden. Our budget is tight. Every time I go to the grocer, fill the gas tank, consider what activities we can afford, say “no” to some new expense, I'm reminded of our limits. It can lead me to cling to what I have, to feel stingy instead of generous.
In 2 Corinthians the early Macedonian church is described as going through troubled times and living in poverty. It must have been tempting to grumble and to cling to the little they had. Instead, by God’s grace, they are described as being “filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.”
What a powerful testimony! I want that posture towards giving. To see my tithing, as a privilege, a joyful extension of an embodied faith in God's goodness and provision. To resist the chokehold of fear and lack, to stack hands joyfully with you, St. Martins, by giving to support our mission.
My next right step is to automate a weekly gift, to start regularly giving and be faithful. I feel a tremendous amount of joy in this because it's a step towards aligning my values with my actions.
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A Message from the Rev. Luke Selles
Dear St. Martin's,
Thank you for the many laughs, memories, lessons, notes of encouragement, hugs, gifts, and prayers you blessed me with during my time at St. Martin's. I continue to treasure all I have learned with and from you and give thanks to God for your collective witness to the love of God as revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. May your ministries continue to bless and to be blessed.
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I am delighted to share that I have been called to serve as Associate Rector at St. George's Episcopal Church in Arlington, VA. I look forward to supporting their growing Children & Youth, Newcomer, and Creation Care ministries and to serving on a small but mighty staff team. I am preparing a move to Arlington next week where I'll be close to both my siblings and their families as well as some dear friends. My first Sunday will be November 1st, the Feast of All Saints.
Your friend,
Luke+
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Necrology for the Feast of All Souls
Next Sunday, November 1st, we will be commemorating the Feasts of All Saints and All Souls. If you would like to have the name of a loved one who has passed away in the previous year printed in our morning service leaflets and read aloud at our evening Requiem Mass, please email Noor Diskan, Director of Communications & Events, at ndiskan@stmartinec.org, by next Thursday, Oct. 28th.
If your loved one was previously listed in a Sunday leaflet's prayers for the deceased, their name will be automatically included in this year's Necrology.
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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. A Requiem Choral Eucharist of hope and remembrance, with choral music sung by our Section Leaders, will follow at 5:00 p.m. Please contact Cathy Glazer (cathyglazer@verizon.net) or Debra Roberts (DebraDRoberts@comcast.net) with any questions regarding the reception.
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Guatemala Tapestry Raffle & St. Martin’s Day Craft Sale
The Guatemala Companion Parish Committee will be holding our annual Guatemala Craft Sale on Sunday, November 15th as a part of our St. Martin’s Day Celebrations and Consecration Sunday. Come and join us in the Polly Randall Room and Parish House foyer to do some shopping for Christmas. Proceeds support special projects in our companion parishes in Guatemala.
To promote our sale and increase parish interest we will once again be holding a raffle after the 8:00, 9:00 and 10:30 worship services on October 25th, November 1st and November 8th (Parish House foyer). Tickets will be 1 ticket for $1 and 6 tickets for $5.
Please support these fundraising efforts that help us support our companion parishes in the western highlands of Guatemala.
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Small Engine Ministry
St Martin's member David Zopf is offering his gift of small engine repair to members of St Martin's. You can email him here about your weedwacker, snowblower, or other tool that needs fixing, with your phone number, and he'll get back to you. You pay him for parts and he suggests a donation to the church. More details here!
| | Steven Kabuye, a well-known gay activist in Uganda, in a Kampala hospital in 2024 after he was stabbed by unknown assailants as politicians whipped up a climate of intolerance in the country, which can impose the death penalty for homosexuality. | | |
Next Week's Adult Forum: Asylum Pride House
Led by Victoria Sirois, Executive Director
Wednesday, Oct. 28th
7:00 p.m. (Houston Room & Zoom here)
Meeting ID: 892 4660 1988
Passcode: 074688
Is love a crime? It is in a growing number of countries where widespread prejudice, discrimination and imposition of the death penalty for same-sex relations have prompted gay and transgender citizens to flee for their lives.
Asylum Pride House, an innovative program in West Philadelphia, is now providing a safe harbor for LGBTQ immigrants seeking asylum in the United States because of persecution at home for their sexual orientation.
At our Oct. 28th Adult Forum, Victoria Sirois, executive director of Asylum Pride House, will describe the program’s success in providing temporary housing and support services to these immigrants.
Since 2022, when it was founded, Asylum Pride House has served LGBTQ immigrants fleeing persecution in China, Colombia, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Jordan, Kuwait, Russia, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Venezuela. Wednesday’s program is sponsored by St. Martin’s Immigration Ministry.
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Sunrise Over St. Martin's
Image courtesy of Allison Ballantine
| | 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+"
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Requiem Choral Eucharist for the Feast of All Souls
Next Sunday, Nov. 1st
5:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary
All are invited to a service of hope and remembrance with choral music sung by the Section Leaders of St. Martin's.
A reception and time of reflection and prayer in the Mary Hare Taylor Knight Columbarium will precede the service at 4:00 p.m.
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Coat Drive for Face to Face Germantown
St. Martin’s is conducting a Coat Drive this fall for Face to Face Germantown, our Mission Partner which provides home-cooked meals, legal and housing services, and clothing to disadvantaged individuals in our area. There is an especially great need for gently used winter coats this year. Any clean, decent coat can be donated.
Some factors to consider:
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- Large sized coats are most needed, as many people wear several layers with the coat on top, but all sizes needed
- Coats with small rips and tears are ok. Face to Face has helpers who will sew these up before distribution
- Zippers should be in working condition
- Please go through all pockets to remove the little things that might have collected there
The collection will be the week 9-15th, just before St. Martin’s Day. More detail on where/when to drop off will be forthcoming. Please do not drop off in advance, as there is limited space to store coats.
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Donate Used Walkers, Canes and Assistive Devices for Physical Therapy Clinic at Face to Face Germantown
As you may know, Face to Face supports the needs of Germantown residents living in poverty and suffering from food insecurity and decreased medical care and social services.
A Physical Therapy Clinic now takes place on Fridays but lacks the equipment to supplement the education and exercises provided by the physical therapist. The clinic needs straight canes, walkers, wrist braces, knee braces, ankle/foot boots and used tennis balls for the walkers. We no longer need crutches as 5 pairs have been donated.
| | You may bring equipment to the Polly Randall room or lthe vestibule by the volunteer desk. You may also contact Sandy Abrams, PT, DPT at 215-432-1065 and she can pick up items at your home. Thank you for your partnership with Face to Face to support Germantown residents in need! | | | | |
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.
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Eugenie Dieck
Pentecost 21
Sun., Oct. 18th
In the Bible, conversations between God and people are central to how God is made known to us. There are many types of conversations — those about love, about anger, about thanksgiving, about prayerful requests. Some of the conversations are perplexing, like much of life. In today’s readings, we have two conversations. One is between God and Moses and another between Jesus and the Pharisees. In each, people are seeking understanding. Continue reading here.
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Spiritual Classics Book Group
Saturday, November 7th
2:30 p.m. at the Home of Lorie Simmons
Our Spiritual Classics Book Group will be having their next meeting on Nov. 7th! We will be discussing Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis. Please email Lorie to receive the address or with any questions: loriesimmons@comcast.net. All are welcome!
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Wednesday Noon Eucharist
Mary Chapel
Biblical Studies In Person
Fridays at 10:30 a.m.
Saturdays at 11:00 a.m.
Houston Room
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Biblical Studies on Zoom
or by Phone
Mondays at 7:00 p.m.
Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m.
Please contact Cathy Glazer for the Zoom information.
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Non-Perishable Food Collection for St. Luke's
Ongoing: Please deliver to the wagons on the Parish House porch.
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Morning Prayer on Zoom
Weekdays at 7:30 a.m.
Email morningprayer@ stmartinec.org for the link.
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Blessed Baking
Fridays at 9:00 a.m.
Parking Lot
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Wellspring Worship Reflections
After the 10:30 a.m. service
Houston Room
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Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA)
Thursdays 7-8:30 p.m. (Library)
Al Anon
Sundays 6-7 p.m. (Houston Room)
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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)
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Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields
8000 St. Martin's Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19118
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