Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields: Weekly Field Notes

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, March 1st, 2026:

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

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

10:30 a.m. Instructed Choral Holy Eucharist

Also via livestream here

Followed by Worship Reflections in the Houston Room

12:00 p.m. Visit from Rep. Tarik Khan, PA House of Representatives

Parish Hall

5:00 p.m. Stations of the Cross

Music Reflection by Mezzo-Soprano, Marisa Miller

This Sunday's Readings

Genesis 12:1-4a | Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 | John 3:1-17 | Psalm 121

Rector's Note

What a week it has been here at St Martin’s! A joyous and fun evening of fellowship on Shrove Tuesday, with intergenerational cooking, a musical procession to “When the Saints go Marching In,” and a fire on the porch.

A beautiful and full Ash Wednesday -- three services plus about 70 people receiving ashes to go.

A hope-and-spirit-filled Annual Finance Meeting.

And a snowstorm! Two trees, one quite large, fell on the church driveway. Thanks to an intrepid team, the drive has been cleared of trees, branches, and so, so much snow.

All of these signs point to a transition, a change of seasons, something new that is coming. My Lenten wish is to be present for it, to not rush the spring no matter how much the winter continues to aggravate me, to see the beauty in our community every day, and to know that change is happening.

Mary+

Features

Upcoming Memorial Service for Ethan Ball Jr.

Thursday, April 9th

10:00 a.m. Pre-Service Gathering (Parish Hall)

11:00 a.m. Funeral Service

12:00 p.m. Reception (Parish Hall)

In Case You Missed It: Parish Budget Meeting

Click here to view the Finance Committee's PowerPoint presentation.

A Visit from Rep. Tarik Khan, PA House of Representatives

This Sunday at Hospitality following the 10:30 a.m. Service

Representative Tarik Khan of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives will be visiting St. Martin's THIS Sunday, March 1st after the 10:30 service to review legislation pending in the House and Senate in Pennsylvania related to ICE, CBP and DHS operations in Pennsylvania. He has been working in a bipartisan way to bring legislation forward and will present that pending legislation, the process for adoption and answer questions or concerns. He will be speaking in the Parish Hall after the 10:30 service (~12:00 p.m.) and will be glad to answer parishioner questions and listen to our concerns. Rep Khan requested to visit us. Let's give him a good turnout!

Stations of the Cross

Each Sunday in Lent at 5:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary

Join us for a short service of prayer, music, provided by St. Martin's professional musicians, in meditation on the Stations of the Cross. A 15 minute musical reflection follows each service.

March 1st: Marisa Miller - Mezzo-Soprano
March 8th: Aaron Scarberry - Tenor
March 15th: Michael Miller - Bass-Baritone
March 22nd: Tyrone Whiting - Piano

Last Chance to Register for Holy Cross Lenten Retreat!

Retreat: Friday, March 20th to Sunday, March 22nd

Blooming in the Lenten Desert: Encountering God in Lent as We Age

As we age through mid-life and beyond, we are particularly suited to understand and experience Lent in a profound way. The Lenten desert experience is meant to ultimately deepen our relationship with God through embracing the Paschal Mystery. Likewise aging, with its physical limitations, losses, emotional challenges, invitations to let go and calls to new life, is a mirroring experience that can aid us in a very particular way during this liturgical season. Come explore this intersection. Please register here by March 1st. Learn more about our facilitator, Janet Corso, here.

Writing Our Way Through Lent:

A Quiet Time to Listen, Reflect, Create and Share

Presented by Wellspring

Saturdays Feb. 28th, March 7th, & March 14th

9:30-11:00 a.m. in Hilary House

Come share time with others as we listen to poems, reflections, and prayers, and after some time in silence, write as the spirit guides us. Find community, respite and inspiration as we move through challenging times. Come for one session, two or all. You are always welcome. Contact Joanne Conway at joanneconway86@gmail.com for information.

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper

Last Tuesday, we gathered for our annual pancake feast and party before the start of Lent. Thanks to David Dieck, Jason Martin, Mark Birdsall and many other dedicated volunteers of all ages, we feasted, made festive masks, and marched around the Parish House singing "When the Saints Go Marching In" before burying the Alleluia for Lent and burning last year's palms for this year's Ash Wednesday ashes. A good time was had by all!

Children, Youth, & Families

Support Parish Family During Surgery Recovery

Please consider supporting one of our parish families, the Hagan-Bryants, as Stephanie Hagan recovers from surgery over the next few weeks. Options for support include bringing a meal, driving Stephanie to and from physical therapy, and helping to provide childcare. Click here to sign up/learn more.

Easter Pageant Rehearsals

Join an all ages (recommended ages 10+) theater troupe as we put on the second Easter Pageant at St. Martin's, this time based on Matthew's Gospel (Matt 28:1-10). No acting or theater experience is necessary, and you don’t have to be on stage to be part of the team. There are many ways to participate, and everyone is welcome to join for any or all of the sessions.

Rehearsals:

Sunday, Mar 1, 4–5 pm (Library) — Staging the Story

Sunday, Mar 8, 3–4:30 pm (in the Library + Sanctuary) — Full Cast Read-Through

Sunday, Mar 15th, 3–4:30 pm (in the Church) — Blocking & Costumes

Saturday, Apr 4th, 3–4:30 pm (in the Sanctuary) — Dress Rehearsal

Easter Pageant Play Performance 2026

Date: Easter Sunday, April 5th

Call-Time: 8:15 a.m.

Performance: during the 9:00 a.m. family service

Learn More

My Name is Pauli Murray: Film Showing + Discussion (rated PG-13)

Sunday, February 28

3:00 - 5:00 p.m. in the Houston Room

Our study of Pauli Murray— poet, priest, civil rights lawyer, theologian, and contemporary saint of the Episcopal Church— continues on Sunday, February 28 with a viewing and discussion of the powerful documentary My Name is Pauli Murray.

Pauli Murray’s witness helped lay the legal and moral groundwork for desegregation, women’s equality, and LGBTQ+ rights in the United States. As the first Black woman ordained an Episcopal priest, and now honored as a saint in our church’s calendar, Pauli’s life also calls us to see how faith, justice, and identity are deeply intertwined.

Together, we will reflect on themes of privilege and exclusion, faith and resilience, race and gender, belonging and belovedness—listening for how Pauli’s story speaks to our own lives and to our call as Christians today.

Call for Art: Stations of the Cross

St. Martin's is looking for Artists and Creators to help create a series of artworks to form a Stations of the Cross Exhibition for Lent. Artists should create works which respond to the title and/or text of the fourteen Stations of the Cross Titles & Texts which can be accessed here. Any form of art is accepted, from photography, to small sculpture, folk art to fine art, and all in between! Artwork is welcome from amateurs and professionals, children and adults! An honorarium of the most engaging work will be made in three categories: professional ($300), amateur ($200), and children/youth ($100). Contact Tyrone Whiting, Director of Music & Arts, at twhiting@stmartinec.org for questions and submissions. Please submit artwork by April 1st.

Tea with Tang & Song

Ft. Tenor Section Leader Aaron Scarberry

Feb. 28th at 6 p.m. and March 1st at 3 p.m. at the Philadelphia Ethical Society

Ancient Chinese poetry and songs steeped in power, romance, and intrigue.

Tea with Tang & Song is an intimate experience of music, poetry, and storytelling—featuring both literal tea and the kind that gets spilled through song.

Learn more here.

Get your tickets here.

Fairmount String Quartet: Chiaroscuro

Saturday, March 7th

7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary

St. Martin's Ensemble-in-Residence, the Fairmount String Quartet, invites you to join them for the second program in their 2025-26 Classical Series, "Chiaroscuro". "Chiaroscuro" refers to the interplay of light and dark, which is explored in this program of music by Mozart, Brahms, and local composer Suzanne Dicker.

Program:

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - String Quartet, K. 589

Suzanne Dicker - A Human Battle with a Heartless World

Johannes Brahms - String Quartet Op. 51, #1

Admission is pay-what-you-can. You can reserve your seats here. A reception in Parish Hall will follow the performance. The program will also be performed on Sunday, March 8th at 3 p.m. at Settlement Music School, 318 Davisville Rd., Willow Grove, PA

Stabat Mater - Pergolesi & Rheinberger

Tuesday, March 31st at 7:00 p.m.

Ft. The Choir of St. Martin-in-the-Fields and the Fairmount Chamber Ensemble

Join us for a contemplative evening featuring Pergolesi and Rheinberger’s settings of the Stabat Mater. This concert brings together sacred text and powerful music in the resonant space of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, where worship and the arts meet.

Your presence supports our inclusive community of prayer, music, and outreach. Come listen, reflect, and share in a time of beauty and quiet hope.

Tickets are available here. Proceeds help support our Music & Arts ministries and Easter Music.

Take Action

Immigrants At Risk Need Your Help

In these challenging times, when agents of our own government indiscriminately round up, detain and deport children, people with illnesses and disabilities, asylum seekers who have followed all the legal processes to remain in the United States – even decorated U.S. combat veterans – it is understandable that many of us feel powerless against such a juggernaut. The good news is, you’re not powerless. The even better news is, you’re in very good company.

Representatives of RRIM will be present at hospitality this Sunday to provide you with the resources to become a force for good in whatever way feels most appropriate for you. We have resources, which we will distribute to you. Choose the path that feels right to you.

Sermon

The Rev. Dr. Mary Barber

2.22.26

This is the first Sunday in Lent, and like every first Sunday in Lent, we hear of Jesus’ time in the wilderness, where he stays for 40 days, before the start of his public ministry. Jesus fasts and prays. He is tempted by the devil. Continue reading here.

Coming Up

Next Week's Adult Forum

Wednesday, March 4th

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

Rallying Fathers to Prevent Violence and Increase Community

Brian Armstead, a business and civic engagement consultant, will talk about the work of the Father's Day Rally Committee, where he's a board member. Founded by legendary community activist Bilal Qayyum in 1990, the Father's Day Rally Committee provides men with support and resources to be better fathers, to defuse violence and to build up their neighborhood communities. Armstead, himself the father of a teenage son (he has stories to tell), is also an expert in neighborhood mediation.

Lenten Food & Fellowship Soup Dinners

Every Wednesday in Lent at 6:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall

During Lent our Food & Fellowship dinners will center around connection over a simple meal of soup and bread. You are invited to help create these community meals by bringing either: 1) a soup that feeds 8-10 people; or 2) a loaf of bread, pan of cornbread, or rolls. We are looking for gluten-free and vegetarian contributions for each meal. Please email Lorie Hershey at lhershey@stmartinec.org, if you would like to contribute on any of the following dates: March 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th.

St. Martin's To Be Honored at St. James School's Dr. Audrey Evans Benefit Event

Wednesday, May 20th, from 6:00-9:00 p.m.

We are excited to share that St. Martin's will be honored at the 2026 Dr. Audrey Evans Benefit, alongside the Epiphany School of Dorchester, Massachusetts.

This year’s theme, “Sharing the Spark,” reflects how small acts of kindness and faithful service can kindle lasting hope and inspire others to share their spark. Members of St. Martin’s are invited to take advantage of early access to tickets and sponsorship opportunities here. For questions, contact Gillian Golson, Annual Giving Manager at ggolson@stjamesphila.org or (484) 224-3891.