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 or the Rev. Laura Palmer at 267-418-0123.

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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Easter Worship

Easter Vigil: Saturday, April 19th, 2025

8:00 p.m. Choral Holy Eucharist

In Person and via Livestream

Fire, water, big stories from the Bible, and the first Eucharist of Easter. The Great Vigil of Easter is one of the oldest known rites of the Christian Church, dating back to the second century. It brings worshippers, literally and symbolically, from darkness into light.

Easter Sunday: April 20th, 2025

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

In Person

9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Music and Pageant

In Person and via Livestream

Join us for the premiere of our Easter Pageant Play, "The Three Marys," performed by a talented, intergenerational cast. Adapted from Luke 24:1-12 and drawing on the rich medieval pageant tradition, watch the story of the Resurrection come to life.

10:15 a.m. (Approx.) Easter Egg Hunt

11:15 a.m. Festival Choral Holy Eucharist

In Person and via Livestream

Join us for the Festival Choral Holy Eucharist for a joyful celebration of the Resurrection with music offered by our Adult Choir, the Choristers from our Children's Choir, our Handbell Ensemble, the Fairmount String Quartet, and trumpet, with lots of singing for all.

Please note:

Following Easter, the office will be closed Monday, April 21st,

and Tuesday, April 22nd.

Holy Week Services

& Easter Events

Maundy Thursday: April 17th

7:00 p.m. Choral Holy Eucharist

with Footwashing

In Person and Via Livestream

Following the service, vigil will be kept overnight at the Altar of Repose in the Mary Chapel. If you would like to sign up for a shift, please reach out to Rev. Mary at mbarber@stmartinec.org.

Good Friday: April 18th

12:00 p.m. Sung Passion

with Communion and Veneration of the Cross

In Person and Via Livestream

Good Friday: April 18th

The Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross

7:00 p.m. Seven Last Words

In Person and Via Livestream

Featuring the Fairmount String Quartet

Easter Flower Arranging

Holy Saturday, April 19th

9:30-11:00 a.m. in the Church

Join the Flower Guild on Holy Saturday as they arrange flowers and decorate the church for Easter. Families and people of all ages are welcome, no experience necessary! Drop in to make an arrangement. Donuts and coffee will be provided. Email Annette Lareau at alareau@sas.upenn.edu if you have any questions.

Easter Vigil Feast: Saturday, April 19th

Approx. 10:00 p.m. (immediately following the Great Vigil service)

Parish Hall

Please plan to join in this wonderful celebration, a very special tradition at St. Martin’s, with contributions of festive foods provided by parishioners and the storied Alleluia Punch (with and without alcohol). If you would like to contribute food, please use the sign up sheet in the back of the church. You may bring your contribution with you when you arrive for the service or drop it off at the Parish House kitchen any time on Saturday, April 19th.

Easter Egg Hunt: Call for Helpers!

Easter Sunday, April 20th

8 a.m. at the Playground

Join the Easter Bunny and Rev. Luke as they hide Easter eggs. Many hands make light work! Compensation in chocolate. If interested, please email Rev. Luke at lselles@stmartinec.org.

Children, Youth, & Families

Youth Interest Survey (ages 8-18)

VBS 2025:

Come Grow with Us!

Monday, June 24th-Friday, June 27th

9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Click on the poster to learn more!

Donations for Holy Week & Easter Music

Music plays a vital role in our Holy Week and Easter celebrations, deepening our worship and enhancing our celebration of the Resurrection. This year, alongside our Stainer Crucifixion and Pergolesi Stabat Mater concerts we welcome back the Fairmount String Quartet to play for the Good Friday Seven Last Words service and Easter Day, when they will be joined by the excellent young trumpeter, Aidan Peterson. We will also welcome back the Positive Movement Drumline on Palm Sunday.

Your generous support makes it possible to sustain and enhance our music and arts ministries during this most sacred season and ensure that our musicians are fairly compensated. To contribute, please click here or write “Music Fund” in the memo line of your donation.

I am very grateful for your continued and generous support of our music & arts ministries at St. Martin's. — Tyrone Whiting, Director of Music & Arts

St. Martin’s Art Fair & Auction

Sunday, May 4 | A Celebration of Creativity!

Join us for a joyful day of art, music, food, and community as we celebrate 135 years of creativity St. Martin’s—including paintings, rare books, photography, musical scores, vinyl collections, and more! Continue reading here.

Reminders

Please Note: There Will Be No Adult Forum This Week (Wednesday, April 16th)

There will still be a Food & Fellowship meal at 6 p.m.

Parish Elections

Deadline for submitting Vestry & Convention Delegate recommendations to the Nominating Committee: April 27th

At the June 1 Annual Meeting of the parish, new Vestry members and Diocesan Convention delegates will be elected. To learn about the process, which adheres to the bylaws changes adopted by the parish at the February Parish Meeting and Financial Report, continue reading here.

Take Action

PAIPL Bike & Hike Fundraiser

St. Martin's ministry partner, Pennsylvania Interfaith Power & Light (PAIPL) is holding its annual Bike and Hike fundraiser. Participants and sponsors are needed. For more information on how you can contribute, please click here.

Sermon Transcript

The Rev. Dr. Mary Barber: April 13, 2025

Earlier this week, when I went to proofread today’s leaflets, I noticed that a word had been changed in the Passion reading. Where it says Pilate asks Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” the leaflet instead read, “Are you the king of the Judeans?”

Now, I can understand the wish to change the phrase, The Jews. It doesn’t appear as frequently or harshly in Luke’s Passion as in John’s Passion, which we will hear sung on Good Friday. But it can feel cringey even in this Passion story. Continue reading here.

Coming Up

An Easter Workshop

Finding the Sacred in Nature: A Path to Faith and Responsibility

Co-Sponsored by Wellspring and the Climate Action Team

Saturday, May 10th, 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in Hilary House

RSVP here.

This workshop will explore ways we can find our way toward a deeper and greater connection to nature and our planet home. Finding God’s presence, and the sacredness of all that is on this earth can provide direction and meaning through these times. A return to awe, wonder and gratitude can be our guides. Continue reading here.