Sunday Worship

March 3rd, 2024

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

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

9:15 a.m. Adult Forum: Episcopal Community Services

Led by Anne Rice Burgess, CEO and Kyle Evans, Chaplain

10:30 a.m. Choral Holy Eucharist

Please join us for Worship Reflections following the service.

5:00 p.m. Stations of the Cross with Musical Reflections

A service of approximately 30 minutes led by prayer, scripture, art, and music.

Transition Update

Announcing the Rev. Laura Palmer as St. Martin's Full-time Priest

If you have not yet heard the good news, please click here to view yesterday's Vestry announcement celebrating the appointment of the Rev. Laura Palmer as our full-time Priest!

A Note From Rev. Laura

I was absorbed in the deep peace and pure silence at the Holy Cross Monastery on Thursday during our Lenten Retreat when my phone started blowing up. Congratulations! What wonderful news! 

The news that I am now officially your fulltime priest was making the rounds. I’d been trying not to look at my phone during the retreat but forgot about my watch. I knew an announcement was coming, but I expected it on Friday. I shared in the joyful surprise. 

Above all, I feel a deep sense of gratitude and humility. St. Martin’s is the parish that ordained me and has sustained me for over a decade. You are the ones who have made this moment possible; by supporting me, trusting me, and praying for me. I want to thank the entire Vestry, especially Barb Thomson, the Rector’s Warden, and Tom Sibson, the Accounting Warden whose steadfast support has been ballast for me.

My gratitude to St. Martin’s is boundless and that will never change. A sweet affirmation was that all the paperwork was finalized and completed on my birthday earlier in the week. Continue reading here.

Features

Easter Memorial Flowers

If you would like to make a donation to this year's Easter Flower Fund in honor of, or thanksgiving for, a loved one, please contact Connie Haggard at [email protected] or call the office and leave a message for Connie. As is St. Martin's tradition, we will also memorialize each loved one's name in our Easter service leaflets. Please submit names no later than Sunday, March 24th.

Fairmount String Quartet Presents: Nodus Tollens

This Sunday, March 3rd at St. Martin's, with reception to follow

Additional concert on March 2nd at PYO Music Institute

Works by and about women composed by Addison Rider, Rhiannon Giddens, Germaine Tailleferre, and Franz Schubert.

Program:

Rhiannon Giddens – At the Purchaser’s Option

Addison Rider – Nodus Tollens

Germaine Taliaferre – String Quartet

Franz Schubert – String Quartet #14 in d minor, “Death and the Maiden”

For more information or to purchase tickets, click here.

This Sunday's Adult Forum: Episcopal Community Services

9:15 a.m. in the Houston Room

Led by Anne Rice Burgess and Kyle Evans

Anne Rice Burgess, Episcopal Community Services’ new CEO, and Kyle Evans, ECS’s Chaplain, are leading this Sunday's Adult Forum. St. Martin's has been a longstanding sponsor of ECS. Anne and Kyle look forward to meeting with St. Martin members to express their appreciation, share all the exciting programs ECS offers, and explore ways for parishioners to get involved.

Stations of the Cross

Each Sunday of Lent at 5:00 p.m.

Join us for a short service of prayer, music, and art in meditation on the Stations of the Cross.

A 15 minute musical reflection follows each service.

March 3rd: Marissa Miller, Mezzo-Soprano

March 10th: Aaron Scarberry, Tenor



March 17th: Tyrone Whiting, Piano

Sermon Transcript

The Rev. Britta Carlson

February 25, 2024

My son Anthony has always been an astute theologian. At age four, he took a serious interest in the subject of human mortality. Now, as a first-time parent, I panicked. I wanted so much to protect my child from the existential dread that so often accompanies the realization that one will someday die. 

I was surprised to learn that Anthony had no fear at all. “Jesus is coming back!” he said. “And then everyone who is dead will come back too.” Now, some of you know my son. When he’s in church, he is constantly moving and climbing and messing with every loose object within reach. But apparently - wiggles notwithstanding - my son has been listening attentively all these years. Continue reading here.

From Tyrone Whiting, Director of Music & Arts:

There are so many reasons and ways to celebrate Women's History Month at St. Martin's. Firstly, how exciting that the Rev. Laura Palmer joins us as a full-time priest on the first day of Women's History Month; the first woman to be in charge at St. Martin's, following in the footsteps of an incredibly talented line and legacy of female clergy and leadership we have been fortunate enough to have with us at St. Martin's. 

This Sunday at 3 p.m. our Ensemble-in-Residence, the all-female Fairmount String Quartet kick off the month with a wonderful program of music including music by International Alliance for Women in Music’s Libby Larsen Prize winner Addison Rider’s three-movement work entitled Nodus Tollens. Please attend and support our wonderful ensemble.

If you have not had your fill of music and arts on Sunday, at 5 p.m. our wonderful Alto Section Leader, Marisa Miller will continue the music-making with a music reflection as part of our Stations of the Cross service, including artwork by female artists on display. 

Each Sunday morning in March at our 10:30 a.m. service you will experience music written by female composers, including works by at least one living female composer each week. During these months of observance, it is my aim for the Music & Arts ministries at St. Martin's to highlight the underrepresented populations, and further broaden the work we continue to do throughout the year. 

Finally, you will notice a new addition to the Parish Hall - a new (to us) Yamaha baby grand piano. The generosity of women in our community is not to be underestimated and I give thanks to Kate Maus and her sister, Sarah, for their incredibly generous gift of this piano to our music and arts ministries. This piano will greatly enhance the flexibility of our spaces, rehearsal and performance needs, as well as further expanding and developing our music and arts ministries with instruments of quality.

Cantate Domino!

Save the Date:

Bruce Butler Memorial Bell Ringing Weekend Reception

Saturday, March 16th

5:30-6:30 p.m. in the Houston Room

All are invited to join St. Martin's change ringers for a wine and appetizers reception to celebrate the Bruce Butler Memorial Bell Ringing Weekend! The reception will take place on Saturday, March 16th, beginning at 5:30 p.m. RSVPs are not needed. Stay tuned for more information on the Bruce Butler Memorial Bell Ringing Weekend!

Coming Up

Lenten Breakfasts & Spiritual Journeys

Every Friday in Lent from 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.

March 8th: Houston Room

March 15th: Hilary House

March 22nd: Houston Room

Please join us Friday mornings in Lent for light breakfast and a chance to hear the powerful spiritual journeys of your fellow parishioners. If you are interested in sharing your journey, please contact the Rev. Laura Palmer. Each week will also have plenty of time for informal reflections. Bagels and coffee will be provided. RSVPs are not required.

Next Week's Adult Forum (March 10th):

Living "life without parole"

Led by Felix Rosado

How does an individual endure being unjustly sentenced to life in prison without parole? For Felix Rosado, that journey included a return to his church upbringing and, upon release, a mission to educate. Meet him and hear his story at the March 10 Adult Forum. To read Mr. Rosado’s recent Inquirer commentary on “death by incarceration,” go to www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/prison-parole-juvenile-18-felix-rosado-20240214.html

Holy Week and Easter Service Times

Palm Sunday

8:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and

5 p.m. Passiontide Evensong with Christ Church, Philadelphia

Maundy Thursday

7:00 p.m.

Good Friday

12:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m. Seven Last Words

Feat. music from the Fairmount String Quartet

Easter Vigil

8:00 p.m., with Feast to follow

Easter Sunday

8:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 11:15 a.m.

Weekday Morning Prayer

Join on Facebook or Zoom for weekday Morning Prayer at 7:30 a.m.

Biblical Studies on Zoom or by phone

Monday and Tuesday sessions. Link up!