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.

This email is best viewed as a webpage. Click here to make sure you don't miss anything!

Sunday Worship

June 22nd, 2025

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

In Person

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

In Person

10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Music

In Person & via livestream here

Please note: the Parish Office will be closed tomorrow, June 19th,

in observance of Juneteenth.

Rector's Note

This Thursday June 19 is Juneteenth, recognized as a state holiday in Texas since 1979, and as a federal holiday in 2021. It marks the day in 1865 when General Gordon Granger of the Union Army arrived in Galveston, Texas, to read aloud the proclamation that “All slaves are free.”

This news was announced over two years after Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, and over two months after Lee’s surrender. And it was not really news to anyone. Enslavers had moved their human prisoners to far-flung Texas as the war was ending, purposely, in order to be far removed from Washington, and to evade the law for as long as possible. Continue reading here.

Features

Juneteenth

We will be commemorating Juneteenth at our worship services this Sunday, June 22nd. All are encouraged to bring a snack to share at Hospitality.

Click here to read a Juneteenth reflection by the Rev. Kevin Porter.

The Parish Office will be closed tomorrow, June 19th, in accordance with the federal holiday.

Upcoming Memorial Service: Charles "Charley" Harmar

This Saturday, June 21st

3:00 p.m. with reception to follow

You can view Charley's obituary here.

A livestream of the service will be available on our YouTube page here.

The Philadelphia Eleven Free Film Screening

This Sunday, June 22nd

4:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary

Come view this inspiring documentary about a group of extraordinary women who, despite fierce and hateful opposition, did not back down in their determination to be ordained as priests in the Episcopal Church. Their courage transformed the church and paved the way for generations of women priests to come.

Refugee Resettlement Ministry Updates on Welcoming the Afghan Family

Thank you so much, St. Martin’s, for your initial generous support for this Afghan family of seven. The need is great, and the goal is high: $22,000. Please click here to give online. Select “Refugee Fund” from the drop down menu and write “Afghan Sponsorship Project” in the memo line. You can also mail a check to the church with “Afghan Sponsorship Project” in the memo line. Our mailing address is 8000 St. Martin’s Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19118.

These funds will help subsidize rent for the family’s housing, groceries, and day-to-day necessities. As a welcoming team we are formally committed to support the family for six months. But since the goal is to help them become self-sufficient, our commitment and financial support will likely be needed beyond that time. They will need our help securing health and social benefits, health care, ESL tutoring, work training, school registration for the children, and other necessities.

The search for suitable housing continues. Locating them in the Northeast would be most comfortable for them since relatives and other Afghans live in that area. That is our hope. At the moment, a relative is serving as interpreter.

Beyond monetary donations, we urgently need volunteers for both large and small commitments. Continue reading here to learn about supplies you can donate and other ways you can help.

Children, Youth, & Families

Youth Interest Survey (ages 8-18)

Sermons

The Rev. Dr. Mary Barber

June 15, 2025

Trinity Sunday

Be with us. God the Father. The Lord. Yahweh. Adonai. Elohim. The Creator, Source of Life. The Almighty. The Everlasting.

Be with us. You who are seated between the cherubim, large fearsome animal-like creatures who guard your presence.

Be with us. Lord. Lord of hosts, hosts meaning armies. Lord of holy armies ready to do justice. You are the one whose very name is holy, whose many names are holy. The great I AM. Continue reading here.

Take Action

Do Something!

Accompany Immigrants to Judicial Hearings

Training provided on Friday, June 27, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m, at the West Kensington Ministry, 2140 North Hancock St, Philadelphia, PA 19122

At a recent Adult Forum, many of you expressed an interest in DOING SOMETHING to support the millions of undocumented immigrants who have now been targeted for deportation, often without the opportunity to exercise their due process right to a hearing. An opportunity to put your faith into action has arrived.

The New Sanctuary Movement, an interfaith organization supported by St. Martin’s and 32 other Philadelphia-area churches and synagogues, is looking for volunteers to accompany immigrants to judicial hearings. Though tagged as “undocumented,” many of these immigrants have been given government permission to enter the country and are awaiting asylum hearings. Others were allowed into the U.S. on a temporary humanitarian basis when they fled persecution in their home countries. These immigrants now face deportation even though they have played by the rules and reported to immigration officials on a regular basis. Continue reading here.

Thank you, St. Martin's from the Children of Chichi and Toto

Thank you for your generous pledges and direct giving for the 2026 Chichicastenango and Totonicapán Scholarship Funds. As of Sunday, June 15th our pledge and donation total was $18,885. We have exceeded our goal of $15,000 in pledges. The Guatemala Companion Parish Committee is very grateful for your fabulous support of these deserving children and their families.

Three members of the committee will be traveling to Guatemala June 20th to 30th and will be able to inform our companion parishes in Chi Chi and Toto that we will be able to fully fund the scholarship programs for 2026.

The Committee will no longer be collecting pledges after services. Contributions of pledged funds can be paid on or before Sept. 30th with a check via the plate or online.