|
I’ve got the JOY
I’m writing this Thursday afternoon, and the sky has just grown dark with ominous storm clouds. But the song swimming around in my head is:
I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart!
WHERE?
Down in my heart!
Do you know that song? I hope you do, or else I’ll have to sing it to you on Sunday.
I think the “Joy” song is my current mental soundtrack for two reasons—1) It’s VBS week and my brain is a treasure trove of VBS and church camp songs, and 2) I just had lunch with the staff over at the school.
This was not a lunch meeting with an agenda. It was not on the calendar. It was a last-minute get-together because we wanted to catch up and spend time together. And it took me an hour to eat my sandwich because I couldn't laugh and eat at the same time. So much laughter!
When I posted the position for the Associate Rector and Chaplain to a particular website, I had to answer a series of questions. One question asked me to name a strength of our parish. I said, “We have a school!” The next question asked me to name a challenge of our parish. I said again, “We have a school!” If you have been here for a while, you know better than I that sharing our space and our resources and our vision and our energy with a school is both a strength and a challenge.
St. Martin’s is a complex system. I believe God delights in complex systems. When I slow down and allow myself to be still in nature, something so simple, I am always struck by the beautiful complexity of a leaf or a spiderweb or frost patterns. There is joy to be found in complexity.
As we gear up for the start of another church program year and another school year, there is so much to do in so little time. It can be overwhelming. Don’t miss the joy in the complexity. I promise you it is there. Don’t miss the joy in sharing the heavy load with good people. I promise you it is there. And on days (weeks?) when it feels like the storm clouds in your head will never part, don’t miss the joy down in your heart. I promise you it is there.
| | | | Join us for Worship every Sunday at 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. | | |
Special VBS Performance
Sunday at the 10:00 a.m. service
We were so blessed to have so many wonderful children join us for Vacation Bible School last week. The kids did a number of fun activities including learning some new songs. We have invited our special VBS friends to sing one of their newly learned songs at this Sunday’s 10:00 a.m. worship service. Additionally, we send a HUGE thank you to Tabitha Carman for organizing and running VBS and to all the amazing volunteers who made this wonderful outreach mission possible.
| |
Sunday's Guest
We welcome Nelda Clelland as our guest organist this Sunday. Nelda has degrees in Physics and Music, as well as a Masters in Education. She plays the organ regularly at several churches in the Baltimore area and has over 40 years of experience as an organist and accompanist.
| | | |
Preparing for Our Next Associate Rector
We are interviewing candidates and discerning who our next Associate Rector and Chaplain will be! And we would like to spruce up the office they will be using. We are in need of the following new or gently used items: sofa, coffee table, chairs (2 to 4), and curtains (for 2 windows). If you are able to donate these items or help finance them, please contact the church office, 410-647-6248.
| |
Summer “Meet & Eat”
Wednesdays through August 20, 6:00 p.m.
Come and enjoy fellowship and delicious food Wednesday evenings in the summer at 6:00 p.m. Suggested donation is $6.00 per person or $20.00 per family. Food and drinks provided; side dishes or desserts are greatly appreciated. For questions or special dietary needs please contact John Theune. Last dinner will be August 20.
| |
Church Read Along
This summer, the Vestry is reading “A Future That’s Bigger Than The Past” by The Rev. Dr. Samuel Wells, the Vicar of St. Martin in-the-Fields, London. Wells casts a vision for renewing the local church that is energizing, realistic and practical for congregations of all sizes. In response to prevailing narratives of decline, Wells reimagines how the church can live its vocation of receiving God’s abundance and sharing it far and wide. We will discuss the book in the fall.
| |  | |
Blessing of the Backpacks
Sunday, August 24 at 10:00 a.m. service
Students and teachers of all ages are invited to bring their backpacks or book bags to church to receive a blessing during the 10:00 a.m. service. This is a wonderful way to acknowledge the beginning of a new school, while also recognizing the importance of learning and leaning into our call to bring Christ into our everyday places of study and work. Contact Katrina Schultz.
| |
The Beethoven Project
Sunday, August 24 at 4:00 p.m.
Pianist, Dr. HyeSung Hwang and violinist, Dr. Ahreum Kim, launched the Beethoven Project in 2023 with the goal of performing all ten of Beethoven’s violin sonatas. This summer, they are excited to return to St. Martin’s with Beethoven’s monumental Kreutzer Sonata. Please save the date: Sunday, August 24 at 4:00 p.m. and join us for an unforgettable musical experience! This free concert will include a freewill offering to benefit the music ministry at St. Martin’s. For more information contact HyeSung.
| |
Choir Rehearsal Starts
Thursday, September 4 at 6:30 p.m.
The choir will start rehearsing for the program year soon! If you are interested in checking out the choir, bell choir, or email HyeSung.
| | |
Special Thank You
A few weeks ago several volunteers helped clean up and reorganize the storage at St. Martin’s. All that work left quite a bit of detritus that needed to be hauled to the dump or donated. Many thanks to the Boteler family, Syl Silva, and Tom and Ellen Jones who came after worship last Sunday and took care of removing and dumping the trash. Thanks to their assistance St. Martin’s has never looked cleaner.
| |
SPAN Opportunities for AUGUST
SPAN (Serving People Across Neighborhoods) serves our neighbors by helping them through a critical or emergency situation. St. Martin’s supports SPAN’s mission by asking for donations for this month’s theme: "Back to School Snacks.” Please donate: foods that are individually packaged into small bags that can easily be taken for snack or packed into a lunch bag like pretzels, crackers, trail mix, nuts, and popcorn (Skinny Pop is always a hit). Additionally, dried fruits, fruit cups or granola bars would be appreciated. We welcome anything else you’re willing to share. Donations can be dropped in the bins marked “SPAN” in the Narthex hallway. Summer is a slow time for food donations. We welcome additional donations. Click here for a list of our most needed items.
| | | |
Register for Fall Children and Youth Programs
Excited to join the new Rite 13 group? Moving up to J2A? Don’t know what Rite 13 or J2A means but want to get involved? We are happy to help. Classes resume Sunday mornings, 9:00-9:45 a.m. on September 7. Register today! Click here for Sunday School Registration (PK-Grade 5). Click here for Youth Ministry Registration (Grades 6-12). For details contact the church office.
| |
The Bishop’s Appeal: $55,000 raised, $145,000 to go!
As a diocesan community, we celebrate the many distinct ministries of our 100 congregations, and we come together to tend to additional gaps. There are 11 ministries supported by our annual Bishop’s Appeal, ensuring that our Community of Love broadens to include campers at Claggett, refugees and asylum seekers through ERICA, Spanish-speaking immigrants, youth and college students, Baltimore City high school students in the Sutton Scholars program—and more! We invite you to contribute in celebration of our #CommunityofLove, knowing that your financial support strengthens ministry in cities, towns and rural areas from the Appalachian Mountains to the Susquehanna River. Click here to give a gift and support our #CommunityofLove.
| | |
Nursery Care
Available for infants and children ages 4 and under on Sundays from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Located in Parish Hall, see an usher for directions.
| |
Bible Challenge Book Study
Tuesdays, 7:00 p.m. (St. Martin’s House)
Join us for a 16 week study of the Acts of the Apostles. We will be using the LifeChange Study Guide on Acts which can be ordered on Amazon: click here. Contact Cindy Neseth.
| | | |
Walkin’ Loves
Tuesday & Thursday, 8:00 a.m. (Kinder Farm Park)
Lace up your shoes and join our new Walkin’ Loves group for fresh air and fellowship. Meet at Kinder Park, off of Kinder Rd, near the small playground. The loop is 2.4 miles, mostly level, and takes about 45 minutes to complete. All ages and fitness levels welcome. Contact Julie Reiter, 443-875-1457.
| | Your Prayers are Invited... | Prayer is the universal way people of faith stay connected, both with one another and with God. You are invited to pray daily for our parish family, for your own needs, and in thanksgiving for all that God has blessed you with this day. | |
PRAYERS FOR OUR PARISH FAMILY: Dot, Bruce, Danny, Karl, Jim, David, Lee, Joey, Michele, Kerry, Carter, Matthew, Amalia, Edmund, Joey, Kip, Wilma, Merla, Lisa, Mike, the Carman family, Kevin, Sarah, Jared, Bill, Jax, Brody, Matt, and Kyle.
FOR THOSE CELEBRATING A BIRTHDAY: Rachael, Liam, Christopher, Steve, Bob, Philip, Jeffrey, Lauren, Seth, Cameran, and Carrie.
FOR THOSE CELEBRATING A WEDDING ANNIVERSARY: Christian and Anna Lavendar, Luke and Susan Singledecker, and Charles and Anne Minor Kurtz.
| Let us know if you have a specific prayer request so we can hold you in our daily prayers. | | |
ST. MARTIN'S-IN-THE-FIELD EPISCOPAL CHURCH
375 Benfield Road, Severna Park, MD 21146
| | | | |
