Mothers' love abounds @ St. Martin's
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We celebrate mothers this week with a peek inside their worlds
during a pandemic. May their gratitude and optimism inspire you. The banner above is from Jane Jannack, who is celebrating as a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
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Anita Nelam discovers individual acts of love in each child
It's been a joy. It's been very expensive. It's been more complicated than I'd thought it could be as I converted our living room into a one-room school house. It's taught me that the way that children are educated today is very different than the way I learned. It's reminded me that while each of my little darlings is very dissimilar, they are very loving in their very different ways. Finally, it's been great having my granddaughter Zani here with us as it's giving all my children the opportunity to become teachers for her. (Photo, front floor: Olivia; sitting, Zani, Anita, Zac; and standing, front to back, Jaida, Gracie and Mariah.)
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Lauren Puffenbarger finding chef talents
in her teens
Being a mother of two teens during the pandemic has been a learning experience. We are trying to keep routines and stay up with school assignments all while watching them adjust to free time and no face-to-face interaction with friends and other loved ones. I can say the biggest blessing is our opportunity to eat dinner together every night. We all are assigned a night to cook, during the week, and have tried many new recipes. I treasure and look forward to every evening. (Photo, left to right: Jamison, Hannah Frances and Lauren)
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Carol Lumpkin misses
all the hugs
As a mother and a grandmother during this challenging time, I know that I first have to count my blessings. I am so fortunate that both my sons and their families live close to Joe and me, and right across the street from each other, and that they are all active members of SMIF. In addition to front yard visits, I have enjoyed the videos and pictures they send to help me keep up with their activities. I’m looking forward to all being able to be back together in person because the one thing I miss most is the hugs! (In photo above, clockwise from left, Becky, Simon, Maggie, Jody, Theodore, Joe, Carol, Bryan and Lilly.)
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Anna Saunders appreciates a slower pace
of life with her three little ones
The pandemic has forced us to a slower pace of life -- no 7:30 a.m. elementary school drop offs; no afternoon baseball practice; no evening commitments -- which has been a welcome reprieve from the daily rush. We’ve enjoyed more leisurely mornings, and more front-yard baseball games. I’ve struggled to get my work done remotely, but haven’t we all?! It seems any moment I sit down to send an email or make a phone call, the requests start coming... “Mom, where’s my cinnamon toast? Mom, I need you. I stepped in dog poop. Mom, the baby is crying. Mom, can I have another piece of candy?” But I am fortunate we’ve been able to stay home and we still have our jobs. Many others are facing much more difficult situations. (Photo, left to right: Billy, Anna, Doug holding Thomas, and Hardy on Easter.)
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Gratitude abounds for Jane Jannack
As a new great-grandmother, I'm reveling in my daughters' new elevated position as grandmothers. I received a banner great-grandmother card from all four great-grandbabies (photo above). I guess because I know we're all in it together, and my children and theirs are gratefully aware that I have my St. Martin's family, my one word would be 'grateful.' I get photos and videos every day; one day, socks or cookies in the mail, and often cards -- so much love to be grateful for. (In photo, left to right, Debbie (Jane's daughter), Sunny (Jane's granddaughter) with Haydn (Jane's great-grandson) and Jane.)
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Masks for DJJ & the homeless
We are reaching toward our goal. We now need 118 sewn, reusable masks for our housing-insecure friends in Columbia and the young people at the Department of Juvenile Justice.
To donate, please sew as many masks as you are able and drop them off in the mail slot at the church office. Thank you!
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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Last Sunday, we honored mothers in our service's prayers. This Sunday, we will honor teachers, and at the end of the month on May 24, Wallace Truluck will offer for us a youth sermon as we honor our graduates and celebrate Youth Sunday.
While it is not the usual way we do things, it is the way we have recently, and we will continue to do our best.
May 24th also marks a day on our liturgical calendar that I have thought a lot about. It's a "lesser feast," meaning it does not take the place of a Sunday, but it is a feast nonetheless. It's the feast day of Jackson Kemper, the first Missionary Bishop of the Episcopal Church. His charge was to evangelize the "West." At that time (1834), the West was largely Wisconsin, Missouri and Iowa. Bishop Kemper did things like translate the Bible and prayer book in Native American languages. He built an Episcopal school for girls in Wisconsin, and he built an Episcopal Seminary, my father's alma mater, Nashotah House.
Amazingly, Bishop Kemper did all of this at a time when he had to travel great distances by horseback, stopping at people's houses, schools, and town squares along the way. He envisioned the church, knowing that the English model that had existed for hundreds of years was no longer applicable. He knew he had to find a new way to spread the story of Jesus.
During Covid-19, our previous modes of ministry are, like Bishop Kemper's time, no longer applicable. Instead now is a time for new thoughts about how we can be church. New thoughts about gifts and assets, new thoughts about mission and being a missionary. In the coming month, as we await our bishop's guidelines on worship and worship space, the leadership of St. Martin's will be tasked with re-imagining the church. But the start of that re-imagining will begin with something old. Backyard church, green-space ministries such as the Point, family church, and one-on-one letter writing.
I have heard people talk about a "new normal." For St. Martin's "new normal" will not be good enough. Instead I ask you to think about and pray about what the Kingdom of God looks like right now. I ask you to pray for our church committees, our vestry, and our leadership. I ask that you pray for a missionary spirit. In the past week, I have come to understand that I do not want St. Martin's to survive during COVID 19; instead, I want us to thrive. Through creativity, love, compassion, intelligence, and the power of the Holy Spirit, I know that we can.
In Christ,
Mitch+
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Should you be
in need of pastoral care
, please use the dedicated extension,
(Ext. 201)
when you call the parish office, 803.787.0392.
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While scrolling
Instagram,
be sure to follow
@smifsc for the
Three-Word Gospel on Tuesdays, a brief summary of the upcoming Gospel, and
ComplinefromHome
postings, short evening prayers or thoughts, Monday through Friday.
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YOUTH UPDATES:
- Middle-schoolers: Courtney hopes you will join her for a Middle School Zoom Lunch on Thursdays at 12:30 p.m. Fix your sandwich and Zoom into the gathering.
- Sr. High students: Your Zoom Lunch will be at noon on Fridays.This has changed. No more breakfast meetings.
- Click HERE to join either group at the time listed above.
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Thank you in advance for keeping your pledge current during this time of uncertainty. You may pay your pledge in these ways:
- Use this link to keep your pledge up-to-date by going online. You will need your bank routing number, which is the first set of numbers printed on the bottom of your checks, on the left side. You will also need your account number, which is the next set of numbers beside the routing number at the bottom of your check. This online link is safe and secure.
- You may also mail your checks to the Parish Office at 5220 Clemson Ave., Columbia, SC 29206.
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5220 Clemson Avenue
Columbia, SC 29206
803.787.0392 | www.stmartinsinthefields.com
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