| a weekly e-newsletter from Saint Martin's Church |
April 19, 2018
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This Week
at
St. Martin's
Rite I Worship
& BAPTISM
8:00 a.m.
Choir Rehearsal
9:00 a.m.
Rite II Worship with Music
10:00 a.m.
Confirmation Gathering
4:30 p.m.
Wednesday
Holy Eucharist
12:15 p.m.
Bible Study at
St. Martin's
7:00 p.m.
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Greeting
On Sunday, April 29th, Harry Hayman, a long time member of St. Martin's and Board member of Stand With Iraqi Christians, is generously sponsoring "JazzCares: A Night of Charity," an evening of music and food at his restaurant SOUTH in Philadelphia
(600 N Broad St). Proceeds will be donated to the construction of the School of the Redeemer (STR) at St. George's Church in Baghdad, for which SWIC is providing significant funding.
We are extremely grateful to Harry for this inspiring and fun way to support the children of all religions and ethnic backgrounds who will hopefully attend STR this fall. Please come out, hear the terrific jazz of Laura Munich, eat some delicious cuisine, and support St. Martin's powerful mission that continues to positively impact the lives of our sisters and brothers struggling for dignity and peace in Iraq. Show times are at 7:00 & 9:00 p.m.
Peace & blessings,
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Mix a little faith with your froth - join in the fun at Bible & Beer
TONIGHT
Thursday, April 19th
7:00 p.m.
Pietro's Pizza
(236 N Radnor Chester Rd)
Formality is minimal and conversation is amicable!
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This Sunday is a special instructed Eucharist. All children and families are invited to sit in front, close to the altar so they can see what Fr. Chris does and says as he prepares communion. This experience is for all ages. Ms. Deb will be with the children in front, to quietly answer questions and help them understand more about our worship experience.
There will not be a separate Sunday School class at 9:30 a.m. Instead we will gather in front just before the opening procession.
The nursery will still be open this Sunday, starting at 9:30 a.m. However at 10 a.m. Megan will be in the back of the Gurley Room with activities in case some of the children and parents want to move from the pew but still be part of the worship experience.
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Holy Communion Experience
Sharing a Passover Meal
What a wonderful, joyful Passover celebration we had on April 17th from 6 to 8 p.m. 20 adults and children were led by Barry Thomas and had a rich Passover meal. This is one part of preparing for a greater understanding of who Jesus was as a devout Jew. We are blessed to have Abby and Barry as part of our community and expect to repeat this in the future so more of our congregation can learn about this part of our Lord and his disciples' lives.
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Youth have scheduled meetings this week, to speak to Ms. Deb about their scripture passage. There is no chapter in the book to read, but they should bring their bible and passage citation to discuss.
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Mission: Partnership & Pilgrimage
The Global Mission Commission of the Diocese of Pennsylvania is hosting a conference on Saturday, May 19th, at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Germantown.The conference will run from 10:00am to 1:00pm with registration beginning at 9:30am. Both light breakfast fare and lunch are included in the $10.00 registration fee and child care will be available. The conference will feature speakers Buck Blanchard and Jenny Grant both of whom are heavily involved in global mission for The Episcopal Church.
Come learn how we in the Diocese are reaching out beyond our borders and transforming communities and ourselves with friendship. For more information, please contact
Pam Faber.
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Join members of Christ Church, Ithan, and St. Martin's as we continue to explore the parallel Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. This week we will meet at St. Martin's on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The discussion will be held in the large Sunday School room at the end of the first floor hall. Newcomers are welcome--each Wednesday night session stands alone as we compare the same story told by each of the different Gospel writers. This approach provides us with a fresh perspective on the stories of Jesus' life, ministry, and teaching. Copies of the book "Records of the Life of Jesus" are available for purchase or to borrow from St. Martin's. We'd love to have your voice in our spirited and spiritual conversation. In the future we will be having some of these shared Bible Studies at each of the two churches so watch the weekly newsletters to verify the location.
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 The Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia is expanding. Josh, Elizabeth and Julia (all Confirmed in January) are starting a collection of soda pop tabs and the tops off tennis ball containers. They are calling this "We Can..." and ask everyone at St. Martin's to collect tabs or tops and bring them to church. The collection will run from now until June 10th.
If you don't drink beverages from cans or play tennis, there are still things you can do to help the Ronald McDonald House. Look for signs by the containers to see what other items will be useful for families who need to use their facilities. The mission of the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House is to support families of seriously ill children by creating a community of
comfort and hope. St. Martin's CAN be part of bringing comfort and hope.
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This week the St. Martin's community shared an Old Testament scripture experience, as part of the Passover Seder on Tuesday night. We relived Moses begging Pharaoh to "let my people go."
However the path to the promised land was not an easy or direct one. Following God's call can lead to hunger, hostility, and confusion. The Jews wandered the desert for 40 years (and the direct route was under 500 miles)! So what kept them going for such a long time? One Passover prayer says, "May Adonai (God) bless you and keep you. May Adonai smile upon you and be gracious to you and look upon you with favor and give you that most precious gift, the gift of Shalom, of Peace."
This is a passage from the book of Numbers, and is used in a variety of contexts including as a benediction (or blessing spoken at the end of a worship service.) So this week's Pilgrim's Prayer is for everyone--old and young, Jewish and Christian, rich and poor. God's gift of Shalom, or peace, is something to carry with us on our faith journey together through good times and bad.
https://www.thoughtco.com/benediction-may-the-lord-bless-you-700494
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Upcoming Events
Bible & Beer
TONIGHT! Thursday, 4/19, 7 p.m. at Pietro's Pizza, Radnor
Confirmation Gathering
Sunday, 4/22, 4:30 p.m.
Outreach Project and selecting scripture passage for end of year.
SWIC Fundraiser
Sunday, 4/29, 7:00 & 9:00 p.m.
SOUTH Restaurant, 600 N Broad St, Philadelphia
Discernment Meeting
Monday, 4/30, 7 p.m.
Worship Planning Meeting
Tuesday, 5/1, 5:30 p.m.
Staff Meeting
Wednesday, 5/2, 10:00 a.m.
Parish Breakfast
Sunday, 5/6, 8:30 a.m.
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Read and Ponder
this Week's Scriptures
The scripture readings for this Sunday are:
Acts 4:5-12
Psalm 23
1 John 3:16-24
John 10:11-18
The Collect
O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people: Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Acts 4:5-12
The rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, "By what power or by what name did you do this?" Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. This Jesus is `the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.' There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved."
The Response
Psalm 23
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters.
3 He revives my soul and guides me along right pathways for his Name's sake.
4 Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; you have anointed my head with oil, and my cup is running over.
6 Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
The Epistle
1 John 3:16-24
We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us-- and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.
The Gospel
John 10:11-18
Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away-and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father."
Optional parts of the readings are set off in square brackets.
The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.
The Collects, Psalms and Canticles are from the Book of Common Prayer, 1979.
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| Saint Martin's Episcopal Church of Radnor
400 King of Prussia Road
Radnor, PA 19087 (610) 688-4830 |
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