E-Messenger July 2, 2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Happy Thursday. I hope that you are all well and safe and ready to enjoy your Fourth of July weekend. With COVID cases rapidly rising, I also hope everyone stays safe and continues to do their part by wearing masks.

With that being said, I also hope you can do something for yourself by carving out time for rest, renewal and fun. The other day I was fortunate to be able to hike around the lake at Sesquicentennial State Park. It was an easy, beautiful walk. During that walk, it dawned on me how easy it was to get to, and, yet, how rarely I have gone there. I get into my routines and almost need to force myself into a change of scenery. During this COVID holiday, when large gatherings can't happen, perhaps a simple change of scenery could be enough to set the day and time off as special. In the last three years, I have come to appreciate how beautiful a state South Carolina is. I hope you can explore some of it, safely.

In Christ,

Mitch+

Grant, O God on this Fourth of July holiday, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart and especially the hearts of the people of this land, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

--Adapted from the Book of Common Prayer, p. 823.

Then join us after church

 for a Zoom coffee hour!

This is a great way to catch up with one another. You will need Zoom on your device to join. If you do not have Zoom, when you click HERE , you'll be invited to download Zoom and join the meeting.

Once you are in Zoom, you will need the following to join the meeting:

Meeting ID: 924 4926 0578

Password: onthepoint

If you want to join by dialing in, call   253.215.8782

Meeting ID: 924 4926 0578

Password: 236317

If you would like to submit a name for our ongoing prayer list, please use this form. Names will be shared weekly prior to worship and will be removed after three weeks, as in the past. 

Let's log the most miles in the Great EpisGOpal Race!

Mitch has challenged other churches in the diocese to compete against St.Martin's in logging the most miles for the Great EpisGopal Race that supports COVID relief efforts provided by the United Thank Offering (click on image to left to see his challenge) . Anytime between July 22-31, choose your preferred mode and distance and race to raise money for COVID-19 relief.

Click the first button below to register with the St. Martin's team. You will be prompted to create an account with UTO and then join the St. Martin's team. The password to join our team is smiffy .

Click the second button below simply to make a contribution on behalf of Team SMIF. Questions? Contact Caitlyn .

OR

Won't you please share a letter of encouragement?

Through El Refugio, St. Martin's has begun ministries of remembering and walking alongside people in immigration detention. This winter, we sent our first group of "missionaries" to make visits with people in detention, listening to their stories and letting them know they are not alone or forgotten. Since the pandemic, we have been conducting ministries of relationship through letter writing. Our friends in immigration detention are discouraged, fearful, and anxious during this pandemic. While some have been released on asylum, or had their deportation orders cancelled during this time, others have died from the COVID-19 virus while in detention.

For those who remain imprisoned, notes of hello and encouragement are a very important piece of love and charity that we can show them. Pictures drawn by children are also encouraged!

Here are important details about this effort:

This app puts the church directory at your fingertips!

The easiest and fastest way to have an up-to-date parish directory is by downloading the ChurchLife app onto your phone. Follow these instructions to get started. You will be so glad you did this! We promise.

Log in info: Site # 90036 

Username and password are same as your church website log in. You will only have to input this info once. If you haven't created a login, follow the steps with the login button on the homepage of the church website . 

Don't remember your log in? Contact [email protected] .

You can also use the church website

Click the button below for step-by-step instructions on how to access directories via our website.

Friday is the last day to vote!

Follow St. Martin's on  Facebook   (St. Martin's-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church) throughout the week for parish news!  LIKE  the page for us, and  SHARE  posts with friends and family! The header currently on display is a copy of the ad we are running in the free times as part of the Best of Columbia contest. St. Martin's has been nominated for the third year as the Best House of Worship. Click the link below to vote for us again this year!

Follow St. Martin's on Instagram at @smifsc, where we post: