E-Messenger June 25, 2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

In any organization there are unwritten traditions and informal gatherings that become ingrained in the community. One of those traditions at St. Martin's has been Corn Sunday. This Sunday, thanks once again to the Poteats, will be Corn Sunday. Chad will park his truck by the new Community Garden. Tables will be set up so people will be socially distanced and wearing masks. If you would like to come get some corn, please come! Again, wear your mask and practice physical distancing, but please swing by and get some sweet corn.

I hope to be able to say hi from a safe physical distance. Also, at the beginning of this pandemic, Judy Carter painted hundreds of "Resurrection Stones," but we were not allowed to pass them out. I have safely stored these stones. They will be laid out on a table. Anyone who would like one is welcome to take one home with them. 

I realize the above is a far cry from in-person worship. With COVID-positive numbers on the rise, in-person group gatherings are simply not yet safe. But there are safe things we can do. Coming to get some corn and saying hi to friends from a strict physical distance is one such thing. Remember at this time, loving your neighbor as yourself means wearing a mask and practicing physical distancing. I hope to see anytime between 10:50 am. and 12:30 p.m. this Sunday. Stop by, say hi, head out. 

In Christ,

Mitch+

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 while in detention from the virus.

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:

Commons Threads stitching their time over Zoom

If you would like to join the camaraderie of doing needlework or other hand-sewn projects, contact Stephanie Whitson so she can get you your Zoom invitation for the Common Threads gatherings taking place weekly on Sundays at 3 p.m.

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.

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: