Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I hope and pray that you are well. Also, happy new year! For the church, our year shifts into a "new year" on the first Sunday of Advent, the season when we journey along with Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, while once again preparing our hearts for the birth of the Christ Child. It seems fitting to celebrate this new year with something new. I hope you find this new newsletter format helpful and easier to navigate. Please let us know your thoughts.
Also, as the year comes to a close please check to see if you have paid your pledge for 2022. If you are waiting until year-end, please make the proper arrangements. If you need help, call the office and speak to Robyn.
Advent is a time of year that has always appealed to me. Perhaps this appeal is related to my youth and my time as an athlete. Competitions are fun, but I have always believed that results in the competition are directly related to how well you have prepared for the specific event. I have also found that the best athletes enjoy preparation as much as and perhaps more than the competition itself. The time with teammates, the time grinding alone with your thoughts in a weight room, the time on a field or court alone doing drills. Believe it or not, spiritual preparation has a lot of similarities to athletics. The time spent in worship with your friends is not too different than the time spent with a team. Taking time alone to give thanks to God, to pray, to read Scripture, and to meditate is also meaningful and important. All of these things together, i.e., worship, prayer, and the study of Scripture, orient each of us to the love of God and neighbor. This is holy preparation. It is Advent. I wish everyone a blessed Advent.
In Christ,
Mitch+
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Our service schedule is:
- Holy Eucharist at 8 and 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Sundays in the church with our 10:30 service livestreamed via our YouTube channel.
- Morning Prayer at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesdays in All Saints' Hall in the Parish Hall.
- Holy Eucharist at Noon on Tuesdays in the chapel.
Sunday school is offered throughout the school year for students K-5 and adults. Our youth take part in formation at their evening youth group meetings on Sundays during the school year.
For a full schedule and for worship materials, click WEEKLY WORSHIP.
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Advent is here!
Celebrate with festive all-ages activities in the Parish Hall at 9 a.m. on Sundays during the season leading us to Christmas:
Dec. 4: Create an Anglican rosary with parishioner Judy Carter to use for your prayers during Advent and beyond.
Dec. 11: Paint your own Christ candle for the center of your Advent wreath.
Dec. 18: Coffee hour followed by Christmas pageant.
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Our Posadas
We're making our way to Bethlehem in the Mexican Christmas Posadas tradition that recalls the events leading to the Nativity. You may be invited to host cloth figures of Mary and Joseph -- which will arrive with instructions and a beautiful journal made by parishioner Anne Bell -- in your home one night during Advent. Once your visit is complete, send Mary, Joseph and the journal on their way to another St. Martin's family. On Dec. 24, at the 5 p.m. service, the journal and figures will be presented at the altar as Mary and Joseph complete their journey to Bethlehem.
Interested in taking part? Email Dianna Deaderick by clicking MORE INFO.
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It's that time of year!
Rehearsals for this year's Christmas pageant have begun. The pageant will be Sunday, Dec. 18, at the 10:30 a.m. service. To sign up your child, email Alex. Below is the rehearsal schedule:
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Sunday, Dec. 4, 9:15 to 10:15 a.m.
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Sunday, Dec. 11, 9:15 to 10:15 a.m.
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Saturday, Dec. 17, Dress Rehearsal, Noon to 3 p.m.
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Sunday, Dec. 18, Pageant Day and additional Dress Rehearsal, 8:45 to 10:15 a.m.
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Advent online
Advent practices often take a back seat to our Lenten fasts, thanks in no small part to the hustle and bustle of parties, decorating, and domestic preparations. It can be hard to slow down and devoutly read an Advent book, or piously pray the Daily Office, and fasting during Christmas cookie season is out of the question.But if you will click MORE INFO, you'll find Caitlyn's MEGA list of ways to experience Advent electronically.
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Poinsettia/music donations
Monday, Dec. 12, is the deadline to purchase a poinsettia that will be used to decorate the church for Christmas in honor of, or in memory of, a loved one. You may also make your donation to the music fund. Please click MORE INFO to place your order online.
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Our Giving Tree
We have 30 more tags for our Giving Tree for Crayton families and more are on the way from other schools. Deadline for Crayton tags: Tuesday, Dec. 13.
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Lay Eucharistic Visitor (LEV) training
The training will be held this Sunday (Dec. 4) at 9:15 a.m. in All Saints' Hall with the Rev. Deacon Dianna Deaderick. LEVs visit the sick or homebound to provide communion. To register, please email Dianna.
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Bible Studies
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Brown Bag Bible Study with Mitch of upcoming week's Gospel, St. Luke's Studio, Wednesdays at noon.
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Book Study on Sundays @6 after the 5 p.m. service, St. Luke's Studio. Contact Paul Palmer for more information.
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Monthly Bible Study with Judy Carter on first Tuesday at 7 p.m. in All Saint's Hall. Lesson repeated on Wednesday at 10 a.m. in the parlor in Parish office. Next, Dec. 6 and 7.
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Crayton Backpack Ministry
Our pantry needs Compleats meals, popcorn and pretzels. Please remember that all items should be individually sized. For information or to volunteer, contact Genny McKenzie by clicking MORE INFO.
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Harvest Hope
Each Sunday we collect food for Harvest Hope Food Bank. Donations may be placed in the red wagons outside the church doors or in the narthex on Sundays, and in the plastic bins in the Parish Office during the week. We have contributed 4,669 pounds thus far this year. Click MORE INFO for ways to volunteer.
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Thank you for your support of St. Martin's. Your gifts and/or pledges may be placed in the offering plate in church, or donated online with the button below, the QR code in church pews or on our website. If you have financial questions, please contact Robyn Holt in the church office, 803.787.0392, ext. 105. |
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Dec. 4
Jack Huff
Peter Knight
Libba Shrader
Joe Watts
Dec. 5
Patsy Farr
Mimi Fulmer
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Dec. 6
Ann Elliott
Michael Graham
Scott Graham
Ginia Herring
Dottie Moore
Paul Palmer
Dec. 7
Shane Gainous
Ben Gause
Caroline Mertens
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Dec. 9
Anthony Capitelli
Claude Lott Jr.
Dec. 10
Ann Abney
Sue Benson
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St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields
5220 Clemson Avenue
Columbia, SC 29206
803-787-0392
St. Martin’s Preschool DSS License #25335
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