The Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields

Field Notes

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Happy Pride Month!

Sunday Worship

June 9th, 2024

8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist (spoken)

9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist for Children and Families

10:30 a.m. Choral Holy Eucharist

2024 Annual Meeting follows immediately after the 10:30 a.m. service

5:00 p.m. LGBTQ+ Pride Evensong

A Note From Rev. Laura

If all goes well—three flights, a two-hour drive to the coast, two ferries, and twenty hours of travel give or take a few--- by the time you’re reading this I will be on the tiny Isle of Iona, settling in to the Andoran House for the next two nights.

It’s a pilgrimage preceding my pilgrimage on Celtic Spirituality, which will be led by the Rev. Dr. John Philip Newell, author, priest, and scholar on the Celts. 

I’ve long been drawn to Iona but had no plans to go. Last March, Joanne Conway was doing her volunteer shift at the Welcome Desk and we started chatting about Newell. She, too, has a deep respect for him and the Celts. When I got to my office, I thought I’d look at his retreats this summer, knowing they would be booked.

Continue reading here

A Note From the Rector's Warden

Dear St. Martin's Family,

This Sunday June 9th will be my last Annual Meeting as your Rector's Warden and as a vestry member. It's with mixed emotions that I leave this position as we all carry on in our roles with love and appreciation for God, the Holy Spirit and Jesus, as well as love and appreciation for St. Martin's. I am eternally grateful to all of you who have done and continue to do so much for St. Martin's. You are the ministries; you are St. Martin's.

Five years ago, I joined the vestry in very different St. Martin's and secular circumstances. Our church, clergy, and staff leadership were entirely different with the exception of three constants.

Continue reading here.

Features

2024 Annual Parish Meeting

This Sunday, June 9th

Immediately following the 10:30 a.m. service (~12 p.m.)

All are encouraged to attend this year's Annual Meeting led by the Vestry. The meeting will take place in the Parish Hall THIS Sunday, directly following the conclusion of the 10:30 a.m. service.

LGBTQ+ Pride Evensong

Next Sunday, June 9th, at 5:00 p.m.

The Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields was the first in the Diocese of Pennsylvania to offer a Choral Evensong specifically in celebration and recognition of LGBTQ+ Pride in June 2022. 

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Join us for our now yearly tradition featuring music by all LGBTQ+ or underrepresented composers. 

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Singers who may be interested in joining us for this event are encouraged to come to rehearsal on June 6 at 7 p.m. and should email Tyrone Whiting, Director of Music & Arts at twhiting@stmartinec.org or register by clicking here.

Sermon Transcript

The Rev. Laura Palmer

June 2nd, 2024

Jesus’ anger is always a jolt. It’s a fierce reminder of his humanity. And yet it can be hard to integrate with our archetypal image of the tender, loving, and protective savior who preached, after all, that the greatest commandment was love.  

Yet the stakes were high. Despite the cost, Jesus never backed down when it came to love. “The time is always right to do what’s right.” Those ten words from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., sum up the three years of Jesus’ ministry as well as any other.

Continue reading here.

Photo courtesy of StringFlo

POSTPONED

StringFlo

Saturday, June 8th

10:00 a.m. in the Parish Hall

With apologies, this Saturday's StringFlo event will be postponed until the Fall. To ensure the smooth running of these events, please do sign up in advance when details are made available.

Folk Mass

Next Sunday, June 16th at 10:30 a.m.

June 16th sees the return of our yearly Folk/Bluegrass Mass! Co-led this year by Vestry Member, David Dieck, and Alto Section Leader, Marisa Miller, this service will bring together musicians from the congregation who will share a variety of wonderful music. If you are interested in playing for this service, please reach out to David or Marisa!

Take Action

Sponsor a Beyond Borders Family

At the Mothers' Day Adult Forum, Beyond Borders staff explained their Family Graduation Program, which helps empower a cohort of 160 families to move from poverty to financial security and self-reliance within two years. At this time 35 of the 160 families in the program still need sponsors. If Beyond Borders does not find sponsors for these remaining families, they will need to use general operations funds to cover costs, which would require laying off staff. We are looking for individuals who can sponsor a family in whole ($100/month) or in part ($25/month). So far, eight parishioners have already signed on to help! Our Community Engagement Committee is also sponsoring a family on behalf of St. Martin’s. Continue reading here.

Guatemala Student Scholarship Fundraising 2025

The Guatemala Scholarships Pledge Drive is off to a roaring start! In two weeks, we’ve raised over $10,000 in pledges to educate children age 3 all the way to graduate school. All of us at St. Martin’s has benefitted from education, but attending school in the highlands of Guatemala is not a given. That’s where we come in. Each $550 pledge supports a child through a full year of school in their community. On the side of the one-room schoolhouse a mural including a quote by Malala Yousafzai reads: “One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world.” We’re not at the finish line yet. Let’s be a part of changing the world of children in rural Guatemala. Click here and select Guatemala Scholarships fund to donate directly or make your pledge any of the next three Sundays.

Coming Up

Spirituality of Aging

This Upcoming Wednesday, June 12th

10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.

(In person in the Houston Room and on Zoom)

Spirituality of Aging is a conversation group bringing older adults together to share our stories, questions and insights about aging, in a supportive, congenial spirit. The group meets monthly, and is open to all who want to explore with others the experience of growing older (and, we hope, wiser). To RSVP, or for more information, please contact Elizabeth Morrison at elizabeth.donnell.morrison@gmail.com.

Youth Connecting

Sundays June 16 and July 21

5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Grades 7-12   

Meet at the home of the Martin Family

Youth are invited to connect for games, conversation, and hanging out. At each session, we will make time to discuss resources from Christian tradition that help us respond to some of the most challenging issues of our day. Topics may include climate change, gender and sexuality, or war; we will adjust our focus based on what is most important for the youth who are present. A simple meal will be provided. Feel free to bring a snack to share. We hope you can make it! Please contact Rev. Britta with questions or to RSVP (cyf@stmartinec.org).

It's Not Too Late to Register for VBS!

Mon., June 17th - Fri., June 21st

9 a.m. - 3 p.m. (Full Day) or 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. (Half Day)

Please click here to register.

This year's Vacation Bible School invites children to come celebrate the wonders of the earth! Our theme, Songs of Creation, is inspired by Psalm 150:6, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” We will explore the incredible ways people care for creation and celebrate it. Join us for a week of games, crafts, stories of faith, and lots of music!

Contact Rev. Britta with any questions: cyf@stmartinec.org

Wednesday Noon Eucharist

Every Wednesday at

12:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary

Wellspring Worship Reflections

In Person in the Houston Room following the 10:30 service.