 |
|
Rector's Note
Answering the Gospel's Call Together
No matter what is happening around us, the Church remains the Body of Christ and the call of the Gospel remains emphatic, full of grace, and trustworthy. We are entering a new era in our nation and members are asking me how the Church will respond. My response is simple, "We will continue to do the good work the Gospel calls us to do!"
Our faithful response to God in the past will continue however conditions around us may change. We will feed the poor, clothe the naked, house the homeless, welcome the refugee, visit the prisoner, comfort the persecuted, liberate the oppressed and all for the sake of Christ's name. We will respect the dignity of every human being, we will work for racial justice and economic security for the most vulnerable, we will speak up against sexism and misogyny, affirm and welcome LGBTQ people and champion their civil rights, and celebrate the advancement and equality of all people. This is our baptismal work as a community set apart to represent Jesus Christ in this world...
READ MORE
|
Pledge Envelopes Available for Pickup
If you requested giving envelopes on your 2017 pledge, please stop by the Parish House lobby to pick them up. If you are no longer interested in using giving envelopes, perhaps because you have transitioned to automated online giving, please be sure to let Natalee know so that your number may be reassigned to someone else. We have a few open numbers but want to be sure we can provide them to anyone else who newly requests them. Thank you!
Please consider giving Sunday flowers in thanksgiving or memorial. All Sundays in February and March are available. Please contact Connie Haggard at [email protected] or by calling the church for more information.
|
|
Parish Forum Jan. 22
Being in Communion
Rector Jarrett Kerbel leads us in a reflection on how faith and sacrament empowers a diverse faith community to be in communion with one another and with God.
Parish Forum Jan. 29
The Power of a Broken Heart: Addressing Injustice in Painful Times
The Rev. Chaz Howard, University Chaplain of the University of Pennsylvania, helps us find energy and meaning in doing the ongoing spiritual work of justice.
|
Commemorating the Ordination of Florence Li Tim-Oi
First Woman Ordained to the Priesthood in the Anglican Communion, 1944
Sunday, January 22nd
Named by her father "much beloved daughter," Li Tim-Oi was born in Hong Kong in 1907. When she was baptized as a student, she chose the name of Florence in honor of Florence Nightingale. Florence studied at Union Theological College in Guangzhou (Canton). In 1938, upon graduation, she served in a lay capacity, first in Kowloon and then in nearby Macao.
In May 1941 Florence was ordained deaconess. Some months later Hong Kong fell to Japanese invaders, and priests could not travel to Macao to celebrate the Eucharist. Despite this setback, Florence continued her ministry. Her work came to the attention of Bishop Ronald Hall of Hong Kong, who decided that "God's work would reap better results if she had the proper title" of priest.
Read More
|
How to be Happier
Saturdays:
Jan. 21 and 28, and
Feb. 4, 11, 18 and 25;
10 to 11 a.m.
Fee: $60
Learn ways to ways to increase happiness and life satisfaction in this six-week series. The classes are based on the new field of positive psychology, which, instead of treating illness, looks at ways to promote happiness, life satisfaction, and resilience. Dr. Sarah Whitman is a psychiatrist practicing in the Philadelphia area. Her practice focuses on chronic physical pain.
Registration required
.
Spirituality of Aging
Feb. 1, 3:00
to 4:30 p.m. in Hilary House
Convener: Karen Rowley
All are invited to learn where God may be and how God is acting as we move in the second half of life.
No registration required.
Listening Lessons: Praying from the Silent Center
Wednesday, Feb. 15,
7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in Hilary House
Presenter: The Rev. Sharline Fulton
Suggested donation: $15
According to Basil Pennington, Centering Prayer is "but a simple way to open the door wide all the way to let God in Christ come in." The Rev. Sharline Fulton will lead an introduction to this prayer form that allows one to discover God in contemplative silence. Part of Wellspring at St. Martin's "Listening Lessons" ongoing series on ways to open ourselves ever deeper to the voice and presence of God in our lives.
Registration Required.
|
Connect 8's
Introducing CONNECT 8's - regularly scheduled dinner groups of 8 people that rotate each time so you meet more and more members of St. Martin's. Dinner groups will be hosted in the homes of participants and will be easy to organize. Once we have enough sign ups the Hospitality Committee will post a schedule. The host will provide the entree and each guest will bring one part of the meal. Each gathering will include introductions, conversation, fellowship over dinner, and brief prayers at the end. The groups will be good for couples or singles, and if you cannot host you can team up with someone else as host. We recommend that families with children attend Parents Play Date or get a sitter (from our church list of great babysitters available from Rev. Anne!) if they plan to attend CONNECT 8's. Dinners will be scheduled the first Sunday of the month from March through May.
|
|
Biblical Studies Groups Restart
Reading Together the Unfolding Texts of the Synoptic Gospels
Mondays 6:30 - 8 p.m. in Hilary House
A great introduction to all Biblical studies, this new class explores the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke (the Synoptic Gospels) in parallel to each other.
Facilitator: Helen White ([email protected])
The Second Book of Samuel
Tuesdays 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon in the Houston Room
Ongoing study. New participants are welcome at any time.
Facilitators: Carol Duncan ([email protected]) and Cathy Glazer ([email protected]).
II Kings
Thursdays 7:30 - 8:45 a.m. In the Houston Room
New participants are welcome at any time.
Facilitator: Charlie Day ([email protected])
Beginning the Letters of Paul with First Thessalonians
Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon in Hilary House
Ongoing study. New participants are welcome at any time.
Facilitator: Helen White ([email protected])
|
|
Wednesday, Jan. 25th at 6 p.m. in the Parish Hall
Please join us for our community meal next week, then stay for a beautiful sung Compline service afterwards in the church at 7 p.m.
|
|
Men for Others
Saturday, Jan. 28th at 7:30 a.m. in the Houston Room
The topic for this gathering is to reflect on our current civic situation of division and unrest. How do we deal with feelings of hurt, rejection, and discord individually and as a church community? What skills of listening and courageous conversation are available to us? Please join us for what should be a good discussion.
|
|
Reading with the Rector - Dietrich Bonhoeffer
"After Ten Years: A Reckoning made at New Year 1943"
Wednesday, January 25th, 7:30 p.m. in the Houston Room
Start the New Year exploring the wisdom of Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his reflection on the ten years leading up to 1943 and their meaning for him and for the church. Originally a Christmas letter shared between Bonhoeffer and friends in the German resistance movement, these 15 pages serve as the prologue to
Letters and Papers From Prison, a collection of the German pastor's writings.
|
|
2017 Guatemala Trip
Es el tiempo a pensar en Guatemala...el viaje de 2017
It's time to think about the 2017 Guatemala Trip!
We are planning a 2-week trip in late June. This is an opportunity for youth, families, and adults to journey to our partner parishes and share ministry, faith, and fellowship.
Join us for an information meeting:
Wednesday, January 25th 7:30 p.m. Library
Sunday, January 29th: 12:30 p.m. Library
|
The Muppet Movie Sing-Along!
Friday, February 4th at 5:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall
Brighten your February by movin' right along to the Rainbow Connection. Can you picture that? Come all lovers and dreamers, and frogs.
Costumes and puppets welcome; popcorn will be available. No registration required.
|
Finding Friends for Ayman
When a request came from the Dahans for playmates for 8-year-old Ayman, who was feeling lonely, the Siry family said "We'll go!" Paula Siry showed up with her two boys Wyatt (left) and Sam (right) and brought along a Spiderman
costume for Ayman. The boys had fun and want to get together again! If you know of other playdate opportunities for Ayman, please contact Marnie Kerr:
|
|
Women's March on Philadelphia
Saturday, January 21, 2017
Join us for the Women's March and Rally on Philadelphia as women, men, and children march in solidarity for protection of our rights, our safety, our health, and our families while recognizing that vibrant and diverse communities are the strength of our country. The message is one of positivity and inclusion.
Read More
The starting point is: Logan Circle at 10 AM
The ending point is: Eakins Oval
The rally location is: Eakins Oval 12 to 3 PM
|
|
Banner and Torchbearers Needed for Cathedral's Blessed Absalom Jones Celebration
Saturday, February 11th, 9:30 a.m. at the Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral
Each parish is invited to send a banner-bearing acolyte,
and there is room for some torchbearers! If you're interested in participating, please contact Rev. Anne at [email protected] or by calling the church office by January 29th.
|
|
The Needlepoint Guild is back!
Many thanks to the hardy group of parishioners who gathered on
November 12th
to thoroughly clean under the pews and vacuum all of the kneelers. The beautiful needlepoint wool kneelers suffered moth damage and only by keeping them vacuumed can this be prevented. Special thanks go to Daphne Raasch for repairing the moth damage on 22 kneelers. Karen Tracy and her daughter Winslow and Alan and Jane Good, along with Daphne and Howard Goldstein enjoyed working together. This maintenance is ongoing, and Howard Goldstein, as the new head of the Needlepoint Guild, welcomes and encourages anyone interested in volunteering. He can be reached at:
[email protected]
.
|
Are you interested in priority seating for The Rapture? Did you major in Snow Removal Arts at Northwestern University (like Jarrett)? Do you have to perform community service for TP'ing a local Methodist minister's parsonage (like Anne)? Do you have an energetic child who needs service hours for school? If you answered "YES" to any of these questions, or you simply would like to demonstrate your shoveling prowess, please join the
St. Martin's Snow Angels
. We will take volunteers of all ages and gifts, whether you can shovel, steer a snowblower, or spread ice melt. Email Jarrett at [email protected] and pray for snow.
|
Help us meet our participation goal and make your 2017 pledge!
We consider our
participation goal
as equal in importance to our
financial goal
.
We clearly asked every person who considers St. Martin's to be their church to make a pledge as an expectation of membership. 265 member households responded affirmatively.
We need 35 more households to meet our participation goal of 300 pledging units.
If you haven't yet, please pledge today!
|
|
Members in the News
If you catch another member in the news, pass along word so we can share!
|
|
Weekday Worship:
Morning Prayer:
Weekdays at 7:30 a.m.
Morning Meditation:
Weekdays at 8:15 a.m.
Mid-Week Eucharist:
Wednesdays at 12:15 p.m.
Compline:
2nd and 4th Wednesdays at 7 p.m. after SUPPER at St. Martin's
|
|
Quick Info & Links
Our Mission
Welcome all seekers;
Worship God in liturgy, music, and prayer;
Equip all baptized persons for ministry;
Engage as agents of Christ's love in the world.
Our Core Values
Learning leads to God;
In giving and receiving care we encounter Christ;
Life in the Holy Spirit is beautiful.
Our Aspirational Values
Community engagement and social justice;
Unconditional welcome and inclusion;
A community that calls forth the gifts of its entire people;
Becoming a racism-free and diverse community that reflects the city where we worship.
|
Field Notes is the weekly parish e-newsletter for the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood of Philadelphia. Read about our events, programs, and other opportunities.
To submit news or articles, please send typed blurbs (75 words or less!) to Natalee Hill, Associate for Communications & Administration at
[email protected]
by Tuesday. Feedback is always welcome!
|
Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields |
StMartinEC.org
| 215.247.7466
8000 St. Martin's Lane | Philadelphia | PA | 19118
|
|
|
|
|
|
