This Sunday we move back inside. November 1^st is the commemoration of All Saints/All Souls Eucharist at 9 am, in the Sanctuary. Moving inside will mean a restriction on numbers who can attend so please make sure you register online – just as you have been doing over the summer.

Many of us have discovered, through the outdoor Eucharist, a renewed need for the sacramental presence of Christ in our lives. Deprived of the joys of coffee hour and fellowship time with our church friends, our spiritual need for the familiarity and comfort of the Eucharist has increased. Sadly, many of us who have attended the outdoor Eucharists will not be able to accompany us inside out of an abundance of caution. We should all expect further restrictions and limitation on numbers in worship as the winter progresses.

COVID-19 presents us with theological and spiritual challenges that none of us ever thought we would have to encounter. As your pastor, I have found myself reconsidering the theology of auricular communion – a concept much frowned upon by the Anglican Reformers of the 16^th Century who emphasized the importance of not just attending the Eucharist but of actually physically receiving Holy Communion.

Auricular means receiving through the ears, and Roman Catholics of an older generation still talk of hearing mass – a vestige of attending mass but not receiving communion. An unexpected revival of a theology of auricular communion now offers us a way of maintaining an experience of the Eucharist – of receiving Christ’s sacramental presence, when being present and physically taking communion is, for many of us, not possible .

The phrase auricular communion falls strangely on our Anglican ears. I suggest we now refer to it simply as spiritual communion. To my surprise I find I am recommending this to us in a time when so many of us are prevented from physically attending the Eucharist - yet nevertheless - long for the intimacy of Christ’s sacramental presence in our lives.

Eventually, when our livestreaming capacity is fully installed, those participating through the livestream will see the prayer for making a spiritual communion on the screen. It may take us several weeks to work up to this level of technology. Until then, scroll down this page to find the prayer for making a spiritual communion.

In celebration of All saints, at 4pm this Sunday, we will videocast a service of Sung Evensong led by the St Martin’s Chapel Consort. This, together with the weekly webcast of the Liturgy of the Word, will offer a richer musical experience of worship. Please remember to tune in by using the links sent out in the Saturday worship reminder.

All Saints and All Souls are the opposite sides of the same coin. On All Saints we celebrate all those we recognize as exemplars of the Christian life - saints with a capital S. All Souls, the reverse side of the coin, is the human recognition that, for us left behind, the death of loved ones is an experience accompanied by feelings of loss and grief - saints with a small s. Beginning on November 2nd, we will commemorate All Souls with an E-announcement of the Necrology - the names of the members of St Martin’s who have passed through death to be received into the love of God in 2020. Please send in the names of others known to you as you prayerfully honor the names on the parish necrology.

In case you missed it, here is this week's "conversation" video from the Capital Campaign:

Liturgy of the Word

(pre-recorded & webcast from 7 am)

click here

Click here to in-person pre-register

Click here to join the live stream

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel to receive updates and to view the latest livestream recording.

10 am KidsZoom - click here to join

Tuesday

9 am - Morning Devotions (in-person & Zoom)

Click here for Zoom connection.

Wednesday

7 am - Holy Eucharist (in-person & Zoom)

Click here for Zoom connection.

9 am - Morning Devotions (in-person & Zoom)

Click here for Zoom connection.

7 pm - Bible Study (contact for link)

Click here to contact Joshua.

5:30 pm Meditation Hour (in-person & Zoom)

Click here for Zoom connection.

Click here to read the prayer for the making of a Spiritual Communion under the special circumstances of the Coronavirus Pandemic.

This prayer is to be used by virtual participants in a livestream of the Holy Eucharist at the point when those physically present are invited to receive Holy Communion.

Rev. Linda has prepared a selection of insights and prayers, many from the Book of Common Prayer, for this season of civic responsibility.

Prayers for Election Season is available at the Usher's Table. You may also click here to view an electronic copy on our parish website.

This year, we will be keeping a virtual Necrology on the church website, beginning with All Souls' Day. Please send in the names of loved ones who have passed to be included in this memorial space. Names (and year of passing, if you choose) may be sent to Joshua by clicking here.

It's that time of year again! Please bring your items in a brown paper bag. Thanksgiving baskets will be distributed to Better Lives RI and Camp Street Ministries. We will continue to receive non-perishable food items for Better Lives RI throughout the year.

Suggested Items: canned corn, green beans, mixed vegetables, canned cranberry sauce, canned squash or pumpkin, stuffing mix, instant potato, nuts...

The Knitting Ministry is pleased to be distributing prayer shawls once again. You may request that a prayer shawl be delivered to you by one of our knitters; zero contact pickup is also available. Each shawl is washed and placed in a sealed, Ziploc bag with an enclosed prayer. To request a prayer shawl, please contact Natasha Lofgren or Jill Scott.

We are open for Fall shopping and accepting donations of new and gently-used fall and winter clothing and accessories.

We're limited on space and not taking books or housewares, but if you have furniture or other larger items you wish to donate, email Heather Tingle (photos are helpful!). Please remember, all items should be in good, sellable condition.

KidZoom is St. Martin’s online church school for children and families. Join us every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. for relaxed home worship and a time for prayer, music, Bible stories, wondering, and fun! For most of our stories we provide the Action Bible, one per family. For a copy of your Action Bible or for more information, contact the Rev. Linda Griggs.

Through these challenging times, day-to-day tasks can seem overwhelming.

St. Martin’s is available to hear your concerns.  There is a Healing Prayers Box available at the Welcome Table each Sunday. Simply write your prayer request on one of the index cards provided and place it in the box. Clergy and/or The Healing Ministry will respond within one week. Questions about the Healing Ministry? Please contact Jeana Whittredge.