Re-opening Committee Update
The re-opening committee has been working hard to make plans for the future. Please click on the link below to read their updates:
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Volunteers Needed to Light the Advent Wreath during Zoom Advent Worship
This year our Advent worship on Sundays will continue on Zoom. Our worship will include beloved Advent hymns- and maybe a few new ones, as well as the lighting of the Advent Wreath. For centuries Christians have used the advent wreath as a way to express our longing for God's Reign of peace, and as a way to mark the passing of time as we await for the Coming of Christ. I encourage you to create an Advent Wreath for your own home this year. You may use any greens that you desire along with four candles, traditionally three purple and one rose. Some also include a white Christ Candle in the center to be lit on Christmas Eve. Light your candles each evening as we hold one another in love and prayer.
I am also looking for three volunteers family groups, a couple or a single person- to volunteer to light a candle on their wreath and to say a short prayer on one of the Sundays of Advent, as a way of calling us to worship.
Fr. Rob can now be contacted at rectorstmartinsnj@gmail.com
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Pandemic Cookbooks
The cookbooks have arrived and they look FABULOUS! If you are interested in purchasing a copy for $20 please email me.
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Keeper of the Light
There is a light at St. Martin's that never goes out. We call it the "Sanctuary Light". It reminds us of the presence of Christ who is with us always. During this time when we are not able to be in our building, members of the parish have been taking turns caring for the light in their own home and then passing it on to another member for the next week, until we can all be together again in the church building. If you would like to be the "Keeper of the Light" for a week, email Philip with the subject "Candle" at philip.muniz@gmail.com.
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Christmas Pageant
The show will go on! Our pageant will be ALL VIRTUAL this year. The children will be assigned their parts, they will pick up their costumes, and then we will rehearse via Zoom. We will pre-record the pageant and then play it during our Christmas Eve 4 p.m. service. Interested? Please email me ASAP. Alison
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Stewardship
Please continue to send in your pledges. We are running at a $63,000 deficit for 2021. We currently have about $137,000 in pledges. You can mail in your pledge card or use the Pledge Here button at the top of this page. When you click on it, it will bring you to our Vanco online giving page. It only takes a few steps to set up your account. Any questions, please contact Kelly Slye: kelly@slye.us
Thank you for your continued support of St. Martin's.
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Adult Fellowship
Advent: A Time of Waiting in The Time of COVID
You are invited to take part
in a four-session Advent series on Wednesdays at 7:30 starting December 2nd in conjunction with St. John's
How does Advent, the first season of the church year, cause us to reexamine our desires as we prepare to welcome Christ, the Desire of Nations? The series focuses on that question, with the theme of Advent Ethics. We will meet virtually on Wednesdays from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sessions includes prayer, a scripture reading, reflection, study questions and sharing.
Schedule
Dec. 2: Redeeming Time: Being pushed back to Christ and to the Eucharist
Dec. 9: What Are We Waiting For? Examining how Isaiah’s oracles are employed in Advent liturgies to interpret Jesus’ birth, ministry and suffering
Dec. 16: The Three Advents: Looking at Bernard of Clairvaux’s account of Christ’s “threefold coming”
Dec. 23: Advent of the Heart: Focusing on the Prison Mediations of Alfred Delp, SJ
For questions and to get the virtual meeting details,
call Paul Grzella at 908-507-8020 or email him at pgrzella@verizon.net.
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Calling for anyone who has pictures of the church during Advent or Christmas! Look through your old holiday pictures and send them to Alison. |
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St. Nicholas Fire Pit Celebration
Sunday, December 6th
4 pm to 5 pm-ish
The Kellam’s backyard (900 Ardsley Lane, Bridgewater)
In lieu of our traditional potluck dinner, enjoy some hot cocoa by the fire as a way for Saint Martin’s children to gather together and celebrate the holiday season. We will read our traditional Saint Nicholas story and rumor has it that Saint Nicholas may make an appearance!
Mask required unless drinking hot cocoa or eating yummy treats as we want to make this safe for everyone! Just bring yourselves wrapped in warm clothes. The event is weather dependent.
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Outreach
The Outreach Committee will be holding a collection for the Food Bank Network on Sunday, December 13th. We will be in the church parking lot from noon until 2:00. This collection is focusing on personal care products. The Food Bank is receiving more and more requests for these items and they run out of them quickly. Items that are on the list include toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, bar soap, dish soap, laundry soap, and paper products. Many of these items can be purchased in dollar stores. And of course, food is always welcome. Thank you.
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Update on Fr. Laws
As mentioned last week during service, Fr. Laws and his family will not move into the rectory until the end of the year.
We would like to provide Fr. Laws with a "Best of Bridgewater" list upon his arrival. If you have a favorite business that you can recommend, please fill out the survey using this link:
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Eagle Scout Project
by Aidan Haddad
My project is to improve the picnic area by the playground by installing a paver patio.
Please consider donating to my project by using the GoFundMe button below:
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