A community reshaping itself to be
fit for God's purpose
Thursday, May 28, 2020
On The 50th Day
We approach the great festival of Pentecost, literally the 50 th day after Easter, and we find ourselves still not able to enjoy in-person services. We have not been able to hold in-person Sunday services since the middle of Lent when I recommended we stop for two weeks in order to begin to flatten the Coronavirus curve. At that point I fully anticipated we would reopen for Holy Week and Easter. Cancelling Sunday worship for two weeks felt to me at the time to be a big deal. Little did I know – little did any of us realize - that we would still be unable to return for in-person Sunday worship on Pentecost.

I’ve avoided using the term closed to refer to the suspension of in-person worship at St. Martin’s. We have never been closed. Throughout we have maintained weekday morning devotions from the chapel via Zoom. We have zoomed the weekly meditation hour. Each week we have pre-recorded a Liturgy of the Word with music and sermon for Sunday webcast. We have continued to maintain skeleton office functions and the work and ministry of the parish have continued through a raft of virtual meetings. +Deon Johnson, the new Bishop Elect of Missouri recently reminded us, the church is not and has never been closed:

The work of the church is essential. The work of caring for the lonely, the marginalized, and the oppressed is essential. The work of speaking truth to power and seeking justice is essential. The work of being a loving, liberating, and life giving presence in the world is essential. The work of welcoming the stranger, the refugee and the undocumented is essential. The work of reconciliation and healing and caring is essential. The church does not need to “open” because the church never “closed”. We who make up the Body of Christ, the church, love God and our neighbors and ourselves so much that we will stay away from our buildings until it is safe. We are the church.

At St. Martin’s, the period of quarantine and home confinement has not changed our priorities but simply changed the way we do the things we have always done. Who could have imagined that the experience of recent months would actually bring us closer together as a parish community? Yet, growing closer together has been the result!

Of course, we miss being together, worshiping, and socializing together, yet our virtual community is not an imaginary community or a make believe – kind of stopgap – it’s a living community enhanced and strengthened as we meet the challenge of finding new ways of being church together.

Which brings me back to the celebration of Pentecost. On the 50 th day after Easter, something changed - something shifted in the hearts and minds of the followers of Jesus that galvanized them into a community with a revolutionary message. This message was not inspired by human imagination or invention but by the direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit. At Pentecost, the world changed!

That same Holy Spirit continues to inspire and empower us as the Christian people of God to reclaim and renew our revolutionary zeal and change the world. What is this zeal and how might we recognize it?  Acts 2:43-47 articulates it beautifully in the axiom:
"...from each according to their gifts - to each according to their needs."

The Church Wardens will soon be communicating our next steps regarding resumption of carefully regulated aspects of church life as we move into the Governor’s second phase. Yet, as we approach Pentecost, let us muse a little more boldly upon what recovering a revolutionary zeal for the gospel might now begin to look like in our community and our wider world?

The slogan for our upcoming Capital Campaign is:
Opening Our Doors to the Future

Let us rise to the challenge before us and in the meantime stay sane and be safe.

Mark+
New Bible Study Opportunity
Wednesdays at 7 pm
Joshua Maria Garcia, a newer congregant at St. Martin's, is offering an online weekly Bible study on Wednesdays at 7 pm beginning next week, June 3. The class will cover a variety of texts, starting with the Book of Jonah. We will use the Common English Bible in class, which is available free online, and Joshua will provide supplementary materials. The goal of this class is to develop Bible reading skills to make the practice more fulfilling and enjoyable, and to cover material that we don't often see in church or Sunday School.
The Bible study is free and everyone is welcome. Please email Joshua for more information or to sign up.
Joshua Maria Garcia is a religious educator and writer. Originally from Easton, MA, he currently lives in Providence with his partner Edgar and their dog, chickens, and surplus of house plants. Joshua has a BA in Classical Civilization from UMass Amherst, studied Teaching Hebrew Bible at Brandeis University, and finished an MA in Jewish Studies at Hebrew College last year.

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Celebrating 2020 Graduates!
Commencement ceremonies and graduation parties have been brought to a screeching halt this year, but the St. Martin's community wants to be sure to recognize those who have worked long and hard for their achievements! Congratulations to the following graduates:

  • David C. Medeiros who graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Government
  • Diana Blake will be attending Wheaton College in Norton, MA, double majoring in English/Political Science with a minor in French or Legal Studies
  • Rosie Hassel is graduating from the Lincoln School and will be attending Wesleyan University
  • Spencer Izzo is graduating from Wentworth Institute of Technology with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Electrical Engineering
  • Gabriel Timpson-Neill is graduating from Moses Brown and will be attending Auckland University in New Zealand
St. Martin’s Hands:
A Pastoral and Practical Ministry in a Time of Pandemic
St. Martin’s Hands is a ministry with both a pastoral and practical approach to strengthening our parish community as we journey together. If you feel you would benefit from the services of St. Martin’s Hands or if you'd like to volunteer, please reach out via email, phone call or text to  Linda Griggs ,  Cathy Bodner  at 401-272-6610, or  Elizabeth Welshman at 401-688-7037.
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You're Invited to KidZoom!
KidZone has moved online, thanks to the generous efforts of Tim, Marie and Arthur Edgar, who host virtual Home Church for children and families on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. We hope you will join the fun! Please contact Tim for a Zoom-vite.
Episcopal Charities Campaign for 2020
St. Martin's is unable to host a kick-off event for the Episcopal Charities Campaign this year, yet the needs continue for children, the elderly, and at-risk members of our community. Please consider making a donation to Episcopal Charities - 100% of your contribution goes directly to help those in need. Donations may be made  online or by check via mail to Episcopal Charities, Episcopal Diocese of RI Main Office, 275 North Main St, Providence, RI 02903
Healing Prayers
Even though we are not able to meet together at church, it doesn't mean we need to be secluded from one another. The Healing Prayers team is committed to continuing in ministry to those of you who would like prayers.
Healing Prayers will be offered for the week of May 31 through June 6 by Jeana Whittredge. She can be reached by phone at 413-313-3033.
 May the peace of God guard your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
Sunday Morning
Worship Podcast posted from 7 am
11 am - 12 pm

Weekday Services
Morning Devotions from the Chapel via Zoom
9 am Tuesday - Friday
Evening Devotions discontinued for summer
Meditation Hour via Zoom
5:30 pm Thursday

Weekly Prayer List

  • Those affected by the Covid-19 virus:
  • Those who are ill or are in quarantine
  • Those who have lost family members or friends to the illness
  • The residents of group homes and nursing homes, including Hallworth House, Bethany Home, and Evergreen House Health Center
  • Everyone who is affected by the economic fallout of the virus
  • Those who are working hard to care for us and provide for us at this time:
  • First responders, nurses, doctors, and health care aids on the front lines in hospitals, nursing homes, and group homes
  • Scientists and lab technicians who are trying to find a treatment or vaccine for Covid-19
  • Store clerks, stockers, pharmacists, truck drivers, delivery people, custodians

  • Those who have birthdays this week: Jane Taylor, Jacqueline Phillips, Liz McKenna, Robert Wood, Katherine Schoppel, Louise, Rymer, Mark Aaron Perry, Chris Izzo, Dana Welshman, John Staniunas, and Peter Lofgren

  • Those commended to us: Angela, Eidan, Melissa, Chris, Donna, Jeremiah, Scarlett, Lisa, Virginia, Don, Justin, Eliza, Don, Michol, Mimi, Annette, Douglas, Jean, Isabel, Jerry, Patrick, Oliver, Pam, Theresa, Paula, Shirley, David, Ursula, Michael, Sam, Joe, Morgan, Murielle, Charlie, Truls, Jill, Christine, Katie, Beth, Linda, Tom, Adam, Chris, Martha, Jean, Timmans, Isabel, Alicja, Neal, Patrick, Jennifer, Mark, Cynthia, Cheryl, Robin, Mariette, Isabella, Ada, Harry, Marvin, Emeline, Gail, Sheila, Cathie, Denny, Aldo, Madeline, Paula, Vince, Kirby, Matthew, Patrick, Annette, Jaymi, Sanford, and Frank

  • We pray for Caroline Curtis Bramhall, mother of Linda Pope, who passed away on Monday, May 25.
St. Martin's Church | 50 Orchard Ave | Providence, RI |02906
(401) 751-2141