A community reshaping itself
to be fit for God's purpose
Thursday, May 13, 2021
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Weekly Enews
St. Martin's has returned to hybrid in-person and virtual worship
to register for in-person and tune in to virtual offerings.
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Rector's Epistle
It’s a privilege to write to you each week with the hope of enlivening your interest in how our ancient Anglican tradition witnesses to the importance of being a tolerant Christian voice in today’s world.
On Thursday the Easter season closes with the celebration of the Ascension of our Lord. I will speak about the significance of this much overlooked commemoration, this coming Sunday. In his weekly column Monday Matters - Jay Sidebotham (a good Yorkshire name if ever there was one) addresses faith related topical subjects. Jay is a former curate of St Martin’s and I know many of you remember his time here with affection. It’s a delight for me to share with you his insights on the Ascension. Under the title What Next?, Jay asks this really interesting question concerning the Ascension: where would we be without it?
[The Ascension] is important as a feast because it answers questions about what happened to Jesus, and where he is now, and how we should live in light of that. It opens the way for our understanding, our confidence, our hope that Jesus’ story is not just a matter of history. Jesus is is still very much with us and will be with us to the end of the ages. Our faith is more than memory.
No doubt about it, it’s a strange story which may also contribute to its underrated status. How do we make sense of it? It’s possible to get caught up in the logistics. Can modern people really believe that such a thing happened? What were the physics involved? Was gravity suspended?
Someday, maybe they’ll be answers for those logistical questions. For me, maybe the more important question is the one I imagine the disciples asked each other. They realize Jesus is gone, so what do they do now? How do they move forward? There may be times when we ask these kinds of questions.
What are the experiences that have caused you to ask: Where do I go from here? What’s next? Those kinds of questions surface when we’ve come down from a mountaintop experience, in the wake of exciting life changing events. A joyous occasion like a wedding or the birth of a child. A powerful spiritual epiphany. The same questions may come when we emerge from a valley. A relationship ends. You get fired, or experience betrayal. I’ll always remember being with a woman in the ICU as her husband of more than sixty years died. She looked up at me shortly after monitors indicated end of life and said: What do I do now? She was talking about a lot more than contacting hospital staff or funeral home.
Maybe you’re asking some version of these questions this morning. The questions are especially appropriate as we come out of Covid. This may be a season in our common life when we need the message of Ascension Day more than ever, as the feast causes us to ask: Where do we go from here? How do we arrive at a new normal? Like those disciples, we don’t know what lies ahead. It’s a pretty safe bet that our road ahead will take us to new places. New life will emerge but a lot will not be as we remember it. Maybe we’re nostalgic for a past that actually wasn’t as rosy as we wish it was. Maybe, just maybe, the old normal is not a place to which we ought to return.
The disciples heard angels’ instructions. They went back to Jerusalem. They stuck together. They prayed. They waited. They held on to promise. In due time, they experience the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise, the powerful presence of the Spirit. Maybe there’s a word in there for us.
As we navigate emergence from COVID:
· How can we stay together in community, counting on each other for support? What community can you count on these days (even if it’s still on zoom)?
· How can we hold prayer at the center of our forward movement, recognizing our need for God’s gracious help? What will be your prayer? What will you ask for?
· How can we express our trust in the living Lord who promises that we will not be left alone? What promise from Jesus sustains you?
If we can do these things in this unusual season, maybe we can celebrate Ascension Day by saying that things are looking up.
-Jay Sidebotham
The answer to what next? - is empowered community, my friends!! So, see you in Church or online for the Sunday after the Ascension.
Mark+
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A memorial Mass for Jean Richardson
will be held in the Holy Name Chapel,
99 Camp Street, Providence,
on Saturday, May 15 at 9:30am.
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Calling All Graduates
Do you have Class of 2021 graduates in your family? We want to recognize them!
Please email your graduate's info to Susan Esposito. Please include the graduate's full name, name of high school, college, or graduate school, and any future plans or degree earned. |
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Calling All 20's and 30's
Calling all 20’s and 30’s for a Bagel Brunch on May 23rd at 10:15am following the 9am Service.
Please come, bring a friend, meet new friends, or get re-acquainted with old friends. All are welcome.
Bagel sandwiches from Bagel Gourmet, fruit, coffee and juice will be served in the Memorial Garden.
(In case of rain, we will move to the Stearns Room.)
Please RSVP to Susan Esposito by Friday May 21st with what you would like on your breakfast sandwich.
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Flower Arrangers Wanted
Do you have an interest in arranging flowers for our Sunday services? We are trying to grow our Flower Guild.
Please join Barbara Blossom and Mary Worrell for a demonstration/hands-on experience on how to do arrangements on Saturday, May 22 at 10:30am.
No experience necessary. For questions or to RSVP please contact Barbara or Mary.
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Please click here for the weekly schedule of services and links to webcasts and livestreams.
to receive updates and view the latest livestream.
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The Thrifty Goose
We gladly accept donations of clothing, accessories, and small household items in good condition. We cannot accept baby equipment, office equipment, or appliances. Before bringing in larger items such as furniture, please use the link below to email Heather.
The Thrifty Goose is open
Wed and Sat, 10 am - 2 pm
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Donations Needed
Now that we are again open for in-person worship, we encourage you to bring in non-perishable food items to be distributed to local food pantries. In addition, we collect new socks and underwear for Harrington Hall, a men’s shelter. Please place your items in the baskets in the back of the church. Thank you.
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KidZoom
There will be no KidZoom this Sunday, May 16.
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Weekly Prayer List
an Introspective prayer in Ascensiontide
O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son
Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven:
Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to
strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior
Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and
the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
- Those who have birthdays this week: Jason Anderson, Waylan Tucker, Albert Dahlberg, Howard Kilguss, Benjamin Edgar, Michele Gariepy, Ian MacDonald. Amy Fuller, Eric Gustafson, Joseleyne Slade, and Samuel Potter.
- Those who have been commended to us: Christina, Ed, Frances & Tom, Marie, Jim & Rosemary, Alisa & Gray, Eidan, Angela, Chris, Jeremiah, Virginia, Justin, Michael, Sam, Truls, Linda, Paula, Gail, Sheila, Aldo & Madeleine, Andy & Alice, David, Marie, Larry, Bobby, Ruth, Claire, Jane, Charlie, Peter & Susie, Deb, Jeannine, Rebecca, Mary, Jake, Beth, Carma, Michele, Parker, Lisa, Jane, Tracy, Roger, Brian, Carol, Evon, Beth, Allen, Steve, Liz, Jennifer, Arletta, Larry, Bob & Claudia, Martin, Ryan, Barbara, Jaymi, and Elisabeth.
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St. Martin's Church | 50 Orchard Ave, Providence, RI 02906
(401) 751-2141
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