THE CLOAK
St. Martin's Weekly E-Newsletter
January 16, 2020
To seek God, and be Christ’s body in the world
Preparing for Sunday
The First Disciples
 
When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher), "where are you staying?" He said to them, "Come and see." – John 1:38-39
 
REFLECT: "The Jesus we meet in John engages us. He’s not a figure to study in a detached way. He’s a living presence to seek and to see, to follow and to observe, to emulate and to know.”
 
“Jesus' words to them and to us are an invitation to discipleship and belief…The disciples get to stick around Jesus…What might we experience if we stuck around Jesus?... We could experience the weakening of the power of sin in our lives… We could be strengthened in our witness to his unique status as the Son of God…We could open our inward lives to the Spirit… We might, like Andrew, be empowered to invite someone else to "come and see" where Jesus is and to remain with him as well.”
 
“… what do you long for? What are you seeking whenever you come to the house of the Lord? What do you hope to find?”
 
PRAY: “Perfect Light of revelation, as you shone in the life of Jesus, whose epiphany we celebrate, so shine in us and through us, that we may become beacons of truth and compassion, enlightening all creation with deeds of justice and mercy. Amen.”
Calendar
T his Week's Schedule

Friday, January 17
9:30am Makin' Music

Sunday, January 19
8:00am Holy Eucharist
9:00am Choir Rehearsal
9:30am Sunday School for all ages
10:00am Holy Eucharist w/Baptism

Tuesday, January 21
9:30am Makin' Music

Wednesday, January 22
9:30am Makin' Music
12:15pm Holy Eucharist
2:00pm Global Mission Meeting
7:00pm AA Meeting
7:00pm Bible Study @ SMC

Thursday, January 23
7:00pm Joint Vestry Meeting @ SMC
Sunday School
More about Baptism

This week Wren will be Baptized by Fr. David! Baptisms are always wonderfully special because the children can stand close to the family around the Baptismal font and see everything that is going on.

Join us for Sunday School at 9:30 AM in the large Sunday School room. We continue to read the Old Testament and build new Lego scenes based on scripture. We welcome all ages. Then we will process upstairs in time for the Baptism.

Megan will babysit our younger members starting at 9:30 AM. If you have any questions or would like to join us, please contact Ms. Deb.
Annual Meeting
Calling All Congregants!

Please plan on staying after the 10:00 AM service on Sunday, January 26th, for St. Martin's Annual Meeting. Learn what's new. Discuss what's happened. Question where things are going. Of all things, engage with each other and be surrounded by the love within this great church! Childcare with refreshments and activities will be available.
Chili Cook-Off
To all Chefs and Taste Testers!

The 22nd Annual Chili Cook-off will happen this year as always after the 10 AM service at Bolingbroke on February 2, 2020. It's the perfect prelude to the Super Bowl Game!

Contestants and attendees can sign-up in the Gurley Room. In addition to a list of the entrants, the sign-up sheet will provide space for donations of beverages, salads, bread, desserts, etc.

First, second, and third place winners will be determined by vote of the Cook-Off attendees. Great prizes will be awarded!
CCI-SMC Party
It's Get-Together Time!

Rick and Mollie Wheeler of CCI will be hosting a Pot Luck Supper for CCI and SMC members on Saturday, February 1st, at 6:00 PM. The address is 700 Sproul Road, Bryn Mawr. Click this eVite link to RSVP and to sign up for what you can bring. If you have any issues with the link, please contact the CCI office at 610-688-1110.
Souper Bowl
Be a Champion over Hunger!

You can be a "hunger-fighting" champion this Super/Souper Bowl Sunday, February 2nd. The youth will be selling soup mixes for a suggested donation of $10 to benefit the Great Valley and Ardmore Food Cupboards. Purchases can be made on that Sunday before or after the church services and during the Chili Cook-Off event in Bolingbroke. Thanks for your support!
Offering Envelopes
Ready for Pick-up

Please remember to pick up your 2020 offering envelopes in The Gurley Room. If envelopes were inadvertently not assigned to you, please contact the office at 610-688-4830, or admin@stmartinsradnor.org. Thank you!
Bible Study
Time Adjustment: 7:00 PM

Please join the Bible discussion on Wednesday, January 22nd, at St. Martin's. The start time has been adjusted from 7:15. We will meet from 7:00-8:00 PM. We are wrapping up the comparison of the three synoptic Gospels, and welcome you to share your own experiences with living into scripture. No previous experience is needed, books are provided, and guests are always welcome.Please contact Deb Parker if you have any questions.
Recycling Opportunity
Advent Wreaths and Souper Bowl Jars

January is a time when many of us do a little mid-winter straightening. If you have any empty Souper Bowl quart-sized jars that you want to donate back to the church, or Advent Wreath metal forms that you are done with for the time being, please drop them off in the Small Sunday school room. We will either put them to good use or store them.
Thank You!
A Special Note

Avyane Osborne, the Assistant Dir. of Dev., Parish Relations and Individual Giving at Episcopal Community Services, recently emailed a special note of thanks for your generous giving at Christmas time. "Now that the New Year and New Decade have begun and we all have a better sense of what day of the week it is (mid-week holidays should be illegal), I want to take the time to say thank you for your gracious support of the Episcopal Community Services 2019 Christmas drive." Read more...
Search Committee
Shared Rector Search Update

We have received applications from just over a dozen candidates. We are currently conducting on-line interviews with those that appear to be a good fit. We have completed 4 of these interviews with one more scheduled and at least one more to be scheduled. Following these interviews we will be narrowing the candidates down to three. Following additional interviews, possible visits and reference checks, the search/discernment committee is required to submit a single candidate for approval by both Vestries. While we are anxious to identify that candidate, we do not have a specific time line for completing the process. We will continue to keep you posted on our progress. Questions? Please contact St. Martin's Search Committee Chairperson, Brian Penny.
Vestry
Joint Meeting

The next joint Vestry Meeting will be on Thursday, January 23rd, at 7:00 PM. St. Martin's will host. Please reach out to any Vestry member if there's is a particular topic you'd like to be discussed.
The Good Book Club
Good News

The Episcopal Church's Good Book Club returns for a third year. Join Forward Movement and more than a dozen partner organizations from across the Episcopal Church in reading a section of the Gospel of John every day during Epiphany 2020. Encounter the risen Lord through the signs and wonders, the beauty and revelation of John’s Gospel. Additional details can be found at the following website:
The Lectionary
Sunday's Readings can be found on the Worship page at St. Martin's website .

Isaiah 49:1-7
Psalm 40:1-12
1 Corinthians 1:1-9
John 1:29-42