June 21-17 with St. Martin's
Sunday with
St. Martin's
Abbreviated Liturgy 10:30


The link to our weekly Zoom service is on the top of the home page of our website, with a link to the leaflet/hymns as well. Each service is recorded and posted on the St. Martin's website https://www.stmartinsnj.org/
and Facebook (St. Martin's Episcopal Church, Bridgewater, New Jersey) the following week in case you missed it.   

Join the Zoom Meeting - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/408114126

Invite your friends, your neighbors, even strangers! Several churches are reporting growth during this time of pandemic. Worshipping with St. Martin's is a good way to start your week with God and one another.


Racism is a Spiritual Matter

How should we articulate the spiritual disfigurement caused by our racialized society and then chart a course toward authentic racial reconciliation through the Body of Christ?

"Race relations are fraught with land mines," Michael Emerson warns, because racial groups tend to define racism differently-with whites emphasizing overt acts of prejudice and discrimination, and people of color focusing on group inequalities and unjust systems.

Joseph Parker describes the invisibility of racially dominated systems and individual actions in America. In Gregory of Nyssa's radical critique of slavery, Kimberly Flint-Hamilton finds theological insights for lifting "the veil of oppression"-the cultural blindness motivated by privilege.

Mikeal Parsons explores how from God's covenant with Abraham, "Luke gleans a radical vision of God's people as inclusive of all who profess the lordship of Jesus Christ, regardless of socio-economic standing, physical appearance, or ethnic or racial identity."

Victor Hinojosa, Kathleen Garces-Foley, and Damian Emetuche embrace the promise and report the difficulties of multiracial congregations. Warning against "ecclesial sloth," Hinojosa writes, "Instead, we must recognize that what God is doing-reconciling us to God and to one another-is often painful, difficult work."

Beginning July 2 and continuing Thursday nights at 7:00 p.m. through August 6, the congregations of St. John's in Somerville and St. Martin's in Bridgewater will have a Zoom conversation about race and our faith.


Keeper of the Light

There is a light at St. Martin's that never goes out. We call it the "Sanctuary Light" because it hangs in the sanctuary of the chancel (front of the church) lighting the Reserved Sacrament. It reminds us of the presence of Christ who is with us always. But 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 for a period of one week at a time 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.


Judy Laidlaw will be this week's Keeper of the Light - June21-27

We Are Praying and Looking for Our Next Rector!

Lord, we pray that you will send us the right person to walk with us in faith along the road of our shared call to ministry. Make this person be wise enough to guide us, humble enough to truly care for us, vulnerable enough to know the power of forgiving and being forgiven. Help this person share your love not only within our own community of faith, but with the greater community all around us. Help us to trust your Spirit to bring us to where we need to be when we need to be for how we need to be, all for your sake. Amen.

And then a prayer for our Discernment Committee -

Gracious God, you call into community persons who are different from one another and yet, united by our shared commitment to you and to your service. Bless, we pray, your servants
Chris Abraham
Jim Agosto
Nate Emndick
Annmarie Galbreath
Randy Jandak
Christine Kellam
Judy Ladlaw
Philip Muñiz
Kathy Picasio
with your grace, wisdom, compassion and humor to carry out the work to which you have called them for the sake of the ministry entrusted to St. Martin's. And bless, we pray, their families as well, as the committee members give so much of their time and energy to this work. We ask this in the name of Jesus who calls us into discipleship and sustains all our days. Amen.

Hey Brother!
Hey Sister!
Can you spare a... Casserole?

SHIP has been experiencing a high demand for food at its food truck. They have been providing lunches daily in Somerville and evening meals in both North Plainfield and Manville. They are in need of casseroles to meet this demand.

They are requesting  ½  tray casseroles that contain protein. Please cook the casserole, cover in aluminum foil and then place a note on top indicating the type of casserole and the date prepared. In past years, St. Martin’s has provided baked ziti but SHIP is in need of any type casserole you can provide. During the past two months we have seen different pasta/meat dishes, chicken & vegetable casseroles, beans & rice. Tuna casseroles, ham & potato dishes, etc. would all be welcome.

If you feel more comfortable having me collect and deliver your casserole, I will do so on Monday morning, June 29 th . Please either call me (908-704-9527) or send me an email ( mficzko@optonline.net ) to arrange pick up. If you wish to drop your casserole off at the SHIP office, it is located at 87 E. High Street, Somerville, NJ. The phone number is 908-393-9544. I suggest calling ahead to make sure someone will be in the office when you anticipate dropping off the food. Once you have dropped something off, please send me an email. I would like to keep a count of what St. Martin’s provides.

Thank you for all your help.

Marlene Ficzko
Outreach Committee Chairperson


St. Martin’s Episcopal Church
1350 Washington Valley Road,
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
www.stmartinsnj.org

Call Us: 908-526-1350