November 14 - Consecration Sunday and Chili Luncheon
Bring your pledge cards and your appetites. Directly after the 10:30 service where we will be pledging our gifts for next year, we will be having a chili luncheon. We have beef, chicken, and vegetarian chill. If you would like to bring another chili, side dish, or dessert, please email Alison.
|
Outreach
FISH greatly appreciated the socks, underwear, and monetary donations made by St. Martin’s parishioners. Thank you.
The final two Outreach projects for 2021 will be the collection of used coats on November 21st and the collection of toys, gifts, and gift cards for teenagers for Christmas. More information to follow but we wanted to give you a heads up so if you are cleaning closets you know you will have a place to deliver those coats you want to dispose of. And, if you are shopping and see a great sale and there is a gift that would be appropriate for a teenager, grab it. We will be doing Christmas gifts in conjunction with SHIP.
|
Adult Forum
We will gather in the Lady Chapel from 9:30-10:00 am
November 7: This week the adult forum will continue its discussion on prayer with icons.
November 14: Praying with Rosaries and Prayer Beads (Tactile Prayer)
November 21: Praying the Word: Lectio Divina (Audio/Verbal Prayer)
November 28: Praying in Color (Creative Prayer)
|
Financial Update
We ask for you to be mindful of the parish's financial situation as you prayerfully consider your financial contribution for 2022. We are most grateful for your generosity and for all of the ways that you support St. Martin's. May God continue to bless you as you faithfully support the ministries and mission of St. Martin's parish.
Monthly giving continues to be down, and even though the vestry has made cuts in the 2021 budget, we continue to operate with a large deficit. Monthly expenses for September ($29,217), exceeded income ($14,339).
We know that situations sometimes change, and if you are unable to fulfill your pledge because of unanticipated financial hardship, we do understand. But, sometimes with the busyness of summer, we forget to send in our pledge- and the pandemic has certainly upended our rhythms and customs of regular church attendance where we might have placed our pledge in the offering plate. If the latter is the case for you, please consider making up your pledge in this last quarter. If it is easier for you, please remember that you can make a financial offering to the church online, by visiting the website at https://www.stmartinsnj.org/donate/
|
|
Upcoming Dates
Wed: November 3, Mass for All Souls
We will observe the Feast of All Souls on Wednesday, November 3 in the Lady Chapel at 6 pm.
On All Souls Day, we pray for the departed that they may continue to grow from glory to glory in God's Kingdom.
Please email Father Rob the names of your loved ones so they may be included and named in prayer during this special Mass.
On Sunday, November 7, we will continue to celebrate our mystical connection with those in God's greater presence as we honor all the Saints on All Saints Sunday.
Father Rob will be away on November Monday 8- Wednesday 10 for the annual diocesan clergy conference. Please pray for the clergy of the diocese as they gather for learning, fellowship, and renewal.
|
Prayer Requests
Marilyn has requested prayers for Andrea, Stephanie, and Alex
Please send your prayer intentions to Philip at philip.muniz@gmail.com.
|
Midweek Healing Mass
This mass will be held on Wednesdays, at 6 p.m. in the Lady Chapel.
|
Thursdays This Fall
St. Martin's and St. John's Somerville are co-sponsoring a new course designed by the Episcopal Church to address the problem of racism in our society. This course will involve reading selected works and watching short video clips from a diverse segment of people all talking about their experience of racism. We will also be engaged in honest, prayerful, and respectful discussions. All are welcome, but you are asked to pre-register by sending Father Rob an email indicating you would like to join the class. Blessings to you all.
|
Appalachian Service Project
There is the possibility that we will be able to participate in an ASP trip in the summer of 2022. If you would be interested in participating, please let Father Rob know as soon as possible. St. Mark's is not organizing a group this year, so we will be organizing the trip (thanks to the help of Bob Manci), and looking for participants from other churches to join us. At the moment, we are not sure what Covid restrictions might be in place- but they are likely to be fluid as the situation changes.
If you are interested, please contact Fr. Rob.
|
|
