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Week of September 19, 2021, With St. Martin's
Facebook Live Link: http://www.facebook.com/SaintMartinsEpiscopalChurchBridgewaterNJ

The Leaflet for this week's service can be found by going to HTTP://www.stmartinsnj.org.
Fall Family Fun Fest
This is our one big FUNDRAISER for the year and is for the entire community. We are looking for parishioners to step up to volunteer at the different booths for the fun fest. We are especially looking for people to help with the children's games and crafts. Even if you can't be there for the entire time, we encourage you to sign up to help. Right now we have about 10 vendors/crafters from the community who have signed up. If you know of any others, please pass the word around. Also, if your child is in a Bridgewater-Raritan Primary School, please share the info with your PTO.
OUTREACH
SHIP has been devastated by Tropical storm Ida and is in need of financial support at this time. They cannot accept casseroles or any food items as their freezers, refrigerators, convection ovens, etc. were all destroyed when 4-6 feet of water submerged their first floor. Local organizations are providing 60 brown bag lunches a day to SHIP to help feed those in need. But what SHIP needs most at this time is money for things like scrub brushes, garbage bags, rubber gloves, etc. Things that they need to start the cleaning process and help them organize so they can continue to meet the needs of the community.
 
If you are in a position to help go to www.ship908.com and click on the DONATE button. Tom O’Leary said even $5 will help and if you can’t contribute money, please offer your prayers. For those of you asking, yes SHIP has insurance and will seek assistance from FEMA but right now they need help with day-to-day logistics that won’t be covered by insurance or FEMA.
Thursdays This Fall
St. Martin's and St. John's Somerville are cosponsoring 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 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.

This is a wonderful opportunity to see the face of God in others and to share God's love in the world. 

If you are interested, please contact Fr. Rob.
NJ Hope and Healing Program
Upcoming Events
Place them on your calendar NOW!

September 26th - Special Parish Meeting (see below)

October 16th - Fall Family Fun Fest (see sign up on this page)
Special Parish Meeting

The Bishop has announced his resignation. We are required by Canon Law to call a special meeting on Sunday, September 26, immediately following the 10:30 am Mass.

At this meeting, we will elect six (6) delegates who will attend a special Convocation Meeting on Zoom on October 24, at which one priest and one layperson will be elected to serve on the new Bishop's Search Committee.

A slate of names for our six delegates will be forthcoming. If you are interested in serving in this capacity and would like to stand for election, please contact Father Rob+. You do need to be a Confirmed member of the Episcopal Church in order to serve as a delegate.
Midweek Mass
Father Rob will be resuming a midweek Mass on Wednesdays, starting in October. If you would be interested in attending, please send Father Rob an email and let him know if you prefer the Mass to be held at Noon or 6 pm.
Sunday School
Youth Groups
Adult Forum
A Change in Youth Group Meeting Times
Rite 13 and J2A will meet on the First and Third Sundays after the 10:30 am Mass.

Youth Volunteers Needed
Youth volunteers are needed to help run children's games during our Fall Festival on Saturday, October 16 from Noon-5 pm. Please contact Alison Jandak if you can help!!

Adult Forum
The Adult Forum meets in the Lady Chapel at 9:30 am (between the 8:15 and 10:30 services) most Sundays. Along with our usual Advent and Lenten studies, this year we will include two new discussion series: “The Voices of St Martins” and “Spiritual Practices”. All are welcome.
 
Sunday School (Preschool - 6th Grade)
In-person Sunday School returns to Saint Martin's!  Sunday School occurs during Saint Martin's Sunday 10:30am service.  
 
As a reminder, Saint Martin's uses Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) for our children's education and has 3 levels.  CGS is an approach to religious education that is rooted in the Bible, the liturgy of the Church and the education principles of Maria Montessori. It really focuses on the joy in the relationship with God and the young child.
·     Children ages 3 through kindergarten and toilet trained will meet in the large conference room upstairs for our Level 1 atrium
·     Children in 1st through 3rd grades, our "Level 2" atrium, will meet in the large conference room upstairs
·     Children in 4th through 6th grades, our "Level 3" atrium, will meet in the small conference room upstairs
 
Unlike prior years, the children will not be joining the main service for communion. Instead, children will have the option to receive communion during Sunday School and the children will be brought to their parent’s pew following the service.
 
Per Diocesan guidelines, masks will be required and we will maintain a 3ft distance. As we all know, the situation with the pandemic is always changing and Diocesan guidance could be updated. 
 
Please note that this year Saint Martin's will also be having a "Come As You Are" Eucharist on Saturdays at 5:30 pm. For the times when you cannot make the 10:30am Sunday service, we invite you to worship in community with your family at the Saturday service.
St. Martin’s Episcopal Church
1350 Washington Valley Road,
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
www.stmartinsnj.org
Call Us: 908-526-1350
Contact information for Fr. Rob
rectorstmartinsnj@gmail.com or fatherroblaws@yahoo.com