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Email Us
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Pastor Will
Email: pastor
@stmartinslc.org
Office Manager
Parker Grimsby
Email: officemanager
@stmartinslc.org
Council President
Andy Strom
Email: council
@stmartinslc.org
Choir Director
Alvin Johnson
Email: choirdirector
@stmartinslc.org
Church Musician
Jenny Salyers
Email: churchmusician
@stmartinslc.org
Staff Tech
Amber Nichols
Email: stafftech
@stmartinslc.org
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Pastor's Corner
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This past weekend, I had the profound privilege of serving in the kitchen for the Kairos Outside Houston ministry. As many of you already know, this powerful ministry serves women who have incarcerated
loved ones. It is an amazing thing to see God work in people's lives, to watch how a person can be
transformed by love in real time over the course of less than 72 hours.
One of the reasons I find joy in this work is because I have an opportunity to serve in different ways. I consider myself a gifted speaker, but my role is not to speak on these weekends. I consider myself a gifted counselor, but my role is not to counsel. I consider myself a gifted pray-er, but my role is not to pray, at least, no more than it is anyone else's. Rather, my role is to cook and to clean, ironically, two areas I do not consider myself to be particularly gifted in. It is sometimes difficult enough to say "yes" to the things we excel at; to say "yes" to our areas of discomfort is far more challenging.
And yet, dear friends, I find that is where the Holy Spirit works best. We grow most in discomfort. When we are open to being vulnerable, to being less than perfect, to even the possibility that we might fail, we depend all the more on God to see us through. This whole weekend was about discomfort- not just for the team, but for the guests, coming into a new place with strange people and being asked to allow strangers to love them. It's uncomfortable. It's difficult. And it's the Gospel, living and breathing.
Is there something making you uncomfortable today, Beloved? Is there a calling you've been putting off because it feels difficult? Is there an opportunity to be involved that you have passed on because it's "not really your thing?" If there is, I invite you to say "yes." And then brace yourself, because when you open yourself to God's leading in something uncomfortable, you can bet the God who brought you to it will also bring you through it. And oh, Beloved, how you will grow.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Will
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Reformation joint service
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Together in faith
As we continue to share our space and our lives with our Siblings in Christ from Saint Paul Presbyterian Church, we have more exciting opportunities to join together in worship as one body in Christ. On Sunday, Oct. 28, we will have the opportunity to share in celebrating the ongoing work of Reformation, as we explore the contributions both Luther and Calvin made to the reformation of our faith, and what they still mean for us today. On Reformation Sunday we invite you to come at 9:30 a.m. for fellowship, and then to join in shared worship at 10 a.m. as we praise God for all the ways God has made us One Body in Christ. And remember to wear red! We look forward to
worshiping
with you!
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Oktoberfest
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Save the date
St. Martin's will be holding its annual Oktoberfest on
Saturday, Oct. 27 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.
There will be food, music, children's activities, trunk or treat, and a dessert and basket auction. Bring your family and friends to this free event full of food and fun!
If you have anything to donate for the silent auction please contact Pat Walters at:
jpwalters6@att.net. Donations are due on
Oct. 21. Tickets for the raffle are now on sale after service every Sunday near the church kitchen.
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Trunk or Treat
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Sign up for fun
St. Martin's will be holding its annual trunk-or-treat during Oktoberfest, Oct. 27. Sign up to decorate your trunk and pass out candy for the costumed kids who will be trick-or-treating in the parking lot. A magnificent trophy and bragging rights for a year goes to the person or family with the best decorations. To sign up please contact
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Youth Lock-In
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Stay up all night
The annual middle school and high school youth lock-in is scheduled to start at 9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 30. Get ready to stay up all night! There will be games, food, and a late-night worship service. Youth are welcome to bring their friends. If you have questions or are interested in attending, please contact Shannon Gillar at: shannongillar@hotmail.com
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Holiday hayride
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A night for lights
Save the date for a holiday hayride on Saturday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. The church will be reserving two wagons, enough for 40 people, and will be taking them through Pecan Grove to look at Christmas lights. Sign-ups for the hayride will start at Oktoberfest, so keep an eye out for those!
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Youth Sunday School
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Education for all ages
Sunday School is back! All Sunday School classes are after worship at
10:45 a.m. A Christian education gives a child a firm faith foundation for the rest of their lives. Consider allowing your child to stay after the worship service to engage more deeply in their faith with our seasoned Sunday School teachers. Listed below are the focuses of the upcoming classes.
PreK-Grade 5: Lessons from Jesus
Middle School/Confirmation:
Lutheran history & Catechism
High School: Echo the Story Bible Study
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Adult Sunday School
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A Study of Paul
Come join the Adult Sunday School class this fall as we explore the background and writings of the Apostle Paul. The class will be a combination of an audio course, classroom lectures and scripture readings. By the time we are finished with our study we will have read aloud all of Paul's writings and have a deeper understanding of one of the most influential figures in the history of Christianity. Join the class every Sunday after service at
10:45 a.m.
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Grace Bags project
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On Sept. 9, "God's Work. Our Hands." Sunday, we put together over 100 Grace Bags from the donations from the congregation. These Grace Bags are full of basic necessities for those in need in our community. Each Sunday we will put some of these bags out. Please feel free to grab as many as you would like to but consider leaving a donation when you take a bag or two. Going forward we would like this project to be supported by money offerings instead of item donations. The average cost of a bag is $3-$6, but any offering is appreciated. With the money offerings we will keep the bags going and once a month the Confirmation class will put a new batch together. We hope you will take these out into the community and spread God's grace, one person at a time.
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Poker for Peace
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Cards for fellowship
All men of the church are invited to join "Poker for Peace." This group normally meets at the house of one of their members the last Friday of the month for fellowship and cards. Their next meeting will be at
at 7 p.m. on Oct. 26 at the home of Leon Miura.
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Bunko Babes
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Brunch & Bunko
All ladies of the church are welcome to join "Bunko Babes." This group usually meets at the house of one of their members the last Saturday of each month to share brunch and have a little fun. Their next meeting will be at 11 a.m. on Oct. 27 at the home of Chrisy Woessner. For more information and to RSVP please contact Monika Miura at:
mmiura1@comcast.net
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Quilting group
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The St. Martin's quilting group is a great opportunity to support your sewing hobby in great company. Even if you are a novice,
the quilts are relatively easy to construct if you can pin a safety pin, cut a square of fabric or run a straight seam. Quilting groups meet the first and third full weeks of the month on Monday mornings and Wednesday evenings to work on the quilts. If you have any questions please contact Jean Short at:
jean12short@comcast.net
Next meeting times:
Monday, Oct. 15 @ 9:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 17@ 7 p.m.
The quilting group is asking for donations of fabric, so if you have any fabric you won't be using please bring it to one of their meetings or give it to Jean Short on Sunday mornings.
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Bible Study opportunities
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Come and learn
Pastor Will facilitates a few Bible Studies throughout the week.
Wednesdays
at
1 p.m.
come for an hour of text study as we examine the readings for the coming Sunday.
Additionally, Pastor Will is inviting you to read the whole Bible in a year. There is an assigned reading for everyday and you can follow along with
this calendar. This is not a challenge, but rather a chance for reflection and learning everyday. It's never too late to start and hop in on the most recent verses. Follow along with daily devotions on
Facebook, or come for a weekly check in on
Saturdays at
4 p.m.
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Pastor community hours
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Meet outside of church
Every Friday Pastor Will holds office hours out in the community. Follow St. Martin's Facebook page to see where he'll be each Friday: here. Come out to talk or pray with Pastor Will and let God hold your worries for a while.
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Read a book
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St. Martin's book discussion group is a great way to take part in the joy of reading. Consider picking up a copy and joining in on the discussion. They meet once a month in St. Martin's library. The group's next meeting is on
Oct. 15
at
7 p.m.
Book picks by the month:
October - "The Woman in the Window"
by A.J. Finn
November - "Watership Down"
by Richard Adams
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Thursday Women's Bible Study
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The Thursday morning Ladies' Bible Study Group is a great group of ladies who enjoy studying the Bible, good refreshments, and the company of one another. They welcome visitors and new members. They meet
every Thursday from
9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
They are currently doing a new study on the book of Genesis. Now is a great time to join in!
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Rideshare Buddies
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Do you have extra space in your car? Would you be interested in helping your nearby St. Martin's members get to church on Sunday morning when they can't make it due to car trouble, illness, or injury? If you would like to provide rides to members in your area, please let Charlotte Hoaks know at: charhoaks@aol.com. She is planning to compile a list of members who can be contacted for rides to worship service that will eventually be included in our directory.
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Thrivent members at SMLC
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As we grow as a church and increase our impact in the community St. Martin's is looking into better utilizing our relationship with Thrivent. If you are currently a member of Thrivent please identify yourself on the sign-in sheet in the Narthex so we know who in the congregation is a member. If you are unfamiliar with Thrivent, it is a not-for-profit membership organization that helps Christians be wish with money and live generously. For more information you can check out their website:
www.thrivent.com.
Thrivent can help us with our current projects, like Family Promise and the Grace Bags, as well as any future projects we will work on. Look forward to seeing more Thrivent info in upcoming newsletters.
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Tutor those in need in Fort Bend
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The Literacy Council of Fort Bend County is in need of tutors to teach adults who do not read, write, or speak English. There is a great need for this as 25% of Fort Bend's population lacks basic literacy skills. They also offer computer, citizenship, ESL, and GED classes. If this interests you then mark your calendar for the next tutor training on
Nov. 12, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. at the Literacy Council of Fort Bend
(12530 Emily Court, Sugar Land 77478). St. Martin's has several members in this tutoring program and it is a great way to serve our community. For more information on how to become a volunteer check out their website:
www.ftbendliteracy.org
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Online library catalog
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Explore our library
St. Martin's online library catalog is up and running! Browse our collection from home then come after church to pick up your selection. There are so many opportunities to learn and grow at our little library. Check our catalog out
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Support Family Promise
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Donate for Family Promise
Do you enjoy a hot cup of coffee before starting your day? For as little as $3.50 a week, the price of hot beverage in the morning, you can join the Fort Bend Family Promise Coffee Club and be part of the caring community of people who are helping get homeless children and their families back to self-sufficiency.
You can join the club and support Family Promise at this link:
https://bit.ly/2JCo5sf
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Shop at Kroger & support St. Martin's
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If you shop at Kroger, you could help support St.Martin's financially. St. Martin's has enrolled in Kroger's Community Rewards Program and will receive a portion of all of your Kroger transaction if you sign up through their website.
1) First, you get a Kroger card. They are free and can be obtained at any Kroger location.
Sign up for a digital account on
www. kroger.com.
2) Go to your account summary on the website and scroll down to "Community Rewards" and select "Enroll Now" (or the "Edit" option if you've already enrolled with another organization).
3) Fill out the information, then you will be prompted to search for an organization. Search for "St. Martin's" and it should appear. Click "Enroll". From now on when you shop with your member card at Kroger you will be supporting St. Martin's.
Thank you for your support!
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Shop at Randalls
& support St. Martin's
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If you shop at Randalls, you could help support St. Martin's financially. St. Martin's is enrolled in Randalls' Good Neighbor program and will receive a portion of all of your Randalls' transactions if you sign up.
1) First, you need a Randalls card. You can sign up for these in any Randalls store.
2) Pick up a Randalls Good Neighbor form on the info table in the Narthex.
3) We have already filled out St. Martin's charity account number on the form, so you just have to fill in your personal information. Then, hand it in at any Randalls store and you will be part of the program.
Thank you for your support!
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Support St. Martin's when you shop
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If you purchase goods through Amazon.com, there's an easy way to donate to St. Martin's at the same time. Simply go to smile.amazon.com and choose St. Martin's Lutheran Church, Sugar Land, as your charity of choice. Amazon will donate a percentage of your purchase directly to St. Martin's. It's so easy!
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Listen to past sermons
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Did you
k
now you can listen t
o Pastor Will's previous sermons online? If you ever miss a Sunday or want to re-listen to a particular message you can find the last few week's worth of sermons on our
SoundCloud account here
. The account is typically updated every Thursday with the previous Sunday's message.
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Thrivent corner
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In this corner we plan to share some financial wisdom from Thrivent in hopes that it will be of some help to our members. This month we have an article on how to best go about organizing important documents. You can
check it out here.
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October Bible in a Year Calendar
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Follow along with Pastor Will this year by reading a little bit of the Bible each day, in the order historians believe events would have taken place. The full calendar can be downloaded
here
. This is not a challenge, but rather a chance for reflection and learning everyday. It's never too late to start and hop in on the most recent verses. Check into
Facebook
each day for a daily devotional for the day's reading.
Readings for Oct. 10 - Oct. 23
Oct. 10 -
Matthew 5-7
Oct. 11
- Matthew 8:1-13; Luke 7
Oct. 12
- Matthew 11
Oct. 13
- Matthew 12:22-50; Luke 11
Oct. 14
- Matthew 13; Luke 8
Oct. 15
- Matthew 8:14-34; Mark 4-5
Oct. 16
- Matthew 9-10
Oct. 17
- Matthew 14; Mark 6; Luke 9:1-17
Oct. 18
- John 6
Oct. 19
- Matthew 15; Mark 7
Oct. 20
- Matthew 16; Mark 8; Luke 9:18-27
Oct. 21
- Matthew 17; Mark 9; Luke 16:1-17:10
Oct. 22
- Matthew 18
Oct. 23
- John 7-8
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Stewardship Thought of the Week
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"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
-
Mark 10:25
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People Need Your Prayers
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Ephesians 6:18
"Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."
Please keep the
following people in prayer:
David Speer
Pat Strom
Al Warner
Herman Harms
Martha Gaskin
John Kokesh
Eva Lindstrom
Eric Moeller
Sylvia Whitt
Bonnie David
Sharon Pendley
Barbara Jacobs
Victims & families of violence in our nation and the terrorist activity throughout the world.
Our sister synods in Peru and
the Central African Republic
For prayers contact: officemanager@stmartinslc.org.
For privacy's sake we do not list specific concerns.
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Birthdays & Anniversaries
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Let's celebrate!
Birthdays
Chuck O. Oct. 12
Charlee R. Oct. 12
Chris G. Oct. 13
Fay H. Oct. 14
John H. Oct. 15
Renee B. Oct. 18
Vito S. Oct. 18
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St. Martin's Calendar
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What's happening at SMELC?
Want to know what's happening at St. Martin's? View the church calendar on our website. Click the Google calendar link and find out the who, what, when and where of any St. Martin's event.
Oct. 11
- Thursday Women's Bible Study, 9:30 a.m.
Oct. 11 - Houston Area Parkinson's Tai Chi, 10 a.m.
Oct. 11 - Handbell Choir practice, 7 p.m.
Oct. 13 - Bible in a Year Bible Study, 4 p.m.
Oct. 14 - Youth & Family Team meeting, 8:30 a.m.
Oct. 14 - Choir practice, 8 a.m.
Oct. 14 - Sunday Morning Worship, 9:30 a.m.
Oct. 14 - Saint Paul Sunday Worship, 11:15 a.m.
Oct. 15 - Book discussion club, 7 p.m.
Oct. 16 - Classical Conversations, 9 a.m.
Oct. 16 - Boy Scouts 148, 6 p.m.
Oct. 17 - Classical Conversations, 9 a.m.
Oct. 17 - Pastor Will's Bible Study, 1 p.m.
Oct. 18 - Thursday Women's Bible Study, 9:30 a.m.
Oct. 18 - Houston Area Parkinson's Tai Chi, 10 a.m.
Oct. 18 - Handbell Choir practice, 7 p.m.
Oct. 20 - Bible in a Year Bible Study, 4 p.m.
Oct. 21 - Choir practice, 8 a.m.
Oct. 21 - Sunday Morning Worship, 9:30 a.m.
Oct. 21 - Saint Paul Sunday Worship, 11:15 a.m.
Oct. 23 - Classical Conversations, 9 a.m.
Oct. 23 - Boy Scouts 148, 6 p.m.
Oct. 24 - Classical Conversations, 9 a.m.
Oct. 24 - Pastor Will's Bible Study, 1 p.m.
Oct. 25 - Thursday Women's Bible Study, 9:30 a.m.
Oct. 25 - Houston Area Parkinson's Tai Chi, 10 a.m.
Oct. 25 - Handbell Choir practice, 7 p.m.
Oct. 26 - Poker for Peace, 7 p.m. (off-site)
Oct. 27 - Bunko Babes, 11 a.m. (off-site)
Oct. 27 - Oktoberfest, 4 p.m.
Oct. 28 - Choir practice, 8 a.m.
Oct. 28 - Fellowship with Saint Paul, 9:30 a.m.
Oct. 28 - Reformation Sunday Worship, 10 a.m.
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