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WEEK OF DECEMBER 16, 2019
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Christmas Worship Services
Christmas Eve
Family Service at 1 p.m.
The Church
Live Nativity scene, no Holy Eucharist
3, 5:30, 8 and 10:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 24
The Church
Holy Eucharist with festive music by the Parish Choir, Gloria Dei Organ, brass and tympani
Seating is more readily available during the 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. services. If balcony seating or parking a distance from The Church causes difficulties for you or your family, please consider attending one of these services later in the evening. Overflow parking for all services will be available at the parking garage east of the Hope and Healing Center on Riverway. Golf carts will pick up those who need assistance from this parking garage, as well as from the parking lots on Woodway and near 5005 Woodway.
Christmas Day
11 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 25
The Church
Holy Eucharist with t
raditional service with hymns, anthems and the Parish Choir
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Rector's Winter Sermon Series
With the Rev. Dr. Russell J. Levenson, Jr.
On the front of our Church Doors, we see a beautiful sculpture, the open arms of Jesus, with the words from Matthew 11:28, "Come unto you me, all ye who labor and are heavy ladened and I will give you rest." What might that mean to you in the year 2019? What things "burden" you? Worry? Hurts and Wounds? Sin and Guilt? What might it mean to give these "burdens" to Jesus? To really hand them over? It might open fully the way to give God even more-our gratitude-our very lives.
I invite you to join me for a five-week preaching series on Giving to God, well, everything! Come join me and invite a friend or two as we plumb the depths of what it means to be free by giving God your all!
Giving God Your Worry
"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." (I Peter 5:7)
Sunday, Jan. 5: 8, 9, 11:15 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Giving God Your Hurts and Wounds
"
Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you
Rest." (Matthew 11:28)
Sunday, Jan. 12: 8, 9, and 11:15 a.m.
Giving God Your Sin and Guilt
"
If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive our sins
and purify us from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:9)
Sunday, Jan. 19: 8, 9, 11:15 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Giving God Your Gratitude
"
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in
Jesus Christ." (I Thessalonians 5:8)
Sunday, Jan. 26: 8, 9, and 11:15 a.m.
Giving God Your Life
"
You are the Christ." (Matthew 16:16)
Sunday, Feb. 2: 8, 9, 11:15 a.m. and 6 p.m.
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End-of-year Giving
The Internal Revenue Service requires that, in order to be tax deductible in 2019, cash, check or credit card contributions to St. Martin's Episcopal Church must be received by the Church or postmarked by the United States Postal Service no later than Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019; this includes any prepayments to your 2020 pledge. The Finance staff is required to check the postal cancellation dates on all receipts in early January to ensure our legal compliance to this rule.
To assist you with end-of-year contributions, the Finance office will be open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 31. The Finance office is located at 5005 Woodway Drive, Suite 150 in the Pioneer Bank Building.
Gifts of stock or other securities must also be posted to our brokerage account by the close of business on Tuesday, Dec. 31, in order to be tax deductible in 2019. We strongly suggest that stock transfers be initiated by mid-December and that you advise the Finance office of the pending transaction. For specific information about how to make a gift of appreciated securities, please visit
our website. St. Martin's is required to comply with these IRS guidelines in order to maintain our charitable tax status as delineated under the IRS Code section (501)(c)(3). Online payments via credit card can be made on
our website.
For more information, contact Debbie Hutchison by
email
or at 713-985-3803 or, or Becky Werlla by
email
or at 713-830-4145.
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Men of St. Martin's Guest Speaker
Time in the Torah
With Mark Lanier
7-8 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 16
Bagby Parish Hall
Mark Lanier is an attorney, author, teacher, pastor and founder of the Lanier Theological Library. It is one of the nation's largest theological collections and he teaches biblical literacy, weekly, to thousands. He is the organizer of the Christian Trial Lawyers Association. Mark graduated Texas Tech Law in 1984. With offices in Houston, New York, Los Angeles, and Oklahoma City, he has earned international recognition setting record verdicts in courtrooms throughout the United States. The National Trial Lawyers Association has named him Trial Lawyer of the Year twice and he has earned a spot in the National Trial Lawyers' Hall of Fame. The American Association of Justice honored him with its Lifetime Achievement Award and he was selected the 2018 Outstanding Trial Lawyer of the Year by The National Law Journal.
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2020 ECW Officer Recommendations
The Episcopal Church Women of St. Martin's will be accepting recommendations for 2020-2021 officers through January 31, 2020. Officers must be a member in good standing of St. Martin's Church (baptized, confirmed, known to the Rector by active membership and known to the treasurer by a financial pledge to the parish). Recommend a friend; or if you would like to be an officer, please feel free to recommend yourself. Positions to consider include President Elect, Treasurer Elect, Recording Secretary and Corresponding Secretary. Please turn completed forms into the reception desk in The Island, marked attention Nancy Bynon. You may also email your recommendations to
Nancy Bynon.
For more information and forms, contact Katwana Coleman at 713-830-4110 or by email
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Holiday Hours
Church Offices
In recognition of Christmas, the Church offices will be closed Wednesday, Dec. 25, and Thursday, Dec. 26. In recognition of the New Year's holiday, the Church offices will be closed Wednesday, Jan. 1.
St. Martin's Gift Shoppe
The St. Martin's Gift Shoppe is now closed as construction continues on campus. Watch for a re-opening date in the spring.
Café St. Martin's
The Café will be closed for Sundays and weekdays beginning Thursday, Dec. 19. The Café will reopen on Sunday, Jan. 5.
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Family Mission Trip to El Salvador
Saturday, Mar. 14 to T
hursday, Mar. 19
Cost: $1,250 per person including airfare
Scholarships available
Registration deadline is Friday, Jan. 31. St. Martin's is once again working with Kurt Ackerman and his ministry, Sus Hijos/His Children, in El Salvador. During spring break, participants will spend the week at different government-run orphanages in and around San Salvador. Team ministry activities may range from reading Bible stories and sharing skits and music, to leading games and teaching crafts.
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10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.,
Wednesday, Jan. 27
Bagby Parish Hall
Enjoy music by Larry Glass this month. When The Gathering meets, a quiet miracle of hope and belonging happens at St. Martin's. For nearly two decades, volunteers have faithfully come to bring joy to those with memory issues. The Gathering is a group dedicated to the care and love of these individuals and their caretakers. Each meeting includes a craft, dancing and lunch.
For more information, contact Kathy Tellepsen by email or at 713-301-4786
, or Deb Tisch by email or at 713-985-3817
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