A community reshaping itself to be fit for God's purpose.
Thursday, April 9, 2020
Truly Human

This year journeying with Jesus along the road of his passion in Holy Week 2020 is an immediate and visceral experience for all of us. No one remains untouched by the global health crisis unfolding all around us. We are all directly experiencing our own versions of the passion in which fear and the unpredictability of the future play havoc with our sense of normal expectation.

Of course, this is exactly how it was for Jesus. The Tradition has ascribed a degree of omniscience to Jesus, assuming without evidence that as Son of God, he knew all things ahead of time. Yet, projecting divine qualities into the still very human Jesus is not helpful at all for us! The point about his passion is that the human Jesus suffered. That is, he really suffered rather than just appeared to suffer, buoyed along by the assurance of a happy ending - in the end.

Some of us individually, through knowing real suffering, will have a close identification with the suffering of Jesus in these coming days - because the rawness of personal suffering paradoxically opens us to a deeper experience of love. However, this Holy Week we are all - individually and as a community - exposed to the rawness of the kind of suffering Jesus underwent to a degree that, personal loss aside, few of us could ever have anticipated or expected.

We have real reasons to be afraid in this time of pandemic. Our experience of the uncertainty of what lies ahead opens a window on the nature of Jesus' own very personal suffering as he journeyed to the cross.

I believe that all Jesus knew for certain was that he was somehow part of a larger unfolding project. By travelling the road God had set out for him he understood that God was in the process of bringing about a greater purpose through him. In the meantime, his only course of action was to face down his fear, bear his aloneness, and keep putting one foot in front of the other - inching painfully forward.

As we face into the uncertainty of knowing that the world has changed and that things are never going to be the same again, like Jesus, we are called to be agents in furthering God's greater purpose. And like him, we too must have confidence to summon our courage and strengthen our hope so to face into the uncertainty of unfolding events, knowing that our God is with us every step of the way, encouraging us to a new way of living within the natural order of the creation.

The Blessings of Easter New Life to you all!
Mark+
Holy Week & Easter Sunday

Please view our Easter trailer here:

Maundy Thursday
Service of Agape Table Fellowship*
Video pre-recorded and webcast for 7 pm

Good Friday
Solemn Liturgy - pre-recorded and webcast for 7 pm

Easter Day
Service of the Word with Agape Table Fellowship
Video pre-recorded from St. Martin's and  webcast   for 10 am
Note:  this is from St. Martin's and not from the National Cathedral as previously advertised.

*Agape Table Fellowship is not a Eucharist. The Eucharist cannot be celebrated without people being present. Instead, this is an ancient service where bread and wine are blessed and shared but remain unconsecrated, i.e. do not become the body and blood of Christ. We invite you to a virtual participation in this service by having bread and a glass of wine ready at home.

St. Martin’s Hands:
A Pastoral and Practical Ministry in a time of Pandemic

St. Martin’s Hands is a newly formed ministry with both a pastoral and practical approach to strengthening our parish community as we journey together. During this season of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is even more important that we stay connected to each other. St. Martin’s Hands provides compassionate presence for parishioners through phone calls, letter writing, and prayer, and also works to address the more mundane needs of any parishioner in need of practical assistance during this time of social distancing.
Please consider bringing your time and talent to support this new ministry, or if you feel you would benefit from the services of St. Martin’s Hands, we want to hear from you! For details, please reach out via email, phone call or text to Linda Griggs , Cathy Bodner at 401-272-6610, or Elizabeth Welshman at 401-688-7037.
Healing Prayers
Even though we are not able to meet together at church, it doesn't mean we need to be secluded from one another. The Healing Prayers team is committed to continuing in ministry to those of you who would like prayers at this time.
Healing Prayers will be offered for the week of April 12 through April 18 by Pat Nolan . She can be reached by phone at 401-751-6768 or by email. May you know the fullness of God’s healing love.
Weekly Prayer List

  • Those with the Covid-19 virus or in quarantine

  • The staff and residents of Hallworth House, the Diocesan-sponsored nursing home. This is a very difficult time for everyone, with constantly changing requirements, shortages of PPE for the staff, and no visitors for the residents. 

  • First responders and those on the front lines in hospitals and nursing homes.

  • Those who are working hard to bring us the essential items we need; keeping grocery shelves stocked and medicine available.

  • Those affected by the economic fallout from the virus

  • Those who have birthdays this week: Elizabeth DiSandro, Emily Gray, Maura Kelty, Mary DiSandro, Greg Piper, Gavin Fuller.

  • Those commended to us: Dorothy B. "Dorrie" Nichols who died on April 1st. We also pray for Gail, Pauline, Angela, Eidan, Melissa, Chris, Donna, Jeremiah, Scarlett, Lisa, Joe,Virginia, Don, Justin, Eliza, Don, Mimi, Lisa, Annette, Douglas, Jean, Carla, Carol, Isabel, Jerry, Jackson, Patrick, Oliver, Pam, Theresa, Paula, Shirley, David, Ursula, Michael, Sam, Sheila, Morgan, Murielle, Charlie, Truls, Jill, Christine, Katie, Beth, Linda, Adam, Cheryl, Tom, Chris, Martha, Jean, Timmons, Isabel, Alicja, Neal, Patrick, Jennifer, Cynthia, Mark, Robin, Lora, Mariette, Isabella, Justa, Sarah, Harry, Ada, Denny, Marvin, Cathie, and Geoff.
St. Martin's Church | 50 Orchard Ave | Providence, RI |02906
(401) 751-2141