A community reshaping itself to be fit for God's purpose.

Thursday, February 20, 2020



Ash Wednesday, Lent,
and other Good Things


Next Wednesday is Ash Wednesday , preceded of course by the legendary St Martin’s Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper - hosted by Gander, the men’s spirituality group. You can see details further on in this E-news. Service times on Ash Wednesday at 7 am, 12 Noon, and 7 pm will offer a variety of times and ways to participate on Ash Wednesday and make a good beginning to your Lent.

Lent is the Church’s ancient seasonal invitation to enter into a period when we take spiritual inventory. Becoming more self-aware as disciples of Christ, we deepen our mindfulness of the presence of God in our lives and in the world around us.

As the season of Lent approaches, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry invites Episcopalians and people of faith to turn and pray on behalf of our nation:
In times of great national concern and urgency, people of faith have returned to ancient practices of repentance, prayer and fasting as ways of interceding with God on behalf of their nation and the world. This is such a moment for us in the United States.

For most of us the word discipline has negative connotations of punishment. But remember discipline simply refers to the practices of discipleship. The disciplines of Lent - traditionally referred to as repentance, self-examination, prayer, fasting, self-denial, along with daily meditation on Scripture - may seem daunting to contemplate. But they have one purpose only – to nurture the spirit of discipleship, i.e.mindfulness of God and our connections to the world around us.

Discipleship is to become the change you most want to see in your own life and the wider world. This Lent, let mindfulness be the key to deepening your awareness of God. With a more appropriate sense of ourselves (not too inflated and not too insignificant) there’s more room for others, enabling a more enriching participation in life.

The 2020 Lent Program schedule:

  • Tuesday Evenings at 5:30 pm - Stations of the Cross + Holy Communion
  • Wednesday Mornings at 7 am - Eucharist
  • Tuesday through Thursday at 9 am - Morning Prayer
  • Thursday Evenings 5:30-6:30 pm -Meditation Hour – for more details visit here and here.
  • Sunday Morning Lent discussion program at 11 am - Linda+ and David+(Ames) will lead an exploration of Derek Olsen’s Inwardly Digest: The Book of Common Prayer as Guide to a Spiritual Life.

You can visit Lent 2020 for suggestions on daily reading and online podcasts.
 
Lent is also a time to reflect on issues of social justice. Following our screening of the film Lost in Providence last Wednesday evening, we are proposing that the parish engage in a letter writing campaign to the members of the General Assembly requesting their action on much needed reform of the outdated eviction laws that promote tenant evictions as a principal cause of homelessness throughout RI. RI lags behind neighboring states in achieving a better balance between landlord and tenant interests. Visit evicted-in-ri.com for more about the urgent social problem of decaying housing and widespread family homelessness. 

Mark+

TGIF!
Friday, February 21, 5 - 7 pm
The Hospitality Committee will be hosting a TGIF this Friday, February 21, 5 - 7 pm in the Great Hall. Come enjoy a glass of wine and some nibbles after work! Catch up with your fellow parishioners or, better yet, invite a friend to visit St. Martin's for the first time. This is strictly a social get together. Hope to see all of you at what promises to be an enjoyable gathering with friends, both old and new! Childcare will be available.
Please contact Jennifer Kiddie for food donations and contact Natasha Lofgren if you’d like to volunteer at this event.
Women's Spirituality Group
THIS Sunday, February 23, at 6 pm
All women of the parish are invited to Susan Allen's for a potluck dinner and program "Nuns and Nones" on Millennials and Spirituality. To RSPV or to find out more about the group, please contact Susan Allen . 
And save the date! On Sunday, March 15, Rev. Linda Griggs will share about her path to priesthood.
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
Tuesday, February 25, at 5:30 pm
Join us for our annual Pancake Supper where pancakes are cooked to order by  Gander , St. Martin’s spirituality group for men. Bacon, sausage, juice, and coffee will also be included on the menu. Families and singles of all ages love this event - we do all the cooking and the clean up! Price is $12 per person or $25 per family.
If you would like to help out with this event, contact Chris Izzo to help in the kitchen. For set up & serving, contact David Brookhart, and for everything else contact John Bracken
Estate Sale!
9 am - 3 pm, Saturday, March 7
10:30 am - 2 pm, Sunday, March 8
St. Martin's next Estate Sale is coming up fast and we need your help to make it great! Start your spring cleaning a little early and set aside some items you don't need anymore, then donate them to St. Martin's. Items that sell best include small furniture, lamps, art work, decorative pillows, dishes, and glassware. All proceeds go to support St. Martin’s Church and its ministries. Questions? Please contact Brigit.
PLEASE NOTE:
The deadline to submit articles and announcements
to be included in the weekly e-News is Wednesday at 12 noon
St. Martin's Church | 50 Orchard Ave | Providence, RI |02906
(401) 751-2141