Week of April 3, 2022, 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
CHANGES IN HOLY WEEK WORSHIP SCHEDULE
Washington Valley Road will be closed from 8:00 pm to 6:00 am on weeknights until April 15 (Good Friday evening) for resurfacing. Therefore, the following changes will be made to our Holy Week Worship Schedule in order to ensure everyone can get home before Washington Valley Road is closed. 

Maundy Thursday- 6:30 pm Mass of the Lord's Supper (NOTE: The Lady Chapel will not be open for the Watch as previously planned).
Good Friday-Noon Stations of the Cross and 6:30 pm Liturgy of the Day- Reading of the Passion, Veneration of the Cross, Communion from the Pre-Sanctified
Easter Vigil-5:30 pm
Easter Day-8:15 am and 10:30 am
Theological Reflections
 Conversion
Lent is a time when the Church asks us to reflect on our values, practices, and behaviors to see how they are in line with Christ's command to love God and neighbor as we love ourselves. It's also a time of fasting- so that we can clear out those things which have become barriers to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and time of penitence- so that we can repent and return to God and God's way of love.

Lent is meant to be a time of healing, but sometimes it can feel like drudgery. The work of Lent is hard work, to be sure; but, it is intended to be life-giving and transformational. And the conversion of life to which Lent calls us is not something that happens all at once- it doesn't even happen after one perfectly practiced Lent. Conversion is the work of a lifetime. Conversion is the ongoing work of turning our hearts more and more to God so that God more and more enables us to live and love more like Jesus. 

So, if you've had a productive Lent and you feel closer to God and more energized to live the Good News of God's saving in Christ, be grateful, and be an inspiration to others. But, if you feel like you have failed this Lent, or even if you haven't made much of an effort to grow closer to God- do not despair. God accepts and honors the desire in our hearts to be united more fully to God's love, even if our lived practice doesn't always align with our desire. And it's never too late to turn to God and to ask for God's help. 

As we come to the end of this Lenten Season, may the grace of God draw all of us to see our dignity and worth as God's beloved. May we offer our hearts and lives as sacrifices of love, and may we support and nurture one another on our paths towards conversion.
Prayer Requests
  • Skip Rawson, Lisa Garb, and Laura Butrico's father.
  • Deacon Robert Perrson.
  • Fr. Rob's mother, Evelyn.
  • Kathy Picazio asks for prayers for a special high school friend who has a son, daughter-in-law, and daughter in Ukraine. Doug Newton, his wife, Zhenya, and her adult daughter.
  • Bonnie Whalen requested prayers for her 28 yr old grandson.
  • Linda Virtue
  • Chris Semanchik
  • Jane Linn's, granddaughter-in-law, Rachael.
  • Mike, Christine Kellam's dad.
  • Mary Irwin
  • Philip and Nancy
Please send your prayer intentions to Philip at philip.muniz@gmail.com.
OUTREACH
Outreach wishes to thank everyone for their big-heartedness with our Easter Basket project. We were able to provide 30 customized baskets to HOME (formerly IHN) for children displaced by Tropical Storm Ida. In addition, we were able to provide baskets to the Bound Brook Spirit Fund (Board of Education) for children who otherwise would not have an Easter basket. Your generosity was awe-inspiring.
 
During the month of April, we will be collecting shoes. Please place them in the container in the Narthex. If the shoes have shoelaces, please tie the shoes together using the laces. If there are no laces, place one or two pairs of shoes in a plastic bag and tie the bag closed. The last date to donate shoes will be Sunday, April 24th. Both children’s and adult shoes will be collected.
This Week at St. Martin's
Thursdays - 10 a.m. - Noon Private Prayer and Adoration with the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament (come and go as you desire) in the Lady Chapel
Fridays - 7 p.m. Stations of the Cross in the church
Opportunity for Outreach
A woman in Bedminster is living with food insecurity, but she is unable to drive to a food pantry to get food. Is anyone able to drive her once a week to get food from one of the local food pantries? Please contact Father Rob for more information.
INTRODUCING THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Every week in Lent we’ll be introducing two Stations in the Stations of the Cross. All together the Stations are a series of images of events from Jesus’ journey on the day of his crucifixion. Each station relates an event from that journey. Christians have been walking the Stations for centuries. It is meant to assist us as we make our own spiritual pilgrimage of contemplation of our Lord’s passion.
We hope you will join us on Good Friday at the Church to walk the Stations of the Cross as you contemplate the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
THE ELEVENTH STATION: JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

When they came to the place which is called The Skull, there they crucified him; and with him, they crucified two criminals, one on the right, the other on the left, and Jesus between them. And the scripture was fulfilled which says, “He was numbered with the transgressors.”

Let us pray. Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hardwood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen.

THE TWELFTH STATION: JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And when Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, “It is finished!” And then, crying with a loud voice, he said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” And he bowed his head, and handed over his spirit.

Let us pray. O God, who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; who lives and reigns now and forever. Amen.
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