Week of July 31, 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
SUMMER WORSHIP SCHEDULE
There will be one weekend Mass on Sundays at 10 am. It will be Low Mass with no choir or chanting, and no incense or bells.

The midweek Wednesday Mass will continue on most Wednesdays during the summer in the Lady Chapel at 6 pm.
Rector News
Father Rob will be away from August 9-August 16. His mother is having surgery and he will be with her in NC. Your prayers are greatly appreciated.

Volunteer Opportunities
Interested in serving at Mass as a Lay Reader, Lay Eucharistic Minister, or a Thurifer? Please email Father Rob for more information at 
News from Texas
Spotlight on Jim Miller
Jim writes: I'm still very healthy. My only poor condition is my hearing problem, but I manage. I moved to Texas last January about 5 miles from where my daughter and her husband live. My Texas home is in an apartment system for retired people. And I've begun going to a local Episcopal Church regularly.
  
My daughter Margie and her husband Joe left last week to spend 4 months at their summer home at Glen Lake in Michigan - Glen Lake was written up about 100 years ago in "The National Geographic Magazine" as the 3rd most beautiful lake IN THE WORLD! My father began taking his family to Glen Lake about 90 years ago, so I've been going there for about 90 years. And my daughter has been coming here since she was a baby. Grown up, she had their summer home built here a few years ago.

Last Monday I left Texas and joined Margie and Joe to spend 4 weeks with them - before returning to my apartment in Texas. So I'm well - and enjoying Glen Lake again and being with Margie and Joe.
  
Thanks again for keeping in touch with me.
Jim Miller
Prayer Requests
  • Marilyn's grandson, Ian.
  • Yvonne Comeau's aunt, Pat Sailer, has many health issues and recently had surgery and a heart attack while on the operating table. She's home but has not been doing well the past couple of days.
  • Jenn Persson has asked for prayers for her 103-year-old grandmother, Carol Speiser, who has Covid, and her uncle, Patrick Sisbarro, whose cancer has returned.
  • Healing prayers for Karen Bockus after her hip surgery.
  • Susan Cacciatore, Len's former wife, has entered hospice.
  • Raymond Okonsky, Denise's father.
  • Olivia, prayer request from Fr. Rob
  • Dwight, a childhood friend of Fr. Rob's
  • Audrey, Bill Valiant's wife
  • Bill Valiant is also experiencing some health issues
  • Fr. Rob's mother, Evelyn.
  • Kathy Picazio asks for prayers for 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.
  • Mary Irwin
  • Philip and Nancy
Please send your prayer intentions to Philip at philip.muniz@gmail.com. Also, if you would like a name removed, you can email Philip.
St. Martin's Summer Blood Drive
Sunday, August 7 - 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
I need a few volunteers to sign in blood donors on Sunday. It is very simple, and completely automated. You only need one person at the table, but it would be nice if we could break the day up into one or two hours each. Please contact me ASAP. Alison
OUTREACH
August is St. Martin’s month to man the food pantry on Saturday mornings at the Reformed Church on Main Street in Somerville. A signup sheet is posted on the bulletin board in the narthex or you can contact Marlene to sign up for a morning. Volunteers are requested to be at the Reformed Church at 8:30 and, usually, the pantry is closed and you are on your way home by 10:30. We have no volunteers for Aug 20th and 27th at this time.
 
During August, we will also be collecting new underwear and socks for children. The donations will be given to FISH. FISH will also accept gently used or new children’s clothing. All items may be left in the narthex during the month of August.
 
On August 7th, following Church Services, Outreach will hold a brief committee meeting. We would like to review upcoming Outreach programs, introduce new Church members to what Outreach does, and welcome suggestions for new Outreach programs. All are welcome to attend.
GRACE for ALL
Coming in Fall 2022 (beginning on Tuesday, September 20)

Grace for All is a prayer and support small group for LGBTQ+ Christians. People from any Christian tradition and people from no religious tradition at all are welcome to join us for a time of mutual sharing and support. This is a safe space for people struggling to reconcile their faith with their sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression. It is a space to be nurtured and affirmed by the Church and to celebrate God's loving grace for us all. We will meet on Tuesdays from 7-8 pm in the Lady Chapel. Please share this information with LGBTQ+ people in your life who may benefit from this kind of supportive small group.

If you would like more information, or if you would like to register to join, please email the parish priest- Fr. Rob at rectorstmartinsnj@gmail.com.
Save the Date: Confirmation and Reception- November 13, 2022
Bishop Stokes will be visiting us on Sunday, November 13 (St. Martin's Sunday). On this Sunday youth and adults will be Confirmed by the laying on of hands by the Bishop, and newcomers who were confirmed in the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, or Lutheran Churches may be received by the laying on of the hands by the Bishop, thereby becoming a full member of the Episcopal Church. 

If you wish to be confirmed (youth and adults), or if you are already confirmed and wish to be received as a full member of St. Martin's, or if you are confirmed and wish to reaffirm your faith in a public way, please contact Father Rob. Confirmation classes for youth and adults, (and for those wishing to be confirmed or received) will be conducted in September and October (with an overnight retreat on September 23-24). More information will be forthcoming.
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