LIFT at Home: 09.13.2022

LIFT at Home

Anne Alexis Harra

Minister for Children & Youth

The Rev. Laura Palmer blessing the backpacks of children, educators, and families at LIFT Worship.

(L-R): Rebecca Steffy, Seguin Couch, and Malcolm Brodie work on their scavenger hunt through the Book of Common Prayer during LIFT Formation.

Sept. 11 LIFT Reflections:

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Ps. 118:24)

St. Martin's Program Year kick-off this past Sunday, Sept. 11, was a joy-filled day with the Holy Spirit moving through each person who walked through our doors. It truly was a day that the Lord made.

Despite the dreariness of the day, over 50 people attended LIFT Worship and were nourished by the Holy Eucharist. I was awestruck and overcome with gratitude. Seeing so many friends, both old and new, was a reminder for me of God's clear presence in this miraculous place.

At the end of the liturgy, children, educators, and their families came to the front with their backpacks to receive prayer and a blessing for the upcoming school year.

I would like to extend a special thank you to the Rev. Laura Palmer, the Rev. Carol Duncan, Madeleine Moran, Eric Borgstrom, Kelly Martin, and Rebecca Steffy -- and to our wonderful congregation -- for their tremendous help in making both pieces of LIFT (Worship + Formation) meaningful, engaging, and joyful. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Join us this upcoming Sunday for Worship and Formation. All are welcome, no exceptions.

Join us for Parents Connecting this week at LIFT!

Join us during LIFT Formation (9:45am) this Sunday, Sept. 18, as we welcome back Mark and Laura Birdsall of Wellspring! Parents Connecting was a beloved and faithfully-attended ministry collaboration last year which encouraged parents to reflect on their spirituality, faith, and questions related to parenting, prayer, and worship. We are delighted to partner with Wellspring again for more Parents Connecting discussions.

An age-appropriate activity for children will run concurrently. All are welcome!

Barbara Thomson, Rector's Warden

Spotlighting our LIFT Leadership!

The program year is officially underway! To celebrate, we want to highlight members of the talented and Spirit-filled LIFT Leadership Team. This week, we invite you to get to know our Rector's Warden, Barbara Thomson!

Q: How long have you been working at/attending St. Martin's?

A: I have been at St. Martin's for 18 years.

Q: Our LIFT theme this year is "Lord, teach us to pray." What is your favorite way to pray?

A: Morning Prayer is my favorite. Every night my family and I say, "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, in the morning when I wake, show me the path I'd like to take. Please, God help me be a good mom and wife and God bless my family and friends who I love so much. Amen." Afterwards, each one of us takes a turn saying 3 things we're grateful for that happened during the day. We call them "Grateful thats."

Q: What is your favorite verse(s) from Scripture?

A: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” (Jer. 1:5)

Q: Tell us a fun fact about yourself!

A: I love "Wheel of Fortune" and "Family Feud."

DioPA LGBTQIA+

Youth Group Meeting:

Sunday, Sept. 25, 2pm

LGBTQIA+ youth, friends, and allies in the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania - come join us for a youth group meetup! We'll learn about the history of LGBTQIA+ activism in the Episcopal Church and create some art together about our own experiences. Join us for games, discussion, art-making and ice cream, and a chance to make new, supportive friends. Registration is encouraged. Contact Anne Alexis Harra for more information.

You're invited!

St. Martin's Weekly Playgroup

Parents, caregivers, babysitters, and nannies are invited to St. Martin's Playground on Tuesday mornings from 9-11am for a playgroup! Check out our playground (which was built right before the pandemic!) with a mug of coffee and enjoy fellowship with other parents! All ages are welcome.

All children must be accompanied by an adult. This is a rain-or-shine gathering; in the event of inclement weather, the playgroup will meet in the Parish Hall.

See you there!

It's not too late: Register for our Choristers Program!

Last week we had a hugely successful Children's Choir Chorister Rehearsal. Our Chorister Leader, Ms. Brooke Witherite, and I were delighted to welcome 10 children to our program!

We have capacity to welcome many more children so please share information with friends and family, and encourage them to attend on Wednesdays from 4:30pm to 6:00pm. Please register your child here!

We will also offer free Food & Fellowship for choristers and their family after the rehearsal at 6pm. RSVPs are encouraged; you can RSVP by clicking here.

We look forward to welcoming you!

Tyrone Whiting, Director of Music

Let us pray...

Prayer for our Children & Educators

God our teacher and friend, we thank you for the blessing of education. You have given our students minds that grow and develop in unique ways, at unique speeds, and we are grateful for that miracle. We celebrate the beginning of this school year, and ask for your blessings upon the students, the educators, and the families who love and support them. Amen.

Prayer for St. Martin's Transition

Generous God,

We are grateful for the bountiful blessings you continue to give us at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, even though we are without a rector or associate rector. We are still worshiping, singing, praying, giving, and working for justice. We pray that we will keep on welcoming your grace as we welcome each person that comes through our doors, and that we will soon be able to welcome an interim rector.

In faith,

Amen.

All are invited to join in the Transition Prayer Ministry, by contributing prayers that you have written or discovered. If you would like to learn more, please contact Joan Menocal (cell: 267-496-7604) or Debby Schaaf (notdeb2@gmail.com).