Week of May 29, 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
Thy Kingdom Come: Global Anglican Novena for Pentecost
The Archbishop of Canterbury has invited all Anglicans to pray a novena together during the 9 days between the feast of the Ascension (which is Thursday, May 26) and Pentecost (June 5). You may pray any novena to the Holy Spirit during these days, or you may simply pray the Our Father each day, or your own prayers, with the special intention of opening yourself in fuller surrender to the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which empower us to serve in love.

The Archbishop has written a booklet of reflections on 1 Peter that you may wish to accompany your prayers during this time. You can find his reflections at: https://www.thykingdomcome.global/sites/default/files/2022-02/TKC%20Novena%202022%20DOWNLOAD.pdf

The Diocese of Canterbury has other resources available that you may access here:

Here are some other prayers you may wish to use during these days of special prayer:

St. Augustine's Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy. Amen.

Collect for Purity
Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you, no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our
hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Blessings to you all, as we open our hearts to the transforming and healing energies of the Holy Spirit.

Father Rob+
YOUTH GROUP-SAVE THE DATE
All youth grades 6-12 are invited to attend a "Get to know you" event on Sunday, June 5, from 5-6:30 pm at St. John's Episcopal Church in Somerville. This is the inaugural meeting of a new joint Episcopal Youth Group which will begin meeting once a month in the Fall.
If you have any questions, please see either Christine Kellam, or Father Rob+ Pizza and Ice Cream included!
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.
Upcoming Dates
June 4, 6 p.m.: Fellowship Event - Night of Mystery (see below). Please sign up as soon as possible. I need to know how many "suspects" will be coming!!!
June 5: First Communion
June 26: Pride Mass at 10:30 a.m. with Neighborhood Picnic immediately following. I will need plenty of help setting up games, food, etc. for this event.
Fellowship Event
We are planning a "Night of Mystery" that will be held in the undercroft with a potluck dinner. If you sign up today, you will receive your "suspect". You can decide if you want to dress up like your suspect or not. All the suspects gather in the undercroft on the night of the "mystery". At some time in the evening, the lights will go out, and the "victim" will be revealed. You then will try to find out whom the murderer is by asking questions of the rest of the guests. Our mystery is "Murder in Margaritaville." Randy will be our mixologist. Sign up below with what you will bring for the potluck.
Outreach
Outreach will continue to collect shoes until Sunday, June 12th. Please tie a rubber band or attach the two shoes together before leaving them in the narthex.
 
Beginning Sunday, June 19th through Sunday, July 31st  we will be collecting food items for the Somerset County Food Bank. We are also hopeful that casseroles can be delivered to SHIP during July. More to follow on that!
 
Finally, we recently learned that the food bank receives eggs from a local farmer but they are delivered in crates. The eggs are then transferred to old, perused cartons. Sometimes the cartons are used multiple times. So Outreach is asking that you save your egg cartons and bring them to Church. We will continually take what is donated to the food bank.
 
Thank you to those who volunteered at the food bank in Somerville during May and to those who donated rice for the food bank.

Summer Church Camp- Grades 8-12
If you are looking for a church camp experience during the summer, check out this camp hosted by Crossroads. Crossroads is a retreat center in Port Murray, NJ, operated by the Episcopal Diocese of Newark and the NJ Synod of the ELCA.  This camp is for youth who have completed grades 8-12, July 24-28. and is recommended by our diocese. The cost is $450. Follow the link for more information.
Prayer Requests
  • 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.
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