This Week from Mitch
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I hope and pray that you are well. I would like to begin this e-Messenger by saying thank you. Our stewardship campaign is going well. Pledges are coming in, and the overwhelming majority of you have increased your pledge. Thank you! If everyone participates, I know we will get closer to our common goal! We are building a beloved community, a place where families gather. It is as exciting as it is hope-filled. Thank you.
This weekend at St. Martin's is as full as it can get. On Friday night, we will participate in the annual COLA Pride Parade. Join us as we walk with families from our church and diocese! On Saturday, we will have a booth in the family section of Pride. Please come and see us, help us advertise Safe Space Dinners, and invite folks to church. Then on Sunday, come and worship. Sunday morning, we have our regular services at 8 AM and 10:30 AM. Then, at 3 PM, we have the Blessing of the Animals. Finally, at 5 PM, we will host a dozen other churches here at St. Martin's for the ecumenical Pride Mass. Please join us in welcoming our wider community. SC Pride President Dylan Gunnels will preach, and we are excited to have him. After the service, we will have a potluck in our Parish Hall. All are welcome.
When I first came to St. Martin's, I dreamed of a church that would be open every day of the week. As I left campus last night, I got to see our choir finishing practice as basketball players trickled into the gym to start their Wednesday night workout. The Community House had lights on and was filling up. In the old English church, the church was the center of a community, a place of worship, sacramental nourishment, community gathering, and welcome. Because of your support, St. Martin's has become that kind of church, for which I am grateful. Please participate. There are opportunities for you to get involved, and if you have not yet filled out a pledge card, please prayerfully consider giving to St. Martin's for the upcoming year.
Peace,
Mitch