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Announcements, Stories & other news
This Week from Mitch
Yesterday was a special day for Caitlyn Darnell as she was ordained to the priesthood. The service was beautiful. Over coffee this morning I reflected on this past year, the year ahead of us, and our path forward as a church with new leaders in place.
Pandemic Update: A Message from Mitch
The upcoming weeks will be eventful ones in the life of St. Martin's. I hope that this Sunday you will join us on The Point for the burning of the palms at 4:30 p.m. Libby Nicholson has led this liturgy for our youth for years.
This week’s pandemic update from MItch
In a positive light, we are entering into a new stage of this pandemic. More and more people are being vaccinated, allowing more things to open up. I was moved by a picture this week of one of our grandparents hugging her grandchild. It was a special hug indeed. On another hand, this week we prayed in our Prayers of the People for multiple COVID-related deaths. Early in the pandemic, St. Martin's was, for the size of our organization, very lightly touched by COVID. Perhaps it is simply the law of averages, but now it seems like things are equaling out. Our need for safety remains as strong as ever.
A Note of Thanks from Amy & Nick Montanez
Father Chris Clements said in his sermon of January 17th, 2021, that of all the churches he has known, St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields “is one of the most alive, Spirit-filled, and welcoming. It is a treasure, or in Scriptural words, a pearl of great price. And so if we fail to support and nurture it, we will lose something that cannot be replaced, and I think we will be forever sorry.”
A Message from Mitch
As we finish up this year's stewardship campaign, I was recently informed about a parishioner who pledged last year, but has not this year. They said they would not give to the church until we were re-opened and could worship inside. Hearing this made me think that it might be helpful to offer a reminder of what we can and can't do from both a theological perspective, and a rules standpoint.
Weekly pandemic update from Mitch
If I were to write a book about this past week, the title would be "The Tale of two COVIDs." On one hand, many of our members age 70 and above are experiencing a sense
This week from Mitch
Yesterday, during the inauguration, I was moved by Amanda Gorman's poem. In particular, this verse "Scripture tells us to
Weekly pandemic update from Mitch
While we may have longer to go, there is hope. The effectiveness of the vaccines is extremely high. If we each continue to do our part, we will see an end to this COVID-19 pandemic. If we hold tight to proper social distancing and we use the vaccines when they become available, we will make it through this.
Weekly pandemic update from Mitch
This morning, as I woke up to write this, I had the funny feeling I was like Bill Murray's character in the movie "Groundhog Day." As many of you may recall, in the movie, Bill Murray's character is forced to repeat the same day over and over again. Quarantine can feel like this sometimes. It is hard.
Tiny drops add up to big blessings
Doing even the smallest things in the midst of this pandemic season keeps us connected, and can add up to big blessings. Read parishioner Becky Lumpkin’s reflection about working with the St. Luke’s Feeding Ministry.
Weekly pandemic update from Mitch
At St. Martin's, we proclaim each week that all are welcome. We care for our members, we seek to serve our community in the name of Jesus, and we seek to be faithful to the worship of the Episcopal Church. St. Martin's official mission statement intentionally uses the words "to love, to grow, to serve." Our vestry is called to be ambassadors of St. Martin's love, growth, and service. Thank you to those who have heeded that call.
This Week from Mitch
Who are you? Who are you as a Christ-follower? Advent is a time of preparation. A time when we prepare for Christmas by opening in our hearts a place for the Christ-child to be born anew. It is a time of intentionally journeying to the manger, a time of pilgrimage. A part of the way each of us can prepare is by doing some work and prayer around some of life's essential questions, one of which is "who are you?"
Advent Online - Caitlyn’s MEGA list of Advent resources
A LARGE list of Advent resources including book recommendations, podcasts, albums, playlists, and more.
Holy Land Pilgrimage - An Advent virtual journey
Join us on a virtual walking pilgrimage through the Holy Land during the season of Advent, using an app made especially for St. Martin’s! Information session and registration will be available soon.
This week from Mitch
“I had a “Facebook Memory” pop up of last year's Annual Meeting. Although it only happened a year ago, it felt far off. Potlucks like that seem to have taken place a lifetime ago. I miss them and long for them. I know that with continued effort, with continued social distancing, and with mutual respect, one day they will return. I look forward to that day.”
Weekly pandemic update from Mitch
“…I was contemplating the difficulty of 2020 as I was preparing my report for our Annual Meeting. Like everything else this year, there has been some good, and there has been some bad, but I feel like God has been present for it all. When I look at it this way and I see the body of work St. Martin’s has accomplished, I smile.”