MONTHLY HEALING EUCHARIST: MONDAY, JULY 6
A service of Holy Eucharist and Healing is held in the parish chapel every first Monday of the month at 7:30 p.m. Laying on of hands and anointing for healing of self or others will be offered as part of the service. The entrance to the chapel is located on the walk between Hilary House and the church as you approach the memorial garden from St. Martin's Lane.
Other opportunities to receive laying on of hands for healing include a Healing Eucharist every Wednesday at noon in the chapel and on Sundays during Holy Communion at the 9 and 11:15 a.m. services, 10 am services when we are in a 2-service mode.
In addition, the clergy would welcome the opportunity to visit and pray with parishioners before elective surgeries, during any hospitalization or illness, or whenever a pastoral visit and prayer for health and wholeness is desired. A confidential call to the church or a message left in a clergy member's voicemail is all that is necessary.
SUMMER HOSPITALITY
We continue our new parish hospitality. It’s simple. Just bring something to share on Sunday morning. NO SIGN UP SHEETS! Sometimes we’ll have a feast. Sometimes we’ll have a famine. There will always be lemonade and cold tea. We will enjoy our refreshments outdoors when the weather permits.
MANY THANKS TO OUR SCHOLARSHIP DONORS
Many thanks from the Companion Parish Committee. You did it! Many thanks for the overwhelming generosity of St. Martin's parishioners who have pledged over $14,000 for scholarships to enable 32 children in our Companion Parish of San Juan in Chichicastenango, Guatemala to attend school next year. Double the thanks to those who have paid your pledges. Checks may be given to a member of the Companion Parish Committee on Sunday morning, or mailed to the Parish Office. They should be made out to St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church with “Guatemala scholarship” on the memo line.
MINISTER TO OUR PARISH CHILDREN
‘Will you do all in your power to support these persons in their life in Christ?’At every baptism, we as a community make this promise. One of the most important ways we live into this vow of supporting children is through teaching church school and building relationships that can have lasting impact. A number of our dedicated church school teachers have been in the classroom for several years and have earned a well deserved break. Will you consider sharing your time and talent with our children and youth, in the context of a collaborative team setting? You don't need a theological education! Love of children, a willingness to share your faith, and a sense of fun are the top criteria. Please contact Cathy Cowling with any questions you may have or if you are interested in this important ministry.
AND
Each summer we offer a 10:15 style Liturgy of the Word for Young Children during the 10 am Holy Eucharist, which is comprised of simple prayers, songs, and a story. We need adults and teenagers who are willing to be leaders and storytellers. Stories and training are provided. If you are familiar with the 10:15 service, this will be a very comfortable role! Please contact Cathy Cowling if you are interested in helping.
FLOWER MINISTRY INFO
Throughout the summer months, altar flowers are available to anyone after the 10 am service who would like to brighten the day of a person who is homebound, sick, or just in need of a visit. Share the wealth after the service. Green floral paper and ribbon are located in the sacristy in the second drawer from the top on the left.
HELP
We are still seeking someone who could help move a dozen or so small boxes of church floor tiles (because of their size, not more than fifteen pounds each) from the carriage house to the basement in Hilary House. Load up the back of a car, drive to the exterior entrance to the basement and hand them off to a partner. It should take less than an hour. Please call Karen in the parish office, who is willing to assist. She needs a day or two notice.
EDUCATION FOR MINISTRY: CONGRATULATIONS AND MORE
Education for Ministry is a four-year theological education for adults that focuses on scripture, church history, theology, and a process of theological reflection in the context of a small group seminar that is offered here at St Martin's. Students commit to one year at a time. The group currently meets on Thursday mornings, although if enough people are interested in an evening group, that might become a possibility. For more information, please contact either Melissa Buckingham or Cathy Cowling.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT?
Do you have a topic you'd like to suggest for a possible future forum series or short course? If so, write it down on the newsprint sheet on the Christian Formation bulletin board located in the parish house foyer!
PREPARING FOR SUNDAY
Preparing for Sunday is an online lectionary resource to which we subscribe annually to benefit the parish. (See OTHER RESOURCES in the right hand column of the This Week page). Both the Revised Common Lectionary and the Book of Common Prayer Lectionary are offered for each Sunday, along with Reflections and Responses for your enrichment.
SAYING GOODBYE
There are many ways to say goodbye. Click on the CLOAK link on the home page to hear parishioners describe a range of farewells and how they have affected their faith. This week's addition is Al Gardner, who describes what if felt like to leave his Mt. Airy home and move to Cathedral Village. Other “goodbye” stories are those told by parishioners David Dieck, Helen White and Nikki Wood.
GUATEMALA SCHOLARSHIP UPDATE: JUST FOUR MORE SCHOLARSHIPS NEEDED
Many thanks to the generous St. Martin's parishioners who have pledged over $13,000 - enough for 28 scholarships - the past few Sundays! We only need 4 more to reach our goal to help 32 children. For several years our parish members have enabled these children in our Companion Parish of San Juan Apostol in Chichicastenango to attend school.
You can make a pledge on the clipboards that Companion Parish Committee (CPC) members will circulate after services, or on the table in the foyer. A total scholarship is $470, which pays for a child's tuition, books, fees and lunches for a year. Pledges can be made for a total or a partial scholarship in any increment of $25.
Checks may be given to members of the CPC or mailed to the parish office made payable to St. Martin's. Please be sure to write “Guatemala scholarship” on the memo line.
There is no free education in Guatemala and though parents value schooling, many do not have the resources to pay for it. If children are not in school, they may work with their parents to supplement the family income. The parents are willing to sacrifice this extra income if school becomes possible. Please help us to enable these families to enable their children to continue their education.
MEET, GREET AND PLAY: SATURDAY, JULY 25
SAVE THE DATE!
Come one and all and have a ball!! On Saturday afternoon from 4 to 7 p.m. we’ll picnic and play! Bocce, badminton, soccer, croquet will be set up, and any other outdoor games families would like to play can be included. If it's hot, bring a sprinkler or a slip 'n slide for the little ones. Bring your own lawn picnic and drinks will be provided.
This event is open to one and all and is sponsored by the Newcomers Committee. If you have suggestions or questions, please contact Eileen Satullo, 610-828-6935, or eakenna@comcast.net.
ARAB-JEWISH FILM SERIES AT ST. MARTIN’S
Three films reflecting some aspect of the lives of contemporary Arab and Jewish-Israeli people will be shown on three successive Wednesday evening, July 22, 29 and August 5, from 7:30 to approximately 9:00 p.m. in the Houston Room. Popcorn and soda pop provided. The films to be shown are: The Syrian Bride, Paradise Now and The Lemon Tree. (As the time for each movie approaches, a synopsis will be provided in this newsletter). Please contact the Rev. Sharline A. Fulton with any questions.
IT’S EASY TO BE GREEN
Cool it by closing your draperies or shades during the day to insulate against the sun and outdoor temperature.
DON’T FORGET TO TELL US WHEN…
1. You move.
2. You get a new email address or home/work phone number.
3. You want us to know your cell phone number or a work email.
4. Any of the information in the directory needs correction of any kind.
5. There has been a new addition to your family.
6. You or a member of your family are hospitalized.
7. You would like this parish community to pray for you or someone you love.
8. You would like a clergy visit.
You can call Karen Clayton in the parish office (215-247-7466, x106 or kclayton@stmartinec.org) for any of the above, or, if you would prefer to leave a confidential message about a prayer request or to request a clergy visit, you can do so by contacting the Rev. Bob Tate (rtate@stmartinec.org or 215-247-7466, x101) or the Rev. Beth Hixon (bhixon@stmartinec.org or 215-247-7466, x102).
Another way to leave a request for prayers is to call the prayer voice mailbox at 215-247-7466, x107.
OUR FOOD CUPBOARD
Note: please do not leave food outside overnight (unless it is cans only) as the squirrels chew through the cardboard boxes.
Thank you for your continued generous response to our plea for food staples for the cupboard at St. Vincent's. Let's continue to bring nonperishable food staples such as soup, canned meat, canned vegetables and fruit, baby food and formula, pasta and juice each Sunday.
The news is full of reminders of the increase in food prices and the hardships this causes. Also, with children out of school, they’re not getting supplemental meals there. The food cupboard at St. Vincent's needs our donations to fill the many requests for food.
For your convenience, there are two places where you can leave your donations: the cupboard in the parish hall by the Willow Grove Avenue door, and the basket by the Willow Grove Avenue door of the church. We can have our basket and our cupboard overflowing every week.
Let us feed our hungry neighbors.