Advent at St. Martin's | St. Martin-in-the-Fields

This Advent Season, we are anticipating the joy to come at Christmas and beyond! Please join us for a full season of Advent programming beginning December 3rd.

Intergenerational Advent Wreath Making

Sun., Dec. 3rd, 9:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Join St. Martin's Climate Action Team for an intergenerational advent wreath making to create Advent Wreaths in a relaxed, joyful, and spiritual celebration. Enjoy donuts & hot chocolate and reflect on memories, rituals, and stories of Advent and Christmas with your fellow St. Martin's families and parishioners. Come share your favorite earth friendly practices as we continue to consider ways to reduce commercialism and focus on the true meaning of the season.To offset the cost of materials, we invite a suggested donation of $10/wreath. To donate online, please click here Select the fund "General Giving," then add the memo "Advent Wreaths." For more information, please contact Lorie Hershey, Parish Administrator, at [email protected].

Advent Lessons & Carols - Sunday, Dec. 3rd, 5:00 p.m.

All are invited and encouraged to attend our annual Advent Lessons & Carols Service on December 3 at 5 p.m. The Choir of St. Martin's will sing a beautiful variety of choral works including works by Palestrina, Boston, Byrd, Praetorius, Moore, Ledger, Manz, and more! There will be congregational hymns and psalms, and something for all to enjoy. Childcare will be available in the Houston room for the duration of the service. Please invite your friends and family and join us to celebrate the beginning of our Advent journey. Cantate Domino! – Tyrone Whiting, Director of Music & Arts

Advent Dinners: December 3rd, 6-8pm

Register no later than Monday, Nov. 20th. Click HERE to register.

From the Rev. Carol Duncan: "St. Martin’s has a tradition early in Advent to attend a beautiful Advent Lessons and Carols service (Dec. 3rd, 5pm) with candle light and then disperse to one another’s homes for a simple supper to celebrate our church family together. The service part is an extra appreciation of the beautiful music the choir offers us. The second part is small groups gathering to share a meal together. Firstly, decide if you want to be host or guest. Both are essential!

If you would like to host: Indicate on the sign up sheet how many people you can accommodate (either at a table or served buffet style), as well as if you can accommodate children. Hosts are encouraged to make a simple main dish. Prior to the dinner, call each guest to ask for a covered dish or beverage that would help complete the meal. Then, just give the guests driving and parking directions to your house, and voila! Inclement weather can and often does occur, so be sure to take that into account in your instructions. If you’d like to be a guest, please indicate on the sign up sheet how many people are in your party, including how many children, if any, and note any food allergies. Then, please plan to hear from your host about a side dish you can bring!

When sign up is complete, each guest will be assigned to a host. You may be assigned to someone you don’t know. That turns out to be the best - otherwise you might never encounter each other! As a shy introvert myself, this is a stretch for me always, but every year it turns out to be marvelous."

Advent Dinner for Children and Families

Sun., Dec. 3rd, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall

If you are a family with young children, you may prefer to come to our newly established Advent Dinner for Children and Families. The church is offering child care during the Lessons and Carols service and for half an hour afterwards so parents can enjoy adult company with a glass of wine. Then, children and families can gather together for a simple catered dinner in the Parish Hall. Your host will be our Rector’s Warden Barbara Thomson. Please RSVP by November 21st by clicking here. In your RSVP, please include the total number in your party, the number of children, their ages, and if there are any food allergies.

Wellspring Advent Offerings

Click here for event times, RSVP links, & more details for both events.

1) Prophets of Hope: Tours on Nov. 25 &/or 26th with Workshops Dec. 2,9, & 16th

Hope and faith are essential for our ability to move forward with energy and confidence. Prophets of Hope, an art tour at the PMA followed by a three session workshop at St. Martin’s, will explore contemporary theologians, poets, and writers who are engaged in proclaiming and nurturing hope.

2) The Christmas Story in Art: Dec. 3, 2023

Artwork from times/places different from our own give us new ways to think about the meaning of the season. The story may be familiar, but the artworks chosen for this year’s tour will be a combination of old favorites and new art to be explored.

Children, Youth, & Families Christmas (In Advent) Movie Night

Fri., Dec. 15th at 6:00 p.m.

Calling all St. Martin's families! Please join us for a family-friendly movie night on Friday, December 15th at 6:00 p.m. Our plan is to watch Elf, but we are open to your suggestions! Enjoy snacks, drinks, and popcorn - feel free to bring your child's favorite snack as well! (No tree nuts, please). As always, you are more than welcome to bring guests! All are welcome at this holiday get-together for our youngest members!

Advent Fellowship & Carol Sing - Sunday, Dec. 17th, 9:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.

Preceding this year's Visitation by The Rt. Rev. Daniel G. P. Gutiérrez, please join us from 9:15 a.m. for Hot Chocolate and Refreshments in church, and Community Carol Singing in church from 9:30 a.m. featuring our wonderful Ensemble-in-Residence, the Fairmount String Quartet. This is a wonderful opportunity to sing some Advent and Christmas favorites with friends, old and new, along with our Choir, Choristers, Families, and Congregation. Bring your friends and family, and if you are able, please bring some Christmas cookies to share! Bishop Gutiérrez will preside at the 10:30 a.m. service featuring music by the Choir, Choristers, and Fairmount String Quartet in a Choral Eucharist recognizing Our Lady of Guadalupe. Cantate Domino! – Tyrone Whiting, Director of Music & Arts

Annual Bishop's Visit: Sun., Dec. 17th, 10:30 a.m.

Please join us in welcoming the Rt. Rev. Daniel Gutierrez to St. Martin's on Dec. 17th! Please note we will have only one service on this day. The Bishop will preside at our 10:30 service, which will include the formal welcoming of new parishioners and music from our Choir, Choristers, Families, Congregation, and our Resident Ensemble, the Fairmount String Quartet. In addition, the Bishop will meet with the Vestry and new members before and after the service. Mark your calendars!

Winter Solstice Walk - Thursday, Dec. 21st

In celebration of the Winter Solstice, Climate Action Team will hold a Winter Solstice Walk on Thursday, December 21, the day of the solstice. Please dress warmly. More details to come soon.

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