St. Martin's Newsletter

Weekly E-News April 10, 2015

Worship Schedule

Sunday

8am and 10am

Holy Eucharist

9:45am Nursery
Tuesday-Friday

9am Morning Prayer in the Chapel
Wednesday

7am service with Holy Eucharist

Please welcome...

Helen Bodell this Sunday at both services as our preacher!

+ Thank You from the Rector

I would like to express my thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make Easter at
St. Martin's such a celebration. I know that many hands were involved but feel our special thanks go to:

John Lawlor and his team for organizing the Good Friday Walk for Hunger

Jay and the Choir with supporting musicians for the exuberance and beauty of the music that accompanied each liturgy over the Great Three Days of Easter

Bill Hollinshead for the ringing of St. Martin's bells on Easter

Mary Worrell for the elegant arrangement of Calla Lilies for the Altar of Repose on Maundy Thursday and, along with Barbara Blossom, Bob Amarantes, and her trusted helpers, for turning the church into a floral bower for Easter Day

Al Howes, who as Sacristan oversaw the preparations for worship and to the members of the Altar Guild who set up for and cleared away after each liturgy

To Jane Taylor and Ianthe Hershberger, and the members of the Hospitality Committee who oversaw the Champagne and Chocolate reception following the Easter Vigil and the amazing cupcake fest on Easter Day

To greeters, ushers, readers, vergers, Eucharistic ministers, and servers

I also want to thank the Staff who worked so hard to prepare for Easter. To Deborah for the relentless preparation of the bulletins, to Susan for being tirelessly on top of a thousand and one details, but especially for the rostering of participants, to Missy and Linda for their support, to Gordon and Mario for taking care of our building, and to David Ely who worked a full weekend and then some.

My first Easter surpassed my expectations and I am deeply appreciative to all our members whose attendance and participation resulted in a wonderful experience of spirit-filled worship.

Please visit www.stmartinsprov.org and share David Brookhart's wonderful pictures of the celebration of Holy Week and Easter at St. Martin's.

Mark+

+Thoughts from Linda

The service began with the church wrapped in darkness. The first light of the Great Vigil was the flickering firelight of the New Fire of Easter at the back of the church. Then the Paschal Candle was lit, and Father Mark carried the Light of Christ toward the altar as acolytes lit candles along the aisle behind him.

As one of the acolytes, I felt the solemn joy of being part of the ancient liturgy. Father Mark chanted, "The light of Christ!", and we all sang, "Thanks be to God!" in response.
It was beautiful.

Until I got to the third candle.

I. Could. Not. Get. It. To. Light.

I tried several times, but the candle was mounted too high, and I couldn't see the wick, vertically challenged as I am. Father Mark continued down the aisle with the Paschal Candle, but my little part of the Light of Christ remained stranded halfway down the aisle, with Bishop Knisely waiting patiently behind me.

Oh, help. It is the simplest of prayers, and one of my favorites.

And help came. Kind folks in the pew next to me helped me to redirect the taper, the bishop helped me to hold it a bit higher, and the wick ignited.

Theology happens in the most interesting places.

The Light of Christ cannot spread in isolation. It needs help. It needs the Body of Christ-the church family-to pass it from person to person throughout the community and the world.

The ministries of many people served to spread Christ's light during Lent, Holy Week and Easter this year. None of the programs and liturgies that many of us experienced would have been possible without the time, energy, care and good humor of the St. Martin's community. I pray that we will all continue to spread the Light of Christ to all we meet throughout this Easter Season and beyond.

Peace,

Linda Griggs

Director of Christian Formation

READINGS THIS WEEK

Acts 4:32-35 (OT)

1 John 1:1-2:2 (NT)
John 20: 19-31 (Gospel)
Click here for this Sunday's readings.

THIS SUNDAY

Episcopal Charities in the Great Hall after both services

+

Church School at 9:45am

+

Healing Prayers in the Chapel after the 10am service

+
Youth Group at 11:30am
+

Gluten Free Hosts available at the altar rail

+

**Coffee Hour hosts this Sunday are the Brookharts

MORNING PRAYER

It is my practice to endeavor to say Morning Prayer in the Chapel of the Church at 9am on Tuesday through Friday each week I look forward to seeing you there!

Mark+

Episcopal Charities Continues!

We will be in the Great Hall after both services this Sunday. We hope that those who took cards have already mailed them or will turn them in on Sunday.
Anyone who hasn't donated, there is still time!

Thanks, Kurt, Elke, John and Gail

Save the Date!

Sunday, April 19 - 11:15am-12noon
You are invited to join us in the Stearns Room learn more about the 2015 summer camps for rising 2nd graders and up at the Episcopal Conference Center. ECC representatives will be here to tell you about their wonderful programs and to answer your questions.
+

Sunday, April 26 - 11:15am-12noon

Parent Coffee

Join us in the Stearns Room for a discussion and brainstorming session relating to the needs and concerns of the parents of our youngest members, and how the St. Martin's community can serve those needs. Childcare will be provided.
+

Sunday, May 3 - 7am to 12noon

St. Martin's May Breakfast!

Come celebrate our magnificent May Breakfast in the Great Hall. It's an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet. This is a St. Martin's tradition for over 40 years. Tickets are $10 for adults (presale $9), $6 for children under 12 (presale $5). Call the church to register and buy tickets. All proceeds will go to the Epiphany Soup Kitchen and the Episcopal Conference Center. Want to volunteer? Contact the church office.

Saturday, May 9 - 10am

Diocesan Confirmation

St. Barnabus, Warwick, RI

If you would like to be confirmed, received, or affirmed, please contact Father Mark or the church office as soon as possible.

Time for your Annual Spring closet clean-out!

Donations for Saint Martin's Thrifty Goose and The Cloak closet are always welcomed! (And they are tax deductible).

The CLOAK is looking for blue jeans for men/women/children.

The Thrifty Goose is in need of summer items: clothes for the family, all things for the beach, sun hats and umbrellas!

Make your spring closet clean-out a win-win situation!!

For the Cloak please contact Mary Gray at mary@whydata.com
For the Thrifty Goose please contact Karen Bracken at kwb429@msn.com.

In Your Neighborhood...

+

Wheeler School Clothing Sale

The Wheeler School Clothing Sale is open to the public Thursday, April 16 from 10am to 8pm, Friday, April 17 from 12noon to 8pm, and Saturday, April 18 from 10am to 4pm.
+

Lifelong Learning Collaborative

Lifelong Learning Collaborative (LLC, formerly BCLIR)is an independent, not-for-profit, peer-run organization in Rhode Island. Their mission is to provide a diverse population of mature adults with varied opportunities for lifelong learning - seminars, lectures, cultural events and social activities - in a pleasant, accessible environment at a reasonable cost. To register and find out more about their workshops please visit www.lifelonglearningcollaborative.org or call 270-2556.

Participants in Worship

April 12, 2015 Reading link	April 19, 2015 Reading Link
8am: Reader/EM: David Brookhart Altar Guild: Linda Brookhart 10am: Readers: Denis Moonan (OT) Brooks Magratten (NT) Jennifer Kiddie (Prayers) Altar Guild: Jane Langmuir Elizabeth Welshman Eucharistic Ministers: Jane Langmuir (Verger) Elizabeth Welshman BG Goff Acolytes: Elizabeth Blake Diana Blake Gabrielle Ellicott Greeters: Sam Coale Raya Goff Jack Nolan Ushers: Charlie Bodell Sarosh Fenn Bob Amarantes Dennis Stark Cathy Bodner	8am: Reader/EM: John Staniunas Altar Guild: Pat Knowles 10am: Readers: Paul Parker (OT) Holly Loell (NT) Fla Lewis (Prayers) Altar Guild: John Condon Louise Ely Eucharistic Ministers: Helen Bodell (Verger) Penny Seacord Gail Peet Acolytes: Robin McGill Alex Potter Olivia Gray Greeter: Sue Condon Ushers: David Brookhart Linda Brookhart Sam Coale Walter Cotter Edythe DeMarco