Things are hopping at St Martin's! As we move into the second week after Homecoming, can I say how wonderful it is to see folks back after the summer? It's  especially delightful to see parents and kids back for a reinvigorated children's formation program. It's great to also have the choir back in full voice. We are well on our way to a record-breaking response to the RenewalWorks online questionnaire. If you have not completed it yet, please do so HERE.

 

Last Sunday we began something, which is advertised in e-news each week as Biblebox. That was my rather enigmatic term for our new bible study group. Like many of the names that pop into my head, on reflection I began to think it was rather silly, but the Staff loved it and so we decided to stick with it. I am really grateful to Tony Cottone (a long-time member) for offering to act as convener for this growing group and our hope is that after a short time Biblebox will be established enough so that the role of the convener can be shared among the regular attenders. You don't need to know anything much to attend Biblebox. I mention this because Episcopalians often think they need an M.Div. to attend Bible study. Each week in E-news Biblebox will give you the gospel text for the coming Sunday with a link to the Working Preacher website, where you can read a little around the text and see what others are saying about it.

 

Another wonderful development for the fall is to get serious about Gander. What is Gander you ask?  Gander is the male goose and it is also slang for -take a look. Again, my quirky mind thought this might be a great term for the revival of a men's spirituality group. Mike Watkinson (a comparatively new member) and I met with a small group several times over the summer and now it's time to open it up more widely to the men of the parish. We may have friends outside the parish we might also like to invite. The next meeting is Tuesday, October 27th at 7pm in the Stearns Room.  I've also heard rumors about restarting Women, Faith, and Issues, a spirituality group experience for women. I do hope that happens soon.

 

At St Martin's this fall, we are embarking on a journey of discovery of spiritual renewal. I use the term spiritual practice a lot. For me it's a catch-all phrase for the way age old spiritual wisdom and experience can provide us with an anchor to hold us firm as we face the escalating storms of living in the present age.

 

Let's look forward to seeing one another in Church, this Sunday!

 

Mark+

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