St. Martin's Newsletter

Weekly E-News October 9, 2015

www.stmartinsprov.org

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

The Weekly Epistle

The final tally on the RenewalWorks questionnaire was 153 responses. This is a truly FANASTIC response and I thank everyone who completed the survey. Now we wait while RenewalWorks collates our responses against national parish benchmarks. In a couple of weeks the data will be returned to our leadership team to work through in order to form a clearer picture of what we say we want with regard to developing our spirituality. Developing our spirituality is an expression not only of our desire for a deeper relationship with God, but supports us in our daily struggle to manage the stress and pressure of modern life. Knowing what we want helps us to map out our direction of travel and how to get there.

Linda Griggs is now The Rev. Linda Griggs, following her ordination to the diaconate on Wednesday evening. For all of us who were present the resounding response was one of celebration. Linda will spend the next 6 months as a deacon before being ordained next June to the priesthood. Although Linda continues as Director for Christian Formation, as a deacon she will be able to strengthen her role in the area of pastoral care. St Martin's once again returns to being a two clergy parish.

I want to recognize the hard work that went into making Linda's ordination such a memorable event. Thank you to Jay and the choir for the wonderful music. I loved seeing the children's choir take their place within the whole choir for this occasion. Thanks also to Jane Taylor and her hospitality team for the typically high standard of buffet presentation. Thank you to the staff, Susan, Missy, Deborah, Gordon, and our sexton, Mario. Al Howes, our sacristan and the altar guild are a group whose work behind the scenes is absolutely essential. Thank you Al and the members of the altar guild serving on Wednesday evening. Thanks you to Robin McGill, Rebecca Loell, and Alex Potter for serving.

Both the survey on the nave altar experiment and the Annual Renewal Campaign letters will reach you soon. We hope to have all the letters posted this week, but with such a lot happening in the parish, we on the staff team are running flat-out to stand- still, at the moment.

A reminder to the men of the parish that the next meeting of Gander, our revamped men's spirituality group is coming up in a couple of weeks on Tuesday 27th October 7-9pm.

Don't forget to check out last Sunday's sermon, For the Softening of the Heart, an exploration of Jesus' teaching on divorce, on line at stmartinsprov.org/sermons.

To paraphrase a favorite commentator of mine, Matthew Skinner, Associate Professor of New Testament at Luther Seminary, St Paul. Mn. -As we gaze into the mists of autumn ... we discover that we belong to one another. Let's look forward to greeting one another, in church, this Sunday!

Mark+

Dear Friends,

I am deeply grateful to so many of you for your contribution to the beautiful celebration of my ordination to the Transitional Diaconate on Wednesday evening: The Hospitality Committee and everyone who brought food for the reception; the angels who provided the stunning flower arrangements; the Altar Guild, our fantastic choirs, the ushers and everyone who served in the liturgy. Most of all I want to thank each of you for your prayers which have upheld me for the past several months. I am filled with gratitude to be part of this wonderful community.

Peace and Cheers,

Linda

Biblebox
(Weekly Bible Study)
Gospel:Mark 10:17-31

To dig a little behind the Gospel text for this Sunday, take a look at this week's Working Preacher in preparation for discussion at our weekly Sunday Bible study at 9am in the Stearns Room.

READINGS THIS WEEK

Amos 5:6-7, 10-15 (OT)

Hebrews 4:12-16 (NT)
Mark 10:17-31 (Gospel)
Click here for this Sunday's readings.

THIS SUNDAY

Nursery at 9:45am

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Services at 8am and 10am
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Gluten Free Hosts available at the altar rail.

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Weekly Bible Study at 9am in the Stearns Room (see the Biblebox above)

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Church School in the KidZone at 9:45am

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Youth Group at 11:30am

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Coffee Hour this Sunday is hosted by the Welshmans.

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+

Coming Up!

Saturday, October 17

Psalm-Writing Workshop at 9am
Led by author Ray McGinnis.
To register call 751-2141 or email Linda at lgriggs@stmartinsprov.org
Enrollment is limited.
Suggested donation is $15.00.
For more information on Ray McGinnis please go to www.writetotheheart.com.

Saturday, October 24

Knitting Ministry
12:30 to 3:30pm in the Stearn's Room
Tea, coffee and baked goods will be served.

Thursday, October 29

Thrivent "Retire Wisely" Workshop from 7-8pm.

Open to all.

The Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island

invites you...

A Toast To Scholarship

Supporting Our Youth through the Episcopal Conference Center

Friday, October 23, 2015

6pm-10pm

Aldrich Mansion

Warwick, RI

The Right Reverend W. Nicholas Knisely, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island, invites you to an inspiring evening filled with gourmet food paired with craft tonics, notable tasting wines, and craft beers in support of the Diocese's youth ministry programs.

For more information go to www.eccri.org

Questions? Contact Amy LaChance at admin@eccri.org or (401) 568-4055

Individual Ticket $75

Cocktail Attire

Martin's List

Opportunities for Ministry

Help in the office with folding bulletins, esp. during busy holiday time

If this ministry opportunity speaks to you, please call the church office at
751-2141 and speak with Deborah or Susan or email us at church@stmartinsprov.org.

Many thanks in advance!

Ministries

October 11, 2015 Reading link (Track 2)	October 18, 2015 Reading link (Track 2)
8am: Reader David Brookhart Altar Guild Linda Brookhart 10am: Elizabeth Welshman (OT) Al Anderson (NT) Laura Bartsch (Prayers) Altar Guild Elizabeth Welshman Louise Ely Laura Bartsch Eucharistic Ministers Meg LoPresti (V, H) Denis Moonan Jim Kelliher Acolytes Erin Welshman Rebecca Loell Ushers Sarosh Fenn Walter Cotter Edythe DeMarco Michael DiSandro Peter Gray Greeter Joyce May	8am: Reader Denny Scott Altar Guild Karen Bracken 10am: Barbara Blossom (OT) Cathy Bodner (NT) David Burke (Prayers) Altar Guild Jane Taylor Raya Goff Eucharistic Ministers David Whitman (V, H) Gail Peet Elke Moonan Acolytes Robin McGill Alex Potter Henry Petree Ushers David Brookhart Linda Brookhart Stephen Ellicott Michael Disandro Greeters The Kostas Family