St. Martin's Newsletter
   Weekly E-News  October 23, 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 

 
Tomorrow...
 
Saturday, October 24
Knitting Ministry
12:30 to 3:30pm in the Stearn's Room
Tea, coffee and baked goods will be served.

*Photo:David Brookhart

 
The Weekly Epistle

It is now only ten days until November 1st, the festival of All Saints and this year also our Ingathering Sunday, which is the conclusion of our Annual Renewal Campaign (ARC). Because our ARC forms part of the wider RenewalWorks spiritual inventory, I have not specifically highlighted it as much this year beyond writing to all our members thanking them for their support in 2015. Enclosed with each letter was an estimate of giving card for 2016. The estimate of giving card - once referred to as a pledge card - has two purposes. The first is to help you prayerfully consider your financial stewardship as an expression of gratitude to God. The second is simply to help us estimate our income more accurately for the purposes of compiling a budget for the coming year. We do hope that our members will complete their cards and return them either by or on November 1st.
 
On November 1st, the Church Wardens will sign letters of thanks to everyone who has returned a completed estimate of giving card. A small team of helpers will also begin phoning members who have not returned a card by this date. In any ARC, it's this period of follow-up with the membership that is so crucial. Recent trends indicate that while the number of pledges remains stable, some members will choose to not complete a card and yet continue to give generously. Speaking tongue-in-cheek for a moment, unlike a cell-phone contract, completing a pledge card does not incur an early release penalty.
 
Last Monday the altar experiment online survey closed with 104 responses, again a fantastic response rate, thank you! We seem to be getting the hang of online surveys. The main focus of the survey was to gather responses to three main questions. You can go directly to the survey site and view the results for yourself HERE.
 
The results of the survey overwhelmingly support the repositioning of the nave altar as per question 2 in the survey. I have invited Jane Langmuir, Peter Lofgren, and Will Morgan, all architects, to now form a design committee to develop a new design for a nave altar, altar platform, altar rails, and the sensitive positioning of the inward facing side pews. The committee will present a suitable design to Rector and Vestry in due course.
 
I want to highlight the first meeting, this coming Sunday evening, of our new Women's Spirituality Group. You can find more information in this edition of E-News. Next Tuesday, October 27th, our Men's Spirituality group known as Gander meets in the Stearns Room from 7-9pm. Men please feel free to invite others. This meeting will focus on the spiritual questions men have been afraid to ask.
 
There is a great deal of energy radiating within the St Martin's community these days and so let's all look forward to greeting one another, in church, this Sunday.
 
Mark+
Biblebox
(Weekly Bible Study)
Gospel:Mark 10:46-52

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


Jeremiah 31:7-9 (OT)

  Hebrews 7:23-28 (NT)
Mark 10:46-52 (Gospel)
Click here for this Sunday's readings.
     THIS SUNDAY
 Nursery/Church School at 9:45am
Services at 8am and 10am
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Gluten Free Hosts available at the altar rail. 
Weekly Bible Study at 9am in the Stearns Room (see the Biblebox above)
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Renewal Workshop at 11:30am in the Stearns Room 
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Coffee Hour this Sunday is hosted by the Calhouns.
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+
 Healing Prayers...

Healing Prayers are now offered every Sunday. After receiving Holy Communion you may then go to the Chapel where you can request healing prayers for yourself, a loved one, or for a situation in the wider world before returning to your seat.

 Vestry Nominations Committee Formed
 
In accordance with Article VII, Section V of the By-Laws of St. Martin's Parish, the Rector and the Wardens have appointed the following individuals to a Nominating Committee to prepare at least one slate of candidates to the Vestry: David Brookhart, John Lawlor, Edmund Leather, Sean Mulholland, Jill Scott, Elizabeth Welshman.
 
The Vestry has five vacancies for election at the Annual Meeting on January 24, 2016: including that for Junior Warden.The Nominating Committee invites all Members of the Parish to self-nominate for these vacancies.  In accordance with Article III, Section 1 of the By-Laws, "The members of the Parish shall be all persons who have received the Sacrament of Holy Baptism and who are registered as members of the Parish."  Please contact a member of the Nominating Committee to express your interest in this ministry.  

The Nominating Committee will offer its slate(s) in the eNews immediately preceding Sunday, January 10, 2016, and in the News and Notes on Sunday, January 10, 2016.

Respectfully submitted,
Mark Sutherland, Rector
Elizabeth Welshman, Senior Warden
Sean Mulholland, Junior Warden 

Coming Up!

Sunday, October 25
Women's Spirituality group
6:30pm-8pm
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Thursday, October 29
Thrivent "Retire Wisely" Workshop from 7pm-8pm.
Info flyers available at back of church
Open to all.
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Sunday, November 15

The Feast of St. Martin of Tours a parish-wide celebration of our Patron Saint. Choral Evensong 4:30pm with Festival Dinner will immediately follow.


See boxes below for more information on events.
 
The Women's Spirituality Group of St. Martin's is beginning
this Sunday, October 25 6:30pm-8pm!


We will gather at Susan Allen's house, 44 Oriole Avenue, Providence 02906 (just a block and a half from church (across Butler Avenue and in the second block of Oriole Ave, second house on the left, blue, with lions).

All are welcome! Please bring ideas and something to share.


We hope you can come. Yay! RSVP/questions:
Susan Allen, 274-2397, or email  [email protected]

**Next Women's Group event is Sunday, November 1st, All Saints' Day from 6:30pm-8pm in the Great Hall at St. Martin's.

 'Retire Wisely'
 A Thrivent Financial Event
St. Martin's Church
50 Orchard Avenue  
Providence, RI  02906
Thursday, October 29, 2015 at 7pm 
 
Will you have enough to retire?
Will your retirement income last? 
Are your assets protected? 

Join us along with Thrivent Financial representatives Bryan Schmeling, FIC, and Jon Skov, FIC,who will share how to manage six risks all retirees face: outliving income, inflation, unpredictable events, market volatility, income taxes and rising health care costs.  

To RSVP, contact Kelly Anderson at 401-647-0664 or [email protected].
 The Providence Village...

is a grassroots, community based network of support for Seniors who choose to stay in our homes and communities as we age.  This fall, the Providence Village is launching a pilot Rides program to help Village members who cannot drive with their transportation needs.
 
To do this, the Providence Village needs volunteers who are willing to be drivers and service coordinators.  This is a great opportunity to help create a network of mutual support that can make a real difference in the lives of Seniors in our community.  

Can you help?
 
For more information about the Providence Village and volunteer opportunities , please visit our website at: www.providencevillageri.org .
Or call the Providence Village: 401-441-5240

Thank you!

FYI...
 
Spencer's (Izzo) Eagle Scout Project Donation Basket

The Boy Scouts of America and Troop 31 Crompton are collecting items for Amos House: toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, soap, razors, combs and skin lotion.  The collection basket is in the back of the church.  **Please make sure they are travel size. 
                                          Thank you!!
 
 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 [email protected].
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Many thanks in advance!
Ministries
October 25, 2015
Reading link (Track 2)
November 1, 2015
Reading link (Track 2)
8am: 
Reader 
Missy Bennett
Altar Guild
Al Howes
10am:
Evon Burge (OT)
Beth Shearer (NT)
Sam Coale (Prayers)
Altar Guild
Susan Allen
Brooke Hammerle
Eucharistic Ministers
Robin McGill (V)
Hal Conner (H)
Linda Griggs
Jim Kelliher
Acolytes
Elizabeth Blake
Diana Blake
Laura Blake
Ushers
Peter Dennehy
Peter Lofgren
Allen Dennison
Jane Dennison
Irving Sheldon
Greeter
Natasha Lofgren
Coffee Hour
The Calhouns


8am: 
Reader
Missy Bennett
Altar Guild
Pat Knowles
10am:
Walter Cotter (OT)
Peter Dennehy (NT)
Mary DiSandro (Prayers)
Altar Guild
Susan Rodgers
Tom McDonnell
Eucharistic Ministers
David Whitman (V, H)
Al Anderson
Elizabeth Welshman
Acolytes
Robin McGill
Alex Potter
Henry Petree
Ushers
Sarosh Fenn
Bill Hollinshead
Brooks Magratten
Jaye Tyler
Greeter
Jill Scott
Kathy Phillips
Coffee Hour

Parker Smith



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