St. Martin's Newsletter

Weekly E-News November 6, 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

On Advent Sunday, November 29th, we are embarking on an experiment that will change the way we organize our Sunday mornings. Now I have to say that I would not be human if I didn't admit to feeling just a little nervous about the changes we are contemplating. Last week I wrote about the chief reason for the change. This is to create space on Sunday mornings to become more of a learning community through the creation of a Christian Formation Hour for children, youth, and adults, alike. Our RenewalWorks data shows that we are a community that is hungry for solid spiritual food capable of nourishing us in the face of the challenges of everyday life.

The redesign of our Sunday morning schedule reflects a second reason for experimenting with change. I believe that we must become a community that is more open and accessible for those who have yet to arrive, and not simply be a community that is comfortable for those already here. This is what it means to be a missional community. A key element in this transition is to increase the variety of access points into our community encounter with God.

Worship is the hallmark of our Episcopal experience. Therefore, we have tended to think that the way to attract those who are spiritually seeking is to offer richer and more numerous opportunities for worship. Our worship is rich, because it is complex. It takes time to become initiated to the point where new seekers feel comfortable. For many in today's world, rich and complex worship does not provide an easy access point into the community encounter with God. So, instead of hoping spiritual seekers with no experience of 'liturgical church' will come to a sung Eucharist, with all the complexities of our Book of Common Prayer to navigate, might we not offer Bible study or the formation hour, as different access points? A desire to learn usually matures into a need to worship.

For those for whom the early morning experience of worship feeds the soul, at 7:45am our new program will offer a simple and contemplative -break of day- encounter with God that has been a mainstay in our Anglican worship tradition. Others will like to arrive for a reflection experience as a preparation for worship and so will come for Bible study at 8:30am with a possibility to stay for the main service, a sung Eucharist with choir and sermon at 9:15am. Again, the new Christian Formation Hour from 10:30- 11:30am offers the possibility of a learning experience not only for those coming out of worship but an access point for those for whom worship is too much, too soon in their desire to encounter God. At 12pm, our Sunday morning program will conclude with a simple Eucharist, very much a mirror reflection of the 7:45am service, but at a time of day that will suit those for whom rising early on Sunday morning is not an easy or attractive option. It also offers an opportunity for some who might arrive for the formation hour to explore an experience of worship in a less elaborate and more intimate setting.

The basket into which you can place your completed 2016 estimate of giving card as you come up to receive Holy Communion remains for the next two Sundays. Last Sunday was Ingathering Sunday. Numbers were disappointingly low and to date we have received back only 50% of our expected pledge commitments.

Let's look forward to welcoming one another in church, this Sunday.

Mark+

A message from John (and Sue) Condon...

"I have accepted a call to be Interim Pastor at a church in Brookfield, Mass (it is near Sturbridge) beginning Nov 15. I believe God has been nudging me to engage my pastoral/preaching work again--for a bit! Sue and I are excited but we shall miss our church family at St. Martin's and look forward to our return".

READINGS THIS WEEK

1 Kings 17:8-16 (OT)

Hebrews 9:24-48 (NT)
Mark 12:38-44 (Gospel)
Click here for this Sunday's readings.

THIS SUNDAY

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 below)
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Church School/Nursery at 9:45am

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Youth Group at 11:30am
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Head Usher Training at 11:30am

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Coffee Hour this Sunday is hosted by the Potters.
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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+

***Thanksgiving Bags (donated by Eastside Market) are available at the back of the church. Please return the filled bags by Sunday, November 22nd.
*Bags will be distributed to PICA and Camp Street Ministries.

NEW SERVICE HOURS!

Beginning on Advent 1, November 29 and running through Epiphany, February 7, we will be experimenting with new service times:

7:45am Holy Eucharist

8:30am Bible Study

9:15am Holy Eucharist with choir and sermon

10:30am Adult & Children's Christian Formation

12noon Holy Eucharist

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.

Biblebox
(Weekly Bible Study)
Gospel: Mark 12:38-44

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.

GANDER!

Tuesday, November 10 at 7pm
Gander Meeting in the Stearns Room
Gander is a group experience, bringing a spiritual focus on life in the here-and-now,
tailored for men.

FYI

Veteran's Day, Wednesday, November 11th

There will be a
7am Holy Eucharist BUT NO Morning Prayer.

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The Thrifty Goose WILL be open 10am-2pm

***The Thrifty Goose is in need of winter clothes (men, women, children's) and household items. Call ahead and our sexton can help carry them in.

Thank you in advance!!

Coming Up!

Tuesday, November 10 at 7pm

Gander Meeting in the Stearns Room
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Saturday, November 14 at 10am

Memorial Garden Clean-up
Interested in helping? Please call Rosalind Ditson at 508-336-5116

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Sunday, November 15

The Feast of St. Martin of Tours
A parish-wide, family friendly celebration of our Patron Saint
Choral Evensong at 4:30pm with Festival Potluck Dinner immediately following
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Thursday, November 19

Knitting Ministry in the Stearns Room
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Tuesday, November 24 at 7pm

Interfaith Service.
Please join us at Temple Beth-el for our Interfaith service. Our children's choir will be singing! It's also a great chance for us to welcome the temple's new rabbi,
Howard Voss-Altman.
(see flyer at back of church)

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Thursday, November 26 at 1pm
Thanksgiving Community Dinner in the Great Hall.
We need volunteers to cook, clean-up, help set up the day before etc.
Please contact Gail Peet at 725-0064
or gep@cox.net if you can help in any way.

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Sunday, November 29

Family Advent Festival
Please join us in the Great Hall after the 9:15am service to make an Advent Wreath
for your home! All materials provided.
Suggested donation:
$10 for materials.

***Pageant sign-up will be available on this day.

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

Boots on the ground...

We all put our pants on one leg at a time.

I urge you to consider for a moment when you tie your shoes or pull up your socks ... one at a time... consider that we are all human. We are all cut of the same cloth. We all have particular needs. With winter temperatures, there is an urgent need in the local homeless community for reliable boots and shoes.

$30 buys a new pair of men's work boots. Buy 1 or 5, but please consider buying something to help. Or, give us your gently used shoes and boots. (Other casual men's wear items gladly accepted, too.)

When you are homeless, your boots are your car. Your boots are your transportation. Through boots, we will bring the glory of God to the streets of Providence.

Types of donations needed: New Men's Socks and Men's underwear; Tee shirts, sweat shirts, comfortable Men's pants. Shoes and boots. Winter Jackets and winter hats. Snacks. Toothbrushes and toothpaste.

Thank you in advance,

Mary Gray

*A collection bin is located at the back of the church for this ministry.

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!

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

November 8, 2015 Reading link (Track 2)	November 15, 2015 Reading link (Track 2)
8am: Reader David Brookhart Altar Guild Linda Brookhart 10am: Jim Kelliher (OT) Bill Hollinshead (NT) Rosalind Ditson (Prayers) Altar Guild Susan Allen Brooke Hammerle Eucharistic Ministers Meg LoPresti (V, H) Elke Moonan (C) Al Anderson Linda Griggs Jim Kelliher Acolytes Rebecca Loell Oliver Parker Erin Welshman Ushers Peter Dennehy Peter Lofgren Bill Hollinshead Greeters Amy Fuller Joyce May Kathy Phillips Coffee Hour The Potters	8am: Reader Dwight Phillips Altar Guild Arline Walker Karen Bracken 10am: Emily Gray (OT) Allen Dennison (NT) Laura Bartsch (Prayers) Altar Guild Jane Langmuir Lisa Ballou Tyler Eucharistic Ministers Linda Griggs Jim Kelliher Jane Langmuir (V) Hal Conner (C) Acolytes Elizabeth Blake Diana Blake Laura Blake Ushers David Brookhart Linda Brookhart Brooks Magratten Irving Sheldon Parker Smith Greeter Kathy Good Coffee Hour The DiSandros