St. Martin's Newsletter

Weekly E-News November 25, 2015

NEW SUNDAY SERVICE HOURS

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

Nursery
9am - 11:30am

Tuesday-Friday

9am Morning Prayer in the Chapel
Wednesday

7am service with Holy Eucharist

The Weekly Epistle

A short week for everyone and so I will make this a short read. The Church year does not begin on January 1st. It begins on Advent Sunday, which this year falls on November 29th. Advent gives us four weeks to prepare for Christmas. Unlike the preparations for the more commercial aspects of Christmas, Advent is a time to focus on the experience of waiting. To wait is to sit in the space between our hopes and expectations and their fulfillment. For many of us, conditioned by the experience of instant gratification, waiting is a difficult and often uncomfortable experience. Hence, I commend it to you as timeless practice of spiritual value.

Advent follows the annual commemoration of Thanksgiving, a time for celebration, family, eating and football. I have no experience of the latter but I am told it is a custom among some households. May this holiday also be an opportunity to give a moment to sitting with our sense of gratitude to God for all that life affords us.

This Advent Sunday remember our Sunday morning Schedule changes:

7.45am Holy Eucharist - a quiet early morning worship experience
8.30am Bible Study
9.15am Holy Eucharist with choir and sermon - this is our main service of worship for the whole family
10.30am Christian Formation Hour - formation is not just for the young, but for everyone. This is a time when children, youth and adults separate for their respective experiences of life-long, faith-focused learning. Formation hour ends at 11.30am, so a prompt start is appreciated!
12 Noon Holy Eucharist - a service that mirror the earlier 7.45am but for those who are later risers.

This schedule offers multiple points of entry to suit the variation of needs present within our community for worship and study. Pick the mix and match of elements that best suits your Sunday morning regime.

It remains for me to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving!

Mark+

This Sunday...

We launch the 'Our Hearts are Open' Gift Project

In its fifth year, St. Martin's parishioners are participating in buying Christmas gifts for children in DCYF care. Sign-ups are in the atrium after church. All gifts must be returned by December 13 to ensure timely delivery. Please contact Helen Anthony at hanthony5th@gmail.com or call the church office if you have any questions.
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Sunday Bible Study at 8:30am in the Stearns Room

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Healing Prayers are now offered every Sunday. After receiving Holy Communion, you may proceed to the Chapel to receive healing prayers, then return to your seat.

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10:30am

Intergenerational Advent Festival:
Please join us in the Great Hall to make an Advent Wreath for your home!
All materials provided. Suggested donation: $10.
**Pageant sign-up will be available on this day.
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Episcopal 101 in the KidZone at 10:30am

Ministries

November 29, 2015 Reading link (Track 2)	December 6, 2015 Reading link (Track 2)
9:15am: Reader Fla Lewis (OT) Holly Loell (NT) Meg LoPresti (Prayers) Altar Guild Al Howes Jane Taylor Eucharistic Ministers Linda Griggs (H) Jim Kelliher Denny Scott (V) Elke Moonan (C) Dwight Phillips Acolytes Rebecca Loell Oliver Parker Erin Welshman Ushers Peter Dennehy Peter Lofgren Mary Hollinshead Bill Hollinshead David Burke Coffee Hour The Kostas Family Healing Prayers Hal Conner	9:15am: Reader Brooks Magratten (OT) Pat Nolan (NT) Sean Mulholland (Prayers) Altar Guild Arline Walker Karen Bracken Susan Rodgers Tom McDonnell Eucharistic Ministers Linda Griggs Jim Kelliher Meg LoPresti (V, H) Elke Moonan (C) Denis Moonan Acolytes Elizabeth Blake Diana Blake Laura Blake Ushers David Brookhart Linda Brookhart Sam Coale Walter Cotter Michael DiSandro Coffee Hour Diana and Rosie Hassel Healing Prayers Jeana Whittredge