St. Martin's Newsletter
   Weekly E-News September 15, 2016
Worship Schedule
Sunday  
   8:00am  Holy Eucharist   
9:15am  Nursery
   9:30am  Holy Eucharist with choir
and sermon 
     10:45am   Christian Formation 
Tuesday-Thursday
9am Morning Prayer in the Chapel
Wednesday
                                                              7am service with Holy Eucharist   


On Monday September 19th, a panel discussion hosted by The Massachusetts Bible Society. Called The Great Bible Experiment: exploring the Bible in America's least Bible-minded cities. The discussion will take place in the Providence Public Library at 6pm. I would like to encourage St Martin's folk to attend as a useful part of our Embedding the Bible in parish life. Attendance is free and if you are able to attend you can register here.
 
This brings me to a reminder that in our monthly community Bible discussion we will review chapters 16 -18 of The Story: the Bible as one continuing story of God and God's people in the Adult Forum time at 10:45 am this coming Sunday. Please visit the study guide questions for Sunday here. I hope to see many of you for an enthusiastic discussion of these chapters.
 
On Tuesday September 20th, we will hold the first in what we plan to be a quarterly program of Temple-Church Conversations. Visit here  for further information. Jews and Christians are joint participants in the unfolding story of a god named YaHWeH who heard the cries of a people, freeing them from bondage. We are constituted by this core historical experience out of which, God invites us to live together according to a covenant, i.e. a set of mutual promises. As we confront the issues of our own day this story offers profound implications for the way we see the world.
 
This Sunday, the youth are being given a pass to replace worship with kitchen duty. More specifically, as we begin a new program year, the youth group will experience the fellowship of cooking breakfast tacos together. Maybe this will be one Sunday when parents won't have to work so hard to get the kids out of bed and into church!
 
We began the new program year last Sunday with a bang.  I presented the key challenge facing us as the need to grow. I am not at all interested in growth as a sign of success. Growth indicates that we are becoming more fit for the purpose to which God calls us, i.e. to make real in our own time and place the expectations of the kingdom of God- namely: inclusion, justice, and peace. Becoming more fit for purpose is a matter of becoming more magnetic as we reach out into our lives - into the communities of friends, neighbors and colleagues and invite them into the experience we so greatly value.
 
Looking forward to seeing you - in Church - this Sunday!
Mark+
READINGS THIS WEEK
Jeremiah 8:18-9:1  (OT)
       1 Timothy 2:1-7 (NT)
Luke 16:1-13  (Gospel)
www.workingpreacher.org

Click here for this Sunday's readings.

Click here for Participants list.

THIS SUNDAY
8:00am  Holy Eucharist
   9:15am  Nursery
   9:30am  Holy Eucharist with
choir and sermon
10:45am  'The Story' 

Healing Prayers
during Communion 
( this and every Sunday) 
Gluten Free Hosts available at the altar rail.  

Public Library Event

The Great Bible Experiment!
Monday, September 19th
6 pm at the Providence Public Library 
The Great Bible experiment!!

This program will engage your questions, opinions, and struggles" with the Bible with
a panel of moderators in a town hall setting.

Click HERE for more information
and to register.
In Your Neighborhood

A Temple-Church Conversation Series 
 Tuesday, September 20th
7 pm at Temple Beth-el
(70 Orchard Avenue) 

On Tuesday, we will hold the first of a series of joint Temple-Church conversations. We will begin with a core question: 
What do we believe, and how does this shape the way we feel about the 
current tone of civic debate in America?
Please join us! 
Coming to St. Martin's! 

Thursday, October 20 - Saturday, October 22 
ICON Workshop  
      
If you are planning on attending, please contact Linda Mackie Griggs ASAP. 

We need 14 registrations to secure the commitment of the instructor.  
Currently we have 10.
Discount on registrations before September 15; scholarships available. 

Please don't miss this wonderful opportunity to work with  
Masterful Icon teacher Fr. Peter Pearson. 
He will give instructions that will enable you to
complete an icon during this 3 day workshop.

Click here to read more about Peter Pearson/ Iconographer.

Also check out this YouTube review of his book. 
 
The New Nave Altar!
We are pleased to announce, that after many years of discussion and study, St. Martin's Nave Altar Project is coming to fruition just as we begin our next 100 years.

In late 2014, a congregation-wide survey showed strong support for the commissioning and acquisition of a new lower altar and communion rails to replace the temporary ones that have been in use for almost 30 years. A small design group was formed consisting of Father Mark, Peter Lofgren, Jane Langmuir, and Gordon Partington. Various options were considered with the final approved design being one that takes into consideration the existing church design themes.

The project consists of a new altar table, a wooden platform, a rug for the platform, and four sections of communion rails. The entire cost of the project will be funded by private gifts and will not impact the operating budget.

Drawings and plans will be on display in the Great Hall.
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Giving Opportunity
The new Nave Altar Project provides a once-in-a generation opportunity for parishioners to make a unique memorial gift to St. Martin's. The project will be funded entirely by private gifts. The cost of the altar table is being funded by The Langmuir Fund.

There are opportunities for giving to the other elements of the altar project which include four sections of communion rails at $5,000 each, the platform at $5,000, and a rug for the platform at $5,000. Gifts of $5,000 will entitle the donor to have a small brass plaque placed on or near the item (example: In honor of our parents by Jane and Joe Smith). These plaques will be in keeping with the other memorial plaques already found around the church. In addition, you may make a general contribution to the project in any amount and your name will be listed in the Book of Gifts found at the rear of the church. Jane Taylor is giving the new fair linen for the altar. More information about how to support the Nave Altar Project will be available in the Great Hall after services over the next two weeks. If you have any questions, please contact John Bracken (Junior Warden) or Susan Esposito (Assistant to the Rector).
Road Races Coming Up!

A number of city races have been scheduled. 

Here are some ways to access information on schedules and maps:


Art, Culture + Tourism Web Page 

 

Art, Culture + Tourism Face book Page
 https://www.facebook.com/provact/?fref=ts


A '3-1-1' Mobile App
 https://providenceri.com/mayor/mayor-elorza-launches-3-1-1-hotline-mobile-app 

News from the Goose
BIG SEPTEMBER SALE!!!
All summer items, housewares & toys will be 50% off for the whole month of September.