Parish News
A Prayer for this week
Most merciful God,
who by the death and resurrection
of your Son Jesus Christ
delivered and saved the world:
grant that by faith in him
who suffered on the cross
we may triumph in the power of his victory;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Annual Parish Church Meeting
The Annual Parish Church Meeting this year will be held on Sunday 25th April at 11.45am in St Martin’s Hall. This is an important meeting open to everyone although only those whose names are on the Electoral Roll are allowed to vote. The APCM votes on the election of PCC Members and Churchwardens. Three members of the PCC stand down by rotation and can stand for re-election. If you are considering standing for the PCC do discuss it with either of us or other PCC members so you can get the right information to help you make your decision. Both Churchwardens are elected annually. Andrew will stand down at the end his six years in office at this year's APCM. If you are interested in standing for Warden it is normal and helpful to discuss this in advance with the serving Wardens and the Vicar. At the APCM in addition to the elections we also receive the Annual Report and Accounts and get an up to date report on what is happening at St Martin-in-the-Fields. This year we will launch the new Mission Action Plan which outlines St. Martin’s priorities for the next 3 years. It is an important meeting, which should not last more than 90 minutes. Please put the date in your diary and do come.
Licensing of a Self Supporting Minister
Ordained ministry at St Martin's has been enriched by the self-supporting ministers who belong here. The Bishop of London has agreed to license Bishop Peter Hullah to officiate at St Martin's. Peter has been part of St Martin's for 4 years. He was Bishop of Ramsbury in Salisbury Diocese from 1999-2005 and is now Principal of Northampton Academy. He and Penny were married here two years ago. On Sunday 14th March Peter will preside at the 8am Holy Communion and will be welcomed at the 10am Eucharist.
St Martin's Breakfast Club
Do you work or live close to St Martin's? Every other Wednesday, meeting next on 24 March, a group will meet at 7.45am on the Portico before heading down to the Café in the Crypt. We will share reflections on a Bible passage, share our experiences or concerns for work or for day ahead, and will end with prayer. We will always finish by 8.30am. You can buy breakfast from the Café at 8am. If you are interested or have questions, contact Revd Will Morris at william.morris@smitf.org or Caroline Barnett via the Parish Office.
Lent at St Martin's
Our Lent theme this year Taken, blessed, broken, given explores the Eucharist, that sustains all of our life and worship. At 10am, our reflections will explore these Eucharistic themes and in our 6.30pm evening series, members of the St Martin's community share their reflections and experiences of what the Eucharist means in their own lives.
Mentoring and the workplace
The work lives of our congregations are incredibly diverse. Some people are new to the workplace, others have decades of experience. And this is true across a wide range of occupations. Some of these younger people may have doubts, worries or concerns – ethical or practical – about their job that they cannot share with their peers or others at their place of work. Others may feel trapped in their current job, but not know how to find a new one. If you are interested in being mentored, in offering your experience as a mentor, frustrated in your own job, or interested in helping others consider how to find new jobs, please let Revd Will Morris know, and we will see if it is possible to start to match needs with experience. Contact william.morris@smitf.org
Living the Questions - Spring Term
Living the Questions is a DVD and small group based course diving in to the Christian faith with the help of inspiring Christians and theologians such as Marcus Borg, Elizabeth Schussler Fiorenza, Walter Brueggemann and John Bell.
'Have patience with everything that remains unsolved in your heart. Try to love the questions themselves.' Rainer Maria Rilke
Sometimes people can feel that they haven't had permission to ask some of the questions they have about Christianity. This course encourages asking these questions in a supportive environment, and understanding that it's a way of growing a more spacious and mature faith. There will be seven sessions over the course of Sundays during the spring term. This is the second module of the course and works as a self standing unit
The theme is Reclaiming the World and sessions look at: 21st March - Embracing Mystery
12.15 - 1.45pm in 5 St Martin's Place, followed by lunch in the Crypt café
For further details contact Revd Rosy Fairhurst on t: 0207 766 1108 and leave a message or e: rosy.fairhurst@smitf.org
28-31 May/St Martin’s Pilgrimage
Now in its 20th year, this year’s sponsored walk for homeless people takes place from Friday 28 May to Monday 31 May. If you would like to help by walking and raising sponsorship money, or by helping as a marshal, caterer, driver or first aider, please contact The Connection on 020 7766 5544 or via email: pilgsec@cstm.org.uk
Baptism and Confirmation, Sunday 16 May, 10am
Could all those who are interested in being confirmed or baptised and confirmed let a member of the clergy team know as soon as possible. Confirmation classes with Revd Will Morris will be on Sunday 28 Feb, 21, 28 Mar, 11, 18 April, 1, 9 May from 12-1pm. For further information please contact Revd Richard Carter: 020 7766 1103; richard.carter@smitf.org.
St Martin-in-the-Fields Parish Awayday 2010
This will be held on Saturday 10 July. It will be led by Bishop Peter Selby. Please keep the day free in your diary. More information to follow. All are very welcome.
New Year's Honours
There is much delight that John Anderson, who chaired SMITF Building Project Ltd, has been awarded an OBE for services to St Martin-in-the-Fields and the construction industry. John was absolutely key to the Renewal project. Without him we would never have got started. He contributed far beyond what could reasonably be expected of a volunteer at each stage, including a very large number of early morning and weekend site visits in the run up to 28th April last year! Lesley Morrison, Head of St Martin-in-the-Fields High School, was made a CBE for services to local and national education. She is doing an outstanding job at the High School. Warmest congratulations to both of them. It is very pleasing to see the work of St Martin's recognised in these ways.
Renewal of St Martin's
A new look to our Sunday 6.30pm service
We have begun a new series of reflective services for Sundays at 6.30pm. The pattern for these will be as follows:
The first Sunday in the month: Salt and Light: A Taizé Service. Using the meditative chants of the Taizé Community and a group of musicians, this service leads us deeper into reflection and prayer.
The second Sunday of the month: The Word Among Us: A Service of Meditation upon the Bible. Focused around St Martin's new St John's Bible these services explore the meaning of passages of scripture for our daily lives.
The third Sunday in the month: Go in Peace and Live in Love: A Service for Healing. This service focuses on themes of healing and offers the chance, for those who want, to receive prayers and anointing for healing for themselves or others they care for.
The fourth Sunday in the month: Themes for our Time: A Service of Reflection. In word, music and prayer each month we focus on a different theme and examine our response.
The fifth Sunday in the Month: Eucharist.
Thursdays* 1.15pm-1.45pm/Lunch-Break : Praying with the Scriptures during the working day
*Please note the change in day for the Lunch-Break service as of Thursday 8th October 2009.
The pattern of midweek services includes an opportunity to explore and reflect on the meaning of the word in the middle of the day.
'A Room with A View'
Revd Nicholas Holtam’s essays about ministry with the world at our door, published by SPCK, is available in the Shop in the Crypt at a cost of £9.99.
Lay Chaplains and Clergy in Church
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 4.30-5.30pm, a member of the clergy team is available, either in church or immediately contactable by phone in the office, to meet with those who wish to see a priest. The lay chaplains, who are skilled in listening from a specifically spiritual perspective, will continue to be available in church on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 10.30am and 12 noon. Therefore the normal weekday availability is:
Monday 10.30am - 12 noon Lay Chaplain
Tuesday 4.30pm - 5.30pm Member of Clergy
Wednesday 10.30am - 12 noon Lay Chaplain
Thursday 4.30pm - 5.30pm Member of Clergy
Friday 10.30am - 12 noon Lay Chaplain
Parish Pipeline
Archaeological Find
Amongst the items found by the Museum of London Archaeological Service during their work at St Martin's is a Roman limestone sarcophagus containing a human skeleton. The burial has now been dated as late 4th or 5th century AD and is one of only a few such burials found in the UK in modern times. The find is of great significance as it points to the possibility of this being a sacred site for much earlier than previously thought and also provides important information on the history of Roman London.
Parish Office
The Parish Office is open Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 5pm. The telephone number for the office is 020 7766 1100 and the email address is: clergyoffice@smitf.org
Friends of St Martin-in-the-Fields
If you live abroad or out of London and would like to keep in touch with us and our work, why not join the Friends of St Martin-in-the-Fields? Just send your details to: Friends Subscription Secretary, 6 St Martin’s Place, London WC2N 4JJ.
