Parish News
A Prayer for this week
Almighty God,
who called your Church to bear witness
that you were in Christ reconciling
the world to yourself:
help us to proclaim the good news of your love,
that all who hear it may be drawn to you;
through him who was lifted up on the cross,
and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
Choral Wednesdays
Choral Wednesdays resume on Wednesday 1 September with the St Martin's Quartet. The new Choral Scholars will join us at the beginning of October.
Certificate in Christian Studies 2010-2011
This is a two-year course run by the Diocese of London leading to the award of a Certificate in Theology. The Course is open to anyone who wishes to deepen their theological understanding and also forms part of the training for further lay training including Reader ministry. The course consists of six modules and starts in September. The course is open to everyone in the 2 Cities and Edmonton Areas. If you are interested in finding out more please contact a member of the clergy team.
St Martin's Breakfast Club
Do you work or live close to St Martin's? Every other Wednesday, meeting next on 1 September, 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.
Saturday September 18/Open House London 2010
We will be welcoming visitors as part of Open House London again this year. There will be tours of St Martin’s on the day, including bell ringing demonstrations. The Church and Worship group will be leading prayers on the hour each hour in church. Help is needed in welcoming visitors so if you can offer a couple of hours between 9.30am-4.30pm please let Revd Katherine Hedderly know Katherine.hedderly@smitf.org, 020 7766 1100. If you would like to be involved in leading the prayers please contact Chris Braganza via the Parish Office.
Autumn Education Programme 2010 The Alpha and the Omega - the First and the Last, The Bible Opened for All
How can we understand and truthfully interpret a Bible which has so often been used to exclude and condemn? A group of inspiring speakers seek to explore if we can discover an inclusive faith for all. Mondays, 7-8.30pm in church. 27 September: Being Biblical? Slavery, Sexuality and the Inclusive Community with Richard Burridge; 11 October: Being Biblical, Being Gay with Clare Herbert and Arnold Browne; 25 October: Being Biblical, Being a Woman with Lucy Winkett; 8th November: Being Biblical, Being Broken and Blessed with Frances Young; 22nd November: Being Biblical, Really, Truly, Biblical with Jeffrey John.
Lecturer in Inclusive Theology
The Revd Clare Herbert has been appointed Lecturer in Inclusive Theology at St Martin’s with effect from 1st October. The title Lecturer is one used before at St Martin’s for priests with gifts in education. This is a half-time post which will fit alongside doctoral studies. Clare will make a welcome increased contribution to the clergy team and assist with the increasing work load of our growing congregations and church activity.
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
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
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 9am 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.
