St. Martin’s News: 12/19/2024
Here you can find weekly news and upcoming events at the Episcopal Church of St. Martin’s. This changes every week.
The Weary World Rejoices: Group Study and Conversation on Sundays during Advent
Join Rev. Pamela this Sunday, December 22 from 11:30am to 12:30pm for the last class in the series The Weary World Rejoices: A Journey Towards the Promise of Christmas. This resource is from acclaimed author and podcaster Kate Bowler, known for facing the hard realities of life with humor and faith. This Sunday, December 22, we focus on the Advent promise of justice. All are welcome, even if you have not attended the previous sessions.
This Sunday! Return to Worshipping in the Church
Nzilani Glass Conservation’s work on the ceiling stained-glass window is complete. The scaffolding has come down, and we will be back in the church this Sunday, December 22. You will be able to see the brilliance of the ceiling stained-glass window now that it has been cleaned, cracks filled, and the broken pieces repaired. Netting, which can be removed if ever needed, has also been placed under the window for extra safety. We will celebrate the completion of this big project on Sunday, January 19, when Ariana Makau, the principal conservator for Nzilani, will be back at St. Martin’s to give a talk to all in the congregation who are interested. She will have pictures and will talk about our window and the restoration work that has been done.You will not want to miss this chance to learn more about our beautiful ceiling window!
Greening of the Church for Christmas, December 22, 11:30am
After the 10am service this Sunday, December 22, stay after church to help several St. Martin’s volunteers green the church and make it beautiful for Christmas. We will be hanging wreaths and bows, placing garlands and lights, and decorating the Christmas tree. We need about ten people to help and expect to be done in less than two hours. Please let the office know if you can help, even for a short while.
Blue Christmas, Sunday, December 22, 4pm
Join us for a contemplative service of music, candle lighting, and prayer followed by a reception in the narthex. We offer this service to honor and provide support to those feeling “blue” this Christmas season, or to those who seek a way to enter into Christmas week with calm.
This Saturday! Chamber Music Society of Sacramento Winter Concert, December 21
St. Martin’s will host the Chamber Music Society of Sacramento Winter Concert on Saturday, December 21, at 7:30pm. The program features Frederick the Great Concerto for Flute, Strings, and Continuo; Tartini Sonata for Violin and Harpsicord (Devil’s Trill); and Handel Motet “Silete Venti” for Soprano, Flute, Strings, and Continuo. Tickets are $35 (general) and $15 (students) and can be purchased online or at the door. St. Martin’s parishioners receive $5 discount at the door. For tickets and more information: https://cmssacto.org.
Christmas Service Schedule
- Blue Christmas, a Contemplative Service of Music, Candle Lighting, and Prayer
Sunday, December 22 at 4pm; in person and live-streamed (reception following) - Christmas Eve Service for Children and All Ages with Music, Eucharist, and Pageant
Tuesday, December 24 at 3pm; in-person only (nursery open) - Christmas Eve Festive Eucharist with Choir
Tuesday,December 24 at 7pm and 10pm; in-person and livestreamed - Christmas Day Contemporary Eucharist with Christmas Carols
Wednesday, December 25 at 10am; in-person and livestreamed - First Sunday after Christmas Contemporary Eucharist with Christmas Carols
Sunday, December 29 at 10am; in-person and livestreamed; one service only (nursery closed)
Christmas Pageant: Calling All Sheep, Angels, and Shepherds! December 24, 3pm Service
Calling all sheep, angels, and shepherds: St. Martin’s will hold a family-friendly service and pageant on Christmas Eve at 3pm. All children two years and older are invited to be a part of the pageant. There are no speaking parts and costumes are provided. Contact the church office or Sheri Reynolds if you would like your child(ren) to participate and/or just meet us in the church library between 2:15 and 2:30 pm to get in costume. Many thanks to Sheri Reynolds for coordinating the pageant.
Christmas Donations in Memory of or Thanksgiving for Loved Ones
This year, Christmas donations in memory of or thanksgiving for loved ones will go to the Altar Guild. The Altar Guild provides all the bread and wine for Communion as well as the linens, candles, candle oil, and silver you see on and around the altar every Sunday. If you would like to donate to the Altar Guild in memory of or in thanksgiving for loved ones this Christmas, we will list the names of your loved ones in the Christmas bulletins. Please write a check to the Church of St. Martin with “Memorial Donation/Altar Guild” in the memo line. Or use the GIVE button on our website. In either case, please write the office with the names of those you wish to have noted in the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day bulletins. The deadline to have memorials and thanksgivings listed in the Christmas bulletins is December 20.
Christmas Special Offering
St. Martin’s has a long history of giving away our Christmas plate offering to an organization that serves others. The Vestry, along with the Social Justice and Outreach Committee, is pleased to announce that The Belfry Lutheran Episcopal Campus Ministry is this year’s recipient of our Christmas Special Offering. The kitchen at The Belfry house on A Street is in serious need of a new stove and some additional upgrades. It’s been over two decades since the kitchen has been improved, although it is used regularly. All contributions to the 2024 Christmas special offering will be directed towards a new and much safer gas stove, along with a new floor in the kitchen. Just think, as we “pass the plate,” you are giving a Christmas gift that will improve the lives of students today and for years to come! Contributions may be made online through the church website (menu item “Christmas Special Offering for The Belfry”) or by writing a check with “Special Offering/The Belfry” on the memo line. Checks may be placed in the offering plates or mailed to the church office.
Nominate Yourself or Someone Else for Vestry
The Vestry is accepting nominations for the 2025 Vestry. Serving on Vestry gives you a role in ensuring that St. Martin’s does its best to care for the parish, the larger church, and the community. The Vestry seeks a diverse slate to replace the four members whose terms are ending. We hope for balance with respect to age, gender, and race/ethnicity, as well as a mix of those new to St. Martin’s and longtime parishioners. If you wish to nominate yourself or another parishioner, please e-mail the church office (info@churchofstmartin.org) and include as much of the following information in your nomination as possible: a) the name of the nominee, b) the nominee’s preferred email and phone, and c) the ministries the nominee has been involved in (at St. Martin’s or elsewhere). Note that if you are nominating someone other than yourself, please talk to them first and get their permission to nominate them. We request your nominations no later than January 1. Questions? Speak to a Vestry member or contact the church office.
Seeking Diocesan Convention Delegates from St. Martin’s
At our annual meeting on January 26, we will be electing not only Vestry members but also lay delegates to Diocesan Convention. In 2025, the Convention will be November 7 – 8 in Redding. Delegates will also attend a pre-Convention convocation on a morning in November, which is on Zoom. If you wish to serve as one of our six lay delegates to Diocesan Convention, please let the church office know of your interest.
St. Martin’s Annual Meeting, Sunday, January 26, during 10am Service
Our Annual Meeting will be on Sunday, January 26 during the 10am service. Please be there to have a voice in church governance and to help elect Vestry members and Diocesan Convention delegates. See the announcement above about how to nominate yourself or someone else for Vestry as well as how to let us know if you wish to serve as a lay Convention delegate. If you are a ministry leader or chair of a committee, you should write an annual meeting report by January 10 (please submit to the church office).
