Announcements for December 14, 2025
Here you can find weekly news and upcoming events at the Episcopal Church of St. Martin. For more information, contact the office.
This Sunday! Advent Lessons & Carols, 4pm
Join us on for a candlelit Advent Lessons and Carols, an evening of Scripture, choral music, and reflective readings. This year’s service pairs the ancient Advent texts with music by Native American composers and words from Native American poets and philosophers—offered as lenses that illuminate and deepen our hearing of the biblical story. Music will include Wyandot’s Realm, Andrew Balfour’s powerful reclamation of the Huron Carol. All are welcome!
This Sunday! Second Sunday Youth Liturgy of the Word (LoW), 10am
Junior high and high schoolers are invited to meet with Rev. Debbie at 10am in Room 8 to explore what the Gospel lesson is saying to them. You will return to the church to have Communion with your families.
Next Weekend, December 20 – 21
Greening of the Church, Saturday, December 20, 10:30am – 12pm: Come lend a hand to make the church beautiful for Christmas. Share fellowship and enjoy hot chocolate and cookies.
Las Posadas, Sunday, December 21, 10am: A musical re-enactment of the Holy Family’s search for lodging before the baby Jesus was born. Followed by Holy Eucharist.
Blue Christmas, Sunday, December 21, 4pm: Designed for all but particularly for those who may be feeling “blue” this Christmas season. With music, prayer, optional candle-lighting and healing prayers.
Christmas Service Schedule and Beyond
Christmas Eve, December 24, 3pm: Christmas Eucharist with Children’s Pageant
Christmas Eve, December 24, 7pm and 10pm: Festive Choral Eucharists
Christmas Day, December 25, 10am: Christmas Carols at 10am, followed by Holy Eucharist. One service
First Sunday after Christmas, December 28, 10am: Holy Eucharist & Christmas Carols. One service. Kids (and the young at heart) are welcome to come in jammies and bring your favorite toy to have it blessed.
EfM Begins, Monday, January 12, 5-8pm: Education for Ministry seminar meets weekly. Contact Jim Jordan, Colette Chabbott or the church office with questions or to tell us you’re interested.
Annual Meeting on Sunday, January 25: Mark your calendars now!
Christmas Flower Donations
If you would like to donate Christmas flowers in memory of or thanksgiving for loved ones this Christmas, we will list the names of your loved ones in the Christmas bulletins. This year, your donations will go to the Flower Guild to help with the costs of greening of the church as well as flowers throughout the year. Please write a check to the Church of St. Martin with “Christmas Flower Donation” in the memo line. Or use the GIVE button on our website. Please write the office with the names of those you wish to have noted in the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day bulletins. Deadline: December 21
CHRISTMAS SPECIAL PLATE OFFERING FOR STEAC
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 STEAC (Short Term Emergency Aid Committee) is this year’s recipient of our Christmas Special Offering. Any money you give to the plate on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, unless you designate otherwise, will go to this longtime ministry partner. Write checks to St. Martin’s with STEAC on the memo line or use the GIVE button on our website (menu item “Christmas Offering for STEAC”). With their food distribution program located here at St. Martin’s, STEAC’s mission is to provide help with basic necessities to Yolo County families and individuals who are living below the poverty line. See all of STEAC’s programs HERE.
Hands-On Service Opportunity – Food for the Winter Shelter
Paul’s Place, run by Davis Community Meals & Housing, hosts a winter shelter for 10 individuals and facilitates motel lodging for six additional people. A variety of faith groups collaborate to provide nightly dinner and breakfast to-go for the shelter guests and staff. St. Martin’s is covering the week of December 28 – January 4. We will need the help of many and will have sign-ups for main dishes, side dishes, and desserts in the narthex starting this Sunday (before and after both services). You will prepare or purchase your dish and deliver it to the shelter at 1111 H Street between 6 and 6:15pm. Or contact Janet in the office directly to sign up.
Nominate Yourself or Someone Else for Vestry
Vestry members serve for three years and have an important role in ensuring that St. Martin’s does its best to care for the parish, the larger church, and the community. We seek a diverse slate, hoping for balance with respect to age, gender, and ethnicity, as well as a mix of those new to St. Martin’s and longtime parishioners. To nominate yourself or another parishioner, e-mail the church office with a) name of nominee, b) nominee’s email & phone, c) ministries nominee has been involved in (St. Martin’s or elsewhere). If you are nominating someone other than yourself, please talk to them first to get their permission. We are also seeking nominations for delegates to the 2026 Diocesan Convention. the convention will take place online on October 24, 2026. We request nominations no later than January 5, 2025. Questions? Speak to a Vestry member or contact the church office.
RECTOR’S OFFICE HOURS
Rev. Pamela holds drop-in office hours on Tuesday afternoons. Her next office hours are Tuesday, December 16, 4-5:15pm. If you would like to meet with Rev. Pamela at a different time, you can always contact her directly (pamela@churchofstmartin.org) or contact the church office.
PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENTS
- St. Martin’s News 10/02/2026St. Martin’s News for the Week of Sunday, 10/04/2026 This Sunday, October 4 – The Feast of St. Francis and Blessing of the Animals at Both ServicesDuring the Season of Creation, we give special thanks for all God’s creatures, especially the animals that share our lives. The clergy will be blessing animals at both the 8am and 10am services this Sunday. Bring your pets, with dogs on leashes and other animals in carriers as needed. The 8am service will be indoors and will be livestreamed; the 10am service will be outdoors and will not be livestreamed this Sunday. For the…
- St. Martin’s News 09/25/2026St. Martin’s News for the Week of Sunday, 09/27/2026 From the RectorDear Ones,I am writing from Salt Lake City, where I am attending the Province VIII Creation Care Conference. I’m sorry that the title of the conference is so “inside baseball” because the topics and presenters make me think this is going to be one of the best I’ve ever attended, with great relevance to our lives and the life of the Church. If you want to learn more, the Episcopal News Service published an excellent article this week. Last Sunday we had a full house at the All-Parish Conversation,…
- St. Martin’s News 09/18/2026St. Martin’s News for the Week of Sunday, 09/20/2026 This Sunday: Program Year Kick-Off and MoreSanctuary Choir Returns and Baptism at 10am: The Sanctuary Choir returns on Sunday. We are also delighted to baptize Miriam Teresa Aguilar and welcome her into the household of God. Godly Play Begins Sunday, 10am: Godly Play begins Sunday during the 10am service for children TK – 6th grade in Room 4. Parents can drop off their children at Room 4 and fill out any required registration forms. Information about Godly Play is on the Godly Play webpage on our church website. Music Notes: One…
- St. Martin’s News 09/11/2026St. Martin’s News for the Week of Sunday, 09/13/2026 From the Rector – Remembering 9/11Dear Ones,Most of us over a certain age remember exactly where we were on this morning 25 years ago. My story is not special. I was a young mother, dealing with my toddler’s recurring ear infection, still a bit sad about having left New York the year before. I didn’t normally watch the news on TV, but that morning, like much of the nation, I ended up unable to take my eyes away from the horror unfolding in real time. I had worked in lower Manhattan…
- St. Martin’s News 09/04/2026St. Martin’s News for the Week of Sunday, 09/06/2026 This Week at St. Martin’s – Season of Creation BeginsThis Sunday marks the first Sunday in the Season of Creation. The World Council of Churches was instrumental in making this a season extending from September 1 until October 4, the feast day of St. Francis. The season was endorsed by our General Convention and is a time for us to come together to care for our common home. During the month, we are using liturgical resources from Season of Creation, A Celebration Guide for Episcopal Parishes (Perennial Edition, 2025) and from Season of Creation 2026,…
