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St. Martin’s News 12/21/2025

Janet Lane

Announcements for December 21, 2025

Here you can find weekly news and upcoming events at the Episcopal Church of St. Martin. For more information, contact the office.

Greening of the Church for Christmas, This Saturday, December 20, 10:30am – 12pm
Can you lend a hand for a short while on Saturday morning? If so, come to the church on Saturday, December 20 from 10:30am – 12pm to help hang the beautiful wreaths you see here, to place garlands and lights, and to decorate the large tree donated to us by the Scouts. We’ll be making the church beautiful for Christmas and having hot coffee, tea, chocolate, and cookies. Feel free to come for all or some of the time.

This Sunday! Las Posadas at 10am in the Parish Hall
On Sunday during the 10am service, we celebrate Las Posadas, the reenactment of the Holy Family’s search for hospitality. We invite all children and the young at heart to join the guitarist and members of our choir as they follow the Holy Family knocking on doors and asking to enter, using a folk song handed down through generations. The Las Posadas song makes fun of those who are unwelcoming or ungenerous. This reflects its Mexican and broader Latin American roots, where faith is expressed through acts of sharing, home-centered worship, song, and procession. The enduring power of Las Posadas lies in its intimacy: it transforms streets, courtyards—or parish halls!—into Bethlehem, and singers into participants in the sacred story, preparing our hearts for the coming of Christmas. Stay for Christmas Carols after the service.
After the Las Posadas reenactment, the 10am service will continue with Holy Eucharist. The 8am Rite I service will also be held in the parish hall on Sunday.
No Godly Play on Sunday: Godly Play will take a break until the new year and start up again on January 4.
Nursery Open on Sunday: The Nursery, for infants through age 5, will be open on Sunday and again during the Christmas Eve, 3pm service.

Children’s Christmas Pageant and Costume Pick-Up
St. Martin’s will have a children’s Christmas Pageant on December 24 at the 3pm service. All children are welcome to be part of this no-rehearsal pageant. There are no speaking parts and costumes are provided. On Sunday, December 21 after the 10am service, children who already know they want to be in the pageant can pick up their costumes in the church library.  Or parents can bring children to the church library on December 24 between 2:15 and 2:30pm to get into costume. Questions? Contact Sheri Reynolds, Missy Campbell, or Matt Campbell.

Christmas Service Schedule
Christmas Eve, December 24, 3pm: Christmas Eucharist with Children’s Pageant. In person & livestreamed; nursery open.

Christmas Eve, December 24, 7pm and 10pm: Festive Choral Eucharists. In person & livestreamed.

Christmas Day, December 25, 10am: Christmas Carols at 10am, followed by Holy Eucharist. In person.

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. In person & livestreamed; nursery open.

Last Chance for Christmas Flower Donations
If you would like to donate Christmas flowers in memory of or thanksgiving for loved ones this Christmas, 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. Be sure to write the office with the names of those you wish to have noted in the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day bulletins. Donations go to the Flower Guild, and the deadline is December 21.

Hands-On Service Opportunity – Food for the Winter Shelter
We still have several openings to fill for volunteers to bring food to Paul’s Place winter shelter, run by Davis Community Meals & Housing. St. Martin’s is covering the week of December 28 – January 3 and needs to serve dinner for 10 and motel microwavable food for six. Food can be homemade or purchased. Sign up at church (before and after both services). Or contact Janet in the office directly to sign up.

Vestry Notes for Fall 2025 by Jim Jordan
Thank you! The congregation’s continuing financial and volunteer efforts for St. Martin’s make us a healthy parish. Your financial support means St. Martin’s can move into 2026 building on this year’s growth. Thank you for your pledges.

At the Vestry Retreat in February, the Vestry settled on priorities for the year, which included continuing excellence in our communal worship of God; being a welcoming and safe place for everyone, visitors and members alike; offering opportunities for formation for all ages; and continuing our commitment to caring for God’s creation. 

St. Martin’s has had many adult formation activities this year. Most recently, Rev. Pamela held a Confirmation and Enquirer’s Class, and Helen Campbell taught “Living Well Through Advent.” We also have a Sacred Ground circle that began in September. In January, a yearlong Education for Ministry (EFM) class will begin. EFM includes the study of the Old and New Testaments, Church history, and Christian ethics and theology.

Over several months in 2025, a Task Force reviewed St. Martin’s space use, both in our buildings and in our outdoor areas, through the lens of the priorities established by the Vestry at our retreat. A professional inspection of our buildings found no major problems. The minor problems have been or are being repaired by the hard-working volunteers of the Buildings and Grounds Committee.

We’ve reached a point where the Task Force and Vestry have defined our capital needs but lack the knowledge to translate those needs into conceptual designs. The Vestry needs such designs before it can decide what affordable investments would improve St. Martin’s welcome, facilitate formation and fellowship, and improve environmental sustainability. At our November meeting, the Vestry authorized contracting with an architect/designer to develop conceptual designs and cost estimates. More information about this effort will be coming soon.

Ushers Still Needed for Blue Christmas Sunday at 4pm and Christmas Eve at 10pm
We still need one usher this Sunday, December 21 at 4pm for Blue Christmas and one on Christmas Eve at 10pm. Even if you’ve had no experience, you will work with another experienced usher. Please let the office (info@churchofstmartin.org) know if you can serve.

Church Office Closures
The office will be closed on December 25-26 and January 1.

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