Below you can find a message from the Very Rev. Pamela. These are sent out most Fridays in our newsletter. Published January 23, 2026.
If you are not signed up to receive our newsletters, you can do so by going to this link and scrolling down to sign up.
Message from the Very Rev. Pamela from January 23, 2026:
Dear Ones,
The light is returning! It is still wet and gloomy outside, with more rough weather predicted, but we are officially in the time of year when the days begin to lengthen. Meanwhile, inside our homes and our church, Christmas lights twinkle and candle flames dance, reminding us that there is always light to be found when we need it most.
For many of us, 2025 has been a difficult year. On the political front, we are witnessing terrible things at home and abroad, and it is easy to feel helpless and even hopeless. But as I look back on the year, I find myself astonished at the good things God has been doing in our parish. St. Martin’s has seen continued growth in membership, as well as growing engagement with our community. The growth is both inward and outward-facing, and it is transforming lives.
We’ll do more of a “year-end review” for the Annual Meeting, but without a doubt the day of the Bishop’s Visit was one for the record books. More than 15 people participated in the confirmation and enquirer’s class leading up to it. The service was glorious, with outstanding music, and showcased our commitment to joyful, authentic, and beautiful liturgy. And we had a full house, with six people received into the Episcopal Church, six people confirmed, and one young adult baptized. This came on the heels of several other baptisms this fall, including two teenagers and a brand-new baby. At a time when so many churches are shrinking and even facing closure, we are incredibly blessed by these many signs of vitality and faithfulness.
If you are able to give a special year-end donation or an increase to your 2026 pledge, your generosity will have an enormous impact on our ability to continue along this trajectory of growth and transformation. Every dollar counts! Please consider adding St. Martin’s to your year-end giving. Through God’s grace, we really are rooted in faith, growing in hope, and reaching out in love.
“And the greatest of these is love“—the love that came down at Christmas, and that continues to light our path in the world.
Blessings and peace to you—and let me wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas!
Pamela+
LATEST POSTS FROM THE RECTOR
- A Message from the Very Rev. Pamela 2/13/2026Below you can find a message from the Very Rev. Pamela. These are sent out most Fridays in our newsletter. Published February 13, 2026. If you are not signed up to receive our newsletters, you can do so by going to this link and scrolling down to sign up. Message from the Very Rev. Pamela from February 13, 2026: Dear Ones, “How do we live compassionately in a time of violence and despair? What can we do with our private disappointments and the anger we feel in such an unjust world?” These questions are central to the book The Tears…
- A Message from the Very Rev. Pamela 1/30/2026Below you can find a message from the Very Rev. Pamela. These are sent out most Fridays in our newsletter. Published January 30, 2026. If you are not signed up to receive our newsletters, you can do so by going to this link and scrolling down to sign up. Message from the Very Rev. Pamela from January 30, 2026: Dear Ones, So often my conversations these days revolve around the question “But what can we do?” The topic might be the climate crisis, or the unraveling of our democracy, or the latest act of state-sponsored violence, or any of a…
- A Message from the Very Rev. Pamela 1/16/2026Below you can find a message from the Very Rev. Pamela. These are sent out most Fridays in our newsletter. Published January 16, 2026. If you are not signed up to receive our newsletters, you can do so by going to this link and scrolling down to sign up. Message from the Very Rev. Pamela from January 16, 2026: Dear Ones, This past Wednesday night about 25 of us filled Room 6/7 with laughter, good food, and great conversation. If you’re wondering what the occasion was, you might be surprised to learn that it was a calendar planning meeting for ministry leaders….