Announcements for the Week of Sunday, March 29, 2026
This Sunday! Palm Sunday Worship and Activities for All Ages
At 8am on Sunday, March 29, we’ll have palms, palm crosses, and traditional Rite I Holy Eucharist, with a Passion Gospel reading. Come at 9:45am to meet our donkey friends, Jenny and Larry, who come to us as a courtesy of Rural Veterinary Services, a donkey rescue in Dixon. For safety purposes, we are not encouraging people to feed the donkeys. We hope you’ll join the palm procession around the grounds and then into the church, where we’ll have a Passion Gospel play and Holy Eucharist. After the 10am service, stay for coffee hour and wooden egg painting for kids of all ages.
Music Notes for 10am Service on Sunday
Our Offertory anthem on Palm Sunday is a motet by Tomas Luis de Victoria (c. 1548–1611). This joyful motet sets a traditional Palm Sunday text describing the children of Jerusalem welcoming Christ with palm branches and cries of “Hosanna.” Our Passion play centers around the hymn “Were you there?” This deeply moving hymn is an African American spiritual that speaks of a deeply personal faith. Each verse places the singer at a scene of the Crucifixion, inviting a profound identification with Christ’s suffering. Find the full music notes on our website.
Holy Week at St. Martin’s
Monday, March 30: Living Well Through Lent Online Reflection Group, 2-3:30pm. Join Helen Campbell for the last Monday session on Zoom. Contact the church office for the Zoom link.
Tuesday, March 31: Evening Book Study of Richard Rohr’s The Tears of Things: Prophetic Wisdom for an Age of Outrage. At 5:45pm, all are welcome to join an optional dinner together at the DCMH meal in the parish hall; the book study starts at 6:30pm in the church and ends at 8pm. Before this last class, please read Chapters 9 and 10 and/or listen to the corresponding podcast episodes.
Wednesday, April 1: Join Rev. Pamela in the church at 9am for Morning Prayer, a service lasting 20-25 minutes. Come hear A Musical Meditation on the Nine Nocturnes of Tenebrae at 7pm, featuring music by Frédéric Chopin and performed by pianist Jeffrey Jubenville. In person and online.
Thursday, April 2, Maundy Thursday: Join us before the service at 6:15pm to break bread together in the narthex with a light supper of dates, olives, cheese, crackers, fruit, and assorted meats with a vegan option. The Holy Eucharist service at 7pm will focus on the Last Supper Jesus shared with his disciples and will include music, choir, sermon, optional foot washing, and a solemn ritual of stripping the altar in preparation for Good Friday. In person and online.
Friday, April 3, Good Friday: We’ll have Stations of the Cross in the church at 12pm with readings and prayer at each station (in person only). At 7pm, we’ll have the Good Friday Liturgy. Both Good Friday services include an optional veneration of the Cross and are relatively short services with no music or Communion (in person and online).
Saturday, April 4, Easter Vigil: The Great Vigil of Easter starts outdoors at 8pm with the lighting of the new fire, then moves inside for dramatic readings and music, and finally ends with a festive Holy Eucharist. After the service, stay for a short reception in the narthex, featuring chocolate and other treats, sparkling cider, and champagne. The Easter Vigil is a feast for the senses and the moment when the Lenten fast ends. Bring bells and noisemakers! In person and online.
Easter Day: Two Services, Egg Hunt, and Brunch
On Sunday, April 5, we’ll have two festive Holy Eucharists at 8am and 10am with music, choir, and preaching at both. After the 10am service, toddlers through 6th graders are invited to bring a basket and join in the annual Easter Egg Hunt. There is no Godly Play on Easter Sunday. We’ll also have an Easter Brunch after the 10am service. What a wonderful way to reconnect with your parish family and welcome all who are visiting our parish for the first time! We invite you to bring sweet or savory items to share for the brunch; sign up on the easels at church or write the church office with what you’ll bring. The nursery will be open for both the 8am and 10am services for children ages 5 and under.
Easter Plate Offering, 2026
Our Easter Plate Offering goes to the HEART of Davis Safe Parking Program. The Safe Parking Program provides unhoused individuals with an opportunity to park and sleep in their car overnight in a designated church parking lot and receive an evening and morning meal. Safe Parking costs include paying for security, meals, portable toilets, and insurance. To support this program, you may write a check to The Church of St. Martin with “Easter Offering” in the memo line or use the blue GIVE button on our website. All donations at the Easter Vigil and Easter Day services will be given to the above ministry unless otherwise noted.
Good Friday Plate Offering: Every year, the Good Friday offering goes to the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East to support the ministries of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East. The funds provide aid to hospitals, schools, orphanages, and humanitarian aid programs. Donate through St. Martin’s with memo line “Good Friday Offering” on a check or by using the GIVE button on our website. Find more information along with a letter from our Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe on this annual offering.
Easter Memorials and Thanksgivings
You may make Easter donations in memory of or in thanksgiving for loved ones, and we’ll print your loved one’s names along with yours in the Easter bulletins. Donations this year go to the Altar Guild. Write a check to the church with “Easter Memorials” on the memo line or use the online GIVE button on our website. Please write the office by March 30 with your loved ones’ names so we can print them in the Easter bulletins.
Church Office Closure
The Church Office will be closed on Monday, April 6, to give the staff an Easter holiday. We will be open regular hours (9am-1pm) all weekdays during Holy Week.
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