Announcements for the Week of Sunday, April 12, 2026
From the Rector
Dear Ones,
In northern California, April is not the cruelest month (sorry, T.S. Eliot!) but often one of the loveliest, with moderate temperatures, soft showers, and lots of sunshine. This year, Earth Month and the Easter season are overlapping in fortuitous ways, encouraging us to notice and celebrate new life in both the “natural world” and in our own hearts and communities.
We will have various events throughout the month focusing on Creation and creation care, one of the ministry priorities at St. Martin’s. We have a garden tour on April 19, a hike on April 25 for LGBTQ+ folks and allies, a service project sponsored by the Davis Progressive Youth Collective also on April 25, and the Scouts joining us on April 26.
There are two additional opportunities on Sunday, April 26, that I’d like to draw your attention to. At noon I’ll offer a one-hour forum, with a light lunch provided, to discuss Creation Care at St. Martin’s and beyond. We’ll discuss what is happening at the diocesan and church-wide levels and how we can talk about creation care in ways that are loving, liberating, and life-giving, rather than leading to despair and disconnection. Then, at 7:30pm, we’ll have a twilight labyrinth walk, followed by a candlelight vigil where we will pray for peace—peace among nations, peace in our hearts, and peace with the Earth.
I hope you will mark your calendars for these opportunities to come together in community and to grow in our sense of connection with God, one another, and all creation.
Blessings,
Pamela+
Saturday, April 11: Opportunities for Fellowship, Support of Partner Organizations, and Music
Grace Garden Annual Plant Sale, April 11, 9am to 12pm in the backlot of Davis United Methodist Church (1620 Anderson Road in Davis). Includes an 11am garden tour and music by Bakuhatsu Taiko Dan at 10:15am. Fun Table with arts and crafts from 9-10am.
Support Our Migrant Neighbors – Attend “Brewing Stories” at Sudwerk on April 11, 5:30-7pm, featuring St. Martin’s “Pope of Foam,” Charlie Bamforth. The event is a fundraising evening of beer tasting and banter, with all funds raised going to the Yolo Interfaith Immigration Network (YIIN). Just a few tickets left for $50. Purchase Tickets.
Chamber Music Society of Sacramento Concert, 7:30pm at St. Martin’s. Program includes Barber, Mendelssohn, Oliver, Copeland, and Bacewicz. Tickets $35; ages 22 and under free. St. Martin’s parishioners $5 discount at the door. More information HERE.
Happening This Sunday at Church, April 12
Flowering of the Cross: Bring a flower or two to church and join our children and youth in adding your flowers to our outdoor cross. We thank the children and youth for doing the initial decorating and Sheri Reynolds for coordinating this activity.
Youth Liturgy of the Word: Junior high and high school youth are invited to join Kimo Kimokeo and Bob Holm in Room 8 at 10am to talk about the Gospel reading and what it is saying to them. Youth will return to the church in time for Communion.
Godly Play: Meets in Room 4 this Sunday and every Sunday except the fourth Sunday of the month. Children TK – Grade 6 are welcome. They will return to church in time for Communion.
Music Notes for 10am Service: Our Offertory anthem on the Second Sunday of Easter is the spiritual “Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho.” This arrangement by Van A. Christy reflects his work as a 20th-century American voice teacher and editor, whose arrangements appear in glee club, school, and assembly publications of the mid-1940s. Today’s anthem recalls the story from the Book of Joshua, in which the walls of Jericho fall after the faithful obedience of God’s people. Rooted in the African American spiritual tradition, the song carries layers of meaning; in the context of Eastertide, the imagery of walls tumbling down resonates with the power of the Resurrection. Find the full music notes on our website.
Easter Offering and Easter Thanks
Thank you for your generosity! Through our Easter Special Plate Offering, we raised $4,350 for the HEART of Davis Safe Parking Program. We also sincerely thank all of you who brought items to share for the Easter Brunch. Special thanks to those who helped set up and clean up and to Maria Acuna-Feldman for coordinating the brunch. And, as Rev. Pamela said on Easter morning, our special Holy Week and Easter services wouldn’t be possible without the work of dozens of people, including the choir, lay and clergy staff, the altar guild, liturgical ministers, and so many more. A heartfelt thanks to all!
Next Sunday, April 19! St. Martin’s Garden Tour
Spring is in the air! Next Sunday, April 19, from 1- 4pm, five parishioners will open their gardens to the St. Martin’s community. You may visit some or all of them in any order for self-guided tours. We will give out maps and descriptions of the gardens (all are in Davis) on Sunday, April 19 at church. Many of the gardens are wheelchair and walker accessible; we will indicate which are and are not accessible on the map.
In Loving Memory
Committal Service for Russell St. Clair, Sunday, April 19, after the 10am service: Russell St. Clair’s ashes will be inurned in the columbarium in a short Committal service. Russell’s family invites anyone who knew Russell to be there. We will have a special coffee hour outdoors to honor our memories of Russell.
Private Committal Service for the Rt. Rev. William G. Burrill: Bill Burrill’s ashes will be placed in the columbarium next week at a service for the family only. Bill passed away in Arizona last June.
Gracious God, we pray to you for Russell and Bill, and for all those whom we love but see no longer. Grant to them eternal rest.
Rector’s Office Hours
Rev. Pamela holds office hours on Tuesdays 4-5:15pm in the church library. Her next office hours will be on Tuesday, April 14. If you’d like to see Pamela at a different time, email her directly or contact the church office.
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