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St. Martin’s News 10/30/2026

Janet Lane

St. Martin’s News for the Week of Sunday, 11/01/2026

From the Rector
Dear Ones,
This weekend is one of my favorites—we get an extra hour of sleep! Seriously, though, we have a beautiful liturgy planned for All Saints’ Day on Sunday (including a bagpiper if you stay until the end of the 10am service), and I look forward to joining with others in our community at the Día de los Muertos celebration downtown. 

Next week, of course, is Election Day. I am sure many of you have already voted, but nonetheless there is a certain solemnity about the day itself. Our Presiding Bishop has written about the duty of Christians to take part in the electoral process, and the Episcopal Church is offering a special Election Night Compline service on Tuesday at 5pm PT. If you find yourself with time on Election Day Eve, I’d love for you to join the Creation Care Compline for the Episcopal Church that I’ll be leading on Monday at 5pm.

Please pray for our country, that we can move beyond this current time of polarization and division. It’s always good and important to care about politics, but never good to demonize or belittle entire sections of our population. I found this prayer, offered by the Episcopal Public Policy Network, helpful. I hope you will, too. 

Blessings,
Pamela+

For Faith Beyond Partisan Politics
Lord Jesus Christ, you call your church to bear witness to your kingdom in every place. Keep us from using your name to sanctify our ambitions, from turning prayer into political spectacle, or from claiming Christ for one party or cause. Give your church courage to engage the places of power without becoming captive to them, to speak truth with both conviction and humility, and to work for justice without surrendering the freedom of the gospel. When partisan loyalties compete with our allegiance to you, remind us that in Christ we belong to one another. By your Holy Spirit, give us wisdom to discern what serves the common good, courage to challenge injustice wherever we find it, and humility to listen across differences. May our public witness point not to ourselves, but to your love, justice, and mercy. With the Father and the Holy Spirit, keep us faithful to your way, now and always. Amen.

This Sunday! All Saints’ Day and More
At Our Morning Services: We’ll celebrate All Saints’ Day at and will read the Necrology, a list of departed loved ones at both services. We’ll be joined by a guest bagpiper from UC Davis who will lead us to the Columbarium at the end of the 10am service.

Día de los Muertos Celebration Downtown Davis, Sunday, November 1, 4-7pm: The Davis Phoenix Coalition and several local partners will hold a celebration downtown Davis in the E Street Plaza (207 F Street, Davis) featuring a dance performance, folklorico, mariachi and music band, vendors, and booths. St. Martin’s will have an ofrenda (altar) at the event. We will include some items from our church ofrenda and add other items to create a theme around the need to stop gun violence. Rev. Pamela will be there and would love to have some volunteers join her at two shifts, 2:30 – 4:30pm and 4:30 – 6:30pm. You can also come for an hour, if you’d prefer. If you’re able to come for a shift, let Rev. Pamela or Janet know. Even if you can’t volunteer, come see our ofrenda and join the fun!

Singing Resistance Yolo, November 1, 7-8:30pm, Parish Hall: Singing Resistance is a new Yolo group that seeks to mobilize people through song to protect what we love while building a culture based on belonging and solidarity. Come along to learn protest, de-escalation, and disarmament songs, and prepare to non-violently defend elections. We’re pleased to host this new group. Open to all of any musical ability.

Next Sunday, November 8! Feast of St. Martin, Bake Off, Stewardship Ingathering
Join us on November 8 after church! We’ll have ONE combined 10am service so that we can be together to celebrate the Feast of St. Martin! This service will also include the gathering of pledges for our 2027 stewardship campaign. After church, we’ll have lanterns to make and goose cookies to decorate, and the Great St. Martin’s Bake Off. Please sign up at church on Sunday to help with set up or to bring fruit or savory treats.

How to Submit Your Pledge: You can put your pledge card in the offering plate at church or mail or deliver it to the church office. You can also pledge via e-mail by writing to our confidential pledge e-mail address: Please pledge by November 8. Don’t forget to take a few moments to enjoy the gratitude steppingstones and House of Welcome poster in the narthex. Please join in building a house of welcome!

How to Enter the Bake Off: You can enter in one or more of the following categories: Kids’ Creation; Breakfast Casseroles; Breads & Muffins; Scones & Cookies; Pies & Cakes; or Gluten Free, Vegan, and/or Dairy Free. Sign up at either service this Sunday or send your name and category to the church office (info@churchofstmartin.org). We will all share in the treats!

Last Chance to RSVP for the OWL (Older, Wiser, Laity) Tea
All older, wiser laity and clergy are invited to a tea on November 4 at 2pm in Rooms 6/7. Come for fellowship and traditional tea with homemade sweet and savory snacks. RSVP by November 1 to the church office.

Thanksgiving Project Donations Requested
Social Justice & Outreach requests your donations to the Christine Blanchard Thanksgiving Project, an outreach effort through which we provide grocery store gift cards to community members in need at the holidays. This year, we are focusing on organizations that serve families with school-age children, undocumented UC Davis students, and seniors. Last year, the congregation donated over $8000! Monetary donations of any amount will be gratefully accepted through November 15. Send a check to St. Martin’s Church with “Thanksgiving Project” in the memo line or use the “GIVE” button on our website and select “Thanksgiving Project” from the dropdown menu. Get more information about this project, its history, and its aims on our website.

Service Opportunities
Weekly Food Collection: The Jerry Hulbert Food Collection gathers non-perishable food every Sunday at church. Today’s collection goes to Dixon Family Services and next week’s to The Belfry.

Support Our Immigrant Neighbors: ICE has been very active in Woodland in the past several weeks. NorCal Resist calls on volunteers to observe and be present at a variety of locations including public schools. Find more information here about Migra watch, accompaniment, and court watch trainings. The Yolo Interfaith Immigration Network (YIIN) also asks for support due to a huge increase in requests for help from immigrants.

Daylight Saving Time Ends
Daylight Saving Time ends at 2am on Sunday, November 1, when we fall back one hour. Enjoy an extra hour of sleep, and we hope to see you at church on Sunday!

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