A message from Jim Jordan, Vestry member:

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 has held a Confirmation and Enquirer’s Class in preparation for Bishop Megan Traquair’s visit on December 7 and Helen Campbell began a class, Living Well Through Advent, based on the meditation booklet available in the narthex. 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. It also includes theological reflections on contemporary challenges, group discussions of applied 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. The continuing quiet work of B&G is a major contribution to the sustainability of our infrastructure, for which work the Vestry is most grateful.

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.