Today/Harvest Festival. This year’s theme is ‘Sharing a Harvest of Blessings’ with a particular focus on the blessings of our partnership with St Mary’s Cathedral Johannesburg. The collection will be for the Dean Xolani Dlwati Bursary Fund, which ensures that many young people will benefit from higher education and be able to make a meaningful contribution within communities in Johannesburg.
Today/Crèche at St Martin’s. For the 0-4 age group, with trained childcare leaders, takes place in the Austen Williams Room every Sunday. Please ask a steward to show you where to go.
Today/Children’s C-Club Programme/11.30am, Dick Sheppard Chapel. As Harvest Festival has come, this week we will explore the many great secrets hidden in a tiny mustard seed.
Today/Prayers for Healing with anointing and laying on of hands are offered by our healing team at the 10.00am service each Sunday morning at the front of the church near the altar.
Today/Disability Advisory Group/Sunday 7 October, 12-2pm, Austen Williams Room. This termly open meeting gathers people with insight or experience of physical, sensory, cognitive or mental health issues to help shape our vision and work. All are welcome to join us, including for our renowned bring & share lunch. If you’d like to know more, please speak to Fiona MacMillan or Jonathan Evens, or email disabilty@smitf.org
Encountering our International Neighbours. This week we pray for Fikelela HIV/AIDS Project, Cape Town, South Africa, for the human and financial resources needed to continue their vital work, and for the ongoing prevention work to break the cycle of HIV. For more information, please visit www.fikelela.org.za and see the Encountering our International Neighbours booklet in church.
Annual Review of Activities. Copies of the printed Annual Review, bringing together all of the highlights from the last 12 months, are available from the stewards in church after the service for a suggested donation of £3.
This Week/Encountering Islam/Tuesday 9 October, from 6.30pm. Our next lecture
Christianity Encountering Islam will be hosted by at The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in Morden, the largest mosque in Western Europe. It is a unique chance of encountering first-hand the life of another faith community. At 6.30pm, there are guided tours of the mosque, at 7.30pm there will be lectures given by Imam Mujeeb Rashed and Revd Dr Sam Wells and at 8.15pm a Q&A will be followed by dinner together around round tables The programme is free but you do need to register at: www.FaithEncounters.org.uk to reserve your place.
This Week/This year’s Autumn Lecture Series Encounter/Continuing 9 October, 7.00-8.30pm. Lectures will include: Encountering Islam (see above); Encountering London: Sarah Mullally, Jo Bailey Wells (15 Oct); Encountering Jesus of Nazareth: Mark Oakley, Br Sam SSF, Rose Hudson-Wilkin (29 Oct); Encountering the Sacred: Neil MacGregor with Richard Coles, Ben Okri and Nicola Green (5 Nov); Woven Gold in Concert (18 Nov); and Encountering God: Justin Welby in conversation with Sam Wells (19 Nov). Flyers are available at the back of the church or book a free place at stmartininthefields.eventbrite.com. The cafe will stay open until 10pm for refreshments afterwards and a chance to meet the speaker.
This Week/Something Worth Sharing/13-14 October, St Martin-in-the-Fields. A weekend of events marking our seventh annual conference on Disability & Church, a partnership with Inclusive Church Details and registration – https://www.inclusive-church.org/disability-conference-2018. To find out more or get involved, speak to Fiona MacMillan or Jonathan Evens, or email disability@smitf.org.
This Week/Defiant Lives/Sunday 14 October, 2.00pm, St Martin’s Hall. Defiant Lives tells the story of the disability rights movement in the UK, US and Australia. A special screening of this film is happening at St Martin’s as part of our weekend of events marking the 7th annual conference on Disability and Church, a partnership between St Martin’s and Inclusive Church. Get your free ticket at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/defiant-lives-tickets-47404939450.
Coming Up/Bishop Ho Ming Wah Association and Community Centre Open Day/Saturday 20 October, 12-3pm. Bring family and friends to join us for a day of fun with Chinese food, Tai Chi, line dancing, Chinese painting and calligraphy, and songs.
Remembering Dorothy Cone and Sybil Allen. We have recently lost two dear members of our community and we are exploring ways to remember them. We are considering the replacement of our hymnbooks and making a new stand for the St John’s Bible when it is read in worship. Before we make specific plans we would be grateful to hear from those who would like to make a contribution. Please pass donations to the vergers or email pledges to one of the clergy. The likely overall cost would be £4000 for the hymnbooks and £3500 for the bible stand. For more information, please speak to katherine.hedderly@smitf.org / 020 7766 1102.
Coming Up/Junior Theology/Sunday 21 October, 11.30am, Austen Williams Room. A monthly group for older C-Club members where they can bring their questions and explore the Christian faith in an informal way.
Coming Up/All Saints & All Souls, Sunday 4 November; All Saints at 10am and All Souls Requiem at 5.00pm. At these services we will be remembering all those who have died in the last year who have been members of St Martin’s or connected with our church. If there is someone you would like to be remembered please give their name to Jasmine Oakes by emailing jasmine.oakes@smitf.org or via the vergers by 26 October.
Coming Up/Advent Procession/Saturday 1 December, 6.00pm, St Paul’s Cathedral. Members of the St Martin’s congregation are invited to attend the Advent Procession at St Paul’s Cathedral. If you are interested in attending, please email Natasha Johnson (njohnson@stpaulscathedral.org.uk) by Friday 16 November to be issued a pass, indicating how many people wish to attend.
