Crèche at St Martin’s. We have ended our agreement with the workers providing crèche provision for the Sunday 10am Parish Eucharist. Thank you for bearing with us in welcoming our youngest congregation members into our Parish Eucharist until we have re-recruited in the New Year.
Today/Annual Review of Activities. We are launching the printed Annual Review, bringing together all of the highlights from the last 12 months. Copies are available in church after the service for a suggested donation of £3.
Today/Children’s C-Club Programme, 11.30am, Dick Sheppard Chapel. Join us to learn some more about today’s readings and colour with your friends.
Today/Junior Theology, 11.30am, Benenson Room. A group for older C-Club members where they can bring their questions and explore the Christian faith in an informal way. Today’s session will be led by Francesco Aresco and Revd Richard Carter. The next session will be on Sunday 1 December.
Today/Theology Group, 12-1pm, Austen Williams Room. Paul Taylor will be chairing the discussion on the topic of public policy and the church. All are welcome to join us to theologically reflect on this issue. Future date: 8 Dec.
This Week/Autumn Lecture Series 2019: The Quality of Mercy in Poetry/Monday 18 November, 7pm. Our speakers are Malcolm Guite and Mark Oakley. To ensure a place please book a ticket at stmartininthefields.eventbrite.com.
This Week/Bread for the World, Wednesday 20 November, 6.30pm. Richard Carter speaks about his new book published by Canterbury Press: The City is my Monastery, a contemporary rule of life. Bread for the World will be followed by a book launch and reception in the Foyer, to which all are welcome. This new book will be available for sale.
Theology Reading Group/Wednesday 27 November, 8-9.30pm. We will be meeting in the Desmond Tutu Room to read Resident Aliens, by Stanley Hauerwas and William H. Willimon. Copies are available at the Shop at St Martin’s for £16.99 (Abingdon Press; 1st Edition 1989).
Next Week/Stewards’ Advent and Christmas Briefing/Sunday 24 November, 11.30am-12.30pm. This will take place in church directly after the 10am service. Regular and occasional stewards are welcome. If you would like to volunteer at one of these services and have to yet done so, please contact Helen Riley (hm.riley@gmail.com) or Kristine Wellington (kristinewellington@gmail.com; 07535 028144).
Next Week/JPIC Meeting. The next meeting of the Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation group will take place on Sunday 24 November from 12-1.30pm in the Desmond Tutu Room. All interested in current issues of Social Justice and how we might respond as a community are welcome.
Next Week/Archers, Thursday 28 November. We meet for Holy Communion in the Austen Williams Room at 7.00pm followed by supper and discussions. Please inform Ruth Hutchinson or Michael Moran, mtj_moran@yahoo.co.uk/07810 261686, if you would like to join us. All are welcome.
Inspired to Follow Advent Course, 12.00-1.00pm on Sundays, 24 November, 1, 15 & 22 December, Austen Williams Room. As part of our Advent preparations, we will be running a new Inspired to Follow course exploring Advent Characters – Elizabeth & Mary, Joseph, Zechariah & Elizabeth, Herod. Like earlier Inspired to Follow sessions, these use fine art paintings from the National Gallery, along with Biblical story, theological reflection and conversation with others, as a way to explore big questions that we all wrestle with. All are welcome.
Advent Oasis, Sunday 1 December, 1.30-4.00pm, George Richards & Austen Williams Rooms. This ‘Oasis’ time will include quiet scripture reflection, prayer and practical art. Art materials will be available for you to explore, play with colour and be creative through collage, painting, drawing or writing. All are very welcome. We begin with a bring and share lunch at 1.30pm. Please let Jonathan Evens know if you wish to come – tel: 020 7766 1127 or email: jonathan.evens@smitf.org.
The changing monthly display by St Martin’s artists’ and craftspeople’s group in the Foyer of the Crypt for November is by Jenny Cox. Each month a different member of the group or artists linked to it will show examples of their work, so do look regularly to see the changing display.
Christmas Gala Evening/Wednesday 4 December. The evening will see a glittering revival of Vaughan Williams The First Nowell. This nativity was written specially for St Martin’s in 1958 and will be followed by a Christmas party with celebrity entertainment and a silent auction. All money raised on this spectacular evening will help St Martin’s continue its work. Please buy your tickets now here: https://www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/support-us/gala/book-tickets/
Joint event with our Chinese Congregations. ‘Picturing the Buddha’ – Thursday 16 January 2020, 6.30pm, St Martin’s Hall. Illustrated talk (in English) discussing depictions of the Buddha in the British Library. Talk by Beth McKillop, Senior research fellow, Victoria & Albert Museum. All are very welcome – register on Eventbrite (https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/picturing-the-buddha-tickets-80587219543) or contact Jonathan Evens – tel: 020 7766 1127 or email: jonathan.evens@smitf.org.
St Mary’s Cathedral Johannesburg Visit – A group of young people and adult leaders from St Mary’s Cathedral Johannesburg will visit St Martin’s from 6-22 April 2020 and we need people to help host this group by offering accommodation or evening meals. If you think you may be able to help please talk to or email Revd Jonathan Evens or Jess White.
