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/Drawing Group, Sunday 5 January, 12 – 2.00pm, George Richards & Austen Williams rooms. Materials, objects to draw and step-by-step help for those who would like it are all provided. No previous experience is necessary.
Today/Epiphany Carols, Sunday 5 January, 5.00pm. Join us for our evening celebrations featuring readings and music for this season of light, discovery, miracle and revelation. With reflections by Revd Jonathan Evens and music from the Choir of St Martin-in-the-Fields.
This week/London Churches Refugee Fund, Tuesday 7 January, 6.00pm, St James’s Church, Piccadilly. The Rt Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally DBE, Bishop of London, is the keynote speaker for An uncomfortable challenge: London’s destitute asylum-seekers; she will be joined by speakers form some of the frontlne charities supported by the London churches Refugee Fund. Refreshments 6pm, meeting 6.30pm.
Morning Song will be back, Thursdays at 8.30am, from 9 January. Join us for this beautiful 30-minute sequence of words, prayers and music sung by St Martin’s Voices and led by the St Martin’s clergy.
Theology Book Group/The next meeting is on Wednesday 19 February at 8pm, after Bread for the World. We shall be reading Francis Spufford, Unapologetic. It’s available from the Shop at St Martin’s from Tuesday. All welcome to join the group – no previous knowledge or involvement necessary.
Joint event with our Chinese Congregations. ‘Picturing the Buddha’, Thursday 16 January 2020, 6.30pm, St Martin’s Hall. Illustrated talk (in English). Talk by Beth McKillop, Senior research fellow, Victoria & Albert Museum. Register on Eventbrite (https://bit.ly/2pErMZT) or contact Revd Jonathan Evens.
Coming up/Lent Course: The Desert in the City. Using Richard Carter’s new book The City is my Monastery: A contemporary rule of life, this year’s Lent Course focuses on how we might deepen our lives of contemplation and action at the heart of the city. The cost of the course £20 (including book and study guide) or £10 (if you already have the book). Free places are also available on request. Study Guides will be available from Sunday 16 February from the vergers vestry or can be collected at Bread for the World on 26 February, the first week of the course. For more information and to sign up, pick up a leaflet in church or visit: http://bit.ly/2ZcljTm.
The changing monthly display by St Martin’s artists’ and craftspeople’s group in the Foyer of the Crypt for January is by Asanka Lekamalage. 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 Appeal. The 2019 BBC Radio 4 Christmas Appeal with St Martin-in-the-Fields has already exceeded last year’s total of £3.48m; thank you so much to everyone who has supported the Appeal. If you would still like to make a donation to support people away from homelessness, you can do so via www.smitfc.org/donate.
Sheppard Scholars. Jess White will shortly be ending her time with us as a Pastoral Assistant in the Sheppard Scholar scheme, as she has a new long-term role to go to with the National Churches Trust. Her last Sunday with us as a Sheppard Scholar will be 12 January. The Vergers have a card which you are invited to sign in advance of the 12th.
The 2020 Churches Together in Westminster AGM will be held on 20 January at 6pm for 6.30pm at Hinde Street Methodist Church, Hinde Street, London W1U 3QJ. Following the AGM there will be a talk by Kevin Hyland OBE, former UK Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner on the subject of ‘Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking’. There will also be information about specialist support provided by The Salvation Army plus displays and information from other organisations working in this field.
Insights from History for a Divided Nation, Monday 17 February, 7.00 – 8.30pm. Diarmaid MacCulloch, author, historian, broadcaster and Emeritus Professor of the History of the Church at the University of Oxford, will be in conversation with Roger Bolton, with a response from Revd Dr Sam Wells. Organised by the Religion Media Centre in partnership with St Martin-in-the-Fields. Book your free ticket at: stmartininthefields.eventbrite.com.
Save the date/Theology Awayday/Saturday 21 March. Led by Revd Dr Sam Wells. The theme is ‘Improvising the Kingdom’. No theological training necessary. The Awayday will be held at the Royal Foundation of St Katharine, London E14 8DS, at the subsidised price of £25 with lunch and all refreshments included. Flyers will be available shortly.
Save the date/Parish Weekend. In 2020 we will once more return to Worth Abbey for our Parish Weekend. Due to availability of Worth Abbey the time has moved to August 14-16. Save the date for a wonderful weekend away at which all at St Martin’s are welcome. More information about the weekend to follow soon.
Media and wider ministry of St Martin-in-the-Fields
BBC Radio 4 Daily Service on Thursday 2 January was led by Revd Richard Carter and produced by Andrew Earis. Listen again to this special service, which focuses on the beginning of the New Year on BBC Radio iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000cl5w.
Coming up/Deepening Spirituality HeartEdge Day, Saturday 1 February, 9.30am-3.15pm. Cost £10. Lunch provided. Held at the London Centre for Spiritual Direction, The Church of St Edmund the King, Lombard Street, EC3V 9EA. Register on Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/deepening-spirituality-tickets-84159333833. Speak to Revd Catherine Duce or Revd Jonathan Evens for more details.
