Parish News/Diary/Special Notices

Thank you to everyone who has come together to make our Advent and Christmas services so welcoming and beautiful, including those who have stewarded, read, sang and prepared our church. All your efforts have been hugely appreciated.

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.

Christmas Pastoral Care. If Christmas is a difficult time for you please feel able to come forward for prayer at the end of our Sunday morning services or speak to any member of the clergy. Although it is a busy time, we want to be there for each other.

Sunday 22 Dec/Inspired to Follow Advent Course, 12.00-1.00pm, Austen Williams Room. We will use fine art paintings from the National Gallery, along with the Biblical characters, theological reflection and conversation with others.

Advent Meditations: Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord. A booklet to guide our meditations through the Advent season will be available from the Stewards after the service and from the Vergers during the week for a suggested donation of £3.

Christmas Appeal. If you’d like to make a donation to the 2019 BBC Radio 4 Christmas Appeal, please visit http://www.smitfc.org/donate. Thank you to everyone who has donated so far. We would also still welcome help opening post, processing donations and sending thank you cards. If you can spare a few hours, please contact joe.peduzzi@stmartinscharity.org.uk.

The Prayer List will be refreshed for the new year. Please let Richard Carter know of anyone you wish to be included (020 7766 1103 or richard.carter@smitf.org).

Club Wednesday. There will be no Club Wednesday on 1 January but it will be back on the 5 February.

BBC Radio 4 Daily Service/Thursday 2 January is led by Revd Richard Carter and produced by Andrew Earis. Tune in at 9.30am to listen to this special service, which focuses on the beginning of the New Year. The service will be available for a further 30 days afterwards on BBC Radio iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000cl5w

Coming up/Drawing Group, Sunday 5 January, 12-2:00pm, George Richards & Austen Williams rooms. Each month for two hours the drawing group meets to draw together. The aim of the group is to encourage and practice together. Materials, objects to draw and step-by-step help for those who would like it are all provided. No previous experience is necessary and all are welcome.

Coming up/ 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 reflection by Revd Jonathan Evens and music from the Choir of St Martin-in-the-Fields.

Bread for the World resumes on Wednesday 8 January, 6.30pm. Everyone is welcome at our informal Eucharist, a service with prayer, music word and reflection, followed by food and fellowship.

Morning Song will be back, Thursday 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.

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 Chinese Art. Talk by Beth McKillop, Senior research fellow, Victoria & Albert Museum. Register on Eventbrite (https://bit.ly/2pErMZT) or contact jonathan.evens@smitf.org / 020 7766 1127.

The changing monthly display by St Martin’s artists; and craftspeople’s group in the Foyer of the Crypt for December is by Rae Gillott. 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.

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 the 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 Jonathan Evens or Jess White.