The Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields

Field Notes

For Pastoral Care 

Call 215-247-7466 and leave a message. If you are experiencing a pastoral emergency text or call the Rev. Dr. Mary Barber at 845-527-9545.

Have you had an address, email, or phone number update?

Send us your update here.

Field Notes submission requests must be emailed by Tuesday at noon to ndiskan@stmartinec.org.

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Sunday, March 22nd, 2026:

8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist (Spoken)

9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist for Children, Youth, and Families

10:30 a.m. Instructed Choral Holy Eucharist

Also via livestream here

Followed by Worship Reflections in the Houston Room

5:00 p.m. Stations of the Cross

Music Reflection by Lisa Wooldridge - Soprano

This Sunday's Readings

Ezekiel 37:1-14 | Romans 8:6-11 | John 11:1-45 | Psalm 130

Rector's Note

Holy Week is coming soon!

There are many ways to pray and worship during Holy Week, to enter and experience the story of Jesus’ suffering (Passion), death, and resurrection.

On Palm Sunday, March 29, we will have our usual three Sunday services at 8, 9, and 10:30, each with the blessing of palms and Passion reading. The 10:30 opening procession will be led by Positive Movement drumline. At 5:00 on that same day, our choir will join the choir at Christ Church for a concert of sacred music.

Tuesday evening March 31 at 7 pm there will be a Stabat Mater concert (tickets here) featuring section leaders Lisa and Marisa and the Fairmount String Quartet. Continue reading here.

Features

Stations of the Cross

This Sunday at 5:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary

Join us for a short service of prayer, music, provided by St. Martin's professional musicians, in meditation on the Stations of the Cross. A 15 minute musical reflection follows the service

• March 22nd: Lisa Wooldridge - Soprano

St. Martin's Reconnection Ministry

Our Reconnection Ministry is off to a strong start! Anne Swoyer, Carol Duncan, Paula Farina, Dick and Connie Haggard, Danielle Reed, and Debra Roberts met this past Saturday and agreed to contact 67 of the 98 recently inactive households on our list. If you're interested in making calls to reconnect with the remaining households, please contact Debra Roberts (debradroberts@comcast.net​).

Tuesday Morning Zoom Bible Study: The Gospel of John

Meets every week at 10:30 a.m.

The Tuesday Morning Zoom Bible Study is about to start reading Chapter 18 of the Gospel of John, when Jesus is in the garden (specifically mentioned as across the Kidron Valley, often associated with Gethsemane). Jesus goes to the garden with his disciples to pray, where he is then betrayed by Judas and arrested by soldiers. The group will continue to read on and discuss every week. It is a good time to join this small group! For the link, please contact Cathy Glazer at cathyglazer@verizon.net 

Welcome Desk Volunteers

Have you ever wondered about the people who sit at the table on weekdays in the Parish House lobby? Would you like to be more involved in the life of our parish? Do you have 3 hours during the week to join the group of Welcome Desk Volunteers?

The Welcome Desk volunteers assist St. Martin’s staff with a variety of tasks that make the Parish Office run smoothly. In addition to answering the phone and welcoming visitors, volunteers may help with mailings, change the letters on our signs, launder tablecloths and keep the public areas of the Parish House in good order. Each volunteer covers the Welcome Desk once a week for a 3 hour shift in the morning or afternoon. Training is provided and staff or clergy are always in the Parish House during the hours volunteers work so you are never alone in the building. If this sounds appealing to you, please contact Kate Maus at katemaus@gmail.com or (267) 253-7755.

Easter Flower Arranging

Holy Saturday, April 4th

9:30-11:00 a.m. in the Church

Join the Flower Guild on Holy Saturday as they arrange flowers and decorate the church for Easter. Families and people of all ages are welcome, no experience necessary! Drop in to make a flower arrangement. A light breakfast and coffee will be provided. Email or text Dani Reed (reed@monell.org; 267-280-3248) if you have questions.

Stabat Mater - Pergolesi & Rheinberger

Tuesday, March 31st at 7:00 p.m.

Ft. The Choir of St. Martin-in-the-Fields and the Fairmount Chamber Ensemble

Join us for a contemplative evening featuring Pergolesi and Rheinberger’s settings of the Stabat Mater. This concert brings together sacred text and powerful music in the resonant space of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, where worship and the arts meet.

Your presence supports our inclusive community of prayer, music, and outreach. Come listen, reflect, and share in a time of beauty and quiet hope.

Tickets are available here. Proceeds help support our Music & Arts ministries and Easter Music.

Easter Memorial Flowers

If you would like to make a donation to this year's Easter Flower Fund in honor of, or thanksgiving for, a loved one, please contact Connie Haggard at choirconnie@gmail.com. As is St. Martin's tradition, we will memorialize each loved one by including their name in our Easter service leaflets. Please submit names no later than TOMORROW, March 20th.

Service Times

Palm Sunday: March 29

• 8 a.m. Spoken Holy Eucharist with Palms & Passion Gospel
• 9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist for Children, Youth, and Families with Palms & Passion Gospel
• 10:30 a.m. Choral Holy Eucharist with Palms & Passion Gospel

Ft. Positive Movement Drumline

• 5 p.m. Palm Sunday Concert: The Choirs of St. Martin's & Christ Church, Phila.

At Christ Church: 20 N American St, Philadelphia, PA 19106

Holy Tuesday: March 31

• 7 p.m. Stabat Mater Concert

Ft. Fairmount Chamber Ensemble

Tickets here. Proceeds help support our Music & Arts ministries and Easter music!

Holy Wednesday: April 1

• 7 p.m. Taizé Tenebrae Service

A service centered on psalms, readings, prayers, and meditative songs from the taizé community in France.

Maundy Thursday: April 2

• 7 p.m. Choral Holy Eucharist with Foot Washing
• 8:30 p.m. Altar of Repose

Please sign up here to keep vigil at the altar in the Mary Chapel for approx. one hour.

There are three different shifts to choose from. You can also sign up using the clipboards in the back of the church.

Good Friday: April 3

• 12 p.m. Communion with Sung Passion & Veneration of the Cross
• 7 p.m. Seven Last Words of Christ

Ft. Fairmount String Quartet

Saturday Vigil: April 4

• 8 p.m. Choral Holy Eucharist
• 10 p.m. Vigil Feast

Please sign up to bring a dish using the clipboards in the church!

Easter Sunday: April 5

• 8 a.m. Spoken Holy Eucharist
• 9 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Music & Pageant

Followed by Easter Egg Hunt at ~10:15 a.m.!

• 11:15 a.m. Festival Choral Holy Eucharist

Snapshots

Bowling with St. Luke's Youth

Children, youth, and families from both St. Martin's and St. Luke's, Germantown

gathered together for Bowling Night this past Saturday!

Preparing for Easter

St. Martin's Needlepoint Guild is hard at work mending and cleaning our kneelers ahead of Easter! Special thanks go to Jane Good and Eugenie Dieck for their leadership.

Children, Youth, & Families

Family Movie Night: The Prince of Egypt (1998)

This Sunday, March 22nd from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Families are invited to join for a movie night featuring a classic musical retelling of the biblical Exodus out Egypt focusing on Moses, the unlikely hero and prophet. This story is central to our faith, to both the Jewish celebration of Passover as well as our celebration of Easter, and it's also thrilling. Snacks will be provided! Learn more about the movie here.

Lenten Quiet Day for Families

Next Saturday, March 28th from 9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

At St. Paul's Episcopal Church

22 E Chestnut Hill Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19118

Join us in the sanctuary at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on March 28th, the Saturday before Palm Sunday, for a time of sacred story, play, and prayer for all ages as we prepare together for the joy of Easter. A collaboration between St. Paul's, Chestnut Hill and the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields. Please email Mother Madeleine (madeleine@stpaulschestnuthill.org) or Rev. Luke (lselles@stmartinec.org) with any questions.

Support Parish Family During Surgery Recovery

Please consider supporting one of our parish families, the Hagan-Bryants, as Stephanie Hagan recovers from surgery over the next few weeks. Options for support include bringing a meal, driving Stephanie to and from physical therapy, and helping to provide childcare. Click here to sign up/learn more.

Guided by Prayer: A Confirmation Retreat

Friday, May 8th to Saturday, May 9th

4 p.m. on Friday to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday

Daylesford Abbey: 220 S Valley Rd, Paoli, PA 19301

Join Mother Mary and Rev. Luke for an overnight retreat and time of prayer and reflection on the topic of prayer. Open to all seeking a deeper relationship with God through prayer, but designed specifically for those who are recently confirmed and those interested in joining the Confirmation Class that will be offered in Fall 2026. 

Please note that all youth under 18 will have their cost waived, but we ask that all youth travel with a chaperone. The cost for adults is $150 each, but scholarships are available -- please email Mother Mary for more details (mbarber@stmartinec.org).

Please register here soon so we can get a sense of numbers, and we will send a follow-up email in late April with information about payment.

Bruce Butler Memorial Bell Ringing Weekend Reception

This Saturday, March 21

5:30-6:30 p.m. in the Houston Room 

All are invited to join St. Martin's change ringers for a reception to celebrate the 4th Annual Bruce Butler Memorial Bell Ringing Weekend. The reception will take place this Saturday, March 21st, beginning at 5:30 p.m. RSVPs are not necessary. Ringers from all around the country and the UK will be in attendance and would love to meet some of the parish!

Call for Art: Stations of the Cross

St. Martin's is looking for Artists and Creators to help create a series of artworks to form a Stations of the Cross Exhibition for Lent. Artists should create works which respond to the title and/or text of the fourteen Stations of the Cross Titles & Texts which can be accessed here. Any form of art is accepted, from photography, to small sculpture, folk art to fine art, and all in between! Artwork is welcome from amateurs and professionals, children and adults! An honorarium of the most engaging work will be made in three categories: professional ($300), amateur ($200), and children/youth ($100). Contact Tyrone Whiting, Director of Music & Arts, at twhiting@stmartinec.org for questions and submissions. Please submit artwork by April 1st.

Take Action

Please Donate to the Germantown Pet Pantry by Next Thurs!

Familiar Hearts Animal Society is hosting their next Pet Pantry on March 28th. Lack of resources is the number one reason people surrender their pets - let's help make sure that doesn't happen! Please consider donating pet food, cat litter, leashes, carriers, flea and tick ointment, etc., or you can make a financial donation here. Donations are kindly requested by end of day this upcoming Thursday, March 26th, so we can deliver them on Friday morning. Please bring your donation to the Parish House. Thank you, thank you!

Walk the Way of the Cross from the Cathedral to the ICE Office

Friday, March 27 at 11:00 a.m.

The Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania invites you to walk the Stations of the Cross on Friday, March 27, beginning at 11 a.m. at the Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral (19 S. 38th St.), praying each Station of the Cross along the way, and ending at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Field Office (114 N. 8th St. at Cherry). The route is 2.6 miles long—not more than an hour’s walk. The Diocese asks that you arrive by 10:45 am at the Cathedral and encourages you to RSVP here (or you can call the Diocese at 215-267-6434) so that you can receive information about the route along Market Street and sign up to read a reflection at one of the stations if you wish. Please come along for this peaceful, prayer-filled journey in the spirit of compassion, justice, and dignity for all people.

We Began to Sing: the Story of Rise Up Singing

Next Friday, March 27th from 3:30 - 5:00 p.m.

Cathedral Village Hall: 600 E Cathedral Rd.

Sponsored by CV Indivisible

Join members of Cathedral Village Indivisible to celebrate singing, build community, and inspire social justice in preparation for No Kings Day. Documentary filmmaker Polly Wells will show her film We Began to Sing (23 min) which tells the story of the immensely popular songbook Rise Up Singing. Featuring musicians Annie Patterson, Peter Blood and Pete Seeger, the film promotes the power of song in social movements and the joy of communal singing. Following the film will be a Q&A with Polly, then enthusiastic singing led by Paul Selbst and Gerry Whelan. Come hear the origin of an influential songbook and join the fun -- whether you sing or listen. View the flyer here.

Sermon

The Rev. Dr. Mary Barber

3.15.26 - Lent 4

A man is healed by Jesus. But instead of rejoicing, there is confusion, accusation, chaos, coming from different groups of onlookers.

Today’s Gospel starts right out with a controversy. The disciples see the man born blind and ask, Who sinned, this man or his parents? Jesus says the man's blindness is not about sin at all, rather “He was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him.” Continue reading here.

Coming Up

Next Week's Adult Forum

Wednesday, March 25th

7:00 p.m. in the Houston Room & via Zoom here

"Wrestling Jacob"

Led by Barbara Dundon

Parishioner Barbara Dundon on "Wrestling Jacob," with a meditation on what she tried and what she learned as she navigated a series of career and personal watershed moments during her life. She'll explore strategies for being both reflective and bold as life demands that you adjust course.

St. Martin's To Be Honored at St. James School's Dr. Audrey Evans Benefit Event

Wednesday, May 20th, from 6:00-9:00 p.m.

We are excited to share that St. Martin's will be honored at the 2026 Dr. Audrey Evans Benefit, alongside the Epiphany School of Dorchester, Massachusetts.

This year’s theme, “Sharing the Spark,” reflects how small acts of kindness and faithful service can kindle lasting hope and inspire others to share their spark. Members of St. Martin’s are invited to take advantage of early access to tickets and sponsorship opportunities here. For questions, contact Gillian Golson, Annual Giving Manager at ggolson@stjamesphila.org or (484) 224-3891.

Wednesday Noon Eucharist

Mary Chapel

Wellspring Worship Reflections

After the 10:30 a.m. service

Houston Room

Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA)

Thursdays 7-8:30 p.m. (Library)

Al Anon

Sundays 6-7 p.m. (Houston Room)

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

1 - Tuesdays 8-10 p.m. (Houston Room)

2 - Thursdays 6:30-9 p.m. (Houston Room)

3 - Sundays 8-10 p.m. (Houston Room)