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, April 26th, 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

St. James School will be visiting St. Martin's this Sunday!

Preserves, honey, and woodshop items will be available for purchase during Hospitality.

This Sunday's Readings

Acts 2:42-47 | 1 Peter 2:19-25 | John 10:1-10 | Psalm 23

Rector's Note

Alleyne and I just got back from our trip to Thailand to see our younger daughter Trinity. Trinity is living and working in Nakhon Sawan, a small city in central Thailand, about a four hour train or bus ride from Bangkok. She teaches fourth grade in a private school that provides instruction in English. 

We had a decidedly non-touristy vacation in our ten days away, and it was a great experience.

We got to see where Trinity lives, meet her friends, and hang out at her usual coffee shop and other favorite places. We went into one temple (and saw many others), ate lots of delicious food, and drank coffee and Thai tea at many coffee shops (a necessity given the over 100 degree heat!). 

I went right from vacation to clergy conference in the Poconos, still a bit dazed from all we experienced and from the time difference (12 hours). At the conference, Luke and I are getting to know our colleagues across the diocese, worshiping together, and hearing presentations from diocesan staff and from an author who writes on religion and social movements.

I have missed St Martin’s and all of you, and can’t wait to get back into the office and the sanctuary! See you soon!

Mary+

Features

Upcoming Memorial Services

POSTPONED: Spring Work Day

Due to the inclement weather forecast for this weekend, our campus work day has been postponed to June 13th. Stay dry, and we look forward to seeing you at our Summer Work Day and Picnic!

Book Launch & Reception: Waking Up Old

By St. Martin’s Parishioner Barbara Dundon

This Saturday, April 25th

3:00-5:00 p.m. in the Houston Room

Waking Up Old: An Illustrated Ballad For Baby Boomers And Those Who Love Them is a light hearted, occasionally wacky description of the adventures of aging. In it, Barbara Dundon’s signature character Mitzie comes to terms with the inevitable losses, as well as the insights, that can accompany the process of becoming old. Proceeds benefit Stephen Ministry at St. Martin’s ($25/ check, cash, Venmo). Please RSVP by emailing Barbara at dundon.barbara@gmail.com. If you cannot attend but would like a book/s, you can contact Barbara to purchase your copy.

St. Martin's Mother's Day Coffee Hour

In the Columbarium (weather permitting)

Sunday, May 10th

Please come for coffee, tea, small bites and fellowship after the 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. services on Sunday, May 10th in the Mary Hare Taylor Knight Memorial Columbarium to celebrate Mother’s Day.

+ Save the Date: Father's Day Coffee Hour

Sunday, June 21st following the 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. services.

Snapshots

Annual Eco Fair!

Co-sponsored by the Climate Action Team, Building & Grounds Committee,

and Children, Youth, & Families ministry.

Photos courtesy of the Rev. Luke Selles and Debra Roberts.

Children, Youth, & Families

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 by NEXT THURSDAY so we can get a sense of numbers, and we will send a follow-up email in late April with information about payment.

Support Parish Family During Surgery Recovery

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

Joint Evensong with St. Paul's Episcopal Church

Sunday, May 3rd

5:00 p.m. at St. Paul's

22 E Chestnut Hill Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19118

Children's Choir Update from Tyrone:

I am writing to share some bittersweet news regarding the leadership of our Children’s Choir at St. Martin-in-the-Fields. Our beloved Children’s Choir Leader, Ms. Brooke Witherite, will be leaving us at the end of this academic year. While we are sad to see her go, we are also incredibly proud to share that she has received a wonderful new role and promotion at her full-time job...Brooke writes:

To my dear St. Martin’s family,

I want to thank each and every one of you for the constant support and encouragement shown for the chorister program here and St. Martin’s. This choir has created a space for the children in our community to come alive through music and art...Continue reading here.

Sermon

The Rev. Luke Selles

April 19, 2026

The Third Sunday of Easter

“When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were open and they recognized him."’ In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen. 

On that first Resurrection Sunday, Jesus in Luke’s Gospel account appears first to “the women who had come with him from Galilee,” three of whom are named in the text. When they see the empty tomb early that morning, they encounter two dazzling angels who proclaim Jesus’ resurrection. Immediately, they run back to the male disciples with the news. But the men, their sons, husbands, and friends, do not believe them, because to them it “seemed an idle tale.” An idle tale – or nonsense, gossip. Continue reading here.

Coming Up

Diocese of Pennsylvania Men's Fellowship BBQ

Saturday, May 30th at 4:00 p.m.

St. David’s Episcopal Church Fairgrounds

Bishop Gutiérrez invites you to a barbecue on Saturday, May 30 at 4:00 p.m. The event takes place on the fairgrounds near the original (smaller) church at St. David’s located at 763 S. Valley Forge Road in Wayne, PA. In addition to grilled meat, salads, sides, and refreshments, roundtable discussions will be held on how to start and grow men’s fellowship groups at church. Click here to RSVP.

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.

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. If we confirm 20 folks coming from St. Martin's, St. James' will send out a school bus to drive us to the benefit and back! 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 8-9 p.m. (Houston Room)

2 - Thursdays 7-8 p.m. (Houston Room)

3 - Sundays 8-9 p.m. (Houston Room)