Parish News/Diary/Special Notices
Today/We are pleased to welcome Eliza Juni Aitken and Hayden Arthur Junius Edwards, who will be baptised at the 10.00am Eucharist. Please pray for them, and their parents and godparents, on this very special day.
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. The next session will be on Sunday 26 January.
Today/Theology Group, 12-1pm, Austen Williams Room. Alain Dodds will be chairing the discussion on Scripture, the canon and our relationship with it. All are welcome to join us to reflect theologically on this issue. Future dates: 9 February, 8 March, 5 April, 3 May.
This week/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 (jonathan.evens@smitf.org or 020 77661127)
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. All welcome to join the group – no previous knowledge or involvement necessary.
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 2020 Churches Together in Westminster AGM will be held on 20 January at 6pm for 6.30pm at Hinde Street Methodist Church, Hinde Street, 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.
Coming up/Art making day/ An opportunity to do some art work on the theme of ‘The Desert in the City’ on Saturday 25 January from 10.30am to 4.00pm at 30 Cator Rd, Sydenham, London SE26 5DS. All are welcome. Materials and soup will be provided. Please ask Sarah Sikorski for more information and let Jonathan Evens know on 020 7766 1127 or jonathan.evens@smitf.org if you would like to attend.
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 at: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/deepening-spirituality-tickets-84159333833. Please speak to Catherine Duce or Revd Joanathan Evens for more details.
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 is today, 12 January.
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 the 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 £3.4m; 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 make a donation via www.smitfc.org/donate.
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; more information about the weekend to follow soon.
St Mary’s Cathedral Johannesburg Visit. A group of 12 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 meals. If you think you may be able to help in any way (providing accommodation or a meal, taking the group out for a meal, or funding a meal) please talk to Jonathan Evens.
