Today/Crèche at St Martin’s. For the 0-4 age group, with trained childcare leaders, takes place in the Austen Williams Room every Sunday. Please ask a steward to show you where to go.
Today/Children’s C-Club Programme/11.30am, DSC. Today we will read about the beginning of Jesus’ trial and his encounter with Pilate. Who was Jesus?
Today/Advent Meditations. A booklet to guide our meditations through the Advent season will be available from the Stewards from this Sunday or from the Vergers during the week for a suggested donation of £3. This year’s Advent theme of ‘Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell’ can feel uncomfortable and uncompromising. Please use the booklet to allow God to speak to you by the Spirit as we prepare to celebrate the coming of the Christ-child.
Today/Stewards’ Advent & Christmas Briefing/11.30am. This will take place in church directly after the 10am service. If you would like to volunteer at one of these services and have to yet done so, please contact Helen Riley (hm.riley@gmail.com) or Kristine Wellington (kristinewellington@gmail.com)
Today/Drawing Group/12–2.00pm, Glass Box. Each month for two hours the drawing club will meet and draw together. The aim of this group is to encourage and practice together. Materials, objects to draw and step-by-step help for those beginners who would like it are all provided. So, no previous experience is necessary and all are welcome.
Advent and Christmas Services. The full list of Advent & Christmas services is available on our website and in our whole site brochure. During Advent there will be no Evening Prayer, Monday Choral Evensong or Bread for the World. There will be no ticketing for capacity Christmas services: Nine Lessons and Carols, Joy To the World! Service, Community Carols and Parish Carols. Doors open 45 mins before the services start and as the church is often full we encourage you to arrive in plenty of time to be certain of a seat. We look forward to welcoming all of our visitors over this Advent and Christmas season.
This Week/Celebration Eucharist for Licensed Lay Ministers (Readers)/Tuesday 27 November, 7pm, St Paul’s Cathedral. Come and support Jeff Claxton, Eugene Ling and Ruly Tsang and all who are LLMs as we give thanks for this valuable ministry in the London Diocese. Preacher and President: The Rt Revd Sarah Mulallay, Bishop of London. All are welcome. No tickets needed.
This week/Wednesday 28 November/Just This Day returns to St Martin’s with a day themed around the importance of stillness and silence in our lives. Father Laurence from the World
Community of Meditation will lead a 20 minute meditation, following a presentation on the Mystical Tradition of Eastern and Western Christianity. www.justthisday.world
This Week/Archers/Thursday 29 November, 7.00pm. We begin with Holy Communion followed by a simple English Roast Supper and in this time in this time of political crisis we give thanks for all the blessings of the last year.
Next Week/Christmas Appeal. We’re now just weeks away from the 2018 BBC Radio 4
Christmas Appeal with St Martin-in-the-Fields. The Appeal will be broadcast on Sunday December 2 and we would love to have some help receiving phone calls at the Call Centre. Throughout December, we would also welcome help opening post, processing donations and sending thank you cards. If you can spare a few hours to help us this year please sign up: www.smitfc.org/volunteer2018. If you fancy joining us for the Christmas Appeal Carol Service on Wednesday 5 December, you can still buy tickets at www.smitfc.org/carols. We hope to see you there!
Next Week/Inspired to Follow Advent Course/Continuing Sunday 2 December, 12-1pm, Austen Williams Room. This course explores life’s big questions: Death, Judgement, Heaven & Hell. Further date: 16 December. Like earlier Inspired to Follow sessions, these use fine art paintings from the National Gallery, along with Biblical story, theological reflection and conversation, to explore big questions that we all wrestle with. All are welcome.
Next Week/Advent Oasis/ Sunday 2 December, 1.30pm–4.00pm, Austen Williams & George Richards Rooms. This ‘Oasis’ time will include quiet scripture reflection, prayer and practical art. Art materials will be available for you to explore, play with colour and be creative through collage, painting, drawing or writing. All are very welcome. Please let Jonathan Evens know if you intend to come – t: 020 7766 1127; e: jonathan.evens@smitf.org.
Coming Up/Junior Theology/Sunday 9 December, 11.30am, Benenson Room. A monthly group for older C-Club members where they can bring their questions and explore the Christian faith in an informal way. The next session will be on 9 December.
Coming Up/Archers Turkish Christmas Supper/Wednesday 19 December, 7.00pm. Please give your names to Michael Moran if you would like to join us for an Archers Christmas Party at his favourite Turkish Restaurant near his home in Edmonton: mtj_moran@yahoo.co.uk; 07776271064 (£25 including drinks.)
Coming Up/Joint Event with our Chinese Community/Thursday 17 January, 6.30pm, St Martin’s Hall. The talk (in English) will be followed by a drinks reception. Rosemary Scott will speak on the meaning of decoration on Chinese Ceramics. Free tickets from https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-meaning-of-decoration-on-chinese-ceramics-tickets-51544286348 or phone Jonathan Evens on 020 7766 1127 and leave your name and phone number.
Coming Up/Theology Away Day/ Saturday 9 February, 9.30am-4.00pm. Led by Revd Dr Sam Wells. The theme is ‘How Does Jesus Save Us?’ No theological training necessary. The Away Day will be held at the Royal Foundation of St Katherine’s, London E14 8DS, at the subsidised price of £25 with lunch and all refreshments included. Flyers will be available shortly, but to register your place, email georgina.illingworth@smitf.org.
