First Thursday Morning Eucharist
We are introducing a new tradition at St. Martin’s! Beginning in January, we will have a Eucharistic worship service on the first Thursday of each month. The service will be offered with special intention for those who have died during the past month. If you would like us to lift the name of a loved one, please email the name(s) to the parish administrator, Anika Rinker at stmartin@stmartininthefields.org. Each service will begin at 11:15 am.
First Thursday Eucharists will typically be “said” services (i.e., we will not have music). If you’ve been looking for an opportunity to worship during the week, please join us.
The first service will occur on Thursday, January 6, 2022 at 11:15 am. We will celebrate the feast of The Epiphany and those 3 fellows who successfully followed a remarkable star.
All are welcome!
Stephen Ministry
Become a Stephen Minister
Do you have the gifts of empathy and compassion? If so, you could help people in need by becoming a Stephen Minister. Please complete the application here. For more information, contact Deborah Diehl, Stephen Leader, at deborah.diehl@
A Christian community of Compassion
Stephen Ministry is Christ caring for people through people. It is one-on-one Christian care for individuals facing a variety of life challenges – people who are experiencing grief, divorce, job loss or relocation. Stephen Ministry allows trained laypeople, who are members of our congregation and have received 50 hours of specialized instruction, to share the journey with those who are facing a crisis such as disability or chronic illness; those who are hurting and experiencing loneliness or isolation, caregiver stress and burnout, or parenting struggles. Stephen Ministers listen, care, encourage, pray, and provide emotional and spiritual support. They can be counted on to be dependable and trustworthy.
Stephen Ministers and care receivers are matched confidentially by gender and compatibility. Stephen Ministers and their care receivers meet for about one hour each week, or every other week, for as long as there is a need. The identity of those receiving care and all they discuss remains private and confidential.
The Stephen Ministry program is available to all adult members of the congregation. If you would like to discuss whether a Stephen Minister may be able to help you, please contact our Rector, the Rev. Alan Bentrup at alan.bentrup@stmartininthefields.org. If you know someone in our congregation who you think might benefit from the support of a Stephen Minister, please tell them about our program. Anyone with questions may contact our Stephen Leader, Deborah Diehl at deborah.diehl@stmartininthefields.org.
Prayer Shawl News & Blessing
The December 12, 2021 meeting of the Prayer Shawl Ministry was even more meaningful than usual. Fr. Alan and Rev. Paula joined us in blessing our handcrafted items for donation to Union Gospel Mission and Presbyterian Night Shelter.
Items included
- 17 Shawls
- 7 hats
- 94 ear warmers
- 11 scarves
- 18 bars of soap and
- 16 soap sacks
What a Blessing it is to share Christ’s Love with our brothers and sisters in need of a bit of comfort and support.
Angel Tree
Gifts from our Angel Tree can bring Christmas joy to children at Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County who otherwise wouldn’t have as much holiday cheer. Give with your heart, and make it your goal to help disadvantaged children with Angel Tree gifts this year. It’s an easy, three-step process to share this special love:
- Pick a tag from our Angel Tree in the back of the church.
- Go shopping! Get the new gifts that are listed on your child’s tag. Please buy all of the child’s gifts listed on the tag. Please, no gift cards. Yes, you may buy additional gifts!
- Return the gifts by Sunday, December 21, wrapped and tagged, and in a large bag with the original angel tree tag firmly attached to the outside. Place your gifts in one of the large collection boxes in the back of the church. If you need to drop off to the office, please call 817-431-2396 or email stmartin@stmartininthefields.org
Our congregation will bless these gifts and pray for the recipients at our 10:30 am worship service on December 21.
Like so many things in life, there is far more involved in Angel Tree gifts than just things that we buy. At a time of year when Christmas reveals the gift of our God who loves us all, we provide love and hope and intentional, personal support to the poor and homeless in our county. Let’s continue in fruitful ways to live out our church’s core value of service – to share the abundance of our resources, talents and love with each other in our community, country and around the world.
Questions on the Angel Tree gifts? Please email Linda Seeber at lrseeber@sbcglobal.net.