by Anika Rinker | Jul 31, 2020 | Group
Acolytes are the worship participants who carry the crosses, candles, banners and other items in procession, and who help in a number of important ways throughout the service. Becoming an acolyte is a great way to get involved and to learn more about Episcopal worship.
Adult and youth acolytes serve, learn and practice together. Acolytes assist at all three weekend services and at the numerous special services throughout the year. Acolytes are scheduled for regular services and attend regular practices. Special training is required for the larger and more complicated services.
Anyone first grade and older who would like to serve God in this special way is encouraged to become an acolyte. For more information, contact Joe Panther at jpanthertx@aol.com.
by Anika Rinker | Jul 30, 2020 | Better Together, News
In the summer of 2020, Eagle Scout Chris McSwain planned and built two raised beds and irrigation to help begin a community garden, and so our Good News Garden began!
The Episcopal Church, in response to needs created by the COVID-19 pandemic and with the guidance of Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, created the movement called “Good News Gardens.” St. Martin’s elected to join this important movement.
“We believe that one thing that love could do right now is call a community of people with the ability to plant gardens of all sizes and kinds 
together – from small pots of herbs to hundreds of acres of corn – in order to share the love of Christ through word and action, food and labor. We believe that one new and sacrificial act of love that we could offer is to commit to planting more, praying more, and proclaiming more, in order to share the loving, liberating, and life-giving Good News of God’s love with all people.” – episcopalchurch.org/good-news-gardens
Mission
St. Martin’s goal is to help provide fresh produce to 4Saints Episcopal Food Pantry, whose needs for supplies have only grown since the start of the pandemic. So many families have found themselves in urgent need of food, and 4Saints is able to help them through donations like this!
But more than that, this community garden will help to bring people back together in a shared mission of awareness and appreciation.
Interim Rector Ron Pogue sums up the mission: “This project will be especially helpful at this time for parishioners who miss gathering at St. Martin’s for worship, prayer, study, and service.”
Currently, we have five garden leaders: Norma Barbier, Kayla McSwain and family, Linda and Dick Seeber, and Liza Goodner who have been diligently working in the garden. We have already grown broccoli and lettuce and were able to donate green beans and small tomatoes. This spring we have planted tomatoes and okra, and plan to do more as the season progresses.
Get Involved!
St. Martin’s members or anyone else who wishes to be a part of this project are encouraged to join in the creation and maintenance of our Good News Garden. Youth members who participate can also earn service hours!
If you are interested in being a part of the Good News Garden, please let us know! Seeding, weeding and general upkeep will be needed continually.
Contact
Please contact us or sign-up if you’d like to get involved.
Donate your excess vegetables
Do you have a home garden and find yourself with too many zuchini, melons, or other produce? Consider donating them! Contact Liza Goodner for details.
Donate money
We currently have a budget of $1,100 for things like soil, seeds and water for the Good News Garden. Your continued donations will help us maintain an amazing garden.
- Donate online and choose “Good News Garden” from the drop down menu.
- Text a dollar amount + GARDEN to 817-270-6880
- Send a check & write “Good News Garden” in the memo.
St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church
PO Box 1149
Keller, TX 76244
by Anika Rinker | Jul 16, 2020 | Group
The Quiet Committee teams provide a meal for those who have recently been hospitalized, had a new baby, or experienced the loss of a family member. The Quiet Committee also provides occasional meals for those who have long illnesses or are homebound/bedbound.
If you would like to request a meal for yourself or someone in need, please contact Susan Reeves at susankreeves@att.net.
Get Involved!
We have four teams on call to provide a meal, and each team serves for three months. There are typically four or more members on each team, and we always have room for more men and women to serve. There is nothing better than the feeling you have when you know that you have been able to help a family with a homemade meal. If you are interested in serving our community this way, please contact Susan Reeves at susankreeves@att.net
by Anika Rinker | Jun 4, 2020 | Better Together, News
Following the guidelines of The Episcopal Church, St. Martin’s invites you to use their tools and practices of evangelism. You already have the skills you need.
Episcopalians are passionate about proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ in our words and actions. Through the spiritual practice of evangelism, we seek, name and celebrate Jesus’ loving presence in the stories of all people – then invite everyone to MORE. – episcopalchurch.org
Read, study and follow the guidelines here.
Introducing a Practical Theology of Episcopal Evangelism
Are you interested in an Evangelism Study Group? One is in the works! Please contact Ron Hitchcock at ronhitch33@gmail.com or 972-741-4064 if you’d like to participate, or have any questions about evangelism.
If you invite God into your life, beware. There may be no going back. If you open your life to God’s Holy Spirit – if you dare to pray, with your heart, “Come Holy Spirit,” there is no knowing where the Spirit may lead you. This I do know: God did not create you to live life in the shallows, to fritter your life away. God created you to be fully alive. -Br. Geoffrey Tristram, Society of Saint John the Evangelist
by Anika Rinker | Feb 9, 2020 | Group
Our Worship Ministry members faithfully read scripture and prayers and offer wine at Communion during our worship. Other members, Lay Eucharistic Visitors, take Communion to members who are unable to come to church.
Anyone who feels called to serve in worship should contact Jim Bedell at irvington32@gmail.com to be a reader or chalice minister, or Phyllis Bess at tontho16@gmail.com to be a Lay Eucharistic Visitor.
by Anika Rinker | Feb 5, 2020 | News
Are you called to participate in a ministry here at St. Martin’s? Have questions about a ministry? We can connect you! You can read Fr. Ron Pogue’s e-phiphanies article “Every Member has a Ministry,” which explains what it means to be called to serve.
Use the form below to tell us about your interests & we will ask a ministry head to get in touch with you.
by Anika Rinker | Jan 31, 2020 | News
At the Annual Parish Meeting held on January 26, 2020 we enjoyed a potluck luncheon and tended to the business of the church. We elected lay leaders to the Vestry and Delegates for Diocesan Convention. The results are here.
Senior Warden Keen Haynes announced co-chairs for the Rector Search Committee, and we have opened the nominations process to be on the search committee. If you or someone you know would like to be on the Rector Search Committee, the information and forms to apply are here.
You can read or download the 2019 Annual Report here.
by Anika Rinker | Jan 2, 2020 | Group
The Prayer Shawl Ministry members knit/crochet shawls, chemo caps, scarves, stocking caps, ear warmers and soap sacks to be given to those in need of comfort and support. This ministry currently meets weekly on Thursdays from 1 – 2:30 pm in the yarn room located in the parish hall. If you are interested in learning to knit or crochet, there are members willing to teach you!
Some of the recent recipients include: Family and friends of St. Martin’s, J. Peter Smith Cancer Center, Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County and Presbyterian Night Shelter.
Click here to find out about our new Piecemaker ministry, which creates sewing projects for those in need.
We DO accept donations of yarn. If you have yarn to donate, please bring it to the church office during normal business hours. For more information or to request an item contact Kathy Wilkinson at kathy.wilkinson@stmartininthefields.org.
by Anika Rinker | Jul 16, 2019 | Vestry Updates
St. Martin’s Special Vestry Meeting, June 4, 2019
Present: Bob Bess, Mary Beth Butler (member & clerk), Sharon Dudek, Keen Haynes, Brandy Heckel, Rev. Scot McComas, Rector, D.J. Mitchell (member & treasurer), Christopher Mullaney, Linda Seeber, Becky Snell, Julie Sutton
Absent: Christopher DeClerk, Ben Taylor
Also Present: the Rev. Janet Waggoner, Canon to the Ordinary, Diocese of Fort Worth
A special called meeting of the Vestry of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church was held Tuesday, June 4, 2019 at 6:30 pm in the East Parish Hall. The meeting was called for two purposes – to receive information regarding Safeguarding Training and for a Matter Regarding a Personnel Change. The meeting was opened with prayer by the Rector at 6:36 PM.
Safeguarding Update
The Rector distributed printed information about the Safeguarding Courses that Vestry members and other church volunteers are required to complete. The document is attached and made a part of these minutes.
Vestry members are asked to contact Anika Rinker in the church office to determine which modules they need to take and by when and to receive log-in information.
An in-person training session for “Safeguarding God’s Children” will take place at St. Martin’s at 12:30 pm June 30 for those who prefer a group training setting rather than individual training via the internet. All congregation members will be invited to attend. A trainer will be secured by Sutton.
Personnel Change
Rector’s Announcement: The Rector announced he has accepted a call from Church of the Nativity, Scottsdale, AZ. He read a letter to that effect that will go out to St. Martin’s parishioners at 9 pm following this meeting. The document is attached and made a part of these minutes. His last Sunday at St. Martin’s will be July 14, 2019. A farewell reception for him will be held in the Parish Hall after the 10:30 service that day.
Canon’s Remarks: Canon Waggoner gave an overview of the process for St. Martin’s going forward. The Clerk’s notes on those remarks are attached to and made a part of these minutes.
Vestry Vote: Bess moved the Vestry accept the resignation of Scot McComas as Rector of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church with thanks to him for his five years with us. The motion carried.
Bess moved the meeting be adjourned, and the motion carried.
The meeting was closed with prayer at 7:43 PM by the Rector.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Beth Butler, Clerk
by Anika Rinker | Jul 16, 2019 | Vestry Updates
Meeting Minutes, May 21-22, 2019
A special called meeting on email
Voting by e-mail: Bob Bess, Mary Beth Butler (member & clerk), Christopher DeClerk, Sharon Dudek, Keen Haynes, Brandy Heckel, D.J. Mitchell (member & treasurer), Christopher Mullaney, Linda Seeber, Becky Snell, Julie Sutton.
Voting by phone per Rector Scot McComas: Ben Taylor
A special called meeting of the Vestry of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church was held via e-mail on Tuesday, May 21 and Wednesday, May 22.
At the May 5 meeting, the Vestry voted to approve the proposal submitted by Chuck Taylor, Chair of the Communications Committee, for the replacement of the current sound system. Subsequently, there was confusion over the result of the vote, so after e-mail conversation among the Vestry members, Julie Sutton referenced the Parish Bylaws Article 5.6 (c) and moved the following:
that we seek additional funds for the temporarily restricted fund called “sound system + audio system” via a fundraiser handled by Sr. Warden Keen Haynes (per the minutes on 5/5/19).
All members voted in the affirmative and the motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Beth Butler, Clerk
