News Archives - St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church

Episcopal Youth Community

by Anika Rinker | Jul 18, 2024 | News, Teen News, Youth

St. Martin’s Youth, aka EYC (Episcopal Youth Community), is a collective group of 6th-12th graders who meet every first and third Sunday of the month after the 10:30 am service in the EYC room. At each meeting, we’ll explore the Word and learn how to serve our community!

We’ll read and talk about the first lesson, which is from the Old Testament, taken from the lectionary each week. These are the readings we hear in church.

On the 3rd Sundays, we give back to our community by assembling Blessing Bags – these are bags filled with helpful items for our congregation to take and give out to those in need we see on the streets. And we’ve also partnered with the JPS Street team to supply them with 25 bags each month to help their own homeless population near Rosedale Ave. in Fort Worth.

Our group is diverse, inclusive, and a safe place for all those who wish to join. For more information, contact our Youth Director: leah.robinson@stmartininthefields.org

Want to keep up with the latest youth news? Scan here to join our group chat!

Blessing Bag Ministry

by Anika Rinker | Jun 26, 2024 | Events, News

Blessing Bags 3rd Sundays

On the third Sundays of each month we will be making Blessing Bags for the homeless.

This youth led ministry needs lots of hands to make it successful – so come on by the small parish hall after the 10:30 service and help us assemble the bags!

We’ll make 50 bags each month. Half of those will be taken to the JPS Street Medicine Team. The rest are for YOU – our wonderful members to take!

What are they?

Blessing bags are full of necessities such as non-perishable food, hygeine items, etc. The idea is to keep several in your car and hand them to those in need on the streets. The problem of homelessness persists in our city, and these bags are a way to show God’s love to our neighbor.

How can I help?

Each bag costs about $3.75. So this ongoing ministry needs your donations! You can visit our Amazon Wish List online and order items. Or you can purchase items wherever you shop and drop them off at church. You can also donate money through our online giving page. And you can come and help on 3rd Sundays!

Travel-size items needed are:

Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Deodorant
Soap
Shampoo
Comb
Hand Wipes
Granola Bars
Trail Mix
$5 gift cards to QT or McDonalds
Bottled Water

Amazon Wish List

Donate money online. Please choose “Blessing Bags” from the drop down menu.

Offerings for Easter Flowers

by Anika Rinker | Feb 28, 2024 | News, Uncategorized

Would you like to make an offering for Easter Lilies? This is a wonderful way to make the church look festive for Easter Sunday and to make a dedication in thanksgiving or in memory of someone. A $10 donation is suggested. The deadline for receiving dedications in order to be printed in the Easter bulletin is 9 am on Wednesday, March 27.

Donations can be made a couple of ways:

When you are at church, you can fill out an “Offerings for Easter Flowers” form and enclose payment of cash or check (memo line: Easter flowers). White envelopes are with the donation forms in the back of the church to keep your dedication and payment together. Drop your envelope in the offering plate, place it in Anika Rinker’s office mailbox, or mail to: St. Martin-in-the-Fields, PO Box 1149, Keller, TX 76244
Fill out the online form below. You can pay online or choose the cash/check option and submit your payment that way.

Lenten Activities and Events 2024

by Anika Rinker | Feb 6, 2024 | Events, News

An Invitation to a Holy Lent

Each year we are invited to enter into Lent by, among other things, “reading and meditating on God’s holy Word.”

There are many ways we’re going to do that this year:

Adult Bible Study

What does Scripture and tradition teach us about Jesus’ death, and what it means for our lives? Each Sunday morning during Lent, we’ll look at what happened on the cross.

Youth Formation

Our youth will explore the meaning of Lent using the StoryMakers curriculum, “Our Journey through Lent.” Workbooks will be provided on Sundays in Children’s Chapel & youth meetings.

Lenten Quiet Day

Join us on February 24 for a Lenten Quiet Day sponsored by the Daughters of the King. More details can be found at stmartininthefields.org/event/lenten-quiet-day

Becoming Beloved Community Lenten Devotional

Our SeminarianTony Kroll was one of the student editors of the Episcopal Church’s 2024 Lenten Devetional, Preparing to Become the Beloved Community

United Thank Offering Daily Devotional

This Lent, UTO invites you to reflect on the ordinary things in your life and give thanks for them. Those looking for a simple reminder to practice gratitude can sign up to receive one text message each day throughout the Lent season. Sign up at unitedthankoffering.com/lent

Episcopal Relief & Development’s Lenten Meditations

Reflect on your newness in Christ as you journey through Episcopal Relief & Development’s Lenten Meditations, written by Miguel Escobar, and discover new ways your faith is guiding you through the world.

Stations of the Cross

Each Friday in Lent at 7 pm, you’re invited into the church to walk the ways of the cross. Get more details and other ways to participate here.

Maundy Thursday Overnight Vigil

The overnight watch at the Altar of Repose begins at 8 pm on Thursday, March 28. Please sign up for a one hour time slot to keep watch in the chapel.

Lenten Outreach Project – Paid in Full

Join us in abolishing medical debt for families across the country!

Among Jesus’ last words on the cross were “It is finished.” That word Jesus spoke, tetelestai, means “paid in full.”

We worship a God who died on a cross to forgive us, and that same God calls us to forgive seventy times seven (in other words, too many times to count!).

Your generous support can make a significant impact in eradicating medical debt through RIP Medical Debt. Each dollar you contribute holds the potential to eliminate $100 of medical debt, leading to life-changing transformations and renewed hope.

So as part of your Lenten practice this year, join with us as we ease the burden of medical debt of our brothers, sisters, and siblings, and create a lasting, meaningful change!

Click here to donate: ripmedicaldebt.org/campaign/paid-in-full-campaign

Please be assured that every donation made through this platform will be exclusively allocated to relieving the medical debt accessible to RIP Medical Debt.

Lent Madness

This is Lent on the lighter side. A saintly smackdown that you can participate in! Read more and enjoy!

Holy Week Schedule – March 24-31

Palm Sunday – 8:30 & 10:30 am

Maundy Thursday – 7 pm; Overnight Vigil begins at 8 pm. Please sign up for a one hour time slot to keep watch in the chapel.

Good Friday Retreat – 12 – 3 pm: Join with us during the Great Three Hours, as we reflect on the last words of Jesus Christ from the cross. We’ll have a series of short reflections followed by times of silence and meditation. You’re welcome to come and go as you are able

Good Friday – 7 pm

Holy Saturday – 12 pm

Easter Vigil Sunday Sunrise – 6:45 am

Easter Sunday – 8:30 & 10:30 am

Offerings for Christmas flowers

by Anika Rinker | Dec 11, 2023 | News

Would you like to make an offering for Christmas poinsettias? This is a wonderful way to make the church look festive for Christmas and to make a dedication in thanksgiving or in memory of someone. A $10 donation is suggested. The deadline for receiving these donations is Sunday, December 18.

Dedications will be printed in the Christmas Eve bulletins.

Donations can be made a couple of ways:

When you are at church, you can fill out a red “Offerings for Christmas Flowers” form and enclose payment of cash or check (memo line: Christmas flowers). Envelopes are with the donation forms in the back of the church to keep your dedication and payment together. Drop your envelope in the offering plate, place it in Anika Rinker’s office mailbox, or mail to : St. Martin-in-the-Fields, 223 South Pearson Lane, Keller, TX 76248
Fill out the online form below. You can pay online or choose the cash/check option and submit your payment that way.

Called to Serve as a Leader?

by Anika Rinker | Sep 25, 2023 | News

Applications are open!

Are you called to serve? Do you have a passion for the mission of our church in our community?

We are seeking people to serve our church in leadership positions on our Vestry and to represent our parish at the Council of our diocese.

Under the parish bylaws, a Candidate Qualification Committee reviews the names of persons who may stand for election to the Vestry and as Delegates to Diocesan Council. That committee has been appointed and is made up of Mary Beth Butler, Bob Bess, Eloise Frye, DJ Mitchell, and Rick Schulz.

If you feel called to serve on the Vestry or as a Delegate to the 2026 Diocesan Council, please let the committee know by using the appropriate button below to fill out a form. Submissions must be received by Monday, December 9, 2024. This process is being started now in order to allow time for discernment and for notification to be provided to the parish prior to the January election.

Vestry

The Vestry works to ensure our parish ministry is carried out in accordance with our parish values, mission, goals, and priorities, and according to the constitution and canons of our diocese.

A Vestry nominee must:

be a confirmed communicant in good standing of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, confirmed or received by a bishop in The Episcopal Church.
be at least 18 years old by the date of the annual parish meeting in January 2025.
have made financial contributions in 2024 that are shown on the records of our parish.

In addition, Vestry tasks include:

attending monthly vestry meetings (3rd Sundays at 12:30 pm, beginning in Feb. 2025).
attend the annual vestry retreat, schedule TBD.
receive required online Safeguarding training as per the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. Note – wardens & treasurer are also required to have a background check.
serve as the Vestry Person in Charge (VPIC) for approximately 10 services per year. VPIC duties include lock/unlock facilities, adjust thermostats, raise and lower flags, account for
offering funds with support from another person, and serve as contact person in case of emergency. VPICs are welcome to delegate most tasks but must be present for funds accounting.

Delegate

A delegate to Diocesan Council has a seat, voice, and vote for nominations, resolutions, proposal, budget, and other pertinent material at Council.

Lay delegates and alternates must

be a confirmed communicant in good standing of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, confirmed or received by a bishop in The Episcopal Church.
be at least 18 years old by the date of the first day of any meeting of the Council.
be available for both days of the Diocesan Convention in February 2026.

Use the buttons below to apply to be a member of the Vestry or a Delegate to the 2026 Diocesan Council.

Apply for VESTRY

Apply for DELEGATE TO DIOCESAN COUNCIL

If you have any other questions or would like more info, please email the committee at nominate@stmartininthefields.org.