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 | 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 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 | Dec 18, 2018 | News, Vestry Updates
St. Martin-in-the-Fields Vestry Meeting Minutes
December 9, 2018
Present: Keen Haynes, Brandy Heckel, Christopher Mullaney, Linda Seeber, Becky Snell, Linda Snow, Ben Taylor, Scot McComas, Rector; D.J. Mitchell, Treasurer
Not Present: Mary Beth Butler, Christopher DeClerk, Sharon Dudek, Joel Walker, Nancy Wieden.
A special called meeting of the Vestry of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church was held Sunday, December 9, 2018 in the Chapel. The meeting was held for the purpose of receiving an update on the 2019 Stewardship Campaign and discussion of the financial projections and proposed budget for 2019.The meeting opened with prayer by the Rector at 12:18 PM.
Stewardship Campaign and 2019 Financial Information
A discussion was held regarding the 2019 stewardship pledge campaign, financial projections for 2019 and the proposed budget. The 2019 budget will be presented to the vestry at the January 13, 2019 vestry meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 1:06 pm with prayer by Snow.
Respectfully submitted,
The Rev. Scot McComas
Rector and Substitute Clerk
Jr. Warden’s Report
by Anika Rinker | Dec 18, 2018 | News, Vestry Updates
St. Martin-in-the-Fields Vestry Meeting Minutes
November 18, 2018
Present: Mary Beth Butler (member & clerk), Christopher DeClerk, Sharon Dudek, Brandy Heckel, Christopher Mullaney, Linda Seeber, Becky Snell, Linda Snow, Ben Taylor, Scot McComas, Rector; Christopher Thomas, Assisting Priest; Nancy Wieden.
Not Present: Keen Haynes, D.J. Mitchell, Treasurer, Joel Walker.
A regular meeting of the Vestry of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church was held Sunday, November 18, 2018 in the West Parish Hall. The meeting opened with prayer by the Rector at 12:36 PM.
Bible Study
The Rector led the vestry in a bible study using Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.
Consideration of Minutes
Minutes of the October 21, 2018 meeting were approved as distributed.
Treasurer’s Report
- The October 2018 Financials were reviewed. Dudek moved acceptance. The motion carried.
- There was further discussion of the draft budget for 2019.
Breeze Software Update
Volunteers (including Vestry members) will be asked to help with coaching parishioners in setting up Breeze accounts and using the system.
Rector’s Report
- School Report: The Rector indicated that, both nationwide and locally, there is a trend toward public schools offering pre-Kindergarten, transitional Kindergarten, and classes for even younger children. This has caused a downturn in private and parochial school enrollments. Discussion brought forward some ideas for other revenue streams: Offering before and after school care; offering our own camps; expanding VBS and raising tuition for VBS.
- Cub Scout Endeavor: DeClerk said that due to LDS churches withdrawing from Boy Scouts of America (now known as BSA), other churches are being asked to sponsor troops. He is exploring whether our parish would be interested in starting a Cub Scout Troop, in addition to our current Boy Scout Troop 937. Bob Garrity, a parishioner who is a Unit Commander in the Lakeview District, is supportive. DeClerk said that to start a Cub Scout troop we must have a Committee Chair, a Cub Master, and a Chartered Organization Representative. Mullaney moved that DeClerk continue to explore the option with the Vestry’s thanks. The motion carried.
Stewardship Report
- Pledge Campaign Update: An update was given on the 2019 pledge report. There are 76 pledges received with $252,220.00 committed thus far.
- Division of names for vestry calls to non-pledging members: Heckel distributed a suggested script & bulleted list of items to include in calls. Names of non-pledging members were divided among Vestry. There will be a brief special meeting after the 10:30 service on December 9 to discuss the 2019 Stewardship Campaign.
Junior Warden Report
There was no written report. Thanks were returned to Seeber for her diligent work.
Senior Warden Report
Snow said that the History Committee, which she chairs, meets at 1:00 on Thursdays and needs more assistance. The group is preparing for the 50th Anniversary of the church on January 18, 2020.
Announcements/Upcoming Events
December 2 Prayer Shawl Boutique between services & after 10:30 service
December 9 Special Called Vestry Meeting to review pledge calls
December 16 Regular Vestry meeting
January 13, 2019 Regular Vestry meeting (12:15 pm)
January 20, 2019 Special Called Vestry meeting to accept December 2018 Financials 12:15 pm
January 27, 2019 Annual Meeting and Potluck 12 pm
The meeting adjourned at 3:17 pm with prayer by Butler.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Beth Butler, Clerk
Please note: Next regular vestry meeting Sunday, DECEMBER 16, WeST Parish hall.
lunch provided by Mary Beth Butler closing prayer: Mary Beth ButleR
