The Reverend Christopher M. Bishop, Rector, St. Martin’s Church

400 King of Prussia Rd., Radnor, PA 19087 610-688-4830

ST. MARTIN’S CHURCH NEWSLETTER

www.stmartinsradnor.org + admin@stmartinsradnor.org

If you boil it all down, I think its fair

to say that all human yearnings for the

divine, and in turn the ultimate aim or hope

of every great faith tradition, is peace.

Whether it’s in the voice of Yahwey, Jesus,

Allah, or Enlightenment itself, the Spirit

seems to, more than anything else, wish for

a peaceful, harmonious and sustainable life

that upholds the blessed relatedness of the

whole created order. Central to this insight

is that this sort of peace is not easy or

superficial, but must be intentionally

brought into being through prayer, practice

and hard work.

As both Jesus and the Dalai Lama

suggest above, authentic peace, the kind

that leads to a better and more workable

world, must begin within each of us, and

radiate outward. So this Lenten season, as

we journey with Jesus through the

wilderness and toward the cross, our theme

will be “Being Peace.”

We have been exploring meditation

practices in our recent Sunday forums.

Each Wednesday evening in our worship

and supper conversations, we will celebrate

and examine individuals and traditions who

have come to embody peace as a way of

being.

Please join us as we walk together

toward Jerusalem, where Jesus takes on the

violence and pain of all humanity, and on

the cross transforms it into love: “the peace

that passeth all understanding.”

Peace & blessings,

Chris+

In this issue…

Senior Warden Page 2 Christian Ed & Youth Ministry Page 4

Parish Warden Page 2 Outreach Lenten Projects Page 5

Lenten Dinner Schedule Page 2 Calendar Page 6

Music Ministry Page 3 Lent Madness Bracket Page 7

~Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. (John 14:27)

~O You who believe! Enter absolutely into peace. (Quran 2:208)

~We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves. (His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama)

BEING PEACE

From the Senior Warden

By Chris Delaney

Lent is upon us!

Like many of you I find it hard to believe that our Lenten season will begin in just a

few days. I saw the following description of Lent recently: “Lent is a 40 day trial run

in changing your lifestyle and letting God change your heart”. And , I can’t think of a better way to

engage in the Lenten experience than attending and participating in St. Martin’s Lenten

programs. As in prior years the Lenten planners have put together a series of programs – “Being

Peace”- that I’m sure you’ll find uplifting and enjoyable. The particulars are included in this

newsletter and I look forward to seeing you there.

“Being Peace” Lenten Worship Dinner Schedule

WEEK DATE/TIME/

LOCATION

THEMES

GENERAL CULINARY

1 March 8th, 6:00pm

Bolingbroke

Dalai Lama—

Cultivated inner peace and

compassion

Tibetan

2 March 15th, 6:00pm

Bolingbroke

Mennonites—

Living out Christ’ peace through

their loving demeanor

American

3 March 22nd, 6:00pm

Bolingbroke

Nelson Mandela—

Came out of prison after 27 years

a peaceful person

South African

4 March 29th, 6:00pm

Christ Church Ithan

St. Francis of Assisi—

Real reformer and a big influence

on the Roman Catholic Church

Italian

5 April 5th, 6:00pm

Bolingbroke

John Lennon—

Promoted peace through his

celebrity and his music

English

Worship Planning from the Parish Warden By Fran Pettit

BEING PEACE? The theme for this year’s Lenten supper is “Being Peace.” Each week we will discuss a person who has made a significant contribution to humanity by spreading peace throughout the world. The schedule is as follows:

“When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel loved and

cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace.”

~ Dalai Lama

Music Ministry By Dr. Pamela Poe, Music Director

As I begin to write this Lenten news article, it’s already several weeks since my first service at St. Martin’s on January 8! I have been delighted to worship as a member of the congregation, to sing side-by-side with many of you, and to feel so warmly welcomed and appreciated, so soon after my arrival. Both my husband Randy and I feel indeed blessed to be with you each Sunday, and at the recent Chili Cookoff. I have already come to appreciate and savor the treat of Wednesday worship in the lovely chapel upstairs where we are also holding our choir rehearsals on Sunday mornings. Many thanks to our loyal choir members, who indeed sing for the love of music: Alisan and Dick Henderson and Rich Booker. Thanks also to Randy Poe for joining our choir as a singer and for providing keyboard selections from time to time. I look forward to meeting John Scott in the near future, and would be delighted to welcome back singers who would like to return for a Sunday on occasion! Our staff singers Derek Wilson and Liz Oliver are greatly appreciated as well, for providing the musical expertise and leadership that so enhances worship. I am truly enjoying many aspects of the music these past few weeks, but it’s a special treat to hear improvised descants and accomplished musical solos from these talented singers. Here for your consideration are a few ways to add music to your Lenten faith experience this year:

Lenten Music Practice #1: As part of your Lenten journey, consider joining choir for one or more Sundays…. As we start into the season of Lent and Holy Week, I am designating the five Lenten Sundays before Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter as “Bring A Friend to Choir” Sundays. This means that not only regular and former choir attenders are encouraged to participate: as a spiritual Lenten practice, neighbors, friends and family members who may be newcomers to St. Martin’s are also warmly welcomed. Please consider adding this musical experience or inviting others to enhance their Lenten spiritual journey by exploring the special selections we are preparing this season. If you or others are able to pay a visit to choir as we prepare music for Lent, Holy Week, and Easter, I am planning simple “hymn-anthems” during the five Lenten Sundays (starting in March). These pieces would be especially easy to learn on one Sunday morning, whether you are an accomplished music reader or usually sing by ear. We have no weekday rehearsals, so this is a Sunday morning

commitment only. Join us at 9:00am in the upstairs chapel at the head of the stairs.

Lenten Music Practice #2: For a different kind of spiritual musical practice for the Lenten season, consider joining the singing at our Wednesday evening worship, followed by a themed dinner: March 8 (Tibetan singing bowls and rain sticks with meditative music selections) March 15 (Mennonite hymns and part songs found in our LEVAS hymnal) March 22 (South African hymns, chants and songs in tribute to Nelson Mandela) March 29 (Italian music with flute and chants to honor St. Francis) April 5 (popular tunes by John Lennon to honor his lifework of promoting peace)

Lenten Music Practice #3: If you have not played a musical instrument lately, but have fond memories of doing this, please consider returning to the joys of music playing as a meditative practice during the Lenten season. All instruments are welcome, and can provide simple accompaniments, solo lines for hymns, or solo selections during portions of our worship service. Please contact me by email if you would like to plan this possibility: ppoephd@gmail.com.

Lenten Music Practice #4: If you would like to add music to your spiritual practice in this Lenten season, but are not able to set aside the time to sing or play a musical instrument—consider a meditative practice of selecting a beloved musical selection and listening attentively. Even if it’s a once-a-week practice, see if you can set aside some time for this awareness-and-enjoyment practice of re-inviting music into your life.

Music is a powerful and sometimes emotional connection for many people, that can connect you with past seasons of life, hope for the future, or emotions that enrich our lives and provide beauty and richness. For instance: can you locate a favorite tune from childhood on www.youtube.com? What about a special song you associate with a person from the past or present? Is there a popular music selection you can track down that could help you connect with an earlier season or use for reflection now? Is there a song that gives you hope, helps to conquer or cope with some emotion, or inspires you with new energy for giving service? Try writing about this music as it plays, and see what you recall about it, and how it makes you feel now. In whatever way music helps you to approach a new spiritual sense and connection to God, it may inspire a creative Lenten practice such as writing or drawing as well.

Youth Ministries and Christian Formation By Ms. Deb Parker, Christian Formation Director

I need to keep these words front and center, as we enter the Lenten season with the focus of “Being Peace.” If it were up to me alone, I know I would continually come up short. There are just too many worries all around us. But John’s Gospel reminds me that Christ has already given us peace. It is His gift to every one of us, now and in our future. Fear keeps trying to crowd out peace, but with some well-directed reminders my heart will be drawn in, over and over, to the sense of peace that is Jesus Christ. Each of us can embody His love by being peace—one day at a time. This Lent we are providing individuals, families, and groups within our congregation with a variety of approaches to “try on for size.” My prayer is for Christ’s loving gift to be more fully realized in you, drawing you away from the worldly fears and into deeper peace:

Meditation Matters—On three Sundays in February, after the 10am worship, adults began to explore how meditation can deepen their own sense of peace by letting go of distractions and focusing. Regardless of your ability to attend these gatherings, or not, the Meditation Stations materials from the final Meditation Forum on February 26th will remain out so everyone attending a worship service or event at church can help themselves. Pick up any meditation suggestions you think may focus you as you observe a Holy Lent. When I was young my parents used to remind me and my siblings that we could give something up for Lent—or take something new on. These meditation suggestions could be a chance for you to look for ways to bring more peace into your life (and possibly give up some worrying). One Christian meditation leader says, “Regular meditation is invaluable in aligning with God’s Will, with the way things are — however you want to say it — and by so doing, in reducing anxiety and self-driven suffering. It changes you.” Amen.

Lent Madness—Here is the Lenten discipline for all the college basketball fans out there, and for those who are jazzed by the lives of the saints! Yes, we can have fun along the way on our Lenten pilgrimage. There may already be some Lent Madness fans from previous years (Dietrich Bonhoeffer won the 2016 Golden Halo award), who sign up for the emails. Each day starting the Thursday after Ash Wednesday (March 1) pairs of saints will be highlighted via an email message and all interested followers can vote. Just as in basketball, there are eliminations and you can keep a bracket chart as you go from the Saintly Sixteen to the Round of the Elate Eight. Then there are the Faithful Four, followed by the championship Golden Halo. The whole family can look forward to the email pictures then respond to the online invitation to select the family’s preferred saints. For much, much more information, and to sign up for the email list, visit Forward Movement’s Lent Madness page (http://www.lentmadness.org).

Christ’s Peace—Sunday School for children and youth of all ages will focus on walking in Christ’s footsteps. Adults are welcome, too. We will try to get physical on nice Sunday mornings by going outside for a prayerful, walking lesson! Peace that comes from having a relationship with Christ can be practiced in many ways. NEW: In collaboration with our music director, Pamela Poe, we will include singing and music on the last Sunday of each month. Join us on this Lenten and Easter journey on Sundays from 9-10am.

Weekly Devotionals- The St. Martin’s Lent tradition of mid-week online devotionals will continue. In Lent 2017 the monks of The Society of St. John the Evangelist (SSJE) will guide us. They are focusing on the “Five Marks of Love.” This series provides the opportunity to observe and to reflect on the ways in which the Divine Life expresses itself in and through us; individually and in our faith communities, as well as in the world around us. Each week will explore the Anglican Marks of Mission (Tell, Teach, Tend, Transform and Treasure) and find where peace is a part of us each step of the way. Visit their Web site (http://ssje.org/ssje/5marksoflove/), for more details.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”

~ John 14:27 NRSV

“A good head and a good heart are always a

formidable combination."

~ Nelson Mandela

HOMEMADE SOUP FOR LENT

It is that time of year again when we make quarts of homemade soup for the clients of The Great Valley Food Cupboard. This will be the third year for our wonderful Lenten mission, and people at the food cupboard are already asking if and when they can get soup! The beauty of this program is that you can participate in a number of different ways.

1. Sign up to make soup individually at home

during one or more of the weeks of Lent. General instructions and quart containers

will be available in the foyer outside of the church office.

2. Sign up to attend one or both of the group

soup cooks at Bolingbroke on Saturday, March 11th, from 2:00pm – 5:00pm and/or on Sunday, April 2nd, from 12:00pm – 3:00pm. All ingredients for 3 or 4 different soups and containers will be provided. This is always a truly enjoyable few hours of fun and fellowship.

3. Make a financial donation to offset some of

the expenses of ingredients and containers.

Help us bring something special to the folks at the food cupboard. If you have any questions or would like to participate, please contact Pam Faber.

CANNED FRUIT FOR LENT

In addition to our homemade soup project, we will also be collecting cans of fruit for The Ardmore Food Pantry. Unfortunately canned fruit is an overlooked item when people donate to food cupboards, but it is an item that is in high demand. To help fill this need, we will collect canned fruit which will give families a great Easter treat. Please donate fruit canned in fruit juice and not in the heavy syrup. Items needed include peaches, pears, fruit cocktail and mandarin oranges. Thank you for helping these families in need.

Outreach Lenten Projects By Pam Faber, Ministry Leader

MOTHERING SUNDAY Shared by: All Saints’ Church, Wynnewood

The Fourth Sunday in Lent, 3/26, is a traditional time for a bit of relaxation in the midst of our Lenten disciplines. Paul reminds the Galatians that our spiritual mother is the Church, realized in the world to come as the “Jerusalem which is above.” The admonition in that Epistle to “rejoice” was styled in Latin “laetare” which can also be paraphrased “be refreshed,” hence the other name for the day of “Laetare” or “Refreshment” Sunday. The traditional English treat of the day is Simnel Cake. Here is the recipe -

SIMNEL CAKE Ingredients Directions Cream the butter and sugar until smooth. Separate the eggs. Add the yolks to the butter and sugar and reserve the whites. Sift the flour and salt and add to the mixture. Dust the peel and currants with a little flour and add to the batter. Beat the egg wh

3/4 cup butter 2 cups sugar 2 cups flour 4 eggs

1/3 cup mix of lemon & orange zest 1 cup currants Almond paste 1/2 tsp salt

MOTHERING SUNDAY Shared by: All Saints’ Church, Wynnewood

The Fourth Sunday in Lent, 3/26, is a traditional time for a bit of relaxation in the midst of our Lenten disciplines. Paul reminds the Galatians that our spiritual mother is the Church, realized in the world to come as the “Jerusalem which is above.” The admonition in that Epistle to “rejoice” was styled in Latin “laetare” which can also be paraphrased “be refreshed,” hence the other name for the day of “Laetare” or “Refreshment” Sunday. The traditional English treat of the day is Simnel Cake. Here is the recipe -

SIMNEL CAKE Ingredients

Directions Cream the butter and sugar until smooth. Separate the eggs. Add the yolks to the butter and sugar and reserve the whites. Sift the flour and salt and add to the mixture. Dust the peel and currants with a little flour and add to the batter. Beat the egg whites until stiff and fold into the mixture. Line a cake tin with waxed paper and pour in half the batter. Add a layer of almond paste (coarse-grate cold to sprinkle a generous layer) and then top with the remaining batter. Bake at 325 degrees for an hour or until done. May be iced with white icing flavored with a few drops of almond extract.

3/4 cup butter 2 cups sugar 2 cups flour 4 eggs

1/3 cup mix of lemon & orange zest 1 cup currants Almond paste 1/2 tsp salt

Calendar for March and April 2017

SUNDAY 3/5— 8 & 10am: Holy Eucharist 8:30am: PARISH BREAKFAST LENT 1 9am: Sunday School/Choir Rehearsal TUESDAY 3/7— 5:30pm: Worship Planning Meeting

WEDNESDAY 3/8— 12:15pm: Holy Eucharist 6pm: Dalai Lama Lenten Dinner (BB) 7pm: AA Meeting

SUNDAY 3/12— 8 & 10am: Holy Eucharist 9am: Sunday School/Choir Rehearsal LENT 2 MONDAY 3/13— 7pm: Discernment Group Meeting

WEDNESDAY 3/15— 12:15pm: Holy Eucharist 6pm: Mennonite Lenten Dinner (BB)

7pm: AA Meeting

SUNDAY 3/19— 8 & 10am: Holy Eucharist 9am: Sunday School/Choir Rehearsal LENT 3 TUESDAY 3/21— 7pm: Vestry Meeting

WEDNESDAY 3/22— 12:15pm: Holy Eucharist 6pm: Mandela Lenten Dinner (BB) 7pm: AA Meeting

SUNDAY 3/26— 8 & 10am: Holy Eucharist 9am: Sunday School/Choir Rehearsal LENT 4 WEDNESDAY 3/29— 12:15pm: Holy Eucharist 6pm: Assisi Lenten Dinner (CCI)

7pm: AA Meeting

SUNDAY 4/2— 8 & 10am: Holy Eucharist 8:30am: PARISH BREAKFAST LENT 5 9am: Sunday School/Choir Rehearsal MONDAY 4/3— 5:30pm: Worship Planning Meeting WEDNESDAY 4/5— 10:30am: Staff Meeting 12:15pm: Holy Eucharist

6pm: Lennon Lenten Dinner (BB) 7pm: AA Meeting

PALM SUNDAY 4/9— 8 & 10am: Holy Eucharist 9am: Sunday School/Choir Rehearsal WEDNESDAY 4/12— 12:15pm: Holy Eucharist 7pm: AA Meeting

THURSDAY 4/13— 7pm: Maundy Thursday at Christ Church Ithan

FRIDAY 4/15— 12pm: Good Friday service

SATURDAY 4/16— 4pm: Holy Saturday Holy Eucharist

EASTER SUNDAY 4/16— 8 & 10am: Holy Eucharist 9am: Sunday School/Choir Rehearsal

11:15am: EGG HUNT/EASTER FESTIVITIES

MONDAY, 4/17 – MONDAY, 4/24 – Fr. Chris’s vacation

TUESDAY 4/18— 7pm: Vestry Meeting WEDNESDAY 4/19— 12:15pm: Holy Eucharist 7pm: Bible Study / AA Meeting THURSDAY 4/20— 7pm: Bible & Beer SATURDAY 4/22 – 11am: Choate Wedding

SUNDAY 4/23— 8 & 10am: Holy Eucharist Dennis Lloyd, Guest Celebrant WEDNESDAY 4/27— 12:15pm: Holy Eucharist 7pm: Bible Study / AA Meeting

SUNDAY 4/30— 8 & 10am: Holy Eucharist Deb Parker, Guest Preacher

Check out the 2017 Lent Madness bracket and visit

lentmadness.org every day to keep up with your favorite saint.

St. Martin’s Church

400 King of Prussia Rd.

Radnor, PA 19087

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St. Martin’s Church

400 King of Prussia Rd. Radnor, PA 19087

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