Hello all. 

Christmas is a time of memories and one of our upcoming events sparked one for me.  I grew up in "old south" London and every year our street held a carolling party.   We went from door to door serenading the residents, fortified by warming beverages and with a fiddler in the lead.  It became so successful that carolers had to dash ahead to ensure they were home to be carolled to. The last year Nancy and I took part before moving to the Maritimes, there were over 30 of us and we were followed by a police car.  Is carolling considered an unlawful assembly?  We aren't going to be that ambitious but come and join us for Carols in the Courtyard.  This will be the last edition of the Midweek News before Christmas.  I hope to see many of you before then but Nancy and I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas.

 

We Have A New Regional Dean.   The Rev'd Michael DeKay has been appointed the Regional Dean of London effective 1 January, 2026.  Rev'd Michael is the Rector of St. Michael and all Angels and the Associate Priest of St. Martin-in-the-Fields.  Happy New Year Rev'd Michael (I think).

 

The Schedule.     Some events are expanded on in articles below.  I will add January and February in the next edition.

  • Sunday  21 December 2025 - 10:00 am. The Service of Nine Lessons and Carols (followed by Coffee Hour) 
  • Monday 22 December 2025 - 6:00 to 7:30 pm The Cloak of Kindness Squad
  •                                                                          -  7:30 pm Carols in the Courtyard
  • Wednesday 24 December 2025 - 8:00 pm.  Christmas Eve Choral Eucharist (BAS)
  • Thursday 25 December 2025  - 10:00 am Christmas Day Choral Eucharist (BCP)
  • Sunday 28 December 2025 - Christmas 1 - 10:00 am Choral  Eucharist
  • Sunday 4 January 2026 - 10:00 am Epiphany

Upcoming events can also be found on the church website at www.stmartinslondon.ca/events.

 

The Advent Wreath.  This Sunday is the Fourth Sunday of Advent.  I learned it's "of Advent" and "in Lent" because the Sundays count in Advent.  It is a time of preparation, prayer and penance as we anticipate the birth of Christ.   The Advent Wreath is a useful reminder and point of meditation on the role of Advent in our lives.  The wreath itself is a circle which is said to symbolize the eternity of God and the immortality of the soul.  There are five candles: three purple (or blue), one rose, and a white candle in the centre.  A candle is lit  each Sunday in Advent, the white candle is lit Christmas Eve.  Each candle has a meaning. 

Sunday Advent 1.  A purple or blue candle.  These are liturgical colours that signify a time of prayer, penance and sacrifice.  It is the "Hope" or "Prophet's Candle" in remembrance of the prophets, especially Isaiah who foretold the birth of Christ.  It represents the expectation felt in anticipation of the coming Messiah.

Sunday Advent 2.  A purple or blue candle.  It is the "Faith" or "Bethlehem Candle" as a reminder of Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem. 

Sunday Advent 3.  The third candle is pink and symbolizes "joy".  It is called the "Shepherd's Candle" and is pink because rose is a liturgical colour for joy.  It is meant to remind us of the joy the world experienced at the birth of Jesus.  It is a pause in the penitential spirit of Advent. 

Sunday Advent 4.  A purple or blue candle.  It is called the "Peace" or "Angels Candle".  It is the final week of prayer and penance and reminds us of the Angels: "Peace on earth, good will towards Men". 

Christmas Eve.  The white candle in the centre is lit Christmas Eve.  It is the "Christ Candle" and represents the life and light of Christ.

  

Advent Lessons & Carols on Sunday, December 21st at 10:00 am. This Sunday.  As in past years, our annual service of Nine Lessons & Carols will be offered on the fourth Sunday of Advent. Coffee Hour will follow.  Come and enjoy this beautiful service as we pause to remember the true meaning of Christmas.

Carols In The Courtyard Monday 22 December from 7:30 to 8:00 pm.    Get out your top hats and mufflers and come and participate in a sing-along of Christmas Carols and Songs outside by the Nativity Scene.  We hope to attract some of our neighbours as well. If the weather is a bit cool we shall move into the Narthex.  Hot chocolate and cider will be available in the Narthex.    Song sheets to be provided.  See the poster attached.  

Church Office Closed During the Christmas Celebrations, the office will be closed from December 22 to 9 am on January 7. Call Rev’d Sarah in case of pastoral emergency at 289-221-5855.

 

Donations For Christmas Flowers.   Envelopes are available in the Narthex to allow you to donate towards the purchase of the Advent/Christmas tree and flowers.  The more we are able to collect the more splendid the Church will look.

Flower Calendar  The flower calendar for 2026 is attached and will be posted in the cloakroom.  Please look at it carefully and let Sandra know if you wish to change any dates.  She will attempt to switch them for you. 

There are openings on February 8, August 9 and October 25.  If you wish to sponsor the flowers on any of these dates, please let Sandra know.

 St. Martin's, Our History and Our Artifacts.   The creche stands beside the pulpit during Advent and Christmas. Baby Jesus is not placed in the manger until Christmas Eve.  In some homes he doesn't arrive at all because no one can remember what drawer he was placed in.  In some churches there is a tradition of moving the wise men closer to the creche each Sunday.  Perhaps this is something we might consider next year.  It makes the creche a living part of the Advent story.  The present figures were hand made by Mary Levitt and given to Betty Warwick where they had pride of place in her home for many years.  Betty in turn gifted them to St. Martin's.  The creche itself has been in the church since at least 2005 when Nancy, Fletcher and I arrived.  Does anyone know who made it?

 

 Church Givings and A 70th Anniversary Challenge.  As the end of the year approaches are you curious as to your total 2025 givings or thinking of making an additional charitable donation?  Please contact Sandra in the office.  She will be pleased to provide the information, and the forms for direct withdrawal.  In going through the photo albums we discovered in 1988 the Parish organized a fundraiser to renovate the kitchen.  Since it was the 33rd year of the Parish it was suggested if everyone could donate $33.00 it would cover the cost of the renovations. The challenge was accepted and the renovation was paid for.  The Parish Council has issued a new challenge for our 70th Anniversary.  

As we celebrate our parish's 70th year, we give thanks for all that God has done in and through St. Martin-in-the-Fields. To mark this anniversary, parishioners and friends are invited to consider a $70 year-end contribution, giving thanks for our shared past and supporting the church's future. Thank you for your continued support, prayers, and generosity as we journey forward together.

Online donations are also gratefully accepted through Canada Helps:

https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/st-martin-in-the-fields-anglican-church/ 

or you can use this QR code.

Glasses.  There was a pair of glasses left on the pew on the south side of the church on Sunday.  They are on Sandra’s desk.  Please call the office or let a warden know this Sunday if they are yours. 

Keys To The Church.  Do you have a set of keys to the church which you no longer require?  It would be appreciated if you could return them to Sandra.  It will save us the cost of producing additional keys. 

St. Paul's Social Services -Thank you for your generous donations .    This news item never goes away because hunger never goes away.  I will be making a pre Christmas delivery next week.  St. Paul's Social Services is an outreach program, a part of which is the St. Paul's Food Bank.  Your generous donations help support it.   Look for the bin in the cloakroom marked "St. Paul's Food Bank".  Food of all descriptions should be the first priority.   Please give what you can.    In addition to food, toiletries, especially in small sizes are always useful. Monetary donations are also well received as it lets them buy items which are needed but not always donated or they buy in bulk.  Like everyone else they are being hit by the rising price of food.  Please make cheques payable to St. Paul's Social Services.  Tax receipts will be issued directly by St. Paul's Social Services.  For the moment please do not donate containers as they are in discussions with the local Health Inspectors on their use.

 

Church Calendars are now available on the table in the Narthex.  The cost is $7.00. Exact Change is appreciated.  Please call the office if you wish to have one put aside for you. A great Christmas gift.

 Let your light shine.  From the archeological treasure trove here are the spotlights from the balcony, which lit the St. Martin window before being replaced this summer.   

All lights work and each light has its own switch. Only two of the lights have bulbs.

The lights are intended for indoor use only.  They will be on display during coffee hour this Sunday.  Looking for that last minute Christmas gift?  They can be yours for a free will offering.

 

We Are Collecting Egg Cartons.  Annele Robertson has a friend who can use egg cartons for......eggs!  Drop them off in the cloakroom and Annele will pick them up.  

 

Milk Bag Collection is Back.  The ladies are back to making mats.  Please bring in your milk bags and put them in the marked box in the Cloakroom

 

Email Address  Please check that you have our correct email address in your contacts.  It is stmartinslondon@diohuron.org .  The old email address is no longer supported, and we will be losing access to it soon.  Also, if you change your email address, please let us know so we can update our records.

 

 Parish Family Circle of Prayer –    As we gather this week we pray for the following members of our congregation and their families.

Craig & Particia Smith                     Mary Vioet Smith                         Joan Stapleton

 

Otherwise it looks like a normal creche to me.

 

Merry Christmas from the Management and Staff of the Midweek News.
Ian

Ian Haley
Church Warden

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