Hello all.

I hope you all enjoyed the Feast of St. Gertrude, Patron Saint of cats on Tuesday.  Oh, it's someone else's day as well,  Patrick?  Never heard of him. Mind you, Nancy and I were downtown (or uptown as it used to be called if you lived south of the river) on Saturday and many people were taking the refreshment part of the weekend very seriously.  On Sunday we had two wonderful services and the "Cellar Cafe“ did a roaring business.  Thank you to everyone who helped clean up at both sittings  Now the dash to Holy Week.  Don't forget the "Cloak of Kindness Squad meets this coming Monday.  On with the rest of the news.

 

Rev'd Sarah Is on Vacation.  A reminder that Rev'd Sarah is on vacation (though with four boys I'm not sure) from 15-22 March.  During this time we can look forward to The Rev'd Dr. Virginia Lane presiding at the 10:00 am services on the 15th and 22nd of March.  

 

Martin's Brunchers are Gathering.  Wednesday 25 March at 11:30 am for lunch.  Come and be part of the group with no dishes to wash.  The location this month is WIMPEY'S Diner at the corner of Oxford St. and Wonderland Rd.  Please contact Larry or Janice Chisholm by Monday 23 March to reserve your spot.  Also please advise them if you need assistance with travel to and from the restaurant, (lchisholm@rogers.com 519-657-5279)

 

A Special Vestry Meeting will be held on Sunday, March 29 immediately following the 10:00 am service. This meeting is to vote on the 2026 budget. The Strategic Plan to address the projected deficit and the budget will be available for review a week ahead of the meeting this Sunday, March 22. 

 

Who is able to vote at Vestry/Special Vestry Meetings?

In every Parish within the Diocese there shall be a Vestry composed of all the baptized members of such Parish who have reached 16 years of age and who for at least three months during the preceding 12 months of the date of the relevant Vestry meeting have been identifiably involved with such Parish with regular worship, fellowship and financial support to that Parish, subject to the certification procedure hereinafter set forth. No person shall be considered to be a member of the Vestry of more than one Parish in the Diocese of Huron at one time, except that a person may be a member of the Vestry of a Parish and also of a Summer Church as hereinafter defined. Each person who wishes to be considered a member of the Vestry of the Parish shall sign a statement of compliance with the provisions of this section at such Vestry meeting upon request. There shall be no participation by proxy at any annual or special meetings of Vestry. (From Canon 18 of the Diocese of Huron)

 

 

Lenten Services & Studies at St. Martin-in-the-Fields - A number of services and studies will be offered to mark the season of Lent.

 Midweek Eucharist - 9:30 am on Thurs  Mar 26.

Midweek Lenten Bible Study - 10:00 am on Thurs Mar 26.

 - Stay for Bible study and fellowship immediately following the Lenten Midweek Eucharist.

Online Evening Bible Study - 8:00-9:30 pm on  Wed Mar 25.

- Faithfulness in a Troubled World: A Study on the Book of Ruth -- join Rev. Sarah for a study on the book of Ruth that explores our call to be faithful and offer hope to a world experiencing violence and instability. Each hour-long session will take place over ZOOM. Please join using the following link:

Week 4: Faithfulness in a Troubled World - The Book of Ruth
Time: Mar 25, 2026 08:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 898 2068 9776
Passcode: 589615 

 

Get Out the Calendars.  Your Lenten List. In addition to the dates and times mentioned above here is a consolidated list of upcoming events.  I will update the list as needs be. 

Mon 23 March:  Cloak of Kindness Squad Kids Program 6:00-7:30 pm 

Wed 25 March:  Online Bible Study 8:00 -9:30 pm

Thurs 26 March: Midweek Eucharist (9:30 am) and Lenten Bible Study (10:00 am)

Sun 29 March:  Palm Sunday

Sun 29 March:  Special Vestry Meeting following the 10:00 am Service.

Wed 1 April:  The Stations of the Cross 7:00 pm

Thurs 2 April:  Maundy Thursday 700 pm

Fri 3 April:  Good Friday 10:00 am

Sun 5 April: Easter Sunday 10:00 am

Got it?  Excellent.

 

Donations to the Chancel Guild For Eastertide   would be very much appreciated.  Please help with the decorations for Easter.  Envelopes are available in the Narthex.

 

Altar Flower Invoices for November through February are ready for pickup in the cloakroom mail slots. 

 

2026 Pledge Forms were introduced last Sunday.  More information about the Pledge forms will be shared on Sunday, and in next weeks Midweek News

St. Martin's, Our History and Our Artifacts.  

More next week.

 

St. Paul's Social Services -Thank you for your generous donations .   This news item never goes away because hunger never goes away.  St. Paul's Social Service 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 as well as hats, mitts and socks. 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.

 

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 and Office Hours Reminder  If you haven't already please change your contacts to our current email address  stmartinslondon@diohuron.org .  The Rogers email address no longer exists. Also our office hours are Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.  Emails sent outside these hours will be answered the next business day. 

 

Readings for The Fifth Sunday in Lent.

Ezekiel 37:1-14, Psalm 130, Romans 8:6-11, John 11:1-45

  

It is a little fishy......

 

See you Sunday.
Ian

Ian Haley
Editor