Finding Faith in a Netflix Binge

What does Buster Bluth have to do with faith?

Tony Hale is a successful comic actor, producer, and writer. You may know Tony from his laugh-out-loud characters Buster Bluth in "Arrested Development" and Gary in "Veep". He is also delightfully forthright about his faith in Jesus Christ. During a routinely secular interview on television, podcasts, or radio he will cheerfully share about how he depends on God.  

In one interview, I heard Tony refer to the ‘fruit of the Spirit’ from Galatians 5:22-23; “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” To his skeptical interviewer, the actor simply and gently said, “Well, I am working on one or two of those things every day. His ways are higher than my ways and that is why I need Him in my life.”

Tony says one of his favorite moments in church comes in the five minutes before the service begins. After he sits in a pew with his family, as he enjoys the quiet, he slowly scans the congregation. Sitting in the midst of a community of faith, he says, gives him an incredible feeling of support. Tony, like all of us, needs to know he is not alone as a student and follower of Jesus. One gift his fellow worshippers give him is the sure knowledge that he is not alone.

How many of us think about what we give to our neighbor when we worship and not just what it means to us? Gathering on the sabbath is a way to support each other as we seek the nurturing grace, trust, and courage we need to follow the Way of Love. When we pass the peace, when we welcome each other, when we seek out new hands to shake and names to learn, we are building the flesh and muscle of the body of Christ through relationship and through support for our neighbors.  

Blessings,
The Rev. Jarrett Kerbel
Rector

From the Deacon's Desk: Updating Voter Registration and Polling Locations

Deacon Carol Duncan

Updating your Voter Registration and Finding Your Polling Place

This fall, St. Martin’s is focused on voter registration and poll access. (Don't forget to scroll to the bottom of this article to see how you can help!) Our goal is that 100% of St. Martin’s members who are eligible to vote are registered and that 100% turn out at the polls on November 6. To that end, we have two options for voter registration. POWER has an option for which we will soon provide parish-wide training. They have promised to have a phone app to register instantly online. In the meantime…

The Episcopal Public Policy Network (EPPN) also has an option. First time registrants must print out the form and mail it in because the government needs your signature. So do it NOW. October 9 is the last day to register. First time voters (like Margaret Horvat and all other just-turned-18ers) remember to bring photo ID to the polls.

Here is how to update your registration (name or address change) or find your polling information through EPPN:

Beneath the top image scroll, and below the 5 Priority Areas (with circles to represent each area) is the Episcopalians Vote section. Top of the list is “Register to vote!” Click on that, and then select your state from the drop down, and then click the red “Find out how to register” button. You are taken to an option to “Start your online registration”. Have your driver’s license handy. Fill in the registration. Tick the box for a change of name or address or party. Scroll down to fill in your previous name or address. Make sure to check the confirmation button toward the end. Also the “I’m not a robot” at the very end. Do this as soon as possible so the state and county have time to catch up with you. Again, the registration deadline is October 9.

Registered voters who need to look up their polling place can do that at EPPN also. Click on the same “Register to vote!” button then, below “Already registered?”, select the option that meets your needs. My information came right up, although I had to scroll up to see it. If you registered with a false birthdate to protect your confidentiality, possibly you will run into a problem. Let me know if it happens, and we’ll attempt a recovery.

Absentee voting:

If you must be out of town on Tuesday, November 6, here is the absentee ballot website. https://www.philadelphiavotes.com/

Highlight the Voters tab at the top and scroll down the menu about halfway to absentee & alternative ballots. You must print the application, fill out the required information, and return the completed application to: Philadelphia County Board of Elections, City Hall Room 142, 1400 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19107. The deadline is 5pm on Tuesday, October 30, 2018.

How you can help with our voter engagement efforts:

St. Martin’s will be doing voter registration at the Fall for the Arts Festival on Sept. 30 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Volunteers to help register people using their cell phones (or yours) would be appreciated. Please call me at 330.7054795.

Blessings,

The Rev. Carol Duncan, deacon