Kairos: Christian Formation for Children & Youth - Fall 2018 updates

Dear Parents,

Kairos, St. Martin's faith formation program for children and youth, starts up this month. Here's what's new, how to register and what to expect.

New Time: 9:15 on Sunday mornings

Formation Hour, including our classes for children in grades 1 to 8, will begin Sunday, September 23, from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. That's the hour between the 8 a.m. service and the new 10:30 a.m. service. (Learn more about the new worship schedule here.)

Kairos programs are free, but registration is required. Please sign up by Wednesday, September 19, so we can plan for class sizes.

An hour for everyone -- including parents

• For kids in grades 1-8: Three Kairos classes offer fun, interactive learning that engage children in the faith -- elementary (grades 1-4), middle-school (grades 5-6), and Jr. High (grades 7-8.)
• For adults and high school youth: During that same hour, Parish Forum in the Parish Hall features local and national presenters who engage faith in action on a more mature level. Parenting in Faith, a forum for parents to talk about faith in the family, will be held monthly in the Mary Chapel, also during the 9:15 hour.
• For preschoolers and their families: worship.together, a full-Eucharist for families of young children, will continue every Sunday in the church at 9:15 a.m., followed by a reception in the Houston Room.

High School youth meet twice a month, starting Oct. 14 

Our pastor, the Rev. Jarrett Kerbel, will be anchoring youth ministry for our high school-aged students (youth in grades 9-12). The first meeting, Sunday, October 14 at noon, will invite teens to vision and plan the year over lunch with Rev. Jarrett in the library. The group is scheduled to meet the second and fourth Sundays of each month from noon to 2 p.m., making room for potential road trips, diocesan activities, service projects, and more. Use the Kairos registration form to sign up.

Learn more about Kairos and Faith Formation Sunday, Sept. 16

When it comes to faith, what do your children wonder about? What would you, personally, like to learn more about? Parish leaders from Kairos, Biblical Studies, Education for Ministry, Parish Forum and more will be on hand as part of "I Wonder Sunday", from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. on September 16.This engaging hour will offer parishioners of all ages a unique way to explore the various faith formation opportunities available to them on Sunday mornings and beyond.

Have Questions? Want to volunteer?

Please contact me if you have thoughts or questions about St. Martin's ministry to children, youth, and families at bballenger@stmartinec.org, or call 215.247.7466. If you'd like to volunteer to support our programs, let me know and we'll talk. And you can sign up here.

I'm excited to be heading up our ministry to children, youth, and families, and look forward to working with you this program year!

Peace,

Barb Ballenger

Associate for Spiritual Formation and Care

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 

Wellspring at St. Martin’s has undergone a transformation

Wellspring at St. Martin’s is entering its sixth year with a new approach to its ministry of facilitating soul discovery and spiritual growth in the parish and the community. Under the direction of Coordinator Joanne Conway, a team of St. Martin’s parishioners has been engaged in informational interviews, team formation, and prayerful listening throughout the summer.

The group has clarified the ministry’s mission, focusing on assisting the congregation and broader community in nurturing their spirits and deepening their relationships with God and one another through practices rooted in, or resonant with, the Christian tradition.

Headwaters of the Jordan River

“The exact picture of Wellspring remains an unfolding mystery, one that will take time and a great deal of listening, remaining curious, and being patient,” Conway said last spring as the new team was just forming. “We will be beginning with building our leadership team and exploring. We then will move out into the church community with questions and listening ears and hearts to find how we can best serve.”

What have they discovered in the last several months? One-one-one interviews have revealed a desire for opportunities for ongoing reflection and a hunger for small-group gatherings. Team members have embraced a call to reach into their own spiritual passions and skills to offer programs that speak to local needs.

Wellspring’s fall programming reflects this with a variety of opportunities designed and facilitated by team members. Among them will be a weekly reflection on the Sunday sermons, beginning Sunday, October 28. The discussion will be facilitated by Wellspring team members and will use a process designed to help participants listen to each other and deepen their experience of what they have heard.

Women Connecting

The ministry will also facilitate a prayerful walk in the Wissahickon (Oct. 6), an exploration of contemplative prayer with St. Martin’s Rector Jarrett Kerbel (Oct. 17-31), and a discussion of Frederick Buechner’s book The Hungering Dark (Nov. 8 and Dec. 12). For more details visit StMartinEC.org/wellspring.

Future programming will seek ways to include a wider section of the parish and community, with offerings that speak to children, youth, and families. For updates on events, as well as spiritual reflections and resources, like and follow the Wellspring Facebook page.

Wellspring will continue to offer Women Connecting, a regular gathering of women marked by prayer, silence, and deep listening, inspired by the church seasons. The next gathering is Sept. 15 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Wellspring will also continue to host area spiritual directors.

The Wellspring Team

In addition to Wellspring Coordinator Joanne Conway, the Wellspring team includes John Hougen, Elizabeth Morrison, Jenny Cardoso, Scott Robinson, Susan Cole and Barbara Dundon. Barbara Ballenger, Associate for Spiritual Formation and Care, will continue to be Wellspring’s staff liaison.

For more information on Wellspring at St. Martin’s contact Joanne Conway at joanneconway86@gmail.com.