BAPTISM
This is the service of Christian Initiation through which infants, children, and adults enter into membership of the saving community of the church which is Christ’s body on earth. Once baptized, a person becomes a full member of Christ’s body and commences life within the Christian community.

Baptisms usually take place on four occasions in the year within the context of the Sunday Eucharist: the Eve of Easter, the Feast of Pentecost, All Saints’ Day at the beginning of November, and the Feast of Our Lord’s Baptism in early January. Other times may be considered in response to pastoral schedule.

Anyone may request baptism for an infant or child or for him or herself. No theological or membership preconditions need to be met other than meeting to talk with a member of the clergy.

Click | To download the Baptismal Form

Baptism Contact
Susan Esposito

EPISCOPAL SERVICES

Confirmation
If baptism is the initiation into the Christian life within the Church, then confirmation is the service for adult affirmation of baptismal promises marking the passage from childhood and adolescence to adult life. Confirmation is also the formal entry into adult membership of the Episcopal Church for persons from Protestant and Reformed Christian traditions.

Reception
Is similar to confirmation and is the service for entry into the Episcopal Church for persons from other Catholic traditions of Christianity.
EP-101 is required for all seeking to be confirmed or received into the Episcopal Church.

Ordination
This is a service performed only by a bishop or bishops for the ordination of bishops, priests, and deacons.

FESTIVALS AND HOLY DAY CELEBRATIONS
These are usually elaborate services marking the key points of the Church Year

Advent | Fourth Sunday before Christmas
Christmas | 25th December
Lent | 40 days before Easter
Easter | Date varies according to the lunar calendar
Pentecost | 50 days after Easter
Trinity Sunday | One week after Pentecost
All Saints and All Souls (Dia de los Muertos) | 1st and 2nd of November

Other Festivals | Calendar and Readings; Celebrations of Apostles; Mary, Mother of God,  and other major saint days.

Click | To view three-year ecumenical lectionary

PASTORAL OFFICES

Funeral Services
The Book of Common Prayer says of the funeral liturgy:

“The liturgy for the dead is an Easter liturgy. It finds all its meaning in the resurrection. Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we, too, shall be raised.”

The liturgy, therefore, is characterized by joy in the certainty that “neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

This joy, however, does not make human grief unchristian. The very love we have for each other in Christ brings deep sorrow when we are parted by death. Jesus himself wept at the grave of his friend. So, while we rejoice that one we love has entered into the nearer presence of our Lord, we sorrow in sympathy with those who mourn.”

St. Martin’s clergy will be glad to meet with you in advance of need to plan your funeral liturgy with your family. We have prepared a document to guide your conversations that you may find helpful.

Weddings
Many couples request information about holding their wedding ceremony at St. Martin’s. As the Episcopal Church we exist to serve the wider needs of the community. We exist to serve the needs of the wider community including those who are not members of St. Martin’s. The Episcopal Church celebrates same-gender marriage services.

Reconciliation of a Penitent
Individuals may request to make a personal confession to a priest in order to receive counsel and absolution of sin. The theology of Reconciliation of the Penitent in the Episcopal Church can best be summed up as: “all may, some should, none must” make their individual confession. Some people find reconciliation to be a valuable part of their spiritual formation.  Others may find it helpful during times of emotional and spiritual crisis. To arrange the sacrament of reconciliation please make contact with the Rector, The Rev Mark Sutherland.

Anointing and the Laying-On of Hands
This is a monthly service on the second Tuesday of the month for the sacrament of anointing and laying-on of hands. Weekly healing prayers are conducted in the Chapel following the main Sunday Eucharist.