This week I encourage you to take a moment ... make a thankful list if you need to, and then instead of celebrating Thanksgiving just once, give thanks each day for the things on that list. Living a life of joy requires living a life of giving thanks, a life of gratitude. I encourage you to start with the gift of our Lord and work from there.

This Sunday is Christ the King Sunday. In the scope of the wider church, Christ the King Sunday is the last Sunday of "ordinary" before we turn our attention to Advent and the coming of Jesus. In the life of St. Martin's, this weekend represents the time of year when we have our Annual Meeting. This year my annual address will happen during the sermon. After the Eucharist, we will make our way to the Parish Hall where, after getting a cup of coffee and a tasty snack, we will: Vote on our Vestry slate, Thank our Vestry members who are completing their terms of service, Hear a Treasurer's Report about the finances of the church, Hear from our Junior Warden, And, finally we will hear from our Senior Warden.

Happy St. Martin's Day! This Sunday we commemorate the Feast of St. Martin, our patron saint. We are CELEBRATING with a day of service and a party Tuesday night. This Sunday, between services, we will be packing bags for Harvest Hope. We are also gathering food for both Harvest Hope and our Backpack Program.

This Sunday we celebrate All Saints' Sunday. All Saints' Day is a day of both looking toward the kingdom of God, and a day of remembrance. It is a day where we celebrate the paschal mystery: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again. In the midst of this celebration, we remember the Saints who have helped shape both our lives and our understanding of God. We also baptize people into the faith, and we think about the church that we want to leave behind for those who are new to the body of the faithful.

The office is filled with candy: Pirates' Booty, chips, a smoke machine and costumes. This can only mean one thing, Trunk or Treat is coming. Come play with us this Saturday from 4 to 6. We will hand out candy, laugh, meet our neighbors, meet our preschool parents, and have a great time with the youngest members of our church. It's silly. It's fun. It's great.

There is so much happening. For those who have pledged, thank you. For those who have yet to pledge, please consider making a pledge to St. Martin's. Your pledge helps us to plan and do the ministries that we do. Also, if you made a pledge for 2022 and you have not yet paid it, please consider when and how you will. If you are not going to be able to honor it, give me a call so that church can know. I'll keep it between us and will quietly delete your pledge. Your pledge is not a bill; it is a gift. Please know it is received with deep gratitude.

At the 5 p.m. Eucharist, we will have the Blessing of the Animals. Friends, this will be great fun and a little bit new. Come learn about St. Francis and bring your four-legged, or winged, slithering, or even stuffed friend to the service. This service will be special as we will also be blessing the K9s and their handlers who serve our community in the Forest Acres Police Department. May God bless them and keep them safe.

Growing up around the water, I have learned a lot about hurricanes. From hurricanes in the Pacific to hurricanes along the Gulf, I have learned to respect them. I have also learned that when the storm has passed, we should look for the helpers. We look for them because in their hands and feet, in their effort for their neighbor, we see the work of Christ. Today, I give thanks for all of you and I give thanks for the helpers.

The other day as I thought about Lazarus and my own giving, I came to a conclusion. When I am giving out of gratefulness and generosity, I tend to notice more. In my life, giving tends to open my eyes to need. When I am in a giving mode, I see the poor and am more compassionate; I see the hungry and am driven to feed; and I see injustice and am more willing to stand up to it. I think giving allows me to see the world through a more Christian lens because giving helps to orient my heart toward love.

Please consider your giving to St. Martin's. Your giving helps us to work in the community, touch people's lives, and so much more! Together, this year we airlifted clothes and bedding to Ukraine, re-built a Habitat House, sent pilgrims to Spain and so much more. Your giving and your participation in the ministries of this church are what makes our community so strong.

Sausage and eggs, grits, biscuits, breakfast casseroles, juice, and coffee! It's Parish Breakfast time. This Sunday after our 8 a.m. service and before our Jazz Mass at 10:30 a.m., we will host our parishwide breakfast. You are invited.

I want to hear from you. How can St. Martin's bring the Gospel to you during this changing time? How can we better distribute information? Let me know.

For the fourth time, we have "won" The Free-Times Best House of Worship in Columbia award. I put "won" in quotation marks because the idea of churches competing against each other does not sit well with me. On the other hand, being recognized by readers, voters, and folks like you means a lot. So what makes a good church great?

And I hope that you are as excited about our future as I am. Our church is healthy and our future is bright. I believe that as long as we keep Christ as the center of our common life together, the Holy Spirit will continue to bless us with remarkable fruit.

On Aug. 14, we will have a parish breakfast between services. During breakfast, there will be time to talk, eat, and have some fellowship time together. Also, during the breakfast, we will start to share the calendar for the upcoming program year, including new Bible studies, programs, and service opportunities. This upcoming program calendar is going to be packed for people of all ages.

It's ALL HAPPENING. Yesterday and today, St. Martin's staff have been meeting, planning and getting ready for our upcoming program year. We have been putting together a full and exciting schedule.

Our Gospel is a Gospel of love and acceptance. It is a Gospel where Jesus literally says, "Let the children come to me." Vacation Bible School is a way that we live into that call. Thank you to all who have taught our children about the love of Christ, and God's presence in their lives. It has been a special week.

As the upcoming school year approaches at breakneck speed, I find myself inexplicably feeling a bit rushed. After two years of not traveling, I feel an urge to make up for lost time. I want to take my family to the beach and to the mountains. I want to go on hikes, fish, and enjoy an adventure. I am sure I am not alone in this. If you have the time, I encourage you to explore, but as always, I invite you to come back.

I have such great memories of Vacation Bible School. I remember playing games with friends. I remember the older students I looked up to with such awe, wondering in my mind, "Will I ever be big like them?" I remember VBS-themed snacks, meals, and even some of the songs and prayers. I wonder, do you remember?

I pray that you all are well and that you are able to enjoy some summertime adventures. Taking time for rest and self-care is important. If it has been a while since you have been to church, I invite you to come back. I believe maintaining our spirit is as important as maintaining a healthy mind and body. Have you taken some time to nurture your soul?