One parishioner's remarks about COVID to me after the service struck me as being especially true. She said, "While we still have a ways to go with COVID, it feels like we're gaining on it." I share that feeling. I also understand and respect that there is great diversity among us about how safe we feel. On Sunday, comments on comfort after church ranged from "When can we take off our masks and have coffee hour again?" to "This was my first time indoors with other families, I'm not sure how I feel."

Outdoor gatherings have repeatedly been shown to be safe. We plan -- and I pray that the weather holds off -- to have a birthday party for St. Martin's on The Point Thursday evening. We will have food vendors and live music. Beverages and birthday cake will be provided. Food truck vendors will accept credit cards or cash, but, please, do not let this be a deterrent to coming. Come see me if you need assistance, and I will get you a plate.

For 70 years, St. Martin's has been building a strong community. We have faced challenges with steadfast faith, and through it all, we have grown. St. Martin's is a special church. It is a church that I dearly love. This upcoming Thursday, our church turns 70 years old. We are planning an outdoor gathering with food trucks and a fun band. Nothing formal, no speeches or anything like that, just good old fashioned fellowship and fun.

I am increasingly aware that our current Sunday arrangement of two outside services is unsustainable. I am also aware that some people have really fallen in love with the new outside 5 p.m. service. In the next couple of days, a survey will be going out to the parish. I encourage you to take it.

On Thursday, May 13, St. Martin's will be 70 years old. To celebrate, we are having an outside birthday party on The Point with food trucks and a band. Come, see and play. In confirmation class last week, we spoke about the baptismal vows. It was noted that "fellowship" was a part of them. Sadly, our church has not been able to do a lot of fellowship events this past year. Let's change that. On top of this, let's celebrate what our founders did for each of us in starting this amazing church. Their dream 70 years ago continues to thrive. For 70 years, St. Martin's has served this community as the hands and feet of Christ to the best of our ability. Let's celebrate.

I was energized yesterday as we heard there were only 50 new positive cases in Richland County. The numbers are going down!

We have shown that we can creatively worship in person as a large community and do so safely. We can follow science, listen to doctors and health care professionals, and celebrate our faith. No matter what service you attend, consider inviting someone to attend it with you. Please consider sharing your faith with another, and by extension, St. Martin's. The pandemic has shown us that the world needs community. At St. Martin's we have one. Invite others to experience it. 

As we continue to emerge from pandemic time, the hiring of a new youth minister and preschool director represent not only a continued return to normalcy, but also new possibilities. Both are exciting and worthy of celebration. 

Reports from yesterday at the mass vaccination site at Gamecock Park next to Williams-Brice Stadium indicated that the rate of people getting vaccines here in Columbia is slowing down. I suspect that in South Carolina many people who want the vaccine have at this point received it or have appointments to get it in the near future. I believe that soon, in the context of our state, the value of these sites will go down, giving way to community outreach, health and vaccine education, and door-to-door initiatives.

In my annual meeting address I said that one of the active missions of our church in 2021 would be participating in the ministry of public health. Yesterday, I spoke to Brandon Williams, the new volunteer coordinator at Gamecock Park. We spoke about challenges people have faced in signing up to volunteer. We also spoke about how, now that pretty much anyone can be vaccinated, fewer volunteers are coming out to help. Essentially people volunteered, got their shots, and then stopped volunteering.

Hearing this triumphant shout on Easter was an amazing experience. To all who participated in our in-person or online services, thank you. To see The Point filled with more than 400 of you was a sight that I will remember for the rest of my life.

This Easter will be memorable. After a year of isolation, we the Church are re-emerging. While we must remain vigilant against COVID, we have learned to adapt. I pray that you will find the St. Martin's offerings spiritually fulfilling and life-giving. The clergy, choir, and staff are grateful for you and looking forward to seeing you.

This Sunday is Palm Sunday. One of the holiest days of the year -- a day when we celebrate Jesus's triumphant entry into Jerusalem and then contemplate his death on the cross. From there we enter Holy Week. If you have never participated in a full Holy Week, I challenge you to consider it.

The act of welcoming someone into your home, breaking bread with them, sharing stories, and listening to them is biblical. It is also a fundamental part of living in community.

This morning I read over a proposal from Scott Keith, who has been managing our video work. He proposes changing our camera set up so that cameras can be mounted high above the worshiping body, allowing us to worship together and stream at the same time. This proposal will go to the vestry this evening. The proposal is both a sign of things to come and an acknowledgment of how far we have gone from filming services with an ipad and two iPhones. It also acknowledges that some things are here to stay. I believe we will be streaming services for years to come. In this way, St. Martin's has grown. I am thankful for that growth. I am thankful for the flexibility the church has shown, the patience, and the perseverance.

In this E-messenger and on our website, you will find that our services are changing as we seek to re-gather the body of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields during Holy Week, Easter, and beyond. Our primary focus will be and continues to be on safely worshiping. With that being said, I am particularly excited for our Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Easter baptism liturgies…