New Ministry: Standing with two Tornado-Affected Neighborhoods in St. Louis

On May 16, 2025, an EF3 tornado tore through north St. Louis, leaving hundreds of homes damaged or destroyed in a path that tore through north St. Louis. These are predominantly African American communities, home to older adults and working families already facing decades of disinvestment. In the aftermath, many residents are left with houses that are unsafe, fallen trees blocking sidewalks, and little support in navigating insurance or contractors.

Unlike the well-publicized and swift federal response to Joplin’s tornado disaster in 2011, these neighborhoods have experienced slow and inadequate assistance. Federal aid was delayed more than six weeks, and many families have received little more than $700 checks while waiting in endless lines of bureaucracy. The stark difference underscores how urgently local, faith-based action is needed.

St. Martin’s is stepping forward to respond. In partnership with the Lewis Place Fountain Park Neighborhood Association and local Episcopal churches, we are launching a new ministry to provide debris removal, safety assessments, insurance navigation support, and green space restoration—while building long-term relationships rooted in justice and care. We are also seeking funding from the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri to help seed and sustain this important work, through the New Ventures in Community Ministries grant program.

I invite you to join me for a kickoff meeting on Saturday, September 14 at 12:15 p.m. in the Upper Laird Room to learn more and see how you can be part of this ministry of hope and recovery. Please let me know if you can attend by emailing me at tgallen741@gmail.com or calling/texting 314-295-3656. I look forward to sharing this vision with you and discerning together how St. Martin’s can make a difference.

Tom Allen

Ministry Leader

Music Notes from Denise, September 6, 2025

Hark how the Bells, Sweet silver Bells, All seem to say: Throw cares away!

St. Martin’s Music Ministry needs YOU.

Our St. Martin’s Hand Bell Choir is “short-handed”!

We have enough bells & chimes to play our music but we don’t have enough hands.

Are you leaning towards joining in Music Ministry but don’t feel you have the voice?  HAND BELL CHOIR is just for you!!!  There are open spots for TWO ringers.  Our music is easy for beginners and we will help you learn everything.

We rehearse every Wednesday from 6:00 to 7:00 pm downstairs in the music wing.

Our first rehearsal will begin at 6:00 pm on September 10th

Please ask any choir member for more information or contact me at:

dmarsh@stmartinschurch.org  Denise Marsh, Music Director

Pray-ers and Prayers at St. Martin's

In addition to the Prayers of the People in the Sunday liturgy there are three additional parish prayer lists, each with a dedicated group of parishioners who have committed themselves to pray for those whose names are presented to them.

You may notice in today’s bulletin that the names list is significantly shorter. Those who had been on the Prayers of the People list for longer than 30 days have been referred to the appropriate prayer chain as described below. Those on the Chronic Illness, Long Term Cancer & Urgent Prayer Chain lists will be included in the Prayers of the People from now on.

To join the Pray-ers, simply call or email the Prayer Leader(s) listed below to receive the regularly revised lists and notification of those in need of prayer. One reason you don’t hear a lot of conversation about these prayer lists is that the Pray-ers keep these names confidential.

To request prayer for someone, you may directly contact the individual prayer chain leader and/or email the name to the parish office to be included on the Sunday Prayers of the People. These names will remain on the POP list for 30 days then drop off unless renewed. You may renew the prayer request and/or add your loved one to one or more of the other ongoing prayer lists of the parish.

Here are more details about the parish prayer lists as described in the parish directory:

Prayer Chains

Linda Huheey

The Prayer Chain is a ministry of prayer for all who request prayers.  The Prayer Chain consists of men and women of St. Martin’s who pray for the members of St Martin’s, their families and friends.  These faithful praying members of the Prayer Chain become open channels for God’s healing grace to flow through them to those in need.   We are grateful for all our faithful prayer chain members.

There are three groups for this confidential prayer ministry: 1) the Urgent Prayer Chain, 2) the Long Term Cancer Prayer Chain, and 3) the Chronic Illness Prayer Chain.

Urgent Prayer

Linda Huheey

Long Term Cancer

Daryl Norman

Chronic Illness

Gail Schneider

Although the Prayer Chains never meet as a group, there is a sense of community as we pray for the members of St Martin’s and their relatives and friends.   

If you would like to become a member of any of these Prayer Chains contact Linda Huheey.

To make a prayer request, contact the stated leader listed above.

Prayers of the People - Sunday Eucharist

Phone: 636-227-1484

E-Mail: stmartin@stmartinschurch.org

Use contact information above to submit your prayer intention for the Prayers of the People in the next Sunday Eucharist. Names remain on the list for 30 days unless renewed by the requestor.

NOTE: Contact information has been omitted for publishing on the Beacon and the website. Please refer to the parish director or the bulletin for contact information.