Mark your calendars - May through August are the months for Christian Community Service Center's "Back to School" Drive! Thousands of children in greater Houston will begin the 2013-2014 academic year without the basic school supplies needed to succeed. The children at Yellowstone Academy, as well as the children of Lord of the Streets Episcopal Church (LOTS), also will benefit from this program. You can help these students through CCSC's "Back to School" program! Your $45 donation will provide one child with a new school uniform, shoes, and a grade-level appropriate package of new school supplies. To donate, you can enclose your cash or check in the "Clothes for Kids" envelopes located in the pew racks during July and place it in the offering. Or, send a check to St. Martin's Episcopal Church made payable to St. Martin's with the notation at the bottom, "CCSC BTS." Help a child to arrive at school on the first day of class feeling well prepared and ready to learn!

Youth Advocates Please join us as we host reVision/Youth Advocates for prayer, dinner, break dancing, Bible Study and tutoring each Thursday evening at the Island from 6:00-9:00 PM. Perfect family fun!

YA is an innovative youth development organization based in Houston, Texas. Since 1988, Youth Advocates has been building a positive youth community for young people in Texas. YA utilizes hip-hop as its central organizing principle, employing a vernacular that young people appreciate. The ethos of this community promotes autonomy, independent thinking, and creativity, and builds unconventional opportunities for growth and self-expression. Within this culture, YA establishes a norm of affection that connects disenfranchised young people to adults and to each other in constructive and discernable ways. Eliminating geographical and ethnic boundaries, YA creates a large circle of friends, joined by the common values of love, acceptance, and mutual respect. As our young people open themselves to new ways of thinking, their negative behavior patterns and their hopelessness fall away and are replaced by healthier, more proactive modes of activity.

For more information or to sign up, send an e-mail to outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org.

Note: This group will not meet on holidays or during Church campus closings. Please contact the group leader for updates.

St. Martin's Episcopal Church and Amistad Mission's Annual Trip to Bolivia is June 26 to July 2, 2013.

St. Martin's, in conjunction with Amistad Mission, invites you to join hands with our South American neighbors on this mission trip of a lifetime.

Trip Details:
Each year, St. Martin's parishioners and their families travel to Cochabamba, Bolivia to spend time with children at the "Casa San Martin," a children's home funded by St. Martin's. The children love our visits, which feature an "Olympic Day," a favorite annual event for everyone! This week-long trip is an opportunity to grow spiritually by sharing your gifts of time and talent with these very deserving children and families.

The average cost of airfare is $1,200, plus there is an additional cost of $75/day for adults or $50/day for students to cover room and board. Scholarships are available.

Please join us in Bolivia. The deadline to sign-up is Saturday, May 25. If you are interested, please contact Wendy Chiles. To obtain the contact information of Wendy Chiles, please send an e-mail to outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org.

Background on Amistad Mission:
Amistad's two-part mission is to:

Provide a loving, Christian family to abandoned and abused children, enabling them to become leaders in their community

Transform rural, impoverished Andean communities through water, agricultural, health and education programs

Bolivia is the poorest country in South America where 65% of the population earn less than $1 a day and 2.5 million children suffer from malnutrition, disease, abuse and abandonment.

For over 25 years, Amistad Mission has been addressing these challenges in Christ's name by finding lasting ways to improve the lives of the poor and vulnerable -- one child, one family, one village at a time.

For more information, please visit www.amistadmission.org.

Join the Men of St. Martin's to make sandwiches for Houston's hungry children on Tuesday, May 28 from 5:00-6:30 PM in the Activity Center Fellowship Room.

Kids' Meals delivers lunch to pre-school chldren living in poverty. Let us know if you can help by contacting outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org.

Mark your calendars - May through August are the months for Christian Community Service Center's "Back to School" Drive! Thousands of children in greater Houston will begin the 2013-2014 academic year without the basic school supplies needed to succeed. The children at Yellowstone Academy, as well as the children of Lord of the Streets Episcopal Church (LOTS), also will benefit from this program. You can help these students through CCSC's "Back to School" program! Your $45 donation will provide one child with a new school uniform, shoes, and a grade-level appropriate package of new school supplies. To donate, you can enclose your cash or check in the "Clothes for Kids" envelopes located in the pew racks during July and place it in the offering. Or, send a check to St. Martin's Episcopal Church made payable to St. Martin's with the notation at the bottom, "CCSC BTS." Help a child to arrive at school on the first day of class feeling well prepared and ready to learn!

Youth Advocates Please join us as we host reVision/Youth Advocates for prayer, dinner, break dancing, Bible Study and tutoring each Thursday evening at the Island from 6:00-9:00 PM. Perfect family fun!

YA is an innovative youth development organization based in Houston, Texas. Since 1988, Youth Advocates has been building a positive youth community for young people in Texas. YA utilizes hip-hop as its central organizing principle, employing a vernacular that young people appreciate. The ethos of this community promotes autonomy, independent thinking, and creativity, and builds unconventional opportunities for growth and self-expression. Within this culture, YA establishes a norm of affection that connects disenfranchised young people to adults and to each other in constructive and discernable ways. Eliminating geographical and ethnic boundaries, YA creates a large circle of friends, joined by the common values of love, acceptance, and mutual respect. As our young people open themselves to new ways of thinking, their negative behavior patterns and their hopelessness fall away and are replaced by healthier, more proactive modes of activity.

For more information or to sign up, send an e-mail to outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org.

Note: This group will not meet on holidays or during Church campus closings. Please contact the group leader for updates.

Yellowstone Academy is collecting “Boxtops for Education”, found on the boxes of grocery store products such as cereal, tissues, sandwich bags, etc. Please clip these for our friends at Yellowstone and leave in the “Yellowstone Box Tops” container beside the Outreach boxes in the Activity Center.

Join us to make sandwiches for Houston's hungry children on Tuesday, June 4 from 4:00-5:00 PM in the Activity Center Community Room. Enjoy fun and fellowship for all ages. Kids' Meals delivers lunch to pre-school children living in poverty. Sign-up by contacting outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org.

Mark your calendars - May through August are the months for Christian Community Service Center's "Back to School" Drive! Thousands of children in greater Houston will begin the 2013-2014 academic year without the basic school supplies needed to succeed. The children at Yellowstone Academy, as well as the children of Lord of the Streets Episcopal Church (LOTS), also will benefit from this program. You can help these students through CCSC's "Back to School" program! Your $45 donation will provide one child with a new school uniform, shoes, and a grade-level appropriate package of new school supplies. To donate, you can enclose your cash or check in the "Clothes for Kids" envelopes located in the pew racks during July and place it in the offering. Or, send a check to St. Martin's Episcopal Church made payable to St. Martin's with the notation at the bottom, "CCSC BTS." Help a child to arrive at school on the first day of class feeling well prepared and ready to learn!

Youth Advocates Please join us as we host reVision/Youth Advocates for prayer, dinner, break dancing, Bible Study and tutoring each Thursday evening at the Island from 6:00-9:00 PM. Perfect family fun!

YA is an innovative youth development organization based in Houston, Texas. Since 1988, Youth Advocates has been building a positive youth community for young people in Texas. YA utilizes hip-hop as its central organizing principle, employing a vernacular that young people appreciate. The ethos of this community promotes autonomy, independent thinking, and creativity, and builds unconventional opportunities for growth and self-expression. Within this culture, YA establishes a norm of affection that connects disenfranchised young people to adults and to each other in constructive and discernable ways. Eliminating geographical and ethnic boundaries, YA creates a large circle of friends, joined by the common values of love, acceptance, and mutual respect. As our young people open themselves to new ways of thinking, their negative behavior patterns and their hopelessness fall away and are replaced by healthier, more proactive modes of activity.

For more information or to sign up, send an e-mail to outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org.

Note: This group will not meet on holidays or during Church campus closings. Please contact the group leader for updates.

Informative presentation about this transformational ministry and the wide variety of volunteer opportunities. Meet from 6:00-7:00 PM at St. Martin's Episcopal Church "Island", Room 208. Just show up or contact outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org.

Our friends at Heights Film Co. spent months creating this incredible video showcasing reVision's work to build community with gang affected youth in Southwest Houston. Please feel

Parishioners can reach out to others by donating items in the Activity Center.

Lord of the Streets is feeling the coming of winter. Please gather unneeded coats, jackets, gloves, sweatsuits, socks, long pants, shirts, sweaters and hats and drop off in the Activity Center. Contact Tom Tellepsen II for more information.

We are collecting canned goods, peanut butter, diapers and baby food for Christian Community Service Center (C.C.S.C.). This organization assists poor, hungry, disabled and otherwise needy families.

We are collecting new and used eyeglasses for Conroe Nooners Group (for global missions).

For more information, contact Cyd Gillette at 713/830-4128.

Mission: Miami for grades 7-12 will be June 10-17, 2013.

Mission trips are the backbone of St. Martin's Student Ministries because they are our chance to go out into the world and live our faith by using our gifts and blessings to care for our neighbors.

Students in grades 6-8 may contact Laura Henry at 713/985-3841.

Students in grades 9-12 may contact Anthony Orona at 713/830-4110.

[Updated 05-21-2013]

Join us Tuesday, June 11th, at 7:30 PM as we take part in the downtown service, located at 2800 St. Charles Street, known as Church Under the Bridge. We will be serving a meal, serving as prayer partners and providing praise music for the service. Volunteers, age 18 and older, will meet in the St. Martin's parking lot at 6:45 PM to carpool to the service. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Candace McCoin, or send an e-mail to outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org.

For more information, contact Cyd Gillette at 713/830-4128.

Mark your calendars - May through August are the months for Christian Community Service Center's "Back to School" Drive! Thousands of children in greater Houston will begin the 2013-2014 academic year without the basic school supplies needed to succeed. The children at Yellowstone Academy, as well as the children of Lord of the Streets Episcopal Church (LOTS), also will benefit from this program. You can help these students through CCSC's "Back to School" program! Your $45 donation will provide one child with a new school uniform, shoes, and a grade-level appropriate package of new school supplies. To donate, you can enclose your cash or check in the "Clothes for Kids" envelopes located in the pew racks during July and place it in the offering. Or, send a check to St. Martin's Episcopal Church made payable to St. Martin's with the notation at the bottom, "CCSC BTS." Help a child to arrive at school on the first day of class feeling well prepared and ready to learn!

Lord of the Streets is in need of men's clothing - please gather any unwanted clothing and drop off in the Activity Center. Canned goods, peanut butter, rice and beans are being collected for Christian Community Service Center (C.C.S.C.). This organization assists poor, hungry, disabled and otherwise needy families. In addition, we are also collecting new and used eyeglasses for Conroe Nooners Group (for global missions).

Youth Advocates Please join us as we host reVision/Youth Advocates for prayer, dinner, break dancing, Bible Study and tutoring each Thursday evening at the Island from 6:00-9:00 PM. Perfect family fun!

YA is an innovative youth development organization based in Houston, Texas. Since 1988, Youth Advocates has been building a positive youth community for young people in Texas. YA utilizes hip-hop as its central organizing principle, employing a vernacular that young people appreciate. The ethos of this community promotes autonomy, independent thinking, and creativity, and builds unconventional opportunities for growth and self-expression. Within this culture, YA establishes a norm of affection that connects disenfranchised young people to adults and to each other in constructive and discernable ways. Eliminating geographical and ethnic boundaries, YA creates a large circle of friends, joined by the common values of love, acceptance, and mutual respect. As our young people open themselves to new ways of thinking, their negative behavior patterns and their hopelessness fall away and are replaced by healthier, more proactive modes of activity.

For more information or to sign up, send an e-mail to outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org.

Note: This group will not meet on holidays or during Church campus closings. Please contact the group leader for updates.

St. Martin's volunteers will work at The Beacon (1212 Prairie, 77002) on Saturday, June 15, from 11:00 AM-2:00 PM. We will check in clients, prepare food and do laundry. The minimum age to volunteer is 15 without a parent. If you would like to serve, RSVP to outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org.

For more information, contact Tommie Highfill or Cyd Gillette at 713/830-4128.

For more information about The Beacon, click here.

Yellowstone Academy is collecting “Boxtops for Education”, found on the boxes of grocery store products such as cereal, tissues, sandwich bags, etc. Please clip these for our friends at Yellowstone and leave in the “Yellowstone Box Tops” container beside the Outreach boxes in the Activity Center.

Mark your calendars - May through August are the months for Christian Community Service Center's "Back to School" Drive! Thousands of children in greater Houston will begin the 2013-2014 academic year without the basic school supplies needed to succeed. The children at Yellowstone Academy, as well as the children of Lord of the Streets Episcopal Church (LOTS), also will benefit from this program. You can help these students through CCSC's "Back to School" program! Your $45 donation will provide one child with a new school uniform, shoes, and a grade-level appropriate package of new school supplies. To donate, you can enclose your cash or check in the "Clothes for Kids" envelopes located in the pew racks during July and place it in the offering. Or, send a check to St. Martin's Episcopal Church made payable to St. Martin's with the notation at the bottom, "CCSC BTS." Help a child to arrive at school on the first day of class feeling well prepared and ready to learn!

Youth Advocates Please join us as we host reVision/Youth Advocates for prayer, dinner, break dancing, Bible Study and tutoring each Thursday evening at the Island from 6:00-9:00 PM. Perfect family fun!

YA is an innovative youth development organization based in Houston, Texas. Since 1988, Youth Advocates has been building a positive youth community for young people in Texas. YA utilizes hip-hop as its central organizing principle, employing a vernacular that young people appreciate. The ethos of this community promotes autonomy, independent thinking, and creativity, and builds unconventional opportunities for growth and self-expression. Within this culture, YA establishes a norm of affection that connects disenfranchised young people to adults and to each other in constructive and discernable ways. Eliminating geographical and ethnic boundaries, YA creates a large circle of friends, joined by the common values of love, acceptance, and mutual respect. As our young people open themselves to new ways of thinking, their negative behavior patterns and their hopelessness fall away and are replaced by healthier, more proactive modes of activity.

For more information or to sign up, send an e-mail to outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org.

Note: This group will not meet on holidays or during Church campus closings. Please contact the group leader for updates.

Once a month St. Martin's volunteers assist CCSC's Department of Emergency Services. We sort food and clothing donations, and staff the Food Pantry and clothing shop. No experience is needed. Your volunteer work here makes an immediate difference in people's lives. This community service is also suitable, with parental supervision, for young people aged 10 and older. We meet in front of CCSC at 3434 Branard (2 blocks south of West Alabama at Marquart, east of Edloe Street) at 8:50 AM and work from 9:00 AM-12:00 PM. Wear your outreach t-shirt.

Contact Nancy Holder for details. Send an e-mail to outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org to let us know you can come.

Upcoming work dates include:
June 22 and 29
July 27
August 24
September 28
October 26
November 23

Join the Men of St. Martin's to make sandwiches for Houston's hungry children on Tuesday, June 25 from 5:00-6:30 PM in the Activity Center Fellowship Room.

Kids' Meals delivers lunch to pre-school chldren living in poverty. Let us know if you can help by contacting outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org.

Bless others by reading a book!! Come read a short story to 50 children between the ages of 5 and 12 attending our Freedom School. Join in the morning sharing time and kick off for the day as well. Location: Westbury United Methodist Church; 5200 Willowbend Blvd in Southwest Houston • Morning Sharing time and reading begin at 8:30am until 9:30 am. For more information contact the Outreach Office @ 713-985-3811. To volunteer, send an e-mail to "mailto:outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org">outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org. St. Martin’s Episcopal Church is partnering with reVision to host a “Freedom School” for 50 students in Southwest Houston. Freedom School is a 5 day a week for 6 weeks literacy program making reading fun!! Our reVision kids will not just be participants in the Freedom School, but also serve as mentors and helpers for the younger children. This is a unique opportunity for the reVision young men to not only improve their literacy and develop a love for reading, but also to embrace their identify as role models and leaders in their community.

Amistad Mission Trip

St. Martin's is organizing a mission trip to Cochabamba, Bolivia, June 26-July 2, 2013. The trip starts with a visit to the Amistad children's village, which houses 120 children in 12 homes. We will sponsor a full day of "Olympic competition" in the areas of sports and art, which the kids enjoy thoroughly and look forward to each year. In addition, we will spend time with the residents of St. Martin's sponsored youth house (Casa de St. Martin) and work on needed repairs and painting. The cost of the trip is approximately $2000, along with necessary shots and passport. Some scholarships are available. The deadline to RSVP for the mission trip is Tuesday, May 7.

[Updated 1-9-2013]

Mark your calendars - May through August are the months for Christian Community Service Center's "Back to School" Drive! Thousands of children in greater Houston will begin the 2013-2014 academic year without the basic school supplies needed to succeed. The children at Yellowstone Academy, as well as the children of Lord of the Streets Episcopal Church (LOTS), also will benefit from this program. You can help these students through CCSC's "Back to School" program! Your $45 donation will provide one child with a new school uniform, shoes, and a grade-level appropriate package of new school supplies. To donate, you can enclose your cash or check in the "Clothes for Kids" envelopes located in the pew racks during July and place it in the offering. Or, send a check to St. Martin's Episcopal Church made payable to St. Martin's with the notation at the bottom, "CCSC BTS." Help a child to arrive at school on the first day of class feeling well prepared and ready to learn!

Mission: Galveston for grades 5-6 will be June 26-29, 2013.We will be working on the mural in St. Vincent's House which helps others escape poverty. We will also go to Schlitterbahn.

Mission trips are the backbone of St. Martin's Student Ministries because they are our chance to go out into the world and live our faith by using our gifts and blessings to care for our neighbors.

Children in grade 5 may contact Holli Kight at 713/985-3816.

Students in grades 6-8 may contact Laura Henry at 713/985-3841.

[Updated 11-14-2012]

Youth Advocates Please join us as we host reVision/Youth Advocates for prayer, dinner, break dancing, Bible Study and tutoring each Thursday evening at the Island from 6:00-9:00 PM. Perfect family fun!

YA is an innovative youth development organization based in Houston, Texas. Since 1988, Youth Advocates has been building a positive youth community for young people in Texas. YA utilizes hip-hop as its central organizing principle, employing a vernacular that young people appreciate. The ethos of this community promotes autonomy, independent thinking, and creativity, and builds unconventional opportunities for growth and self-expression. Within this culture, YA establishes a norm of affection that connects disenfranchised young people to adults and to each other in constructive and discernable ways. Eliminating geographical and ethnic boundaries, YA creates a large circle of friends, joined by the common values of love, acceptance, and mutual respect. As our young people open themselves to new ways of thinking, their negative behavior patterns and their hopelessness fall away and are replaced by healthier, more proactive modes of activity.

For more information or to sign up, send an e-mail to outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org.

Note: This group will not meet on holidays or during Church campus closings. Please contact the group leader for updates.

Bless others by reading a book!! Come read a short story to 50 children between the ages of 5 and 12 attending our Freedom School. Join in the morning sharing time and kick off for the day as well. Location: Westbury United Methodist Church; 5200 Willowbend Blvd in Southwest Houston • Morning Sharing time and reading begin at 8:30am until 9:30 am. For more information contact the Outreach Office @ 713-985-3811. To volunteer, send an e-mail to "mailto:outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org">outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org. St. Martin’s Episcopal Church is partnering with reVision to host a “Freedom School” for 50 students in Southwest Houston. Freedom School is a 5 day a week for 6 weeks literacy program making reading fun!! Our reVision kids will not just be participants in the Freedom School, but also serve as mentors and helpers for the younger children. This is a unique opportunity for the reVision young men to not only improve their literacy and develop a love for reading, but also to embrace their identify as role models and leaders in their community.

Once a month St. Martin's volunteers assist CCSC's Department of Emergency Services. We sort food and clothing donations, and staff the Food Pantry and clothing shop. No experience is needed. Your volunteer work here makes an immediate difference in people's lives. This community service is also suitable, with parental supervision, for young people aged 10 and older. We meet in front of CCSC at 3434 Branard (2 blocks south of West Alabama at Marquart, east of Edloe Street) at 8:50 AM and work from 9:00 AM-12:00 PM. Wear your outreach t-shirt.

Contact Nancy Holder for details. Send an e-mail to outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org to let us know you can come.

Upcoming work dates include:
June 22 and 29
July 27
August 24
September 28
October 26
November 23

Yellowstone Academy is collecting “Boxtops for Education”, found on the boxes of grocery store products such as cereal, tissues, sandwich bags, etc. Please clip these for our friends at Yellowstone and leave in the “Yellowstone Box Tops” container beside the Outreach boxes in the Activity Center.

Join us to make sandwiches for Houston's hungry children on Tuesday, July 2 from 4:00-5:00 PM in the Activity Center Community Room. Enjoy fun and fellowship for all ages. Kids' Meals delivers lunch to pre-school children living in poverty. Sign-up by contacting outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org.

Mark your calendars - May through August are the months for Christian Community Service Center's "Back to School" Drive! Thousands of children in greater Houston will begin the 2013-2014 academic year without the basic school supplies needed to succeed. The children at Yellowstone Academy, as well as the children of Lord of the Streets Episcopal Church (LOTS), also will benefit from this program. You can help these students through CCSC's "Back to School" program! Your $45 donation will provide one child with a new school uniform, shoes, and a grade-level appropriate package of new school supplies. To donate, you can enclose your cash or check in the "Clothes for Kids" envelopes located in the pew racks during July and place it in the offering. Or, send a check to St. Martin's Episcopal Church made payable to St. Martin's with the notation at the bottom, "CCSC BTS." Help a child to arrive at school on the first day of class feeling well prepared and ready to learn!

Youth Advocates Please join us as we host reVision/Youth Advocates for prayer, dinner, break dancing, Bible Study and tutoring each Thursday evening at the Island from 6:00-9:00 PM. Perfect family fun!

YA is an innovative youth development organization based in Houston, Texas. Since 1988, Youth Advocates has been building a positive youth community for young people in Texas. YA utilizes hip-hop as its central organizing principle, employing a vernacular that young people appreciate. The ethos of this community promotes autonomy, independent thinking, and creativity, and builds unconventional opportunities for growth and self-expression. Within this culture, YA establishes a norm of affection that connects disenfranchised young people to adults and to each other in constructive and discernable ways. Eliminating geographical and ethnic boundaries, YA creates a large circle of friends, joined by the common values of love, acceptance, and mutual respect. As our young people open themselves to new ways of thinking, their negative behavior patterns and their hopelessness fall away and are replaced by healthier, more proactive modes of activity.

For more information or to sign up, send an e-mail to outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org.

Note: This group will not meet on holidays or during Church campus closings. Please contact the group leader for updates.

Parishioners can reach out to others by donating items in the Activity Center.

Lord of the Streets is feeling the coming of winter. Please gather unneeded coats, jackets, gloves, sweatsuits, socks, long pants, shirts, sweaters and hats and drop off in the Activity Center. Contact Tom Tellepsen II for more information.

We are collecting canned goods, peanut butter, diapers and baby food for Christian Community Service Center (C.C.S.C.). This organization assists poor, hungry, disabled and otherwise needy families.

We are collecting new and used eyeglasses for Conroe Nooners Group (for global missions).

For more information, contact Cyd Gillette at 713/830-4128.

Join us Tuesday, July 9th, at 7:30 PM as we take part in the downtown service, located at 2800 St. Charles Street, known as Church Under the Bridge. We will be serving a meal, serving as prayer partners and providing praise music for the service. Volunteers, age 18 and older, will meet in the St. Martin's parking lot at 6:45 PM to carpool to the service. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Candace McCoin, or send an e-mail to outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org.

For more information, contact Cyd Gillette at 713/830-4128.

Bless others by reading a book!! Come read a short story to 50 children between the ages of 5 and 12 attending our Freedom School. Join in the morning sharing time and kick off for the day as well. Location: Westbury United Methodist Church; 5200 Willowbend Blvd in Southwest Houston • Morning Sharing time and reading begin at 8:30am until 9:30 am. For more information contact the Outreach Office @ 713-985-3811. To volunteer, send an e-mail to "mailto:outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org">outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org. St. Martin’s Episcopal Church is partnering with reVision to host a “Freedom School” for 50 students in Southwest Houston. Freedom School is a 5 day a week for 6 weeks literacy program making reading fun!! Our reVision kids will not just be participants in the Freedom School, but also serve as mentors and helpers for the younger children. This is a unique opportunity for the reVision young men to not only improve their literacy and develop a love for reading, but also to embrace their identify as role models and leaders in their community.

Mark your calendars - May through August are the months for Christian Community Service Center's "Back to School" Drive! Thousands of children in greater Houston will begin the 2013-2014 academic year without the basic school supplies needed to succeed. The children at Yellowstone Academy, as well as the children of Lord of the Streets Episcopal Church (LOTS), also will benefit from this program. You can help these students through CCSC's "Back to School" program! Your $45 donation will provide one child with a new school uniform, shoes, and a grade-level appropriate package of new school supplies. To donate, you can enclose your cash or check in the "Clothes for Kids" envelopes located in the pew racks during July and place it in the offering. Or, send a check to St. Martin's Episcopal Church made payable to St. Martin's with the notation at the bottom, "CCSC BTS." Help a child to arrive at school on the first day of class feeling well prepared and ready to learn!

Youth Advocates Please join us as we host reVision/Youth Advocates for prayer, dinner, break dancing, Bible Study and tutoring each Thursday evening at the Island from 6:00-9:00 PM. Perfect family fun!

YA is an innovative youth development organization based in Houston, Texas. Since 1988, Youth Advocates has been building a positive youth community for young people in Texas. YA utilizes hip-hop as its central organizing principle, employing a vernacular that young people appreciate. The ethos of this community promotes autonomy, independent thinking, and creativity, and builds unconventional opportunities for growth and self-expression. Within this culture, YA establishes a norm of affection that connects disenfranchised young people to adults and to each other in constructive and discernable ways. Eliminating geographical and ethnic boundaries, YA creates a large circle of friends, joined by the common values of love, acceptance, and mutual respect. As our young people open themselves to new ways of thinking, their negative behavior patterns and their hopelessness fall away and are replaced by healthier, more proactive modes of activity.

For more information or to sign up, send an e-mail to outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org.

Note: This group will not meet on holidays or during Church campus closings. Please contact the group leader for updates.

Bless others by reading a book!! Come read a short story to 50 children between the ages of 5 and 12 attending our Freedom School. Join in the morning sharing time and kick off for the day as well. Location: Westbury United Methodist Church; 5200 Willowbend Blvd in Southwest Houston • Morning Sharing time and reading begin at 8:30am until 9:30 am. For more information contact the Outreach Office @ 713-985-3811. To volunteer, send an e-mail to "mailto:outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org">outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org. St. Martin’s Episcopal Church is partnering with reVision to host a “Freedom School” for 50 students in Southwest Houston. Freedom School is a 5 day a week for 6 weeks literacy program making reading fun!! Our reVision kids will not just be participants in the Freedom School, but also serve as mentors and helpers for the younger children. This is a unique opportunity for the reVision young men to not only improve their literacy and develop a love for reading, but also to embrace their identify as role models and leaders in their community.

Lord of the Streets is in need of men's clothing - please gather any unwanted clothing and drop off in the Activity Center. Canned goods, peanut butter, rice and beans are being collected for Christian Community Service Center (C.C.S.C.). This organization assists poor, hungry, disabled and otherwise needy families. In addition, we are also collecting new and used eyeglasses for Conroe Nooners Group (for global missions).

To give a gift to the Saint Martin's Endowment for Grandparents Day (September 9); submit requests by Friday, July 20, for inclusion in the September issue of The Star.

A gift to the Saint Martin's Endowment is a wonderful way to remember or honor your loved ones on special occasions or holidays. The funds of the Endowment may be designated as you wish, strictly for special needs within St. Martin's Episcopal Church, or for needs of those outside St. Martin's. Giving gifts to the Endowment, in memory of loved ones who have died, in honor of someone, or for any other reason, are fine ways to ensure that the heritage of St. Martin's will continue. Those honored and the families of those remembered will be notified of your gift. In order for an acknowledgment to appear in The Star on a particular special occasion or holiday, please submit your requests about two months prior.

Send your check to St. Martin's Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Road, Houston, TX 77056, enclosing a note indicating the names of those being "honored" or "remembered." Please include your name, address, telephone number and information on others to be notified. Should you have further questions, please contact Debbie Hutchison at 713/985-3803.

Yellowstone Academy is collecting “Boxtops for Education”, found on the boxes of grocery store products such as cereal, tissues, sandwich bags, etc. Please clip these for our friends at Yellowstone and leave in the “Yellowstone Box Tops” container beside the Outreach boxes in the Activity Center.

Bless others by reading a book!! Come read a short story to 50 children between the ages of 5 and 12 attending our Freedom School. Join in the morning sharing time and kick off for the day as well. Location: Westbury United Methodist Church; 5200 Willowbend Blvd in Southwest Houston • Morning Sharing time and reading begin at 8:30am until 9:30 am. For more information contact the Outreach Office @ 713-985-3811. To volunteer, send an e-mail to "mailto:outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org">outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org. St. Martin’s Episcopal Church is partnering with reVision to host a “Freedom School” for 50 students in Southwest Houston. Freedom School is a 5 day a week for 6 weeks literacy program making reading fun!! Our reVision kids will not just be participants in the Freedom School, but also serve as mentors and helpers for the younger children. This is a unique opportunity for the reVision young men to not only improve their literacy and develop a love for reading, but also to embrace their identify as role models and leaders in their community.

Mark your calendars - May through August are the months for Christian Community Service Center's "Back to School" Drive! Thousands of children in greater Houston will begin the 2013-2014 academic year without the basic school supplies needed to succeed. The children at Yellowstone Academy, as well as the children of Lord of the Streets Episcopal Church (LOTS), also will benefit from this program. You can help these students through CCSC's "Back to School" program! Your $45 donation will provide one child with a new school uniform, shoes, and a grade-level appropriate package of new school supplies. To donate, you can enclose your cash or check in the "Clothes for Kids" envelopes located in the pew racks during July and place it in the offering. Or, send a check to St. Martin's Episcopal Church made payable to St. Martin's with the notation at the bottom, "CCSC BTS." Help a child to arrive at school on the first day of class feeling well prepared and ready to learn!

On Wednesday, July 17, Rally the Troops will be sending themed care packages to soldiers on our Continuing Prayer list who are serving in Iraq or Afghanistan. Volunteers are invited to come to Bagby Parish Hall to help pack the boxes and to write encouragement and appreciation notes to the soldiers. Dutch-treat lunch will be available at Cafe St. Martin's. We begin at 11:30 AM and usually finish by 3:30 PM. For more information, contact Candace McCoin.

To RSVP, contact outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org.

St. Martin's has over 100 names of those in the armed forces on our Continuing Prayer list. We would like your help in updating this list, and especially updating any addresses. New names are always welcome. To update addresses, please contact Candace McCoin. To add a name to our Continuing Prayer list, please contact Cyndy Ensign at 713/985-3808.

Youth Advocates Please join us as we host reVision/Youth Advocates for prayer, dinner, break dancing, Bible Study and tutoring each Thursday evening at the Island from 6:00-9:00 PM. Perfect family fun!

YA is an innovative youth development organization based in Houston, Texas. Since 1988, Youth Advocates has been building a positive youth community for young people in Texas. YA utilizes hip-hop as its central organizing principle, employing a vernacular that young people appreciate. The ethos of this community promotes autonomy, independent thinking, and creativity, and builds unconventional opportunities for growth and self-expression. Within this culture, YA establishes a norm of affection that connects disenfranchised young people to adults and to each other in constructive and discernable ways. Eliminating geographical and ethnic boundaries, YA creates a large circle of friends, joined by the common values of love, acceptance, and mutual respect. As our young people open themselves to new ways of thinking, their negative behavior patterns and their hopelessness fall away and are replaced by healthier, more proactive modes of activity.

For more information or to sign up, send an e-mail to outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org.

Note: This group will not meet on holidays or during Church campus closings. Please contact the group leader for updates.

Bless others by reading a book!! Come read a short story to 50 children between the ages of 5 and 12 attending our Freedom School. Join in the morning sharing time and kick off for the day as well. Location: Westbury United Methodist Church; 5200 Willowbend Blvd in Southwest Houston • Morning Sharing time and reading begin at 8:30am until 9:30 am. For more information contact the Outreach Office @ 713-985-3811. To volunteer, send an e-mail to "mailto:outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org">outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org. St. Martin’s Episcopal Church is partnering with reVision to host a “Freedom School” for 50 students in Southwest Houston. Freedom School is a 5 day a week for 6 weeks literacy program making reading fun!! Our reVision kids will not just be participants in the Freedom School, but also serve as mentors and helpers for the younger children. This is a unique opportunity for the reVision young men to not only improve their literacy and develop a love for reading, but also to embrace their identify as role models and leaders in their community.

Join the Men of St. Martin's to make sandwiches for Houston's hungry children on Tuesday, July 23 from 5:00-6:30 PM in the Activity Center Fellowship Room.

Kids' Meals delivers lunch to pre-school chldren living in poverty. Let us know if you can help by contacting outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org.

Bless others by reading a book!! Come read a short story to 50 children between the ages of 5 and 12 attending our Freedom School. Join in the morning sharing time and kick off for the day as well. Location: Westbury United Methodist Church; 5200 Willowbend Blvd in Southwest Houston • Morning Sharing time and reading begin at 8:30am until 9:30 am. For more information contact the Outreach Office @ 713-985-3811. To volunteer, send an e-mail to "mailto:outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org">outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org. St. Martin’s Episcopal Church is partnering with reVision to host a “Freedom School” for 50 students in Southwest Houston. Freedom School is a 5 day a week for 6 weeks literacy program making reading fun!! Our reVision kids will not just be participants in the Freedom School, but also serve as mentors and helpers for the younger children. This is a unique opportunity for the reVision young men to not only improve their literacy and develop a love for reading, but also to embrace their identify as role models and leaders in their community.

Mark your calendars - May through August are the months for Christian Community Service Center's "Back to School" Drive! Thousands of children in greater Houston will begin the 2013-2014 academic year without the basic school supplies needed to succeed. The children at Yellowstone Academy, as well as the children of Lord of the Streets Episcopal Church (LOTS), also will benefit from this program. You can help these students through CCSC's "Back to School" program! Your $45 donation will provide one child with a new school uniform, shoes, and a grade-level appropriate package of new school supplies. To donate, you can enclose your cash or check in the "Clothes for Kids" envelopes located in the pew racks during July and place it in the offering. Or, send a check to St. Martin's Episcopal Church made payable to St. Martin's with the notation at the bottom, "CCSC BTS." Help a child to arrive at school on the first day of class feeling well prepared and ready to learn!

Come play games and enjoy a cook out with our friends with reVision and Freedom School at The Island!! Enjoy basketball, ping pong and eating hot dogs at our Island. Location: Our Island at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church • Games and Cook out begin at 12:30pm until 2:30 am. For more information contact the Outreach Office @ 713-985-3811. To volunteer, send an e-mail to "mailto:outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org">outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org. St. Martin’s Episcopal Church is partnering with reVision to host a “Freedom School” for 50 students in Southwest Houston. Freedom School is a 5 day a week for 6 weeks literacy program making reading fun!! Our reVision kids will not just be participants in the Freedom School, but also serve as mentors and helpers for the younger children. This is a unique opportunity for the reVision young men to not only improve their literacy and develop a love for reading, but also to embrace their identify as role models and leaders in their community.

Youth Advocates Please join us as we host reVision/Youth Advocates for prayer, dinner, break dancing, Bible Study and tutoring each Thursday evening at the Island from 6:00-9:00 PM. Perfect family fun!

YA is an innovative youth development organization based in Houston, Texas. Since 1988, Youth Advocates has been building a positive youth community for young people in Texas. YA utilizes hip-hop as its central organizing principle, employing a vernacular that young people appreciate. The ethos of this community promotes autonomy, independent thinking, and creativity, and builds unconventional opportunities for growth and self-expression. Within this culture, YA establishes a norm of affection that connects disenfranchised young people to adults and to each other in constructive and discernable ways. Eliminating geographical and ethnic boundaries, YA creates a large circle of friends, joined by the common values of love, acceptance, and mutual respect. As our young people open themselves to new ways of thinking, their negative behavior patterns and their hopelessness fall away and are replaced by healthier, more proactive modes of activity.

For more information or to sign up, send an e-mail to outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org.

Note: This group will not meet on holidays or during Church campus closings. Please contact the group leader for updates.

Once a month St. Martin's volunteers assist CCSC's Department of Emergency Services. We sort food and clothing donations, and staff the Food Pantry and clothing shop. No experience is needed. Your volunteer work here makes an immediate difference in people's lives. This community service is also suitable, with parental supervision, for young people aged 10 and older. We meet in front of CCSC at 3434 Branard (2 blocks south of West Alabama at Marquart, east of Edloe Street) at 8:50 AM and work from 9:00 AM-12:00 PM. Wear your outreach t-shirt.

Contact Nancy Holder for details. Send an e-mail to outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org to let us know you can come.

Upcoming work dates include:
July 27
August 24
September 28
October 26
November 23

Mark your calendars - May through August are the months for Christian Community Service Center's "Back to School" Drive! Thousands of children in greater Houston will begin the 2013-2014 academic year without the basic school supplies needed to succeed. The children at Yellowstone Academy, as well as the children of Lord of the Streets Episcopal Church (LOTS), also will benefit from this program. You can help these students through CCSC's "Back to School" program! Your $45 donation will provide one child with a new school uniform, shoes, and a grade-level appropriate package of new school supplies. To donate, you can enclose your cash or check in the "Clothes for Kids" envelopes located in the pew racks during July and place it in the offering. Or, send a check to St. Martin's Episcopal Church made payable to St. Martin's with the notation at the bottom, "CCSC BTS." Help a child to arrive at school on the first day of class feeling well prepared and ready to learn!

Youth Advocates Please join us as we host reVision/Youth Advocates for prayer, dinner, break dancing, Bible Study and tutoring each Thursday evening at the Island from 6:00-9:00 PM. Perfect family fun!

YA is an innovative youth development organization based in Houston, Texas. Since 1988, Youth Advocates has been building a positive youth community for young people in Texas. YA utilizes hip-hop as its central organizing principle, employing a vernacular that young people appreciate. The ethos of this community promotes autonomy, independent thinking, and creativity, and builds unconventional opportunities for growth and self-expression. Within this culture, YA establishes a norm of affection that connects disenfranchised young people to adults and to each other in constructive and discernable ways. Eliminating geographical and ethnic boundaries, YA creates a large circle of friends, joined by the common values of love, acceptance, and mutual respect. As our young people open themselves to new ways of thinking, their negative behavior patterns and their hopelessness fall away and are replaced by healthier, more proactive modes of activity.

For more information or to sign up, send an e-mail to outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org.

Note: This group will not meet on holidays or during Church campus closings. Please contact the group leader for updates.

Informative presentation about this transformational ministry and the wide variety of volunteer opportunities. Meet from 6:00-7:00 PM at St. Martin's Episcopal Church "Island", Room 208. Just show up or contact outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org.

Our friends at Heights Film Co. spent months creating this incredible video showcasing reVision's work to build community with gang affected youth in Southwest Houston. Please feel

Yellowstone Academy is collecting “Boxtops for Education”, found on the boxes of grocery store products such as cereal, tissues, sandwich bags, etc. Please clip these for our friends at Yellowstone and leave in the “Yellowstone Box Tops” container beside the Outreach boxes in the Activity Center.

Join us to make sandwiches for Houston's hungry children on Tuesday, August 6 from 4:00-5:00 PM in the Activity Center Community Room. Enjoy fun and fellowship for all ages. Kids' Meals delivers lunch to pre-school children living in poverty. Sign-up by contacting outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org.

Mark your calendars - May through August are the months for Christian Community Service Center's "Back to School" Drive! Thousands of children in greater Houston will begin the 2013-2014 academic year without the basic school supplies needed to succeed. The children at Yellowstone Academy, as well as the children of Lord of the Streets Episcopal Church (LOTS), also will benefit from this program. You can help these students through CCSC's "Back to School" program! Your $45 donation will provide one child with a new school uniform, shoes, and a grade-level appropriate package of new school supplies. To donate, you can enclose your cash or check in the "Clothes for Kids" envelopes located in the pew racks during July and place it in the offering. Or, send a check to St. Martin's Episcopal Church made payable to St. Martin's with the notation at the bottom, "CCSC BTS." Help a child to arrive at school on the first day of class feeling well prepared and ready to learn!

Parishioners can reach out to others by donating items in the Activity Center.

Lord of the Streets is feeling the coming of winter. Please gather unneeded coats, jackets, gloves, sweatsuits, socks, long pants, shirts, sweaters and hats and drop off in the Activity Center. Contact Tom Tellepsen II for more information.

We are collecting canned goods, peanut butter, diapers and baby food for Christian Community Service Center (C.C.S.C.). This organization assists poor, hungry, disabled and otherwise needy families.

We are collecting new and used eyeglasses for Conroe Nooners Group (for global missions).

For more information, contact Cyd Gillette at 713/830-4128.

Youth Advocates Please join us as we host reVision/Youth Advocates for prayer, dinner, break dancing, Bible Study and tutoring each Thursday evening at the Island from 6:00-9:00 PM. Perfect family fun!

YA is an innovative youth development organization based in Houston, Texas. Since 1988, Youth Advocates has been building a positive youth community for young people in Texas. YA utilizes hip-hop as its central organizing principle, employing a vernacular that young people appreciate. The ethos of this community promotes autonomy, independent thinking, and creativity, and builds unconventional opportunities for growth and self-expression. Within this culture, YA establishes a norm of affection that connects disenfranchised young people to adults and to each other in constructive and discernable ways. Eliminating geographical and ethnic boundaries, YA creates a large circle of friends, joined by the common values of love, acceptance, and mutual respect. As our young people open themselves to new ways of thinking, their negative behavior patterns and their hopelessness fall away and are replaced by healthier, more proactive modes of activity.

For more information or to sign up, send an e-mail to outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org.

Note: This group will not meet on holidays or during Church campus closings. Please contact the group leader for updates.

Lord of the Streets is in need of men's clothing - please gather any unwanted clothing and drop off in the Activity Center. Canned goods, peanut butter, rice and beans are being collected for Christian Community Service Center (C.C.S.C.). This organization assists poor, hungry, disabled and otherwise needy families. In addition, we are also collecting new and used eyeglasses for Conroe Nooners Group (for global missions).

Mark your calendars - May through August are the months for Christian Community Service Center's "Back to School" Drive! Thousands of children in greater Houston will begin the 2013-2014 academic year without the basic school supplies needed to succeed. The children at Yellowstone Academy, as well as the children of Lord of the Streets Episcopal Church (LOTS), also will benefit from this program. You can help these students through CCSC's "Back to School" program! Your $45 donation will provide one child with a new school uniform, shoes, and a grade-level appropriate package of new school supplies. To donate, you can enclose your cash or check in the "Clothes for Kids" envelopes located in the pew racks during July and place it in the offering. Or, send a check to St. Martin's Episcopal Church made payable to St. Martin's with the notation at the bottom, "CCSC BTS." Help a child to arrive at school on the first day of class feeling well prepared and ready to learn!

Youth Advocates Please join us as we host reVision/Youth Advocates for prayer, dinner, break dancing, Bible Study and tutoring each Thursday evening at the Island from 6:00-9:00 PM. Perfect family fun!

YA is an innovative youth development organization based in Houston, Texas. Since 1988, Youth Advocates has been building a positive youth community for young people in Texas. YA utilizes hip-hop as its central organizing principle, employing a vernacular that young people appreciate. The ethos of this community promotes autonomy, independent thinking, and creativity, and builds unconventional opportunities for growth and self-expression. Within this culture, YA establishes a norm of affection that connects disenfranchised young people to adults and to each other in constructive and discernable ways. Eliminating geographical and ethnic boundaries, YA creates a large circle of friends, joined by the common values of love, acceptance, and mutual respect. As our young people open themselves to new ways of thinking, their negative behavior patterns and their hopelessness fall away and are replaced by healthier, more proactive modes of activity.

For more information or to sign up, send an e-mail to outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org.

Note: This group will not meet on holidays or during Church campus closings. Please contact the group leader for updates.

Yellowstone Academy is collecting “Boxtops for Education”, found on the boxes of grocery store products such as cereal, tissues, sandwich bags, etc. Please clip these for our friends at Yellowstone and leave in the “Yellowstone Box Tops” container beside the Outreach boxes in the Activity Center.

Mark your calendars - May through August are the months for Christian Community Service Center's "Back to School" Drive! Thousands of children in greater Houston will begin the 2013-2014 academic year without the basic school supplies needed to succeed. The children at Yellowstone Academy, as well as the children of Lord of the Streets Episcopal Church (LOTS), also will benefit from this program. You can help these students through CCSC's "Back to School" program! Your $45 donation will provide one child with a new school uniform, shoes, and a grade-level appropriate package of new school supplies. To donate, you can enclose your cash or check in the "Clothes for Kids" envelopes located in the pew racks during July and place it in the offering. Or, send a check to St. Martin's Episcopal Church made payable to St. Martin's with the notation at the bottom, "CCSC BTS." Help a child to arrive at school on the first day of class feeling well prepared and ready to learn!

Youth Advocates Please join us as we host reVision/Youth Advocates for prayer, dinner, break dancing, Bible Study and tutoring each Thursday evening at the Island from 6:00-9:00 PM. Perfect family fun!

YA is an innovative youth development organization based in Houston, Texas. Since 1988, Youth Advocates has been building a positive youth community for young people in Texas. YA utilizes hip-hop as its central organizing principle, employing a vernacular that young people appreciate. The ethos of this community promotes autonomy, independent thinking, and creativity, and builds unconventional opportunities for growth and self-expression. Within this culture, YA establishes a norm of affection that connects disenfranchised young people to adults and to each other in constructive and discernable ways. Eliminating geographical and ethnic boundaries, YA creates a large circle of friends, joined by the common values of love, acceptance, and mutual respect. As our young people open themselves to new ways of thinking, their negative behavior patterns and their hopelessness fall away and are replaced by healthier, more proactive modes of activity.

For more information or to sign up, send an e-mail to outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org.

Note: This group will not meet on holidays or during Church campus closings. Please contact the group leader for updates.

Once a month St. Martin's volunteers assist CCSC's Department of Emergency Services. We sort food and clothing donations, and staff the Food Pantry and clothing shop. No experience is needed. Your volunteer work here makes an immediate difference in people's lives. This community service is also suitable, with parental supervision, for young people aged 10 and older. We meet in front of CCSC at 3434 Branard (2 blocks south of West Alabama at Marquart, east of Edloe Street) at 8:50 AM and work from 9:00 AM-12:00 PM. Wear your outreach t-shirt.

Contact Nancy Holder for details. Send an e-mail to outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org to let us know you can come.

Upcoming work dates include:
August 24
September 28
October 26
November 23

Join the Men of St. Martin's to make sandwiches for Houston's hungry children on Tuesday, August 27 from 5:00-6:30 PM in the Activity Center Fellowship Room.

Kids' Meals delivers lunch to pre-school chldren living in poverty. Let us know if you can help by contacting outreach@stmartinsepiscopal.org.