Where is the church located?
Where do I park?
What to expect when you visit
How to take Communion
Alpha (learn more)
Programs for children
Programs for youth
Healing Prayer
Membership Information
Tours of The Church
About St. Martin’s Episcopal Church
Our Community
Where is the church located?
We are located at 717 Sage Road at Woodway, near the Galleria. For directions to our campus, click here. To view a campus map, click here. Our telephone number is 713/621-3040.
Where do I park?
We have three parking lots, at the west, east and south areas of our campus. The Decorative Center parking lot, just beyond the northeast corner of Woodway and Sage, is available to us for Sunday parking. Don't forget that the bank lot on the north side of Riverway, just east of our property line, also is available.
Assisted Parking Service
Assisted parking on Sundays is available for parishioners who are elderly, disabled or who have two or more small children under three years of age, and who feel that they need the service. Parking stickers are available from the Church office; please call Deb Tisch at 713/621-3040. Parking attendants will be at the west porte-cochere of The Church, 8:45 AM-12:45 PM, Sundays. No tip is required or necessary. Parishioners, who use the assisted parking service and eat lunch in Café St. Martin’s, will have their cars parked under the East porte-cochere. Keys will be delivered to them in Bagby Parish Hall.
What to expect when you visit
We want your first visit to our Church to be a warm and welcoming experience, and one way to do that, is to tell you what to expect.
What time are the services?
There are four services each Sunday, at 8:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM and 6:00 PM. If you have small children, come a little early, so that you can drop them off in the Founders’ Hall Nursery. Christian Education for children and youth is offered in the morning and Adult Christian Education is offered most Sundays from 10:15-10:50 AM.
Our morning services are traditional, while casual attire is acceptable during the 6:00 PM service. On Wednesdays, services of Holy Eucharist are offered at 7:00 AM, 12:00 PM and 6:00 PM. For more information, visit our Worship page.
What should I expect when I get inside?
As you enter the doors to the Narthex, an Usher will hand you a Worship Booklet. This booklet contains all the directions for what to do, including words for the songs, when to sit and stand, and how Communion works. If you aren’t sure of something, just watch to see what those around you do.
Where do I sit?
You can sit anywhere that you feel comfortable. If it's crowded, the Ushers will help you find a seat. If you arrive once the service has begun, an Usher will be happy to assist you to a seat. We ask that you be seated only during those portions of the service indicated by asterisks (*) so as not to disturb other worshipers.
How long will the service last?
The service generally lasts one hour. As our guest, we extend a warm welcome to you. You can help us by introducing yourself to one of our clergy and by filling out a Welcome Card (found in the pew rack). Place the card in the offering plate, and we will be in touch with you in the next few days to let you know more about our Parish family.
Fellowship
Immediately following the 8:00 AM, 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM services, you are invited to take time for a “coffee moment.” See and greet old and new friends in Bagby Parish Hall, Rooms A & B. Coffee and doughnuts also can be found in the Adult Bible Fellowship (ABF) classrooms.
How to take Communion
All Christians baptized in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit who receive the Sacrament in their denomination are welcome at the Lord’s Table. Come forward to the Altar Rail as the Ushers direct you and take the next available place. You may kneel or stand, though the custom for most of our parishioners is to kneel. Receive the communion bread from the Priest in your open right palm. You may then take the bread to your mouth, or, if you wish to receive by intinction (dipping), place the communion bread between the thumb and index finger of your right hand and hold the bread over your open left palm. This signals the Chalice Bearer to allow you to intinct the wafer into the wine in the intinction insert in the chalice. You may also choose to receive the wine directly from the chalice by gently guiding it to your lips as the Chalice Bearer presents it to you. If you choose not to receive the wine, simply cross your arms across your chest after you have received the wafer. The Church has long held that the Sacrament is effectual even when only one of the elements is received. Please return to your pew as soon as the next person has received the wine. If it is physically difficult for you to come to the Altar Rail, please indicate this to an Usher and a Priest will bring Communion to you where you are seated. If you are wearing lipstick, please blot your lips well before you receive the chalice, or you may receive by intinction. If you are seated in the Balcony, a member of the clergy will bring Communion to you.
Children receiving Communion
It is our tradition at St. Martin’s that children receive First Communion instruction, normally in their third grade year, before receiving Communion.
Receiving a Blessing
If you, or your child(ren), would like to receive a blessing from a Priest at the Altar Rail, come forward just as you would to receive Communion and cross your arms across your chest, and/or instruct your child(ren) to do the same.
Healing Prayer
Members of the Order of St. Luke will be available for healing prayer, or prayer for any need, each Sunday from 10:15 AM-11:00 AM in the Chapel. On Wednesdays at 12:00 PM, Holy Eucharist is followed by the Sacrament of Healing (Holy Unction) in the Chapel. (Location varies during Lent)
Membership Information
The process of becoming a member of St. Martin’s begins by attending the Discovering Your Membership at St. Martin’s — Membership 101 class. For information about this class, or any other membership question, please see the Welcome Card (found in the pew racks) or contact our New Member Ministries department:
• Kris Johnson at 713/830-4126
For more detailed information on how to become a member, please click here.
Adult Confirmation Classes
For more information about our Adult Confirmation Class, contact Nancy Hassay at 713/985-3817.
Tours of The Church
The Docent Guild welcomes those who would like a tour, as well as those who merely want to look around:
Sundays, immediately following the 11:00 AM Worship service
Wednesdays and Fridays, 10:45 AM-12:30 PM;
formal tour from 11:00 AM-12:00 PM
To schedule a group tour, please call 713/830-4117.
About St. Martin’s Episcopal Church
Core Values
Mission Statement
Vestry
Parish Book
History
The Activity Center
Stay in shape physically, mentally and spiritually and make some great friends.
713/621-8625
Monday-Thursday, 8:00 AM-9:00 PM
Friday, 8:00 AM-6:00 PM
Saturday, 10:00 AM-6:00 PM
Sunday, 1:00-4:00 PM
The Bookstore & Gift Shoppe
The Bookstore & Gift Shoppe offers lovely and unique gifts, Bibles and inspirational books. All proceeds go to charity, through the Agape Fund.
713/985-3840
Monday-Friday, 10:00 AM-2:30 PM
Sunday, 8:30 AM-12:30 PM
Café St. Martin’s
Café St. Martin’s is located in St. Elisabeth’s Refectory in Bagby Parish Hall. Breakfast and lunch are served most Sundays. Lunch is served Monday-Wednesday. Wednesday dinner service is available when Church programs are scheduled. Call 713/985-3847.
Children’s Center
St. Martin’s Episcopal Children’s Center is a fully licensed NAEYC accredited weekday preschool program, for ages 15 months to 4 1/2 years.
Call 713/621-2944.
The Library
The Library is located between The Church and Bagby Parish Hall. We have new books, devotional books, biographies, commentaries, best-sellers, how-to books and many others.
713/830-4118
Wednesdays, 10:00 AM-2:00 PM
Sundays, 8:30 AM-12:45 PM
