February 2015 encourager

Lent Begins February 18 Ash Wednesday is February 18 and the forty days of Lent follow. The Church’s prescription for the observance of Lent is found on pages 264-265 of the Book of Common Prayer, where the celebrant says: I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word.”

The following verse from the prayer “Catch Me in My Scurrying,” written by Ted Loder, captures one man’s struggle to make something new of himself during Lent.

Catch me in my aimless scurrying, Lord and hold me in this Lenten season: hold my heart to the beat of your grace and create in me a resting place, a kneeling place, a tip-toe place where I can recover from the dis-ease of my grandiosities FEBRUARY 2015 which fill my mind and calendar with busy self-importance, that I may become vulnerable enough EUCHARISTIC LECTIONARY to dare intimacy with the familiar, YEAR B to listen cup-eared for your summons, Sunday WORSHIP and to watch squint-eyed for your crooked finger in the crying of a child, 7:45 AM Holy Eucharist Rite I in the hunger of the street people, 9:00 AM Holy Eucharist Rite II 11:00 AM Holy Eucharist Rite II in the fear of the contagion of terrorism in all people, Children’s Chapel in the rage of those oppressed because of sex or race, in the smoldering resentments of exploited third world nations, CHRISTIAN EDUCATION in the sullen apathy of the poor and ghetto-strangled people, 10:00 am Adult Classes in my lonely doubt and limping ambivalence; WEEKDAY WORSHIP and somehow, during this season of sacrifice, 6:00 pm Wednesdays Holy Eucharist Rite II enable me to sacrifice time and possessions 12:00 pm Thursdays and securities, Holy Eucharist & Healing (Chapel) to do something… something about what I see, something to turn the water of my words 601 W. CREEK STREET into the wine of will and risk, FREDERICKSBURG TX 78623 into the bread of blood and blisters, 830-997-5762 into the blessedness of deed, www.stbarnabasfbg@gmail. of a cross picked up, com a savior followed.

December 2014 Financial Report St Barnabas Financials as of December 31, 2014

Income Expenses: Staff Operating Ministry Apportionment Total Expenses Net Income

Dec 14

Monthly Budget

$ +/Budget

Budget

$ +/Budget

Jan-Dec

Annual Budget

51,894

34,605

17,289

458,608

415,250

43,358

415,250

17,881 6,466 4,340 5,181

19,515 6,516 3,078 5,181

-1,634 -50 1,262 0

248,211 77,034 41,225 62,172

234,160 78,200 36,900 62,172

14,051 -1,166 4,325 0

234,160 78,200 36,900 62,172

33,868 18,026

34,290 315

-422 17,711

428,642 29,966

411,432 3,818

17,210 26,148

411,432 3,818

Balance Sheet: There was an increase of about $17K. The increase is due to December offerings (+17K) which were way above the budget and December prepaid pledges for 2015 (+21K). The increases were offset by expenditures from other funds (the largest amount being the Good Samaritan fund outlay of 20K (the balance as of the end of December is 53K). Significant activity from other funds were as follows; Copier Fund (-$880), Benevolence Fund (-$788), Endowment Fund (-$749), Building Fund (-$1,537), MMO Fund (-$1,056).

Monthly Operations: There was an $18K positive result this month due to two factors: Offerings were over budget by about $17K and expenses were under budget by $1K. As usual December offerings were very strong. Expenses were just under budget. St. Barnabas’s financial health continues to be very good; there is a $30K surplus for 2014. In 2015 the Vestry will decide which fund(s) will receive the 2014 surplus.

MMO: MMO has a deficit this month of $1.K. Enrollment is running at a high level. Enrollment is at the maximum level (39 children on Mondays and 37 on Wednesdays). There is a surplus of $569.00 for 2014.

Annual Meeting About 100 St. Barnabites attended the Annual Meeting on January 11. After a light lunch, out-going Senior Warden Richard Mickelson opened the meeting by thanking all who had helped to make his term of service so successful, recognizing especially Jack Oates who serves as Junior Warden and keeps our campus running smoothly. Richard praised the out-going Vestry members, Ric McCormick and Jenny Wieser. As Treasurer, Ric has overseen the church budget with skill and transparency. Jenny headed up the very successful Community Health Worker fundraiser.

Ric praised the congregation for their generosity; once again we have ended the year with a surplus - $30,000 for 2014! Conservative budgeting and careful management have also made a big difference to our financial health. He commented on the great blessing of “working with abundance:” being able to support our own programs and also reach out beyond St. Barnabas.

New Senior Warden: Next, Rachael showed pictures of the previous year’s Jim Spruiell

activities that reminded us how much our church family does. She also produced the “In Memoriam” review of our loved ones who have left us physically but gone on to eternal life.

Jeff concluded the program with his thanks for the support of outgoing Vestry members and Church staff. He noted how much he had benefitted from his weekly Monday morning meetings with Richard and thanked Ric and Jim Spruiell for providing their organizational and financial expertise.

New Vestry members: Jimmy Davis, Vicki Luckenbach and David Spenser

Year Round Stewardship—Service I am constantly amazed by all that St. Barnabas is involved in for our Body of CHRIST. Your generous stewardship of time, talent and financial resources provide loving support within our church family and out in the Fredericksburg Community. I hope that you, like the members of the Stewardship team, are proud and eager to learn all about who we are, what we do, and the impact our service has on others.

The Stewardship Committee has created an annual plan that will shine a light on the various ministries at St. Barnabas. We’ve chosen as our 2015 theme “Arise and Shine!” This theme is based on Isaiah 60:1 — Arise, shine for your light has come and the Glory of the LORD has risen upon you.

This month I am introducing a team that goes about its mission quietly and efficiently; The Reception Committee, coordinated by Barbara Johnson, provides lovely receptions for funerals. Since I knew nothing about what this group does, I interviewed Barbara.

She was quick to praise the others who work with her: Harvey and Elizabeth Coe and Sally Klekotta. When there has been a death, one of the team meets with the family to determine what they would like. Then they all set about making the food, setting up the Parish Hall, serving and cleaning up. Barbara commented that they provide comfort to the bereaved family by taking away the worry about providing a reception. This is truly an example of sharing GOD’s Grace and Love.

She added that she has two volunteers who readily give of their time, at a moment’s notice, to serve as Official Cookie Tasters. Another example of “service before self!”

Moms’ Morning Off Play time in the Parish Hall with Deanne Moellering.

Three-year-olds play dress up and dance in princess dresses donated by Nan Mosely.

The Lenten Journey The Rev. Dr. Michael K. Marsh, will present a Lenten workshop on Thursday, February 19, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall. The program consists of two sessions:

Lent as Liminal Space, The Place of Transformation What is Lent about? Getting clean? Being good? Improving one’s behaviors? Obtaining God’s approval? Maybe, but perhaps there is more than that. We will look at Lent as a season of transformation, a season that takes us into that in between space where you are neither here nor there. This is often referred to as liminal space and it can be a place of profound transformation.

The Path of Solitude, Silence, and Stillness We will explore the spiritual practices of solitude, silence, and stillness as a path for the spiritual journey and their relationship to the three stages of the spiritual journey. The desert tradition will be the context for this exploration and Abba Arsenius will be our guide. “He heard a voice saying to him, ‘Arsenius, flee, be silent, pray always, for these are the source of sinlessness.’”

Mike Marsh has been the rector of St. Philip's Episcopal Church, Uvalde, Texas, since May 2005. Before going to seminary, he practiced trial law for 15 years. He is also an instructor on the adjunct faculty of the Henderson Wessendorff Center for Christian Ministry and Vocation at the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest in Austin. His interests are the desert and monastic traditions, Eastern Orthodoxy, contemplative and mystical spirituality, spiritual direction and formation.

A light lunch will be served. Reservations requested.

Childcare is available by reservation. Call 830-997-5762.

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper The Youth Confirmation Class and their sponsors will host a Pancake Supper in the Parish Hall, on Tuesday, February 17.

Shrove Tuesday gets its name from the ritual of shriving that Christians used to undergo in the past. In shriving, a person confesses their sins and receives absolution for them. We know that this tradition is at least 1000 years old because a monk in the Anglo-Saxon Ecclesiastical Institutes wrote, “In the week before Lent, everyone shall go to his confessor and confess his deeds and the confessor shall so shrive him.”

Shrove Tuesday is also the last chance to indulge before Lent. In the past, many Christians would not eat such foods as meat, sweets, fats, eggs and milk during Lent. Pancakes became associated with Shrove Tuesday because they used up the eggs, fats and milk in the house, foods that would not last the 40 days of Lent.

Anglican Prayer Beads Workshop Join the Daughters of the King on Saturday, March 7 at 10:00 a.m., in the Parish Hall to make your own set of Anglican prayer beads., also known as an Anglican Rosary. Anglican prayer beads were developed in the 1980s by U. S. Episcopalians as a way of ordering prayer.

The prayer bead sets consist of 33 beads divided into four groups of seven with additional separate and larger beads separating the groups. The number 33 signifies the number of years Christ lived on earth, while the number seven signifies wholeness or completion of the earth, the days of creation, and the seasons of the Church.

You will need to bring these supplies:  A small cross that can be strung on a string  One large invitatory bead or charm  Four large cruciform beads, to separate the groups of seven beads  28 small beads  36 smaller beads to separate the other beads  Scissors 

Patience and a loving spirit!

All beads should have holes large enough for a string. We will supply string, instructions, coffee, and encouragement.

Information about Anglican prayer beads can be found at these websites: wikipedia.org/prayerbeads.htm myrosarybeads.com beliefnet.com/faith/prayer kingofpeace.org/prayerbeads.htm

Practicing Lent 2015 Our diocese is offering a seven-week program of Spiritual Practices during Lent 2015. Participants will receive weekly emails with meditations and practice suggestions on Ash Wednesday through Easter Day. The program opens on February 9 with an explanation of Spiritual Practices. On Ash Wednesday, the Rev. Dr. John Lewis will focus on the three temptations of Christ in the wilderness from Luke 4:1-15.

During the following five weeks, participants will be invited to practice the spiritual disciplines of prayer, repentance, love of neighbor, connecting with the saints, fasting and simplicity.

During Holy Week, the Rev. Drs. John Lewis and Jane Patterson will offer meditations on the Last Week in the life of Jesus.

To sign up, go to http://christianformation-dwtx.org and enter your email address.

The Three Wise Men Did you happen to notice the Three Wise Men displayed on the ledge above the pulpit prior to Epiphany?

While we at St. Barnabas marked Epiphany as the day Jesus was acknowledged as God’s Beloved Son at his Baptist, the Feast of Epiphany is also commemorated as Jesus’ manifestation to the Gentiles by the visit of the Three Wise Men.

Daughters of the King Annual Tea

Prospective members: Camille Cohn, Robin Cowsar, Elizabeth Loggie, and Diane Smith.

Dorothy Jessee was in charge of the food which was plentiful and delicious.

Ginny Thomason, Pam Spruiell and Pat McCormick.

Pat arranged the beautiful centerpiece.

TheEncouragers

Thank you to Katharine Brundrett for leading our Encourager Class in Spirituality in Literature. Pictured lleft to right: Austin Spruiell, Graham Hammond, Clare Hendrick, Katharine Brundrett, Allison Young, Sydney Cohn, Katya Walker.

Dylan Eggleston, Loggie and Olivia Loggie walked in the New Year at the Labyrinth at Urban Herbal.

MEETINGS & MINISTRIES ADULT CHILDREN OF ALCOHOLICS Wednesday—6 p.m. in CEB

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

February Birthdays 2/1

Sun Mon Tues Wed Fri Sat 2/4 8 p.m. in CEB Spanish Speaking Meeting (Sun & Mon) 2/7 6:30 p.m. in the CEB Thurs, Closed Meeting (Women) 2/9 7 p.m. in CEB

AL-ANON

Monday—6:30 p.m. in CEB Friday—6:30 p.m. in CEB

BELL CHOIR

2/10 2/11

Wednesday—4:30 p.m. in CEB

2/14

BIBLE STUDIES

2/15

Monday—7 a.m. in Library Thursday—10 a.m. in CEB

BOY SCOUT TROOP

Tuesday—7 p.m. in CEB

CHOIR

Tuesday—7 p.m. in Encourager Room

DAUGHTERS OF THE KING

2/17 2/20 2/22 2/23

Jan McGrath Maddie Squyres Debbie Gorden Melinda Pornphet Jack Henderson Tom Carnes Ben Rodgers Tex Schofield Ranelle Kiefer Lee Ann Montandon Cheryl Hill Michael Ezarik Haley Howle Chloe Chavarria Robert Drury Charleen Miller Graves Cowsar Martha Zimmerman Harvey Coe Mattie Lastovica

2/24 Carl Money Collen Hamilton 2/25 Martha Craig Jan Warner 2/26 Fran Hubbard Allison Young 2/27 Robert Mosley The Rev. Ann Finn

Anniversaries 2/07 Charles & Dianna Green 2/10 Bailey & Marilu Reynolds Bill & Nancy Wareing 2/11 Larry & Betlu Roquemore 2/14 George and Cynthia Edmonston 2/15 Tom & Beverly Carnes 2/16 Frank & Ellen Pieslak 2/19 Jack & Lorrie Kendrick 2/25 Milo & Ann Shult 2/27 Robert & Karen Welch

2nd Saturday of the Month—9:30 a.m.— Sanctuary

LIBRARY GUILD

1st Thursday of the Month—10 a.m. in Library

MEN’S BREAKFAST

Thursday—7 a.m.—Parish Hall

MMO (MOM’S MORNING OFF)

Monday & Wednesday—9 a.m.

To help with the Annual Parish Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 4. Volunteers will stuff the plastic eggs during the week preceding, hide the eggs and oversee the actual event.

VESTRY

3rd Monday of the Month—5 p.m. in Conference Room

WISDOM SCHOOL

Tuesday—11:30 a.m. in Library Thursday—7:00 p.m. Parish Hall

Help is also needed to fill the Easter baskets for the Head Start children.

CHURCH CLERGY AND STAFF: Rector: The Rev. Jeff Hammond Lay Pastoral Minister: Morey Weldon Clergy Associate: The Rev. Dr. Dyana Orrin Clergy Associate: The Rev. Anne Finn Parish Administrator: Rachael Cole Office Assistant: Carol Schreider Director of Music: Hazel Hanson Lay Ministry Coordinator: Steve Neale Mom’s Morning Off Director: Sue Gustin Nursery Director: Madeline Clanton Housekeeper: Patty Ramirez

Return Service Requested

111th Annual Diocesan Council February 26-28, 2015 The 2015 Diocesan Council will be hosted by St. John's, New Braunfels and held at the Embassy Suites and Conference Center in San Marcos. The theme for 2015 is "Called to Serve." For more information, or to register as a visitor (not a delegate) go to the diocese website at http://www.dwtx.org/resources/council/. Visitors will have access to the exhibits, the hospitality area, and all business sessions for a fee of $35 each and can also join the various meals by paying a fee. Registration closes February 13, 2015.