October 2015 encourager

Luna Moth in Biblical Garden

OCTOBER 2015 EUCHARISTIC LECTIONARY YEAR B

SUNDAY WORSHIP 7:45 AM 9:00 AM 11:00 AM

Holy Eucharist Rite I Holy Eucharist Rite II Holy Eucharist Rite II Children’s Chapel

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION 10:00 am

Adult Classes

WEEKDAY WORSHIP 6:00 PM

Wednesday, Holy Eucharist Rite II

12:00 pm

Thursdays Holy Eucharist & Healing (Chapel)

601 W. CREEK STREET FREDERICKSBURG TX 78623 830-997-5762 stbarnabasfbg@gmail.com www.stbarnabasfbg.org

Almighty God, you have called us to tend and keep

the garden of your creation.

Give us wisdom and reverence for all your plants and animals who share this planet with us

and whose lives make possible our own.

Help us to remember that they too love the sweetness of life and join with us in giving you praise.

Giving at St. Barnabas In the fall season, like most Episcopal Churches, we at St. Barnabas launch a Stewardship Campaign. The campaign has a practical purpose: to assess the resources the church will have to do its work. It also has a spiritual purpose: to focus each of us on what Christian stewardship means to us.

At the heart of Christian stewardship is the understanding that God, whom we know in Christ, is the Lord of All Creation; and that all we have is God’s. We are then all to be stewards of what we have been given and to manage it for God’s glory.

Stewardship is most often discussed along budget lines, but it is much more personal than that. When we consider that God made the heavens and the earth, we can assume God doesn’t need our money. What God wants is us.

The Earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it.

(Psalms 24:1)

The central issue, then is nothing less than our need to give.

For in giving, we participate in our own transformation by letting go of that which pulls us away from God: our attachment to material wealth and the illusion that security and fulfillment are found in money and “stuff.”

Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35)

In Christian stewardship, our motivation for giving matters.

Giving out of a sense of guilt or external pressure isn’t generosity. Guilt doesn’t glorify God. All of our giving is to be from a generous heart, a heart moved by the Holy Spirit.

The command to give is the most frequent mandate in both the Old and New Testaments. In the New Testament, the importance of giving is at the center of Jesus’ life and teaching.

Again and again, Jesus implores his followers that Kingdom Life is built on unselfishness and generosity. Jesus knew well that the love of wealth can easily come between us and God.

Give, and it will be given to you….for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.

(Luke 6:38)

Your Pledge Filling out a pledge card is not a Biblical mandate. It is instead a courtesy extended to the leadership of the church so that they can create a realistic budget and manage the church’s funds wisely.

The spiritual discipline of giving is not developed overnight. You have to take that first step at some point—and then the next and the next. After a while it becomes a part of who you are.

You will soon receive your stewardship packet containing a pledge card. Please consider your commitment prayerfully and return it to the church on or before November 1, 2015.

Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly, or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

(2 Corinthians 9:7)

In honor of St. Francis of Assisi, the Blessing of the Animals will be held in the courtyard at St. Barnabas on Sunday, October 11, at 4:00 p.m.

Saint Francis was born in the 12th century and is the patron saint of animals. All animals and their humans are welcome. Animals must be on a leash or in a cage.

This has become popular annual event filled with blessings and fellowship. Pictures will be taken and available (at no cost) to pick up in the Parish Hall by the following Friday. We hope to see you and

your animal friends here!

Seriously— Taco Sunday Returns Join us Sunday, October 4, following the 7:45 a.m. service until SOLD OUT! This year we are getting

CROSS FIT You will soon have a chance to see what this is all about!

Our CROSS FIT Stations will be set up in the Parish Hall for you to walk and enjoy

Jeanie Miley Will Be Here On October 9 and 10, St. Barnabas will host Jeanie Miley, author of 12 books, spiritual guide, teacher, Labyrinth trainer, wife, mother and grandmother. Her sessions will be open to the public at no charge and will take place in the St. Barnabas Parish Hall at these times: 7:00 p.m., Friday, Oct. 9, “God’s Great Love for Us” 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Oct 10, “The Call to Radical Love” 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 10, “Love of the True Self” A nursery will be available for all sessions, by advance reservation. Call 830997-5762.

There is no better description of this spirit-filled seeker than her own words, selected from her book, “Dance Lessons.”

“The point of a spiritual practice is to do it and let go of the need to evaluate the results or even notice the results.”

“Faith grounded in the grandeur of the Mystery of God allows me to accept ambiguity, ambivalence and paradox. It is only my nervous ego that demands certainly and conformity to what makes me comfortable and cozy.”

“Instead of the centerpiece of my faith, the Bible informs my experience of the Living Christ and tells me how to live in an intimate love relationship with him, and so it is important that I keep the Bible in its proper place.”

“Our ego selves, the small selves, must die, too, so that the Self we are created to be can be born, and it seems that process needs to happen many times in a lifetime.”

“When you deny the losses, your anger, resentment and sorrow do not go away. Instead, those energies turn into despair and violence. When you process the losses, either the personal ones or the collective ones, grief can turn to energy, resolve and possibility.”

“There is no better or harder place to practice the art of faithfulness, forgiveness, tolerance and acceptance than within the containers of family and friends.”

Describing her journey into the contemplative life: “Every day I go toward that which I don’t understand. I go toward the Light, toward life as it is, toward love, toward laughter. I go toward God. I go toward the Mystery, and in going toward what calls to me, I discover that wherever I am, there is God, already there, always, with me, in me, for me. I don’t understand it, and it’s okay because I know it is true. God is with me, and I am with God, and God is leading the dance. And it is a dance of lovemade-visible through human instruments, moving to beat of God’s heart.”

Jeanie’s personal mission is “to connect people to God, to their own souls and to each other through her writing and teaching.”

Jeanie Miley

Thanksgiving Potluck Plan to attend the annual St. Barnabas Thanksgiving Potluck on November 1 at 12:15 p.m.

Chef extraordinaire Mike Wuest will cook the turkeys. Gravy, cranberries, rolls and beverages will be supplied. Members of the congregation will bring dishes to share, as indicated by the first letter of your last name.

A-H I– P Q—Z

Something to put gravy on (potatoes, dressing, rice) Something that adds color to the plate (veggies, salad, fruit) Something yummy for dessert

Helpers are needed to put on this event. Please call the office if you are eager (or willing) to help set up, serve and/or clean up. Many hands make light work!

All Saints’ Day All are invited to the All Saints’ Day celebration service scheduled for Saturday, October 31, at 10:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary. Each year, the Daughters of the King provide this liturgical celebration of all St. Barnabas saints, known and unknown. Banners naming all of our known saints will be displayed.

Vestry Happenings The September Vestry meeting was held one week ahead of normal schedule. The Senior Warden and Rector felt it important to inform and receive total Vestry support for the Rector’s proposal before going forward. The Rector presented a plan to bring more depth and meaning to the services available to our parish community.

Father Jeff discussed his plan to add depth to our worship, pastoral care, Christian education, Church leadership development, and to increase the overall number of parish members’ participation in our church programs.

The first part of the plan has already been implemented: the realignment of several committees and the beginning of a new visioning committee. The ministerial committee’s initiative of “Everybody Belongs” has also been launched and is moving to accomplish inclusion and participation in parish membership.

The next step is the plan to add an Assistant Rector, a full-time priest, to the professional staff.

The hiring process for a priest is to begin immediately; with the completion of the process, the on boarding of the new priest, and the transition to the Church by the summer of 2016.

This plan coincides with the beginning stages of the 2016 budget development and stewardship campaign. What a wonderful opportunity to move our parish community closer to becoming a tithing parish in Treasure, Time, and Talent!

August 2015 Financials Aug 15 Monthly Actuals Budget

$ +/Budget

Jan-Aug Actuals

YTD Budg- $ +/- Annual et Budget Budget

39,443 36,063

3,380

292,491

288,504

Staff 17,293 20,675

166,518 49,831 23,434

165,400 1,118 248,105 50,552 -721 75,825 27,080 -3,646 40,600

Income Expenses:

3,987 432,750

4,074 Ministry 1,841

6,319 3,385

-3,382 -2,245 -1,544

5,292

5,292

0

42,336

42,336

-7,171

282,119

285,368 -3,249 428,034

10,551

10,372

Operating

Apportionment

Total Expenses 28,500 35,671 Net Income 10,943

392

3,136

0 7,236

63,504 4,716

Balance Sheet: An increase of about $10K was mostly due to monthly operations ($11K explained below) and MMO ($6K explained below) and lower expenses in the other funds. Significant activity from other funds was as follows: Copier Fund (-$880), Building Fund (-$3.2K), Benevolence Fund (-$2K), Daughters of the King Fund (+$.8K), Dugat MMO scholarship Fund (+$1K) and Rector Discretionary Fund (+$1.5K.) Monthly Operations: Income for the month was greater than budgeted by $3.4K and expenses were under budget by $7K, making the net for the month a positive $11K. Pledge income was higher by $4.7K. Lower personnel expenses for the month were about $3.4K and when coupled with other areas that were under budget by $3.6K the total under budget was $7K. This under budget for the month will not continue into next month as it is a three-payroll month. On a YTD basis, income is over budget by $4K and expenses are under budget by $3K. YTD income less expense is $10K versus a YTD budget of +$3K. MMO: MMO had a surplus for the month of $5.6K due to fees collected for September with minimal personnel expenses. On a YTD basis, MMO is a positive $.4.8K. Next month income versus expenses will probably be negative as it is a three-payroll month. Fall enrollment is at 36 children with 10 teachers, which means everything is running at full capacity.

Annual Audit: The annual audit was completed in August. Beverly Carnes, Molly Martin and Lorri Kendrick made up the Audit Committee for this year and have agreed to serve again next year. Many thanks to them. The following year, we will need others to serve as well as one person (at least) to participate with them to improve the continuity on the audit committee from year to year.

Bishop Reed to Visit October 18 The Rt. Rev. David Reed, Coadjutor of the Diocese, will speak at all three services on Sunday, October 18.

At the 11:00 am service, he will confirm and receive members of the recent Everyone Belongs class.

Following the service, Bishop Reed will dedicate the Biblical Garden.

Refreshments will be served.

MEETINGS & MINISTRIES

October

ADULT CHILDREN OF ALCOHOLICS

Birthdays

Wednesday—6 p.m. in CEB

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

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

AL-ANON

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

BELL CHOIR

Wednesday—4:30 p.m. in CEB

BIBLE STUDIES

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

10/01 Rosabel Smith Evan Claire Kendrick 10/02 Janice Christofferson 10/03 Sherryl Brown 10/04 Martha Matteson April Trujillo 10/06 Gwynne Juett 10/08 Shalmir Benner Beverly Carnes Katya Walker Virginia Muncey 10/09 Ann Adams Olivia Alvarez 10/10 Marilu Reynolds Jani Schofield Olivia Loggie 10/11 Sharon Miller

Anniversaries

CHOIR

Resumes Oct. 13,—7 p.m.

DAUGHTERS OF THE KING

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

LIBRARY GUILD

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

MEN’S BREAKFAST

Thursday—7 a.m. in Parish Hall

MMO (MOM’S MORNING OFF)

Monday & Wednesday—9 a.m.

VESTRY

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

WISDOM SCHOOL

Gospel of Thomas Tues—11:30 a.m. in Library New Testament 5:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary The Parables of Grace 5:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary

10/11 Gay Youngblood 10/18 Bill Miller 10/19 Linda Miller Lola Roseberry Taylor Harris 10/20 Sara Gordon 10/21 Patricia Reese Charles Deaton 10/22 Jack Swanzy 10/25 Pat Kreuz Art Shafer 10/27 Sherrie Gregg Darrell Edwards 10/28 Wolfgang Benner Nancy Jackson 10/29 Steve Neale 10/30 Lianne Mercer

10/01 10/02 10/04 10/07 10/10 10/11 10/18 10/20

Bill &Pat Sadd Doug & Susan Kimbrell Humberto & Kathy Palmerin Stephen & Sharon Smith David Clements & Cynthia England Harlan & Rex Hill Mark & Kelly Hallman Jeff & Barclay Hammond Ric & Pat McCormick

New Altar Kneelers Are Here!

On Sunday, October 11, at the 11:00

a.m. service, the new altar kneelers will be installed and blessed. We owe the dedicated needle workers our most heartfelt gratitude.

Return Service Requested

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

It’s Not Too Late... to sign up for the “Low Expectations Golf Tournament,” to be held on Friday, October 23, at Lady Bird Johnson Golf Course.

Skill is not a prerequisite for the four-person Florida Scramble format. The highlight of the event is likely to be the 1:00 o’clock shotgun start. Appropriately, several of the tee-shots are “down-hill.” Teams will be formed using semi-objective criteria based on established handicaps and/or polygraph examination.

There will be a small entry-fee used to defer the expenses for extra security, posttournament refreshments, and minimal, recyclable prizes. Sign-up sheets are available outside the office The fun-loving committee planning this event consists of Walt Biddle, Judy Chase, Tom Luck and David Tuttle.