December 29, 2023

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Sunday, December 31, 2023 ~ New Year's Eve

In-Person Worship 

10:30am

YouTube Livestream at 10:30am

Click on the link below to watch the YouTube Livestream worship service this Sunday.

Church News

St. Barnabas will be closed on Monday, January 1st.

Upcoming Staff Vacation Time

Pastor Stephanie will be back in the office on January 2nd.

Pastor Jeff will be back on January 4th.

Karl will be back on January 8th.

Guest Pastor for New Year's Eve Worship Service at 10:30am

There will not be an 8:30am worship service this Sunday.

Sarah Bunge will be our guest pastor on Sunday, December 31st and will lead worship. Laurie Sanderson will be the pianist.

In Memoriam

Thomas Bjorgum

Dear friends in Christ,

We announce the death of a dear member of our community. We have learned that Tom died on December 21st. He was a member of St. Barnabas, joining in 2003. The family will be making funeral arrangements in the coming weeks. We will post information once we know more.

In his letter to the Romans, St. Paul writes that as a community of faith we are called to "Rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn." During this time of grief, we place our hope and trust in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection of Christ, and ask you to keep the family in your loving prayers. 

The Beautiful Poinsettias Which

Decorate Our Sanctuary Are Given By:

Jim & Rose Ann Parks in honor of Chuck & Virginia Parks

Jim & Rose Ann Parks in honor of Mel & Leona Skoog

Jerry Flam in memory of his wife Mary

Clint & Audrey Faust in honor of Clint’s parents

Clint & Audrey Faust in memory of Audrey’s parents

Ed Anderson in memory of Ed’s parents Harold & Ester

Monte & Marilyn Miller in honor of our 4 children and their families

Barbara Kvernes in memory of Barbara’s parents Lawrence & Margaret Olson

Don & Patti Collier in honor of their family

Marilyn Hein in memory of her husband Bruce

Ted & Nancy Walczak in memory of Stanley & Joanie Walczak

Jim & Denise Holmquist in memory of Jim’s parents and our grandparents

Jim & Denise Holmquist in honor Denise’s parents

Holly Bayer & Richard Warzecha in memory of Judy Bayer & Dom Warzechz

Andy & Dana Cossette in memory of Bob Cossette & Ken Johnson

Erickson family in memory of her husband Dennis

John & Beth Grosen in memory of John’s parents, Knud & Kathy Grosen

Mike & Cindy Setum in memory of Emily & June Setum

Mary & Steve Hahn in honor of their daughters

Barb Sanders in memory of her husband Bob

Poinsettias can still be purchased for $12 each. There’s a sign-up sheet in the narthex, along with an envelope labeled "Poinsettias". Place cash or check in this envelope or in your regular offering envelope with the designation “flowers”.

If you paid for a poinsettia and would like to take one home, please feel free to do so at any time. 

E-News & Bulletin Announcements

If you want your small group information, community activities or church news in the weekly Sunday bulletin or weekly E-News, email your info to Brenda in the church office with all the details by Wednesday morning of the week you want it shared.

RIP Medical Debt Relief Challenge

We met our second $5000 goal!

You can still make a donation by writing in “RIP Medical Debt” on our general offering envelopes, or electronically on our website using the RIP Medical Debt button under "Online Donations".

2023 Year End Contributions

If you plan on sending a contribution through the mail, envelopes must be postmarked by December 31st to be counted as 2023 contributions. If giving a contribution in person at church, checks must be dated for 2023. Contributions given in church on Sunday, December 31st need to be noted if they are for 2023 or 2024. 

Other News & Church Activities

Tax Preparation Assistance Coming Soon

AARP Taxaide is happy to return again this year to St. Barnabas on Wednesdays starting February 7th from 9am-3pm. They provide free tax assistance for taxpayers who are over 50 and have low to moderate income.

This service is provided by AARP volunteers certified each year by the IRS. Tax payers can have their Federal, State and MN Property taxes e-filed. They will also get a paper copy of everything that is filed. AARP cannot do returns for businesses, self-employed people or complex returns.

Leave a message starting January 12th at 612-699-1218 with your name and phone number and a volunteer will return your call to set up an appointment.

January, February & March 2024

Devotional Books are here!

“The Word in Season” devotional books are available in the narthex. This daily devotional, published quarterly, enriches life with a contemporary message for today's Christian. It reflects on the themes of Sunday's texts with relevant meditations throughout the week.

Room Schedule Located in Narthex

A new room schedule will now be posted on the kiosk in the Narthex next to the monthly calendar to show when & where groups meet and the time. If you'd like a copy you can pick on up from the church office.

New Book Group

Another Sunday morning Book Group will be forming in January to read Transforming: The Bible and the Lives of Transgender Christians by Austen Hartke. The first group learned so much from this experience that they wanted others to have a chance to read the book in community. If you are curious, or even confused, about the changing language of gender identity, and want to learn how God calls us to love our neighbors, no matter their pronouns, sign up on the sheet in the Narthex. 

Beacon Housing initiatives

Welcome to all Beacon Housing supporters who want to learn more about Housing initiatives in 2024. Whether you are new or an existing supporter, this will be an interesting and energizing event.

Beacon Congregational Convening – 1/18/24 at Richfield United Methodist Church from 6:30pm - 8:30pm (Zoom option available).

Join hundreds of Beacon community members to celebrate the impact of our advocacy and organizing power. We’ll ground ourselves in the urgency of the current housing crisis, explore Beacon’s proposed interventions and legislative campaigns in 2024, and identify actions we can take to increase access to deeply affordable housing. We’ll hear from Beacon’s CEO, Chris LaTondresse, and other housing champions. Plus, we’ll spend time in assembly and workshops that will equip us to build the power we need to meet this moment.

Sign up at this link: https://www.beaconinterfaith.org/event/congregational-convening-1-18-24/. If you would like to carpool, please contact Cindy Dogan at [email protected].

Nordic Walking Group Update

Nordic walking is taking a break during the winter (even though snow hasn't arrived just yet), but the group would still like to get exercise, and will be exploring snow-shoeing once we do get snow. There will not be a definite day scheduled each week but will depend on weather and group interest. If you’d like to be included on the email list, please contact Barb Sanders who is coordinating the group at (763) 559-5990. Watch for more details for snow-shoeing this winter. We will return to Nordic Walking with poles next spring.

Lutefisk & Meatball Dinner

Saturday, January 20 at 12 Noon

First Lutheran Church Columbia Heights.

Cost is $23 per person

There's a sign-up sheet in the Narthex. Deadline to sign up is Sunday, December 18th. Contact Sandra Halvorson with questions (612) 387-8412

Church Directory

There's still time to get your picture added to the 2024 directory. Send what you’d like to use to Brenda in the church office at [email protected].

UPDATE: All households without a picture may be filled in using a picture from a previous directory (2018 or older).

If you have a new mailing address, a new email address, have added a mobile number or changed an existing number in the past 12 months, let Brenda know of the changes. Also, let Brenda know if you no longer attend St. Barnabas and would like to be removed from the directory.

St. Barnabas Spotlight

Save the Date

Rock Around The Clock “A 50’s /60’s Music Review” will be held here at church on January 27th & 28th at 6:30pm.

Tickets are $7.00 and can be purchased at church before the event starts. 

This event will be located in the Ministry Center.

December "Gift of Love"

ELCA World Hunger

More than 820 million people - that's about 11 percent of people in our world today - are hungry. As members of the ELCA, we are called to respond. We are a church that rolls up our sleeves and gets to work. Working with and through our congregations in the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands Lutheran churches overseas and other partners, ELCA World Hunger is uniquely positioned to reach communities in need. From health clinics to microloans, water wells to animal husbandry, community meals to advocacy, your gifts to ELCA World Hunger make it possible for the ELCA to respond, supporting sustainable solutions that get at the root causes of hunger and poverty.

Community Happenings

Donations Needed

IOCP Food Shelf Most Needed Items: 

Brand Name Cereal

Hearty Soup

Healthy Snacks (e.g. popcorn, crackers, granola bars)

Healthy Beverages (e.g. sparkling water, tea, juice boxes)

Paper Grocery Bags (These are expensive to purchase and offer you an opportunity to recycle the bags you don’t need.) 

Good News Prison Ministry:

Needs clothing donations for people who are being released. Sweat pants (sizes S-XXL), hoodies, sweatshirts, shirts (sizes L-XXL), winter coats (sizes XL-XXL)

Volunteer Opportunities

December Birthdays

Resources & Links

Want something in the E-News?

Do you want your small group information, community activities or church news in the

weekly E-News? Please email your articles to  Brenda Ericson with all the details by Wednesday morning of the week you want it shared.

Church Council Minutes

Copies of the minutes are available in the narthex. They are also located on our website.

If you'd like to be added to the email list, call the church office at 763-553-1239

Bulletin Delivery

Want a Bulletin Delivered? For those who are not able to access the worship video, some of our BeFrienders will deliver printed copies of the bulletin on Friday's or Saturday's.

If you'd like to have a Bulletin dropped off, you can call the church office at

763-553-1239.