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December 20, 2024

We are a community of faith that welcomes and values all people.

We commit to follow Christ, serve others, grow in faith and

transform the world by sharing God’s love. 

Dear ones,

How can it be that the last Sunday of Advent is just in front of us and that we are merely days away from the Feast of the Incarnation? Stunning! While Christmas is coming very soon, it's still Advent. I hope you've taken advantage of the myriad offerings this Advent season, whether they be our St B Advent devotions, reflective reading, compline or any other of the many opportunities to sink into the watching, waiting, longing, hoping and joyful expectation that mark the season of Advent. Christmas will be here soon - there are precious few days of Advent left - don't miss them!

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned Mary Oliver as my Advent companion. This Sunday, as we light the fourth Advent Candle of Love, along with reading Mary's beautiful Magnificat, I'll be reading Mary Oliver. Here is a snippet of her poem To Begin With, The Sweet Grass... Advent blessings!



Eat bread and understand comfort.

Drink water, and understand delight.

Visit the garden where the scarlet trumpets

are opening their bodies for the hummingbirds

who are drinking the sweetness, who are

thrillingly gluttonous.

For one thing leads to another.

Soon you will notice how stones shine underfoot.

Eventually tides will be the only calendar you believe in.

Can't wait to see you in church on Sunday!

Faithfully, Karen†

Friday | December 20

9 p.m. | Compline | Zoom*

Saturday | December 21

4–6 p.m. | Community Caroling Party | Parish Hall

6:30 p.m. | The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (movie) | Parish Hall

Sunday | December 22

8 a.m. | Holy Eucharist, Rite I | Sanctuary

Post–Service Coffee Hour | Parlor

9:45 a.m. | Godly Play, Grades PreK–5 | Youth Room

10 a.m. | Holy Eucharist, Rite II | Sanctuary

Post-Service Coffee Hour | Parish Hall

Noon | Vestry Meeting | Library

2–4 p.m. | Youth Group, Grades 6–12 | Youth Room

Monday December 23

9 p.m. | Compline | Zoom*

Tuesday | December 24

9 a.m. | Centering Prayer | Sanctuary

Friday| December 27

 9 p.m. | Compline | Zoom*

Sunday | December 29

8 a.m. | Holy Eucharist, Rite I | Sanctuary

Post–Service Coffee Hour | Parlor

10 a.m. | Holy Eucharist, Rite II | Sanctuary

Post-Service Coffee Hour | Parish Hall

FULL CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE BELOW

*Email etienna@stbbi.org to be added to the Compline Zoom email list.  

Submission deadline is each Wednesday at 4 p.m.

The St. Barnabas church office will be closed from

December 25–January 1, and will reopen on January 2.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Journey Through Advent

This Sunday, we will begin the fourth week of Advent. We encourage you to take this season of watching, waiting, longing, hoping, expecting, and listening to heart, using the weekly devotionals linked below as a helpful guide through your Advent journey.

Weekly Advent Devotionals

Saturday, December 21

5 p.m. | Community Caroling & Cocoa Party

Sunday, December 22 | Fourth Sunday of Advent

8 a.m. | Holy Eucharist, Rite I

10 a.m. | Holy Eucharist, Rite II

A Quiet Christmas Service

7 p.m. | Monday, December 23

A Christmas service for those experiencing suffering, loss,

or anyone desiring a quiet, tender way to celebrate this holy time.

Christmas Eve at St. Barnabas

4 p.m. | Family Christmas Pageant Service

Carols and Communion. All children are invited to join in the Christmas Pageant—no preparation required! Please check in by 3:30.

7 p.m. | Festive Christmas Service

Carols with strings, soloists, and Communion.

10 p.m. | Candlelit Christmas Service

Carols with the Parish Choir, trumpet, and Communion.

Incense will be used.

Christmas Day at St. Barnabas

10 a.m. | Festive Christmas Service

Carols and Communion.

2024 Giving Tree

Deadline Today!

Our Christmas Giving Tree is up in the parlor with a few tags still available for the taking! The white tags are for gifts of basic necessities like socks and gloves for clients served by Chaplains on the Harbor. Please buy your gift and wrap it with the tag attached to the outside of the package. Please return the gifts by TODAY, December 20 so they can be delivered to Chaplains on the Harbor in time for Christmas. 

The yellow tags are for Helpline House. We have already purchased the gift cards to give to Helpline House. We are asking you to donate $25 for each card you take.  Please make your check out to St. Barnabas and write Helpline gift card on the memo line. Please send or bring your check to the church by TODAY, December 20.

Questions? Contact Sue Thompkins, susan.thompkins@gmail.com.

After Party!

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Can’t get enough Christmas magic and joy in your life? We can’t either! After our Community Caroling Party, stay in the Parish Hall for a viewing of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, beginning at 6:30 p.m.!

The Herdman kids are absolutely the worst. They lie, they steal, they bully…and they’ve hijacked the town Christmas pageant! Based on the international bestseller by Barbara Robinson, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever follows six siblings who sneak into church searching for snacks and walk away with the lead roles in the town pageant. Grace is directing the performance for the very first time; she and her family are less than amused. But the play’s mischievous stars might unwittingly teach a community the true meaning of Christmas. Watch the trailer for this hilarious and heartwarming Christmas story below!

To date, one hundred twelve households have pledged $481,000 to support God’s good work through St. Barnabas in 2025. Every pledge matters - join us!

Godly Play

This week in Godly Play, we will continue moving through Advent toward the Mystery of Christmas. This week, we talk about the Magi and their important role in the Christmas story. Meet in the Youth Room, and after checking your little people in, parents can go to church and enjoy worship on your own. Kiddos will be brought back into church during announcements in order to celebrate Holy Communion with their family and their St. Barnabas community. See you Sunday!

Sunday | 9:45 a.m. | Grades PreK–5

Christmas Pageant at St. Barnabas

St. Barnabas holds many joyous Christmas services, but none more festive for children and families than the service that includes our Christmas Pageant at 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve! Children of all ages are encouraged to join us in the parlor beginning at 3:30 p.m. to be outfitted in costumes for our Christmas pageant. No advanced preparation is required; simply show up and you will be included! The children will be assisted while walking into church while the beautiful Christmas story is read. Bring your friends and family—all are welcome! Questions? Contact Etienna Wright, etienna@stbbi.org.

Youth Group at St. B

Sunday | 2–4 p.m. | Grades 6–12

Join us on Sunday afternoon for our Youth Group Christmas Party! We will have a short lectio divina* with the Christmas story, followed by some fun and games. And, of course, snacks! What Hope to see you there!

*“What is lectio divina...?” your kids might ask? Come to youth group to find out!

The youth groups of St. Barnabas, Grace Episcopal, and several other churches on Bainbridge Island are partnering to bring Youth Cafe Nights to you starting in the new year! We’ll meet up at Coquette from 6:30-8 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month for games, sweet treats, and to hang out with other people of faith across our community. We hope to see you at the first Third Thursday Youth Cafe Night on January 16! Friends are welcome.

St. Barnabas Spotlight:

Reiki Healing Ministry

Reiki (ray-key) is a form of hands-on, natural healing, using the universal life force energy. The term comes from the Japanese words “rei”, which translates as universal, and “ki”, which means vital life force energy that flows through all living things.

The St. Barnabas Christian Reiki Healing Ministry has been offering healing sessions to the community since 2009. A trained and dedicated group of healing ministers (some from outside St. Barnabas) work in pairs to conduct approximately 45–minute sessions in the nursery during the week. We use traditional Reiki techniques. Three levels of training in Reiki are offered by ministry leaders. If you have questions about the ministry, or are interested in training or receiving a session, contact Ric Cederwall, ric@stanfordalumni.org, 206/855-0900, or Pat Speidel, paspeidel@gmail.com, 206/842-8655.

Contemplative Wisdom 2025

“Know this: God has imprinted God’s image within you, and nothing you do and nothing that happens to you can erase this beauty, which is with you even when you ignore or betray it.”

—Meister Eckhart

Our 2025 Contemplative Wisdom Gatherings begin with meditations by Meister Eckhart, an early 12th Century German priest, theologian and mystic who was charged with heresy for his insights and experiences of the Divine. As our knowledge has flourished since then, especially though modern science, his wisdom has become highly regarded. This text begins with the fertility of darkness and moves into light, paralleling our own movement from winter to spring, from Lent to Easter.

We begin this work on Saturday, February 1 from 9:30 a.m. to noon in the Parish Hall at St. Barnabas. Our individual work will begin in January. To sign up and get the details and schedule of our study and spiritual practices, please contact The Rev. Patricia Rome Robertson, revprome@hotmail.com. All are encouraged and most welcome.

Women’s Silent Retreat

The women of St. Barnabas are invited to make a retreat into the stillness and silence that allow us to be more aware of God’s presence in our lives. Whether you have made silent retreats in the past, or never experienced the transforming power of intentional silence, we invite you to consider this invitation to a “time apart” with God.

We’ll enjoy the calming environment of St. Placid Priory in Lacey, WA beginning at 2 p.m. on February 27 and ending at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 1. The Benedictine Sisters of the Priory invite us to join them for the

Liturgies of the Hours and daily Mass. Spiritual direction with one of the sisters is available at additional charge.

The Priory has 10 guest rooms available - 3 single occupancy rooms at $230.00 per person, and 7 double occupancy rooms at $210.00 per person; the fee includes 2 nights lodging, 2 lunches, 2 dinners and 2 self-serve breakfasts. 

Space is very limited, carpooling will be available, and some scholarships are available. 

To register: Email Linda Heller at hellerisland@comcast.net and indicate your room preference – single occupancy at $230 per person or double occupancy at $210 per person. For more information, contact the Rev. Nancy Tiederman, 206/948-3333 or Linda Heller, 360/509-3242. 

Sponsored by the Adult Faith Formation team.

Epiphany Labyrinth Walk

Join us at 5 p.m., on Sunday, January 5 for an Epiphany candlelight labyrinth walk. The word “epiphany” means manifestation, and the season of Epiphany is a time to reflect on the many manifestations of Christ as the light of the world. This candlelit walk, guided by labyrinth facilitator, educator and parishioner Holly Gray, offers the opportunity for walking meditation, prayer, and reflection on Christ our Light, and on the Light we can be in God’s beautiful, beloved and broken world. Questions?  Contact Holly Gray, hollymbgray@outlook.com. 

Stewardship Corner

All Love, all the Time

Reading the Second Sunday in Advent passage while his brother Sam lit the Advent wreath, Zachary said, “God loves people through us.”

That simple sentence rang in my ears as its reality burrowed into my heart. Oh wow! We are the Church. We are God’s hands and feet on Earth. It’s all coming back to me, but it feels new. Brilliant Truth. It’s where all the Joy comes from. It is what will surely create Heaven on Earth.

So if this Truth brings Joy, what keeps us from totally embodying this ministry of being a vessel of God’s love all the time, everywhere, with everyone? When anyone is inexplicably unkind or difficult, I often mentally note the possibility that they feel insecure in some way. Feeling unsafe puts us in survival mode, tightening our jaws, clenching our hearts, closing us off from generosity. Insecurity is a close relative of greed, it occurs to me, another source of misery in the world. Both trigger a sort of self-protecting withholding.

To truly become a beacon of God’s love, we have to trust enough to take risks. Let go. Take a leap. Be willing to sacrifice control. YIKES! I am struck that this is what it means to have Faith. Oh, dear! Why is what might be so easy feels so hard? My chest is getting all tight as I write this.

I’m willing to write checks to support organizations that do good. I will write letters and postcards and march or picket in support of fairness, equality, and freedom. I can donate food and volunteer on a farm to feed the hungry in our community. There is a margin of safety and structure involved there.

As Mary and Joseph are turned away again and again, I wrestle with why my ADU is sitting empty while immigrants and others remain unhoused and sleep on the cold, hard ground. I admit that I feel insecure and unsure about stretching a hand in that direction. Was there really no room at the inn, or were the innkeepers just wary of the risk? How will God house the houseless if I keep my door locked? What really am I afraid of?

Thank you for walking this path with me as we prepare the way.

—Barbara Bolles

Praying For Each Other:

The St. Barnabas Prayer Chain

Is there someone you would like us to pray for? Would you like to pray for others in our community? The St. Barnabas Prayer Chain consists of a group of volunteers who believe in the power of prayer and who willingly and regularly pray for others. Drucy Burnet Hodge (drucy15@msn.com or 206/780-2904) coordinates our chain, receiving requests for prayers, and sends those prayers out to the ones who pray. If you would like us to pray for you or someone you love, please contact Drucy. Prayer requests can be as simple as giving a first name and asking for prayers or more detailed, if you’d like. Parishioners remain on the prayer list for a month, non–parishioners for two weeks. The long-term prayer list is periodically reviewed and revised. If you would like to join us in praying for the people on our Prayer Chain, please email Drucy at drucy15@msn.com, and ask to be added to the list.  

Our Prayer List This Week:

 *St. Barnabas parishioners 

Prayers for healing, comfort and peace:

*Stephanie and Jeff

*Patricia and George

*Peggy V.

*Charles

Lanae & Nolan

Tyler

For those who have died:

*Ken

*George

Long term prayers:

*John

*Marnie and Rob

*Kathy and Michael

Danny

Jeff

Mollie & Cyrus

Christopher & Melissa

Vince & Sean

Harry, Marisa, and Margaret

Deacon Dan Fowler and other volunteers from St. Barnabas lead devotion services at area senior living centers on Bainbridge Island.

All are welcome to come and join us!

The Madison House

Every Thursday at 1:45 p.m.

Fieldstone—Dec. 18

Memory Care 1:30 p.m.

Assisted Living 2 p.m.

What’s the buzz? Tell me what’s a–happenin’! Know about a community event? Submit the info in the announcements form so that we can let the St. B community know what's happening on Bainbridge Island and beyond!

Diocesan Resettlement Office Toy Drive

Each year the Diocese of Olympia Refugee Resettlement Office collects gifts to distribute to refugee children who have arrived in the past year. If you would like to help welcome refugee children with a gift, please bring gifts to:

1919 Auburn Way N

Suite 7

Auburn, WA 98002

You can also order gifts from our Amazon wish list to have them shipped to the Refugee Resettlement Office.

Making the Bible Your Own Retreat

St. Andrew’s House January 10–12, 2025

The Bible is central to the life, faith, and belief of the Church. But for many—apart from hearing it read on Sundays—it remains a confusing and intimidating book (that gets often ignored). Sound familiar? If so, St. John’s, Gig Harbor invites you to join them for a 2-night retreat on the Hood Canal at our diocesan retreat house where we’ll explore the Bible together.

The retreat will follow a rhythm of: lectures, discussions, worship, break-out groups, free time and fellowship. 

Topics include:

Why does the Bible Matter? ǀ The Rev. Eric Stelle

The “Big Story”: Genesis to Revelation ǀ Cynthia Stelle

How the Bible’s Organized ǀ The Rev. Don McCullough

Where’d the Bible Come From? ǀ The Rev. Andrew Cooley

Ways of Reading the Bible ǀ The Rev. Kae Eaton

Online registration is available here: click here. The fee is $250 (due by Dec. 22), which includes lodging and meals. Payment can be made electronically through St. John’s website or by check payable to St. John’s, with “Bible Retreat” on the memo line.

Questions? Contact: Carol Hughes, 253/389-5096 or carolhayenga@hotmail.com  

Submission deadline is Wednesday at 4 p.m.

Normal office hours are from 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Tuesday–Friday. Please be in touch via email or phone 206/842-5601 and we’ll get back to you as soon as we’re able!

For general inquiries please email info@stbbi.org

• Pastoral Care, The Rev. Karen Haig, revkaren@stbbi.org or 206/755-2168, Deacon Dan Fowler, danf2828@gmail.com or 206/724-8951, or The Rev. Nancy Tiederman, nancytiederman10@gmail.com, or 206/948-3333.
• Contemplative Ministry, The Rev. Patricia Robertson, revprome@hotmail.com
• Music Director & Organist, Sheila Bristow, sheila@stbbi.org
• Parish Administrator, Etienna Wright, etienna@stbbi.org
• Family Ministries Coordinator, Etienna Wright, etienna@stbbi.org
• Articles for the weekly e-news, ministry materials, or supplies, reserving rooms, or Zoom time, etienna@stbbi.org
• Financial Issues, Jessica Edmonds, bookkeeper, jessica@stbbi.org
• Buildings and Grounds, George Cole, sexton, gcconsult23@gmail.com
• Suggestions or comments, People’s Warden Steve Schmitz, esallen1zero5@gmail.com 
• Policy Issues, Rector’s Warden Gigi Norwine, gigi.norwine@yahoo.com
• Prayer Chain, Drucy Burnet Hodge, drucy15@msn.com
• Outreach, Sue Thompkins, susan.thompkins@gmail.com
• Community Life, Lisa-Marie MacKenzie, mackenzie.lm@gmail.com
• Community Liaison, Barbara Bolles, bainbridgebarb@gmail.com
• Stewards of Creation, Sue Ellen Case, secase007@gmail.com
• Social Justice, Carrie Beyer, beyer.carrie@gmail.com
• Campus Stewards, Mary Ann Smith, ruahatu01@gmail.com
• Caring Community Network, Dan Fowler, danf2828@gmail.com
• Reiki, Ric Cederwall, ric@stanfordalumni.org