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.

November 23: Who Is Our Neighbor?

Did you miss Rev. Steve Best’s excellent presentation during The Bridge on October 19, The Spirituality of Transitions: Part 2? Join Linda Maxson and others during The Bridge this Sunday, November 23 at 9:30 a.m. for a reprise of Rev. Steve’s presentation and an additional discussion of WHO IS OUR NEIGHBOR?

Dear people of St. Barnabas,

Last Saturday, over 50 members of our worship ministry teams gathered to share Eucharist, be commissioned and have group meetings. Instead of a sermon, we shared our joys about the various ministries.  

Ushers and Greeters shared about the blessing they feel when welcoming folks enter the Sanctuary. Members of Altar Guild shared about their calling to tend our sacred space, helping to create beautiful worship throughout the church year. Lectors shared about the meaning and power of sharing scripture in worship. Eucharistic Ministers reflected on the experience of being close to the holy action as wine and bread are consecrated at Christ’s table. Here are the words used to commission our Bread Bakers:

One of the roles of Ushers is to prepare for potential emergencies. The team would like to share that the Bainbridge Island Fire Department is offering CPR and AED training class at Station 21 (Madison and Highway 305) to be held Wednesday, December 3 from 6:30-8 p.m. This training is open to all. Please click here if you would like to register.

We have much to be thankful for in these willing, prayerful servants. Such a worship team gathering is, I believe, especially meaningful during a time of transition as we reflect on the life of worship, learning, and service that we share here at St. Barnabas. If you are interested in learning more about joining one of the ministry teams, please speak up! 

This coming Sunday is the last of our liturgical year. On November 30, we enter a new year as the season of Advent invites us to prepare for the great gift that is to come. And as we prepare to enter the season of Advent, please know that there will be an intergenerational Advent event in the parish hall this coming Sunday, November 23 from 4-6 p.m. More info about this exciting event is available further down in the newsletter.

Also, know that St. Barnabas will hold a Thanksgiving Day Eucharist at 9 a.m.

I am feeling an abundance of gratitude this year. At this top of the list is my thanksgiving for being able to serve among you here at St. Barnabas.

Yours in the love of Christ,

Dianne+

The Rev. Dianne Andrews

Interim

revdianne@stbbi.org

Advent Art Series Submissions Due TODAY!

In this year’s St. Barnabas Advent Art Series, we invite you to use the theme of What do you fear? Insisting on Hope this Advent (<---click for more info) as inspiration for your submissions. Using the theme is not required, only provided as an inspiration and an invitation. We invite the St. Barnabas community to journey together as we identify where fear is present—both in the Advent story and in our own lives—while using art to find our way toward expectant hope, with the angels’ voices in our ears whispering, “Do not fear.” We will intersperse art pieces from Sanctified Art throughout the season with the works submitted by our own St. Barnabas artists. Please feel free to submit a brief description of your piece when submitting.

Please submit Advent art pieces by TODAY, November 21 by emailing them to etienna@stbbi.org. A painting, poem, photograph, short story, piece of music...the sky’s the limit! If it can be shared digitally, share it with us!

Additionally, we will have a Visio Divina of the Sanctified Art pieces in the Parlor during the season, which will be unveiled at our Advent kick-off event this evening, Sunday, November 23 from 4-6 p.m. in the Parish Hall. Save the date!

Adventure Awaits!

The season of Advent is fast approaching, and at St. Barnabas we are preparing to prepare for the birth of Christ! We invite members, friends, and neighbors of all ages to join us for an Advent kick-off event on Sunday, November 23 from 4-6 p.m. in the Parish Hall We will gather to make take-home Advent wreaths, an Advent liturgical banner, to enjoy snacks and warm holiday beverages, and to experience the unveiling of the What Do You Fear? Insisting on Hope this Advent Visio Divina provided by Sanctified Art. This is a great opportunity to get your Advent wreath and calendars ready to go for the First Sunday of Advent the following week! We hope to see you there!

Request: Please bring live greenery from your gardens and yards to contribute to Advent wreath making! You can bring it when you come to church on Sunday morning or when you come to the event on that evening.

If you would like to volunteer for set-up and clean-up for this event, or to help with other event details (crafts!), please contact Family Ministries Coordinator, Etienna Wright, etienna@stbbi.org. Many hands make light work!

Advent Worship & Event Schedule

Sunday | November 23 | Preparing for Advent

4-6 p.m. | Crafting Hope: Advent Kick-off

Sunday | November 30 | First Sunday of Advent

8 a.m. | Holy Eucharist, Rite I

10:30 a.m. | Holy Eucharist, Rt. II

Sunday | December 7 | Second Sunday of Advent

8 a.m. | Holy Eucharist, Rite I

10:30 a.m. | Holy Eucharist, Rt. II

Wednesday | December 10

6 p.m. | Greening of the Parish Hall (info to come)

Sunday | December 14 | Third Sunday of Advent

8 a.m. | Holy Eucharist, Rite I

10:30 a.m. | Holy Eucharist, Rt. II

Wednesday | December 17

7 p.m. | Holy Eucharist, The Longest Night

Sunday | December 21 | Fourth Sunday of Advent

8 a.m. | Holy Eucharist, Rite I

10:30 a.m. | Holy Eucharist, Rt. II

6 p.m. | Marian Vespers with Schola Nova

We are grateful for our Sunday storytellers who shared what St. Barnabas means to them. In the video below from October 19, Michael Fitzpatrick shares his philosophy on giving based on Jesus’s words in Matthew 10:8, “Freely you have received; freely give.”

Join Us For The Bridge Between Sunday Services!

9:30-10:15 a.m.

The Bridge at St. Barnabas is a time between Sunday morning worship services when our church community gathers to connect, learn, and grow together. It’s more than a breather between services—it’s a time set apart for encouragement, education, and faith formation. Bridges connect and support, and over coffee and conversation, The Bridge at St. Barnabas gives attendees from both services the opportunity to connect and support one another in our spiritual journeys. In The Bridge, we find community that nurtures our hearts, minds, and spirits, reminding us that the road is easier when we walk it together.

November 23: Who Is Our Neighbor?

Did you miss Rev. Steve Best’s excellent presentation during The Bridge on October 19, The Spirituality of Transitions: Part 2? Join Linda Maxson and others during The Bridge this Sunday, November 23 at 9:30 a.m. for a reprise of Rev. Steve’s presentation and an additional discussion of WHO IS OUR NEIGHBOR?

The Bridge Follow Up: Transition Prayer Survey Continues!

Your opinion is needed to select our collect for this time of transition as we prepare to seek and call our next Rector. As it stands, two of the prayers are tied and we need more surveys completed to determine how best to move forward.*

Please read the collects in the survey found by clicking the button below. This prayer will be spoken aloud by the congregation during services, events, and meetings, and it will be printed in materials that the Profile and Search committees utilize during their work together throughout this process. Take some time to discern which of these you feel is best suited for us to lift up collectively during this time. You may find it helpful to pray these collects both silently and aloud to help you in your process. Then, please designate each prayer in order of preference with 1 being your top choice, 2 being your second choice, and 3 being your last choice. 

Thank you for taking the time to share your opinions during this time in the life of our church. Let us continue to give thanks to God for where we have been, and look forward with anticipation and gratitude for where we are going!

*Please note that the collect selected by the majority may go through a final edit with the writer and Rev. Dianne. If there is no clear majority, Rev. Dianne may combine highlights from all three into a collect!

Adult Formation learning opportunities are regularly offered at St. Barnabas to encourage and nurture our continued spiritual growth in the life of Christ. All are welcome at any upcoming events. We welcome suggestions for future events and volunteers to facilitate or lead classes and discussions on topics you are familiar with.

Centering Prayer

Tuesdays at 9 a.m.

Centering Prayer: Centering Prayer: body prayer, chanting, twenty minutes of silence, followed by contemplation of reflections from Meister Eckhart.

Zimzum Discipleship

We have a hearty group of parishioners who have been participating in Zimzum here at St. Barnabas. What is Zimzum you ask? It’s a fun group curriculum developed by our bishop, Phil LaBelle, that is designed to help us learn the rhythm of growing deeper into life with God. If you’re someone who feels shy or uncertain about talking about God, or if there are aspects of our faith you’d like to be more comfortable with and need a safe space to do so, please consider joining the Zimzum group. While the topics grow organically, you can join at any time. Each component works well on its own. The Zimzum group meets once a month or so to explore a section of the curricula together in discussion. The next Zimzum gathering will be on December 5 at 1 p.m. in the parish library. Please come join in, even if only to listen!

St. Barnabas Book Club

Ralph’s Dream

by Barbara Winther

Book club facilitated by Linda Maxson

At the October discussion of Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried the book club “regulars” were joined by three new additions, demonstrating the fluid nature of the group’s composition. Please don’t worry that you’ve missed any discussions—each month is a fresh start! Next month the St. Barnabas Book Club will be reading a local author: Barbara Winther’s Ralph’s Dream. We will meet on Tuesday, November 25 at 1 p.m. in the Library. See you there!! Questions? Contact Linda, ljmaxson@gmail.com.

The Early Risers Choir usually sings at the 8 a.m. service on the last Sunday of the month, but we are meeting early in November! If you’d like to join the new vocal ensemble for this service, we will be singing this Sunday, November 23 (Christ the King). We gather for a 7:15 a.m. warm up that day; if you let me know you are coming, I will send you music to prepare in advance - sheila@stbbi.org.

A Special Advent Secret

It is that time of year again—Advent will soon be here with the watching and waiting and in our parish’s case the caring for others through our Giving Tree. Good news— once again the Giving Tree will be providing US with the opportunity to help people in need during this season of giving. Look for the tree with its tags in the church parlor. Check this newsletter next week and the handout you will receive in church for our how to do participate. Your Outreach Committee is blessed once again to give all of us this opportunity to practice our love for our neighbors in concrete ways. Thank you, St. Barnabas!

If you can drive, Helpline House has a need for you! Would you like to be a “food rescuer”? A food rescuer is a person who makes trips to Town and Country on the weekend to pick up food that they are donating to Helpline House. This particular need is for December only, but there may be other spots available. In addition, Helpline House is looking for other volunteers to help in all areas. Visit Helpline House online or call them at 206-842-7621. Thank you for supporting our neighbors in need!

  New Life for Chaplains on the Harbor and Harbor Roots Ranch

It has been a decade ago that St. Barnabas initiated a partnership with Chaplains on the Harbor (COH) in Grays Harbor County. The initial mission of the non-profit organization was and continues to be that of “building relationships and standing with the poor of Grays Harbor County as together we build leadership and transformation for community empowerment.” Under the initial leadership of COH, which started with folks walking the streets of Westport and Aberdeen with sandwiches to give to the homeless and hungry, the non-profit thrived and expanded to include the Harbor Roots Farm.

After working for a decade using a model of “going it alone,” the Executive Director and Board of Directors have seen the benefits to working in partnership with other organizations in the county to assist with the mission. Chaplains on the Harbor has announced formal partnerships with the Grays Harbor Healthy Food Alliance (a food source for feeding homeless and hungry) and Choice Regional Health (provides resources to COH for outreach work currently being done), with promise of adding more partners. Harbor Roots Farm (29 acres) has been slow to realize its potential and continuing with the partnership theme have added two experienced farmers to assist COH staff with the farms annual productivity. Above are pictures of summer success at the Aberdeen Farmers Market.

Finally, the congregation is reminded that the Outreach Committee annually hosts a Christmas “Giving Tree” in the Parlor. This year there will be tags for Chaplains on the Harbor and for Helpline House.

Submitted by Steve Schmitz

Board Member of COH and member of Outreach Committee

Wreaths & Garland Still Available!

Wreaths and garland orders are here and are available for assisted pick-up on Sunday, November 23 between 9:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. 

If you did not place an order and would like to, we do have limited quantities of wreaths and garland available on a first-come, first-served basis. You are welcome to stop by in-person on Sunday, or place an order via the form in the lobby or via this linked form for pick-up at a different time. Prices and options can be found here.

Beginning at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, 11/23, pre-orders will also be available for independent community pick-up outside. Please note: that picking up during one of the assisted pick-up times is highly recommended. 

Thank you so much for supporting St. Barnabas Day School through our annual fundraiser. We love starting the holiday season with all of you! 

Please stop by and say hello on Sunday!

Godly Play at St. B

Sunday Mornings

Grades PreK-4 thru 5 | 10:15 a.m.

Youth Group at St. B

Sunday Mornings

Grades 6-12 | After 10:30 Service

To foster transparency about church business, the Vestry has instituted a monthly column to highlight the decisions made at monthly Vestry meetings. Additionally, any parishioner is welcome to attend our meetings (usually held at noon on the third Sunday of the month in the parish library), and minutes of meetings are available in the wall holder on the right as you enter the parlor. Read the summary update here!

Full Vestry meeting minutes can be found on the St. Barnabas website.

The St. Barnabas Prayer Chain consists of a group of pray-ers who believe in the power of prayer and who devotedly pray for others. If you would like to add someone to the prayer list, or if you would like to join those who receive information about those for whom we pray, email Prayer Chain Coordinator, Drucy Burnet Hodge, drucy15@msn.com. Parishioners remain on the prayer list for one month, non-parishioners for two weeks. The long-term prayer list is periodically reviewed and revised. 

*St. Barnabas Members

Deacon Dan Fowler and other volunteers from St. Barnabas lead devotion services at area senior living centers on Bainbridge Island. All are welcome join us!

The Madison House

Every Thursday at 1:45 p.m.

Fieldstone—November 26, December 10

Memory Care 1:30 p.m.

Assisted Living 2 p.m.

Please share info about community events with the church office!

Sheila Bristow’s Grimké Songs

Friday, November 21, 7 p.m.

Jack Straw Cultural Center

4621 Roosevelt Way NE

Seattle, Washington

In my life outside of St. Barnabas I am a very active composer and keyboardist. Last May, soprano Ellaina Lewis and I premiered a song cycle based on the poetry of Harlem Renaissance writer, Angelina Weld Grimké—at St. Barnabas! We then recorded these at Jack Straw this summer, courtesy of their Artist Support Program. At the November 21 performance of Grimké Songs, I will also perform my “Six Preludes on a Theme” for solo piano, and the evening will open with Holly Boaz and Lucy Weber singing a duet I wrote many moons ago, “The Persistence of Song.” It’s like having a senior recital all over again...except in a Tiny Desk Concert kind of space! The event is free, but seating is limited. Livestream available through Jack Straw on YouTube and on Facebook.

—Sheila Bristow

West Sound Chorus Christmas Show: December 6

Come and enjoy some musical Christmas cheer on Saturday, December 6 at 2 p.m. or 7 p.m., at the Central Kitsap High School Performing Arts Center in Silverdale (10140 Frontier Pl NW). The West Sound Chorus, and our sister Acapella Soundsations Chorus, will be singing music to remind you of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Information about tickets can be found at  https://our.show/wscholiday25. If you have questions, please contact Ric Cederwall, ric@stanfordalumni.org, 206-855-0900. Hope that you can come!

Office Hours: Monday–Thursday | 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Outside of office hours, contact the office at info@stbbi.org or 206/842-5601.

For pastoral care emergencies please contact Reverend Dianne Andrews, Interim, 206/817-6530, revdianne@stbbi.org.