January 25, 2020      ·      325 PARK AVENUE AT 51ST STREET      ·      212-378-0222      ·      STBARTS.ORG 

God's Life-giving Connections

At its root, our word "religion" stems from the Latin religare meaning to bind, to connect. Sometimes the connections are immediate; at other times the connections grow across years across miles. I'd like to share one story with you.

On September 11, 2011, St. Bart's held our annual 9/11 Service of Hope and Remembrance. That year, to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of 9/11, ushers handed out prayer cards to all attending the service. Each card bore the name of a person who had died in the 9/11 attacks, with a request that the cardholder pray for the person named and do some act of kindness in honor and memory of the deceased.

In January 2019, a note and gift for "The Family of Charles" appeared at St. Bart's Central from Pamela, who lives in the Midwest. In her note to St. Bart's Pamela sensitively explained she had received at that September 11, 2011 service the prayer card bearing Charles' name. During the years since, she had prayed for Charles and his family. She had also, in honor of Charles, found a way to heal a wound and bring reconciliation within her family. Veronica Shea, Director of St. Bart's Central, used her internet skills to locate Charles' widow and gave the contact information to me.

On the evening of Christmas Eve, 2019, I took a chance and telephoned Mrs. Charles, uncertain if the number was still valid or if my message would sound like spam or a hoax call. Mrs. Charles took her own chance by calling me back within 30 minutes. We had a warm, gracious conversation. It turns out that Mrs. Charles lives not far from Corey Durney, St. Bart's Director of Facilities. Corey is hand-delivering Pamela's note and gift to Mrs. Charles.

At its best, religion connects us to each other, and (re)binds us to God, our Source. May we always be open to God's life-giving connections.

Blessings,


 
The Reverend Lynn C. Sanders
Vicar

 
JOIN US FOR CHURCH 
 
 
THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY  
January 26, 2020
Lectionary Readings:


(Service leaflets available at the above link)
8, 9, 11 am; 5 pm
 

8:45 AM - 12:15 PM 
Free Childcare
to Age Five
 
 
9 AM
HOLY EUCHARIST
[Church]
St. Bart's Singers lead our songs of praise.  
 
  
10 AM
FESTIVE COFFEE HOUR
[Great Hall]  
Celebration of the ministry of the Reverend Lynn C. Sanders 
 
 
10 AM
CHILDREN, YOUTH and FAMILY MINISTRIES
[Chapel & 4th Floor]
Elementary aged students will begin in the Children's Chapel and our youth, grades 6-12, will be in room 44 of the Community House
   

11 AM 
CHORAL EUCHARIST
[Church] 
An elegant, formal liturgy featuring A Choral Feast, with music of Amy Beach, Lili Boulanger, and Hildegard von Bingen.


12:15 pm
FESTIVE COFFEE HOUR
[Church] 
Celebration of the ministry of the Reverend Lynn C. Sanders 
   
     
    


THE PRESENTATION OF OUR LORD
February 2, 2020
Lectionary Readings:
FOUR SERVICES
8, 9, 11 am; 5 pm


8:45 AM - 12:15 PM
Free Childcare
to Age Five

 
9 AM
HOLY EUCHARIST
[Church]
St. Bart's Singers lead our songs of praise.  
 
 
10 AM
CHILDREN, YOUTH and FAMILY MINISTRIES
[Chapel & 4th Floor]
Elementary aged students will begin in the Children's Chapel and our youth, grades 6-12, will be in room 44 of the Community House

  
10 AM
THE FORUM 
[Great Hall]
Religion is Always in the Room: Liz Kineke on Religion, Politics, and Understanding. Liz Kineke served for over fourteen years as the producer of  
CBS' award-winning Religion and Culture series. As she revisits her transition to religion reporting in the years following 9/11 and shares clips from some of her more recent work, she reflects on the importance of religion within our socio-political climate and the relationship between religious literacy and American democracy.

 
11 AM 
CHORAL EUCHARIST
[Church]  
An elegant, formal liturgy featuring the music of Howells and Palestrina.

VISIT US
   
 
ST. BART'S
325 PARK AVENUE
AT 51ST STREET
NEW YORK, NY 10022
212-378-0222 
    
 
STAY CONNECTED 


FEATURED ANNOUNCEMENTS
 

Celebrating the Ministry of the Reverend Lynn Sanders: On Sunday, January 26, please join us to celebrate the wonderful ministry of the Reverend Lynn Sanders on her last Sunday with us as vicar of St. Bart's.
Learn more. 


Our next Choral Feast is  this  Sunday, January 26 at 11 am, will feature music by women composers  Amy Beach, Lili Boulanger, and Hildegard of Bingen.
 

AND MORE  
 

Stand Your Ground: Thursdays from February 2 - 20 at 6:30 pm.  Join the Reverend Peter Thompson for a discussion of Kelly Brown Douglas ' searing book, and  how can we draw on our Christian faith to create a more loving and just society. 
 

Second Annual Valentine's Day Renewal of Vows, Friday, February 14 at 6 pm. 
All are welcome to join us for this annual celebration of love. Learn more and RSVP. 
 
 

Guest Preacher for President's Day Weekend:  On  Sunday, February 16 ,  the Reverend Dr. Randall Balmer,  John Philipps Professor in Religion at Dartmouth College, will speak on faith and the presidency at The Forum and preach at our 9 am and 11 am services.  
 

Centering Prayer: All are welcome  Mondays , 6:30-7:30 pm for Centering Prayer, a meditative approach that embraces silence and contemplation, is the ideal practice to start the new year.   Learn more. 
 

If you have not yet made your 2020 pledge, please do so now. You may pledge online or pick up a pledge card in church. We count on our community to support St. Bart's each and every year and a pledge helps us to plan better. 
 

 
Orchestra Modern performs Medtner and Tchaikovsky: Thursday, February 13 at 7:30 pm at St. Bart's. This concert features virtuoso pianist Ilya Maximov performing Nikolay Medtner's exquisite Piano Concerto No. 2. Learn more.


  St. Bart's Community Preschool  is accepting applications for the 2020-2021 school year. For over 40 years, our preschool has provided a warm, nurturing first school experience.
 
 

Summer Camp at St. Bart's offers something for everyone ages 2 to 10. Swim every day for ages 3 to 10 in our full-sized pool with certified lifeguards and swim instructors from Imagine Swim. Come for one week or for all! 


COMMUNITY GROUPS MEETING  
 

Adult Professionals Group Brunch: Sunday, January 26 at Pressbox, 932 Second Avenue, from 12:30-2 pm.  Charles Holmes will share his experience making a career change after 30 years from Investment Banking.


All St. Bart's young adults are invited to the 20s/30s meetup this month at Somm Time on
Wednesday, January 29 at 6:45 pm. Please gather in the back of the chapel following the 6 pm service or meet us directly at the restaurant.


The St. Bart's Peace Book Club celebrates the life and legacy of Toni Morrison in their next gather on Sunday, February 9 at 12:45 where they will discuss her book "Beloved".  Learn more.
 
 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS
February 23: Annual Parish Meeting and Vestry Election at 10 am

February 25: Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras Celebration at 6 pm.

February 26: Ash Wednesday-Services at 8 am, 12:05 pm, and 6 pm, Ashes imposed 7 am-7 pm.

March 8: Great Music at St. Bart's presents The Apple Hill Chamber Players, 2:30 pm in the chapel. Tickets and information: mmpaf.org.

April 5: Palm Sunday-Holy Week begins.

April 11: Holy Saturday; Easter Vigil at 7 pm, festive reception following.

April 12: Easter Day-Services at 8 am, 9 am, 11 am, and 5 pm.

May 7: Great Music at St. Bart's presents Juilliard Organists in Recital, 7:30 pm in the church. Admission is free; no tickets or reservations are necessary.