Counting Blessings
As our hearts and minds turn toward Thanksgiving with its generative rituals of gratitude and appreciation, I write this week about a few of the things I am deeply thankful for. Last week, the Clothing Sale took place in our parish hall with many people returning to St. Barnabas for the first time in a long time as either volunteers or as shoppers - what a blessing that was. Also, over the last few weeks, members of our church and the Irvington Presbyterian Church have begun working together in preparation for receiving a refugee family from Afghanistan - a blessing waiting to be realized. In that same ecumenical spirit, the joint St.Bs/IPC Thanksgiving Food Drive is underway and will help restock shelves with food and cash donations in time for the Community Food Pantry, based out of Christ Church, Tarrytown to serve clients during the holidays. All these are signs of blessings, and show what it means to be stewards of each other’s welfare and of things we hold dear.
At the same time, we can look forward to a much safer sanctuary over the holidays, thanks to the industrial grade air filtration system that will remove virus spores, dust and other contaminants from the air we breathe during worship. We are also dramatically cutting down our reliance on fossil fuels, as we move to an energy-efficient heat pump system. These too are signs of stewardship.
Then, of course, there is stewardship in the familiar sense of our individual and family 2022 financial pledges, so that we can be the bridge for one another over the troubled waters of the last twenty months. Our campaign goal for this next year is $425,000, and the good news is that we are more than halfway there.
Navigating our way through these times remains a challenge. Yet, we are finding our way forward anchored as we are in worship, both in-person and online, and in the programs we offer to children in Sunday School, youth members in Confirmation class and adult members in bible study and Connected Parenting classes. All the ways we embody the spirit of Jesus Christ at St. Barnabas are reliant on the goodwill and collective generosity of us all.
With Thanksgiving for the many blessings we share in kind,
Gareth
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This Sunday
10:00AM Worship
in the Church & Online
Followed by coffee outdoors
Dress warmly for church as we are still leaving the windows and doors open due to renovations.
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4:00PM Worship
on the back lawn
with Sunday School outdoors
after the service
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Upcoming Advent Retreat
Barbara Cawthorne Crafton, an Episcopal priest, spiritual director, retreat leader, and author of many books will lead an Advent Retreat on Saturday, December 4, 9 AM to 3 PM with the title: “Now in the Time of This Mortal Life.” She has framed the intention of the Retreat as follows:
“Certainly we all knew life was uncertain. But these last twenty months have brought us uncomfortably close to the fact of our mortality. Covid upended everything we took for granted. Not since the immediate aftermath of 9/11 have we been so aware of how unprotected we are. Let us take some time apart together to consider what trust in God means. Advent is the perfect time to have this conversation – with one another, with ourselves, and with Christ.”
Barbara will lead the retreat remotely, allowing for members to gather at church and also view from home, if they prefer. To find out more about Barbara’s ministry click HERE. For those who will attend remotely the ZOOM, the link is HERE Please be in touch with Sue Robinson if you would like to attend in person. Please note COVID protocols will be observed for in-person attendance.
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Christ Our Bridge
This year’s campaign, “Christ our Bridge,” is inspired by a verse from John’s Gospel: “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” (12:32). Jesus Christ draws all people to himself through his death and resurrection and is our "bridge over troubled waters" during these challenging times; by extension, we are called to be the same for each other. Therefore, may this stewardship season reflect our collective desire to be a bridge for the spiritual well-being of one another and connect us to the lively acclamation, “For all things come from Thee, O Lord, and of Thine Own have we given Thee.” Amen
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Stewardship Campaign 2022 video |
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Behind the scenes and look back video |
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Sunday School
Children meet outdoors on the front lawn during the 4pm Worship Service.
This Sunday
November 21 at 4:00PM
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Confirmation Class
This class for 8th/9th/10th graders runs for eight weeks, with confirmation on
December 12.
This Sunday
November 21 at 3:00PM
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Thanksgiving Food Drive
This Sunday, November 21!
Just a few days left in our joint food drive with IPC for the Community Food Pantry in Tarrytown. Please bring canned and dried goods to church this Sunday! Bins are also located at StBs for drop-off today and tomorrow.
Funds to purchase food can also be donated directly to the pantry here.
The pantry is run entirely by volunteers so, if you want to help, please contact Barbara Mahoney or visit their website here.
Items needed: Healthy cereal, oatmeal, peanut butter, jelly (plastic jars), bags of rice, canned & dried beans, pasta, pasta sauce, shelf stable milk, tuna, sardines. Cake mix, pudding mix. Diapers.
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Thanksgiving Meals
Each year St. Barnabas parishioners, and others in the surrounding area, help San Andres Memorial Church in Yonkers to provide Thanksgiving dinners for the families of the San Andres Food Pantry.
We know what a joy it is to prepare and proudly share with our families a traditional Thanksgiving turkey dinner, 'though we don't always recognize what an exclusive privilege this tradition is. Please help make that special experience possible for more families this year. A contribution of $25 buys a turkey for a family!
Please send a check to :
San Andres Episcopal Church
22 Post Street,Yonkers, NY 10705
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Irvington Historical Society Legacy Honorees
The Irvington Historical Society Legacy Celebration took place on Sunday, November 14 at the Ardsley Country Club. For the past several years the Society has chosen honorees who grew up in Irvington, or spent a significant amount of time in Irvington, and asked them to share their memories of their time here. This year's class of honorees included parishioners Carolyn Stifel, Susan Watson, Betsy Wilson and Tom Cecere's mother, Carol Kraus Cecere.
The celebration included a video of Irvington photos and the voices of honorees sharing their stories. If you were unable to attend the event in person, you can watch the Legacy video at this link: 2021 Irvington Legacy Stories
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Matilda Tickets on Sale Now!
December 3-5
Come see our own Josie Dring starring as Miss Honey in this holiday production of Matilda by the Broadway Training Center in Hastings.
Josie is joined in the cast by Ellie Knudson. This is the junior version of the show and will be great for children.
Congratulations Josie and Ellie.
Break-a leg!
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Clothing Sale
The 2021 Outreach Clothing Sale was a great success. We shortened the days, hours and departments and still closed Saturday with a total of $38,578.97, and we have received $603 in IOUs to $39,181.97. We anticipate hitting $40,000 with the additional IOUs coming! (If you have not yet paid your IOU, please do so at your earliest convenience.)
Thank you to all the volunteers! This was truly a massive undertaking. We had a great turnout for setting up the racks, floor and shelving. Sorting, ticketing, hanging and pricing went smoothly. Selling and getting clothes from the fitting room was amazing. Charities picked up clothing Saturday at 2pm, and four women from the local refugee community “shopped” Friday afternoon before we reopened for evening sales. A crew on Sunday cleared out the remaining clothes, shoes, racks and hangers, and a Tuesday night crew put Colwell Hall back together.
Again, thanks to everyone who participated in this successful outreach event!
-Linda Pierpont, Mary Mielke, Cathy Hansen
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Women’s Group
Fran Bean leads this group on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month. All welcome! Contact Fran with questions.
This Wednesday,
Nov. 24
10:45AM - 12:00PM
This is a hybrid event. The meeting will take place on the rectory front porch and also at this Zoom Link.
Meeting ID: 336 690 2686
Passcode: 10533
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Adult Formation
Reading the New Testament
Tuesdays, Wednesday, Thursdays
9:30AM - 10:30AM
Online Class -
Meeting ID: 336 690 2686
Passcode: 10533
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Book Group
The Saint Barnabas Book Group will meet via Zoom on Tuesday, Nov. 30, to discuss
“Deacon King Kong” by James McBride.
If you would like to have your name added to our email list, would like the Zoom invite for this meeting, or have any questions, contact Lea Carmichael Richardson
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Giving
Please continue to make your pledges or contributions. Online payments may be made HERE, or on our website under the "Give" section, or by mail.
If you would like to contribute stock or wire funds, contact Cynthia Ferguson at 914-631-7188.
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Connect
To schedule a meeting with the rector, call the Parish Office at (914) 591-8194 or email Sue Stanley. The rector's Sabbath (day off) is Monday.
For pastoral emergencies, call the Rev. Gareth Evans at (617) 930-3728.
If you have announcements for the weekly eNews, email Hope Durot by Tuesday. |
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