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1 SEPTEMBER 2015 The Chimes The Chimes O F S T. B A R N A B A S E P I S C O P A L C H U R C H B A I N B R I D G E I S L A N D R E C T O R S R U M I N A T I O N S C H U R C H S T A F F Paul Roy Director of Music Julie Houck Bookkeeper Katrina Diller Parish Administrator Fred Meredith Sexton Amy O Brien Day School Director Carrie Corns Day School Asst Dir/ Registrar Kristi Barr, Mary Feeney, Millie Loughnane, Candace Gudmundson & Elsa Trail Teachers T H I S I S S U E Rector s Ruminations 2 Ruminations Conclusion 3 Contemplative Musings 4 Musings Conclusion 5 JOY Luncheons 6 Upcoming Birthdays 7 Salmon Bake 8 Adult St B 9 As a clergy person of a certain age, serving a lovely congregation on an island across Puget Sound from downtown Seattle, I find myself edging further into the world of social media. I do so because every article, blog, and Facebook posting tells me that my failure to have a robust social media presence will cause the congregation I serve to die and make me somehow personally responsible for the demise of modern Christianity in America. It used to be that the church slogan du jour was Grow or Go, now, in church life, it appears that a second motto has appeared Post or Perish. It is, I suppose, the modern version of the professor s mantra Publish or Perish. So, here I am, starting a blog in the hopes that it might help bring awareness of Saint Barnabas Episcopal Church, Bainbridge Island, Washington to a wider audience than we have reached before, and because, in the service of the Gospel, the Good News of God in Christ Jesus, I am willing to overcome my reluctance to appear to brag or speak of me or my ideas. I am reminded of Coriolanus and his reluctance to engage in the rough and tumble, self-aggrandizing, world of Roman politics where showing one s battle scars was part of the standard stump speech. I am no Coriolanus and no one would ever be interested in any scars I might possess, but I will try, from time to time, to speak to issues of parish life in the land of (Continued (Continued on Page 2) St. Barnabas Episcopal Church Clergy The Rev. Dr. Dennis Tierney, Rector The Rev. Dr. Jan Heller, Assisting Priest The Rev. Dr. Judith M. McDaniel, Assisting Priest The Rev. Patricia Robertson, Assisting Priest for Contemplative Ministries The Rev. Nancy Tiederman, Assisting Priest The Rev. Dan Fowler, Deacon Sr. Dorothy Kiest, Mother Guardian Little Sisters of St. Clare

2 P a g e 2 R e c t o r s R u m i n a t i o n s T h e C h i m e s from Page 1) Nones, our Pacific Northwest, and to speak of the challenges and joys of being a Christian committed to an inquiring mind and a discerning heart. This blog will appear on our revamped website, currently under construction. We have engaged a professional web designer to help us take more advantage of the Internet to tell our Saint Barnabas story. While we have had a website for a number of years, the technology and software packages have changed greatly. We can do more with video, with story-telling, and with making a case for why Saint Barnabas makes a difference. My part is to be commentator, wise counselor, guru, charming story-teller, and theologically accessible yet informative teacher and prophet on this blog, all the while maintaining all my other duties as assigned. Part of me finds all of this a bit overwhelming and slightly off-putting. But, part of me is intrigued with the notion of having a bully pulpit that might extend far beyond the pews of Saint Barnabas. Apparently, if one can somehow strike a chord with the vast world of the Internet, one can reach an enormous number of people both quickly and cheaply. I believe this is called going viral. I gather this sort of thing happens, from time to time, and occasionally, it happens intentionally. That is, some people end up going viral against their desires when people post videos of them doing inappropriate or stupid things. There are also cases where it is clear that people will do anything to be famous. It is either that, naked ambition revealed publicly, or it is evidence that we have achieved reverse evolution. Cute animal videos also seem to go viral on a regular basis. I have no desire to go viral by doing silly or stupid things. I do hope that by taking advantage of the power of the Internet and by being somehow clever or charming or thoughtful enough, I might help the reputation of Saint Barnabas as a welcoming community of faith. I suppose, on reflection, that this hope of mine reveals how much I believe in miracles. The business of church growth, of evangelism, of spreading the Good News of God in Christ, is not just for clergy or paid church professionals. Our long-term success still turns on the old Baptist dictum of everyone bring one. If every current member of Saint Barnabas brought one friend to church, we would have an embarrassment of growth to deal with. Indeed, all the church growth literature reminds us that personal invitations trump all the fancy brochures and websites in the world. It is hard for us Episcopalians to be so open about our beliefs. We are, as a denomination, remarkably reticent about our faith. But, inviting someone to join us in something we find powerful and meaningful is both the highest compliment we can pay to what we love and to the person we want to share this thing with. I suspect many of us took up our Continued on Next Page

3 S E P T E M B E R P a g e 3 R e c t o r s R u m i n a t i o n s hobbies or our careers or our life passions because someone invited us to join them; someone took us under her or his wing and showed us the joys and wonders of activities and beliefs. Years ago, I was invited to the opera and became completely captivated by this wonderful art form. Years ago, I was invited to come to the Episcopal Church. I thought, What could go wrong in an hour on Sunday morning? The rest is history, as they say. Invitations can change one s life. And, once invited, then it matters that people are included in both work and fun within the community of faith. When we invest time, treasure, and talent into an organization we both indicate its importance in our lives and, oddly enough, we make it become more important by increasing our level of commitment and our associations and memories with this community. Where we spend our limited time, energy, and talents reveals what we think is truly important. The less time we spend with something or someone, the less important the thing or person. We make time for what or who is important to us; that which gets only occasional or casual responses often declines in importance to us over time. As our connections diminish, often our interest diminishes and becomes a self-fulfilling moment. If that sounds like a conundrum, it is. Where we spend our time and none of us has more of that than any other person no matter how wealthy, young, or thin they are how and where we spend our time tells volumes about what we believe and value. Fortunately, over the years enough people have valued Saint Barnabas that we have grown and sustained ourselves for almost seventy years. Whether we will continue for another seventy years remains unknown. Like all volunteer organizations, we re-invent ourselves all the time. People serve faithfully for a time and then step away and new leadership emerges. We hope and pray that this will happen smoothly, but sometimes it does not. Sometimes old programs end before new ones begin. Sometimes, leaders do not emerge just when needed. There can be times of stagnation, times of blurred vision, times of disagreement and uncertainty. But, if history is any guide, leadership will emerge, problems will be addressed, and, all the while, the work of building up the kingdom advances slowly, though not always surely. We have leadership needs right now at Saint Barnabas. We need help in several areas within our community. I have spoken of them elsewhere but may need to speak of them again and again. I am confident there will a positive response to these needs as there has been in the past. I, of course, would like that response sooner rather than later. That may or may not happen. And it is possible that we will all have to wait until the needed leadership emerges from our midst. It is somewhat ironic that in a world of instantaneous communications, in a world in which a casual comment, or an unguarded moment can be known around the world almost instantly, we still wait for leadership, still wait for answers to our questions, and we still wait for the time of peace and justice. There is no app for waiting on and in God s time. Dennis+

4 T h e C h i m e s C O N T E M P L A T I V E M U S I N G S The word contemplative originates from the Old French word contemplation, derived from the Latin contemplationem which means 'act of looking at,' from contemplari, meaning 'to gaze attentively, observe'. Originally it meant 'to mark out a space for observation' (as an augur would). In English, it meant 'religious musing.' One of the fun and challenging opportunities that we have while boating is to go into a relatively secluded cove, deploy our anchor, and enjoy the beauty and peace of the water and land that surrounds us. It is a challenge because we have to depend on your anchor to hold us in place. We have to figure out the tide levels of the water (not too shallow, not too deep) and we have to be mindful of where the boat is and what s happening around us. The fun comes from total immersion in the natural life that is all around. On one occasion this summer we found a beautiful anchorage in a secluded area of the Broughton Islands. It was new to us so we scouted it out and then decided to put down our anchor. There was some current and wind that we had to take into account. We put the anchor down and set it (pulling back to make sure it s dug in), turned off the engine and enjoyed the peace and quiet and solitude. We could hear various birds in the forest, watched a couple of eagles fly by. Eventually the tide changed and our boat turned around. Then the wind came up not a lot but enough to move us backward. Suddenly we were getting closer to the small islet that created the cove for the anchorage. We watched it awhile and decided to pull the anchor up and reset it. We had read that the bottom was gravel and mud but when we pulled the anchor it didn t have any mud on it so we began to wonder. We reset in a different location and seemed to be all right for the rest of our time there but we did worry about it. The captain did not sleep well that night. The whole episode got me thinking about where and in what we place the anchor of our lives. What is our anchor? And what do we set it in? Can we depend on our anchor and the ground to hold us in the currents and winds of life? Where have we placed ourselves in our lives? Continued on Next Page

5 Good holding requires a good, substantial, reliable anchor. Over the years my anchor has changed and developed as (hopefully) I have grown in my life in God. For years my anchor was the church and the grounding was the particular community where my faith was nurtured. Even after I pulled anchor and left the church community in my young adult years I carried the church with me, knowing that I could return at any time. When I finally reentered the church community, my new anchor became a developing and personal relationship with Jesus. The ground became the fertile soil of quiet meditative prayer in the Taize style, coupled with strong biblical preaching and rich liturgy. As I grew into ordained ministry, the weekly practice of leading liturgy led me to a more profound experience and anchor of God as Trinity manifested not only in the Eucharist but throughout the whole creation. That anchor continues to take new shapes as hopefully allow the Spirit to lead me deeper into the reality of the One who is love. Some of the grounding I have set my anchor in over the years has held my anchor less well than others. I ve learned over the years, however, to rely more and more on the community of Christians who seek to delve deep into the Divine life that abounds the sticky mud of experience of divine life which is one of the strongest holders of anchors. I invite you to ponder the nature of your own anchor of faith. Put it another way In what do you put your hope? In whom do you trust your life? Perhaps you have outgrown your old anchor and it s time to invest in a new one. Those who gather for silence and Centering Prayer on Tuesday morning and/or gather to study writings that ponder the life and wisdom of God are asking some of those same questions and learning new answers. Another opportunity to ponder your life in Christ will be provided on a retreat day on October 10. [See the announcement on Page 6 in this newsletter] Perhaps you would be more anchored by the study offered on Thursday evenings by our Rector. Or maybe worship every Sunday. Or Sunday evensongs or compline. Or teaching our children about our faith and sharing how you have grown in your life in Christ. Boats that are not anchored firmly in the waters of divine life end up on the rocks. Check your anchor and test your grounding so you don t miss the life that has been gifted to you. See you on the water! Many blessings, Patricia+

6 P a g e 6 J O Y L U N C H E O N U P C O M I N G E V E N T S T h e C h i m e s Disturb us, Lord, when We are too pleased with ourselves, When our dreams have come true Because we dreamed too little, When we arrived safely Because we sailed too close to the shore. Disturb us, Lord, when with the abundance of things we possess We have lost our thirst For the waters of life; Having fallen in love with life, We have ceased to dream of eternity And in our efforts to build a new earth, We have allowed our vision Of the new Heaven to dim. Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly, To venture on wilder seas Where storms will show Your mastery; Where losing sight of land, We shall find the stars. We ask you to push back The horizons of our hopes; And to push back the future In strength, courage, hope, and love. The Gospel of Thomas with David Veterane - A Wisdom Retreat Day Saturday, Oct 10 9:30am 3:30pm Parish Hall St. Barnabas Join us for a day of prayer, chanting and spiritual practice centered around The Gospel of Thomas. We will be led in our study by David Veterane of Rolling Bay Presbyterian Church and host of study weekends with Lynn Bauman. David will be using The Gospel of Thomas, Wisdom of the Twin, 2 nd edition by Lynn Bauman. (Bringing this text will be very helpful but not essential). This opportunity is designed to support participants in going deeper into the life of God which was taught and lived by Jesus (Yeshua) the Master of Wisdom. There will be a $20 donation requested to cover snacks and an honorarium (scholarships available). Look for registration forms at the church or call the office and one will be mailed to you. Bring your own lunch and join us! This we ask in the name of our Captain, Who is Jesus Christ. ~ Sir Francis Drake

7 S E P T E M B E R P a g e 7 C H A P L A I N S O N T H E H A R B O R Outreach Effort continues for Chaplains on the Harbor, Aberdeen/Westport The outreach ministry directed by the Rev. Sarah Monroe and, titled Chaplains on the Harbor is continuing to be supported by the Outreach Committee of St. Barnabas. The ministry works to meet the spiritual and everyday needs of the many homeless and needy in the depressed Aberdeen/ Westport area. Chaplains on the Harbor is a ministry that is endorsed by our Episcopal Diocese in Olympia and our Bishop Greg Rickel. Since our request for seasonal items and dry goods from the St. Christopher s Church Westport congregation last Spring, the Outreach committee continues to support Chaplains on the Harbor. St. Barnabas has helped the ministry with a $600 check to help buy a new freezer, carloads of food and dry goods, lots of prayer and recently a check for $500 to assist with the ministry. We continue to be impressed with Sarah s passion for her Chaplains on the Harbor mission and her leadership to work with and through the communities of Aberdeen and Westport. Sarah continues to recruit helpers from Aberdeen out of St. Andrews Church and also the community of Westport. Chaplains on the Harbor utilizes the former St. Christopher s Episcopal Church that is owned by the diocese. The Sunday Bulletin will begin to mention this ministry and a list the items needed from our congregation. The closer we get to Thanksgiving the congregation will again have an opportunity to show their individual support by bringing items on the list for a Chaplains in the Harbor box in the parlor. The Outreach committee will deliver the items to the ministry. The Rev. Sarah Monroe will be at St. Barnabas this fall to meet our generous congregation. Watch the Sunday Bulletin for information. For more information Steve Schmitz esallen1zero5@gmail.com. Donation items to consider: 1. Adult/children size socks 2. Gloves for adults/children 3. Jackets for children ages Tea bags/coffee/hot chocolate 5. Toilet paper 6. Sugar and creamer 7. Canned goods (beans, fruits, vegetables) 8. Snack items (small bags of chips, cookies, crackers, etc.) 9. Dog and cat food 10. Laundry soap

8 P a g e 8 T h e C h i m e s

9 S E P T E M B E R P a g e 9 A D U L T E D U C A T I O N Thursdays 7:30pm Gowen Library Class begins September 17, 2015 In Search of: Saint Paul, Saint Peter and Other New Testament Greats and Places The Washington National Cathedral is also known as the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. In honor of these two seminal figures im n Christianity, our Adult Education program this fall will focus on their lives and ministries in the earliest church. In this exploration, we will be led by David Suchet, who played Hercule Poirot in the BBC series. With him, we will go where Paul went and explore the astonishing transformation of a simple fisherman into the person some claim as the first Pope. We will also explore some of the early Christian world by way of videos featuring Jerusalem and the other great sites of early Christianity. If geography is history, then the world of the earliest Christians shaped how we worship today. Please join us for any or all of these explorations and discussions. Schedule Sep 17 Saint Paul Sep 24 Saint Paul Oct 22 Oct 29 Peter and Paul & the Christian Revolution I Peter and Paul and the Christian Revolution II Oct 1 Saint Peter Nov 5 The First Christians Part I Oct 8 Rector Away Nov 12 The First Christian Part II Oct 15 Saint Peter Nov 19 Birth of a Faith ~

10 P a g e 10 T h e C h i m e s S t B a r n a b a s S u p p e r / B r u n c h C l u b Be Part of the Great Tradition the St. Barnabas Supper/Brunch Club The program starts as early as November. Groups meet for a shared meal where there is time to appreciate each other s company, enjoy the gifts of food and drink, and learn to know each other, moving from acquaintances to friends. This is a perfect way for newcomers to meet others, for long-time members to meet the newcomers, for singles who want to participate in a social program without a partner, and for those who are members of the parish but whose spouses/partners are not. Starting this year, we want to be more inclusive, looking for those who want to be part of a family-based group which would involve children. How Does This Work and What Do I Have to Do? We divide into groups of 8-9 people, couples, singles, families. Each group has a leader who hosts the first meeting, then the others take turns being Host-of-the-Month. It can be for dinner, brunch, tea, barbeque in the park formal, casual, whatever. The place can be your home, someone else s home, one of our parks, anywhere there is time and space for leisurely companionship. The idea is to find a place that is private and involves no rushing, so restaurants don t fit. They are trying to turn tables. At the first meeting the group brings calendars, sets the schedule for the rest of the year, and makes two concrete commitments: First, everyone agrees to host at least once. Singles may pair up to share the work load. The host decides what they want to do in terms of menu and time. They can create the whole meal, ask the others to contribute, or to prepare a special recipe. If the group wants, they can schedule two rounds of hosting into next summer. No rules here except the two commitments. Second, once the dates are set, you commit to showing up each time unless there is an emergency. It s like having season tickets to the Seahawks, you mark your calendar as taken for those days. That way, in this busy congregation, everyone can schedule other travel, business or anything else AROUND those concrete dates. Only fair to your group, isn t it? If you have an emergency, the host will fill your chairs with someone else who would enjoy the meeting. The idea is to meet no matter what. Signups will begin September 13, and continue until October 18. That s only a few weeks, so don t wait. You have choices about the kind of group you prefer, if you need a ride, or want to be a leader. If there are dietary or mobility/access concerns, note them and we will try to make it all work out. There will be sign-up forms at the Welcome Table and in the September and October Chimes. Celebration Sunday, September 13, is the first date to sign up. You may be able to do this on line. Groups will be announced in early November. DO consider being a part of this really special, traditional St. Barnabas program. Sign up by October 18.

11 S E P T E M B E R P a g e 11 S t B a r n a b a s S u p p e r / B r u n c h C l u b F o r m 1 Sally Black 2 Betty Hulbert 4 Ed Ellis 5 Jan Heller, Genevieve Kramer 8 Kathleen Jennings 10 Phil Hodge 11 Jerry Collum, Ned Thorne 14 Seth Ruud 15 Susan Kerr, Jack Bullock 17 John Baker, Patrick Miller, Kaela Cole 18 Nick Herrick, Jerry Dennon 23 David Abbott, Dennis Tierney 28 Anne Dennon 30 Kristen O Keefe

12 VESTRY, COMMISSIONS & COMMITTEES Vestry Dennis Tierney (Rector), Bill Galvani (Senior Warden), TBD (Junior Warden) Members Kristoffer Anderson, Sue Hylen, Ed Ellis, Jean Kellerman, Michael Lacey, Steve Schmitz & Virginia Walker Clerk of the Vestry Mark Morris Treasurer Denton Kiehle Treasurer Emerita Carole Hedderly-Smith Chimes Editors Katrina Diller & Dennis Tierney Finance Standing Committee Charlie Anderson (chair), Denton Kiehle, Tom Beierle, Virginia Walker, Dennis Tierney Stewardship Standing Committee TBD (chair), Tim Duffy Legacy Circle (Marite Butners, Dorothy Foster, Lynn Whipple)] Buildings & Grounds Standing Committee Anne Pell & Denise Kolb (co-chairs), Fred Meredith, Dennis Tierney Christian Action Commission Bill Galvani (chair), Maggie Ball, Joan Collins, Robin Cook, Dan Fowler, Nancy Sias, Lee-ann Holland & Ric Cederwall Pastoral Care Committee Outreach Committee and Office of the Rector Secret Prayer Partners (Alice Reasoner), Prayer Chain (Lee-Ann Holland), Reiki Ministry (Sr Mary Louise Sulonen, Ric Cederwall) Outreach Committee Bill Galvani (chair), Maggie Ball, Joan Collins, Robin Cook, Dan Fowler, Nancy Sias, Lee-ann Holland & Ric Cederwall Super Supper (Laurie Fergusson & Julie Houck), JOY Luncheon (Danielle Desaulniers & Kathleen Jennings), New Way Life Mongolian Quilting Center (Maggie Ball), Chaplains on the Harbor (Steve & Helene Schmitz), CROP Walk (Deena Hanke) Christian Formation Commission Ruth Anderson (chair), Barb Herrick, Dennis Tierney Sunday School (TBD), Youth Groups & Adult Education (Barbara Bolles, Dennis Tierney), Nursery (TBD), Library (Barb Herrick) Fellowship Commission Pat O Morchoe (chair), Karen Carncross, Laura Carroll, Joan Collins, Helene Schmitz, Honora Dunkak, Sylvia Dunning, Nancy Dysland, Roth Hafer, Kate Houchen, Kathleen & Stephen Jennings, Jean Kellerman, Doug & Gigi Norwine, Jody Prongay, Alan & Alice Reasoner, Pat & Duke Schader, Steven Schmitz Greeters (Stephen Jennings), Welcome Table (Randy & Linda Krause), Supper Club (Stephen & Kathleen Jennings), Newcomer Brunch (Babe Kehres), Coffee Hour (Caroline Cox), Special Events (Sylvia Dunning) Worship Commission Joan Collins (chair), Su Beecham, Donna Brookfield, Dan Fowler, Paul Roy, Nancy Tiederman, Dennis Tierney Ushers (Brian Andvik), Liturgical Ministers (Joan Collins), Altar Guild (Joan Collins, Honora Dunkak), Weddings (TBD), Memorial Service Receptions (Christine Davis), Women s Schola Nova, Compline Choir & Amabile Choir (Anne Pell), Bread Bakers (TBD)