St. Barnabas Encourager

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1 November brings cooler temperatures, magnificent foliage, shortened day-light hours and this year at least a bishop! We are honored to welcome to St. Barnabas for the first time The Right Rev. William Chip Stokes, XII Bishop of New Jersey, on November 2nd, which just so happens to be the 1st Anniversary of his consecration! According to church law, the bishop has to visit the churches within his jurisdiction at least once every 3 years. It has been at least that long since a bishop was at St. Barnabas for an official visitation, and with four of our youth Casey Dombrowski, Brianna Gonzales, Toby Ilogu and Kevin Lynch prepared to make their Confirmation, it was a great time to invite Bishop Chip to come. In order to make this a special event, not only for our bishop, but also (and more importantly) as a show of support from the entire community to our Confirmands, we will have ONE service on Sunday, November 2nd at 10:30 AM. I do hope your plans allow you to join us that day. [Please also note that Daylight Savings Time ends that Sunday, so be sure to set your clocks back by one hour on Saturday night, or you will be very early for the service!] Even though most parishioners do not interact with their bishop often, having a bishop is an essential part of our Episcopal identity. The term episcopal is derived from a Greek word meaning overseer, which is exactly what the bishop does oversees the churches within his or her see or diocese. When we were searching for our current bishop, the profile stated that we were looking for a person to help push us toward an imaginative future in light of the changing dynamics of the world. After a year of getting to know the Diocese of New Jersey a bit, Bishop Chip is beginning to articulate his call for congregations to be engaged in mission activities that demonstrate their vitality and commitment to living as disciples of Christ. Bishop Chip and his wife, Susan, are also ardent advocates for lifelong Christian education and formation that teaches and encourages people to be disciples of Christ. I appreciate their commitment as I believe that is a necessary part of our life together at St. Barnabas. We are learning what it means to be a disciples of Christ by how to order our lives in accordance with God s will and live out our faith in Christ with love and purpose. These are not simple tasks and do not have simple answers, which is one of the reasons having a strong, vital congregation is important to our Christian formation. As a community of believers, we have helped nurture many young people as they have begun to take responsibility for their own life of faith, and we are honored to support them in their Confirmation and beyond. However, our formation does not stop with this rite. While it is important, it is a brief stop on our faith journey, not the destination. We need to continue to support each other throughout our faith journeys, especially when times are difficult, to know and feel God s presence through the Christian love we share. Let us show our bishop the love we share at St. Barnabas, both for our Lord and for each other. I look forward to having the entire community come together on All Saint s Sunday to be the Body of Christ in South Brunswick. They will know we are Christians by our love. In Christ, Rev. Valerie+

2 REACH OUT 2014 November 8, :30-8:00 South Brunswick Senior Center Delicious international food, DJ, live auction and tricky tray! Help us make the night even more successful by helping out in one of these areas: Babysitting, Helping at the door, Selling Tricky Tray tickets, and encouraging others to bid! Contact Susan LeDonne:

3 First Friday Book Club The Book Club meets for dinner and fellowship at Confectionately Yours on the first Friday of each month at 5:30pm and proceeds to the Bolmer Room at St. Barnabas for the discussion at 7:00pm. Please contact Carolyn Hales or Monica Devanas with any questions and suggestions for additional readings. November 7, 2014 Killing Jesus by Bill O Reilly December 5, 2014 Killing Lincoln by Bill O Reilly OUTREACH OPPORTUNITY St. Barnabas is teaming up with South Brunswick Social Services once again and adopting 2 local area families for the holidays. Please pick up an index card with a gift suggestion and return unwrapped gifts by 12/7. The Youth Group will be wrapping the gifts. ANNUAL WOMEN'S RETREAT "THANKFULNESS" Join us for teen church the 2nd Sunday of the month 11/9. We will have an Interactive Intergenerational Service on the 4th Sunday of the month 11/23. November is the diocesan event on racism at Camp Lebanon. Gerry Welch is going if you are interested. Financial Aide is available. We will also be collecting food to give to the needy for Thanksgiving. Volunteers are welcome. ~Gerry The Interfaith Clergy Association of Greater South Brunswick invites you to attend Visions of Plenty: An Interfaith Thanksgiving Observance and Conversation with perspectives on G_d's vision of abundance offered by Islamic, Jewish, and Christian perspectives 6:30 PM on Sunday, November 23 rd at the Islamic Society of Central Jersey 4145 U.S. Rt. 1 South, Monmouth Junction, NJ Please Bring Non-Perishable Food Donations for Our Area Food Pantries Financial Update Friday November 21 - Sunday November 23 The Community of St. John the Baptist, Mendham NJ Cost: $85 one night, $170 two nights. Summary SEPT YTD Income $ 16,205 $ 143, Balance Owed (2-1/2 days includes 6 meals & room) Carpool available from both Holy Trinity South River (4:30) & St. Barnabas (5PM) To reserve your spot, deposits of $85 can be mailed to: Dcn. Barbara Jensen 62 Helmetta Road Monroe Twp NJ Make checks out to CSJB Questions & concerns call or bjensen238@aol.com Expenses $ 19,768 $ 143,39 Net Income $ (3,563 $ (99) Diocesan Pledge Paid $ 1,250 $ 4,37 $ 3,125 # of Months Diocesan Mortgage Paid $ 1,241 $ 11,18 $ 3,723 # of Months 1 8 3

4 BIRTHDAYS Linda Farinola 11/2 Joan Cenicola 11/5 Stefanie Herbach 11/5 Riley McLean 11/5 Susan LeDonne 11/9 Anthony Pinto 11/11 Julian Osborne 11/13 Bob Stevenson 11/13 Stephanie Carr 11/14 Mark Froelich 11/15 Janet Wood 11/16 Alec Grant 11/17 Margaret Flick 11/18 Bill Gonzales 11/18 Erin Martinez 11/18 John Tambascia 11/18 Kenneth Gibbons 11/20 David Evans 11/21 Evan Thompson 11/21 Christina Guido 11/25 Eugenia Turkson 11/25 Alison Wadee 11/25 Harrison Chapman 11/26 Billie-Jo Tierney 11/28 Paul Pospiech 11/29 BAPTISMAL ANNIVERSARIES Bradley Barnhard 11/1 Chloe Salles-Acevedo 11/1 Carl Eby 11/2 Linda Farniola 11/2 Kiara Tierney 11/2 Zackary Baskin 11/3 Alexandra Royce 11/5 Kotey Ashie 11/6 Jade Gonzales 11/6 Kayla McLeod 11/6 Ascia Johnson 11/7 Joan Cenicola 11/9 Christopher Garrin 11/12 Helena Hrinkevich 11/12 Bryonna Thompson 11/12 Kevin Lynch 11/14 Alison Hennessy 11/15 James Evans 11/16 Robert Evans 11/16 Chukwudi (Chudi) Ilogu 11/16 Jason Osborne 11/12 Benjamin Lubbers 11/20 Colin Eby 11/21 Vittoria Flick 11/22 Robin Gonzales 11/25 Charles Sanfilippo Madama 11/25 WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES Bruce & Joan Cenicola 11/1 Paul & Wanda Garrin 11/6 Christian Carrillo & Anthony Pinto 11/9 Cynthia & Glen Stanger 11/27 Marlene Botsch 11/26 Harrison Chapman 11/26 Romelle Lysenko 11/26 Benjamin Sanfilippo 11/26 If your special day is missing from this list, or the information is not correct, please contact Melody at

5 NOVEMBER 2014 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Don t forget to turn your clocks back Nov. 2nd!! Every Sunday: 8:30 AM Service 10:30 AM Service (with Music) 1 2 *Bishop Stokes Visit *All Saints Sunday *Confirmation Sunday AM Bible Study IINTERNATIONAL BENEFIT DINNER AM Bible Study *Stewardship In AM Bible Study Gathering and luncheon Women s Retreat * 12:30 Vestry Mtg Elijah s Promise 23 *Youth After Church *MRD Meeting *Thanksgiving Interfaith Service 6:30pm AM Bible Study 27Office Closed 28 Office Closed Advent I Please join us for an In-Gathering luncheon following the 10:30 service on Sunday, November 16 th compliments of the Stewardship committee. Weekly AA Meetings: Tues-8:30pm, Wed 8pm, Thurs. 6:30pm, Fri 7:30pm (women s)