Celebrate St. Barnabas! What a wonderful thing it is to see so many children and young families at St. Barnabas! We ve got two new Sunday school classes and a new youth worship led by Fr. Jeff and Fr. Bur. A recent interview Fr. Jeff conducted made crystal clear how important it is for church to be a joyful and nurturing place for its children. He interviewed Jenny Wieser and Joe David Shearer both were children at St. Barnabas; Joe David in the 60s and 70s and Jenny in the 70s and 80s. Both Jenny and Joe David had vivid memories of the priests of their childhood: Fr. Dean Pratt and Fr. Jack Langford. Fr. Jack was a very tall Canadian with a resounding voice; he would stand in the narthex at the beginning of worship and holler something in Latin. Joe David recalled his personal affection for Father Jack. How wonderful he was. Father Jack would drive out to the house we lived between Harper and Fredericksburg to give my brother and sister confirmation lessons. He loved Cocoa Crispies and my mother always made sure she had some to serve him after the lesson. After he left Fredericksburg, we found him and he came back and sang at my father s funeral. Jenny recalled Dean Pratt lifting his arms up after he blessed the bread and wine proclaiming, All persons are welcome at this rail. He did it every single time, without exception. It was a big deal at the time. I still remember it when we come to that part of the service. There was no question Dean Pratt permeated my youth he was big on doing not just coming to church but on doing, There weren t a lot of kids at St. Barnabas when I was here, but we were always doing something. As a ten-year-old Jenny got up early on Saturday mornings to collect newspapers with Paul Alban. I didn t want to get up on Saturday and go with a man I didn t know, but I m glad I did. I think people should know what it is to do something for someone else. Unexpectedly, Sunday School was not an important aspect of their church life to either of them. Their service as acolytes invoked fonder memories. In describing the procession, Jenny recalled, As low church as Dean was, he loved a ceremony. The whole procession was kids the Wareing boys, my brother, me and whoever else was there - and we marched with the candles; we marched with the flags, the banners, the crucifix; whoever was there marched with something. As the youngest acolyte, eight-year-old Joe David wore a vestment with lace on the sleeves and hem; without any specific duties, he followed Fr. Jack around, doing whatever he told him to do. (cont d. p.2)
When asked about important events they remembered, Joe David mentioned the times when President and Lady Bird Johnson were at St. Barnabas. At first, the kids were really impressed, but soon they thought, Oh, they re here again. The kids even played Secret Service with the real Secret Service agents who surrounded the little church. He recalled, Lynda was dating George Hamilton and when he came the girls would go bonkers! Jenny recalled the ordination of Dean Pratt. He arrived at St. Barnabas as a Deacon and was ordained after several years. It was a big deal the Bishop didn t come to our church much then. Later, everyone signed a petition to the Rt. Rev. Scott Field Bailey requesting that St. Barnabas, a mission at that time, be granted church status. Both Jenny and Joe David left Fredericksburg and went without church for several decades. When asked why he returned, Joe David replied, There s a time you think you have all the answers then I realized I was lost. Then I remembered the peace I had as a child here. St. Barnabas is home to me. It gives me that same peace. It s not the building it is a beautiful Episcopal Church it s not the liturgy. It s the feeling I get when I walk through those doors. Everything is o.k. All are welcome. There s no judgment. Everyone s the same. No matter who you are or how much money you have or don t have. All are welcome. After graduate school and service in the Peace Corps, Jenny came back to Fredericksburg. Her first visit to St. Barnabas was for the All Saints service. The flags were up and it was a very emotional experience. She came back to church. It s my home it really is. It was like reentering my childhood but then it grew and was better. I love the order of worship the words I just love. There s always something to think about. There s a family connection. I can t explain it, but it s nice to know it exists. Remembering Fr. Dean saying, All are welcome, I think there s a recognition in this church that all is all. It s not some. Blessing of the Animals The Blessing of the Animals will be held on Sunday, October 9, at 4 pm in the Courtyard at St. Barnabas. All animals and their humans are welcome. Animals must be in a cage or on a leash. This has become a popular annual event filled with blessings and fellowship. We hope to see you and your animal friends here! Joe David Shearer and Susan Kimbrell have teamed up to lead the Deep Blue One Sunday School class.
Another Great Day! On September 11, we held another One-Service Sunday and Father Bur blessed all of our teachers, students and school administrators. Afterwards, we feasted on hamburgers, hot dogs, slaw and beans all prepared by Father Bur. The tables were decorated with beautiful pinwheels made by Walt and Sue Biddle. They made enough from their art work and photographs for each person to have one. The waterslide was the big attraction for the kids. From 11:30 to 3 pm the kids climbed and slid. Finally, Fr. Jeff couldn t resist and went down the slide in his priest clothes! Sue and Walt Biddle Katya and Robert Walker, Emily and Tim Bowyer Helping Children Help Themselves The Thimbili Visioners Working Group recently celebrated the amazing accomplishments of its members in a joyful graduation ceremony. St. Barnabas supported this program from 2013 through 2015. The special day was filled with prayer, speeches, testimonies and thanksgiving. Of course, reflecting the expressiveness of the Kenyan culture, there was also much dancing and singing. The young business owners set up a Trade Fair where they displayed the items they sell and the services they provide. Community leaders expressed confidence that these young people would continue to be role models for their community. There are 28 youth in the group between the age of 15 and 20 that provide support for their households of younger siblings. A graduation gift of a Bible was given to each head of household.
August Financial Report St Barnabas Financials as of August 31, 2016 Aug 16 Actuals Monthly Budget $ +/- Budget Jan-Aug Actuals YTD Budget $ +/- Budget Annual Budget Income 34,925 40,230-5,305 321,024 321,840-816 482,750 Expenses: Staff 35,559 26,685 8,874 219,167 213,480 5,687 320,199 Operating 8,937 6,449 2,488 53,818 51,592 2,226 77,400 Ministry 6,153 2,778 3,375 27,406 22,224 5,182 33,350 Apportionment 5,381 5,381 0 43,048 43,048 0 64,572 Total Expenses 56,030 41,293 14,737 343,439 330,344 13,095 495,521 Net Income -21,105-1,063-20,042-22,415-8,504-13,911-12,771 Balance Sheet: There was a decrease of $16,986. The following is the breakdown by area: Monthly Operations -$21,106 (explained below) Moms Morning Off $ 5,359 (explained below) Prepaid Pledges $ 2,440 Funds -$ 91 Significant activity from funds were as follows; Dugat MMO Scholarship (-$2,028), Endowment (+$1,018), Landscaping (+$977), Daughters of the King (+607), Outreach (+$417), Rector Discretionary (-$1,500). Monthly Operations: Overall there was a deficit of $21,106 versus a budgeted deficit of $1,063. The four items that drove the deficit are: Income was under budget by $5,305. A three-payroll month made personnel expenses higher by $8,874. Operating expenses (insurance, property maintenance, and printing expenses) were over budget by $2,488. Outreach and Education expenses were $3,375 over budget. YTD results are over budget by $13,911. A normal December income increase will end the year close to our budget. YTD income is on budget, but additional activities and programs are driving higher expenses. MMO: MMO had a surplus of $5,359. We received the income for the start of the new school year in August, but won t incur the expenses until next month. Enrollment is at 40 children with 10 teachers, this means everything is running at full+ capacity. The YTD balance is a positive $3,584. Thank You, Audit Committee I want to thank Beverly Carnes, Lorri Kendrick, and Molly Martin for their service on the current Audit Committee; they have completed their work. I am still looking for volunteers for the Audit committee. Wolfgang Wolf Benner is going to lead the audit next year but, we still need at least two more participants. Please volunteer or you may be called and made to feel guilty. It is not a difficult job. Contact Ric McCormick with any questions.
From the Senior Warden Are you ready for another One Service Sunday? We have had such great success with the One Service Sundays that another is coming up on October 16, so mark your calendars now! Once again this Sunday Service will begin at 10:00 a.m. and a light meal will be served afterwards. What is the special occasion for this service? This service is to kick-off our Stewardship campaign for the budget year 2017 Yes, it is time for that already! Please be prayerfully considering your pledge to St. Barnabas. We have begun new programs, new outreaches, and our congregation is growing! The vestry has begun gathering names for potential vestry members for next year. We even have had someone approach us to say they would be interested in serving! But, we do still need to add names to our list. If your name has been put forth to the vestry, please prayerfully consider serving St. Barnabas in this way. This year we will be electing four new vestry members to replace the three outgoing vestry members. Why? Because so many new things are coming to St. Barnabas, we need more people to be involved in the vestry and in the ministry of our parish. Over the next three years we will increase vestry membership by one person until we reach twelve vestry members. As a vestry member you would make the following commitments: Participate in a monthly meeting on the third Monday of each month; Take your turn depositing the offering plate cash at the bank on Sunday; and Serve on a church committee of your choice; A vestry member serves three years, is a member of St. Barnabas in good standing, at least 18 years of age, canonically resident in the parish, and is a financial supporter of the parish. We also need volunteers for Diocesan Council Delegates. If you have never attended a Diocesan Council Meeting, or if you have attended one in another diocese and were less than impressed, then you should attend a Diocesan Council Meeting in the Diocese of West Texas! Our Diocesan Council Meeting is quite an impressive experience and very, very uplifting.to say nothing about being very wellorganized, interesting, and fun! Every member of St. Barnabas should attend a Council Meeting at least once. I promise that you will have a great experience! Let Fr. Jeff, Fr. Bur, or a vestry member know if you would be interested in serving as a delegate to the next Diocesan Council Meeting, February 23-25, 2017 in Corpus Christi. For more information see the Diocesan website: dwtx.org With gratitude for your love and service to St. Barnabas, Vickie Ready, Set, Be Prepared When the time comes - whether from emergency, illness or death, do you have all the information your family and/or loved ones need, in one central location? A seminar to help guide you through the process of assembling vital details regarding your current life, and end of life wishes, is being offered again. Join us, Saturday, Nov. 5th from 10 am to noon at St. Barnabas Parish Hall to learn how to Be Prepared. Cost is $20 per household for the seminar and binder. Register on stbarnabasfbg.org or at the church office. Payment must be submitted to the office.
Caring for God s Creation: Called to Be Stewards Almighty God, in giving us dominion over things on earth, you made us fellow workers in your creation: Give us wisdom and reverence so to use the resources of nature, that no one may suffer from our abuse of them, and that generations yet to come may continue to praise you for your bounty. BCP, p. 827 In 2012, the CORE Committee (Caring for our Resources and Environment) was established at St. Barnabas. Through the efforts of this group, recycling was instituted at the church. We have greatly reduced our waste through the recycling of bond paper, cardboard, magazines, ink cartridges, aluminum and tin cans, plastics, cell phones, eye glasses and fluorescent light bulbs. In order to build on our initial efforts of caring for God s creation, we are now ready to explore the more efficient use of energy and water, as well as other sustainability initiatives. If you would like to serve on this committee, please contact Steve Neale at snealefbg@gmail.com or 990-1487 The estimated time commitment is about two to three hours per month. Anyone who has a passion for the natural environment is welcome Gardeners, Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists, Birders, Rainwater Collectors all are welcome and needed! Boy Scout Troup Hikes 15 Miles in Six Hours Pictured left to right: Andrew Chapa Carl Wilger Liam Matthes Barrett Young Keeping true to their conviction to be a High Adventure troop, Boy Scout Troop 137 hiked 15 miles in fewer than six hours at Enchanted Rock on the weekend of September 10. The goal was to hike 20 miles in about eight hours, Scoutmaster Gayne C. Young explains. But we didn t quite make it. Seven members of the Troop sponsored by St. Barnabas made the hike and all have agreed to make 20 miles at one time a top priority. Young explained that these shorter hikes are really just practice and preparation for this summer s big treks. The boys have plans to hike Guadalupe Peak, the tallest point in Texas, and several major trails in Big Bend this summer. We ll be hiking and camping several times per month until then to get into ready shape. Troop 137 meets each Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:00 in St. Barnabas Parish Hall and boys 11 to 18 years of age are welcome to attend. Contact Scoutmaster Gayne C. Young at 830-285-1011 or at gayne@gaynecyoung.com for details.
MEETINGS & MINISTRIES Adult Children of Alcoholics Wednesday 6 pm in CEB Alcoholics Anonymous Sun Mon Tues Wed Fri Sat 8 pm in CEB Spanish Speaking Meeting Sun & Mon 6:30 pm in CEB Thurs, Closed Meeting (Women) 7 pm in CEB Al-Anon Monday 6:30 pm in CEB Friday 6:30 pm in CEB Bell Choiir Wednesday 4:30 pm in CEB Bible Studies Monday 7 am in Library Thursday 10 am in CEB Boy Scout Troop 137 Tuesday 6:30 pm in Parish Hall Choir Tuesday 7 pm in Encourager Room Daughters of the King 2 nd Saturday of the Month 9:30 am in Sanctuary Library Guild 1 st Thursday of the Month 10 am in the Library Men s Breakfast Thursday 7 am in Parish Hall MMO (Mom s Morning Off) Resumes August 29 8 am 2 pm Vestry 3 rd Monday of the Month 5 pm in Conference Room Oct 9 Oct. 16 Nov. 5 Nov. 6 Nov. 27 Jan. 15 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th HOLD THE DATE OCTOBER Birthdays Evan-Claire Kendrick Rosabel Smith Janice Christofferson Dylan Dobbins Jeff Walker Sherryl Brown Martha Matteson Kent Myers Gwynne Juett Shalmir Benner Beverly Carnes Byron Fanning Virginia Muncey Katya Walker Ann Adams Olivia Alvarez Olivia Loggie Marilu Reynolds Jani Schofield Alex Herbig Sharon Miller Gay Youngblood Dorothy Jessee Blessing of the Animals One Service 10 am Meal following All Saints Service 10 am Thanksgiving Potluck Columbarium Blessing After 11 am Service First Sunday of Advent One Service 10 am Meal/Annual Meeting 13th 14th 15th 18th 19th 20th 21st 22nd 25th 27th 28th 29th 30th 31st ANNIVERSARIES 1st 2nd 4th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 18th 20th Brantley Barter Nik McWhirter Jesse Barter Bill Miller Linda Miller Lola Roseberry Sara Gordon Sarah Clark Charles Deaton Patricia Reese Nancy Shaw Bur Dobbins Jack Swanzy Sarah Barter Art Shafer Russ York Darrell Edwards Sherrie Gregg Wolfgang Benner Nancy Jackson Steve Neale Lianne Mercer Tina Campbell Pat & Bill Sadd Susan & Doug Kimbrell Kathy & Humberto Palmarin Frances & Carl Money Sharon & Stephen Smith Emily & Ben Rodgers Carla & David Herbig Linda & Al Bryant Cynthia England & David Clements Kelly & Mark Hallman Rex & Harlan Hill Barclay & Jeff Hammond Pat & Ric McCormick
Return Service Requested CHURCH CLERGY AND STAFF: Rector: The Rev. Jeff Hammond Assistant Rector: The Rev. Bur Dobbins Lay Pastoral Minister: Morey Weldon Clergy Associate: The Rev. Dr. Dyana Orrin Clergy Associate: The Rev. Anne Finn Clergy Associate: The Rev. Tom Luck Parish Administrator: Rachael Cole Office Assistant: Carol Schreider Youth Director: Marilee Pankratz Director of Music: Hazel Hanson Lay Ministry Coordinator: Steve Neale Mom s Morning Off Director: Deanne Moellering Nursery Director: Madeline Clanton Housekeeper: Patty Ramirez Thanksgiving Potluck Sunday, Nov. 6 The Annual Thanksgiving Potluck will be held on Sunday, November 6, after the 11 am service and the blessing of the Columbarium. Turkey, gravy, cranberries, rolls and beverages will be provided. Members of the congregation are asked to bring dishes to share, as indicated by the first letter of your last name. We need lots of helpers to make this event a success. Please call Carol at 997-5762 if you are eager (or at least willing) to help set up, serve and/or clean up A to H I to P Q to Z Something yummy for dessert Something to put gravy on (potatoes, dressing,, rice) Something that adds color to the plate (veggies, fruit, salad)