Borrego Springs, California April 2008 Volume 11, No. 4 Reflections From the Desert Are you familiar with the connection between St. Barnabas (our patron saint) and Stewardship? Recently someone sent me a pamphlet, Barnabas: A Model for Holistic Stewardship by The Rev. C. K. Robertson, Ph. D. His most important sentences for me are the opening ones: For too long, stewardship has been synonymous in the minds of many Christians with pledge drives, budgets, and capital fund raising. Holy Scripture, however, has always been clear that God wants more than our offerings; God wants us to be intentional and focused about all that we are and all that we have. This is what the author calls the December 25 th not the April 15 th approach to giving. In Jesus God gave us all God could; on tax day we give as little as possible. We learn about Barnabas - who he was and what he did - mainly in six passages in the Acts of the Apostles. 1. Barnabas is one who welcomes graciously. After his conversion, Saul went to Jerusalem. He attempted to join the disciples but they were afraid of him because they did not believe that he was a disciple but was still their persecutor. But Barnabas took him to the apostles and convinced them that Saul was a true disciple. Acts 9: 26-31 2. Barnabas is one BARNABAS who seeks out other workers. A MODEL FOR HOLISTIC When news of the conversion of Jews STEWARDSHIP and Greeks reached Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas to Antioch where, as a result of his preaching, many people came to the Lord. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul. After he found him, he took him to Antioch for one year. When a famine was predicted in Judea, Barnabas and Saul took what was collected to the elders there. Acts 11: 19-304. April 2008 Carillon page 1
Reflections continued... 3. Barnabas is one who seeks God s direction. In the church at Antioch, while the community was worshiping and fasting, the Holy Spirit told them to set apart Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. Acts 12: 25-13:3 4. Barnabas is one who takes a supporting role. Wherever he was called, Barnabas went. In 13:9 he assisted Saul, also known as Paul. Acts 13: 4-14:28 5. Barnabas is one who challenges the status quo. At the Council of Jerusalem Barnabas and Paul argued so convincingly against the necessity of circumcision for Gentiles who wanted to become Christians that James agreed with them. God, they maintained, can and does work outside of the parameters of the Jewish law which they had inherited. God was doing something new in Antioch. James wrote a letter outlining the only four things which the Gentiles were to avoid. Acts 15: 1-35 6. Barnabas is one who errs on the side of mercy. When Paul wanted to visit with Barnabas the places they had evangelized, Barnabas wanted John, called Mark, to accompany them. Since Paul was against this, Barnabas left Paul and invited Mark to travel with him. Acts 15: 36-41. So, what does St. Barnabas teach us about stewardship? Holistic stewardship is all encompassing. It speaks to our whole self. While there is an aspect of money, money is treated as an aspect. It is by no means the totality, not even the most important aspect of caring for, using wisely all that God has entrusted to our care. We are to use our time and talents with which to glorify God by how we serve others. Money is a necessary means in the pursuit of our mission to share the love of Christ/ compartir el amor de Cristo. Sincerely, Alex+/Nancy+ For more on the life of St. Barnabas, please go to the Welcome page of our parish website: stbarnabasborrego.org To All Parishioners We are blessed to have such a beautiful church, grounds, labyrinth and rectory (fully paid for), and clergy to serve our spiritual needs and reach out to the community of Borrego Springs. This, however, takes planning and money and, small as we are, we depend upon every member to contribute to this effort. Our finance committee works diligently to carefully assess what our needs are. This year we need only $13,000 more to reach our goal of $110,500. We need your help. If you have pledged, thank you. If you have not, please consider doing it today. The Stewardship Committee Bill Walker Addis Ward Sue Salt Gary Westover Chuck Bennett St. Barnabas Episcopal Church PO Box 691 Borrego Springs CA 92004 page 2 Carillon April 2008
Cathy Gay Oswalt Organist Cathy Gay Oswalt s story coincides in an interesting way with the history of St Barnabas at Borrego Springs. Consider the facts. She is one of the two longest living members of the early St Barnabas years, and she s still a young woman with a quick smile and a wealth of stories about St Barnabas that go back before the founding of the church. She moved to Borrego from Escondido. She brought her daughters to visit Borrego Springs in 1971. Not long after, she and her family came on a camping trip. That was in 1974. She moved to Borrego Springs full-time in 1978 and you might say she has not looked back since then. In 1980, she was recruited as organist for St Barnabas by Col. Robert Bottoms, one of the founding members of the church. Thereafter, she played year-round through 2001. But then her job as a realtor at Coldwell Banker expanded and she took up the service of playing during the summer months. What s striking is that Cathy was in Borrego early enough so that she was able to play a key role in the development of the church before its members planned, financed and oversaw the 1986-87 construction of the building we now know as St Barnabas. You will find a full account of that process by Frances Brainerd, one of the early ones, of the early history of the church in her short but detailed History of St Barnabas Episcopal Church, 1975-1986. Also in the Brainerd s history you ll find listed the names of the original members of the church, along with the various functions they performed during the eleven years of the History. Included among the names of those who played significant roles in the development of St Barnabas you will find a listing of Cathy Gay (later, Oswalt) as principal organist from 1980 on. Cathy formally became a member of the church in 1986 and you will see her name listed under the heading of Confirmation in the closing pages of the Brainerd History. Cathy presently serves on the vestry as the Rector s Warden. She has been a member of the Gifts and Memorial Committee and continues to function as a chalice bearer. In addition she sings with the St Barnabas choir. She was instrumental, along with L Louise Jee, in bringing about the return of summer services in 1998. They had been suspended, following the construction of the church building in 1987. Cathy began Bible Study class in 1998, following her commission as a lay minister. She attended Cursillo in Oct 1998. For more information on the early church, copies of Frances Brainerd s History of St Barnabas Episcopal Church, 1975-1986, can be found in the St Barnabas Library. - Victor Levine April 2008 Carillon page 3
Here is the mint Palm Sunday Procession, Here is the mint There the paschal lamb The Great Easter Vigil Which lies in sacrifice With Hot Cross Buns & Dead but not The Sunrise Service! Beyond renewal There waiting In the still of day to be broken and savored In all its juices We are here As in celebration But still we bear The aching heart Of the once Living lamb Tell me it is A feast we will Least forget Tell me there will be Photos by No more pain no more Faye Dorsey Denial of one s self That there will be only The longing for a day When death gives over Alleluia! And the meal Can begin He is Risen! valevine 2008 page 4 Carillon April 2008
Vestry News VESTRY REPORT At the March 31 vestry meeting Alex+ announced with regret his and Nancy+'s necessary departure from St. Barnabas effective the end of April. Sad news, but not unexpected with the health difficulties of Nancy+ these past few years. The Rev. Canon Jenny Vervynck from the San Diego diocese, a minister of transitions and development, will give a power point presentation at the church on April 13 after our one 9:30 am service explaining procedures and how the congregation can be a part of the selection of a new rector. Our rector's warden, Cathy Gay Oswalt, is confident that this will be smooth because of our strong and dedicated vestry and parish members. Alex+ and Nancy+ have been such a big part of the greater Borrego Springs community as well as our St. Barnabas community. We will have a celebration for them to wish them joy and success in their next adventure. Stay tuned. Other vestry news pales by comparison, but business goes on. Our Smith Barney and endowment funds are feeling the market fluctuations that everyone is at this point in time. Our treasurer, Margaret Orenyak, has given notice that she needs to move on to other projects after her April reports. Another loss for St. Barnabas. Thank you, Margaret, for all your hard work and excellent record keeping. Summer is approaching and it is a good time to take care of some of the maintenance at the Rectory such as tree trimming and painting. We wish all who are heading home this month a safe journey. - Sue Salt SPECIAL PRAYERS ~~~~~~~~~~~~ A PRAYER FOR OUR PARISH Almighty and everliving God, ruler of all things in heaven and earth hear our prayers for this parish family. Strengthen the faithful, arouse the careless, and restore the penitent. Grant us all things necessary for our common life and bring all of us to be of one heart and mind within your Holy Church through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~ FOR THOSE ABSENT OR LEAVING O God, whose fatherly care reaches to the outmost parts of the earth: We humbly beseech you graciously to behold and bless those whom we love, those absent and those who are leaving. We pray for Alex and Nancy and all those who went before them ministering to the people of St. Barnabas. Defend them from all dangers of soul and body and grant that both they and we, drawing nearer to you, maybe bound together by your love in the communion of your Holy Spirit and in the fellowship of your saints. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~ FOR THE ELECTION OF A RECTOR Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a rector for this parish of St. Barnabas, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen April 2008 Carillon page 5
Brava, Barnabas Bakers! The day was clear, warmer than December. The guys were there early with the chairs and tables. Padre Alejandro, oozing charm from every pore, threaded his way among the strawberries, sidekick doggies, sunflowers, and citrus sellers to find everyone who might like a cup of coffee. Maybe our most successful bake event, this one almost sold out, and proceeds reached $1000. A lovely little secret story some of the workers gathered for lunch that day and mourned the fact that Nancy Pelly wasn t here in Borrego Springs this year. Why? For many years she has made a $100 donation to our bake event. Guess what? Kathleen Killman said, Oh, I ll do that this year! Whipped out her checkbook and handed the check to Jean Smith. Shall we call this the Pelly Pantry Prize? And who will give it next year? By the way, God didn t whisper in Jean s ear, but he did blow a substantial wind on our hard work. We can take it. Thanks to all who baked, wrapped, sold, and made this a delightful and visible event for St. Barnabas. Start making your jellies for December! - Nancy Bye BONNIE A Note of Thanks To There she is in the freezing cold December pre-dawn, already robed and running through a special somber Advent music. She is still there at 10:45 playing a final fugue. Does everyone realize that our organist Bonnie Walker comes in every Sunday from fall through spring to play at both services. She selects our music for each service based on the guidelines of the church year. She practices during the week alone, with our other occasional musicians, and with the choir. She teaches a popular Bible study class on Tuesday afternoons during the winter. We thank her from the bottom of our hearts. And for the summer we wish her happy and peaceful and silent kayaking through cool, calm waters. - Nancy Bye page 6 Carillon April 2008
Today is THE DAY! BISHOP JIM ENJOYS COFFEE WITH OUR YOUNG LADIES! EVELYN PARKS AND AGNES SCHLEICHER Faye s lovely stitchery. Irene s stunning jewelry. Terrific finds both large and small from many corners and closets. What is this all about? Why it s our Talents & Treasures Sale in the Parish Room after both services on April 6 th. Come one, come all. Donate something you don t use or like or want or need anymore. Then, find the perfect gift. Decorate a lonely wall. Perk up your dinner table. Indulge in a little trinket for yourself hey, little enough! This has become a favorite annual event. All proceeds are carefully tallied and then divided evenly. Half to the Women of St. Barnabas for their local philanthropic efforts, and half to the Altar Guild. Come one, come all! - Nancy Bye Springtime, like all seasons, is a great opportunity for reading a new book. I recommend to you one that is about seven years old, but perhaps it escaped your notice: Folly by Laurie King. This book is a clear departure from her Mary Russell series. The book, a novel of psychological suspense, is much more than that. The main character, Rae is a woman in her sixties, a protagonist, fit but with limits. Also she does not appreciate aging! If you have even a passing interest in woodwork, the cause and effects of depression, how one copes with tragedy and illness, or how it must feel to think you are about to loose your sanity...well, you will find much to hold your interest throughout this book. And if you're ready to travel, the description of the small island in the Straits of Juan de Fuca will delight and inform you as well. Rae comes to the San Juan Islands to recreate the work of her great-uncle Desmond, a man with whom she feels a unique bond, despite never having known him. She discovers his house, a strange architectural concoction of wood and stonework, was destroyed in a fire before she was born. Here the mystery unfolds. I found I was drawn to and into this story and the characters. I was feeling, thinking and wondering, and yes, with her I found myself asking the same question she poses to herself -does she have reason to be scared or is she indeed paranoid? See for yourself...and enjoy a good read! - Nancy+ April 2008 Carillon page 7
April 6 Talents and Treasures Sale Parish Room Mark Your Calendar April 6 ++Katharine at St. James -by-the-sea April 13 After the one service at 9:30 am, The Rev. Jenny Vervynck will make a power point presentation and answer your questions about the transition process. April 27 Farewell to the Nagys at the White house at 5pm ( 3275 Broken Arrow ) * Reminder - May October 1 Service : Holy Eucharist 8:30 am St. Barnabas Carillon Editing and design: Nancy+ revsngn@yahoo.com Photographer: Faye Dorsey Production: Lynnis Wilderson and Bob Cassidy Newsletter Committee: Nancy Bye, Victor Levine, Lynnis Wilderson, Sue Salt St. Barnabas Episcopal Church 2680 Country Club Road P.O. Box 691 Borrego Springs, CA 92004-0691 Church office: 760-767-4038 Rectory: 760-767-3620 Alex s e-mail: nagya@cableusa.com Nancy s e-mail: revsngn@yahoo.com Website: stbarnabasborrego.org page 8 Carillon April 2008