St. Barnabas Episcopal Church

We had a fun and interesting set of Youth Group activities this fall, and are looking forward to more fun and spiritual growth at Youth Group this winter/spring. Thanks to Rev. Valerie and all of the youth, parents, and volunteers who participated in the fall activities.  The January 2012 Youth Group meetings will be on January 8 and January 22. A more detailed schedule will be published in a few weeks.

– Donna, Gerry, Steve, Tony, William

We meet at 7:30 PM in the Bolmer Room each month. Participants usually gather at Confectionately Yours at 5:30 PM for dinner and fellowship beforehand. All are most welcome to join us. Please contact Monica Devanas or Carolyn Hales with any questions.

Here is what the Book Group has planned for the next few months:

• 1/6/12: Elizabeth and Hazel: Two Women of Little Rock by David Margolick
• 2/3/12: 90 Minutes in Heaven: A True Story of Death and Life by Don Piper
• 3/2/12: The Dovekeepers: A Novel by Alice Hoffman

Elizabeth and Hazel: Two Women of Little Rock

90 Minutes in Heaven: A True Story of Death and Life

The Dovekeepers: A Novel

The South Brunswick Health Department will present Basic Food Handlers Courses at the South Brunswick Municipal Complex for food handlers (all who help out with food in the StB kitchen) who have not previously attended or who have not attended within the past 5 years. The courses will be held from 2:30 – 5pm on the following dates: 1/3/12, 4/30/12 and 10/29/12. Please speak with Kitty to sign up.

If you or someone you know wants to be confirmed (i.e. take on personal responsibility for their baptismal covenant), that individual needs to write a letter to Rev. Valerie explaining why she or he wants to be confirmed. This letter should include a personal understanding of who Jesus is in his or her life, why she or he feels called to be confirmed at this point in her or his life, and what he or she would like to learn during the preparation classes. The letter should be received by Rev. Valerie by Sunday, February 12th. After she receives the letter, Rev. Valerie will review it and decide if the person is ready to participate in the Confirmation program.

Confirmation classes will begin during Lent and meet through May. Once the class is formed, the participants will work with Rev. Valerie to find convenient times to meet. There will be 10 sessions, with a retreat component on Good Friday into Holy Saturday (April 6 & 7, 2012). Participants may have 1 excused absence.

The Confirmation ceremony will be in June, either at Rahway or at the Cathedral in Trenton. Details for the specific time and place will be given as soon as they are established.

If you have any questions about this process, please talk with Rev. Valerie.

The January 2012 issue of the St. Barnabas Encourager has been published.  The calendar is on our web site at http://www.stbarnabas-sbnj.org/calendar/.  This calendar gets updated frequently as events are added or changed.

The December 2011 edition of the St. Barnabas Encourager is now available.

Our 3rd Annual Youth Mission Trip will occur on June 25 through June 30, 2012. This year, we will be returning to Rutland, Vermont to assist a community in which many live below the poverty level (including 21% under the age of 18). Jeff Flick and Rev. Valerie will lead our team of youth in grades 6-12 who will join with other churches to serve under the direction of YouthWorks! (See www.youthworks.com for further information).

If you are interested in going on this year’s Youth Mission Trip please attend the Mission Trip Meeting on December 4 at 4:30pm in the upstairs classroom. Commitment forms, payment schedule, fundraising and a possible local Mission Trip will be discussed. If you have any questions regarding the mission trip please contact Jeff Flick.

St. Barnabas has adopted an African-American Family for Christmas:

Serah: 13 year old girl. Wears XL or size 14 juniors. Loves reading, knitting & Giants. Needs new winter jacket, clothes, twin sheets and comforter, pajamas & art or knitting supplies.

Calise: 8 year old girl. Wears size 12 girls’ clothes & size 3 shoes. She likes girly things, needs slippers, art supplies, twin long size sheets & comforter in girly colors, and socks. She needs learning toys.

Ashar: 2 ½ year old boy. Loves dinosaurs & Discovery toys, wears size 3T clothes & size 8 shoes, wants Elmo on drums, learning toys, winter jacket, toddler boy bedding, pajamas & trucks.

Parents: either an ironing board or a record player. Her father recently passed and left her all of his records.

You are invited! Come celebrate with us as we formally welcome our 4th Rector, The Rev. Valerie L. Balling, on Saturday, December 17th at 11 AM. The Rt. Rev. George E. Councell, XI Bishop of New Jersey, will be presiding. The Rev. Dr. Patrick Close, Rector of Grace Church, Haddonfield, will be preaching. The reception after the Celebration of Ministry service will be hosted by the parish of St. Barnabas.

Please look for the sign-up sheet in Hubbard Hall – a menu will be planned for the event, please sign up for one of the items on the list and/or help with the Celebration reception.

If you would like to make a donation towards the reception, please contact Maria Flick. Donations will help cover the expense for items not provided by the parish members.

We are also in need of 9 card tables for the reception; if you have a card table that can be borrowed from December 16-17, please call or email Maria Flick.