Rev. Valerie's Reveille

This Sunday the Church celebrates a lesser known feast (no, not Ground Hog’s Day, though I am sure we are all sick of winter at this point!) called “The Presentation.”  It was a Jewish custom that 40 days after a woman gave birth, she was to be ritually cleansed AND the first born son was to be presented at the Temple to be offered in service to God.  Luke’s Gospel (2:22-38) depicts this scene with the Holy Family, where they encounter Simeon and Anna, who proclaim the infant Jesus to be the Messiah, the redeemer of the world.  We are told that Mary and Joseph were “amazed” and perhaps even a bit dumbfounded, but such a response.  While most proud parents enjoy imaging marvelous futures for their child, this blessing is also a huge burden to bear.  Fortunately for the child Jesus, his parents raise him wisely and don’t let his potential overwhelm his childhood. I stand in awe and humility of parents who undertake the responsibility of raising a child, especia...

As an incorporated entity in the State of New Jersey, St. Barnabas is required by law to have and Annual Meeting to review the status of the body as well as elect members to serve on the governing board, what we call a Vestry (an arcane term that is taken from the room in which that group would meet and usually where the priest would “vest” as well).   It is vital for the Episcopal Church’s form of polity and governance that the laity exercise just as much leadership and direction as the clergy in order for the Church to fulfill its purpose “to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.” (BCP p. 855) Yet the idea of an Annual Meeting can fill people with a sense of dread as a boring time filled with data, statistics and financial concerns (rather than spiritual ones). It may behoove us to consider this time as a Family Reunion – the one time of year when the entire congregation - 8:30ers and 10:30ers are in one place at one time. We have the opportunity to ...

It is an exciting time at St. Barnabas.  We will be celebrating new ministries and well as re-dedicating current ministries on Sunday We are delighted to welcome Thomas Hobson Williams as our new Minister of Music.  Hopefully you read about him in The Encourager or on the website ( http://www.stbarnabas-sbnj.org/2014/01/welcome-to-our-new-minister-of-music/ ).  Thomas is a very talented musician and we look forward to working and growing with him as we make a joyful noise to God in praise and thanksgiving. We are also blessed to have Chizoba Nwanko join us as a Deacon-in-Training, which is like a seminarian, but for one in the diaconal program through the Diocese of New Jersey.  Chizoba has completed 18 months of her 3-year program and she will be with us for the next 18 months, when (God willing and the people consenting), she will be ordained into the Sacred Order of Deacons in May of 2015.  It will be an honor to participate in Chizoba’s formation and pr...

The first Sunday after the Feast of the Epiphany (January 6 th ) is when the Church remembers Jesus’ baptism in the River Jordan by John the Baptist.  Our church building seemed to want to get in on the action a bit early – and literally.  We had a pipe burst in the sacristy very early Monday morning.  Fortunately the South Brunswick Fire Department and Paul Pospeich, our Property Warden, responded quickly and got the water turned off, though there was still 2 to 3 inches of water in the church.  The SBFD - God bless them! - stayed to help clean up much of the water for over an hour.  Paul called our insurance company, who authorized the repairs and clean up.  At this point, all should be well for Sunday services.  If that should change, we will let you know.  In the meantime, we carry on, giving thanks for the wonderful resource of our facilities and being good stewards of them.  Back to Jesus’ baptism.  The abrupt transition from...