Vestry Retreat and Vestry Meeting – Saturday 19^th 8:30- 1:00pm in the upstairs classroom.  Please bring something to share for a pot-luck lunch.  Donuts, bagels and coffee will be provided.

Ash Wednesday was graced by wonderful music from the combined choirs of Christ the King and St Barnabas and the talents of our gifted music directors. There were over 100 people present for the Imposition of Ashes and to welcome Pastor Kim Carlson, the new permanent pastor at Christ the King.  We offer them our good wishes and prayers for their new ministry.

Please pray for all affected by the earthquake and Tsunami in Japan.  Pray also for the containment of the radiation at the stricken reactors.  If you wish to contribute www.e-rd.org is organizing through the Japanese Episcopal Church to bring supplies to the needy.  Or for a more general support contribute to The Red Cross. www.redcross.org.

Lenten Program:   “Intercessory Prayer” tonight 6pm-7:30pm.  Join us when you can for supper and a journey into intercessory prayer; activities are suitable for all ages. Didn’t sign up?  No problem, just bring some salad to share.

From March 1 through April 30, the more donations made to the South Brunswick Food Pantry, the more money our community’s food pantry will receive from the Feinstein Foundation.  Both food (each donated item is valued at $1.00) and monetary donations to our Human Intervention Trust Fund are eligible to receive Feinstein Foundation grant funds.

I invite you all to join in keeping a Holy Lent.   We have the opportunity once again to do some spiritual work for ourselves in preparation for Holy Week and Easter.  We are invited to practice some discipline to mark this intentional activity; perhaps eating less, praying more, or giving to others. Below are some things you may wish to consider:

Mondays – Teen Bible Study Group from 7-8pm (3/14 – 4/18)

Tuesdays – Morning Prayer at 9:45 followed by Bible Study in the upstairs classroom.

Wednesday Evening Lenten Program:  “Prayer” – 6pm Supper – 7:30pm.  Join us in Hubbard Hall for a simple soup, bread and salad supper (sign up on the board) followed by a program looking a different ways we pray.  Suitable for all ages.   Mark your Calendars:

• March 16      Intercessory Prayer
• March 23      Centering Prayer
• March 30      Formal Prayer
• April 6            Healing Prayer

Thursdays – Choir Practice – 7:30pm – add your voice for the Holy Days and Easter season.  Please see Elaine if interested.

Sundays – between services (9:45 – 10:15) Bible Study

During Lent we will be honoring our mission to support Recovery Ministries and will use alcohol free wine.  This year it will be white wine, because the red stained the linens last year.

Please email Stephanie Carr if you have any of the items listed below.

Wish List Items

•  Microwave
• Can opener
• Pillows
• Towels & wash cloths
• Mop and broom
• Cleaning supplies
• Kitchen set
• Computer

As many of you know, there are quite a few pews and seats in need of minor repairs.  We have a group of people willing to make these repairs under the leadership of Mark Merris, but we need your help!  As we tend to sit in the same spot each week, we become very familiar with “our” pews and seats, along with their associated quirks and creaks.  Some of the most common problems are: kneelers either not functioning or in need of “feet” or having squeaky hinges, book holders between the seats being loose, book holders on the back of pews broken, or the pencil/paper holders are broken.  

Along with the team, Mark will decide which repairs can be made on site and which ones need to be done in his shop, and we will proceed from there.  In the table on the narthex you will find a map of the pews.  If the seat or pew you occupy is in need of repairs, please mark it on the map to ensure it gets fixed.  Thanks for your help!

Dear Friends of St. Barnabas,

We have received some news from the Diocese updating us on the progress of our search for a new rector, along with some very wise advice and recommendations.

The date for receiving candidates was February 20.  Several out-of-Diocese candidates were received and they will need special review by the Bishop, who is now busy with the Diocesan Conference this coming weekend.  Canon Powers, director of the Transition Ministry Office has recommended that we wait and have St. Barnabas presented at the semi-annual Transition Ministry Conference to be held March 14-18 where we are very likely to find more candidates for our search.  Canon Powers recommends that we use this opportunity to enrich our search and now expects to meet with us to present candidates to us at the end of March or first week of April.

THANKS!!
Monica Devanas

Lenten Youth Bible Study:  Open to grades 6-12.

Mondays March 14, 21, 28, April 4, 11, 18 at 7pm – 8pm.

Come and look at the bible readings that we hear each week on Sunday, a different bible story each week; come for one Monday or all of them during Lent.  Also, look at the Prayers of the People and prayers in general in a new way.  Any questions call Maria Flick at 732-438-0006.