Mission/Outreach
We have a
diverse network of dedicated individuals who reach out and give their
time, talents and caring in many ways. There are endless
opportunities to become involved at St. B’s, and your
participation is encouraged and welcomed.
Volunteering is an excellent way to serve the Lord, the
people of St. Barnabas Church and the Portage/Kalamazoo
community. For more information about joining one of these
ministries, please contact our Parish Office at 327-7878 or
download a
PDF file (you will need Acrobat 4 or higher) to sign up.
We would love to have your helping hands, mind and
heart!
Acolytes
At our 9:00
and 11:00 a.m. Sunday morning services, we have a number of
people who assist the priest at the altar. The work
involves carrying the cross and Gospel Book in procession,
and helping prepare the altar for Communion. People ages 11
and up are welcome to become involved. Training on how to
do this ministry is provided.
Altar Guild
The
duties of the Altar Guild are to set up the altar for all
church services. This includes weddings, funerals, and
baptisms as well as the regular Sunday and Thursday
Communion services. Extra services include Thanksgiving eve,
Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Palm Sunday,
Easter and Christmas.
Three workers
are scheduled for each Sunday. One may set up and another
clean up after services, or both may choose to set up and
clean up together.
Choir
We have an excellent choir during the 11:00 a.m.
service that is active from September through May. Our
choir provides both classical music repertoire as well as
contemporary anthems music Sunday mornings. The choir
practices weekly on Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. in the
church.
Lectors and Chalice Bearers
During Sunday worship, parishioners volunteer
to read the portions of Scripture appointed for the day, as
well as lead the Prayers of the People. Every week, there
is a reading from the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament), a
Psalm, and a lesson from the writing of the early Church
(New Testament). Everyone is welcome to participate in this
ministry, and training is provided.
We also need the support of those willing to
administer the chalice during Communion. This ministry
requires that you are at least 16 years old, and that you
are licensed by the Bishop. Again, training is available.
Ushers
Our church has an active group of members who
serve on a rotating basis as ushers handing out bulletins
and welcoming people for each of the services.
Bible Study
Every
Thursday morning at 9:30 a.m., we celebrate the Eucharist
where we encourage one another in faith. Following the
Eucharist, people are invited to remain at the altar rail
and request prayers for healing. Then, all of those present
participate in the laying on of hands while the Priest
prays and anoints the head of the person being prayed for.
If you have never experienced the power of prayers said
while a group of people have their hands on you, loving and
encouraging you, you have really missed out on one of the
most joyful acts of Christian love.
Sermons on Thursday are not “sermons” at all,
but group discussions of the lessons for the upcoming
Sunday. It is a great opportunity to ask questions about a
Scripture reading you don’t understand.
Following the Eucharist, a group gathers in
the Parish Hall for a period of study. We regularly study
the Bible, and occasionally study different ways of
praying.
Thursday mornings are casual in dress. No
one is required to participate although it’s hard not to
because we’re such a fun group! We’re also a group that tries
to dig as deeply as we can into our faith and to walk with
Christ.
Sometimes we go out to lunch after the study
group, and everyone is welcome.
Nursery
Our infants
are nurtured in an environment that meets their physical and
security needs by several teams of loving caregivers who are
the child’s first “teachers.” There are currently five
teams of volunteers who cover the nursery on a rotating
basis. We would love to have more help!
Worship Center
Worship
Center is an opportunity for children ages 3 to first grade
to be in worship and to respond with age-appropriate
activities to their worship experience.
Faith Adventure Kids
Our
Faith Adventure Kids are 2nd - 4th graders, age appropriate.
The class consists of creative programming and teaching
Scripture truths...an experience that's lots of fun.
Philothea Study Group
Philothea, “ones who love God,” is a study
group interested in learning more about what it means to be
a Christian and an Episcopalian. We achieve this knowledge
by choosing a book, video or other publication and
reviewing, studying and discussing it in-depth.
Our meetings are very casual…no “church
clothes” required. Not all discussion is serious…we laugh
while we learn! Make new friends…and bring along an old
friend! All you need is the desire to stretch your mind.
The Philothea Study Group meets on Tuesdays from 6:30 – 8 p.m. unless other
church functions are going on.
Adult Forum
The Adult
Forum meets on Sunday morning, following the 9:00 a.m. worship
service.
Cursillo
Cursillo (pronounced cur-see-yo) is a Spanish
word meaning “short course.” The first English language
Cursillo was held in Texas in 1961. The Cursillo weekend is
a three day long opportunity to grow in your faith, enjoy
way too much food, sing lots of songs and deepen your love
for Jesus Christ. During the weekend, participants
listen to a series of talks given by laity and clergy.
Cursillo weekends are offered twice a year
in the spring and fall. Contact the Parish Office to
learn more.
Education for Ministry
EFM is a theological education program from
the School of Theology at the University of the South in
Sewanee, Tennessee. EFM is designed for the laity of the
church. It provides the basics for a theological education
in order to develop the knowledge and confidence about the
ministry we share. You will find that EFM teaches you to
think theologically, deepens your faith and understanding of
our Christian heritage, and provides you with a new
confidence to be Christ’s minister.
A new class forms each fall. We suggest that
those who are interested in serious study consider this
program.
Frisky Foxes
Our Frisky Foxes is a group for St.
Barnabytes over the age of 55 who have time to give and
share with those in need in the parish. They make phone
calls to those in need and send cards of support and prayer
to both members and those outside the church. This group
also helps with meals and transportation as needed. This
committee grew out of a loving concern for our Pastoral
Committee in an effort to provide more hands to help.
The Frisky Foxes meet at noon on Fridays to discuss ways to help those in need in our
parish family.
Pastoral Care Team
The Pastoral Care Team is the group that reviews the special
needs of parishioners and others connected to the church.
Our priest attends to the critical pastoral care issues that
are experienced by our members. The lay members of the team
comprise the Prayer Vine and the Lay Eucharistic Ministers (LEMs)
related to pastoral care activities. Meetings of the team
are called as necessary to keep the group apprised of
special needs.
The LEMs bring communion elements to people
hospitalized, ill at home, or otherwise unable to attend
regular services. Currently there are nine members trained
to take home communion. In addition to taking communion to
those unable to get to church, our Pastoral Care Team also
helps members who need someone to talk to, who need special
prayers, or transportation to doctor visits, get groceries,
etc. Providing routine transportation is one way our team
helps members who are unable to drive themselves.
Peace of Mind
Peace of Mind is
a safe, confidential, and loving Christian forum
for individuals dealing with mental health issues. Each
meeting consists of discussion of a topic of interest,
determined by the group, followed by time for sharing,
caring, and prayer.
Peace of Mind meets on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Prayer Vine
Our St. Barnabas Prayer Vine continues to be a quiet, but
powerful ministry of prayer. Our Prayer Vine is made up
of people who love God and who are passionate about prayer.
They dedicate themselves to lifting people up in prayer on a
daily basis. We believe in miracles and have witnessed that
God uses everything to the good. Everything on the Prayer
Vine is confidential. If you are in need, please don’t
hesitate to ask for prayer support from this group of men
and women.
Hospitality and the 8th Sacrament
Every Sunday morning, the coffee pot perks
away and invites us to
stop for a cup after the service and visit with fellow St. Barnabytes.
Parishioners have a sign-up sheet to pick a Sunday and
provide cookies and refreshments for that day.
Homemade cookies are a real treat – witnessed by the fact
that when they are served, none remain!
Our hospitality group will host luncheons,
receptions following funerals and baby or bridal showers,
and graduations as requested.
ALPHA
ALPHA is for:
Anyone interested in finding out more
about the Christian faith. Adults of all ages are welcome.
Learning and laughter. It is possible
to learn about the Christian faith and to have fun at the
same time.
People meeting together. An
opportunity to get to know others and to make new friends.
Helping one another. The small groups
give you a chance to discuss issues raised during the talks.
Ask anything. Alpha is a place where
no question is seen as too simple or too hostile.
There is a series of talks on topics such
as: Who is Jesus? Why Did Jesus Die? Why and How Should I
Read the Bible? Why and How Do I Pray?
The ALPHA course meets every week for ten
weeks for an hour and a half and includes an all day
Saturday retreat. ALPHA is usually offered in the spring
and in the fall.
Front Porch Ministry
The purpose of our Front Porch Ministry is to
greet and welcome visitors to St. Barnabas. After their
visit, the Front Porch Ministers provide a follow-up visit
presenting them with a basket containing homemade bread, a
napkin, and a note card thanking them for worshiping with us
and stating that we look forward to seeing them again at St.
B’s.
Membership is open to anyone in the parish
who would enjoy meeting new people. The visits are kept
short and we never go further than the front porch! We have
many bread makers and six different members who are
available to make visits.
Outreach Committee
One of the parish’s major outreach efforts in
the continuing allocation of loose plate (non-pledge)
offerings on the first Sunday of each month – Alms Sunday --
for financial contributions to local, regional, national,
and international charitable organizations.
Recent recipients have included:
-
Kalamazoo
Deacons’ Conference
-
Kalamazoo
Area Crop Walk
-
Hospice
of Greater Kalamazoo and Rose Arbor
-
Kalamazoo
Loaves & Fishes
-
American
Cancer Society/Relay for Life
-
American
Diabetes Association
-
World
Vision
-
Episcopal Relief & Development
-
Food
for the Poor
American
Red Cross
Rector’s
Discretionary Fund
Donations of non-perishable food items and
gently-used clothing continue to be made to the Portage
Community Outreach Center every month of the year. Each
year, our committee organizes the making up and delivery of
Thanksgiving Baskets to fixed-income residents in Portage
and we have “adopted” families for Christmas gift buying.
Buildings and Grounds
The Building & Grounds Committee concerns
itself with the general maintenance of both the building
and the site, as well as identifying possible future
physical needs of the parish. Examples of grounds
maintenance include care of the lawn, mowing, fertilizing,
weed and disease control; trimming of trees and bushes; care
of the parking lot and driveway. This group also helps
organize our annual Spring and Fall Clean-up Sundays.
This committee also worked extensively on
researching, purchasing and installing our new parish sign.
This committee only meets on an “as needed” schedule, but it is
an exciting and vital part of our ongoing ministry at St.
Barnabas.
Vestry
Vestry members are the elected congregational
leaders of our parish. They are elected at our annual
Parish Meeting each January. Vestry members must regularly
prepare for, attend, and participate in vestry meetings,
which are held the third Wednesday evening of each month.
Members learn about the mission, goals, programs, services,
activities, strengths, and needs of the congregation,
diocese, and national church. They must maintain
confidentiality on sensitive topics, study financial
statements, take on leadership roles, and contribute to
stewardship education.
It is suggested that your membership be
transferred into the parish and that you’ve been a member
for a year before you volunteer for this leadership
ministry.
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