Posts from March 2015

Friday April 10 and Saturday April 11, 2015 St Stephens Episcopal Church 1344 Nipomo Street ~ San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 805-543-7212 The modern age developed knowledge but at the expense of wisdom. The result has been ecological disaster, destitution for the indigenous peoples everywhere, loneliness and a loss of meaning and shared values in our lives. Religions have too often promoted an exclusivism which has rent the human family apart and separated us from what unites us.. We need…

Doors open at 11:30 Luncheon Served at 12 o’clock Noon This month, March, we will be serving Sliced ham, Potatoes, Green Salad and Rosemary’s famous Cupcakes (As usual, there will also be a non-meat dish} St. Barnabas Church welcomes all seniors, caretakers and guests to the Senior Luncheons on the last Monday of every month in McHugh Parish Hall. We are in our fifth year enjoying the fun and fellowship of this Senior Ministry. Have you attended a Senior Luncheon?…

In my tenure as Vestry liaison for outreach ministries I became aware of our exercise groups, Senior Fitness (M,W,F 8-9) and Chair Yoga, (Wed. 9:15-10:15). These classes are run by Pamela Taylor and Sigrid Long respectively. I can’t say enough about how wonderful these classes are in regards to benefiting myself physically. Before being involved in the classes I had found myself with the dubious pleasure of waking up pretty much as stiff as an old deserted surf board found…

Three of our young people have committed to attend this year’s Sierra Service Project (SSP). Dylan Manville will be headed to Stockton, CA to be part of Stockton’s efforts to clean-up their city and provide a positive image of the good things taking place in the community. His work may involve home repairs or working at Boggs Tract Community Farm, whilst one day will be devoted to learning about the city and visiting local nonprofits that are creating positive change.…

In preparation for Bishop Mary’s annual visit on April 26, a confirmation class will be offered the six Tuesdays prior to the visit, beginning March 17, from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Confirmation is the rite whereby we renew the promises of the baptismal covenant. This is a means for us to deepen our commitment to Christ and Christ’s church as it is found in the Episcopal Church. If you would like to explore the possibility of confirmation, please sign up…

The St. Barnabas Welcoming Committee is joining with the Sunday School Leadership Team to offer another event for our growing congregation – Everyone is invited! The fun begins at 5:30pm on Sunday March 15th. The theme will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. Dinner will include Corned Beef and Cabbage and attendees are asked to bring a potato dish or a dessert. Wear your green and join us for an enjoyable evening together with your church family. Food, fellowship, music, crafts,…

The Spiritual Formation Committee is putting together an all church book study on the Bishop’s latest book, Unearthing my Religion. The study will be on March 5, 12 and 19 from 6 to 8 pm. Bishop Mary will lead a conversation on Sunday, March 22, at 3 pm on the book. Books are being ordered and will be available soon.

In the coming couple of months there will be some noticeable changes in the Chimes. We will be departing from the customary newsletter format to become more a letter of reflection. This will allow us to share more in depth news and reporting. The customary news and schedules will appear in the Weekly E, and soon a regular blog posting from the rector will begin to make an appearance. The goal is to promote a greater and more efficient flow…

Please join us in celebrating the March birthday’s and anniversaries: Birthdays: March 6: Ann Mathias March 10: Michael Britton March 17: James Bettles March 18: Richard Nelson March 18: John Conry March 18: Adrienne Kielan March 21: Rev Ricardo Gonzales March 23: Carol Wilcock March 25: Phyllis Porter March 25: Nancy Taylor March 26: Alisa Ann Bleske Anniversaries March 1: Sam & Ifema Agbo March 31: Kevin & Satoe Pence Note: If we have missed your birthday or anniversary please…

Please join us in celebrating the March birthday’s and anniversaries: Birthdays: March 6: Ann Mathias March 10: Michael Britton March 17: James Bettles March 18: Richard Nelson March 18: John Conry March 18: Adrienne Kielan March 21: Rev Ricardo Gonzales March 23: Carol Wilcock March 25: Phyllis Porter March 25: Nancy Taylor March 26: Alisa Ann Bleske Anniversaries March 1: Sam & Ifema Agbo March 31: Kevin & Satoe Pence Note: If we have missed your birthday or anniversary please…

On Ash Wednesday with our foreheads covered in ashes we prayed Psalm 51 as we do every year. This year the words of the text prodded my heart with unusual force. The nouns in the text are graphic; offenses, wickedness, sin, transgressions. These are the nouns of desperation for someone who is profoundly realistic about the state of life. The nouns however, find there balance in the verbs of the text; blot, wash, cleanse, purge, sustain, create. These verbs describe…