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This Week at St. Bart's 
May 4, 2016
A Message from the Reverend Andy Dunks


The Monday Grumps

One of the frustrating things for me in my spiritual journey is the disconnect between what I believe and how I act. What the Gospel proclaims about God, our salvation in Christ, and our eternal life is more hopeful than anything I could possibly think up for myself. And yet I wake up this Monday morning grumpy that I can't sleep later, and that I have chores to do, that it's hot and muggy outside, and that I have to go start the work week all over again. I imagine many of you are in the same boat, even if like me you basically like your job and your life overall, and realize how lucky we are to be dealing mostly with "First World" instead of "Third World" problems. 
 
The atheist philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche famously said that he would be more likely to believe in the Redeemer if the Christians started acting a little more redeemed. Fair enough; ingratitude is indeed a sin. As a remedy for mine, I am pondering some of the profound and glorious Paschal hymns from the Orthodox tradition; their Easter was last Sunday, so many of the blogs I follow are full of Resurrection joy. Maybe with God's grace I will begin to feel and act a bit more redeemed. Perhaps you would find them helpful as well the next time you are "in a mood".
 
Wishing to save Adam,
Thou didst come down to earth.
Not finding him on earth, O Master,
Thou didst descend to Hades seeking him.

O my Life, my Savior,
Dwelling with the dead in death,
Thou hast destroyed the iron bars of hell,
And hast risen from corruption.

Hell, who had filled all men with fear,
Trembled at the sight of Thee,
And in haste he yielded up his prisoners,
O Immortal Sun of Glory

Thou hast destroyed the palaces of hell by Thy Burial, O Christ.
Thou hast trampled death down by thy death, O Lord.
And redeemed earth's children from corruption.

Puts everything else in perspective, eh?


Blessings,
Mission
Our mission is to seek, serve, and celebrate Christ in every person. 
We invite the community to worship with us, to share our gifts, and to grow in Christ's love. 
In This Issue
Rector's column
This Sunday
Article Headline
Coffee Hour Sign-up
Ascension Day
Food Donations
Devotionals weekly readings
St. Bart's Youth Group
Spiritual Formation Group
Prayer Request/Answered
On the Horizon
 
 
Join our Email List
Web Site
Street Address
10627 Patterson Ave.
Henrico, VA 23238
 
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 29626
Richmond, VA 23242
 
Father Dunks's
contact information
Cell: 804-937-7145
dunks.andy@gmail.com
This Sunday

  8:30 AM     Holy Eucharist, Rite I
  9:30 AM     Adult Sunday School 
10:30 AM     Holy Eucharist, Rite II
  5:30 PM     Sudanese Service
Financial Information 
Year to date 1/1/2016 - 3/31/2016

                                      Actual               Budget              Difference     
Pledges                      $28,052.00      $33,364.97      -$5,312.97     84.8%
Total Income              $29,989.42      $36,083.40      -$6,093.98     83.11%
Total Expenses           $33,132.89      $36,185.20      -$3,052.31      91.56%
Net Income               -$ 3,143.47      -$     101.80      -$3,041.67

As you can see the pledges are behind so far this year. It would be great if
everyone would try to catch up their pledges before the summer gets here.
The bottom line does not look too bad because we have been fortunate and
our expenses are also below budget.
Coffee Hour  

Please consider signing up to sponsor coffee hour after a 10:30AM service. All
you have to do is bring goodies to share, stay and enjoy the company and then
clean up afterwards. This time gives us the opportunity to get to know other
members and welcome visitors.

There is a sign up sheet on the bulletin board. 
Ascension Day Service - Region XII

The Bishop's Chapel
Region XII will celebrate Ascension Day with
a service on Thursday evening, May 5, in the
Bishop's Chapel at Roslyn, beginning at 7 PM.
The guest preacher will be the Rev. Rhonda
Baker, rector of Grace Episcopal Church,
Goochland, assisted by the Rev. Penny Nash
from St. Stephen's Church, Richmond. The
All Saints Choir will be providing music. 
 
Light refreshments will follow the service.  This is our opportunity to worship
with the churches in Region XII in truly beautiful setting, and all are invited
to attend.
First Sunday Food Donations for the Hungry
 
We continue to collect food donations on the first Sunday of each month.
If you forget that scheduled collection date, just add your donations
to the box to the right of the door anytime. We are currently delivering
the food to the Lamb's Basket Food Pantry in the Lakeside neighborhood. While
they accept any canned or packaged, food, items they regularly distribute to
each family the following products:
 
Pasta sauces
Soups
Beans
Vegetables
macaroni and cheese boxes
dry pasta
fruit (they have a goodly supply of fruit right now.)
 
In addition, they offer choices of juices, staples such as cooking oil, condiments
and a shelf of toiletries, detergents and paper goods. On my last delivery, they
mentioned they were low on baby food.
 
They would also like to have a steady source of fresh eggs. Due to our storage
constraints, I purchase eggs on the way to deliver the food. If anyone wants to
donate cash for eggs, I would be happy to add that to my donation.
 
Thank you for your support of this outreach project.
Family Bible Devotionals 
 
May 8 - 14

Crucifixion (Luke 23:13-56).

Jesus Storybook Bible, p 294 & 302.
 E100, #67 & 68.
Bible  Story Handbook, Ch. 130.
Memory: Luke 23:45b-46.
St. Bart's Youth Group

Calling all youth 13 years and older to join our youth group. The meetings
will be held on Sundays at 6PM. We will continue to meet twice a month on
the second and fourth Sundays. Together we will explore the bible and see
how it can apply to our daily life. We will also be talking about how we can
help the church and community.

We would like to provide dinner for the youth group on the Sundays
we meet. Please call Marlaina Knowlton at 804-897-1495 if you could
help with dinner any Sunday. We will place a sign up sheet on the
bulletin board. Please consider helping by signing up. Thanks. 
Spiritual Formation Groups

Monday Night Group (at St. Bart's)

The Monday Night group meets at the Church from 6:30-8:00pm. 

Wednesday Morning group (at St. Bart's)
The Wednesday Morning Group meets at the church for prayer and study from
10:30-11:30AM.
Prayer Request and Answered Prayers
Prayer Requests:

This week we are praying for:  Arlene, Autumn, Audith, Betty Sue, Betty P.
Betty W., Bill, Carole, Carolyn, Carter, Cathy, Christy, Cierra, Clara, Claudine,
Diana, Dorothy, Don, Donna, Ethan, Frank, F.G., Ginny, Harlow, Hayden, H.B.,
Jane, Jeanne, Jennifer, Jimmie, Joyce, Julia, Kathy, Kelly, Kent,  Klaire, Kym,
Laura, Lexie, Lilliam, Linda, Maggie, Martin, Michael, Mindy, Molly, Nick, Okpil,
Paige, Paul, Rob, Robert, R.W., Sarah, Sebastian, Terry, Thomas, Tony, Tukie,
Vonie.
On the Horizon
Thursday, 5/5 - 7:30PM
Choir Practice 

Monday, 5/9 - 6:30 - 8PM
Prayer Group

Wednesday, 5/11 - 10:30 - 11:30AM
Prayer Group