Read Sunday's Scriptures here:

Icon of St. Barnabas

We're going to wander off of the beaten church year path this Sunday. Once a month, during the summer, we're celebrating a saint's feast day as part of our efforts to more directly involve children in our worship and formation activities.

This Sunday we're going to learn a little bit more about Barnabas, one of Paul's first traveling companions and apostles. Barnabas was apparently a devout Jew who converted to Christianity not long after Pentecost. Scripture and church tradition alike hold that Barnabas was the person who defended Paul's conversion experience and apostolic mission. He and Paul set out on the first Christian missionary trip, probably from Jerusalem to Antioch to convert Gentiles to Christianity. They were then commissioned by the Church in Antioch to conduct other missionary work to regions of what is now modern-day Turkey.  They took along (John) Mark, a kinsman of Barnabas. Mark subsequently abandoned the mission trip, leading to a conflict between Paul and Barnabas. They ultimately elected to part their ways when Barnabas desired to bring Mark along on a subsequent missionary effort. Paul did not approve of that decision. Thus, Barnabas and Mark traveled to Cyprus most likely whereas Paul and Silas departed for Syria. (Acts 15).

St. Barnabas Monastery - Cyprus

We don't know much about Barnabas after he and Paul went their separate ways. Legend and Church tradition hold that he continued to preach the Gospel among the Gentiles. He was martyred for his faith, perhaps in 61CE (AD). (John) Mark and others secretly hid his body in a tomb in Salamis, Cyprus, above which the pictured church was built.  Barnabas was declared the Patron Saint of Cyprus. He is furthermore remembered for his courage, reconciliation, tolerance, kindness, and "a good man, full of the Holy Ghost and of Faith."

Would it be that all of us might find such favor by the people who remember us for our faith and good works.  What lessons does Barnabas offer to us and to the children of our Church? Barnabas was an important Early Christian, known throughout The Church despite the fact that his "public" ministry waned following his separation from Paul.  The work of proclaiming the Gospel remained and he completed it. I pray that we'll uncover some such gifts of Spirit-led Wisdom and toddler-type Grace when we gather on Sunday.

Possible Summer Offerings -

God willing

The Right Reverend Thomas E. Breidenthal

The Bishop of Southern Ohio will ordain

Rose Anne Waldman Lonsway

Alexander David Martin

Mary G. Raysa

Robert Saik

to the Sacred Order of Deacons in Christ's One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church on Saturday, June 29, 2013, being the Feast Day of St. Peter and St. Paul

at Christ Church Cathedral, Cincinnati, Ohio

Eleven o'clock in the morning 
 

Your prayers and presence are requested

We might think of the early apostles and disciples as being older, educated, wise men. What if Barnabas, Paul, and John Mark were only in their late teens or early 20s when they set out on their mission trips?

The Young Adult Service Corps offers opportunities for younger, mature Episcopalians to accomplish mission work around the world. This video shares a little bit about some of their lives and how their work is transforming the lives of other people.  You might especially enjoy Cameron Spoor's Sharing Faith blog.