As our hearts and minds turn toward Thanksgiving with its generative rituals of gratitude and appreciation, I write this week about a few of the things I am deeply thankful for. Last week, the Clothing Sale took place in our parish hall with many people returning to St. Barnabas for the first time in a long time as either volunteers or as shoppers – what a blessing that was. Also, over the last few weeks, members of our church and the Irvington Presbyterian Church have begun working together in preparation for receiving a refugee family from Afghanistan – a blessing waiting to be realized. In that same ecumenical spirit, the joint St.Bs/IPC Thanksgiving Food Drive is underway and will help restock shelves with food and cash donations in time for the Community Food Pantry, based out of Christ Church, Tarrytown to serve clients during the holidays. All these are signs of blessings, and show what it means to be stewards of each other’s welfare and of things we hold dear.
At the same time, we can look forward to a much safer sanctuary over the holidays, thanks to the industrial grade air filtration system that will remove virus spores, dust and other contaminants from the air we breathe during worship. We are also dramatically cutting down our reliance on fossil fuels, as we move to an energy-efficient heat pump system. These too are signs of stewardship.
Then, of course, there is stewardship in the familiar sense of our individual and family 2022 financial pledges, so that we can be the bridge for one another over the troubled waters of the last twenty months. Our campaign goal for this next year is $425,000, and the good news is that we are more than halfway there.
Navigating our way through these times remains a challenge. Yet, we are finding our way forward anchored as we are in worship, both in-person and online, and in the programs we offer to children in Sunday School, youth members in Confirmation class and adult members in bible study and Connected Parenting classes. All the ways we embody the spirit of Jesus Christ at St. Barnabas are reliant on the goodwill and collective generosity of us all.
With Thanksgiving for the many blessings we share in kind.
Gareth
Gareth Evans serves as the rector of St. Barnabas. He is an inspirational leader who brings significant pastoral experience, a depth of reverence in worship, and a relatable preaching style.