Feast of St. Barnabus,

June 11 is the the Feast of St. Barnabus.  Today, June 12 we  celebrated this day at St. Barnabus Anglican Church, New Westminister.  I was pleased to have attended feeling God’s finger prints were on my actually getting out of bed and dressed in time to make the service.   Madigan likes to attend church but is only slowly learning to be respectful.

Barnabus, was a Cypriot Jew, apostle of Jesus Christ,  who was preaching the gospel in Cypress.   Jews,  disputing with him in the Synagogue, fell upon him.  After torturing him they stoned him to death. St. Barnabus is venerated as the patron Saint of Cypres today.  He is said to have defended the gentile converts against the Judaizers in his missionary work with Paul the apostle.

Today the church was full not only because of the special day but also because of the planned  baptism of children. The Right Reverend John Stephens, the Bishop of the Diocese of New Westminster since January, 2021 presided. Rev. Emile Smith was there and greeted Madigan.  When I asked where her dog, Fritz, was , she pointed to the other side of the church. That was good because while Fritz is well behaved Madigan is not. 

There was the cutest little girl with her hair braided with tiny white beads attached. She wandered about in front of the altar and gave Madigan no end of entertainment with her comings and goings.  He would have gladly joined her were it not for the leash.

The opening hymn was “You are the salt of the earth’.  It was uptempo. I enjoyed it’s positive message.  

When Rev. Emilie Smith gathered the little ones around the Bishop for the children’s message they were a motley crew ages ranging from 2 to 12.  All were  so well dressed by their parents.  The little girl with the braids and beaded hair went forward. Madigan  who thinks he’s one of the kids wanted to join in. Again the leash worked wonders.  The Bishop who has adult children of his own spoke kindly to them asking them questions about the baptism that was about to take place. 

Patti was leading songs in Xhosa, Swahili and English.  I was pleased to learn “Ni mwena” means God is Good in Swahili.

With all the family and sponsors I chose to stay seated when the Baptisms were taking place. 

“Receive the light of Christ, to show that you have passed from darkness to light”..

“Let your light shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven”

“Let us welcome the newly Baptised.”

Because of covid , with a third of the church still masked, we waved the ‘peace’ rather than shaking hands. For a moment I had a flashback to a 60’s love in.

Eucharist was then opened to all. I joined the line to accept the “body and blood of Jesus “all the while Madigan was tugging and twisting below me, trying his best to ‘raise hell’. 

After Eucharist we said together, the prayer I so enjoy, “Glory to God, whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory to God from generation to generation, in the church and in Christ Jesus, for ever and ever. Amen” 

The closing hymn was “Draw the Circle Wide’, celebrating the inclusiveness of the Christian mission. 

It was a a very good service, the Bishop’s sermon having been spiritual and timely, the baptisms uplifting, the music glorious.  Madigan did well.  Emile invited us for the lunch after but I felt Madigan had done so well. Time to leave before the children danced and ran out of the church behind us.

Thank you Jesus for this lovely St. Barnabus Church service and for getting me out to congregation and communion.