For those worshiping with us on Sunday via our YouTube channel, you can find the bulletin for the service here. To view Sunday’s announcements, click here.
At St. Barnabas, we celebrate Holy Eucharist, Rite II, at 10 a.m. on Sunday morning and observe major feast days throughout the liturgical year.
While we use organ music in our worship, we also have a folk group, The Stone Church Pickers, who add pleasing variety to our musical offerings. You are welcome to inquire about joining our adult choir, and we are happy that our small children’s choir is growing bit by bit!
During the peak of the Corona Virus pandemic, we worshipped on our parking lot, and may occasionally still gather there for a service on a mild spring day.
Our worship style is respectful but informal, and you are guaranteed a warm welcome if you visit us.
Sacraments
Information from episcopalchurch.org.
“Sacraments are outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual grace” (Book of Common Prayer p. 857)
TheEucharist(or Holy Communion) and Holy Baptism and are the two great sacraments given by Christ to his Church.
In the case of the Eucharist, the outward and visible sign is bread and wine, given and received according to Christ’s command. The inward and spiritual grace is the Body and Blood of Christ given to his people and received by faith.
In the case of Baptism, the outward and visible sign is water, in which the person is baptized in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; the inward and spiritual grace is union with Christ in his death and resurrection, birth into God’s family the Church, forgiveness of sins, and new life in the Holy Spirit.
In addition to these two, there are other spiritual markers in our journey of faith that can serve as means of grace. These include:
- Confirmation: the adult affirmation of our baptismal vows
- Reconciliation of a Penitent: private confession
- Matrimony: Christian marriage
- Orders: ordination to the diaconate, priesthood, or episcopacy
- Unction: anointing those who are sick or dying with holy oil
Confirmation
Confirmation is the rite by which we make a mature profession of our faith before the Bishop and take on responsibility for our faith and membership in the Church. Since we become full members of Christ’s body and the Church through our baptism, confirmation is a strengthening of the gifts given to us in baptism, so that we can conduct our calling as Christians to lead others into the fullness of a holy, catholic, and apostolic faith.
Each candidate for Confirmation should be of such maturity as to be able to articulate meaningful vows: the minimum age we recommend is fifteen, but pastoral exceptions may be allowed for youth ages 12 to 14, but no younger than 12. The candidate must be a regular participant in the life, worship, education, and outreach of St. Barnabas.
A person seeking confirmation or reception into the Episcopal Church is asked to contact the priest to arrange for a period of instruction prior to being confirmed. Please call the parish office, (410) 489-2800. Confirmations are conducted when the bishop pays an official visit to St. Barnabas, or during the Easter Vigil at the Cathedral of the Incarnation.
Marriage
Christian marriage is a solemn and public covenant between two people in the presence of God. In the Episcopal Church it is required that at least one of the parties be a baptized Christian; the ceremony be attested to by at least two witnesses; and that the marriage conform to the laws of the State and the Canons of the Church.
The following customs and practices of this parish will give you some basic information, and we ask you to read them carefully. Please let us know if you have any questions.
- Who may be married here: Marriages are performed for couples in which at least one person is a member of this parish or is in the immediate family of an active member or has been given special permission by the priest. There are canonical provisions concerning previous marriage ending in divorce. If one or both parties have been previously married and the former spouse is still living, the Bishop must grant permission.
- How to get started: Contact the Parish Office (410) 489-2800, to give the name, address and phone number of the prospective couple, and the month desired for the marriage. You will need to make an appointment as soon as possible with the priest. Firm arrangements for date, time and place of your service will be made after discussion with the priest. This meeting should take place before arrangements are made for the reception. We do not schedule marriage services on Sunday.
- Officiating clergy: The priest will officiate at the rehearsal and service. Clergy from another parish, including those of other denominations, are most welcome to assist. If you would like this, please speak to the priest at your initial meeting. The priest will then extend the appropriate invitation.
- Holy Matrimony: Although it is the couple’s special day, it is also an important part of the ministry of the church. Couples who are actively involved in the church are strongly encouraged to include the Eucharist in the worship.
- Church attendance: Since Holy Matrimony is a sacramental rite of the church, we encourage couples to worship together while preparing for marriage.
- Premarital Preparation: According to the canons of the Episcopal Church, the priest instructs “both parties as to the nature, meaning, and purpose of Holy Matrimony.” This generally means three or more meetings to discuss all aspects of a Christian marriage. These discussions also enable the priest and the couple to know each other better, adding to the significance of this union being celebrated before God’s altar. Under normal circumstances, premarital counseling must be completed one month before the wedding.
- Music: The couple must consult the Director of Music to plan the music for the marriage service. All arrangements for music should be made no later than two weeks before the wedding. If the organist does not hear from the couple by that time, they will select appropriate music.
- Marriage License: Only a Howard County license is valid for use at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church. Applications are filed with the Circuit Court for Howard County located at 6095 Marshalee Drive, Suite 120, Elkridge, MD 21075. The telephone number is 410-313-5850. Applications for marriage licenses are not accepted after 4:00 p.m. The application process takes about 15 minutes. There is a 48-hour waiting period before the license is issued. One party of the couple must make the application in person. The license must be brought to the priest at the final counseling session.
- Wedding Rehearsal: The date and time should be set during the initial interview with the priest. They will conduct the rehearsal with the assistance of the wedding coordinator if there is one. The following people participate in the rehearsal: the bride and groom, parents, all attendants, readers, and ushers.
- Flowers and decorations: One or two arrangements of flowers for the altar are appropriate in the church. Flowers should be delivered no later than three hours before the service. They will be placed on the altar by the Altar Guild. The head of the Altar Guild can advise you or your florist about proper proportions for flower arrangements. Flowers are left on the altar for Sunday morning. Candles – Please make arrangements with the head of the Altar Guild. Runners are NOT permitted, as they create a serious safety hazard.
- Photographs: Because Holy Matrimony is a sacrament, no flash photography is permitted in the Church during the service. Photographs or videos taken in available light are allowed from the rear of the Church or from the balcony by one professional photographer. If the balcony is used, photographic equipment must be in place at least 30 minutes prior to the beginning of the liturgy. Because the wedding is a service of worship, guests should be requested in advance not to use cameras during the service.
- Confetti: Rice, confetti, rose petals, bird seed, etc. cause maintenance and safety hazards, and are not permitted on church grounds.
- Bulletin: The layout of the service bulletin can be prepared by the Parish Administrator if it is the standard two-fold. Printing the bulletin is the responsibility of the couple. The couple needs to provide music and reading selections to the church no later than two weeks before the wedding so that there is sufficient time for preparation and printing.
- Costs: There is no fee for pledging members and their immediate family. The wedding fee is $500 for non-pledging members, which is brought with the Howard County license to the priest at the wedding rehearsal. The standard fee for organists is $250. When additional soloists, instrumentalists or choristers are requested, and additional rehearsal time required, there will be an extra charge. The check for the church should be made out to St. Barnabas Episcopal Church with “wedding” in the memo line. The check for the organist should be made out to the organist. An offering of thanks to the officiant is customary.
Burial
Prayer Book says that “the liturgy for the dead is an Easter liturgy. It finds its meaning in the resurrection.” The Prayer Book also reminds us that “the very love we have for each other in Christ brings deep sorrow when we are parted by death.” The liturgy itself includes these words: “All of us go down to the dust; yet even at the grave we make our song: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.”
Concerning the service:
- The death of a member of the Church should be reported as soon as possible to the priest, who will plan the funeral in consultation with the family.
- Baptized Christians are properly buried from the church. The service should be held at a time when the congregation can be present.
- The coffin is to be closed before the service, and it remains closed thereafter. It is appropriate that it be covered with a pall or other suitable covering.
- If necessary, or if desired, all or part of the service of Committal may be said in the church. If preferred, the Committal service may take place before the service in the church. It may also be used prior to cremation.
- Please do not hesitate to contact Fr. Tim at the news of the death of a loved one, and please use the following link to download a form that will help you focus on planning during this stressful and sad time.
