I'm in New York City for a few days, interviewing seminarians for our summer North Country Rural Ministry Internship program.  It's amazingly warm here, both in terms of the weather, and in terms of the welcome I have received from the General Seminary Community.
     Last evening, I gave a presentation on the internship, and as a result, several students are interested in the program.  I will meet with more students at lunch, and then interview those who are interested this afternoon.
     The Internship is a great chance for those students interested in rural ministry and small parishes to gain hands-on experience.  

     This was the thrid year we celebrated All Saints Day in part by lighting candles during the service and saying the names of our personal saints who have gone on to glory. Many of us were tearful, and there was much hugging and passing of tissues. it was as if our little community of Christians was drawn close together with other wonderful people in that "cloud of witnesses" that have come before us. 
       Then in the afternoon the bishop came to ordain Richard Davenport, our recent seminarian, to be a deacon.
It is wonderful to be part of a Christian family that has deep roots in history and lots of new shoots and branches springing up strong, all at the same time!  ~ Betsy Hess, Sr. Warden

     Growing up in the Roman Catholic Church, I was raised with the tradition of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day.  All Saints' Day was for the Big Letter saints - the famous ones.  You know the types: St. Francis, St. Paul, St. Barnabas (of course).  And All Souls' Day was for everybody else.  
     In the Episcopal Church, we do it a bit differently.  On All Saints' Day, we celebrate ALL the saints, living and dead.  At least at St. Barnabas, we use All Saints' Day to give thanks for those who have touched our lives, in the Church's past (I call them the Capital Letter Saints), in the life of our congregation, and those, living and dead in our own lives, whose examples draw us into a life in Christ.
     In our liturgical calendar, we also have a day dedicated to remembering "The Faithful Departed."  It's on the same day as the Roman Catholics celebrate All Soul's Day.  It's a much less well known feast than All Saints' Day.  In my mind, it gives us one more chance to give thanks for the great cloud of witnesses - those people who live lives of quite faith and who have carried on the faith and work of the church for nearly two millennia.  
    So, on this day, we give thanks for the faithful departed - for their lives, their faith, the work and their witness.
                                                                                                                                            Fran +

At St. Barnabas, we believe that all people are always welcome.  No matter who you are or where you've come from, you will find that our doors are wide open and so are we.  Here at "The Open Door" folks from St. Barnabas will be reflecting on life, faith, our church community, really whatever strikes their fancy.  We hope you will come on through our open door and join us.
                                                                                                                                                 Fran+