The New Year 2006

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Schedule for week of January 1st

LOVING HANDS PROJECT – A Message from Senior Warden, Wanda Marsh

Our garden on the West Side of the Church is truly beautiful, (thanks to those who have planted and cared for it – especially Matthew Burbach!). However, the rest of the grounds around the church and the Parish House are badly in need of some loving care. Your Parish needs your help!

Please consider adopting a small area of the property to maintain. You may choose from an area that is already planted and just needs weekly weeding and watering, or you can let your creative juices flow and design, plant, and maintain an undeveloped area. There is something for everyone - it can be family project! Many of you have perennials at home that need thinning out or others that are dropping seeds. What a wonderful place to bring them to share. If you or friends want to share some plants but are unable to plant them yourselves, let us know and we can help.

If you do not have any perennials to share, don’t despair. The local greenhouses are marking things down drastically as they close for the season – you can get great deals. One greenhouse I went to marked the sale price in half when I mentioned I was buying for the church. Besides making the Church property look even more beautiful and well cared for, we hope to plant flowers that can be used on the altar. This will help lower the flower costs. You may remember a month or so ago we enjoyed beautiful peonies on the altar from some parishioners’ yards.

To “stake your claim” and adopt a garden spot see Wanda Marsh. Don’t be left out! Each area being adopted will have a small sign reading “Grown by God and cared for by the loving hands of _________.” Taking care of a part of the grounds will be fun and your adopted area can be maintained in just a few minutes before or after Church each week.

THE SECOND PARISH APPRECIATION POT-LUCK will be held after Mass on July 20th, instead of June 29 or July 13th as previously announced. (There was a conflict with Daughters of the King’s meeting day). Everyone is invited to bring the food dish of his or her choice. The purpose of these gatherings is to thank and recognize the many good things done around the parish that too often go unnoticed.

If you would like to nominate a person that you know has done something helpful - for the building and grounds, for the good of the parish, for the good of their neighbor - please complete a nomination form so they can be recognized at this appreciation pot-luck. Nomination forms are on the table in the Narthex. You may place these forms in the offering plate or give them to the Rector.

MEET OUR NEW MEMBERS! In the last year we have been blessed with and are excited to welcome several new members into the church. We share a bit of information about some of our new members here, with stories on others to follow in subsequent newsletters.

OSIRIS BETHANCOURT TEAMER – Osiris is a native of Panama City, Panama, the youngest of four children of Moises and Marcelina Bethancourt. She met her husband Osie Teamer, Sr., a native of Omaha, while he was serving in the US Army at a military base near the Panama Canal Zone. Upon completion of Osie’s tour of duty, the Teamers moved in 1987 with their family to the White Sand Missile Ranch in New Mexico. A few years after this the family moved to Omaha. Mr. Teamer departed this life in October of 1999.

Orisis is the mother of 5 children; Karla, age 23, and Vicki, 20, both of whom live in San Antonio, Texas. Tassha, 14, Osie Jr. 11, and Erykah 5 (who this Spring performed our May Crowning) live here with their mother. Osiris recently completed an Associate of Arts Degree at Metropolitan Community College in Liberal Arts/Academic Transfer. She will graduate at Metro’s Summer Graduation Ceremony on August 15. While a student at Metropolitan Community College, she worked in the Financial Aid Office along side Nick Behrens. Many of the liturgical practices at St. Barnabas remind her of churches back home in Panama. She enjoys being home with her children, and enriching her life with education.

JACQUELINE QUIGLEY - A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Jacqueline became an Episcopalian at age 15 when, having been raised a Methodist, she discovered the glories of High Church Anglicanism at St. Mary’s Church in Jacksonville. As a teenager there she made many great friends with whom she remains close to this day.

She moved to Omaha in 1968, and since 1984 has worked in the Consumer Relations and Public Relations Departments of the Omaha Public Power District (OPPD). In this career she is afforded the opportunity to work with a large variety of community groups and participates in special projects in the 13 county service area of OPPD. This has also led her to be involved in different capacities in a number of community organizations. These include: the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Joslyn Castle, the Board of the Fontenelle Nature Association Guild, membership in the Opera Omaha Guild, membership in the Act II Guild of the Omaha Playhouse, and a recent Vice-Presidency of the Assistance League of Omaha.

Jacqueline’s daughter and son-in-law, Amelia and John, live in Edina, Minnesota, where they serve in the health profession. She is the proud grandmother of Eva Nicole, who recently turned 1 year old.

During her years in Omaha, Jacqueline has attended or visited several Episcopal churches in the city - none quite like the beloved High Church of her teen-age years. After having moved to this neighborhood she discovered Saint Barnabas Church and, as soon as she walked in the doors, immediately felt she had come home.

REPORT FROM THE TREASURER

Finances through May are running normal. For the month of May, our expenses were $3,298.43 and our income was $4,705.34.

As respects operating income, pledges continue to track very close to budget; down 5% through May vs. budget but 3% higher than in 2002. Loose plate is actually 5% higher than the budget. Looking at operating expenses, we are within 1% of the budget. Year to date through May, we have spent $2,395.74 more in expenses than in income. However, that is partly due to cyclical issues on both the income and expense sides. Of critical importance is that pledges and plate income (the vast majority of our budget) track well and, as mentioned, theses expenses are tracking closely to budget.

As we head into the summer months (where income traditionally drops off somewhat), it is important that we continue to carefully monitor expenses and that the pledges and loose plate income categories continue to stay close to our budget. - Matthew Burbach, Treasurer

Miscellaneous Notes

Confessions may be heard at any time by making an appointment with the Rector. The Lamp at the High Altar, Lady Shrine, or Saint Barnabas Shrine, may be reserved in memory of a loved one, or for special intentions or prayers. A donation of $5 is suggested. Please contact Nick Behrens, at 455-4492, or e-mail nbehrens@metropo.mccneb.edu