Welcome
Dear Friends,
St. Bartholomew’s is a friendly church where people come together to worship God, to affirm our unity in Christ, and to be renewed for ministry in the Church and in the world. We would love to meet you in person, whoever you are and wherever you are on your journey in faith. At “St. Bart’s” we strive to reach into hearts and reach out to those in need.
Worship is central to the life and ministry of the Episcopal Church. I am confident that among our several weekly services, at least one will draw you more deeply into your relationship with God and with the people of God. Moreover, we are blessed with a strong music ministry which greatly enhances our worship.
From the Rector --- Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
Have you kept a good Lent? I know it is hard to do. It is hard to find the time and the focus to accept the Ash Wednesday invitation, “in the name of the Church, to the observing of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word.” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 265) I was embarrassed when several clergy were asked by one of our colleagues in a recent e-mail, “What have you been reading this Lent?” I had to answer, “I've just been skimming newspapers and magazines—and reading some Scripture, but mostly in the course of sermon preparation.” Our colleague had actually taken to heart reading and meditating on God's holy Word by going beyond Bible reading for sermon preparation purposes and by reading several books dealing with matters spiritual and theological. All I did was add some books to my official reading list (“Books to Read before I Die”) with hope of getting to them sometime after Lent. We did have a wonderful opportunity to learn about world religions in our Lenten University. Many from outside the parish and well over 100 parishioners were present each week. That is fantastic attendance compared to past Lenten programs—though only a small percentage of our membership. So, there we are, especially in Lent, I think—almost always in a hurry, almost always pressed for time, not much accepting invitations to keep a holy Lent, and not taking much advantage of opportunities provided.
Of Special Note
Music and the Liturgical Arts - Sunday, May 20
Music - At the 9:30 am service the Coventry Choir and soloists will be singing Ariel Ramirez's Misa Criolla (Creole Mass). This mass is in the South American folk tradition with guitar, harpsichord, and multiple percussion instruments. The mass is based on folk genres with Andean influences and instruments. Tenor, Sean McCormac, will be singing in the creole Spanish dialect of the Andes Mountains; the Latin- American guitarist Nathan Arriola is providing authentic accompaniment; and Mattias Villwock will be leading all the percussionists in this very rhythmical music.
Liturgical Arts - At 4:30 pm a mini-reading of Haiti's Children of God by Lorey Hayes will be given in the church. The readers are St. Bartian Abner Genece with San Diego actors Monique Gaffney and Tony Hamm. There will be a brief introduction to the reading and Q&A afterwards. This event is to help encourage awareness and support for the Diocese of San Diego's Help Rebuild Port Au Prince's ministry and Cathedral.
“Haiti's Children Of God” (Title inspired by the Bible verse “Blessed are the peace makers for they shall be called the Children Of God”) follows the story of a young pregnant Haitian woman, (Mama Isabelle Rene) on a desperate mission to restore her country; that forces her to choose between the life of the brother she loves and the salvation of her nation.
“Hayes' work dramatically places the struggles of the Haitian people before your eyes so that you can't help but be educated as to what the people of this country have had to endure” New York Amsterdam News
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