All Together Now

Every year, there are two gatherings when the whole St. Bart’s congregation is called to be together. The first one is the annual meeting—which is this Sunday! Please attend and vote for four new vestry members and a youth representative. The second is the visitation of our bishop, the Rt. Rev. Susan Brown Snook. Originally planned for May 3, it is now scheduled for April 19. On that Sunday, we will have only one service at 10 a.m.

Canon law requires Bishop Susan to visit us at least once every three years. We are blessed to see her every year! The purpose of her visit is pastoral—to check on the condition of the church and her clergy, to review our parochial records, to meet with the vestry, and, of course, to preach and to celebrate and preside over sacraments.

In anticipation of her visit, every year we gather those ready to receive the sacrament of baptism or confirmation, as well as reception or reaffirmation, to The Episcopal Church. Are you one of these folks? If you are not sure, see the following guidelines:

Baptism: If you have not been baptized in any denomination, then you are a candidate for baptism.

Confirmation: If you have been baptized in any denomination, but not confirmed in any denomination, then you are a candidate for confirmation.

Reception: If you have been baptized and confirmed in any non-Episcopal denomination, then you are a candidate for reception into The Episcopal Church.

Reaffirmation: If you have been baptized, confirmed, or received into The Episcopal Church in the past, but you want to strengthen your connection for any reason, then you are a candidate for reaffirmation.

We currently have 16 adults signed up to be baptized, confirmed, received, or reaffirmed on April 19! Is this the year you, too, would like to step up? We will be doing preparation on Wednesday nights during Lent. Contact me by February 25 to join the 2026 group.

Blessings,

Mother Nina+