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Life at Saint Bartholomew's

Loaves & Fishes

It has been said that hospitality is vital not because of the food shared but because of the words shared.

This belief is why the Loaves and Fishes dinner groups are a growing part of St. Bart's community. We come together to kneel at the rail each Sunday to be refreshed and strengthened; Loaves and Fishes seeks to carry the closeness of the Eucharistic experience out of church and into our homes.

When we gather around a table we have the opportunity to strengthen our bond of Christian community in the warmth of our own homes. Loaves and Fishes is a time to share great food, tell jokes, put some names to faces we did not know, and get to know the person in the next pew a little better by becoming acquainted with the stories that make up their lives.

Our Loaves & Fishes groups are dinner groups consisting of 8-10 people that meet once a month for 3 months. Typically the groups meet in each other's homes for a potluck supper, but the meeting style is open to whatever the group feels like doing. After the 3 month period new groups are formed, but you can request to be added to a group at any time. At St. Bart's there's always room for more.

The groups are initially organized for September-October-November, reorganized for January-February-March, and again finally for April-May-June; giving everybody an opportunity to rotate around the various groups during the year. We do not meet in December, July, or August.

We look forward to breaking bread with you.

We invite you to participate in the many activities at St Bartholomew's. Our circle has grown wider over the years and has yet to reach it's fullness.

The early morning service is normally a traditional Eucharist, whilst the mid-morning worship service has a more contemporary style with parishioners often sharing stories of God's work in their lives. A melodious choir, directed by Music Director and Organist, Albert Campbell, is a graceful accompaniment. The songs of worship range from the solemn traditional hymns to more “folksy” hum-along tunes.

The warmth of sharing the Peace within the church extends to the fellowship hour between services. The gathering at the parish lounge is often noisy, fun and inviting. Parishioners strive to make each visitor feel welcome with smiles and a hot cup of coffee.

Stop by the parish office and one is quite likely to hear a volunteer respond with compassion to a disheartened voice on the phone. A prayer begins at that moment and ripples through the chain of volunteers. The need is expressed in the Sunday bulletin and the congregation adds a common prayer.

Or, the volunteer may be relaying a request from a parishioner to have Communion at home served by a Lay Eucharist Minister.

On a Saturday, one might see a wheelbarrow with mulch being trundled away by a work-day volunteer. The cheerful band of volunteers spare a day a month to paint, prune or prepare the church for special days.

On other days, one might glimpse the child acolytes in their blue garb rehearsing their role in the processional, setting up the Communion table or listening attentively to Mo. Joyce as she instructs them on proper conduct throughout the liturgy.

Every Monday though, it's laughter and wisdom as members of the book club share food for body and soul. With brown bagged lunches and copies of the chosen book, the group enters onto a lively discussion of the meaning and relevance of selected chapters.

Once a month, a Wednesday night is reserved for the Vestry, as Mo. Joyce and the vestry review the month's accomplishments and evolve future plans through a consensus. Mark Plemmons, Senior Warden and Carol Purcell, Junior Warden, guide the meeting through it's agenda and observance of procedures.

The visitor may have a sighting of Mattie, our whimsical green-eyed tangerine tabby cat. She has made the church her home and often puts in an appearance at vestry meetings, fellowship hour or at worship services.

The rhythm of life at St. Bartholomew's flows along gathering strength and momentum from the confluence of members. We invite you to be part of our ever-widening circle of prayer, faith and fellowship.