ANNOUNCEMENTS

Find out about all of the great things happening here at St. Barnabas!

Please contact/email the office.

To add info and events to the weekly newsletter, please send your email by noon on Tuesday of that week.

To have your event dates added to the calendar.

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St. Barnabas Episcopal Church

Announcements

December 14, 2025

A heartfelt thank-you to Mike for keeping the grounds clear of leaves this season.
Your dedication keeps our grounds looking their best!

Postponed until January 10th!

erase christmas pl

Postponed until January 10th!

Let’s Take a Trolley Tour!

Princeton Trolley Tour
Historical tour of Princeton This Sunday, December 14, 2025

2:00pm- Meet at church to carpool
2:15- Travel to Princeton to find parking (parking deck nearby) and stand in line for the trolley
Tours depart from 29 Hulfish St.
3:00pm - 4:00pm Historical Tour
4:30pm- Dinner

adopt a family

We are sponsoring a family this season and invite everyone to join us in helping make their holidays a little brighter.

Please drop off all gifts at the church by This Monday, December 15th.

There is a sign up sheet in Hubbard Hall.

Family # 54 Mom, Dad & 4 kids

16YO Female

"Stanley 40 oz Quencher H2.0 FlowState Rose Quartz Stainless Steel Tumbler
- https://www.walmart.com/ip/5636263320?sid=5abc4469-b798-4404-8486-77a841585466
L'ange Hair Le Ceramique 1-Pass Flat Iron Hair Straightener | Fast Heating Ceramic Flat Iron"
- https://www.walmart.com/ip/2642560931?sid=b87af655-cc6f-4deb-8fbe-b95a25f43c1f
Magic Styler 4-in-1 Airstyler, Magicstyler Air Styler, Curling Iron Brush Air Curler Air Styler Wrap, Auto Wrap Curlers, Multi Hair Styler for Fast Hairstyle (White Gold)
- https://www.walmart.com/ip/9963773203?sid=74dd6206-6df6-4942-b5f6-9b5443eb4fa3"
Giftcard: Visa

15YO Male

"FitRx Mini Pro Neck and Back Massager, Handheld Deep Tissue Muscle Massage Gun
- https://www.walmart.com/ip/337484095?sid=da466c58-85fe-4fbe-adfd-ddee7fb8802c
“Up” Lego set
- https://www.walmart.com/ip/1527935978?sid=b3802935-45bb-4d14-9e4a-c222e61a0181
LEGO Technic Bugatti Bolide Race Car Model Building Set,
- https://www.walmart.com/ip/1905127949?sid=fedf67e1-48a2-439d-a0dc-84095e84ef6b

Giftcard: Visa

8YO Male

Shooting Game
- https://www.walmart.com/ip/639146790?sid=7522cbfb-4446-4b31-9474-49041c14906f
Drone
- https://www.walmart.com/ip/1000767222?sid=8dd5f369-cb6f-4b65-b9f2-bb2e7e00b987"
Waterproof smart watch
- https://www.walmart.com/ip/12787774468?sid=ff26b4c5-c8ae-4ab5-ae36-e1f6cc2ce781
Giftcards: Visa

2YO Male

RC Bumper cards:
- https://www.walmart.com/ip/455695936?sid=7d0883ef-ad44-4b16-bc95-1592b6b798b0
RC Ram truck:
Clothing- Size 2T

Giftcard: Visa

Household giftcard: Visa

It’s cookie season! This year we’re extending our annual Cookie Sale—serving the AA group on Saturday, December 20th and then sharing the goodness with parishioners on Sunday, December 21st.
Sign up in Hubbard Hall or let Bryan know if you can bake a batch or help with Sunday sales.
We’ll need plenty of cookies and a handful of happy helpers!
Most cookies need to be at the church by 6pm on Saturday—Bryan or Erin can pick them up if needed.

Join Us at the Men’s Shelter!

The first week to serve at the Men’s Shelter is right after Christmas, during the last week of December. This is a wonderful opportunity to share kindness and make a real difference in someone’s life.
Bryan would love some company—let’s make sure he’s not the only one showing up for this meaningful and rewarding ministry! Sign up today and be part of something special.
More details below.

The last day to send gifts for 2025 is December 31st (checks postmarked or online gifts received by then). Soon, you’ll receive emailed giving statements to see how you’re doing toward your 2025 goals. Final statements for tax purposes will be sent at the end of January.

Keep an eye out for 2026 giving envelopes in the narthex! If you didn’t receive envelopes in 2025 but would like them for 2026—and vice-versa—just let Bryan know.

Holiday tunes and lots of laughs!

The Altar Guild is getting ready to beautify the church for Christmas.
Any donation toward the purchase of poinsettia plants is greatly appreciated.
If paying by check, mark the memo line 'Poinsettias'.
Cash donations should also be identified.
All donations will be included on your Giving Statement for 2025.

shelter 2

The Rotating Homeless Shelter

Each winter in New Brunswick there is a rotating homeless shelter that serves Middlesex County’s homeless population during the winter months. The shelter is a collaborative of houses of worship and coordinates with Coming Home of Middlesex County. The program began as overflow housing for the “Ozanam Men’s Inn” on Abeel Street in New Brunswick, run by Catholic Charities. That shelter’s namesake is from Blessed Antoine-Frederic Ozanam who was a French Literary scholar, social justice advocate and was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1997. There are not enough beds in the Ozanam Inn to serve the county’s winter-time homeless population and this need is met, in part, by the rotating shelter that is hosted at 8 houses of worship in downtown New Brunswick.

In 2025/2026 Christ Church (our sister Episcopal congregation in New Brunswick) will be hosting the shelter the weeks of December 28 through January 3 and March 1-7 and we are seeking volunteers to serve as overnight hosts. Typically, the rotating shelter serves 15 men. All the men have been pre-screened and a list of the men who will be spending the night is available for the volunteers. The shelter will be opened before 7pm by a coordinator. The coordinator remains at the shelter for 1-2 hours longer to meet and orientate the volunteers. The guests arrive between 7pm-11pm (though there are occasional later arrivals). Cots are set up in the Church’s auditorium where the men spend the night. Between 7-11 PM volunteers sit at a table set up in a loft by the auditorium and oversee the men as they sign in. At 11 PM volunteers lock the Shelter’s entrance and turn the lights off in the auditorium (though often the men do this earlier on their own). Inflatable mattresses are set up in the Choir room, adjacent to the loft, for the volunteers to sleep during the night (volunteers should bring pillows and sleeping bags or sheets/blankets to put on the mattresses). At 6am a volunteer turns the lights back on in the auditorium and between then and 7am the men leave the building. Once the last guest has left the volunteers leave. If there is no other activity at the church in the morning volunteers should lock the door as they leave.

Volunteers arrive at the Church though the entrance on 5 Paterson Street, New Brunswick, at 7pm. Volunteers will be provided with reimbursement for parking in the Church Street parking deck which can be accessed through either Church or Paterson Street (or any other parking available nearby). Volunteers should wear warm comfortable clothes, bring some snacks and a good book. The Church’s Wi-Fi will be available. If you can’t volunteer overnight, an alternative way to help is by providing dinner. The church kitchen is available if needed to heat food if necessary.
There is a sign up sheet in Hubbard Hall.

Please contact one of the following if you have any questions:

Bryan Botsch

Have a minute?

Take our music survey! Your voice helps guide our future.

Music Survey

Supporting the South Brunswick Food Pantry

You can help our local families in need in two ways:
Bring Food Donations: Drop non-perishable items in the basket at church.
Donate Grocery Cards: Buy grocery cards through the church and donate them to help families buy what they need most.
These donations are especially important this year for families who may not qualify for assistance programs like SNAP, as well as for SNAP recipients who may be receiving reduced payments during the shutdown!

Altar Flowers

If you would like to make a dedication please contact Stephanie.

The cost for flowers is still only $40 as there has been no price increase.
There are no altar flowers during Lent, which begins in 10 weeks. Flower dedications will resume after Easter.
Please contact Stephanie for any 2026 dedications.
Our thanks to Mark and Doug for the beautiful arrangements created by Roberts Florals weekly.

If you are taking flowers home after the service, please note:

The container(s) may be discarded. However, the white stones used to stabilize the container(s) need to be returned for continued use. The Altar Guild thanks you in advance for your cooperation with this request as replacing the white stones each week will become too costly.

You can find the link by going to our website and scrolling down to the Zoom link Zoom link for Wednesday Compline

Looking to make a huge difference in someone's life?
Have limited time to contribute?
Here's a suggestion.

We are always in need of additional volunteers to drive our dear Angel
to her medical appointments in New Brunswick.
It requires only an hour or two of your time in either the morning or afternoon.

Any days that you are available to help are greatly appreciated!

Contact Barbara Moreno

The Rev. Frederick E. Galano

This week’s reflection questions:
1) Who is John the Baptist in your life? The person who constantly reminds you of what really matters?
2) What distracts you from what really matters? How can you repent and let go of those things?

Click here for the Service
All music used and streamed with permission through One License, #A-743602

virtual church services

The link and insert for Sunday Services is always sent through
St. B's News (subject is always the date of the service) AND Realm.
You can also access the link from our Website
All our services are live cast on Zoom and Facebook
St. Barnabas Facebook
St. Barnabas Zoom

Compline - Wednesdays at 10pm Virtual
Reflection and Conversation - Sundays after the 8:30 Service

Vestry Meetings - once a month on the 3rd Sunday

Women's Link - once a month on the 1st Sunday

Click here to make a prayer request

What to do if someone comes to St. Barnabas looking for help
Talk with the person to see what the needs are.
Our policy is to not give money but meet a need as much as possible.
No one is to take a person home with them.
Food
If there is food in the collection baskets, please let them have whatever they need.
We can also give a grocery card paid for by the Discretionary Fund.
Refer them to South Brunswick Social Services if they are from the area,
732-329-4000 ext. 7674        South Brunswick Social Services
Housing – In Middlesex County, all homeless needs to go through 2-1-1
Link NJ211
Ozaman Inn – Men’s Shelter 732-729-0850    Contact us About This Service
Ozaman Family Shelter 732-985-0327   Contact us About This Service
Women Aware Hotline 732-249-4504     Get Help        Text: “START” 88788
South Brunswick non emergency Police 732-329-4646
Other Assistance
Refer to the Rector, if available
Refer to NJ 211, call or website for additional assistance.

If you are missing your daily dose of "Forward Day by Day",
Did you know that you can subscribe to it online for free?
Here's the link;

Forward Day By Day

jjc emblem w name jpeg

If you would like to donate, there is a bin under the table in the Narthax.
They are in need of bleach, paper towels, newspapers, dog food, dog toys, wee wee pads, poop bags, etc.

They also have an Amazon Wish List.
Click on the Link Below.

JJC Animal Rescue Wish List

Your donations make it possible for the rescue

to continue to save the animals that need it most.

stop shop gc shop rite gc 2

GROCERY CARD FUNDRAISER

We continue to sell grocery gift cards in our ongoing fundraiser.
For each card sold, St. Barnabas earns 5%.
Stop and Shop cards are available in $100 and $50 denominations.
Shop Rite are available in $100, $50, $25 and $20 denominations.
Easy to use for your grocery purchases and make great gifts as well.

Gift Cards will be sold on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month between 8:30 and 10:30.
You may also purchase them from the office Monday-Wednesday. Call or e-mail Maryellen to let her know when you will be stopping by.
Please contact Shirley for more information.

ShopWithScrip is now RaiseRight. Please go to Raise Right Enrollment
to buy gift cards at face value and St. Barnabas will automatically get a percentage of the amount from the gift card provider (the exact percentage varies by gift card). It’s that simple!

Enrollment code: 6A2379554L665

Communications

Please email stbarnabasnjnewsletter@gmail.com
of any announcements or information that you would like included in the

Newsletter

Realm

Website

Facebook

US News

tapinto Franklin-township

or on the South Brunswick Patch

Click on the picture to support our community partners!

Click on the calendar to see what is going on at St. Barnabas.

Priest-in-Charge - The Reverend Frederick E. Galano
stbarnabasnjfredgalano@gmail.com

Deacon - The Rev. Chizoba Nwankwo, Deacon

vestry..

Administrative Warden - Monica Devanas
Property Warden - Mike Forbes
Bryan Botsch
Bobbi Gorman
Keith Tagoe
Erin Tinagero
Sam Wadee
Debbie Epting

Treasurer - Bill Armstrong
Acolyte -Tom Carr
Altar Guild - Stephanie Carr
Chalicers - Bobbi Gorman
Choir and Music Program - Jordan Drevelus
Church Office - Maryellen Harduby
Pledge Secretary - Bryan Botsch
Fundraising - Erin Tinagero, Marlene Botsch
Fellowship - Vestry
Greeters - Kevin McLeod
Grocery Card Program - Shirley Bowers
IT Group - Bryan Botsch
Lectors - Bobbi Gorman
Ministry of Racial Diversity - Leon Merriweather
Prayer Chain - Bryan Botsch
Sunday School - Barbara Moreno
Stewardship Campaign - Deborah Epting
Ushers - Noel Ilogu
Women's Link - Marlene Botsch, Erin Tinagero
SB Food Bank - Erin Tinagero