Cooler temperatures are slowly becoming a reality in Southwest Georgia. And as the weather starts to cool off, the activities at St. Barnabas are getting warmed up.
Our parish has long supported the LGBTQIA community and will be out at South Georgia Pride on Saturday, October 3rd in Unity Park. The festival runs from 2-7pm and we will be putting up our “Episco-tent” to greet people and give out some cold bottles of water. We’re happy to share our space with our sister Episcopal churches, Christ the King and St. Andrew’s of Douglas, GA.
Sunday, October 4th, we’re holding our annual Blessing of the Animals service at 2pm. This short, sweet gathering is a reminder of how our four-legged family members, and companions in fish tanks and bird cages, add life and love to our homes. Anyone can come with their pet, or some representation of their family member. Dogs need to be on a leash, and cats should be in some sort of carrier. All others, it’s up to the humans to decide how best to bring them to this event.
Wednesday, October 7th, we’re laying out the wood pallets on the front lawn of the church at noon in preparation for the arrival of the pumpkins. Any able-bodied person who can help with that and other set up of the pumpkin patch. Because….
Saturday, October 10th: the Great Pumpkin Truck will be arriving at 4pm. We will provide dinner for anyone who comes to help unload the truck and get the pumpkins on the pallets.
The Pumpkin Patch itself opens Sunday, October 11th at 1pm. It will be open until 7pm. The hours for this year’s pumpkin patch are Monday-Saturday 11am-7pm and Sundays from 1-7pm. Tell your friends and family to shop for their favorite gourds with us! Most of the proceeds from the sale of the pumpkins go toward supporting our outreach ministries with some retained for the operational budget of the church. The Pumpkin Patch operates through October 31st.
But wait! There’s more!
Sunday, November 1st is All Saints Sunday, a time when we remember all those whom we love but see no more. We will pray for all those who have died since last All Saints in our Prayers of the People.
Wednesday, November 4th, join us for a Post-Election Day Service of Evening Prayer at 5:30pm. In this time where there are forces actively working to pull us apart, this is an opportunity to come together following this day of decision to pray, reflect, and recommit ourselves to the work of being peacemakers in the world.
Sunday, November 22nd at 3pm we will be holding our annual Transgender Day of Remembrance service. This is a time of honoring the memory of those who have died by their own hands or through the violence of others for being authentically themselves.
Finally, Tuesday November 24th, we invite everyone to join us for an “intra-Episcopal” Thanksgiving Service with our Valdosta sister churches Christ Church and Christ the King. The service will be at 6pm with a light reception to follow in our parish hall.