We have many wonderful opportunities for spiritual growth, fellowship, support and music. Listed below are contacts and links for more information.

Acolytes
Acolytes actively participate in our worship service by leading processions (in and out of church, as well as Gospel Processions) and serving at the altar. Our youth acolytes, ages 10-18, and adult acolytes receive required training and serve on a rotating schedule that is flexible to accommodate family commitments.

Altar Guild
The Altar Guild consists of a group of men & women committed to ensuring that the atmosphere & appearance of the church's sanctuary conforms to the changing requirements of the church calendar. Duties consist of not only setting up before & cleaning up after a service, but also polishing silver & heavy brass, maintaining of altar and Eucharist linens, replenishing oil in candles. We provide an enjoyable way to work with fellow parishioners at Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday, wedding, funeral, & memorial services as well as other special church services (i.e., Easter, Christmas, etc.). Finally, in preparing the house of God for His people, the tasks performed by altar guild members can become more than reverent routine. They can represent an act of praise.

Altar Flowers
The flowers on our altar are given each week in thanksgiving for special blessings or in memory of loved ones. We have large floral decorations At Easter and Christmas, we have large floral decorations given in memory and thanksgiving which enhance our worship space and then are shared with members of our parish family who are homebound or in the hospital.

Lay Eucharistic Ministers (LEM)
Lay Eucharistic Ministers (LEMs) vest, wearing white albs, and process in our worship service with the Clergy. They serve as readers of the second lesson of scripture, leaders for Prayers of the People, and they administer the Chalice (offering the cup of wine during communion). Training by the Clergy that leads to Diocesan certification is provided and required. Please speak with either of the Clergy if you are interested.

Lay Eucharistic Visitors (LEV)
Lay Eucharistic Visitors (LEVs) take the Eucharistic sacraments (consecrated bread and wine) to parishioners who are home-bound or in a nursing home. This is a ministry of hospitality and an opportunity to bring a part of Sunday morning’s worship to those who are not able to be with us. Diocesan training and certification is provided and required. Please speak with either of the Clergy if you are interested.

Lectors
Lectors serve as readers of the first lesson within the worship service. Coming up out of the congregation, lectors help bring the Word of God to the congregation through the meaningful reading of scripture. Readings are mailed out in plenty of time to allow for practice! Lectors are encouraged to participate in the prior week’s lectionary-based bible study class to help find personal meaning in the lessons they are reading. Please speak with either of the Clergy if you are interested.

Ushers
We are members who assist in the conduct of the worship service: greeting parishioners, helping with seating, collecting the offering, and assisting with communion.

Coffee Hour
Coffee Hour is an informal fellowship time after worship. We sign up to serve as hosts, and we always welcome baked goods to share as well. What better way to get to know those you see in worship!

Hospitality
Our responsiblity when called upon, whether it be a church celebration or after a funeral, is to provide refreshments. The committee calls parishioners to bake; we then set up, serve, and clean up. We have a silver service tea set which we use on special occasions. Serving on hospitality, the rewards have been countless!

The Food Ministry
· What it is – parishioners taking food to other parishioners’ homes to share in the celebration of births, the sorrows of death and the hardships of convalescence.

· What we need from you – three or four times a year, you and other team members would contribute items to make a single meal and get it to the family.

· Why it doesn’t require much time – there are four of you assembling one meal every three months. If you just pick up a rotisserie chicken from the deli, or next time you make your favorite side dish you freeze half, you are done. That’s it! Sometimes you might be called on to take your food to the family, but other times too many visitors would be a stress on the family, so team members can take turns delivering the meals. With five of you taking turns four times year… it doesn’t have to be much.

· Why its important – we are a family, and this is an opportunity to come together at the fundamental level of food, to come into each other’s homes and to be a part of each others major life events. Its communion, its real and basic contact and its inviting the living church to be part of the fabric of our lives.

· How to get more info – ask Gwyneth Packard, she’d be happy to tell you more, or check out her comprehensive article in the January 2004 Banner.

Library
Our parish lending library is located in the Parish Hall. We have books to appeal to all ages. Please browse the collection, and feel free to sign out a book!

Newcomers
Although some of us are shy and retiring by nature, the Newcomers Committee is dedicated to extending a warm welcome to families and individuals who are new to our parish life. Currently, we hold quarterly get-togethers designed especially to introduce folks to different aspects of our parish life. We hope this booklet will help you become more familiar with ways we can be together and get to know each other better. Whether your nature is outgoing or more reserved, if you have lots of good ideas, or if you just want to help out, we'd love to have you join us!

Prayer Chain
We have a group of parishioners committed to daily prayer for any prayer needs that you might have. The Prayer Chain meets on the first Monday of each month at 5:15 p.m. in the Chapel. We gather to update our prayer lists and talk about ways in which we can support each other, our parish, our community, and our world through the power of prayer. If you have a special need that could benefit from group prayer, please don’t hesitate to contact Susan Schmidt or our clergy or the Parish Office. Names on the prayer list and needs are kept confidential by members of the Prayer Chain. If you would like to join the Prayer Chain and enter into the ministry of daily prayer for others, just show up to our next gathering! All are welcome.

Episcopal Church Men (ECM)
The Episcopal Church Men (ECM) gather for breakfast on the last Saturday of each month (September through May) at 8:30 a.m. at the Falmouth Inn (824 Main Street, Falmouth). This is a wonderful time for fellowship. Each month features a special guest speaker as well and always provides for fascinating conversation. The ECM is open to all men of the parish. And spouses and friends are always welcome as well! Please come join us. We need your presence to complete our sense of unity.

Overnight of Hospitality
Part of our church's mission is to open our doors to welcome in homeless guests who have nowhere else to go. Two nights each month, five to seven men or women are selected from the Noah Shelter in Hyannis to attend the overnights of hospitality program at St. Barnabas. Our guests spend the night with a few church members in the Parish House. Just as in the Old Testament story in which Abraham welcomed the strangers who turned out to be angels, our church has the honor of welcoming strangers who are truly the sons and daughters of God and cherished guests for the night.

There are no structured activities. Other than light snacks and perhaps a movie to watch, our guests are provided with a safe, warm place to spend the night.

Memorial Garden
The Memorial Garden Committee is responsible for the area of our property behind the Parish House near the large granite Cross. We are responsible for the ordering, engraving, and maintenance of stones purchased in memory of loved ones. There is a master plan for our garden that we would like to pursue, and we are in the process of reviewing our committee and its goals. We are always happy to have new faces join us!