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Where is Saint Barnabas?

6715 N. Mockingbird Lane, Scottsdale, AZ

What should I wear?

Whatever makes you comfortable. Some people dress up, some wear jeans; kids wear whatever they want, including princess dresses and Spiderman costumes. Come as you are.

What time should I be there?

If you and/or your children would like to take part in Sunday School, come around 8:50am since groups and classes start at 9:00am, and you’ll want time to find your way!

If you are coming for worship only, you can come at 7:45 or at 10:15 for worship in the main Sanctuary. You might want to be a few minutes early to either of those to make sure you have time to settle in and find a seat.

Where do I park?

We have designated guest parking in the south section of our parking lot next to the bell tower, but you’re welcome to park anywhere. There are parking spaces on all four sides of our grounds. We have campus maps posted at each main entrance to the campus to help you find your way.

Where do my kids go for Sunday School?

  • Children ages 0-18 months go to the Nursery in the Children’s Center at the north end of our grounds.
  • Children ages 18 months–11 years go to the Children’s Center at the north end of our grounds.
  • Youth ages 12-18 go to Sean’s Place on the north end of our grounds.

Where do I go for adult Sunday School?

Conversations – a drop-in class—open to everyone—that asks participants to examine how our faith and our everyday lives intersect. Led by a rotation of the clergy, these conversations cover some of the religious hot topics of the day, some history, and from time to time include great guest speakers. This class meets in the Hutton Hall, our Parish Hall, just north of the Sanctuary and on Z_o_o_m. To receive login information, subscribe to our weekly E-news or contact the office.

Bible Study – A traditional ‘drop-in’ Bible Study group is held each week in the Library, which is found in the Learning Center at the north end of our grounds. This group is called the Early Bird Scholars. For other Bible Study options, call the church office or check out the page about our unique curriculum called The Art of Engaging Holy Scripture.

Choir Rehearsal – Choir gathers at 9:15am for rehearsal in the Sanctuary. Come a little early if you’d like to get involved so you can speak to our Choral Director, Robert Heyde, and see what opportunities are available for that Sunday and future Sundays.

A place to take a load off and breathe for a bit – You could sit outside in the Memorial Garden by the fountain, which is a place of reverence and prayer surrounded by the great cloud of witnesses. The Chapel is open all morning and is available between services for some R&R. Listen to choir rehearsal in the Sanctuary. Sit around one of the fountains and read a book in the sun or let the sounds of the water soothe you. Read the paper or visit with friends in our lounge called The Other Cup or browse in the Book & Gift Shop next door.

Where do I go for worship?

Are my kids welcome in church?

Definitely. We don’t expect children to be adults just because this is church. We know that reverence comes in many forms and children’s expressions of reverence can be louder and more exuberant than those of adults—for which we’re glad.

What should I expect in the different worship services?

  • 7:45am service: for those seeking less music, more traditional language, and a smaller congregation.
  • 10:15am service: for those seeking grand Anglican and classical music, contemporary language, a welcoming experience for children, and a more vibrant worship experience.
  • Toddler Worship (temporarily suspended): for ages 18 months-3 years. This service involves songs and music, and is more exploratory to meet the developmental needs of this age group. Runs concurrently with the first half of the 10:15am service. Parents welcome but not required.
  • Children’s Chapel: for children ages 4-11. This service includes music, movement, prayers, and a gospel story in age-appropriate language. Runs concurrently with the first half of the 10:15 service. Parents welcome but not required.

Why does everyone up front wear robes?

In an effort to neutralize individuals and how they present themselves, but also to offer something of a clean slate to the worshiper, all who serve the altar wear a robe. It prevents us from being distracted during worship from thoughts such as “Wow, I sure like that shirt he’s wearing” and so on, so we can be focused on worship itself. The choir wears matching robes to provide a sense of unity and to enable us to focus on the beautiful sounds they’re offering instead of what their outfits look like.

Can I take communion?

Yes. At Saint Barnabas, we are of the mind that all persons can find a deepening of their spiritual journey by receiving the Holy Eucharist. On the other hand, you are not required to take it, so don’t feel peer-pressured if you’re not ready! You can choose to remain in your pew, or come to the altar for a blessing instead.

How do I take communion?

  • The ushers will come by and release your pew to stand in line waiting to be directed to an altar rail. When you get to the altar rail (just follow the person in front of you and the gestures of the ushers up front), you can choose to either stand or kneel to receive communion.
  • A priest or lay eucharistic minister will come bearing bread wafers and gluten-free wafers. You hold out your hands cupped together and bread will be placed in your hands with words such as “the Body of Christ, the Bread of Heaven.” At that time, you can choose to eat the wafer or to hold on to it if you want to dip it in the wine. A second person will come bearing a chalice of wine. They will say, “the Blood of Christ, the Cup of Salvation.” You can take a drink from the chalice or you can dip your wafer into the wine. Either is perfectly normal and acceptable.
  • Some people will make the sign of the cross over the upper half of their bodies both before and after receiving communion, but it’s not required. Some people say ‘Amen’ after receiving each part of communion, but that’s not required either. You can also choose to receive only in “one kind,” which means you can receive just the bread if you don’t want to receive wine. Communion is complete if you do one or both as we are receiving the Body of Christ into ourselves.
  • After you’ve received communion, you can stand up and follow the gestures of the ushers to go back to your pew via the outside aisles of the church.

Do I have to confess before communion like in the Roman Catholic church?

The Episcopal Church uses corporate confession in its common worship. Together, we say a prayer to ask God’s forgiveness for our sins, for “things done and left undone” that we repent of and that we want to be better about. The priest will stand up and offer an absolution over the whole gathered body. You are not required to make private, individual confession to receive communion at Saint Barnabas. However, the sacrament of the Rite of Reconciliation is available to any who desire it. You can request a private meeting with a priest who will guide you through a brief liturgy of confession and absolution if there are particular things that weigh heavy on your heart. The priest will also offer counsel and support.

Can my kids take communion?

Yes. The Eucharist is a mystery to all—even the most devout, practiced Christian. We believe that Jesus gave us the means to take him into ourselves and then to take that nourishment out into the world and let his light shine through us thanks to that nourishment. Children can just as fully be a source of light and so we nourish them at the table too. It’s not a matter of understanding all the intricacies of the worship service or the “why’s” of our Episcopal way, it’s about a table that Jesus invites all his disciples to—and children are disciples too.

How does someone get to serve in the different roles during the service?

We would love to have you come and serve in any of the wonderful ways that it takes for us to make a complete worship service. After church, we offer training sessions on all of our worship ministries so that you can quickly get involved. To learn more about each of those ministries, click here.

Why do you take an offering during worship?

“All things come of thee, O God, and of thine own have we given thee.” This old prayer sums up why we take an offering in church. We believe all in our lives and in our world comes of God, so in gratitude for those good gifts, we make offerings back to God for the Church’s work in the world to continue.

What usually happens after church?

The clergy would love to meet you, and they greet everyone who wants to be greeted at the doors of the church as people exit. You can get to know them or not if it’s your first time. You tell us about yourself when you’re ready—no pressure. When you’re ready, we’ll be glad to help you find ways to connect, make friends, get involved, serve, and grow. We also provide coffee hour.

What is coffee hour?

Coffee hour is the time after church in which we get to mingle, get to know each other better, meet friends we haven’t seen in a while, sign up for various church activities, learn more about things, let our kids play together after they’ve sat in a pew for a spell, and more. It’s a great time to connect with our Saint Barnabas family.

All are welcome at Saint Barnabas