By Elizabeth George
Barta and Scottie
I met Barta Anderson at one of the first St. Paul’s Foyer Group (now called Sip, Dip and Chat) dinners in early 2016. I admired her many musical talents, sharp wit, and love for her dear dog, Scotty. I especially enjoy sitting with her whenever I can at St. Paul’s 10 AM Sunday service.
Barta grew up in Los Angeles and still refers to herself as a “California gal.” She attended UCLA and but headed east, graduating from Barnard college. Following that, Barta studied at Columbia University, where she received a degree in musicology and then went on to additional studies a CCNY to receive her teaching degree. She then had the opportunity to experience the unique challenges — and rewards — of teaching music to all ages of children within the New York City public school system. She still considers NYC her “spiritual” home, convinced that her time spent teaching inner-city children was a transformative and spiritual experience.
During her time in NYC she met her first husband, Bill. He entered the Navy and they travelled, as he served in Washington, DC and Camp LeJeune, North Carolina. During their time living in Melrose, Massachusetts, they had three children: Gerry, Bruce and Sharon. They divorced in 1976.
Barta continued to raise her children in Melrose, serving as a public school music teacher until her retirement in 2000. It was there that she met and married Irving Anderson, who was concert master of the orchestra in which she was playing. Barta says that Irving was the love of her life and feels blessed to have shared twenty wonderful years together.
Irving died in 2008 and Barta moved to New Hampshire, where she played with the Portsmouth Symphony. In 2014 she decided to move to Boynton Beach to be near her daughter Sharon and granddaughter Cassidy. “Retirement” dues not seem to be in Barta’s vocabulary, as she teaches violin and cello at Village Music in Wellington and is active playing in the Florida Inter-generational Orchestra. A life-long Episcopalian, at the recommendation of a friend of her daughter’s, she started coming to St. Paul’s, where she became engaged in many church initiatives including Family Promise.. A few months ago, Barta decided to undergo training to become a Lay Healer.
She said that one of the reasons she was especially interested in learning more about the power of lay healing, was because of people who were close to her, who she felt she might be able to help through this special ministry. In classes held by Deacon Helen Trainor and then by reading The Wounded Healer, Barta came to understand that a lay healer, in essence, acts as a vessel to receive the burdens of those who are troubled or suffering. Barta explained that this is a reciprocal experience, made more powerful not only by the taking on but also by the giving back, so that through prayer and anointment, both the giver and the receiver become transformed and uplifted.
Barta feels so blessed that by worshiping at St. Paul’s she has had the opportunity to forge strong friendships with her healing partners and most especially, to help those who need healing. We too, are blessed, Barta, to have you as a member of our church and to experience your grace and spiritual gifts!