The new furnace was installed this week, so we’ll be plenty warm in church! Come join our celebration today!
Thanks to everyone who donated to the new energy-efficient furnace, which was installed by Kentucky Climate Control!
Hallelujah!
Sing to the LORD a new song; *
sing his praise in the congregation of the faithful.Psalm 149:1
Confirmation classes have begun. Bruce Cory and I have worked on a 5-session course for those wanting to be confirmed in the Episcopal Church. In the first session, we tell our spiritual autobiography. We share how we’ve come to St. John’s.
The session is so powerful. It is powerful to think about your own life in these terms and it is powerful to share that with others. I learn new things about my own life, both from looking at my story and also by hearing others’ stories.
There were a couple of things I found exciting from our recent sessions. I was reminded how much of our spiritual journeys require others to support us and to teach us. In addition, I heard how our search and longing for God is something we are born with. I heard over and over how friendly, warm and welcoming St. John’s is and how much that means to people.
And with these new members, we will sing a new song. Their faith and who they are will shape the song we will sing to the Lord.
Blessings as you finish your week!
Love, Rebecca
Rebecca’s Schedule: Rebecca will be at St. Agnes’ House this week, Monday through Thursday. Her Sabbath Day(s) will be Friday, September 12. You can get a message to her by calling the church office at 606-528-1659 or priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org.
Adult Forum: The Adult Forum is reviewing and discussing the 39 Articles of Faith, pages 867-876 in the Book of Common Prayer through September 28.
Godly Play offered for children. All children are invited to participate in this special program of spiritual development.
St. Philip’s, Harrodsburg, requests our prayers and presence at the service of Celebration of a New Ministry for the Reverend Peter Doddema as Rector, Sunday, September 7, 4pm.
Godly Play Teachers needed. Godly Play teachers are needed. Training is provided. This is a wonderful program of spiritual development for children and we’d like to keep it going in the parish. Please let Rebecca know if you are willing to be trained and serve as a teacher for a period of approximately 1 month.
Daughters of the King meets the third Wednesday of each month at 4:30pm. The next meeting is September 17. If you have special prayer requests or would like to join this prayer ministry, please contact Shelia Phillips.
Some men of the parish are discussing forming a chapter of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew. To learn more about the Brotherhood, speak to Bruce Cory. You can also learn more from http://www.brotherhoodofstandrew.org/about.php
Interested in being a member of St. John’s? If you have been baptized in another faith tradition, and want to be a member of The Episcopal Church and St. John’s Church, plan to attend confirmation classes this fall. There will be 5 classes offered Wednesday evenings September 3, 10, 17, 24, and October 1, 6:30-7:30pm. If you are interested, please let Rebecca know. If you have already been confirmed in another faith tradition and would like to be a member of St. John’s, let Rebecca know, so you can be received into the church. If you are interested in baptism, also let her know. Baptisms, receptions, and confirmations will be done when the Bishop visits on October 19.
Confirmation classes are being held every Wednesday through October 1 from 6:30-8pm. All are invited. This week’s session will be theological tenets of the church.
Computer and Furnace Needed: The furnace located in the sacristy, which heats part of the social hall and hallways must be replaced prior to this winter. Cost is $2,250 for a furnace that will also be more energy efficient. We’ll also need to replace two more furnaces over the next two years: one that heats the parish hall and one that heats the rectory. Our computer also needs replaced and $600 will get us a new one plus the needed software. Donations for these two items can be put in the boxes back on the shelves in the parish hall.
Columbarium Niche: The Vestry has voted to donate a niche in the Columbarium to the family of Deacon Dane. A bronze plaque needs to be purchased to mark the niche. The cost is $208. If you would like to donate to the cost of this plaque, please let Gay Nell know.
Grow Appalachia! The Vestry has voted to move ahead to become a Grow Appalachia site for 2015. Please talk to the Vestry about your ideas, questions, and concerns. The Grow Appalachia website is http://www.berea.edu/grow-appalachia/
The Grow Appalachia Committee will meet after church on Sunday, September 7.
Flowers for the altar: Donations for flowers for the altar are accepted for any Sunday of the year. Please place your donation in the envelope, marking whether they are in honor of or in memory of someone.
Hymn Selection Group If you’d like to choose hymns for services, join this group. You will choose hymns for an upcoming service and then meet with the entire group to confirm the final selections. See Billy Hibbitts if you are interested.
Would you like to write Prayers of the People? If you are interested in writing these prayers (there are resources that can help with this task), please let Rebecca know by phone or email priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org.
United Thank Offering. Remember to get your box for your thank offerings for this ministry of The Episcopal Church. The next collection will be in the fall.
Are you interested in assisting with the Sunday service? Readers, Eucharistic Ministers, Crucifers, Altar Guild Members and choir members are all important for each Sunday service. If you’re interested in serving, please let Rebecca know by phone 859-429-1659 or priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org.
We will celebrate Latino/Latina Heritage Month at our service on September 28. If you’d like to read one of the lessons, please see me. In preparation, you can practice the Lord’s Prayer in Spanish:
Padre nuestro que estás en el cielo,
santificado sea tu Nombre,
venga tu reino,
hágase tu voluntad,
en la tierra como en el cielo.
Danos hoy nuestro pan de cada día.
Perdona nuestras ofensas,
como también nosotros perdonamos
a los que nos ofenden.
No nos dejes caer en tentación
y líbranos del mal.
Porque tuyo es el reino,
tuyo es el poder,
y tuya es la gloria,
ahora y por siempre. Amén.
Serving Our Neighbors – See baskets in the parlor.
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Tomorrow is pot luck. What are you making? I’ve made these eggs so far . . .
Deviled eggs for pot luck
This Sunday’s service will be at 10:00am at Rotary Park pavilion, 224 Wilson Street —
From Master Street, turn on Ford St (by hometown bank). The park is at the end of Ford Street. You’ll need to take a left and immediate right and go along the park to the pavilion. Parking is in a lot on the left across from the playground.
We will worship with Corbin Presbyterian and First Baptist Church.
A pot luck will be held after the service. St. John’s is asked to provide drinks and a dish to share. If you can, bring a gallon jug of your favorite drink. Fried chicken will be provided.
Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.’ And her daughter was healed instantly. Matthew 15:28
One of the exciting events for me at St. John’s this week was the meeting regarding the Grow Appalachia Project. A number of members (Paula and Linda Bain, TJ and Jason Jackson-Beams, Gay Nell Conley, Bruce Cory, Anne Day Davis, Irene Isaacs, Elmer Parlier, Dura Anne Price and Mary Swinford) gathered to begin talking about the project and how we want to participate.
There was lots of good thinking and discussion. We learned we had lots of different visions about the project. Some of us thought we’d have one big community garden. Others thought we’d just offer plots that individuals or families would garden. Some of us wanted to see 10-20 plots, while others wanted to start small with 6 plots. Some of us thought people could have gardens in their backyards, while others wanted to start just with the plots in our park.
Then there were a variety of tasks to accomplish — Making an 811 call to check for utilities, soil testing, planning the classes, networking with the various local farmer’s markets, discovering who in our neighborhood would be interested in having a garden, and creating forms to participate and expectations of participants. The 811 call needs to happen before we can have our area tilled and a cover crop planted for the fall.
By the end of our meeting, we agreed to have 6 plots in our park for individuals and families. We staked out the area. I agreed to go with Irene Isaacs to see the Grow Appalachia project in London, which was one of the original projects. It’s run by the Laurel County African American Heritage Center. Wayne Riley is the Site Coordinator.
Mr Riley was so helpful and had much information to share — forms, running the classes, processes, and he agreed to come to our meeting on Wednesday to answer all of our questions. He is willing to help us in any way he can.
There are many details to be worked out and this project requires great faith! From our Gospel this Sunday, we know that persistence wins out.
Enjoy the photos from Grow Appalachia in London and come join us this Wednesday, August 20, from 5:00-6:30. NOTE: The Wednesday evening service will start at 6:30 this week.
This week I will be in Corbin on Friday. My Sabbath Day will be Thursday.
Daughters of the King meets this Wednesday, August 20, 4pm. All women are invited to become part of this prayer and support ministry of St. John’s. Please see Shelia Phillips if you’d like to join. If you have special prayer requests, also let her know. We are fortunate to have this important ministry!
At the Center on Short Street, crops from the community garden are sold. Crops are also canned in the kitchen at the center. In addition to the community garden, the center’s program supports people who have gardens at their own homes.
Irene and Mr. Riley starting our tour.
Looking over towards the garden. Much of the crops are done for the summer. Fall crops will be planted soon.
View of the high tunnels.
Gallons of water feed the drip irrigation system.
High Tunnels allow planting to begin in March. They are using a drip irrigation system in the high tunnels.
Irene and Wayne Riley discussing the community garden.
The community garden’s unique water system.
That white stuff between the rows is shredded paper — keeps the weeds down.
The end of the bean crop in one of the “high tunnels”
Thursday was a perfect day to be in the park. It was cool, but not too cool. The sun was out and the sky was so blue. Before the KCEOC van even arrived, there were children waiting. Some were playing soccer and running in the park, cries of glee and having fun. The van appeared on College Street and pulled into the parking lot and the children came running and lined up…waiting.
A handwashing stand was put out (that’s what you see in this photo). The children washed their hands and received their lunches, going to the picnic tables to eat them. A total of 14 children ate lunch in St. John’s Park yesterday…. Thank you, members of St. John’s for all of your support and care of the park, providing food and joy to the children in our community.
The KCEOC van bringing lunch to the children. They are setting up a handwashing stand for the kids.
How long, O LORD?
will you forget me for ever? *
how long will you hide your face from me? Psalm 13:1
The Psalms are wonderful because they express the range of human emotions, especially in our faith life. In addition, they are old…over 2,000 years old. They are ancient writings, yet still so accessible to us today…so universally understood.
Do you have those days or times in your life when God seems absent? The times when you just can’t seem to find God? They are tough times, aren’t they? And they can seem to go on forever. What do we do?
Well, even when your faith is low, remember there is a community praying for you and thinking of you. Rely on the church community. Others’ faith can carry you through. Also, keep doing those things you have been taught good Christians do. Continue to follow Jesus’ teaching. Continue to pray however you can. Continue to be with the community of Christ.
The end of the Psalm contains words of hope. Even in our despair. Even when we feel God has abandoned us, we keep acting in faith on the promises of God’s love.
Blessings as you finish your week!
Love, Rebecca+
Rebecca’s Schedule: Next week, I will be in Corbin on Thursday, July 3, and my Sabbath day will be Saturday, July 5. You can get a message to me by calling the church office at 606-528-1659 or priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org.
This Sunday we commemorate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride Month: The altar frontal and candles are in the rainbow colors of LGBT pride – red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet. June is Pride month. The month was chosen because of the June 28, 1969 historic Stonewall uprising in New York City. Our liturgy today reminds us of the diversity within our Episcopal Church.
The parking lot was sealed and repainted last week. Did you notice? Thanks to Donna Goff for paying for this to be done and to Michael Goff who did the work!
Thanks to everyone who assisted with Wednesdays in the Park, especially hot dog griller, Elmer Parlier! We had a variety of programs thanks to Knox County Extension, Doug Thelen, and Ken Phillips.
Lunch for kids this summer. The church park is a feeding site for KCEOC’s summer child lunch program. A truck distributes lunch from 11:20-11:35am, Monday through Friday to children 18 and under. Thanks to all of the church members who distributed door flyers last Sunday and to Anne Day Davis for creating and printing them. We’ve had 4-5 young people each day our first week. Continue to get the word out. KCEOC would like 10-15 children each day.
Pot Luck Sunday: This Sunday is our monthly pot luck. All are welcome. Stay and enjoy the food and fellowship.
Adult Forum: This summer and early fall, we will discuss a portion of the Gospel of Matthew. We will follow our Gospel lectionary, discussing the following week’s Gospel – Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30.
United Thank Offering (UTO): is a ministry of the Episcopal Church for the mission of the whole church. Our ingathering of your UTO offerings will be today. The UTO Boxes will be gathered and brought forward with the offering.
Grow Appalachia: The Vestry voted to move ahead with this project. As we continue to work on this project, let the members of Vestry know your questions. Their website ishttp://www.berea.edu/grow-appalachia/
Serving Our Neighbors – See baskets in the parlor.
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Join us this Wednesday, May 28, from 4:30-6:00pm for a “4-H Day of Play.” Lots of fun activities, games, and grilled hot dogs!
I will enter your house with burnt-offerings
and will pay you my vows, *
which I promised with my lips
and spoke with my mouth when I was in trouble. Psalm 66:12
How often do we use God as our personal “911” call? We call upon God when we’re in trouble. We bargain with God, as if that were possible. “God, give me this and I’ll promise to do that.” Well, we’re in good company. We as humans have been behaving like this for thousands of years.
The best part is that God forgives us. God accepts us and whatever we’ve vowed. The challenge is to build our relationship regardless of what is going on with us. To build our relationship with God when times are good and when times are challenging.
One way is to consistently be part of the community of St. John’s with regular gathering on Sundays, Wednesday evenings and various activities.
Blessings as you finish your week!
Love, Rebecca+
Rebecca’s Schedule: Next week, I will be in Corbin on Thursday, May 29th and my Sabbath day will be Friday, May 30th. You can get a message to me by calling 859 -429-1659 or priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org.
Adult Forum: Our series on Resurrection Living continues this week.
Cookout Lunch Sunday: Stay after church for a picnic lunch of hot dogs, chips, and coleslaw and fellowship..
Wednesdays in the Park: Join us each Wednesday through June 25 for hot dogs and fun. This Wednesday, May 28, Renata Farmer will come from Agricultural Extension to do a “4-H Day of Play” for youth. She will be here from 4:30-6pm.
Pulpit Exchange June 1: On Sunday, June 1, The Rev. Peter Doddema, of St. Phillip’s Episcopal Church, Harrodsburg, will be the celebrant at our service. He will offer an instructed Eucharist. I will be at his church that morning.
We’re buying goats: The Lazarus at the Gates Adult Forum study has prompted us to purchase goats through Episcopal Relief and Development for families in the Philippines. Goats provide milk, cheese, and manure for farming. Donations towards the $80 purchase of each goat can be made through the goat bank in the parish hall or in the offering plate clearly marked ERD goat project.
United Thank Offering (UTO): is a ministry of the Episcopal Church for the mission of the whole church. Our ingathering of your UTO offerings will be today. The UTO Boxes will be gathered and brought forward with the offering.
Grow Appalachia: The Vestry voted to move ahead with this project. As we continue to work on this project, let the members of Vestry know your questions. Their website ishttp://www.berea.edu/grow-appalachia/
Serving Our Neighbors – See baskets in the parlor.
We had a wonderful baby shower today for Maura Love. Her little baby boy is due May 31. First she will graduate from Whitley high this Saturday. Congratulations and blessings to Maura. Prayers for her in all that is to come.
Mother and daughter with the gifts for baby
Football!
Lovely table, great food, fellowship and presents!
We have a number of prayer requests: For the repose ofthe soul of Dalton Christophe Brewer and his family. Mr Brewer died yesterday. He was well known by June van Gorder and was the grandson of Fay Brewer. For Elizabeth Lunsford, mother of Rick Lunsford who is a director at Everlasting Arms. Elizabeth had been to our church. She is in Lexingtonnin the hospital and goingback into surgery this evening. For baby Ozzy at 11am Friday morning when doctors and family will meet to see if there is any more that can be done to help him. His family is asking for prayer. Rebecca+