Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions. (Mark 10:21-22)
A significant amount of ink has been poured over this passage. Does Jesus require all Christians to sell everything they have and give it to the poor? But won’t that just leave the Christians as poor themselves? St. Francis of Assisi, the late 12th/early 13th century founder of a religious order called the Order of Friars Minor (“Friars Minor” meaning “lesser/poorer brothers”), took this passage quite seriously. His new order took strict vows of poverty and relied on charity and begging for its subsistence. Does one necessarily need to give up everything? Jesus’ advice here is to a particular “rich young man” who has led a virtuous life so far. He has kept all the commandments. However, he is also quite attached to his possessions. To some extent it seems his possessions own him rather than the other way around.
How attached are we to our possessions? If we were told we had to part with everything and give it to the poor, would we be “shocked” and “grieving”? Do our possessions own us, or do we own them?
News & Notes
Pastoral Needs: If a pastoral need arises, please call the church office at 606-528-1659 and leave a message. Voicemail messages will automatically be forwarded to a member of the vestry who can arrange pastoral care. You may also contact the senior warden, Bruce W. Cory, by phone at 440-227-0035 or by e-mail at bwcory@gmail.com
Next Sunday Bishop Doug Hahn will be visiting St. John’s. We will also be celebrating the confirmations of Melinda Allen, Ward Brown, and Mike Myers.
Pot Luck Sunday: Our pot luck schedule shifts in October. The next pot luck will be next Sunday, October 18, when Bishop Doug Hahn visits.
Adult Forum: Sunday, October 18, please plan on attending the Adult Forum with Bishop Doug Hahn.
Al-Anon Family Group: An Al-Anon Family Group will meet in St. John’s Parish Hall on Tuesdays from 7-8pm.
Wednesday Fellowship: Gather at 6pm on Wednesday evenings for a service and fellowship.
Belk Charity Day Sale – The Belk Charity Day Sale is Nov. 7 from 6a m to 10 am. Tickets are $5 each and the proceeds go directly to St. John’s. The ticket then entitles you to $5 off your purchase at Belk Nov.7. Free gift cards will be given at the front entrance to the first 100 customers starting at 6 am durig the Charity Day Sale.
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.
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 Bruce know.
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.
The vestry has voted to keep a supply of 5 $20.00 Kroger gift cards each month available to distribute to people who call for food or fuel assistance. If you would like to contribute toward this outreach, please mark your contribution as “Outreach”.
The KCEOC Women’s Emergency Support Center will be holding a food drive next week October 12-16th. If you would like to donate, please drop off your donation in the KCEOC Lobby or just bring it to the shelter. Also, the shelter is currently at full capacity with women and children. Please consider bringing food items that are appealing to children, such as snacks, cereal, fruit snacks, or other items that your children enjoy, we would really appreciate it as well.
Serving Our Neighbors – See baskets in the parlor.
- Everlasting Arms, Corbin’s shelter for people who are homeless, is in need of men’s and women’s razors, gloves, deodorant and socks.
- The Food Pantry at Corbin Presbyterian Church is always in need of nonperishable food items. Vegetables are especially appreciated.
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St. John’s Statement of Inclusion
St. John’s Episcopal Church, Corbin, KY, is a proudly inclusive Christian community. All members are encouraged to participate fully in the life and leadership of the church regardless of age, race, ethnicity, culture, gender, sexual orientation, economic condition, physical or mental ability. We believe all people are created by God to model the diversity in unity which is the Holy Trinity and we seek to live out that diversity in unity within the faith community.
Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. (James 5:13)
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. (James 4:8a)
You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. (James 1:19-20)
Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away (John 6:37)
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35)
Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. (John 6:11-13)