Category Archives: Rev. Rebecca’s Reflections

Well Done! (Sermon) November 16, 2014

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Sermon – November 16, 2014

The Rev. Rebecca S. Myers, CSW

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Corbin, KY

23rd Sunday after Pentecost Year A Proper 28 Track 1

`Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ Matthew 25:21

Please be seated.

I think I’ve talked to you about Betsy, the woman I worked for before I went to seminary.  I thought about her again as I pondered this Gospel for today.  While I’ve been fortunate to have many good people overseeing my work career, I do think my favorite was Betsy.

When I went to work for Betsy, I was 49, so not young in my work career; however, Betsy pointed out so many talents I never acknowledged I had.  I learned I love to do historical research, so Betsy often asked me to do that and then to put the words together to draft a speech for her.  I learned I loved being a speechwriter!

During one of those wonderful employee evaluations, Betsy told me I was a good writer.  Now I do love words and putting them together and I’ve written a lot in my career.  I know I can write a sentence that is grammatically correct and gets a point across.  But Betsy said I was not only a good writer, but that I should do more writing and more writing that would be published.  She gave me plenty of opportunities to work on projects that were published, including co-writing a chapter for the Oxford Textbook of Palliative Social Work.  And just yesterday, I received a copy of the latest book with a chapter I co-wrote:  Hope Matters:  The Power of Social Work, as well as a galley proof of another article that will be published soon in a religious journal.

And Betsy told me I “connected the dots” between people, ideas and organizations in ways she had never seen, so she created a job for me where that’s what I did.  And I loved it.  I knew I was a connecter and I knew I liked that, but I hadn’t understood that I was unique in seeing how things were connected.

Betsy saw my skills and abilities and gave me every chance to use them.  She also gave me helpful information about myself for every task I’ve taken on since that time.  I hope you’ve had a person like Betsy or people like her in your life.

And in today’s Gospel, we hear a parable of the master who leaves his property in the care of his servants.  This master knows his servants well and gives to each one the amount appropriate to their skill and ability.  But one of the servants was afraid of the master, so did not use what was given to him, but buried it in the ground, which incited the anger of the master.

God has given each of us various skills and abilities and expects us to use them for building up God’s Kingdom here on earth… for being Christ to the world.  We are not supposed to bury our skills and abilities, hiding them from the world!

I know it’s tough.  We’ve been taught not to boast and to try to be humble.  There is a line between boasting and stating the facts.  In order to not be boastful, we tend to hide our skills and abilities.  We don’t want to cross that line.

But God gave us those skills and abilities so we could do good in the world…so we could bring the Kingdom of God to fruition here and now.  Our skills and abilities are needed not only in all of our personal endeavors and relationships – our vocation, our family, our friends – but also the Christian community of St. John’s needs our skills and abilities.  There are some things in bringing about the Kingdom of God that must be done by a community – that we could not make happen as individuals.

When two or more are gathered together in God’s name, God is in the midst of us, we say in the Prayer of St. Chrysostom.  In some places, people can support their own chapels, but most of us need a community to provide a place of meeting, where we can gather, study and pray together.  When we pool our resources together, we have a choir, an altar guild, adult forum, learning for children.  We can provide a place for children to eat lunch during the summer.  We can share our joys and our burdens.  We can have a community who loves us, remembers us, and prays for us.

In a few minutes, we will have our Annual meeting.  I’m told people don’t come to church for the Annual Meeting.  We don’t always like the facts and business side of our life together, do we?  And we know a piece of the Annual Meeting involves talking about our money and the money we’d like to have towards making real the vision for the Christian community of St. John’s.

But just like our Gospel today…our master has left us with all of the resources we need to grow, and expand the Kingdom of God.  We have the time, talent and treasure of each of us.  Our annual meeting is the time each year when the master returns home to see what we’ve done with what we’ve been given.  Have we used our time, talent and treasure to increase the presence of Christ in this region or have we just buried our time, talent and treasure in the ground and hidden it from view?

God has given us everything we need and God demands a return equal to what has been given to us.  Let’s work together so we can hear God say to us, `Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

 Amen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Week (November 16) at St. John’s

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Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

This is our Collect of the Day for Sunday.  I heard it often during my seminary education as the opening prayer for various classes.

All holy Scripture is written for our learning!  And most of us know we’re never really done learning from Scripture.

We ask God to grant us wisdom in learning for scripture. Then certain behaviors are listed.  We hear Scripture each week during our various services.  In hearing the scripture, we have a chance to experience it anew.

And there are many resources that help us to read Scripture regularly.  There are the Forward Day By Day booklets available to you in the parish hall.  Each day, the daily readings are listed.  You’ll find the Daily readings listed in the Book of Common Prayer.   Look at the Daily Office Lectionary beginning on page 934.  Over two years, you will have read the Bible.  The Bible Challenge takes you through the Bible in a year with a meditation for each day and a prayer.

Now, it took me some time to actually “mark” in my Bible.  The pages seemed so sacred to me that I didn’t want to mark them up.  But it’s important to mark up our Bibles with our favorite passages and various notes.  It’s interesting to go back and look at our markings.

Then we plead with God to “inwardly digest” the Scripture.  Yes, we can do all of that work of study, but then the learnings must be seared in our hearts and direct our ministry and the way we live our lives.

My prayer is that we all may deepen our learning from Scripture!

Blessings as you finish your week!

Love, Rebecca+

Bulletin 11-16-2014

News & Notes

Rebecca’s Schedule: Rebecca will be at St. Agnes’ House Monday, November 16, through Thursday, November 20. Her Sabbath Day will be Friday, November 21. You can get a message to her by calling the church office at 606-528-1659 or by e-mailing priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org

Weekday Morning Eucharist will be available Wednesday, December 3, 9am, in the Sanctuary. 

Adult Forum: The Adult Forum meets each Sunday at 10:00 am in the Parish Hall. This Sunday, we’ll be looking at planning our funerals.  Vicky Prince from Hospice of the Bluegrass will be with us Nov. 23, to discuss how to talk to your family about your end-of-life wishes.

Sunday School – Godly Play: The Godly Play program for children is offered each Sunday morning at 10:00 am. All children are invited to participate in this special form of spiritual development.

Thankoffering Sunday is this Sunday, November 16.  Put your Thankoffering boxes in the offering plate and pick up another one for the spring ingathering.

Daughters of the King meets the third Wednesday of each month at 4:30pm.  The next meeting is November 19. If you have special prayer requests or would like to join this prayer ministry, please contact Shelia Phillips.

Game Night, Friday, November 21, 6:30-8:30.  Pizza provided.  Bring your favorite drink.  The Young Adults of the church are hosting a game night!  Let Blythe Swinford, TJ or Jason Beams-Jackson, or James Partin know what card and board games you’d like to play!  Everyone is invited!

We will celebrate Native American Heritage Month at our service on Sunday, November 23.  Ken and Shelia Phillips will lead our observance.  We are reminded that the worship of The Episcopal Church is in many languages and traditions each and every week of the year.

Advent Lessons and Carols, November 30, 4pm.  Begin Advent with this special evening service of Scripture and hymns

Chocolate Fest, Saturday, December 6, 9am – 3pm.  If you can contribute something to the fest, please turn in your donation form by November 23.

Rotary Club of Corbin is collecting 500 new winter coats, especially for boys and girls ages 3-9.  Coats will be distributed at the Empty Stocking Fund party on December 22.  If you’d like to donate a coat, bring it to church and give it to Rebecca.  You can also make a financial contribution to Empty Stocking Fund and give it to Rebecca.

Kroger Rewards: St. John’s is now registered with the Kroger Community Rewards Program. Please register your Kroger card at http://krogercommunityrewards.com . Our NPO number is 47782.

The Vestry has voted to donate $25 each month to Everlasting Arm Homeless Shelter. If you’d like to contribute, put your donations in the collection box by the guest register or mark your donation and put it in the collection plate.

Thank you to the 20 families and individuals who have made pledges totaling $35,012 towards the mission and ministry of St. John’s Church in 2015.  If you haven’t done so, you can still make a commitment to this mission and ministry by placing a pledge card in the offering plate.

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.

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 spring.

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.

 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.

Preparing for the Kingdom of God (Sermon) November 9, 2014

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Sermon – November 9, 2014

The Rev. Rebecca S. Myers, CSW

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Corbin, KY

22nd Sunday after Pentecost Year A Proper 27 Track 1

Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. Matthew 25:13

Please be seated.

Recently, I was looking through some old photographs.  Yes, actual photographs.  Unfortunately, I was not a good cataloguer of my photos.  I didn’t always write the date on them and I didn’t put them in albums in chronological order and many times, I got duplicate photos then stuck them in different albums!  I’m so grateful that we now have online archives of digital photos and computers that somehow know when the photos were taken!

So, I was looking through album after album, remembering the process of taking the photos, using up the roll of film, taking it to be developed, maybe even to a 1-hour processor, and then getting them back, and finally seeing if they were any good or not.

Then I saw it.  I had forgotten I took the photos of the event, but it is seared in my mind as a place and time when I got a glimpse of the Kingdom of God here on earth.  It is a photo of a diverse group of people…diverse in culture, gender orientation and age.  We are sitting around some tables having dinner and conversation and plenty of fun.

I looked closely at the photo from the early 1990s.  I did know most of the people and am still in touch with many of them.  But some have died.  I couldn’t remember the name of the restaurant, although I remember a lot about the owner, whose name I’ve also forgotten.  I didn’t even remember what time of year it was or why we were there.  But I clearly remembered it as a glimpse of the Kingdom of God.

Why is that?  Because there were so many things in that group that could have divided us…could have kept us separate.  Things like race, culture, class, age, sexual orientation.  Yet, we were together and having fun and so grateful for our friendship.  I just knew and know the Kingdom God is like that.

In today’s readings, we are asked first of all in Joshua, to choose the God we will serve.  Last week I asked you what makes you cling to Jesus, despite the challenges of being a Christian.  Now this week, you are asked to be clear about whether you will serve God or whether you will serve other things in your life that you think are God?  Will you serve your own pride and ego?  Will you serve money?  Will you serve property?  Or will you serve the God of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca…the God whose Son, Jesus Christ came to live and die as one of us?

If you will serve the God of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, the Father of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, then in the Gospel of Matthew you are told to “Be Prepared” for the coming of the Kingdom of God!  Those of you who were members of the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts will remember those words!

Always be prepared.  Always be prepared for the Kingdom of God!  So how do we prepare for the Kingdom of God that we’ve never seen?  Jesus did give us some hints.  The Kingdom of God will be filled with all kinds of people, especially those we least expect.  Remember Jesus found that the outcasts of his day…the marginalized of his day…the tax collectors, the women, the prostitutes, the Gentiles…were the very ones who believed in him…believed in his message…and changed how they lived their lives.  Having oil in our lamps…Being prepared and awake…means that we look around us and see how our relationship is with those people today who are marginalized or on the fringes.  Does our church look like the Kingdom of God because all people are active members of our body?

Jesus said we are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.  So at the heart of the Kingdom of God is love.  Do we love ourselves?  Do we forgive ourselves?  Do we learn from our mistakes, ask forgiveness and move on?  Or are we constantly abusing ourselves?  Having oil in our lamps means that we love ourselves, faults and all.

And what about our neighbor?  Are we judgmental, rather than using good judgment?  Do we work so that all of our neighbors have what they need to live a good life or are we just concerned with ourselves and our family?  Having oil in our lamps means that we love our neighbors.

So, choose this day whom you will serve, and then Be Prepared…keep awake…have enough oil in your lamps, because the Kingdom of God is amazing and you won’t want to miss it!

Amen

This Sunday (November 9, 2014) at St. John’s

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We will recount to generations to come
the praiseworthy deeds and the power of the LORD, *
and the wonderful works he has done. Psalm 78:4

Who told you about Jesus Christ?  Someone told you, maybe your parents…maybe a friend… maybe a book…maybe reading the Bible.  Someone “recounted the praiseworthy deeds and the power of the LORD,” to you.  And that person heard it from someone and on and on back 2,000 years!  That’s a lot of people telling other people, isn’t it?

To whom have you told the story?  Maybe you live the story and are an example of the Christian life to others.  Maybe you’ve invited someone to church.  Maybe you’ve actually stood up in front of a group and told your story.  Maybe you’re more of a  one-on-one person.  Maybe you’ve written your story.

Imagine how your life would be if no one had recounted the story of God to you….  Keep finding ways to tell the story so generations to come will know of the wonderful works God has done!

Blessings as you finish your week!

Love, Rebecca+

Bulletin 11-9-2014

Rebecca’s Schedule: Rebecca will be at St. John’s Tuesday, November 11, through Thursday, November 13. Her Sabbath Day will be Monday, November 10 and Friday November 14. You can get a message to her by calling the church office at 606-528-1659 or by e-mailing priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org

Please prayerfully consider the gifts God has given you that you will give back to St. John’s for Christ’s ministry and mission during 2015.  We continue to accept pledge cards as the finance committee works to prepare for our November 16 Annual Meeting and adoption of the 2015 budget.

This Sunday, with prayers and thanks, we remember all of those who have served our country in the Armed Forces.  W

Silvestre Alaniz, Army, 2008-present
John Echols, Air Force, 2001-present

Jason Beams-Jackson                                 Leslie Carter
Larry Conley                                              James L. Disney
Ed Van Gorder                                            Joseph Justice
Taylor Justice                                             Calvin C. Moore, Jr.
Elmer Parlier                                              Ken Phillips
Don Sullivan                                              Cecil E. Davis
Lamar, R. Jones                                          Fred Mainord
Richard Swinford                                        Gary Snider
Jim Weaver                                                 Otto Goff
Ralph Goff                                                  Bobby Phillips
Victor Jordan                                             Glenn Campbell
AJ Jones                                                      Tom Terry
Bill Wiser

Annual Meeting, Sunday, November 16, with pot luck to follow!

Our Annual Meeting will be held Sunday, November 16.  We will elect new people to Vestry, as well as Delegates to the 2015 Diocesan Convention.  We will pass the 2015 budget.

Nominees for a 3-year term on Vestry are:
Billy Hibbitts
Mary Swinford

Nominees for 2015 Diocesan Convention are:
Bruce Cory
Steve Gilbert
Amber Hibbitts
Billy Hibbitts
Alternate:  Gay Nell Conley

Nominations can also be made during the Annual Meeting.

Who are the Members of St. John’s Church?
According to the Constitutions and Canons of The Episcopal Church, 2012, the following is a definition of a Member in Good Standing.  This is from Title I, Canon 17, Sections 2(a) and 3, (Pg 57):

Sec. 2(a) All members of this Church who have received Holy Communion in this Church at least three times during the preceding year are to be considered communicants of this Church.

Sec. 3. All communicants of this Church who for the previous year have been faithful in corporate worship, unless for good cause prevented, and have been faithful in working, praying, and giving for
the spread of the Kingdom of God, are to be considered communicants in good standing.

Weekday Morning Eucharist will be available Wednesday, November 12, 9am, in the Sanctuary. 

Adult Forum: The Adult Forum meets each Sunday at 10:00 am in the Parish Hall. Next Sunday’s session will focus on end-of-life issues.

Sunday School – Godly Play: The Godly Play program for children is offered each Sunday morning at 10:00 am.  All children are invited to participate in this special form of spiritual development.

Addiction and Grace, a service for people affected by addiction, will be held at Christ Church Cathedral on Sunday, November 9, 3:00pm.  If you’d like to carpool to this service in Lexington, see Blythe Swinford.

The Second Diocesan Ministry Fair will be held Saturday, November 15 at Emmanuel Church, Winchester, 8:30am – 4:30pm.  Keynote speaker is The Rev. Stuart Hoke, Th.D.  He will speak on the church’s role in addiction recovery.  Cost is $20.  Forms are on the bulletin board and online registration is at www.diolex.org.

Thankoffering Sunday will be November 16.  Please bring your United Thankoffering boxes to church that day.

The Communitywide Thanksgiving Service will be held on Monday, November 17, 7pm, Freedom Point Church of God, 472 N Hwy 1223.

Game Night, Friday, November 21, 6:30-8:30.  Pizza provided.  Bring your favorite drink.  The Young Adults of the church are hosting a game night!  Let Blythe Swinford, TJ or Jason Beams-Jackson, or James Partin know what card and board games you’d like to play!  Everyone is invited!

We will celebrate Native American Heritage Month at our service on Sunday, November 23.  Ken and Shelia Phillips will lead our observance.  We are reminded that the worship of The Episcopal Church is in many languages and traditions each and every week of the year.

Chocolate Fest, Saturday, December 6, 9am – 3pm.  If you can contribute something to the fest, please turn in your donation form by November 23.

Rotary Club of Corbin is collecting 500 new winter coats, especially for boys and girls ages 3-9.  Coats will be distributed at the Empty Stocking Fund party on December 22.  If you’d like to donate a coat, bring it to church and give it to Rebecca.  You can also make a financial contribution to Empty Stocking Fund and give it to Rebecca.

Two furnaces replaced, 1 more to go!  The furnace located in the sacristy and the one in the closet in the parish hall have been replaced.  Thanks so much to all who donated!  Now we need to replace the furnace in the rectory. Cost is just under $1,700 for a furnace that will also be more energy efficient. Donations for the furnace can be put in the box on the table in the parlor.

Kroger Rewards: St. John’s is now registered with the Kroger Community Rewards Program. Please register your Kroger card at http://krogercommunityrewards.com . Our NPO number is 47782.

The Vestry has voted to donate $25 each month to Everlasting Arm Homeless Shelter. If you’d like to contribute, put your donations in the collection box by the guest register or mark your donation and put it in the collection plate.

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.

 

 

Cling to Jesus (Sermon) November 2, 2014

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Sermon – November 2, 2014

The Rev. Rebecca S. Myers, CSW

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Corbin, KY

All Saints Day (Transferred) Year A

See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. 1 John 3:1

 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven…. Matthew 5:11-12

Please be seated.

I don’t know how many of you were here the other Wednesday night when Tom talked about the difficulties of Christians in Pakistan.  I was sorry to miss it.  Tom gave me the information he passed out and he’s sent me various articles and emails about the situation.  In an October 17 Washington Post article, In Expansive Pakistan, Christians struggle to find space for cemeteries, reporter Tim Craig describes the life for Christians, who are 5.5% of the population.  Listen to this:

“In this tiny village [Torey Wala] where most homes don’t have windows and meals are cooked over fire pits, Christians are used to feeling like second-class citizens.

 Christians say they earn less than $2 a day working in the sugarcane fields. They must shop at the sparsely stocked Christian-run rice and vegetable store. They are not allowed to draw water from wells tapped for Muslim neighbors. Now, in what many consider to be a final indignity, they and other Pakistani Christians are struggling to bury their dead.”

Tom has been involved in supporting a family of 8 Christians, who fled from Pakistan to Thailand after protesting the imprisonment of a fellow Christian, 50 year-old Asia Bibi.  Ms. Bibi has been in prison for over five years, charged with blasphemy against Allah.  She was sentenced to death.  She lost her most recent appeal on October 16.

Now, certainly there have been times in the history of Christianity where people of different beliefs have been persecuted and killed, so it’s not that we are free as a faith from this kind of action.  However, what I thought about on this All Saints Day…what I think about any time I’ve read about the martyrs of our faith… is the depth of faith of these people and what about following Jesus is better than life itself and would I be as faithful as the many Christians around the world who are so persecuted and abused?

Because, really, it’s not all that easy to follow Jesus for many of us in places where we face little persecution for our faith.  Jesus says we must forgive, 70 times 7!  Forgiving others is not easy, even though it’s healthy.  We’d rather plot our revenge against the other person.  We’d rather prove how right we are. We’d rather hold on to “they dun us wrong,” than let go and be in peace.

Following Jesus confronts us with our earthly desires and worldliness.  How much is enough?  Are we too attached to our possessions?  Are we greedy?  What about our money?  Over and over again, we are challenged to examine the way we live our lives.

Jesus also gave preferential treatment to those who were marginalized during his time, to those who were not considered in the mainstream or dominant culture.  And that is true today.  Following Christ means listening to the voices of those who are the outcasts of today…those living in poverty, those whose cultures are considered “minority.”  In Luke 4:21, Jesus told the people of Nazareth he came to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah:

 The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. (Luke 4:18-19)

 And in our Episcopal denomination, we are asked to live into our Baptismal covenant, which is truly a summary of what it means to follow Christ.  On pages 304 and 305 in the Book of Common Prayer we are asked to:

  • Continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers
  • Persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever we fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord
  • Proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ
  • Seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbor as ourselves
  • Strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being

Quite a tall order to live by, isn’t it?

And then there’s so much required of us in reconciling the beliefs and understandings of thousands of years ago with our current times.

And yet, in many places in the world, people hear the Good News and they cling to Jesus.  They cling to Jesus, even if it means they will die for their belief.  They cling to Jesus even if it means they will be discriminated against, given the lowest paying jobs or maybe no job at all.  They cling to Jesus even if it means they must flee from their homes.  What about following Jesus is so necessary…as necessary for life as the air we breathe?

In today’s readings, we have that beautiful one from Revelation, a glorious vision of heaven and we can see our loved ones right there at the feet of Jesus, can’t we?

For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Rev. 7:15-17

It’s such a comforting and wonderful vision.  Maybe this is one reason why we Christians cling to Jesus.

Then in 1 John, we hear that we are children of God.

See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. 1 John 3:1

We know and experience God as our parent, the perfect parent, another comforting vision and reason we as Christians cling to Jesus.

The heart of following Jesus is all about love.  Jesus puts it so simply.  We just heard it last week in our Gospel from Matthew, when the Pharisees tried to trip up Jesus.  Which commandment is the greatest, they ask?  And Jesus replies, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.”  And then he says the second most important commandment is similar to the first, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  (Matthew 22:34-46)  This love Jesus describes and calls us to, is the very breath of our lives.  Without this linchpin, life just isn’t worth living.

And there is mercy and forgiveness.  Living into our baptismal covenant, living into the two most important commandments, is not easy for us.  But over and over again, we are forgiven and God shows mercy to us.  God still loves us.  Paul told us that in his letter to the Romans (8:39),

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

 Those saints who have gone before knew in their souls what it was about following Jesus that was life itself.  Those like Asia Bibi and the Gill Family, experiencing persecution and exile for following Jesus demand that we feel in our very bones what following Jesus means to our lives.  They demand that we know why we cling to Jesus. It is the least we can do in return for God’s love of us, claiming us as children.

Amen

This Sunday (November 2) at St. John’s

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Taste and see that the LORD is good; *
happy are they who trust in him! Psalm 34:8

This Sunday we remember all of the saints, living and dead.  Yes, we are saints, too, here on earth.  And there are those who are no longer with us.  It’s important to take the time to remember them, because they showed us by their very lives that God is good.  They showed us what is meant to trust in God.  They showed us the joy that comes when we trust in God.

Now, it’s our turn to be that example and guide for others.  It’s not always easy.  We think happy means we are never down or sad.  But happiness more connotes peace…the peace that comes from knowing we are grounded in our faith and grounded in God.  There is serenity.  Even when lots is happening around is, we rest in the assurance that God is good and we can trust in that.

Blessings as you finish your week!

Love, Rebecca+

November 2 bulletin

News & Notes
Rebecca’s Schedule: Rebecca will be at St. Agnes’ House Monday, November 3, through Thursday, November 6. Her Sabbath Day will be Friday, November 7. You can get a message to her by calling the church office at 606-528-1659 or by e-mailing priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org

Weekday Morning Eucharist will be available Wednesday, November 12, 9am, in the Sanctuary.

Adult Forum: The Adult Forum meets each Sunday at 10:00 am in the Parish Hall. This Sunday we will conclude our series on Living with Money.   Next Sunday’s session will focus on end-of-life issues.

Godly Play: The Godly Play program is for children and is offered each Sunday morning at 10:00 am. All children are invited to participate in this special form of spiritual development.

Worship Committee will meet this Sunday, November 2, after church.

The Diocesan Budget Committee will be at St. John’s on Wednesday, November 5, 7-8:30pm to talk about the 2015 Diocesan Budget. Come meet the Committee, ask questions and learn where our collective dollars go.

Belk Charity Sales Day: The annual Belk Charity Sales day will be Saturday, November 8, 6-10am. Members of St. John’s are selling tickets for $5.00 for this special event. The church keeps the $5.00 and for each ticket you receive $5.00 off an item. If you can help, please contact June.

Addiction and Grace, a service for people affected by addiction, will be held at Christ Church Cathedral on Sunday, November 9, 3:00pm.  If you’d like to car pool to the service, see Blythe Swinford.

On November 9, we will honor our members who are veterans of the Armed Forces. To have a name read at the service, please place it in the offering plate or leave a message on the church phone or email webmaster@stjohnscorbin.org by November 2.

Youth grades 10-12 are invited to Happening at Cathedral Domain from 6:30pm Friday, November 14 until Sunday, 5:00pm. See Rebecca for more information.

The Second Diocesan Ministry Fair will be held Saturday, November 15 at Emmanuel Church, Winchester, 8:30am – 4:30pm. Keynote speaker is The Rev. Stuart Hoke, Th.D. He will speak on the church’s role in addiction recovery. Cost is $20. Forms are on the bulletin board and online registration is at www.diolex.org.

Our Annual Meeting and Potluck will be held on Sunday, November 16. We will pass a 2015 budget, vote for new Vestry members to begin their terms on January 1, and vote for Delegates to the Diocesan Convention in February.

Thankoffering Sunday will be November 16. Please bring your United Thankoffering boxes to church that day.

The Communitywide Thanksgiving Service will be held on Monday, November 17, 7pm, Freedom Point Church of God, 472 N Hwy 1223.

St. John’s Game Night, Friday, November 21, 6:30 – 8:30.  Pizza provided.  Bring your own drink.  The young adults in the parish are hosting a game night.  If you have a favorite card or board game that you’d love to play, let Jason or TJ Beams-Jackson, Les Carter, James Partin or Blythe Swinford know.  Everyone is invited!

We will celebrate Native American Heritage Month at our service on Sunday, November 23. Ken and Shelia Phillips will lead our observance. We are reminded that the worship of The Episcopal Church is in many languages and traditions each and every week of the year.

Chocolate Fest, Saturday, December 6, 9am – 3pm. If you can contribute something to the fest, please turn in your donation form by November 23.

Rotary Club of Corbin is collecting 500 new winter coats, especially for boys and girls ages 3-9. Coats will be distributed at the Empty Stocking Fund party on December 22. If you’d like to donate a coat, bring it to church and give it to Rebecca. You can also make a financial contribution to Empty Stocking Fund and give it to Rebecca.

Two furnaces replaced, 1 more to go! The furnace located in the sacristy has been replaced and funds received for the second furnace. Thanks so much to all who donated! Now we need to replace the furnace in the rectory. Cost is just under $1,700 for a furnace that will also be more energy efficient. Donations for the furnace can be put in the box on the table in the parlor.

Kroger Rewards: St. John’s is now registered with the Kroger Community Rewards Program. Please register your Kroger card at http://krogercommunityrewards.com . Our NPO number is 47782.

The Vestry has voted to donate $25 each month to Everlasting Arm Homeless Shelter. If you’d like to contribute, put your donations in the collection box by the guest register or mark your donation and put it in the collection plate.

Please prayerfully consider the gifts God has given you that you will give back to St. John’s for Christ’s ministry and mission during 2015. Pledge cards should be returned this Sunday to prepare for our November 16 Annual Meeting and adoption of the 2015 budget.

My church is composed of people like me. I help make it what it is. It will be friendly, if I am. Its pews will be filled, if I help fill them. It will do great work, if I work. It will make generous gifts to many causes, if I am a generous giver. It will bring other people into its worship and fellowship, if I invite and bring them. It will be a church of loyalty and love, of fearlessness and faith, and a church with a noble spirit, if I, who make it what it is, am filled with these same things. Therefore, with the help of God, I shall dedicate myself to the task of being all the things that I want my church to be. Amen Archdiocese of Rochester

Serving Our Neighbors – See baskets in the parlor.
Everlasting Arm, 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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Seeing with our eyes, but not crossing over (Sermon) October 26, 2014

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Sermon – October 26, 2014

The Rev. Rebecca S. Myers, CSW

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Corbin, KY

Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost (Proper 25) Track 1

The LORD said to him, “This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, `I will give it to your descendants’; I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not cross over there.” Deuteronomy 34:4

 Please be seated.

Recently, my children, Scot and Carrie and I had the opportunity to tell someone how much they meant to us and how they affected our lives.  It was my second husband, Fred’s, birthday and his wife Daphne asked for people to send photos and memories to Fred to celebrate his birthday.  Fred is in treatment for some pretty serious cancer and Daphne thought the memories and photos would be fun for Fred.

So often in life we do the best we can, don’t we?  Sometimes we know when we are doing something that someone appreciates and other times, we never know.  I know there are many ways that my life is different because Fred was so supportive of the things I wanted to do in life.  Even though we divorced, I am grateful for the part he played in my life.  I am also grateful for the ways he was a father to my two children.

How wonderful to see the words my children wrote on Fred’s Facebook page.  Scot wrote:

“Thank you for everything that you have done for me. Thank you for all of the trips to the crazy places that I never wanted to go to, but I was always glad I went. Thanks for the trips down to the 7 Eleven where I could NEVER make up my mind. Thank you for letting me play poker before it was the cool thing to do. Thank you for bringing me on the camping trip to find the next place to have the next 4th fest. And especially thanks for stepping up and being my father when you didn’t have to!”

Carrie wrote:  “You chose to be a father to Scot Brown and I; you helped raise us and loved us and hold us in your heart. I’m sure there were times we didn’t make it easy for you, but you didn’t let go. I remember you telling me that I was so good at science and math that I better find a career in it. And look at me now  I teach science! You helped shuttle me around to dance recitals, choir recitals, band practices, parades, and events. … I’ve tagged you in photos that I could find to help you remember all you’ve done and how much more you have left to do! Hope it’s a wonderful year full of love, health, and peace!”

To see what my children remembered and what meant so much to them…what helped them grow into the people they are today… was heartwarming for me, reminding me that we can never tell how our interactions shape the future.  Many times we never hear words as clear as those of my children to their stepfather.  Sometimes we never know.

Today in Deuteronomy, we hear how God showed Moses the Promised Land.  God called Moses to stand up to the oppressive enslavers of the Israelites, leading the people from slavery into freedom.  Then God called Moses to lead the people in the wilderness for 40 years, until new generations could be born, who could see the vision of freedom and live into the vision of freedom, not as a reaction to having been enslaved, but as an embodiment of trust in God who was with them the whole way.

But Moses was not going to lead the people into the Promised Land.  Remember how the people were wandering in the wilderness and started to complain because they had no water?  Remember how they wanted to go back to their oppressors, rather than be without water?  Well, in Numbers Chapter 20, God tells Moses God will provide water for the people.   In verse 8, God says, “Take the staff and assemble the congregation, you and your brother Aaron, and command the rock before their eyes to yield its water.”

So Moses and Aaron gather everyone together before the rock and in verse 10, Moses says, “Listen, you rebels, shall we bring water for you out of this rock?”  Then Moses strikes the rock twice.  Plenty of water comes out.  But do you see what Moses did?  Moses did not say that God would provide the water.  Moses acted like he and Aaron were going to provide the water when he said, “shall we….”  Moses confirmed his own actions by striking the rock, rather than obeying God’s instructions to command the rock to release its water.  Moses did not trust God or God’s words and did this his own way.

As a result, in verse 12, God tells Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me, to show my holiness before the eyes of the Israelites, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.”  Now, it’s nearly 40 years later and God lets Moses look upon the Promised Land, but reminds him he shall not go into the Promised Land.

And that is so true of how we are called to live our lives.  We live them in today, yet we must be ever mindful that our actions today carry on and into places we will never see.  We may be tempted to live only in the now…only in the short term…only find valuable those things whose results we can see right here and right now.

But that’s not what God requires of us.

Today is pledge Sunday when we turn in our pledges in the offering plate…when we, with God’s help and direction, say how much of what God has given to us, we will return to God for God’s work through the community of St. John’s Episcopal church.

Look at the church….  Even physically in what we can see and touch.  Who sat in that pew you were sitting in?  Someone sat there many years ago…many years before you were born, even.  Their gifts of time, talent and dollars made sure that pew is here for you today.  They could not imagine, sitting there when they did, how the church would look today or what the church would be doing today.  They could not see you…had no vision of you.  Yet, they gave, so St. John’s would be here for you.

Like Moses, we are asked to do our part…to use our talents, dollars and skills in God’s service…to lead people through the wilderness, if God asks.  This is our call…to do as much as God asks of us, knowing God may let us see it with our eyes, but not cross over there.

Amen

This Sunday (October 26) at St. John’s

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Lord, you have been our refuge *
from one generation to another. Psalm 90:1

On Tuesday, my son posted a photo of my grandson walking up to his bus stop in a lot of fog.

Walking confidently into the fog. (Photo by S. Brown)

Walking confidently into the fog. (Photo by S. Brown)

I truly love this photo, not only because I love almost anything that includes a photo of my grandson, but because of the deeper meaning (and no it’s not the Stephen King story, I’m talking about 🙂

We are familiar with lots of fog here in the region.  With fog, you can’t see too far in front of you.  You really can’t see your destination.  Sometimes as you move closer into the fog, things become a little clearer, but often not too far in front.

Now, if we’re familiar with the path or road we’re on, we may travel a bit faster to our destination.  We know the way.

I like this photo, because my grandson is walking confidently into the fog.

This Sunday we turn in our pledges.  Right now, in the end of October, we make a promise to God and to the community of St. John’s regarding our intentions to contribute to the ministry of Christ here in the region during 2015.  We do our best to return to God, what is God’s in the first place…what God gave into our care.

We can’t see what 2015 will bring.  We don’t know what will happen over the next year.  Next year is foggy to us, not clear at all.  Yet, we walk confidently…we pledge boldly, because, you see, we know the destination.  Just like the Psalmist, we know God is our refuge.  We walk confidently, because we know we walk into God’s loving arms.

Blessings as you finish your week.

Love, Rebecca+

I will be at St. John’s this week,Wednesday through Friday.  My Sabbath Days will be Monday and Tuesday.  You can get a message to her by calling the church office at 606-528-1659 or priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org.

Please prayerfully consider the gifts God has given you that you will give back to St. John’s for Christ’s ministry and mission during 2015.  Pledge cards should be returned by Sunday to prepare for our November 16 Annual Meeting and adoption of the 2015 budget.  So far, we’ve received 6 pledges for a total of $9,960.  These pledges and your gifts of time and talent sustain the Christian community of St. John’s and allow us to be Christ to our region.

Prayer of St Ignatius

God, Take and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will – all that I have and call my own.
You have given it all to me;
To you, God, I return it.
Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace.
That is enough for me.
Amen

Join me Sunday afternoon as I celebrate Eucharist at Christian Care Communities.  Elmer Parlier will be playing the guitar.  The service begins at 2:30pm and is 30-45 minutes and the residents would appreciate your attendance.

Godly Play offered for children.  All children are invited to participate in this special program of spiritual development.

If you are interested in becoming a Godly Play Teacher serving when you can, plan to attend a meeting on Wednesday, October 29, at 6:30pm.

Adult Forum – The Adult Forum focus is Living with Money.

Godly Play Teachers needed.  Meeting Wednesday, October 29, 6:30pm.  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.

Weekday Morning Eucharist will be available Wednesday, October 29, 9am, in the Sanctuary. I will also celebrate on Wednesday mornings, November 12, December 3 and December 24.

Trunk or Treat, Friday, October 31.  We will be distributing candy from the church on Halloween evening.

Two furnaces replaced, 1 more to go!  The furnace located in the sacristy has been replaced and funds received for the second furnace. Thanks so much to all who donated!  Now we need to replace the furnace in the rectory. Cost is just under $1,700 for a furnace that will also be more energy efficient. Donations for the furnace can be put in the box on the table in the parlor.

The Vestry has voted to donate $25 each month to Everlasting Arm Homeless Shelter. If you’d like to contribute, put your donations in the collection box by the guest register or mark your donation and put it in the collection plate.

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 Sunday, October 26 after church. 

 All Saints Sunday, November 2.  We observe All Saints Day and will read the names of those saints close to us who have died.  To have the name of your loved one read at the service, please place it in the offering plate or leave a message on the church phone or email webmaster@stjohnscorbin.org by October 26.

Worship Committee will meet Sunday, November 2, after church. 

Chocolate Fest, Saturday, December 6, 9am – 3pm.  If you can contribute something to the fest, please turn in your donation form by November 23.

The Diocesan Budget Committee will be at St. John’s on Wednesday, November 5, 7-8:30pm to talk about the 2015 Diocesan Budget.  Come meet the Committee, ask questions and learn where our collective dollars go.

On November 9, we will honor our members who are veterans of the Armed Forces.  To have a name read at the service, please place it in the offering plate or leave a message on the church phone or email webmaster@stjohnscorbin.org by November 2.

Belk Charity Sales Day, Saturday, November 8, 6-10am.  We are selling tickets for $5.00 for this special event.  The church keeps the $5.00 and for each ticket, you receive $5.00 off an item.   We will also sell tickets on Thursday, October 2, 10am – 2pm.  If you can help, please contact June.

The Second Diocesan Ministry Fair will be held Saturday, November 15 at Emmanuel Church, Winchester, 8:30am – 4:30pm.  Keynote speaker is The Rev. Stuart Hoke, Th.D.  He will speak on the church’s role in addiction recovery.  Cost is $20.  Forms are on the bulletin board and online registration is at www.diolex.org.

Daylight Savings Time ends next Sunday, November 2.  Remember to turn your clocks back 1 hour.

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 Sunday November 16.

Youth grades 10-12 are invited to Happening at Cathedral Domain from 6:30pm Friday, November 14 until Sunday, 5:00pm.  See Rebecca for more information.

Addiction and Grace, a service for people affected by addiction, will be held at Christ Church Cathedral on Sunday, November 9, 3:00pm. A similar service will be held at Christ Church Harlan at 3pm.  Please let me know if you’d like to attend one of the services.

Thanks for the words of appreciation!

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On Friday, October 10, the Corbin Times Tribune had a Pastor Appreciation on page 12A.  Thanks to everyone who helped put that together.  I really appreciated it.  Here’s a copy of the page and the St. John’s Entry.  I know a number of people were involved, especially Laura Love, who wrote the words, and Elmer Parlier, who took the photo.

 

Thanks for this kind appreciation in the Corbin Times Tribune on October 10. I know many were involved, but only know two for sure - Laura Love and Elmer Parlier.

Thanks for this kind appreciation in the Corbin Times Tribune on October 10. I know many were involved, but only know two for sure – Laura Love and Elmer Parlier.

I was in some great company! Corbin Times Tribune October 10.

I was in some great company! Corbin Times Tribune October 10.

This Sunday (October 19) at St. John’s – Bishop Hahn will Visit

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Now if I have found favor in your sight, show me your ways, so that I may know you and find favor in your sight. Exodus 33:13

I love the story of Exodus.  Written thousands of years ago, I still see that human nature has not changed all that much.  God delivers the people from bondage and they just want to go back to being enslaved.  God shows up to Moses in a burning bush that does not burn up and all Moses can do is question God’s judgment.

And in the passage we’ll hear this Sunday, Moses is still trying to figure out who is the God.  Isn’t that so true of all of us.  We have some experiences that convince us that God exists and is present in our lives.  At other times, we have our doubts.  And here is one of the most faithful leaders chosen by God asking questions.

At least in the Episcopal Church, asking questions and expressing our doubts is considered a necessary part of our faith and our tradition.  Adult Forum is lots of fun, because we get to discuss these issues and hearing from fellow members is helpful.

So, come in your doubts and in your questioning for that is often the best path toward God.

Blessings as you finish your week!

Love, Rebecca+

Bishop Hahn visits this Sunday.  Join us for baptism, confirmation, reception and pot luck!

Bishop Hahn will be with us at Adult Forum.  He’ll preach at the service, as well as baptize, confirm, and receive new members.  After church, we’ll have our monthly pot luck.  Join us for this special day as we receive new members:

Annaliese Herzer – Baptism
Jason Beams-Jackson – confirmation
TJ Beams-Jackson – confirmation
Amber Hibbitts – Confirmation
James Partin – Reception
Tracey Herzer – Transfer
Camille Ruddick – Transfer

My Schedule
I will be at St. John’s Monday, October 20, and in Lexington on Tuesday, October 21.  My Sabbath Days will be Wednesday, October 22 – Friday, October 25, when I will be out of town.  You can get a message to me by calling the church office at 606-528-1659 or priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org.

Godly Play offered for children.  All children are invited to participate in this special program of spiritual development.

Adult Forum – The Adult Forum focus is Living with Money.  Next Sunday’s session will focus on Making Peace with Money.

The furnace located in the sacristy was replaced this week at a cost of just under $1,700.  About $1,200 was received so far.  We’ll need to replace two more furnaces over the next two years:  one that heats the parish hall and one that heats the rectory.  Donations for the furnace can be put in the box on the table in the parlor.

The Vestry has voted to donate $25 each month to Everlasting Arm Homeless Shelter. If you’d like to contribute, put your donations in the collection box by the guest register or mark your donation and put it in the collection plate.

Pot Luck Sunday:  This Sunday is our monthly pot luck.  Bring a dish or drink to share.  And all are welcome!  Plan to fellowship with each other.  Our pot luck schedule shifts in November to November 16, when we have our Annual Meeting.

 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 Diocesan Budget Committee will be at St. John’s on Wednesday, November 5, 7-8:30pm to talk about the 2015 Diocesan Budget.  Come meet the Committee, ask questions and learn where our collective dollars go.

Join Rebecca (next Sunday afternoon/this afternoon) as she celebrates Eucharist at Christian Care Communities.  Elmer Parlier will be playing the guitar.  The service begins at 2:30pm and is 30-45 minutes and the residents would appreciate your attendance.

Please prayerfully consider the gifts God has given you that you will give back to St. John’s for Christ’s ministry and mission during 2015.  Pledge cards should be returned by October 26 to prepare for our November 16 Annual Meeting and adoption of the 2015 budget.

Prayer of St Ignatius
God, Take and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will – all that I have and call my own.
You have given it all to me;
To you, God, I return it.
Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace.
That is enough for me.

Amen

Trunk or Treat, Friday, October 31.  We will be distributing candy from the church on Halloween evening.

All Saints Sunday, November 2.  We observe All Saints Day and will read the names of those saints close to us who have died.  To have the name of your loved one read at the service, please place it in the offering plate or leave a message on the church phone or email webmaster@stjohnscorbin.org by October 26.

The Diocesan Budget Committee will be at St. John’s Corbin, Wednesday evening, November 5, 7:00pm to talk about the 2015 Diocesan Budget.  Come learn how our joint contributions further God’s mission in the region.

Belk Charity Sales Day, Saturday, November 8, 6-10am.  We are selling tickets for $5.00 for this special event.  The church keeps the $5.00 and for each ticket, you receive $5.00 off an item.   We will also sell tickets on Thursday, October 2, 10am – 2pm.  If you can help, please contact June.

On November 9, we will honor our members who are veterans of the Armed Forces.  To have a name read at the service, please place it in the offering plate or leave a message on the church phone or email webmaster@stjohnscorbin.org by November 2.

Youth grades 10-12 are invited to Happening at Cathedral Domain from 6:30pm Friday, November 14 until Sunday, 5:00pm.  See Rebecca for more information.

 The Second Diocesan Ministry Fair will be held Saturday, November 15 at Emmanuel Church, Winchester, 8:30am – 4:30pm.  Keynote speaker is The Rev. Stuart Hoke, Th.D.  He will speak on the church’s role in addiction recovery.  Cost is $20.  Forms are on the bulletin board and online registration is at www.diolex.org.

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.

 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 November 16. 

 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.

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