Later this month anyone with Internet access and a computer or tablet can get free instruction on how to become a crazy Christian.

It’s a free, online class and our entire church is invited to take it.

From January 27 through February 3, the Rt. Rev. Michael Curry, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of
North Carolina, will teach The Big Class, a program of ChurchNext. The course will expand on Crazy
Christians:  A Call to Follow Jesus published by Church Publishing Inc. The book is based on  “We Need Some Crazy Christians,” a widely acclaimed sermon the bishop preached at the Episcopal
Church’s General Convention in 2012.

Bishop Curry will moderate the course and answer online questions during the week of The Big Class. Participants can take the course anytime during the week at churchnext.tv and will take 45 minutes to complete. The course need not be taken in one sitting and no special sofware is required.

The Big Class is a worldwide online course for all who want to go further in their walk with Christ, and is free to everyone, everywhere thanks to the support of Bexley Seabury, Church Publishing Inc., the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina and Forward Movement.Special materials will be available for congregations and adult education classes who desire to take the class together as part of their Epiphany season study.

“It’s exciting to see all the new ways technology is being leveraged to help folks go into a deeper awareness of and relationship with the living God,” said Bishop Curry. “Online education is an excellent example of it. It allows folks to learn, to interact, exchange ideas and, ultimately, to share what they learn with others. The process is exactly what we as Christians are called to do; an
online classroom just gives us one more way to do it.”

You can sign up right now by clicking here. https://www.churchnext.tv/school/catalog/course/how-to-be-a-crazy-christian-with-michael-curry/8188/register/

Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made.  The Collect for the Baptism of our Lord, pg 219, Book of Common Prayer

This Sunday we remember the baptism of Jesus and reaffirm our own baptismal vows.  The Collect for the Day asks God that we keep our baptismal covenant.  How many of us remember that covenant?  We hear the covenant a couple of times each year, but do we remember all that we have promised or all that we have obligated ourselves to?  Our baptismal covenant is found on pages 304-305 of the Book of Common Prayer.  In addition to the Apostles’ Creed, we are asked to do the following:

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

How are you doing in living up to this covenant?  What can you do to build upon your efforts and strengthen them?

Looking forward to Sunday when we renew our covenant and remind ourselves of the life we’ve been called to live in our baptism.

Love, Rebecca

Next week, I will be in Corbin on Thursday, January 16 and my Sabbath day will be
Wednesday, January 15. Please feel free to contact me any time, however, by calling 859 -429-1659 or priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org.

Annual Meeting Results
Congratulations to new Vestry members, Steve Gilbert and Doug Thelen.  Congratulations to convention delegates, Gay Nell Conley, Bruce Cory, John Harris and Billy Hibbitts.  Thank you for agreeing to serve.

Thanks and gratitude for outgoing Vestry members Donna Goff and Sue Weedman.

The parish passed the 2014 budget of $47,471.  Revenue will come from $6,500.00 plate; $37,800 pledges; and $3,171 special events.  The special events is a new category reflecting the Belk Charity Sale and the Chocolate Fest proceeds, as well as any other events we might decide to have over the year.  You can see a copy of the budget and Annual Meeting documents here:  http://stjohnscorbin.org/2013-annual-report-and-annual-meeting-agenda/

Adult Forum – 10:00am
Lazarus at the Gate, a series on economic discipleship continues.  This week, John Harris leads us in a discussion on wealth as a blessing. Next week, Mary Swinford will lead us in a session on Wealth Must be Justly Distributed.

Godly Play – 10:00am:
There will be Godly Play classes this Sunday. If you are interested in assisting with these classes on an occasional basis, please let Anne Day Davis or Dura Anne Price know. You will observe the classes for 4 sessions and once you have received this training,you may be called upon to assist as you are available. Let the children deepen your faith!

Pot Luck Sunday, January 26. Bring a dish or drink to share. And all are welcome! Plan to fellowship with each other. The guests at Everlasting Arms will be joining us for worship and pot luck so bring lots of your favorite dish to share.

Southeast Kentucky Ministerial Alliance (SEKMA) unity service, February 2, 3pm, Parkway Church of God.  Plan to attend this service to celebrate the unity of the Christian church in our region.  The Williamsburg and Corbin associations have joined together and are celebrating with this service.

Confirmation Classes continue on Wednesdays at 4:30pm through February 12 (except for January 29). Classes are open to everyone. On January 15, we will look at the basic theological tenets of the Episcopal Church:  The Trinity and the Creeds.  Pages 845-853 of the Book of Common Prayer:  Outline of the Faith form the basis for the discussion.  See http://www.bcponline.org/

2014 Church Calendars are available on the shelf in the parish hall. A donation of $2.00 is
suggested.

Sunday, January 12
10:00am – Adult Forum and Godly Play
11:00am – Eucharist – Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ
12:30pm – Vestry Meeting

Wednesday, January 15
4:30pm – Daughters of the King
4:30pm – Confirmation Class
6:00pm – Worship

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.

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Friends,

The Diocese of Lexington Budget Committee is asking for feedback on the 2014 budget.  We, along with all of the parishes, contribute to this budget, so it’s great to see where our contribution will be used.  You can view the budget and also provide feedback at this link.  Feedback is needed by this Friday, January 10.  http://diolex.org/blog/news/budget-2014/

Rebecca

Sermon – January 5, 2014
The Rev. Rebecca S. Myers, CSW
St. John’s Episcopal Church, Corbin
2^nd Sunday after Christmas

When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him. Matt. 2:3

Please be seated.

“How dare the Taliban take away my right to an education,” the 11-year old girl said in a speech in 2008 to the members of the Peshawar Press Club.

The British Broadcasting Company, BBC,  was covering the SWAT valley in Pakistan, which was being ruled by the Taliban and they wanted a firsthand account of what life was truly like.  The BBC thought a blog by a teenage girl would be best.  The Taliban had banned television, music, girls’ education, and women from going shopping.  The BBC approached Ziauddin Yousafzai, who operated a chain of public schools in the region and who was an education activist.  He suggested his own daughter, 11-year old Malala, but she was younger than the BBC wanted.  However, there was no one else who would take such an effort on…it was extremely dangerous.  Finally, the only choice the BBC had was 11-year old Malala.

While the Taliban rulers continued to close and destroy schools, Malala continued to attend school and to write the blog detailing the changes in her life, especially the threatened loss of her education.  Malala’s school went from 700 students to 70.  To protect her, she wrote under an assumed name, Gul Makai, meaning cornflower, a name from a Pashtun Folk Tale.  However, the Taliban discovered her identity.  

On October 9, 2012, at the age of 15, Malala was shot by a member of the Taliban.  It was a miracle she survived.  Instead of stopping her, the gunshot served to strengthen her.  Last July, on her 16^th birthday, she became the youngest person to ever speak at the United Nations.

Listen to what this fearless young leader said:

“I do not even hate the Talib who shot me. Even if there is a gun in my hand and he stands in front of me. I would not shoot him. This is the compassion that I have learnt from Muhammad-the prophet of mercy, Jesus Christ and Lord Buddha. This is the legacy of change that I have inherited from Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and Muhammad Ali Jinnah. This is the philosophy of non-violence that I have learnt from Gandhi Jee, Bacha Khan and Mother Teresa. And this is the forgiveness that I have learnt from my mother and father. This is what my soul is telling me, be peaceful and love everyone.”

At 16 Malala continues her activism, including challenging world leaders to “be peaceful and love everyone.”  Malala reminds us once again to be careful about our assumptions regarding children and the young.

In today’s Gospel, we hear about a ruler and king who was afraid of a baby. The Persian priests come to King Herod Archeleus looking for the baby who was born to be King of the Jews.  The King is frightened of this little baby and calls the chief priests and scribes to learn more about this event.  They tell him the baby was to be born in Bethlehem.  Even after receiving this information, we are told King Herod wants more information and in secret meets with the Persian priests again.  He asks the Persian priests to let him know where this baby is, so that he himself can visit.  But we know that Herod wants to hurt this baby, so the baby is no longer a threat to Herod.  King Herod’s fear of this baby seems irrational on the surface, but we know better.  

At Christmas we joy in the little baby…that God came to earth just like we all do, helpless, dependent.  But King Herod was right to be afraid of this baby, and all earthly rulers should fear this baby, because the believers in and followers of Jesus are challenging to all earthly rulers.

There are a number of reasons, including:

1.   We the body of Christ speak truth to power, no matter the cost.  That’s what Malala did and continues to do.   It is what countless others have done.  Justice must prevail.  Death is not the end…does not silence the quest for God’s justice, only strengthens it.  If the threat and fear of death cannot silence people, what is an unjust ruler to do?

2.  We the body of Christ have a different way of viewing the world.  Vaclav Havel, former President of Czechoslovakia said in a speech to the U. S. Congress, “The salvation of the world lies in the human heart.” Matter and facts are but one factor in our lives and in how we live our lives.  We do things that seem perfectly illogical, except for the voice of God speaking to us individually and collectively.    I’m sure each of you can name times you were guided by faith to do things others thought odd.  I know leaving my job and going to seminary was something even my faithful father didn’t understand at first.

3.  We the body of Christ are called to be leaders.  Yes, today at our annual meeting, we will elect certain people within our parish to be on Vestry.  The truth is, as Christians we are all called to be leaders in the sense that we use our talents to create and further the Kingdom of God.

We all have talents and skills that are necessary for God’s work to be done in this parish of St. John’s and in this City of Corbin and in this Commonwealth of Kentucky, and in this United States and in this world.  Each and every one of us.

This may change over time.  Our gifts emerge or are needed in different ways at different times; nonetheless, our skills are needed and offering them in community is an act of leadership and an act of faith.  The challenge is to hear God’s calling to us and be willing to act upon that call.

King Herod was frightened by the news of the baby born in Bethlehem.  Our leaders today are challenged by that baby born in Bethlehem.  We are challenged by that baby who becomes the man Jesus.  Our lives are changed by that baby who grows into the man Jesus.  We become people who speak truth to power, view the world from God’s lens, and are leaders with talents and skills in need of a different kind of ruler.

And in our faith, we know the truth of Paul’s prayer, uttered for us so many years ago, ringing down through the ages to our very ears and heart:

I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe. Ephesians 1:17-19a

Amen

How dear to me is your dwelling, O LORD of hosts! *
My soul has a desire and longing for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God.
Psalm 84:1

After a sermon I recently preached, a hearer came to me and demanded I tell him how I became comfortable with death of my loved ones.  In the sermon, I mentioned that my work in hospice, allowed me to be in awe and wonder at the transitory time between life and death.

“How do you ever get over it?” he persisted.  Well, I’m not sure you ever stop grieving totally.  Yes, I still miss my parents and grandparents and loved ones, but what is it that gives me such peace, I had to ask myself?

Finally, I realized it is the testimonies I have heard from those who are dying.  They see angels in their room.  They see loved ones who have died before them.  One friend, a musician, heard an angel chorus!

I shared this with the insistent hearer.  “There’s something I can’t see, but which is reassuring and beautiful.”  I have peace that my loved ones are there.  And my loved ones are in my heart forever.

Psalm 84 describes this place and one of my favorite pieces of music is this Psalm from Brahms’ Requiem.  “How lovely is thy dwelling place….” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwnZ748e3CA

Yes, we miss our loved ones and knowing they are surrounded by the angels brings some peace and comfort.

Blessings as you finish you week….

Love, Rebecca

THANK YOU!  Thank you to the parish for the wonderful Christmas gifts of two volumes of Feasting on the Word; Night Comes to the Cumberlands; and a #1 Ladies’ Detective Agency book all on Kindle so I have them wherever I go.  I so appreciate the blend of practical things that help with my work and fun things that provide rest.

Thank you also for the opera ticket and hotel stay for a trip to Chicago in February.  I am going to see Paul Simon in concert, one of my all-time favorite artists.  In addition, I know a singer in the Chicago Lyric Opera and am excited to see her in an opera and get a tour of the theater.

Rebecca’s Schedule

Next week, I will be in Corbin on Wednesday, January 8 and my Sabbath day will be Saturday, January 11.  I will be attending a continuing education conference in Georgetown on Thursday and Friday.  Please feel free to contact me any time, however, by calling 859 -429-1659 or priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org.

 Annual Meeting, Sunday, January 5.  Plan now to attend our Annual Meeting to adopt a budget for 2014 and elect people to Vestry and to attend Diocesan Convention.

Pot Luck This Sunday:  This Sunday is our Annual Meeting pot luck.  Bring a dish or drink to share.  And all are welcome!  Plan to fellowship with each other.

Lazarus at the Gate, an 8-week series on economic discipleship, will begin at the Adult Forum this Sunday.  Irene Isaccs will lead the introductory session.

 Godly Play:  There will be Godly Play classes this Sunday.  If you are interested in assisting with these classes on an occasional basis, please let Anne Day Davis or Dura Anne Price know.  You will observe the classes for 4 sessions and once you have received this training, you may be called upon to assist as you are available.  Let the children deepen your faith!

Confirmation Classes will be offered Wednesdays at 4:30pm beginning January 8 and finishing February 5.  Classes are open to everyone.  Sessions will focus on the history, theology and structure of The Episcopal Church.  Please let Rebecca know if you will attend. 

 Please prayerfully consider how you will financially contribute to the work of St. John’s Church in 2014.  A big thanks to everyone who has pledged so far.  We have received 18 pledges totaling close to $38,000.  We expect our budget needs to be at least $47,000 for 2014.  If you have not already pledged, complete a pledge card today and place it in the offering plate to will assist with our planning for the work of St. John’s in 2014.

 This Week at St. John’s

Sunday, January 5
10am – Godly Play and Adult Forum (Lazarus at the Gate)
11am – Holy Eucharist and Annual Meeting
Noon – Pot Luck Lunch

Wednesday, January 8
4:30pm – Confirmation Class
6:00pm – Worship

Sunday, January 12
10:00am – Adult Forum and Godly Play
11:00am – Eucharist – Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ

Daughters of the King meets the third Wednesday of each month at 4:30pm.  The next meeting is January 15.

Serving Our Neighbors – See baskets in the parlor.

• Everlasting Arms, Corbin’s shelter for people who are homeless is in need of men’s razors, 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.

 United Thank Offering (UTO) is a ministry of the Episcopal Church for the mission of the whole church. Through United Thank Offering, men, women, and children nurture the habit of giving daily thanks to God. These prayers of thanksgiving start when we recognize and name our many daily blessings. Those who participate in UTO discover that thankfulness leads to generosity. United Thank Offering is entrusted to promote thank offerings, to receive the offerings, and to distribute the UTO monies to support mission and ministry throughout the Episcopal Church and in invited Provinces of the Anglican Communion in the developing world.

Your UTO offerings are collected twice each year.  Each time you feel thankful during your day, put some change into your box.  We will gather these gifts of gratitude in May and begin again for the November offering.

If you need a UTO box, please see Rebecca. 

 Reimagine the Episcopal Church:  In 2012, the General Convention created a taskforce to reimagine The Episcopal Church for the future. The members of the Taskforce want to hear the memories, hopes and dreams that people have for The Church. We are trying to reach as many people as we can over the next few months. We will use what we hear to help us shape recommendations for The Church’s structure, administration and governance. To add your memories, go online at http://reimaginetec.org/ or see Rev. Rebecca for a paper copy you can submit.  Deadline is March 4, 2014.

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.

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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January 5 – Wednesday, January 8; Sabbath, January 9 and 10