Tomorrow is pot luck. What are you making? I’ve made these eggs so far . . .
Deviled eggs for pot luck
Pot Luck Sunday
Monthly Archives: August 2014
This Sunday (August 31) at St. John’s
Search for the LORD and his strength; continually seek his face. Psalm 105:4
This Sunday, we’ll hear how Moses meets the LORD, the great I AM. Moses sees a bush that is burning, but is not consumed. Rather than running away, he’s curious and takes a closer look. This Psalm encourages us to do the same…to take a closer look…to continually search for the LORD.
We can’t always see God’s movement and actions. We become busy getting things done. We become perplexed. Sometimes, our busyness and our cares drown out the voice of God. Maybe that’s why God has to show up to Moses in the burning bush. The Psalm offers an alternative…continually and in all things, search for God…seek God’s face…seek God’s guidance…rely on God’s strength.
Blessings as you finish your week and enter this holiday weekend….
Love, Rebecca+
Pow Wow Water Distribution, Saturday, August 31, 10am – 4pm
St. John’s is once again distributing water to guests at the pow-wow at Ken and Shelia Phillip’s place, 4116 Cumberland Falls Highway, Corbin. Come help us distribute water or help work the gate or come enjoy the music and singing and food. Cost to enter is $5.00. Kids Pony Rides & Petting zoo, too. Pony rides are $3.00 each. Gates open Saturday at 10am and Sunday at noon.
Rebecca’s Schedule:Rebecca’s schedule is changing. St. John’s will have Rebecca 50% of her time. She will spend one week in Corbin and one week at St. Agnes’ House, with every Sunday in Corbin. Rebecca will be in Corbin Tuesday through Thursday this week. Her Sabbath days will be Friday and Saturday. 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.
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.
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 creating your spiritual autobiography.
Celebration of a New Ministry: 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.
Daughters of the King Fall Retreat, September 18-20, Cathedral Domain. Register by September 4. Registration forms are on the bulletin board by the kitchen.
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.
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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Following Jesus (sermon) August 24, 2014
Sermon – August 24, 2014
The Rev. Rebecca S. Myers, CSW
St. John’s Episcopal Church, Corbin, KY
Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost (Proper 16) Track 1
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Matthew 16:15
Please be seated.
The region of Caesarea Philippi where our Gospel occurs is beautiful. It’s about 30 miles north of Capernaum and the Sea of Galilee where Jesus and his disciples spent quite a bit of time according to Matthew. It is about as far north as you can get in modern day Israel.
What is special about this spot are the springs. The day I was there, the springs rushed out of the ground and were full and clear and cold. The rushing water was the dominant sound. These springs form the Jordan River, which feeds the Sea of Galilee, flowing out through the desert to the Dead Sea, which has no exit. The mighty Jordan River where John the Baptist conducted baptisms, including Jesus’ baptism. The mighty Jordan River, symbol of the crossing from life to death. It all starts at Caesarea Philippi.
The ruler Philip, son of Herod the Great, built a palace on a cliff above the site. In a secluded spot away from the rushing springs, he built a worship space to the Roman gods, especially Pan. The cliff face is full of niches where altars would have been to the various gods.
It is here, in the midst of the altars and niches to the Roman gods, that Jesus issues his altar call. “Who do you say that I am?” he asks. He’s asking who the disciples will follow. They are free to return to the gods of the area or the Roman gods. They have a choice. Will they follow the Roman gods or will they follow Jesus?
This invitation by Jesus, this altar call, is issued again and again in our scriptures. Who do you say that I am? Who will you follow?
As the Israelites are getting ready to cross this Jordan River into the land God promised them, Joshua, guided by God, issues this same choice in Joshua 24:15
‘Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.’ Joshua 24:15
This is the choice we are continually asked to make. Who do you say that I am? Whom will you serve? And we sing with gusto the Asian Indian hymn,
I have decided to follow Jesus
No turning back, no turning back.
But here’s the thing… every day and many times each day, we are asked to make the choice! Because following Jesus affects every area of our lives. How do we spend our time each day? Does it reflect our following of Jesus? How do we take care of ourselves? Does it reflect our following of Jesus? How do we relate to our neighbors? Does it reflect our following Jesus? What kind of work do we do? How do we spend our money? What do we return to God? Many times each day, the question comes….Who do you say that I am? Whom will you follow?
And what does following Jesus entail?
I remember Matthew 25:31-46. Lord, when did we see you hungry, thirsty, naked, sick or in prison? And Jesus responds that whenever you see someone in need, you have seen Christ and must respond accordingly.
I remember Jesus’ response to the Pharisees who tried to trip him up in Matthew 22:34-40,
‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’ He said to him, ‘ “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’
I remember the simple verse from Micah 6:8:
He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
And we struggle with what it means to follow Jesus. As you know, people contact me when they are in need and I have a discretionary fund available to give people assistance. But what is the right amount? I’ve bought $15 Kroger cards and handed them out to people, but sometimes people need more.
I look at the world…at Ferguson, MO, just the latest place to confirm that racism is alive and well and destroys all of us. I remember the history of Corbin, the gathering of the African-Americans on the trains to Chicago and the burning of their homes…of the “get out of town by sundown” signs that were up until 1989, and I wonder have we repented of that? Is there more we need to do to atone for that?
I think of the upcoming pow wow and the land we stand on …land that was taken from the native peoples, who were marched to death to what is now Oklahoma on the Trail of Tears. And given that, what does following Jesus, and obeying God look like in response to that evil act?
I think of the Episcopalians who came in 1906, the railroad company families, who founded St. John’s, who most likely helped the resources of coal and lumber to be taken from the land with little regard for the people who lived on the land. I think of the resulting, pervasive and stubborn poverty, and I wonder are we doing enough to atone for our legacy?
I have decided to follow Jesus and we come to the foot of the altar. Yet, how are we doing in loving our neighbor, in responding to those in need, in doing justice, loving kindness and walking humbly with God?
We do our best…we try to do better… and we gather each week as St. John’s Corbin, as the body of Christ. We ask for God’s mercy and forgiveness. And Jesus calls us to this table and feeds us. Feeds us with bread and wine…feeds us with his presence, right here, right now, so that we like Peter can answer Jesus, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Amen
This Sunday (August 24) at St. John’s
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God– what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2
Do you know what God’s Will is for you in your life? Isn’t hard to figure that out sometimes. At times, the way seems so clear. God’s voice is loud and we know exactly what to do next. At other times, we feel so confused. Paul’s letter to the Romans provides a key to our confusion. We are not to be conformed to this world. This world’s standards and what our society thinks is important or “the good life” are different from God’s guidance and way of life.
Throughout the Bible, we read of the importance of economic justice, of God’s priority for the poor. Yet, those are the values our world often presents us. Trying to buck the trends and priorities created by our broken humanity is hard. It requires being nonconforming. It requires a transformation and change in our minds. That’s what’s required for us to discern what is the will of God, the good, the acceptable and the perfect….
Blessings as you finish your week!
Love, Rebecca+
Rebecca’s Schedule: Next week, Rebecca will be in Corbin on Friday, August 29, and her Sabbath day will be Tuesday, August 26. You can get a message to Rebecca by calling the church office at 606-528-1659 or priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org.
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 8:15-20.
Godly Play classes for children will begin next week, August 31. We also need adults to conduct these classes, beginning in November. If you are interested in being trained and conducting the classes for a few weeks to a month, please let Rebecca know.
We will once again be distributing water at the Pow Wow on Ken and Shelia’s property on Saturday, August 30. If you’d be willing to donate for the water and ice and/or take a shift handing out water, let Rebecca know.
Pot Luck Sunday: Next Sunday, August 31, is our monthly pot luck. Bring a dish or drink to share. And all are welcome! Plan to fellowship with each other.
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, most likely beginning in September. 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.
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/
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.
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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This Sunday (August 17, 2014) at St. John’s
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”
This Sunday (August 10) at St. John’s
Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he had made him a long robe with sleeves. Genesis 37:3
This Sunday we hear a portion of the story of Joseph. I have always loved this story. I’ve thought Joseph’s brothers were so mean to him, plotting to kill him, but ultimately selling him. Yet, I’ve loved how it all turned out for the best..the horrible time Joseph had, ended up saving the people.
In seminary, I took a year of Hebrew and we read this story in Hebrew. Then, I understood why Joseph’s brothers were so frustrated with him. Joseph was a pain! The long robe of many colors had sleeves that came down to the middle of his palms, which meant he could do no work in it. In the Hebrew, you understand how Joesph annoyed his brothers, continually calling attention to himself.
At least his brothers did not kill him; however, selling him away seems a rather drastic measure to take. What a heartache for Jacob. And Joseph went through some very difficult times. Yet, in the end he continued to love his brothers, despite their actions. There was a joyful reunion. Joseph saved many people during the years of famine, including his family. May we be forgiving and loving like Joseph.
See you Sunday!
Love,
Rebecca
Rebecca’s Schedule: Next week, Rebecca will be in Corbin on Wednesday, August 13, and her Sabbath day will be Friday, August 15. You can get a message to Rebecca by calling the church office at 606-528-1659 or priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org.
Welcome: Today we welcome Tyler J. Tetzlaf to the pulpit. TJ received his Master’s of Divinity at Episcopal Divinity School in May of 2012. TJ currently serves on the board for the Clark County Homeless Coalition and works for the Nonprofit “STRIDE” as a mentor to adults who are developmentally handicapped. He lives in Winchester with his wife, Chana, who is Priest-in-Charge of Emanuel Church.
Service in Rotary Park, Sunday, August 17, 10am; pot luck following. Next Sunday, we will worship at Rotary Park with members of Corbin Presbyterian and First Baptist. Bring a dish to share for the pot luck afterwards. Meat and drinks will be provided.
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 16:13-20.
We will once again be distributing water at the Pow Wow on Ken and Shelia’s property on Saturday, August 30. If you’d be willing to donate for the water and ice and/or take a shift handing out water, let Rebecca know.
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, most likely beginning in September. 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.
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.