Dear Blessed People of the Body of Christ,
Last year I had the odd feeling of not knowing where I’d be in a year. I needed to be prepared to go anywhere. I was listening intently for God’s leading.
Now, a year later, I am immensely grateful to be at St. John’s in Corbin. I LOVE serving as your priest. I LOVE our worship together in our beautiful sanctuary. I LOVE our learning together and sharing fellowship. The home you have prepared for me is spacious and beautiful. And while I believe I’ll be here with you next year, we really don’t know what we’ll be doing or how our ministry and worship together will look. We must be both prepared and open to where God will lead and guide us.
Blessings on this Thanksgiving Day! Happy New Year as we move into Advent, the beginning of our liturgical year. I leave you with one of my favorite Bible pieces that is the Epistle for Thanksgiving Day:
Philippians 4:4-9
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
Love, Rebecca
Rebecca’s Schedule
Next week, I will be in Corbin on Friday, December 6. My sabbath day will be Monday, December 2. Please feel free to contact me any time, however, by calling 859 -429-1659 or priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org.
Adult Forum: There will be no adult forum this Sunday. December 8, we begin our series on end-of-life issues. Chaplain Alice Tremaine from the Mountain Group of Hospice of the Bluegrass will speak about end-of-life and grief issues.
Lazarus at the Gate, an 8-week series on economic discipleship, will begin at the Adult Forum on Sunday January 5. If you are willing to lead a session, please let Rebecca know. The series can be accessed online at http://www.bostonfaithjustice.org/#/discipleship
Godly Play: There will be Godly Play classes this Sunday.
Please prayerfully consider how you will financially contribute to the work of St. John’s Church in 2014. Complete a pledge card today and place it in the offering plate to assist with our planning for the church’s work in 2014.
This Week at St. John’s
Sunday, December 1
10am – Godly Play (No Adult Forum)
11am – Eucharist – Advent 1
3pm – Make an Advent Wreath
4:30pm – Advent Lessons and Carols Service
Wednesday, December 4: 6pm Worship
Saturday, December 7:
9am – 3pm – Chocolate Fest
2pm – Ordination of Deacon Peter Helman to the Sacred Order of Priests, St. Mary’s Church, Middlesboro
Sunday, December 8
10am – Adult Forum – Chaplain Tremaine, Hospice of the Bluegrass and Godly Play for Children
11am – Eucharist – Second Sunday in Advent
Noon – Vestry Meeting
Flowers for Christmas: Donations for flowers to decorate the church for Christmas will be received until December 22. Place your donation in the envelope provided and note if it is in honor or memory of someone.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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