This Week (December 15) at St. John’s

 Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help!*
whose hope is in the LORD their God; Psalm 146:4

This Third Sunday of Advent, our lessons speak of hope and coming joy.  How blessed we are when we know God is helping us.  Ponder how your life is different because of your reliance upon God.  One of the ways my life is different is that because of my reliance or even seeking God, I find Christian communities such as St. John’s.  In these communities, I am loved.  People ask me how I am.  People challenge my understanding of faith and of the world.  As a result, my faith and understanding of God is widened and is stronger.

Happy are we who have the God of Jacob for our help and Happy are we are live with each other in Christian community.  I know…it is not always easy.  We don’t like everyone and find some people a challenge.  But it is in the living together, knowing we are knit together as the Body of Christ and praying together, worshiping together and breaking bread together that God is present, not only in our building, but also in the world.

Thanks be to God for your gifts to the community of St. John’s.

Blessings as you finish your week..

Love, Rebecca

My Schedule
Next week, I will be in Corbin on Friday, December 20 and my Sabbath day will be Thursday, December 19.  Please feel free to contact me for pastoral care emergencies, however, by calling 859 -429-1659 or emailing priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org.

 Flowers for Christmas: Donations for flowers to decorate for Christmas are being received until December 22.  Please place your donation in the envelope, marking whether they are in honor of or in memory of someone. You can also use the envelope to donate flowers for another date in the year.

Greening of the Church, Sunday, December 22 after the service. Pack a lunch and stay after the 11am service on Sunday, December 22 to help decorate the church for Christmas.

 Adult Forum
This week, we continue our series on end-of-life issues.  Larry Conley, Esq. will speak about legal issues regarding end-of-life.  Brian Whitehead will speak about funeral homes.

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 through World Vision or searching on the name of the series.

Godly Play classes are available for children.  Elmer Parlier and Donna Goff will be trained soon to assist.  Training involves serving as the doorkeeper for two sessions and then being supervised as the storyteller for two sessions.  Once you are trained, a schedule will be created that fits your ability to assist. If you can assist, please let Anne Day and Dura Anne know.

Daughters of the King:  Daughters of the King will meet Wednesday, December 18, 4:30pm at the church.  Please see Shelia Phillips or Dura Anne Price for more information.

Christmas Dinner at the Barn, Wednesday, December 25, 2-4pm.  If you’d like to attend this community dinner, please see Paula Bain or June Sullivan.  

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 $37,800.  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
 Wednesday, December 18:  6pm Worship
Sunday, December 22
10am – Godly Play and Adult Forum (End-of-Life issues)
11am – Eucharist – Third Sunday of Advent
Noon – Greening of the Church

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.

 Help the Rotary Club Wrap Gifts for the Empty Stocking Party:  This annual event, hosted by The Rotary Club of Corbin, will be held Friday, December 20.  On Thursday evening we need lots of people to help wrap the gifts:

When:  Thursday, December 19, 6pm
Where:  Corbin High School Cafeteria
What to bring:  scissors, sharpie pen, tape and, if possible, two rolls of wrapping paper

Let Rebecca know if you will be able to help!  You can also donate supplies by Wednesday evening. 

Schedule of Services for Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year’s Day

Tuesday, December 24:
7:00pm – Family Eucharist
11:00pm – Midnight Eucharist

Wedneday, December 25
9:00am – Morning Prayer
No Wednesday Evening Service

Sunday, December 29
10:00am – No Adult Formation
11:00am – Christmas Lessons and Carols or Morning Prayer

Wednesday, January 1
6pm – Wednesday worship

 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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