In the roll of the book it is written concerning me: *
‘I love to do your will, O my God;
your law is deep in my heart.”‘ Psalm 40:9
Last Sunday we talked about the Baptismal Covenant and the promises we make… the things we strive for WITH GOD’S HELP. Our Psalm this week talks about the joy of doing God’s will and having God’s laws in our hearts. This is the hope for us…that it could be said about us or written about us that doing God’s will with joy and holding God’s laws in our hearts was who we were in our time here on this earth.
That is a wonderful aim AND we know it is hard. Sometimes it takes us awhile to discern God’s will for us. We make mistakes, take wrong turns, don’t hear right. Sometimes we get fed up or tire of trying and just give up, going in ways that we know are against God’s laws. The law of love is not always easy to live out and knowing our part in that is not always easy nor fun to discern.
But we try our best, so it can be written about us that we found such joy and peace in following God.
Blessings as you finish your week!
Love, Rebecca+
News & Notes
Rebecca’s Schedule: Next week, I will be in Corbin on Friday, January 24, and my Sabbath day will be Thursday, January 23. Please feel free to contact me any time, however, by calling 859 -429-1659 or priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org.
Lazarus at the Gate, an eight week series on economic discipleship, will begin at the Adult Forum on Sunday January 5. This week Mary Swinford leads us in a discussion of Wealth must be justly distributed. Next week, January 26th, Jeff Davis will lead us in a session on Wealth as a Potential Idol.
Confirmation Classes continue on Wednesdays at 4:30pm through February 5. Classes are open to everyone. Sessions will focus on the history, theology and structure of The Episcopal Church. The January 22 session will be led by Bruce Cory and focus on church history.
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!
Thanks to Anne Day Davis for letting some of us adults participate in a Godly Play session on the parable of the Good Shepherd as part of Steve Gilbert’s training to be the storyteller. This was done Wednesday prior to the service. Hope we have a chance to do it some more.
2014 Church Calendars are available on the shelf in the parish hall. A donation of $2.00 is suggested.
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.
Pot Luck Sunday: Next Sunday, January 26, is our monthly pot luck. Bring a dish or drink to share. All are welcome, so plan for an afternoon of 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.
Also, sign-up to help with set-up and clean-up for this potluck.
“We Need Some Crazy Christians” free online course with Bishop Michael Curry
Later this month anyone with Internet access and a computer or tablet can get free instruction on how to become a crazy Christian.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.
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/
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.
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.
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.
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