For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building. I Cor. 3:9
Today we often hear people say they are “spiritual, but not religious.” Yes, every person alive has a spirituality, whether they participate in an “organized religion” or not. I’m sure you know people who claim to be Christians, even though they participate in no church.
However, can we truly be Christian outside of a Christian community? There is something we learn about Christianity and about our faith when we are in relationship with each other. Something that is bigger and more than we could do on our own.
Together, we are God’s servants. We are God’s field, together accomplishing God’s purpose. We are God’s building….
Blessings as you finish your week!
Love, Rebecca
My Schedule
Next week, I will be attending Diocesan Convention Thursday-Saturday. My Sabbath day will be Monday, February 17. You can get a message to me by calling 859 -429-1659 or priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org.
Lazarus at the Gate, a series on economic discipleship continues. Next week, we finish our series on economic discipleship. Bret Swinford will lead us in a session on How to give effectively and giving together.
Living Compass Adult Faith and Wellness. During the Adult Forums in Lent, I will lead us through the Living Compass Program, designed to help us assess our lives, plan for change, strengthen our faith, and wellness. If you plan to participate, please let Rev. Rebecca know by February 16, so she can order the materials. You can find more information about the program, including the Living Compass Assessment at http://www.livingcompass.org/adult/program.html/
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!
Diocesan Convention: The Diocese will be in convention Thursday, February 20-Saturday, February 22, in Covington. Our Deputies are Gay Nell Conley, Bruce Cory, John Harris, Billy Hibbitts, and Rebecca. Please pray for this important meeting.
Pot Luck Sunday: Next Sunday, February 23, is our monthly pot luck. Bring a dish or drink to share. And all are welcome! Plan to fellowship with each other. The men are invited to meet to plan the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper.
This Week at St. John’s
Sunday, February 16
10:00am – Adult Forum and Godly Play
11:00am – Eucharist – African-American History Month
12:15pm – Vestry Meeting
Wednesday, February 19
4:30pm – Daughters of the King
6:00pm – Worship
Sunday, February 23
10:00am – Adult Forum and Godly Play
11:00am – Eucharist
12:15pm – Pot Luck
Daughters of the King meets the third Wednesday of each month at 4:30pm. The next meeting is this Wednesday, February 19.
A word about our service, Sunday, February 16
Most of the music for this Sunday’s service is taken from Lift Every Voice and Sing II: An African-American Hymnal (LEVAS II). In compiling the hymnal, the committee chose spirituals, traditional and contemporary Gospel songs, adapted protestant hymns, missionary and evangelistic hymns, service music and mass settings, as well as hymns for African-American saints on the Church’s calendar.
In commenting on the inclusion of evangelistic hymns, Bishop Burgess said,
Just as the slaves not only adopted the religion of their master, but transformed it into a Gospel that had particular meaning for themselves, so the Black Christians have taken the hymnody of the evangelical church and claimed it for their own. These hymns do not have the theological purity of the spirituals, nor do they arise out of the bitter experience of Black people. In adopting this music, again like the Christian religion itself, the Black congregation has used the notation merely as a guide. The free expression of enthusiastic faith has raised this music into a genre that rightly takes its place within Black congregational 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.
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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