This Week (January 26) at St. John’s

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There will be no gloom for those who are in anguish.  Isaiah 9:1

A defining feature of our faith is that of hope.  During the time of Isaiah, life was really tough for the people.  While Isaiah called them to task for their behavior, he nevertheless held out hope.  He carried the vision given by God for a new world.  This hope kept the people going through tough times.

This verse also keeps us going through tough times today.  Sometimes our lives change too fast.  Sometimes our lives don’t change fast enough.  Our bodies give out and some of us are in chronic pain.  We grieve the losses in our life, even if they are the result of changes we chose.  We are in anguish.

God promises a day when there will be no gloom.  We can rest in the promise that God is with us in our anguish and that eventually we will feel better.

Blessings as you finish your week!

Love, Rebecca+

Bulletin 01-26-2014

Pot Luck Sunday: This Sunday is our monthly pot luck.  We expect guests from Everlasting Arms, so plan to bring LOTS of your favorite food or drink to share.  All are welcome!  Stay and enjoy the fellowship.

My Schedule: I will be in Corbin on Monday, January 27, and my Sabbath day will be Friday, January 31. 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 Jeff Davis will lead us in a session on Wealth as a Potential Idol.   Next week, February 2, Elmer Parlier will lead us in a session on Wealth is for Sharing with the Poor.

Living Compass Adult Faith and Wellness. During Lent, I will lead the Living Compass Program, designed to help you assess your life, plan for change, strengthen your faith, and wellness. If you plan to participate, please let me know by February 16, so I 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/

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. There will be no confirmation session on January 29. On February 5, Bruce Cory will lead a discussion on the structure of the Episcopal Church.

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!

The Big Class: How to Be a Crazy Christian with Michael Curry This is a free online course, which you can take any time Monday, January 27 through Monday, February 3.  In this 45 minute class, Bishop Curry will tell us:

  • What Is a Crazy Christian?
  • Why Being a Crazy Christian is Easy – and Hard
  • Habits of a Crazy Christian
  • Giving Yourself Permission

To sign up for the course, go to http://www.churchnext.tv/school/catalog/course/how-to-be-a-crazy-christian-with-michael-curry/

Ministerial Alliance Joint Service, February 2, 3pm, Parkway Church. Join me in this ecumenical service celebrating the joining of Williamsburg and Corbin Ministeriums.

On February 9, 2pm, enjoy some great music by the UK Opera Theatre and benefit St. Agnes’ House. Concert is part of the second Sunday series at Our Saviour, Richmond. Suggested donation is $5.00.

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.

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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The rivers of Baptism (Sermon) January 12, 2014

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Sermon – January 12, 2014
The Rev. Rebecca S. Myers, CSW
St. John’s Episcopal Church, Corbin
The First Sunday after Epiphany:  The Baptism of Jesus

Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. Matthew 3:13

I have a skewed view of rivers.  You see I grew up near the Susquehanna River, which is 464 miles long and goes through New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland before emptying into the Chespeake Bay and ultimately the Atlantic Ocean.  When the river gets to Harrisburg, it is 1 mile wide.  My father crossed one of the bridges every day to go to work in the City and my family crossed that river at least once a week.  So, when I heard or read about rivers, I pictured the Susquehanna, only to learn as I grew older that most rivers in the world are as wide as the creeks that I grew up around. 

Yes, the Susquehanna is wide, but at Harrisburg, it is also pretty shallow and sometimes in August, if you’re careful about the deep holes, you can walk across that river.  When I was 15, the river flooded….  It came to twice its size because of a tropical storm that stalled over New York and Pennsylvania – nearly the entire length of the river.  I happened to be at my grandmother’s house in another town, so watched the flooding on TV; however, my church was in the city and my father came to pick me up early from my grandmother’s house, so I could join others from my church in clean-up teams.  Our church was in an old part of the center city and it was the only place that escaped the flooding, but we had many church members who weren’t so lucky.

I still remember the devastation.  A man from my church committed suicide, not seeing any way to recover.  Mud covered everything and it was a mud that was oily and slimy, because of all of the stuff the river picked up along the way.  People lost things you cannot replace like photos and mementos.  One woman at the church had been in the hospital.  I will never forget going to her apartment.  Everything was neat and in order, except for the coating of mud on every piece of furniture, the bed spread and curtains.  We went to move a small table and the whole thing fell apart from having sat in the flood waters much too long.

Many people fled the city.  Others lived in trailers for months while their homes were repaired.  Some homes were torn down forever.  That flood changed where people lived and how they lived for the future. 

That wide river that you could walk across in the hot and rainless days of August…that seemingly lazy and benign river could also be powerful and destructive.  I lived along that river for a number of years and would walk along it nearly every day.  That flow of the water provided perspective on life.  Scientists estimate the river has been flowing over 66 million years!  The birds and animals migrated in patterns they’d kept long before my lifetime.  So anything that seemed to loom large in my life was reduced to its proper size.  And watching the flow of the river and its rising and falling and changes through the seasons calmed me.  Oh, the sound of a river as it freezes – that slushing sound as the ice builds up — is a sound I still recall. 

And just as the water is both powerful, strong, dangerous, comforting, calming and lifegiving, so is our life in Christ initiated through baptism.  Listen again to our Baptismal covenant – our agreement with God (pages 304-305, Book of Common Prayer):

We believe in God

We believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God

We believe in God the Holy Spirit

We agree to:

  • Continue in the Apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers
  • Persevere in resisting evil, and whenever we fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord
  • Proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ
  • Seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbor as ourselves
  • Strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being

Are you astonished at these promises?  I am.  Oh, my.  I can’t always see the sin in myself and even when I can, I don’t always want to own up to it, but that’s what’s required of repentance.  I don’t pray near enough.  I am not always the best example of the Good News of God in Christ, especially when I’m driving back and forth from here to Lexington.  I judge people way too much.  I don’t always love myself, therefore, I don’t love my neighbor.  While I love working for justice and peace, it’s not easy and I work to remain ignorant of how my lifestyle affects others.  And there are certainly some human beings who are very difficult to respect. 

The fellowship and breaking of the bread can be calming, soothing.  The service and prayers based upon ancient rites, give strength and put things into perspective.  Hearing the Good News of God in Christ and knowing there is a different standard by which to live…all comforting.  And at the same time, they herald a death of what is comfortable…a continual assessment and questioning about how we live our lives and the command to move from self-centeredness to commonwealth – what is the public good or advantage.  And not the public good or advantage from our individual or narrow human viewpoint, but the public good or advantage in the eyes of God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. 

God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – is both lazy, shallow river and enormous, flooding river.  Keeping our baptismal covenant is challenging.  We can make our best effort, trusting in the words of the Apostle Peter reported in today’s in Acts:

…God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him…and…everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. Acts 10:34-35, 43

Amen

 

 

 

“We Have Found the Messiah” (Sermon) January 19, 2014

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Sermon – January 19, 2014
The Rev. Rebecca S. Myers, CSW
St. John’s Episcopal Church, Corbin
2nd Sunday after Ephiphany

“We have found the Messiah…” John 1:41

Please be seated

We have found the Messiah…. Can you imagine any person who would compel you to leave everything you know… to abandon your job, your family and all of your worldly goods to walk the land with this person?  But that’s what we hear about in our Gospel reading today (and also next week.)  “We have found the Messiah,” Andrew says, and he and his brother Peter follow.

During those times the Messiah was going to restore Israel and the faith in God.  In many ways, the Messiah was understood as the most righteous and perfect ruler…someone with political, as well as, physical strength.  The land and people would be protected from their many enemies – you see Israel was the land between many great powers to the north, south and east.  And during Jesus’ time, the Roman Empire was oppressing the people.  They wanted relief. 

So here is Jesus and something about him makes John the Baptist, and Andrew and then Peter hope that the new ruler has come.  The perfect King, the powerful political ruler.  That is the only way they understood restoration…that Israel would become powerful as a nation…that no one would be able defeat the nation and in so doing, the people would have a good life and God would be glorified.  People would see the nation of Israel and its power and want to follow and worship its God. 

They wanted saved from the wars by the powerful nations around them by becoming the most powerful themselves.   But God understood the world differently and Jesus came to give us a new way to live and to think about our lives, a new paradigm of the world and of our relationship to God. 

A few years ago after reading the passage in Matthew about Jesus riding into Jerusalem with shouts of Hosanna and palms and cloaks strewn on the path, I wrote the following poem:

After reading Matthew 21:1-11
By Rebecca S. Myers

We are always looking for a
Savior to save us from other people
When what we need
Is a savior
Who saves us from ourselves.

It is so easy to point the finger at things external to us as being “what’s wrong.”  So we work to change our external circumstances.

“Well, Corbin hasn’t worked out so well, maybe I should move,” we say, and off we go.  In 12-step circles, this is called a geographic cure.  We think a new job will make the difference or maybe different friends.  Now, don’t get me wrong, all of these things can be good.  It’s not the actions so much, it’s our interior state in pursuing those changes that is the difference.

Because as the saying goes, “Wherever you go, there you are.”  In other words, we need to do the interior work on ourselves.  Changing our external conditions without doing the internal work doesn’t really change much in the end. 

What are the things about you that Jesus comes to liberate you from? 

Here are some of mine.  I call them “lies I tell myself:”

I have to do this all by myself.  Yes, being responsible and taking care of myself is important, but I can take self reliance too far.  I can fail to ask for help or suggestions because after all, I am the Executive Director…I am the priest.  My ability to accomplish a lot is why people chose me for this position, isn’t it?  Doesn’t it mean I’m weak or incompetent if I need to ask for help?

What a dangerous trap that is!  Even Jesus had twelve Apostles and many more followers.  We don’t see that he necessarily asked them for help, more often he taught them, but he still had people around him AND he created that community so that when he was no longer with them, they had each other.  We were made for relationship.  We each have different ideas and perspectives.  No one of us has the ONLY line to God.  Reaching out and including others, makes for a better discussion and ultimately a better path. 

I must remind myself I do not have to do this all by myself and then, who can help.  Once I open up, in my experience, God has led me to the people who can help. 

Another one for me, that is part of the previous one, is I can be perfect.  Yes, I need to continue to grow and change, but honestly, there are some things that are never going to happen for me.  For instance, I make snap judgments, and as a board president of mine observed, I don’t suffer fools gladly.  The look I make when I think you’ve said about the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard has been caught on camera, even.

My former husband and I had an outdoor wedding in a field at my parents’ home at the time.  We had jazz music playing and we picked a number that would be the “entrance” number – it was “Night and Day” by Dave Brubeck.  My husband and I were walking down the aisle together.  He panicked, believing we’d missed our cue and started walking in front of me slightly.  I gave him that “look” and said in my sternest voice, “Don’t you walk in front of me!” And the photographer caught that moment!  So, I know that look!  The World According to Rebecca. 

Rather than beating myself up about my judgmentalism, I can accept it is part of my nature.  In my experience, acceptance brings many benefits.  Once I accept myself as I am, then the way to lessen those harmful traits appears.  Knowing I’ve been judgmental in a situation, thinking what another person is doing is foolish, for instance, I can explore that.  I can ask questions about why I’m feeling my way is the only way.  Does that come from fear, for instance? 

Ultimately, I know I need God.  Only God is perfect and I’m not God and never will be.  Only with God’s help can I be the best God needs me to be.  Also, because I accept that I am imperfect, I can also accept other people’s imperfections.  When I can forgive myself for being judgmental in a situation, I can forgive others. 

My way is the only way to do things, gets me into trouble too.  My mother came to help me when my daughter was about a month old.  My son was under 2 years of age, so things were pretty hectic.  One day my mother was washing the dishes.  Now, I’ve never really liked washing dishes, so this was a great gift.  Yet, I remember standing in the kitchen doorway with this little baby in my arms, going nuts inside.  My mother was not washing the dishes correctly.  The water she was using was not hot enough! 

Unfortunately, this is something handed down to me.  One time I was visiting my grandmother.  She had heart trouble and was not supposed to be doing any housework.  I washed her sheets, which she always hung out to dry in good weather.  I hung clothes out to dry.  I knew how to do it.  I was hanging the sheets on the line and she was standing at the back door, telling me what to hang next to each other and how to do it.

Yes, it can be so difficult to let someone else do something for us.  It can be so difficult to accept a way that in the end accomplishes the goal, just not exactly how we would have done it.  When we think our way is the only way, we close ourselves off to the gifts of others.  We don’t allow them to share their gifts with us.  Ultimately, we become tired and overwhelmed trying to do everything.  On top of taking care of two little ones, doing the dishes probably would have done me in.   Doing laundry and hanging those sheets up could have made my grandmother much sicker.

Jesus comes not to save us from some external power.  Jesus comes to save us from ourselves – from our illusions of perfection and total self reliance.  Jesus comes to save us, because in saving us, we are open to God’s dream and vision of our world.  We are willing to accept God’s guidance.  We are willing to do God’s Will.

“We have found the Messiah,” we shout!  Thanks Be To God!

Amen

 

 

This Week (January 19) at St. John’s

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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+

This Sunday’s Bulletin

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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“We Need Some Crazy Christians” free online class by Bishop Michael Curry

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Later this month anyone with Internet access and a computer or tablet can get free instruction on how to become a crazy Christian.

It’s a free, online class and our entire church is invited to take it.

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.

Bishop Curry will moderate the course and answer online questions during the week of The Big Class. Participants can take the course anytime during the week at churchnext.tv and will take 45 minutes to complete. The course need not be taken in one sitting and no special sofware is required.

The Big Class is a worldwide online course for all who want to go further in their walk with Christ, and is free to everyone, everywhere thanks to the support of Bexley Seabury, Church Publishing Inc., the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina and Forward Movement.Special materials will be available for congregations and adult education classes who desire to take the class together as part of their Epiphany season study.

“It’s exciting to see all the new ways technology is being leveraged to help folks go into a deeper awareness of and relationship with the living God,” said Bishop Curry. “Online education is an excellent example of it. It allows folks to learn, to interact, exchange ideas and, ultimately, to share what they learn with others. The process is exactly what we as Christians are called to do; an
online classroom just gives us one more way to do it.”

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/

This Sunday (January 12) at St. John’s

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Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made.  The Collect for the Baptism of our Lord, pg 219, Book of Common Prayer

This Sunday we remember the baptism of Jesus and reaffirm our own baptismal vows.  The Collect for the Day asks God that we keep our baptismal covenant.  How many of us remember that covenant?  We hear the covenant a couple of times each year, but do we remember all that we have promised or all that we have obligated ourselves to?  Our baptismal covenant is found on pages 304-305 of the Book of Common Prayer.  In addition to the Apostles’ Creed, we are asked to do the following:

1.  Continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers.
2.  Persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever we fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord.
3.  Proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ.
4.  Seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself.
5.  Strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.

How are you doing in living up to this covenant?  What can you do to build upon your efforts and strengthen them?

Looking forward to Sunday when we renew our covenant and remind ourselves of the life we’ve been called to live in our baptism.

Love, Rebecca

Next week, I will be in Corbin on Thursday, January 16 and my Sabbath day will be
Wednesday, January 15. Please feel free to contact me any time, however, by calling 859 -429-1659 or priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org.

Annual Meeting Results
Congratulations to new Vestry members, Steve Gilbert and Doug Thelen.  Congratulations to convention delegates, Gay Nell Conley, Bruce Cory, John Harris and Billy Hibbitts.  Thank you for agreeing to serve.

Thanks and gratitude for outgoing Vestry members Donna Goff and Sue Weedman.

The parish passed the 2014 budget of $47,471.  Revenue will come from $6,500.00 plate; $37,800 pledges; and $3,171 special events.  The special events is a new category reflecting the Belk Charity Sale and the Chocolate Fest proceeds, as well as any other events we might decide to have over the year.  You can see a copy of the budget and Annual Meeting documents here:  http://stjohnscorbin.org/2013-annual-report-and-annual-meeting-agenda/

Adult Forum – 10:00am
Lazarus at the Gate, a series on economic discipleship continues.  This week, John Harris leads us in a discussion on wealth as a blessing. Next week, Mary Swinford will lead us in a session on Wealth Must be Justly Distributed.

Godly Play – 10:00am:
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!

Pot Luck Sunday, January 26. Bring a dish or drink to share. And all are welcome! Plan to 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.

Southeast Kentucky Ministerial Alliance (SEKMA) unity service, February 2, 3pm, Parkway Church of God.  Plan to attend this service to celebrate the unity of the Christian church in our region.  The Williamsburg and Corbin associations have joined together and are celebrating with this service.

Confirmation Classes continue on Wednesdays at 4:30pm through February 12 (except for January 29). Classes are open to everyone. On January 15, we will look at the basic theological tenets of the Episcopal Church:  The Trinity and the Creeds.  Pages 845-853 of the Book of Common Prayer:  Outline of the Faith form the basis for the discussion.  See http://www.bcponline.org/

2014 Church Calendars are available on the shelf in the parish hall. A donation of $2.00 is
suggested.

Sunday, January 12
10:00am – Adult Forum and Godly Play
11:00am – Eucharist – Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ
12:30pm – Vestry Meeting

Wednesday, January 15
4:30pm – Daughters of the King
4:30pm – Confirmation Class
6:00pm – 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.

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Your Feedback needed on Diocesan Budget

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Friends,

The Diocese of Lexington Budget Committee is asking for feedback on the 2014 budget.  We, along with all of the parishes, contribute to this budget, so it’s great to see where our contribution will be used.  You can view the budget and also provide feedback at this link.  Feedback is needed by this Friday, January 10.  http://diolex.org/blog/news/budget-2014/

Rebecca

The baby who challenges earthly rulers (sermon)

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Sermon – January 5, 2014
The Rev. Rebecca S. Myers, CSW
St. John’s Episcopal Church, Corbin
2nd Sunday after Christmas

When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him. Matt. 2:3

Please be seated.

“How dare the Taliban take away my right to an education,” the 11-year old girl said in a speech in 2008 to the members of the Peshawar Press Club.

The British Broadcasting Company, BBC,  was covering the SWAT valley in Pakistan, which was being ruled by the Taliban and they wanted a firsthand account of what life was truly like.  The BBC thought a blog by a teenage girl would be best.  The Taliban had banned television, music, girls’ education, and women from going shopping.  The BBC approached Ziauddin Yousafzai, who operated a chain of public schools in the region and who was an education activist.  He suggested his own daughter, 11-year old Malala, but she was younger than the BBC wanted.  However, there was no one else who would take such an effort on…it was extremely dangerous.  Finally, the only choice the BBC had was 11-year old Malala.

While the Taliban rulers continued to close and destroy schools, Malala continued to attend school and to write the blog detailing the changes in her life, especially the threatened loss of her education.  Malala’s school went from 700 students to 70.  To protect her, she wrote under an assumed name, Gul Makai, meaning cornflower, a name from a Pashtun Folk Tale.  However, the Taliban discovered her identity.  

On October 9, 2012, at the age of 15, Malala was shot by a member of the Taliban.  It was a miracle she survived.  Instead of stopping her, the gunshot served to strengthen her.  Last July, on her 16th birthday, she became the youngest person to ever speak at the United Nations.

Listen to what this fearless young leader said:

“I do not even hate the Talib who shot me. Even if there is a gun in my hand and he stands in front of me. I would not shoot him. This is the compassion that I have learnt from Muhammad-the prophet of mercy, Jesus Christ and Lord Buddha. This is the legacy of change that I have inherited from Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and Muhammad Ali Jinnah. This is the philosophy of non-violence that I have learnt from Gandhi Jee, Bacha Khan and Mother Teresa. And this is the forgiveness that I have learnt from my mother and father. This is what my soul is telling me, be peaceful and love everyone.”

At 16 Malala continues her activism, including challenging world leaders to “be peaceful and love everyone.”  Malala reminds us once again to be careful about our assumptions regarding children and the young.

 

In today’s Gospel, we hear about a ruler and king who was afraid of a baby. The Persian priests come to King Herod Archeleus looking for the baby who was born to be King of the Jews.  The King is frightened of this little baby and calls the chief priests and scribes to learn more about this event.  They tell him the baby was to be born in Bethlehem.  Even after receiving this information, we are told King Herod wants more information and in secret meets with the Persian priests again.  He asks the Persian priests to let him know where this baby is, so that he himself can visit.  But we know that Herod wants to hurt this baby, so the baby is no longer a threat to Herod.  King Herod’s fear of this baby seems irrational on the surface, but we know better.  

At Christmas we joy in the little baby…that God came to earth just like we all do, helpless, dependent.  But King Herod was right to be afraid of this baby, and all earthly rulers should fear this baby, because the believers in and followers of Jesus are challenging to all earthly rulers.

There are a number of reasons, including:

1.   We the body of Christ speak truth to power, no matter the cost.  That’s what Malala did and continues to do.   It is what countless others have done.  Justice must prevail.  Death is not the end…does not silence the quest for God’s justice, only strengthens it.  If the threat and fear of death cannot silence people, what is an unjust ruler to do?

2.  We the body of Christ have a different way of viewing the world.  Vaclav Havel, former President of Czechoslovakia said in a speech to the U. S. Congress, “The salvation of the world lies in the human heart.” Matter and facts are but one factor in our lives and in how we live our lives.  We do things that seem perfectly illogical, except for the voice of God speaking to us individually and collectively.    I’m sure each of you can name times you were guided by faith to do things others thought odd.  I know leaving my job and going to seminary was something even my faithful father didn’t understand at first.

3.  We the body of Christ are called to be leaders.  Yes, today at our annual meeting, we will elect certain people within our parish to be on Vestry.  The truth is, as Christians we are all called to be leaders in the sense that we use our talents to create and further the Kingdom of God.

We all have talents and skills that are necessary for God’s work to be done in this parish of St. John’s and in this City of Corbin and in this Commonwealth of Kentucky, and in this United States and in this world.  Each and every one of us.

This may change over time.  Our gifts emerge or are needed in different ways at different times; nonetheless, our skills are needed and offering them in community is an act of leadership and an act of faith.  The challenge is to hear God’s calling to us and be willing to act upon that call.

King Herod was frightened by the news of the baby born in Bethlehem.  Our leaders today are challenged by that baby born in Bethlehem.  We are challenged by that baby who becomes the man Jesus.  Our lives are changed by that baby who grows into the man Jesus.  We become people who speak truth to power, view the world from God’s lens, and are leaders with talents and skills in need of a different kind of ruler.

And in our faith, we know the truth of Paul’s prayer, uttered for us so many years ago, ringing down through the ages to our very ears and heart:

I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe. Ephesians 1:17-19a

Amen