Tag Archives: #StJohnsCorbin

This Sunday (January 18, 2015) at St. John’s

Posted on by

LORD, you have searched me out and known me; *
you know my sitting down and my rising up;
you discern my thoughts from afar. Psalm 139:1

I don’t know about you, but I’m not sure I’m thrilled that God knows all of my thoughts!  And yet, at the same time, it’s a comfort that God knows all about us.  What a loving God who takes such care that even the most common actions of our lives are known to God.  In other words, God is always with us.

And God is with us when we gather together as the community of St. John’s….

Love, Rebecca+

Rebecca’s Schedule: Rev. Rebecca will at St. John’s Corbin Wednesday, January 21 through Friday, January 23. Her Sabbath day will be Monday, January 19 and Tuesday, January 20. You can get a message to her by calling the church office at 606-528-1659 or priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org

Adult Forum: In January through mid-February (Christmas and Epiphany), we will discuss the blessing of same gender relationships.  Next week, Rebecca will be reviewing Theology and the Bible:  How the Episcopal Church develops its theology.

Godly Play offered for children.  All children are invited to participate in this special program of spiritual development.

Youth Group Bowling.  The youth ages 13-18 will go bowling Sunday afternoon, January 18, 1-3pm at Forest Bowling Lanes, Corbin.  Please see Rev. Rebecca if you’d like to go.

The Diocesan Stewardship Commission is offering an update on their work prior to Diocesan Convention.  Join Rebecca on Tuesday, January 20, at 7pm at St. Mary’s in Middlesboro to hear this update.  We can ride together and leave about 5 so we can eat dinner together.  The Bishop is also offering scholarships for teams from parishes to attend The Episcopal Network for Stewardship (www.tens.org) conference in Texas in May.  Please let Rebecca know if you’re interested in either of these events, as well as assisting with stewardship at St. John’s.

Pot Luck Sunday:  Next Sunday, January 25th, after the 11:00 service is our monthly pot luck meal.  Bring a dish or drink to share.  And all are welcome!  Plan on a time of fellowship with each other.

Weekday Morning Eucharist will be available Wednesday, January 21, 9am, in the Sanctuary.

Daughters of the King meets the third Wednesday of each month at 4:30pm.  The next meeting is January 21st.  If you have special prayer requests or would like to join this prayer ministry, please contact Shelia Phillips.

Ordination: Your prayers and presence are requested at the ordination to the Priesthood of Kate Byrd, Saturday, January 24, 2pm at Christ Church Cathedral.

Reading Camp Meeting, January 21, 10am.  This meeting will be with people in Corbin interested in helping children read.  We will look into recruiting children from Corbin for the Pine Mountain Camp, as well as connecting them to the local programs supporting reading during the school year.  We will also discuss raising money to support the children and the camp.  If you’d like to be part of this, please let Rebecca know.

Grow Appalachia Committee, January 21, 6:30pm.  The Grow Appalachia Committee will meet Wednesday after the evening service to talk about plans for the garden this summer.

Worship Committee will meet Friday, January 23, 4:30pm to plan Lent, Holy Week, and Easter.  All are welcome!

Game Night, Friday, January 30, 6:30-9:00pm.  Everyone is invited to Game night on Friday, January 30, hosted by the Young Adults of the parish.  Pizza will be provided.  Bring snacks and your own drinks.

The annual Acolyte Festival will be held Saturday, January 31, 10am – 3:30pm at Christ Church Cathedral in Lexington

Provide Flowers for the altar in honor or in memory of a loved one: 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.

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.

 

 

 

 

 

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Subscribe to our Website Feed!

Facebook:         https://www.facebook.com/StJohnsCorbin

Twitter:            https://twitter.com/StJohnsCorbin

Website:           http://stjohnscorbin.org/?subscribe=success#blog_subscription-2

Pinterest:          http://www.pinterest.com/stjohnscorbin/

 

Born Saying God’s Name (Sermon) January 11, 2015

Posted on by

Sermon – January 11, 2015

The Rev. Rebecca S. Myers, CSW

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Corbin, KY

The First Sunday After Epiphany:  The Baptism of the Lord

Year B

And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him.11And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’ Mark 1:10-11

Please Be Seated

Yesterday, my son, Scot, turned 40!  Where did the time go?  Naturally, at this time, I recall the day he was born and many other memories over the years.  His son, Logan, is so much like him that I often call him Scot instead of Logan!  It’s like I’m seeing my son grow up all over again, sort of.

But even in remembering, there’s so much we forget.  I don’t think too many, if any, of us remember the day we were born.  As adults, we talk about how traumatic it must be for a child to be born after nine months in a comfortable place with all of their needs met.  We make jokes about how a baby cries when it’s born.  Of course it’s important for a baby to cry at birth as a sign their lungs are cleared out and working well, but it seems to resonate with the trauma of being born into the world.  But none of us remembers that trauma, at least not overtly.

Sinead O’Connor in her recording from 1995, had a song that suggested babies are also born in spiritual trauma.  The words are:

 

All babies are born saying God’s name
Over and over,
All born singing God’s name
All babies are flown from the Universe
From there they’re lifted by the hands of angels
God gives them the stars to use as ladders
She hears their calls
She is mother and father
All babies are born out of great pain
Over and over
All born into great pain
All babies are crying
For no-one remembers God’s name

 

All Babies, Sinead O’Connor

 

“All babies are crying for no one remembers God’s name.”  It’s like when we’re born, a process of forgetting God ensues.  We’re born into a world that values what we can see with our eyes and touch with our hands or physical selves over what we can see with our hearts and touch with our spirits.  A world that discounts intuition and a sixth sense.  A world that in many places and in many ways is uncomfortable with, even afraid of, mystery and of unknowing.

 

We are born into this world with strong connections to God and our own spirits.  We don’t have a way to communicate with words for awhile, so we are very connected to our bodies and to what we experience in them.  But, it seems like as we grow older, we’re taught to ignore our bodies and hearts in favor of passing the standardized math and reading tests.  We forget how to read ourselves and each other.

 

Many times, we begin to accept this “vain” world’s assessment of us.  We’re not pretty.  We’re not smart.  We think funny.  We dress funny.  We don’t make enough money.  We aren’t good enough.  We forget that God created our diversity and that the norm is diversity rather than conformity.

 

That’s why renewing our baptismal vows is important.  Those of us baptized as children may only have a photograph of the event, but in a very real sense, that baptism was telling our spirits to remember where we came from…to remember God’s name.  As we got older and once again surrendered to the world’s assessment of us, renewing our baptismal vows reminds us that in the waters of baptism, we died to the world’s view of us and were returned or reborn to God’s view of us.

 

And God’s view of us is that we were perfectly created.  No, we are not God.  We are not perfect in that we know everything or can do everything or see everything.  We are perfect in the part of the body of Christ that we are.  We are perfect in our humanity.  We don’t have every talent, but we have talent…talent necessary for the world.  We don’t possess all knowledge, but we possess knowledge that is necessary for the world.  We don’t have all intelligence, but we have intelligence that is necessary for the world.  We don’t have all understanding of God, but we have understanding of God that is necessary for the world.

 

When Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River, the heavens were torn apart, so the Holy Spirit could break in and the voice of God could confirm that Jesus was a child of God, beloved of God and that God was pleased.

 

And we need those same reminders.  When we renew our baptismal vows…when we feel the water sprinkled on us, God is breaking through to us…recalling to us what we knew when we were born…reminding us of God’s name.  God is reminding us that the Holy Spirit is right with us.  God is reminding us that we are beloved children and that God is well pleased with us.  Then we are prepared to go into the world in peace to love and to serve God.

 

Amen

This Sunday (January 11, 2015) at St. John’s

Posted on by

God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. Genesis 1:5

Most of us have had many “first days.”  There is the first day we remember.  There is the first day we went to school.  There is the first day we met our best friend or our spouse.  There is the first day we lived after someone we loved had died.  So many first days….

This Sunday we’ll here this short passage from Genesis about the first day…truly the first day.  It’s hard to imagine that.  But what we do know about first days is that they represent something new and different…something that dramatically changes our lives and how we live them.  There can be incredibly hard first days, but there can also be incredibly important and hope-filled first days.

If we’re not living the life God has called us to, we can start trying again.  We can have a new day…a first day of living in a new way.  We’re only 11 days into the New Year.  What first days do you think God is calling you to?

Blessings as you finish your week!

Love, Rebecca

01-11-2015 Bulletin Renewal of Baptismal Covenant

Rebecca’s Schedule: Rev. Rebecca will at St. Agnes’ House Monday, January 12, through Thursday, January 15. Her Sabbath day will be Friday, January 16. You can get a message to her by calling the church office at 606-528-1659 or priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org

Adult Forum: In January through mid-February (Christmas and Epiphany), we will discuss the blessing of same gender relationships.  Next week, Rebecca will be reviewing the History of the Episcopal Church’s Decision.

Godly Play offered for children.  All children are invited to participate in this special program of spiritual development.

Your prayers and presence are requested at the ordination to the Priesthood of Andrew Hege, on Saturday, January 17,10am, at Church of the Good Shepherd in Lexington.

Youth Group Bowling.  The youth ages 13-18 will go bowling Sunday afternoon, January 18, 1-3pm at Forest Bowling Lanes, Corbin.  Please see Rev. Rebecca if you’d like to go.

The Diocesan Stewardship Commission is offering an update on their work prior to Diocesan Convention.  Join Rebecca on Tuesday, January 20, at 7pm at St. Mary’s in Middlesboro to hear this update.  We can ride together and leave about 5 so we can eat dinner together.  The Bishop is also offering scholarships for teams from parishes to attend The Episcopal Network for Stewardship (www.tens.org) conference in Texas in May.  Please let Rebecca know if you’re interested in either of these events, as well as assisting with stewardship at St. John’s.

Weekday Morning Eucharist will be available Wednesday, January 21, 9am, in the Sanctuary.

Reading Camp Meeting, January 21, 10am.  This meeting will be with people in Corbin interested in helping children read.  We will look into recruiting children from Corbin for the Pine Mountain Camp, as well as connecting them to the local programs supporting reading during the school year.  We will also discuss raising money to support the children and the camp.  If you’d like to be part of this, please let Rebecca know.

Grow Appalachia!  We’ve received a grant for $4,530 for our community garden through Grow Appalachia.  The Grow Appalachia website is http://www.berea.edu/grow-appalachia/  The Grow Appalachia Committee will meet Wednesday, January 21, 6:30pm. 

Worship Committee will meet Friday, January 23, 4:30pm to plan Lent, Holy Week, and Easter.  All are welcome!

Game Night, Friday, January 30, 6:30-9:00pm.  Everyone is invited to Game night on Friday, January 30, hosted by the Young Adults of the parish.  Pizza will be provided.  Bring snacks and your own drinks.

The annual Acolyte Festival will be held Saturday, January 31, 10am – 3:30pm at Christ Church Cathedral in Lexington

Provide Flowers for the altar in honor or in memory of a loved one: 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.

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.

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 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.

 Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Subscribe to our Website Feed!

Facebook:         https://www.facebook.com/StJohnsCorbin

Twitter:            https://twitter.com/StJohnsCorbin

Website:           http://stjohnscorbin.org/?subscribe=success#blog_subscription-2

Pinterest:          http://www.pinterest.com/stjohnscorbin/

This Sunday (January 4, 2015) at St. John’s

Posted on by

How dear to me is your dwelling, O LORD of hosts! *
My soul has a desire and longing for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God. Psalm 84:1

Psalm 84 always reminds me of the piece from the Brahms requiem.  I’ve sung this piece in a number of choirs over the years.  It’s meant to provide a comforting vision of heaven for those mourning a loss.

It’s especially wonderful to sing this piece in a church, because church space is such a sanctuary in our world — just a little bit of heaven here on earth.  And St. John’s certainly is that.  Fairly simple, always peaceful and serene.  And especially at Christmas and Easter, the space is especially beautiful.  Thanks to the Altar Guild and helpers who decorated for the season.

This Sunday is the Last Sunday of Christmas and we then enter the season of Epiphany.  Come sit in this holy and beautiful space this Sunday.

Blessings as you finish your week!

Love, Rebecca+

01-05-2015 Bulletin

News & Notes

Rebecca’s Schedule: Rev. Rebecca will at St. Agnes’ House Monday, January 5, through Thursday, January 8. Her Sabbath day will be Friday, January 9.  You can get a message to her by calling the church office at 606-528-1659 or priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org

Today we welcome Emily Cardwell to the pulpit.  Emily is in the supervisory part of discerning a call to ministry for the Diaconate. She has been supported in this process by a discernment committee and her Vestry at St. John’s in Versailles, as well as by her husband, Jeff and their three children – Leah, Quinn and Willa. She has been assigned to St. Agnes House for her supervisory reflection, while also being given the opportunity to preach here in Corbin. Emily is on the Pastoral Care team where her focus is prison ministry, and she finishes up her third year as a Vestry member next month.

Adult Forum: In January through mid-February (Christmas and Epiphany), we will discuss the blessing of same gender relationships.  Next week, Bruce Cory will continue a discussion on What Does the Bible Say.

Godly Play offered for children.  All children are invited to participate in this special program of spiritual development.

Youth Group Bowling.  The youth ages 13-18 will go bowling Sunday afternoon, January 18, 1-3pm at Forest Bowling Lanes, Corbin.  Please see Rev. Rebecca if you’d like to go.

Vestry Retreat: Please pray for our Vestry as we are in retreat on Saturday, January 10.  We will be looking more closely at our mission and the future.  To help us with the discussion, please answer these questions and talk to or email Rebecca at priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org.  Please provide short one or two sentence, powerful descriptive answers to each question.  Humanize answers whenever possible. i.e. Share a real-life example.

  1. How do we help/serve people?
  2. Who do we help/serve?
  3. What are our vital services/programs?
  4. What is our track record?
  5. Our plans for the future?
  6. How do we use our money?
  7. Why do we deserve your support?

 

Weekday Morning Eucharist will be available Wednesday, January 21, 9am, in the Sanctuary.

Provide Flowers for the altar in honor or in memory of a loved one: 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.

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.

United Thank Offering.  Remember to get your box for your thank offerings for this ministry of The Episcopal Church.  The next collection will be in the spring.

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 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.

 

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Subscribe to our Website Feed!

Facebook:         https://www.facebook.com/StJohnsCorbin

Twitter:            https://twitter.com/StJohnsCorbin

Website:           http://stjohnscorbin.org/?subscribe=success#blog_subscription-2

Pinterest:          http://www.pinterest.com/stjohnscorbin/

 

Sing and Rejoice O Daughter Zion (Sermon) Christmas, 2014

Posted on by

Sermon – December 25, 2014

The Rev. Rebecca S. Myers, CSW

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Corbin, KY

Christmas Day

 

Zech 2:10-13

zech 2:10-13

Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! For lo, I will come and dwell in your midst, says the Lord. Many nations shall join themselves to the Lord on that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell in your midst. And you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. The Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem.

Be silent, all people, before the Lord; for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.

1 John 4:7-16

God Is Love

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.

By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Saviour of the world. God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.

God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.

John 3:31-36

The One Who Comes from Heaven

The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his testimony. Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified this, that God is true. He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure God’s wrath.

 

 

Well, it’s that time of year.  TV, newspapers, blogs and all kinds of media have retrospectives of the year…2014 in review.  Even Facebook and Google Plus will take the photos you’ve posted this year and create a year in review.  It’s kind of scary to see what they put together.

Sometimes it’s hard not to despair.  I’ve told you before that everyone alive on earth right now has the same mother from 50,000 years ago….mitochondrial Eve, she’s called.  So, technically we’re all brothers and sisters.  Yet we treat each other so badly, sometimes.  I mean ISIS/ISIL is so horrifying, aren’t they?  They’re such a puzzle.  And we were touched personally whenAbdul-Rahman Kassig, Anne Day and Jeff’s friend of their daughter Sarah, was executed.  Every day, we hear things that break our hearts or make us shake our heads at how cruel we can be.

That’s why this vision from Zechariah is so comforting:

Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! For lo, I will come and dwell in your midst, says the Lord. Many nations shall join themselves to the Lord on that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell in your midst. Zech 2:10-11 

This is a vision of joy, because God has come to live with us and thus bring all nations together as one people.  A vision of unity.  Now, we know that this does not mean we are all alike or think alike.  We are a typical family and very, very diverse!  Yet, we hold one thing in common and that is our joy in God’s coming.

And then in our reading from 1 John, we get a second dose or guide to hope.  We hear the central truth that God is Love.  And we get this guidance:

Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. 1 John 4:11-12

Our love of each other is a response to God’s amazing love to us…a love we celebrate this morning.  And in loving each other, we create a place for God to dwell and not only that, God’s love becomes perfect in us.

The best gift we can give today…the best way we can reflect our joy on this day, is to resolve to better love each other.  It’s not easy, we know, but we can redouble our efforts to try.  Loving each other is the only way to know God.

Amen

Blessed Christmas Eve and This Sunday (December 28) at St. John’s

Posted on by

As Advent approached, I had an idea we could write our own Advent Meditation booklet based on verses of Advent hymns.  But I was late in planning and then Living Compass sent us their meditation booklets.  Jason Beams-Jackson wrote this meditation and I really liked it, so on this last day of Advent, wanted to share it with you.

Comfort, comfort ye my people, speak ye peace, thus saith our God;
comfort those who sit in darkness mourning ‘neath their sorrows’ load.
Speak ye to Jerusalem of the peace that waits for them;
tell her that her sins I cover, and her warfare now is over.  Hymnal 1982, 67

I am touched deeply by this verse; it reminds me to keep a humble heart.  Advent is a great time to reflect on what we have done to comfort one another; and how we have treated one another.  So for me, this has been a great reflection on myself.  I had to allow God to give me comfort and peace at heart.  So with God’s grace and guidance, I hope to be a comfort to those around me; and to help those overcome their darkness.  I am grateful every day for God’s love and the peace of having a helping heart.

Hope to see many of you today at the Christmas Eve services as 7 and 11.  Morning prayer will be said tomorrow at 9am.

Blessings during this special time of celebration!

Love, Rebecca+

Bulletin 12-24-14

News & Notes

Rebecca’s Schedule: Rebecca will be on vacation Friday, December 26, through Friday, January 2. During her vacation,.the Rev. Peter Helman is available for pastoral emergencies. He can be reached by text or phone at 940-735-1235. You may also leave a message for Rebecca by phoning the church office at 606-528-1659 or emailing priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org.

Christmas Eve Services: 7:00 pm – Evening Candlelight Service. 11:00 pm – Midnight Candlelight Service.
Christmas Day: 9:00 am – Morning Prayer
Sunday, December 28, 11am – Service of Lessons and Carols

Adult Forum: There will be no Adult Forum on December 28. January through mid-February (Christmas and Epiphany), we will discuss the blessing of same gender relationships.  If you’d like to lead a session, please see Rebecca.

Godly Play (Sunday School): The Godly Play program is for children and offered each Sunday morning at 10:00 am. All children are invited to participate in this special form of spiritual development.

Please pray for our Vestry as we are in retreat on Saturday, January 10.  We will be looking more closely at our mission and the future.  To help us with the discussion, please answer these questions and talk to or email Rebecca at priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org.

 Provide short – one or two sentence, powerful descriptive answers to each question. Humanize answers whenever possible. i.e. Share a real-life example.

 1.How do we help/serve people?
2. Who do we help/serve?
3. What are our vital services/programs?
4. What is our track record?
5. Our plans for the future? 6.How do we use our money? Why do we deserve your support?

 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.

Yes, Lord, I Believe (Sermon) Funeral of Brenda Neeley Gibson, 12/23/14

Posted on by

Sermon – December 23, 2014

The Rev. Rebecca S. Myers, CSW

Funeral of Brenda Neeley Gibson

London Funeral Home Chapel, London, KY

John 11:21-27

 

21Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. John 11:21

 

27She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.’ John 11:26-27

 

Well over the past few weeks I’ve heard some favorite stories about Brenda.  Like the time someone said they’d take her for a motorcycle ride and she climbed right on and went for the ride, although she didn’t really ever want to take a second ride.  Or how she learned to drive using her crutches to move the gas peddle and the brake.  Or the time when someone said they were coming to pick her up for something and she said she was in the middle of painting the ceiling!  Her friend was incredulous, but arrived at the house to see Brenda in her wheelchair with a roller on an extension and she was painting the ceiling!

Or how she loved her job at Laurel Heights Nursing Home and what delight she had helping the residents there and how she made sure they got to the church services.  We could spend hours telling stories, couldn’t we?

I didn’t know Brenda for very long, but got to know her better in the past couple of months when she was hospitalized.  During her illness, I started hearing stories, and to a person, everyone agreed that Brenda was an amazing person.  She was always so cheerful and encouraging.  She was always up to a challenge.  She didn’t want any special treatment.  She’d talk about some of the things that happened to her, but she’d be so matter of fact about it.  She was an inspiration to so many of us, helping us try harder in our own lives, helping us to be better people.

Yes, she did have her moments, but she sure didn’t like you to know about them.  One day I called her at the hospital and she broke down about so many things that were worrying her.  But when I went to see her the next day, I could tell she was so embarrassed she’d let me see her worries.  Because, as amazing as Brenda was, her one downfall, like so many of us, was that she had a hard time asking for and receiving help.  She was so independent and believed it was important for her to take care of herself.  This independence could be frustrating at times when you knew she needed help.  I hope as we mourn, we will reach out to each other and take help from each other.

So, upon hearing about Brenda’s death, most of us can relate to Martha in our Gospel, Lord, if you had been here, our sister, Brenda, would not have died.  Because we depended upon Brenda so much that we didn’t want to have to readjust our lives to being without her.  We wanted her to live forever or at least outlive us.

But, I think the gift Brenda gave us that we probably overlooked, was that Brenda knew every single day of her life was a gift.  None of us are promised length of life and yet we live like it is our right to live many, many years.  We act like there’s always a tomorrow.  But, you see, Brenda knew as a child that she was not expected to live very long…not expected to live beyond her teenaged years.  So, I don’t think Brenda took her life for granted.  She tried to pack in as much as she could and lived in tremendous gratitude for every day.

Now, some people might choose to be bitter.  But, you see, Brenda didn’t really question why she had the medical problems she had.  Maybe she had her private moments of wishing things would be different and we wouldn’t blame her for that.  But, I think Brenda accepted her life, because Brenda believed in God and in Jesus Christ, his Son.

Brenda believed that Jesus was “the resurrection and the life.”  She believed that in believing in Jesus Christ, she would live and never die.  She could answer Jesus like Martha did, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.”

And as hard as it is to say good-bye to her at this time of year…this time of Christmas…what more fitting time?  This is the time we celebrate Jesus’ coming into the world.  This is the time we remember that God gave his only Son to us and we can be sure that Brenda is wrapped in the loving arms of God.  We can be sure that Brenda is sitting at the feet of Jesus.  We here are waiting to see the face of Jesus, but Brenda is right there.

God asks all of us to be examples of His love and His rule on earth.  Brenda was certainly that, so we carry in our hearts her perseverance, her determination, her joy, and her knowing that each and every day is a gift from God.

Thank you God for giving us Brenda.  Rest in peace, dear one of God.

Amen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Week (December 21) at St. John’s

Posted on by

Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; Collect for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, BCP, pg. 212

We will read this Collect of the Day on Sunday.  I love the vision of it.  That God would daily visit us and work in us every day.  This doesn’t say that we ask God to visit us, but assumes God DOES visit us daily!

Then, because of these daily visits for which we don’t even ask, a mansion would be created in us for the coming of Jesus Christ.  Not just a room or any old house, but a mansion!  A beautiful, huge place for Christ to dwell.

My prayer for you is that you may feel God working in you, building that mansion where Christ dwells..

Love, Rebecca+

Bulletin 12-21-2014

News & Notes

Rebecca’s Schedule: Rebecca will be at St. John’s Corbin through Thursday, December 25.  Rebecca will be on vacation Friday, December 26, through Friday, January 2. During her vacation,.the Rev. Peter Helman is available for pastoral emergencies. He can be reached by text or phone at 940-735-1235. You may also leave a message for Rebecca by phoning the church office at 606-528-1659 or emailing priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org.

Christmas Eve Services:
9:00 am – Morning Eucharist.
7:00 pm – Evening Candlelight Service.
11:00 pm – Midnight Candlelight Service.

After the 7pm and 11pm service, we will have a chocolate and champagne/wine/sparkling cider reception.

Christmas Day: 9:00 am – Morning Prayer

Adult Forum: During December, we’ll continue our discussion of The Thirty-Nine Articles, BCP 867-876.  Come learn about this historic document, which guides our denomination.  Are the Articles still relevant today?  Join the discussion.  There will be no Adult Forum on December 28.

January through mid-February (Christmas and Epiphany), we will discuss the blessing of same gender relationships.  If you’d like to lead a session, please see Rebecca.

Godly Play (Sunday School): The Godly Play program is for children and offered each Sunday morning at 10:00 am. All children are invited to participate in this special form of spiritual development.

Decorate the church, Sunday, December 21, after church. Bring your lunch and stay after church on December 21 to help us decorate for Christmas.

Getting ready to decorate the church for Christmas.

Getting ready to decorate the church for Christmas.

Greening of the church will take place after the service this Sunday. Bring your lunch and help out!

Greening of the church will take place after the service this Sunday. Bring your lunch and help out!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Youth grades 7-12 are invited to a retreat, “A New Year in the Spirit” at Cathedral Domain, Saturday, December 27 – until Tuesday, December 30.  See Rebecca for more information.

 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.

Bearing Witness (Sermon) December 14, 2014

Posted on by

Sermon – December 14, 2014

The Rev. Rebecca S. Myers, CSW

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Corbin, KY

Advent III Year B

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. John 1:6-8

Please be seated.

For 56 years, I sat in the pews just like you.  It was only on January 27, 2013, that I started wearing this collar.  However, in some of my seminary classes, especially the Pastoral Theology classes taught by Professor Amy Bentley Lamborn, and in Clinical Pastoral Education, we talked about how people might relate to us once we had our collar on.

Wearing this collar and shirt means different things to different people.  Some people are comforted or feel trust towards me.  Some people feel frightened or angry.  It all depends upon your own experiences.

Wearing this collar is a way to testify that I am an ordained person in the Christian Church.  My ordination certificate even says the people are well assured of my:  “sober, honest and godly Life and Conversation, competent Learning, Knowledge of the holy Scriptures, and Soundness in the faith.”

At my Ordination to the priesthood (found on page 532 of the Book of Common Prayer), I promised to do my best “to pattern [my] life (and that of my family or household or community) in accordance with the teachings of Christ, so that [I] may be a wholesome example to my people.”

So I put on this collar often as a testimony and witness of my belief in Jesus Christ and my calling to be a priest in the church.  And yet, there are times when I’m not really such a great witness, I fear….

For instance, one day I was traveling back to Corbin from Lexington.  My car sports a St. John’s license plate on the front.  If you don’t have one, ask me about getting one.  I had to stop at Wal-Mart for hot dog rolls.  It was a Wednesday and we were having activities in the park and I was buying more hot dog rolls to go with the hot dogs.  I was in a big hurry, too.

Well, that was when they were doing construction and S. Stewart Road/Sawyers Rd. was only one lane each way.  The first entrance to Wal-Mart, there by the gas station and Dairy Queen, was blocked by tractor trailers.  The woman in front of me was trying to get to Wal-Mart, but couldn’t get in, because of the blockage.  And I couldn’t get around her either.  There’s another entrance to Wal-Mart further down the road and when the woman didn’t seem to know that, I started honking my horn and pointing to her to go up further to the next entrance.

Well, I kept honking and pointing and yelling – go on ahead, but she only got angry and got out of her car.  I tried yelling out my window that she could go to the next entrance, but she wouldn’t listen.  The trucker blocking the entrance to Wal-Mart even got into the game, giving me dirty looks and then he pointed at the front of my car with the St. John’s license plate on it and gave me a really dirty look and yelled at me.  I’m not sure if he saw my collar or not.

Clearly, I was not a good representative of The Episcopal Church in Corbin that day.  I was trying to be helpful, but I was more interested in getting my own tasks done than in being a witness for God.

Today, we once again hear about John the Baptist.  In the Gospel of John, we learn that John the Baptist made it clear he was not the Messiah.  Many people thought he might be.  The Gospel writer makes it clear that John the Baptist was a “witness to testify to the light.”  We, too, are called to “testify to the light, so that all might believe….”

What does that mean?  Well, to testify, according to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, means “to make a statement based on personal knowledge or belief :  bear witness.”  We are called to bear witness to the truth of Jesus Christ…to testify what it means to be a follower of Christ.  We do that with words, sharing our story of faith.  But more importantly, we testify with our actions…with how we live our daily lives.

It’s surely not easy.  There is plenty of professed following of Christ in our community, but you’d never know it by the way we treat each other and the conditions we create – the poverty, cruelty, homelessness, seeking revenge.  No,  giving witness to Christ…following Christ….testifying to the truth of Jesus Christ…to love as the key…to loving our neighbor as ourselves…to putting God first, is extremely hard.

Now, I have my collar and shirt that help remind me and some of us have the license plate on the front of our cars.  We have this Sunday morning service and Wednesday evening service where we can get centered again…hear scripture, sing together, pray prayers together, ask for forgiveness and be forgiven, break bread together, to remind us of our testimony and of our calling to testify and bear witness to Jesus Christ.

This week, think about how you testify and bear witness to Jesus Christ.  Be aware.

You see, we are all “sent from God.” We have come as witnesses “to testify to the light, so that all might believe …..” We are “not the light,” but we come “to testify to the light.”

Amen

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Sunday (December 14, 2014) at St. John’s

Posted on by

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances…. I Thessalonians 5:16-18

At this time of year, rejoicing and giving thanks in every circumstance can be especially difficult.  The days are short, with little sunlight, so we want to hibernate and some of us experience depression.  The holidays can bring lots of stress to get the right gift, have the perfect party or family event.  The dysfunction in our families seems to come to the fore.  And if we have few resources, we can feel badly that we can’t buy the gifts we’d like for our loved ones.  If we’re experiencing the loss of loved ones, we seem to especially feel it at this time of year.

The people of Church in Thessalonica are faithful to the Gospel as told them by Paul and they also have faced hardships.  Paul writes to encourage them.  And our modern-day research shows health benefits from rejoicing, praying and giving thanks.

So through our stress, grief, and worry, we can try to rejoice, pray and give thanks.  It may be the best way to get through our difficult time.

Blessings as you finish your week!

Love, Rebecca+

Bulletin 12-14-2014

News & Notes

Rebecca’s Schedule: Rebecca will be at St. John’s Corbin Tuesday, December 16 through Thursday, December 18.  Her Sabbath Days will be Monday, December 15 and Friday, December 19. You may leave her a message by phoning the church office at 606-528-1659 or emailing priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org.

Adult Forum: During December, we’ll continue our discussion of The Thirty-Nine Articles, BCP 867-876.  Come learn about this historic document, which guides our denomination.  Are the Articles still relevant today?  Join the discussion.  There will be no Adult Forum on December 28.

Godly Play (Sunday School): The Godly Play program is for children and offered each Sunday morning at 10:00 am. All children are invited to participate in this special form of spiritual development.

Winter Coat Donations: The Rotary Club of Corbin is collecting 500 new winter coats, especially for boys and girls ages 3-9.  Coats will be distributed at the Empty Stocking Fund party on December 22.  If you’d like to donate a coat, bring it to church and give it to Rebecca.  You can also make a financial contribution to Empty Stocking Fund and give it to Rebecca.

Donations for Christmas Flowers are being accepted until December 14.  Donations can be made in Honor of, in Memory of or in Thanksgiving for a person or blessing.  Envelopes are available in the parlor or put your offering in the plate marked, “Christmas Flowers.”

Daughters of the King meets the third Wednesday of each month at 4:30pm.  The next meeting is December 17.  If you have special prayer requests or would like to join this prayer ministry, please contact Shelia Phillips.

Decorate the church, Sunday, December 21, after church. Bring your lunch and stay after church on December 21 to help us decorate for Christmas.

Youth grades 7-12 are invited to a retreat, “A New Year in the Spirit” at Cathedral Domain, Saturday, December 27 – until Tuesday, December 30.  See Rebecca for more information.

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.

United Thank Offering.  Remember to get your box for your thank offerings for this ministry of The Episcopal Church.  The next collection will be in the spring. 

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 Arm, 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.