Tag Archives: Philippians

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

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Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:6-7

This past week, the clergy of the Diocese were together with Bishop Hahn at the Cathedral Domain.  On Tuesday evening, five members of Al-anon came to talk to us about this important 12-step program.  Al-anon is for anyone whose life is being affected by alcoholism or another addiction.  Those in Al-anon are worriers and their worry pushes them to believe they can control and somehow cure the action and behavior of the addict.  The members told us they were crazier than the person with the addiction!  They had to learn that, “they didn’t cause it, they couldn’t cure it and they couldn’t control it!  Letting go and not worrying is so difficult.

Yet, Paul tells us that when we worry, we need to pray, earnestly and humbly.  We need to pray with thanksgiving.  We need to let God know our requests.  We need to speak to God about our worry.  Now, Paul doesn’t say what we request will be granted, necessarily.  Paul says, however, that we will find peace, a peace that in many ways we cannot understand.  It is that peace, which we need in this worrisome world.

Blessings as you finish your week!

Love, Rebecca+

Bulletin 10-12-2014 (1)

A Stewardship Prayer
My church is composed of people like me. I help make it what it is. It will be friendly, if I am. Its pews will be filled, if I help fill them. It will do great work, if I work. It will make generous gifts to many causes, if I am a generous giver. It will bring other people into its worship and fellowship, if I invite and bring them. It will be a church of loyalty and love, of fearlessness and faith, and a church with a noble spirit, if I, who make it what it is, am filled with these same things. Therefore, with the help of God, I shall dedicate myself to the task of being all the things that I want my church to be.

Amen  (source: Archdiocese of Rochester) 

Stewardship: Please prayerfully consider the gifts God has given you that you will give back to St. John’s for Christ’s ministry and mission during 2015.  Pledge cards should be returned by October 26 to prepare for our November 16 Annual Meeting and adoption of the 2015 budget.

Rebecca’s Schedule: Rebecca will be at St. Agnes’ House, Monday through Thursday.  Her Sabbath Day will be Friday, October 17. You can get a message to her by calling the

Adult Forum: The Adult Forum meets each Sunday at 10:00 am in the Parish Hall. Through November 2, the topic will be Living with Money.  On October 19, the Bishop will be meeting with the group.

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

Pot Luck Sunday:  Next Sunday, October 19, is our monthly pot luck.  Bring a dish or drink to share.  And all are welcome!  Plan to fellowship with each other.  Our pot luck schedule has shifted in October and November.  Pot Luck will be October 19, when the Bishop visits; and November 16, when we have our Annual Meeting.

Daughters of the King meets the third Wednesday of each month at 4:30pm.  The next meeting is October 15. If you have special prayer requests or would like to join this prayer ministry, please contact Shelia Phillips.

All Saints Sunday, November 2.  We observe All Saints Day and will read the names of those saints close to us who have died.  To have the name of your loved one read at the service, please place it in the offering plate or leave a message on the church phone or email webmaster@stjohnscorbin.org by October 26

Belk Charity Sales Day:  The annual Belk Charity Sales day will be Saturday, November 8, 6-10am.  Members of St. John’s are selling tickets for $5.00 for this special event.  The church keeps the $5.00 and for each ticket you receive $5.00 off an item.  If you can help, please contact June.

The Diocesan Budget Committee will be at St. John’s on Wednesday, November 5, 7-8:30pm to talk about the 2015 Diocesan Budget.  Come meet the Committee, ask questions and learn where our collective dollars go.

The Vestry has voted to donate $25 each month to Everlasting Arm Homeless Shelter. If you’d like to contribute, put your donations in the collection box by the guest register or mark your donation and put it in the collection plate.

 Kroger Rewards: St. John’s is now registered with the Kroger Community Rewards Program. Please register your Kroger card at http://krogercommunityrewards.com .

(Instructions)

  • Be sure to have your Kroger Plus card handy and register your card with your organization after you sign up.
  • If a member does not yet have a Kroger Plus card, please let them know that they are available at the customer service desk at any Kroger.
  • Click on Sign In/Register
  • Most participants are new online customers, so they must click on SIGN UP TODAY in the ‘New Customer?’ box.
  • Sign up for a Kroger Rewards Account by entering zip code, clicking on favorite store, entering your email address and creating a password, agreeing to the terms and conditions
  • You will then get a message to check your email inbox and click on the link within the body of the email.
  • Click on My Account and use your email address and password to proceed to the next step.
  • Click on Edit Kroger Community Rewards information and input your Kroger Plus card number.
  • Update or confirm your information.
  • Enter NPO number (47782) or name of organization, select organization from list and click on confirm.
  • To verify you are enrolled correctly, you will see your organization’s name on the right side of your information page.
  • REMEMBER, purchases will not count for your group until after your member(s) register their card(s).
  • Do you use your phone number at the register?  Call 800-576-4377, select option 4 to get your Kroger Plus card number.
  • Members must swipe their registered Kroger Plus card or use the phone number that is related to their registered Kroger Plus card when shopping for each purchase to count.


 

Furnace Needed: The furnace located in the sacristy, which heats part of the parish hall and hallways must be replaced prior to this winter. The new furnace will cost $2,250. The new furnace will be more energy efficient and lower the electric bill. Two more furnaces will need to be replaced over the next two years: one that heats the parish hall and one that heats the rectory. Donations for the furnace can be put in the box on the corner shelves in the parish hall.

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.

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 fall. 

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.

 

Matching Intentions with Actions (Sermon) September 28, 2014

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Sermon – September 28, 2014

The Rev. Rebecca S. Myers, CSW

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Corbin, KY

Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost (Proper 21) Track 1

“Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.”  Matthew 21:31

Please be seated.

As I was thinking about Latino/Latina Heritage month, I was remembering my friend Maria.  She was a NewYoRican, having lived some of her life in Puerto Rico, but much of her life in New York City.

By the time I met Maria, she had relocated to Harrisburg, and she had been in recovery from drug addiction for many years.  She was a counselor in an outpatient treatment clinic and a mom, raising a daughter the same age as my daughter.  She was very active in the community, advocating for justice.  And she was a patient and loving teacher and a wonderful trainer.

I first got to know Maria through an informal group that organized to address racism in the Harrisburg area.  Throughout her life, we continued that work in many places and in many ways.  And we also became very good friends, having children who grew up together, going camping, taking trips, going to dinner and the movies.

When I was living in North Carolina, Maria and her two grandsons came to visit for a weekend.  When Maria got to my house, she realized she’d forgotten her suitcase!  Well, there was a GoodWill store within walking distance of where I lived.  Maria bought a whole wardrobe for the weekend, jewelry, belt and shoes included, plus a toy for each of her grandsons, for about $20!  She was classy in her style of dress and loved bargains.

Maria taught me so many things, including the fact that good intentions don’t let you off the hook for your actions.  She’d say, if you put your foot on my neck (an action), do you expect me to thank you when you lift it off just a little (good intentions.)?  In other words, even if you intended for good, the results of your actions were the key.

That’s what we hear in our Gospel today, isn’t it?  Jesus tells a parable about intentions and actions.  The first son did not intend to follow his father’s request, but then acted in compliance with the request; whereas, the second son intended to follow his father’s request, but his actions proved otherwise.

How many times are we like the second son? We refuse to take the actions we know are best or right or Christian, yet when the consequences of our inaction occur and people are hurt, we bargain for credit or even total pardon, because our intentions were good or honorable.  Today Jesus says, “The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions.”

Because, there are consequences when our intentions do not lead us to action.  The father experienced consequences in the vineyard.  Not as much work was able to be done that day.  Maybe he was out finding others to labor in the vineyard or figuring out how to live on the reduced harvest.  What would you say to the son who intended to go out and work and then did not?  The father would find it hard to trust this son.  Yes, there were definitely consequences when the intentions did not match action.

The scribes and elders intended to be faithful, to follow God, serve God, worship God… to do God’s Will, but Jesus lets them know their actions do not follow their intentions.  That the actions of the outcasts, prostitutes, tax collectors, people usually not deemed to want to follow God, serve God and worship God, nonetheless acted in ways that were faithful to God’s will.

Christ is calling us to match our intentions with our action…to love our neighbor as ourselves; to not be so attached to our property; to work for justice and fairness; to be good stewards of all God has given us.  We intend to and we fall short.

So today, we also hear Paul exhort, “… work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12).  We intend to work out our own salvation, knowing that following Jesus saves us and we are imperfect in our actions.  That is why we are humble…why we do so with fear and trembling. Not because we are afraid God will punish us, but because we know we must be vigilant in our efforts to match intention with action, because we know how often we will fail.

Even though Maria eventually moved to Rhode Island, and I moved to DC, we stayed in touch.  She called me one December, about 2007, I think, and left a message on my phone.  Now I can’t remember whether I called her back to not, but I kept that message on my phone, just to hear the sound of her voice.  A couple of months later, I received the news that Maria had advanced cancer.  She died within a couple of weeks.  I kept that message on my phone for years.

You see, Maria taught me about the strength of community.  She taught me how we work our our own salvation, acting with great humility, with the fear and trembling Paul talks about.  She taught me how important it is that intentions match action.  She taught me that my good intentions did not and could not let me off the hook for the consequences of the actions I took or failed to take.  I couldn’t bear to know her voice was no longer in the world.  I felt I had so much more to learn.

So, we come together in the community of St. John’s today.  We are in the same boat and it’s easier to share with others who are also doing their best.  It’s easier when we pray together for and receive forgiveness.  It’s easier when we break bread and drink the cup of wine together.  We can begin again.  Together, we work out our salvation and do the will of the father.

Amen

This Sunday (September 28, 2014) at St. John’s

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Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.  Philippians 2:4

This week I’m in Berea attending the Brushy Fork Institute.  St. Agnes’ House receives $13,500 from the Berea College Appalachian Fund, so we are encouraged to attend this Institute each year.  A major focus is strengthening the leadership in Appalachia.  There are speakers and intensive workshop tracks on helpful subjects.  This year, I’m learning more about ways to communicate that build relationship and partnership.  Look out everyone, because you know I’ll be practicing and sharing what I learn.

Another thing I like about the Institute is the food.  Wednesday evening, we had dinner at Boone Tavern, a wonderful place to eat.  I enjoyed conversations with the people at my table.  Some have lived and worked in the region of Appalachia for many years.  Of course, I had to ask my perennial question — Why has poverty persisted in this region?

Well, we had a fun discussion and veered onto how to build a diverse economy in the region.  One of the issues we talked about is how possible it is to build a business that balances the interests of the business with the interests of the people.  For instance, if the minimum wage kept pace with what it was years ago, it’d be well over $10; not the $7.25 it currently is.  Would paying the minimum wage workers a little more money help both business and people?  Could families be better supported?

In the early church, Paul exhorted believers to reach out beyond themselves and their own personal interests to do what was helpful and caring for others.  What does that look like in your world?  How can we make it happen?

Love, Rebecca+

Bulletin 09-28-2014 insert

Bulletin 09-28-2014

REMINDER:  We celebrate Latino/Latina Heritage Month this Sunday.    Take a look at the bulletin and insert to review the music we’ll be singing.  We’ll also be saying the Lord’s Prayer in Spanish!

Pot Luck This Sunday!  It’s pot luck Sunday, Bring your favorite dish to share.  All are welcome!  Our pot luck schedule is changing for October and November.  October 19 will be pot luck, which is when Bishop Hahn makes his annual visit.  November 16 will be pot luck to coincide with the Annual Meeting.

Rebecca’s Schedule: Rebecca will be at St. John’s Tuesday and Thursday this week. Her Sabbath Day will be Monday, September 29 and Friday October 3. You can get a message to her by calling the church office at 606-528-1659 or priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org.

Adult Forum: The Adult Forum is reviewing and discussing the 39 Articles of Faith, pages 867-876 in the Book of Common Prayer through September 28.

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

Confirmation Classes: Confirmation classes are being held every Wednesday through October 1 from 6:30-8pm.  All are invited.  This week’s session will be sacramental theology.

Godly Play Teachers needed. Godly Play teachers are needed.  Training is provided.  This is a wonderful program of spiritual development for children and we’d like to keep it going in the parish.  Please let Rebecca know if you are willing to be trained and serve as a teacher for a period of approximately 1 month.

The ECW Annual meeting is scheduled for Saturday, October 4, 10:30am through lunch, Trinity, Covington.  There will be a recognition of Honored Women.  To attend, please contact Lisa Edwards, ledwards102@gmail.com, 859-341-7324.

Belk Charity Sales Day:  The annual Belk Charity Sales day will be Saturday, November 8, 6-10am.  Members of St. John’s are selling tickets for $5.00 for this special event.  The church keeps the $5.00 and for each ticket you receive $5.00 off an item.   We will also sell tickets on Thursday, October 2, 10am – 2pm.  If you can help, please contact June.

We will be having an initial gathering of those interested in the Brotherhood of St. Andrew on October 5 after the Sunday service. To learn more, speak to Bruce Cory. You can also learn more from http://www.brotherhoodofstandrew.org/about.php

Furnace Needed: The furnace located in the sacristy, which heats part of the social hall and hallways must be replaced prior to this winter.  Cost is $2,250 for a furnace that will also be more energy efficient.  We’ll also need to replace two more furnaces over the next two years:  one that heats the parish hall and one that heats the rectory.  Donations for the furnace can be put in the boxes back on the shelves in the parish hall.

Bring your pets to church to be blessed on Sunday, October 5.  We will have a service outdoors in our park (or in the amphitheater).  Pets should be leashed and/or in carriers.

The Grow Appalachia Committee will meet Wednesday, October 1, at 4:30pm, and after church on Sunday, October 5, to distribute flyers for the October 8 community meeting.

St. John’s is now registered with the Kroger Community Rewards Program, organization #47782. Please register your Kroger card at http://krogercommunityrewards.com .

  • Be sure to have your Kroger Plus card handy and register your card with your organization after you sign up.
  • If a member does not yet have a Kroger Plus card, please let them know that they are available at the customer service desk at any Kroger.
  • Click on Sign In/Register
  • Most participants are new online customers, so they must click on SIGN UP TODAY in the ‘New Customer?’ box.
  • Sign up for a Kroger Rewards Account by entering zip code, clicking on favorite store, entering your email address and creating a password, agreeing to the terms and conditions
  • You will then get a message to check your email inbox and click on the link within the body of the email.
  • Click on My Account and use your email address and password to proceed to the next step.
  • Click on Edit Kroger Community Rewards information and input your Kroger Plus card number.
  • Update or confirm your information.
  • Enter NPO number (47782) or name of organization, select organization from list and click on confirm.
  • To verify you are enrolled correctly, you will see your organization’s name on the right side of your information page.
  • REMEMBER, purchases will not count for your group until after your member(s) register their card(s).
  • Do you use your phone number at the register?  Call 800-576-4377, select option 4 to get your Kroger Plus card number.
  • Members must swipe their registered Kroger Plus card or use the phone number that is related to their registered Kroger Plus card when shopping for each purchase to count.