Tag Archives: stewardship

This Sunday (March 8) at St. John’s

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Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Collect, Third Sunday in Lent Pg. 218, Book of Common Prayer

Our Collects for each Sunday of the church year are beautiful.  Collects are a way we “collect” our prayers to God.  They have a particular form — Address, petition, aspiration, doxology.  Let’s look at the Collect for this Sunday:

Address – Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves
Petition – Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls
Aspiration – that we may be defended from all adversities which my happen to our body, and from all evil thought which may assault and hurt the soul;
Doxology – through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever

Yes, God knows we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves. While I think I have great faith, I am constantly reminded that there are some parts of my personal, daily life, I don’t think God has time for.  I find it hard to ask for help from others, so will flounder around on my own for awhile, before realizing there are others who can help.

But God knows I need help.  God know I need the help of others and the help of God to live life.  This doesn’t mean I have no responsibility.  I still must do my part AND I must keep my overreliance on my self in balance.

Blessings as you finish this snowy week!

Love, Rebecca+

Daylight Savings Time Begins at 2:00am THIS SUNDAY!  Change your clock one hour forward (spring forward).  

Observance of Women’s History Month this Sunday, March 8.  Hymns written by women and special sermon.

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

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

Adult Forum
During Lent, we are discussing various issues in Appalachia. This Sunday, Rebecca will lead a discussion on the “Discovery” of Appalachia.  Next week, March 15, Professor Joe Pearson will talk about “Why Appalachia got left behind – 1965 to present.”

The Vestry proposes the following Mission Statement for St. John’s Church:  Proclaiming the Gospel, promoting justice, and preparing a diverse community of seekers to reflect the welcoming love of Christ.  Let us know what you think about this statement, which guides us to goals and actions that embody our Mission.

Wednesday Evenings During Lent through March 25, 6:30pm, series on Appalachia.  Plan to come on Wednesday evenings for a soup and bread supper, followed by a special series on Appalachia.  Next Wednesday, we will have a discussion on the connection to the land.

The Grow Appalachia Committee will meet  not meet tonight, March 5, but will meet Saturday, March 7, 8:30am for a shopping trip.  If you’re interested in planting your own garden, either here in St. John’s Park or in your own backyard, or helping with a community plot here in the park, please plan to attend these meetings.

Good Ag Practices (GAP) Certification class, Monday, March 16, 6pm, Laurel County Extension Office.  This class is required if you’d like to sell items at the Farmer’s Markets.

Donations are being accepted until March 29, for flowers to decorate the church for Easter. Use the donation envelopes and write if the donation is “in honor of/in memory” of a loved one or a special occasion.  Donations in any amount will be accepted.

Honor or remember a loved one through altar flowers.  Please sign up on the Flower Donation Chart and let us know if you’d like the flowers to be “in memory of/in honor of” a loved one or special occasion.  We suggest a donation of $20.  Please place your donation in the envelopes provided.

The Altar Guild and Worship Committee will meet Friday, March 20, 4:30-6:00pm to plan for Holy Week and Easter.    If you are able to assist with altar and worship preparation for this busy week of the Church year, please try to attend or let Rev. Rebecca know.

A Confusion of the Spirit:  Holy or Distilled? Saturday, March 21, 10am – noon. The Rev. Dr. Stuart Hoke, a priest in North Carolina and one of Rebecca’s professors at General Seminary, is coming to Corbin to raise our community’s awareness about addiction and recovery. As a recovering individual himself, Stuart is very much involved in helping churches, congregations and individuals deal with the disease of alcoholism and addictive illness.  He will also preach at the Sunday service.

Make a Covenant with St. John’s!  God has made unconditional covenants with us that God will always be with us, always be our God.  Likewise, through our annual pledge, we state our promise and obligation to the mission and work of the people of St. John’s Episcopal Church.  Our mission and work not only includes our worship, Grow Appalachia, and family game nights, but also God’s work in our region through our Diocese and in our nation and world through The Episcopal Church and The Anglican Communion.  If you’d like to make a covenant with St. John’s through a pledge, please see Rebecca or Gay Nell Conley.

 

A message from Bishop Hahn: Thank you for your glad and generous hearts

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 Diolex shield logo
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Dear Sisters and Brothers,

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the ways that you imitate our Generous Living Lord.

Thank you from Ron, who is fighting cancer with great courage because his Episcopal church surrounds him in prayer. (Though these names are changed, their stories are true.)

  • Thank you from Mary, who for five years has successfully wrestled the demons of addiction in a twelve step program in her neighborhood Episcopal parish hall.
  • Thank you from Carman, a young adult who left the balmy south to teach 3rd graders in inner city Detroit, because, “my high school priest always told me that Jesus wants us to go do good work.”
  • Thank you from Luke, a teenager whose life was enriched at the Cathedral Domain; from Dave and Mary – parents of very sick baby Tiffany – who slept at St. Agnes House last night instead of in their car; from Wes, whose life is made richer because he takes time from work every summer to volunteer at a Reading Camp.

Thank you from every child who met Jesus in Sunday school, every lonely adult who found friendship over coffee hour, every public servant whose values were formed by the Gospel of justice, and every person who finds a life worth living in the good news of Christ.

If you have been a financial supporter of your parish you have touched these lives and many more. On behalf of them all, known and unknown, I thank you! Your generosity has changed their lives for good.

In this season you will be asked to contribute to many life changing ministries in your parish and throughout the Diocese. I hope you will respond with glad and generous hearts. I encourage you to make a generous pledge to your parish. Beyond this, I hope you will respond to those ministries beyond your parish that touch your heart.

We love, because God first loved us; we give, because in this important act God’s love flows through us to our neighbors next door and around the world. This is why I give. I hope you will join me.

I wish you and your family a blessed Thanksgiving. I continue to be blessed and thankful for the richness of our shared ministry in God’s mission.

Christ’s Peace,
Bishop Doug

This Sunday (October 26) at St. John’s

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Lord, you have been our refuge *
from one generation to another. Psalm 90:1

On Tuesday, my son posted a photo of my grandson walking up to his bus stop in a lot of fog.

Walking confidently into the fog. (Photo by S. Brown)

Walking confidently into the fog. (Photo by S. Brown)

I truly love this photo, not only because I love almost anything that includes a photo of my grandson, but because of the deeper meaning (and no it’s not the Stephen King story, I’m talking about 🙂

We are familiar with lots of fog here in the region.  With fog, you can’t see too far in front of you.  You really can’t see your destination.  Sometimes as you move closer into the fog, things become a little clearer, but often not too far in front.

Now, if we’re familiar with the path or road we’re on, we may travel a bit faster to our destination.  We know the way.

I like this photo, because my grandson is walking confidently into the fog.

This Sunday we turn in our pledges.  Right now, in the end of October, we make a promise to God and to the community of St. John’s regarding our intentions to contribute to the ministry of Christ here in the region during 2015.  We do our best to return to God, what is God’s in the first place…what God gave into our care.

We can’t see what 2015 will bring.  We don’t know what will happen over the next year.  Next year is foggy to us, not clear at all.  Yet, we walk confidently…we pledge boldly, because, you see, we know the destination.  Just like the Psalmist, we know God is our refuge.  We walk confidently, because we know we walk into God’s loving arms.

Blessings as you finish your week.

Love, Rebecca+

I will be at St. John’s this week,Wednesday through Friday.  My Sabbath Days will be Monday and Tuesday.  You can get a message to her by calling the church office at 606-528-1659 or priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org.

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 Sunday to prepare for our November 16 Annual Meeting and adoption of the 2015 budget.  So far, we’ve received 6 pledges for a total of $9,960.  These pledges and your gifts of time and talent sustain the Christian community of St. John’s and allow us to be Christ to our region.

Prayer of St Ignatius

God, Take and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will – all that I have and call my own.
You have given it all to me;
To you, God, I return it.
Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace.
That is enough for me.
Amen

Join me Sunday afternoon as I celebrate Eucharist at Christian Care Communities.  Elmer Parlier will be playing the guitar.  The service begins at 2:30pm and is 30-45 minutes and the residents would appreciate your attendance.

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

If you are interested in becoming a Godly Play Teacher serving when you can, plan to attend a meeting on Wednesday, October 29, at 6:30pm.

Adult Forum – The Adult Forum focus is Living with Money.

Godly Play Teachers needed.  Meeting Wednesday, October 29, 6:30pm.  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.

Weekday Morning Eucharist will be available Wednesday, October 29, 9am, in the Sanctuary. I will also celebrate on Wednesday mornings, November 12, December 3 and December 24.

Trunk or Treat, Friday, October 31.  We will be distributing candy from the church on Halloween evening.

Two furnaces replaced, 1 more to go!  The furnace located in the sacristy has been replaced and funds received for the second furnace. Thanks so much to all who donated!  Now we need to replace the furnace in the rectory. Cost is just under $1,700 for a furnace that will also be more energy efficient. Donations for the furnace can be put in the box on the table in the parlor.

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.

Grow Appalachia!  The Vestry has voted to move ahead to become a Grow Appalachia site for 2015.  Please talk to the Vestry about your ideas, questions, and concerns.  The Grow Appalachia website is http://www.berea.edu/grow-appalachia/

 The Grow Appalachia Committee will meet Sunday, October 26 after church. 

 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.

Worship Committee will meet Sunday, November 2, after church. 

Chocolate Fest, Saturday, December 6, 9am – 3pm.  If you can contribute something to the fest, please turn in your donation form by November 23.

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.

On November 9, we will honor our members who are veterans of the Armed Forces.  To have a name 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 November 2.

Belk Charity Sales Day, Saturday, November 8, 6-10am.  We 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.

The Second Diocesan Ministry Fair will be held Saturday, November 15 at Emmanuel Church, Winchester, 8:30am – 4:30pm.  Keynote speaker is The Rev. Stuart Hoke, Th.D.  He will speak on the church’s role in addiction recovery.  Cost is $20.  Forms are on the bulletin board and online registration is at www.diolex.org.

Daylight Savings Time ends next Sunday, November 2.  Remember to turn your clocks back 1 hour.

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 Sunday November 16.

Youth grades 10-12 are invited to Happening at Cathedral Domain from 6:30pm Friday, November 14 until Sunday, 5:00pm.  See Rebecca for more information.

Addiction and Grace, a service for people affected by addiction, will be held at Christ Church Cathedral on Sunday, November 9, 3:00pm. A similar service will be held at Christ Church Harlan at 3pm.  Please let me know if you’d like to attend one of the services.

God’s Productive Tenants (Sermon) October 5, 2014

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Sermon – October 5, 2014

The Rev. Rebecca S. Myers, CSW

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Corbin, KY

Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost (Proper 22) Track 1

When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. Matthew 21:34

Please be seated.

We are doing a number of things today.  It is stewardship Sunday when we focus on what of God’s we return to God.  And we are remembering St. Francis, whose commemoration was yesterday, with having our pets here with us this morning and blessing them after the service.

I’m more of a cat person than anything.  Since the day I was born, cats have lived with me off and on.  Sometimes it’s one cat and sometimes it’s as many as three cats.  Many of my cats have come to me, chosen me.  Seems they are messengers from God, really.

For instance, in late 1980, I was going through a tough time.  I was a single mom, barely able to make ends meet.  At Christmas, though, I held my traditional open house.  At some point in the evening, someone opened the door and in walked a beautiful tiger cat!  Just walked in, mind you!  Later the next summer when we moved to Ithaca so I could go to college fulltime, he came with us and used to sit on my books while I was studying.  My two young children and I needed his love, antics and companionship.

So many stories I could tell of the cats who have just walked in to my life and just shown up as loving companions along the way.  I’m sure you have many of your own.

We’ve talked before about what it means to be a steward:  being a steward is the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care….  It is the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care.

When we have pets, we must be good stewards.  Pets rely upon us to care for them.  We feed them well.  We do what we can to keep them safe from harm.  We do what we can to give them a good home.  When they’re sick, we do what we can to help them get well.  When we can’t do these things, we find them good homes with someone else.  We feel so strongly about this as a society, that we have laws about what it means to be good stewards to the animals in our care.  We are appalled by cruelty to animals.  We “get” what being a good steward of God’s creation means through caring for our pets.

And today, we are being asked to consider what it means to be good stewards to God’s church, the church of God’s son, Jesus Christ.  Most specifically, we are being asked to consider what it means to be a good steward of St. John’s Episcopal Church.

God tells us through Jesus’ parable.  God provided a vineyard…a carefully built vineyard.  It had everything – a fence to keep animals out; a wine press so the harvest could be preserved; and a watchtower, because the workers would live in the vineyard during the harvest and the watchtower provided safety.  The workers provided the labor to ensure, as much as possible, that there would be a good harvest.  Of course, they couldn’t control the weather, but they could otherwise tend to the grape crop.

Similarly, God has given us all of the basic things we need to be The Episcopal Church in this region of Kentucky.  We are charged with providing careful and responsible management of the basics God has given us, so that God’s mission with God’s people can be realized.  And for those of you who just finished confirmation class, you know that this mission of the church is to “restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.” (BCP, pg 855)

And according to our catechism, the church pursues our mission, “as it prays and worships, proclaims the Gospel, and promotes justice, peace, and love.” (BCP, pg 855)  Now, we probably need to have regular conversations about what we truly need to be the church.  What do we add to the fence, the watchtower, and the winepress that God has provided?

But for today, let’s assume that we agree that to pursue our mission, that to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ, that we need a facility, a park, items for worship and for spiritual growth, resources for outreach and a priest.  Those are the elements necessary to being the church…to restoring all people to unity with God and each other in Christ…to pray, worship, proclaim the Gospel, and promote justice, peace, and love.

God has given us everything we need.  God asks only that we do the labor and produce a good harvest.  God asks us to be good stewards…to be careful and responsible managers of what’s been entrusted to us.

We know what this means with our pets, yet become squeamish when it comes to talking about what it means for the church, what it means for St. John’s.  And that’s the question put to us in today’s parable.  When God sends God’s workers to collect the harvest, what will be our response?  Will we kill the workers and even God’s Son, so we can steal what is rightfully the landowner’s…what is rightfully God’s?  Or will we do our part to care for the vineyard…to provide the resources necessary for a good harvest?  Will God need to find new tenants for God’s vineyard known as St. John’s Episcopal Church?

Amen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Sunday (October 5) at St. John’s

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The heavens declare the glory of God, *
and the firmament shows his handiwork. Psalm 19:1

Every time I read this Psalm, I immediately flash to high school choir at Mechanicsburg High School with choir director Mr. Stewart.  I loved Mr. Stewart, how he taught music, how he taught those of us in choir.  He challenged us.  So much of the way I sing is because Mr. Stewart is in my head, clapping his hands to stop us or to start us up in rehearsal.  As an adult, I felt so blessed that Mr. Stewart joined the church I’d grown up in.  So even then I saw him and benefitted from him.

One of the pieces Mr. Stewart taught our choir was Haydn’s The Heavens Are Telling from Haydn’s Creation.  The piece is rousing glorious and really fun to sing.  So, this Sunday if I break into song during the Psalm, please forgive me.  I’m remembering with joy Mr. Stewart, now singing (or directing) a heavenly choir.
Creation and Stewardship and Blessing of Animals
Yes, it’s the time of year we remember creation as the seasons change and the traditional harvest season comes to an end.  We remember all of creation and this Sunday, we especially remember our pets.  Bring your pet to church (we’ll be having our service in the amphitheater) and both of you will be blessed!  We’ll also start our Stewardship campaign for the 2015 year.  In thanks for all of God’s creation, including our very selves, we prayerfully consider what of God’s we will return for the work of the church.  Pledge cards should be returned by October 26, to prepare for our November 16 Annual Meeting.

News & Notes

Rebecca’s Schedule: Rebecca will be at the Diocesan Clergy Conference October 6-8 and at St. John’s on Thursday, October 9. Her Sabbath Day will be Friday October 10. 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 will help set up the amphitheater for church this Sunday.  Beginning October 12, we will discuss various aspects being good stewards.

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.

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.

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 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 after church on Sunday, October 5, to distribute flyers for the October 8 community meeting.  The Community meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 8, 7:00pm in the parish hall.  All are invited.

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.

 St. John’s is now registered with the Kroger Community Rewards Program. 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.