Tag Archives: United Thank Offering

This Sunday (May 10, 2015) at St. John’s

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O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Collect for Sixth Sunday of Easter, P. 225, Book of Common Prayer

While our Collect states our relationship with God in fact, at the same time, it encourages us and gives us hope.  Look at this Sunday’s Collect.  The Collect states a most obvious fact — we do not always understand the love of God.  It goes beyond our human understanding.

It also states that obtaining God’s promises, “exceed all that we can desire.”  Really?  That can be a hard one to believe…that all of our desires will be satisfied.  I expect that as we love God “in all things and above all things,” our desires change from the worldly wanting to a Will-of-God wanting and our desires will be satisfied.

I also know that when we are aligned with God, God’s promises are surprising and more than we’ve ever imagined!

Blessings as you finish your week!

Love, Rebecca+

Rebecca’s Schedule

Rebecca will be in Lexington Monday and Tuesday this week and in Corbin on Wednesday and Thursday, May 13-14. You can get a message to Rebecca by calling the church office at 606-528-1659 or priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org.

This Sunday, the Flowers on the Altar are in honor of Ethan Myers, nephew of Rebecca, who graduated from Temple University on May 8. 

To 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 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.

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

Adult Forum Our current series is on Ten Ways to Pray. This week Bruce will lead us in The Rosary and The Jesus Prayer.

Al-Anon Group, Tuesdays, 7-8pm.  

Work Day at the Church, Saturday, May 30, 10am.  All are invited to help with outside and inside projects, such as mulching, lattice-work around the amphitheater, and caulking the windows.  If you have a key to the church, you can also come by and take your Prevention Of Sexual Misconduct (POSM) training.

Fun, fun, fun.  The next Family Game Night is Friday, May 22, 6:30 – 8:30pm.  Bring your favorite games, snacks, and drinks.  Pizza will be provided.

2015 Goals:  The Vestry has adopted the following goals for 2015, in line with our recently-adopted Mission Statement, Proclaiming the Gospel, promoting justice, and preparing a diverse community of seekers to reflect the welcoming love of Christ:

  • Support Al-Anon group meeting at the Church.
  • List St. John’s Church on theIntegrity and Believe Out Loud websites as an open and welcoming church, especially for people who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning.
  • Remodel space for use as a sacristy.
  • Repurpose the parlor.
  • Serve as a site for the KCEOC Summer Lunch program for youth ages 18 and under.

The Grow Appalachia Committee meets Thursday, at 6pm through May. 

United Thank Offering Ingathering, May 17.  Remember to bring your thank offering boxes AND pick up another one for the fall ingathering.  A thank offering box is a great way to give thanks and gratitude each day.  When combined with thousands of others, it supports wonderful projects in The Episcopal Church.

Rogation Service, Wednesday, May 13, 6pm.  We will say prayers around our property and end in the church for Eucharist.  Rogation comes from the Latin, “to ask.”  The days are observed the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday prior to Ascension Day.  They have typically had a focus on agriculture and prayers for the growing season.

Make Pentecost Peace Cranes, Sunday, May 17, after church.  Stay after church to make these origami peace cranes to decorate the sanctuary for Pentecost on Sunday, May 24.

 

This Sunday (May 11) at St. John’s

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They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.  Acts 2:42

This Sunday’s Lesson from Acts talks about the life of the early church.  People heard the apostles’ teaching and they were changed.  They changed how they lived their lives, sharing everything in common.  They were in awe because these changes created many signs and wonders.  And so many years later, we continue in their steps, studying and following the apostles’ teaching, living in fellowship with each other, breaking the bread and praying for each other.

Last Saturday, I was with my family as part of my grandson’s First Communion.  There were 12 children receiving their First Communion.  At the end of the service, the 12 children sang this lovely song:

Jesus, you are bread for us.
Jesus, you are life for us
In your gift of Eucharist
We find love.

In communion we believe
You are there with us
Jesus, thank you for the friend you are.
Thank you for the love we share.

Gathered in God’s Family
You are there with us
Jesus, Thank you for the friend you are.
Thank you for the love we share.

Looking forward to being with you in fellowship, in the apostles’ teaching, breaking of the bread and prayers…

Love, Rebecca+

Next week, I will be in Corbin on Monday, May 12, and my Sabbath day will be Tuesday, May 13  You can get a message to me by calling the church office at 606-528-1659 or priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org.

Pot Luck Sunday:  Our pot luck is moved this month to this Sunday, May 11 for the wedding shower for Amber Pearce and Billy Hibbitts.  Bring your favorite food to share and join in the celebration!

Adult Forum

Our series on Resurrection Living continues.  This week’s session is on John 20:27, Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands.  Reach out your hand and put it in my side.  Do not doubt but believe.”  Come join the discussion at 10:15.  

 Godly Play:  There will be Godly Play classes this Sunday.  If you are interested in assisting with these classes on an occasional basis, please let Anne Day Davis or Dura Anne Price know.  You will observe the classes for 4 sessions and once you have received this training, you may be called upon to assist as you are available.  Let the children deepen your faith!

We’re buying goats!  The Lazarus at the Gates Adult Forum study has prompted us to purchase goats through Episcopal Relief and Development for families in the Philippines.  Goats provide milk, cheese, and manure for farming.  Donations towards the $80 purchase of each goat can be made through the goat bank in the parish hall or in the offering plate clearly marked ERD goat project.  To date, we’ve raised $279.  Another $41 is needed to purchase a 4th goat!

 Grow Appalachia!  We are considering whether to become a partner with Grow Appalachia.  David Cooke gave a presentation on April 16. The Vestry will take a vote this Sunday, May 11. We would use part of the park to provide gardening plots for people in our community.  We could also support people in our area who want to garden in their yards.  We would host classes regarding gardening, as well as ways to preserve the harvest.  Grow Appalachia provides almost anything needed to make these gardens successful.  Talk to someone who attended the presentation.  And talk to the Vestry about your ideas, questions, and concerns.  Their website is http://www.berea.edu/grow-appalachia/

Daughters of the King meets the third Wednesday of each month at 4:30pm.  The next meeting is May 21.

United Thank Offering (UTO) is a ministry of the Episcopal Church for the mission of the whole church. Our ingathering of your UTO offerings will be this Sunday, May 11.  Remember to bring your offering that day AND to pick up another box for the fall ingathering.

Baby Shower and reception for Maura Love, Sunday, May 18, after the service.  Plan to join in the fun!  All are welcome.

 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.
  • KCEOC’s Women’s Emergency Shelter is in need of donated baby items, including baby clothing (sizes 6/9 months), diapers, wipes, bottles, etc.  Donations can be dropped off at KCEOC Community Action Partnership main office at Gray, KY.

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.

Are you interested in assisting with the Sunday service?  Readers, Eucharistic Ministers, Crucifers, Altar Guild Members and choir members are all important for each Sunday service.  If you’re interested in serving, please let Rebecca know by phone 859-429-1659 or priest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org.

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