{"id":155301,"date":"2015-03-19T07:21:45","date_gmt":"2015-03-19T11:21:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stjohnscorbin.org\/?p=155301"},"modified":"2015-03-18T20:52:24","modified_gmt":"2015-03-19T00:52:24","slug":"this-sunday-march-22-2015-at-st-johns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/stjohnscorbin.org\/2015\/03\/19\/this-sunday-march-22-2015-at-st-johns\/","title":{"rendered":"This Sunday (March 22, 2015) at St. John’s"},"content":{"rendered":"

Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise….\u00a0<\/em>Collect for Fifth Sunday in Lent,\u00a0Book of Common Prayer<\/em>, pg. 219<\/p>\n

Love is not always easy, is it? \u00a0That’s a huge challenge in being a Christian. \u00a0Last Sunday, we heard, “God so loved the world….” \u00a0The passage is inclusive and broad. \u00a0God loved the world…God loved all of creation. \u00a0That’s what we are charged to do.<\/p>\n

Yet, as humans, we’re judgmental. \u00a0We find it \u00a0easier to love people who are more like us and who think like us. \u00a0We judge people who are not like us or think differently from us. \u00a0Sometimes we judge them harshly. \u00a0We don’t always understand other people and how they live their lives. \u00a0We give our love conditionally, based upon our judgement about who deserves our love.<\/p>\n

We need God’s grace to love fully. \u00a0We need God’s unconditional gift. \u00a0Thankfully, we have it…<\/p>\n

Blessings as you finish your week!<\/p>\n

Love, Rebecca<\/p>\n

Rebecca\u2019s Schedule
\n<\/strong>Rebecca will be in Lexington Tuesday\u00a0and Corbin Thursday and Friday.\u00a0Her Sabbath Days will be Monday and Wednesday.\u00a0 You can get a message to her by calling the church office at 606-528-1659 orpriest-in-charge@stjohnscorbin.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A Confusion of the Spirit:\u00a0 Holy or Distilled? Saturday, March 21, 10am \u2013 noon. T<\/strong>he Rev. Dr. Stuart Hoke, a priest in North Carolina and one of Rebecca\u2019s professors at General Seminary, is coming to Corbin to raise our community\u2019s 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.\u00a0 He will also preach at the Sunday service.<\/p>\n

Godly Play offered for children.\u00a0 <\/strong>All children are invited to participate in this special program of spiritual development.<\/p>\n

Adult Forum\u00a0<\/strong>During Lent, we are discussing various issues in Appalachia. This Sunday,\u00a0Rev. Dr. Stuart Hoke will talk about recovery from addiction.<\/p>\n

The Vestry adopted the following Mission Statement for St. John\u2019s Church:\u00a0 <\/strong>Proclaiming the Gospel, promoting justice, and preparing a diverse community of seekers to reflect the welcoming love of Christ.<\/em><\/p>\n

What are our 3-5 goals for 2015?<\/strong>\u00a0 Vestry is considering various goals to reflect our mission statement.\u00a0 Ideas include sacristy renovation; support of LGBT people, possibly through a chapter of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) or ongoing support of Union College\u2019s Gay\/Straight Alliance; Support for people dealing with addictions and their families; opening up the amphitheater and park to church bands; providing our parish hall to other religious groups; more ecumenical church services.\u00a0 What do you think we should be doing to put our mission statement into action?<\/p>\n

Wednesday Evenings During Lent through March 25, 6:00pm, series on Appalachia.\u00a0 <\/strong>Plan to come on Wednesday evenings for a soup and bread supper, followed by a special series on Appalachia. \u00a0Next Wednesday, Professor Jimmy Dean Smith will lead a discussion on the second half of the movie, Matewan<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The Grow Appalachia Committee will meet Thursdays through March 26. \u00a0<\/strong>If you\u2019re interested in planting your own garden, either here in St. John\u2019s Park or in your own backyard, or helping with a community plot here in the park, please plan to attend these meetings.<\/p>\n

Diocesan Convention has been rescheduled for Saturday, March 28, St. Michael\u2019s Episcopal Church, Lexington.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Donations are being accepted until March 29, for flowers to decorate the church for Easter.\u00a0<\/strong>Use the donation envelopes and write if the donation is \u201cin honor of\/in memory\u201d of a loved one or a special occasion.\u00a0 Donations in any amount will be accepted.<\/p>\n

Honor or remember a loved one through altar flowers. \u00a0<\/strong>Please sign up on the Flower Donation Chart and let us know if you\u2019d like the flowers to be \u201cin memory of\/in honor of\u201d a loved one or special occasion.\u00a0 We suggest a donation of $20.\u00a0 Please place your donation in the envelopes provided.<\/p>\n

The Altar Guild and Worship Committee will meet Friday, March 20, 4:30-6:00pm <\/strong>to plan for Holy Week and Easter.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0If 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.<\/p>\n

Make a Covenant with St. John\u2019s!<\/strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>God has made unconditional covenants with us that God will always be with us, always be our God.\u00a0 Likewise, through our annual pledge, we state our promise and obligation to the mission and work of the people of St. John\u2019s Episcopal Church. \u00a0Our mission and work not only includes our worship, Grow Appalachia, and family game nights, but also God\u2019s work in our region through our Diocese and in our nation and world through The Episcopal Church and The Anglican Communion.\u00a0 If you\u2019d like to make a covenant with St. John\u2019s through a pledge, please see Rebecca or Gay Nell Conley.<\/p>\n

Reading Camp Meeting, March 26, 10:15am.\u00a0 <\/strong>The Reading Camp Group is working on raising $2,000 to support five children at the Pine Mountain Settlement Reading Camp, July 12-18.\u00a0 If you are interested in helping recruit children, mentor children, volunteering for Reading Camp, or raising funds, let Rebecca know.\u00a0 St. John\u2019s has committed to raising $400.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Schedule for Holy Week and Easter Services, Monday, March 30 \u2013 Friday, April 3<\/strong><\/p>\n