The Church Bell
Vol. 4, no. 1
January / February 2020
A great way to start the new year!
On December 30th, Bishop Paul recommended we start the Year 2020 with a January 1st service of the Word and Sacrament.

He then offered to come and lead that service in celebration of the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus .

His offer got an immediate response, and so we gathered on Wednesday, January 1st, at 11 am for a beautiful service!

We had a Sunday-sized crowd on a Wednesday morning! In fact, we ran out of leaflets to pass around!

On top of that, we pulled together a traditional Tennessee New Year's dinner with ham, collard greens, black eyed peas, and cornbread.

Indeed, this time together in worship and fellowship was a meaningful way to celebrate the Holy Name of Jesus and the right way to start the Year 2020!

Thank you Bishop Paul! Let's do it again next year!
January 19 - St. Agnes' Sunday
On Sunday, January 19th, the congregation will celebrate The Feast of St. Agnes: Martyr at Rome.

(January 21st is her official feast day.)

We will begin with a  10:00  lesson and discussion in the parish hall.

The lesson will cover Agnes' amazing story and also cover Emerentiana, her foster sister, who was killed a few days later.

At  11:00 , Bishop Lambert will lead our service, which will include a short commemoration of Agnes' life, death and legacy.

Finally, after the service, we will hold our annual Sunday brunch in the parish hall.   See note below:
Years ago when St. Agnes' was a much smaller congregation, our tiny group gathered in the parish hall on St. Agnes' Sunday and cooked breakfast together.

Then, after our membership and attendance grew two-fold in less than 10 years, we had to modify this annual tradition tradition to better accommodate the crowd.

Today, we hold a Sunday brunch on St. Agnes' Sunday!

On January 19th, invite you to bring a breakfast or brunch favorite to enjoy and share with others after the 11:00 service.

If you have something in mind already, send an e-mail so we can list it and tell others.
January 26 - Annual Meeting of the Congregation
Pursuant to the canons of the Episcopal Church, the Diocese of Tennessee, and the customs of this congregation, we will hold the annual meeting of St. Agnes' Church on Sunday, January 26th, following the 11:00 service.

This meeting is where we elect our Mission Council, vote on a proposed budget, and discuss our goals for the New Year.

May God grant us all things necessary for our common life in the mission and ministry of His holy church.
Forward Day-by-Day Booklets
With every new year we resolve to pray more and study God's Word.

Fortunately, the Forward Day-by-Day devotional booklets give us a practical way to do just that.

Be sure to pick up a copy and take advantage of the daily scripture readings and meditations to help you grow in grace in 2020!
Annual Convention of the Diocese of Tennessee
The 188th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Tennessee will meet the weekend of January 24th & 25th at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church in Nashville.

Jarod Pearson and Andrew Wilkinson will represent St. Agnes' as voting delegates.

Besides the regular business of convention, the program will include dynamic speakers, presentations from affiliate programs, fellowship and - most important of all - times of prayer and worship.
A Prayer for the Diocese: "O God, by your grace you have called us in the Diocese to a goodly fellowship of faith. Bless our Bishop John, and other clergy, and all our people. Grant that your Word may be truly preached and truly heard, your Sacraments faithfully administered and faithfully received. By your Spirit, fashion our lives according to the example of your Son, and grant that we may show the power of your love to all among whom we live; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
Looking back at Thanksgiving, Advent and Christmas
November 24th - St. Agnes' was very well represented at the Community Thanksgiving Service held at Cowan Fellowship Church. We also collected and delivered a full trunk load of non-perishable items for the New Creation Ministries Food Drive.

December 7th - St. Agnes' sponsored the Cowan Christmas Parade again this year. Several members of the congregation gathered at The Franklin-Pearson House to watch and be part of the downtown festivities. And, for the first time in years, we entered a float in the parade. By the way, our float won first prize among church entries! Special thanks goes out to Mary and Bruce Smith, Rose and Steve Pearson for putting together the winning float. Ben Money, Jarod Pearson, and Liam Dervin carried our church banner in front of the float.
December 8th - seven parishioners made the trip to Fayetteville for the Christmas Handbell Concert at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church. It was beautiful concert organized and directed by Wynona Gibson's daughter-in-law. We should go again next year!
December 15th - we had a large turnout and a tastier than usual coffee hour on Stir-Up Sunday! Our brave senior warden made a Victorian-style pudding and our much braver parishioners tasted it. No harm or injury was reported!
December 17th - a team of 9 helpers joined our morning crew to adorn the Nave with fresh greenery, red ribbons, and poinsettias for the Christmas season. Their beautiful work brought many, many compliments. That same evening, four more people came to decorate the parish hall with a Christmas tree, wreaths, and table candles. Their good work gave our fellowship space a warm, home-like feel!
December 22nd - Carla Money and Sara Money attended the Lessons and Carols Service at St. Paul's, Murfreesboro. While there they got to visit with Fr. Wise and Janelee who sent greetings and well wishes to all of us at St. Agnes'! We hope to see them again soon!
Also on December 22nd - five St. Agnes' parishioners attended the Christmas Communion Service at New Creation Ministries. New Creation is a new congregation meeting in the former Rayburn Chapel A.M.E. Church. St. Agnes' played a vital role in reopening the historic church, which was built in 1889 with missionary roots as far back as 1839.
December 24th - we had a full house on Christmas Eve for the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord. The fresh greenery and the lit candles made the church look as beautiful as a New England postcard (except that we didn't have any snow on the ground!). Afterward we gathered for the Fr. Werlein Memorial Christmas reception with lots of good eats, lively fellowship, and gift bags for the kids.
December 29th, January 1st, and January 5th - we enjoyed three more services after Christmas with the church adorned in fresh greenery. We also enjoyed strong attendance, especially on January 1st. Indeed, it was very meaningful season of Christmastide. Unto us a child is born!
Some Updates from Our Church Family
Carl Goodman and Marcia Ruffing have both recovered well from surgery and have been at church walking around with minimal assistance! Thanks be to God!

Brian Judd had another scan on January 8th with good preliminary results. He will follow-up with a specialist later in the month to verify the results and make sure that he is still free from cancer.

Jarod visited Linda Milligan at home on December 26th. She was very pleased with the results of her back surgery. However, she is consulting a specialist and considering options, including surgery, for her left eye. Linda has enjoyed getting some extra holiday time with her great-granddaughter during Christmas and New Year's.

Bob McDonald and Laura Pearson McDonald came home for a few days at Christmas and attended our Christmas Eve service. The McDonald's live in Lexington, Kentucky and sent a beautiful card to the congregation.

We had contact with Wes Nevels over the Christmas holiday. He wasn't able to make the trip home due to an upcoming trip to California for field training. However, he enjoyed the Christmas card signed by the entire congregation on Christmas Eve. He is hoping to have time off in the spring to come home for a visit.

Abby Garner Patterson and her newlywed husband Randy Patterson were home for a very brief time on Christmas Day. She sends her love to the congregation. Abby and Randy live in Knoxville where Abby just started a new job.

Jarod also visited Howard Gene Eslick and Royana Stewart in the nursing home on December 27th and took a gift bag to each of them. Gene is doing fair with good days and not-so-good days. Royana is doing well and was looking forward to seeing her extended family the next day, including her great-grandson.

Bishop Lambert visited Pat Underwood in her home on January 1st and celebrated Holy Communion with her. Pat is doing well though she has to limit her activity outside of home. She sends her love to the congregation.
Winter Birthdays
January 4 - Jason Paton
January 18 - Wes Nevels
January 31 - Hilary Goodman

February 4 - Abby Garner Patterson
February 11 - Andrew Wilkinson
February 16 - Janelee Wise
February 26 - Karen McCallie


***Are we missing any birthdays? Please send an e-mail to the church at saintagnescowan@gmail.com.***

"O God, our times are in your hand: Look with favor, we pray, on thy servants as they begin another year. Grant that they may grow in wisdom and grace, and strengthen their trust in your goodness all the days of their life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
100 years!
Did you know that December 25th, 2019 was Bishop William Sanders' 100 birthday?

Bishop Sanders was the 8th Bishop of Tennessee and then became the 1st Bishop of East Tennessee.

May God increase his faith in his increasing years!
We Remember in Prayer
Marty Judd, Lee Glenn, Vicki Geer, Roger Bailey, Jonanne Hammer, Linda Hutton, Dan Bledsoe, Jay Yowell, Iris Ellidge, Mary McDonald, Will Olsmit, Peggy Nunley, Gena, Jordan and Austin Cleek, Brad and Anita Warmbrod, Roy Tankersley, Emeline Pearson, Laura, Kevin, Royana Stewart, Bill Keller, Howard Gene Eslick, Linda Milligan, and Karen McCallie.

We bless and commemorate Nell Parham and Sister Mary Zita who recently passed away.

We pray for the victims of fire in Australia and for the recent storm victims in North Alabama.

We pray continually for Christians around the world in grave danger and for those in our armed services, especially Wes Nevels, and especially for those deploying to the Middle East.

***

"O God, the strength of the weak and the comfort of sufferers: Mercifully accept our prayer, and grant to your servants the help of your power, that their sicknesses may be turned into joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

***
Sunday Service ....................................11:00 a.m.
Sunday School .....................................10:00 a.m.

Location/Address: 105 England Street E., PO Box 356, Cowan, TN 37318
Telephone: (931) 636-6313
The Rt. Rev'd John C. Bauerschmidt..................Bishop of Tennessee

The Rt. Rev'd Paul Lambert................................Pastor and Celebrant

The Rev'd Charles Chiutulas...............................Visiting Priest

The Rev'd Jean Mweningoma.............................Visiting Priest

L. Jarod Pearson..................................................Lay Reader