The Church Bell
Vol. 6, No. 9
November/December 2022
A Prayer of Thanksgiving
"Almighty and gracious Father, we give you thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those who harvest them. Make us, we pray, faithful stewards of your great bounty, for the provision of our necessities and the relief of all who are in need, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen."
The Rev'd Dr. Linda Arzelia Dorsey Hutton
(October 15, 1948 - October 14, 2022)
With sadness in our hearts, but with the most certain hope of the Resurrection, our church family announced the unexpected death of our beloved priest, Linda, on October 14th, 2022.

The next day, October 15th, would have been her 74th birthday.

We are forever grateful to Linda for her friendship and we are continually inspired by her faithful work.

We ask for everyone's continuing prayers for Peter as he mourns a very sad loss while also recovering from a recent surgery.

May our beloved Linda rest in peace and rise in glory.

Our church family will hold a memorial service on The Feast of St. Stephen: Deacon and Martyr, on December 26, 2022, at 4:00 p.m.
Videos from the Service at St. James on October 29th
Several members of our extended church family attended a service "In Thanksgiving for and in the Celebration of the Life of Linda Hutton" on October 29, 2022, at St. James Episcopal Church, Midway, Sewanee.

Thanks to Brian Judd, parts of the service are posted on our YouTube Channel for those who were unable to attend.
"Top Shelf" Food Drive
Thanks to everybody's cheerful giving, our monthly food drive helped several families and individuals last month and this month!

For the month of December we would like to collect and distribute holiday favorites.

It's up to you to decide what is a "holiday favorite", but here are a few suggestions:
  • stuffing mix
  • instant cornbread mix
  • instant gravy or gravy in a jar
  • yams
  • canned vegetables
  • pie filling
  • macaroni and cheese
  • cake mix and icing

Besides bringing items to the Top Shelf, please let us know of individuals in need and help us get these items to them.
Our King and Savior Draweth Nigh!
The Season of Advent calls us to prepare for the coming of the Lord. 

The timing of the season just ahead of Christmastide helps remember the anticipation of the Lord's birth.

However, Advent also serves a broader purpose: to anticipate and prepare for the return of the Lord in all of his glory at the end of the age. 

We observe Advent by making a special effort to pray, reflect, and prepare. As the Lord first came to us in his humble birth, so too does he comes to us in glory everlasting. This special time of year is an excellent time to make new beginnings and to grow in God's grace. 

Come and worship together in the fellowship of the Lord Jesus Christ throughout this season of preparation. "Our King and Savior draweth nigh: O come, let us adore him."

Advent Sunday School Lesson

We will hold an Advent Sunday School lesson on the first three Sunday mornings in December: the 4th, 11th, and 18th.

These will each be held at the 10 o'clock Sunday school hour in the parish hall.
December 11th is Stir-Up Sunday
Stir-Up Sunday is a beautiful tradition we inherited from our ancestors in The Church of England.

At the 3rd Sunday in Advent, the  Book of Common Prayer brings us a powerful opening collect that says:

“Stir up thy power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let thy bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost, be honor and glory, world without end. Amen.”

The traditional English custom - dating back to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert – is to “stir-up” something good to eat on “Stir-Up Sunday”.

For coffee hour on Sunday, December 11th, we invite you to stir-up a tasty dish or snack to share and enjoy.
December 17th: Greening of the Nave
All who are able are encouraged to join us on Saturday, December 17th, at 9:30 a.m.

We will need a team adorn the Nave with fresh evergreens and another team to decorate the parish hall.

Several sets of helping hands will help us ready the entire campus for a joyful Season of Christmastide.
Christmas at St. Agnes'
"O Come, Let us Adore Him" during a special time of worship on Saturday, December 24th, at 4:00 p.m.

This will be a traditional evening service on The Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord. 

Bring the entire family and invite a friend of neighbor to this beautiful time of worship with lessons, carols, and Holy Communion. 
Following our Christmas Eve Service we invite you to the Father Werlein Memorial Christmas Reception in the Parish Hall.

We encourage everyone to bring a favorite treat to share and enjoy. Coffee and hot cider will be served as well.
No Sunday Service on December 25th
The Christmas Eve service on Saturday, December 24th, at 4:00 p.m. will serve as our principal service for the Lord's Day. Therefore we will not have or usual Sunday service on December 25th.
December 26th: Feast of St. Stephen
In loving memory of Linda, St. Agnes' will hold a service on The Feast of St. Stephen: Deacon and Martyr, December 26, 2022, at 4:00 p.m.

One of Linda's largest undertakings and one of her most fruitful accomplishments was the reactivation of the Diaconate in the Diocese of Tennessee.

We can't think of a better occasion to celebrate her ministry and to cherish her memory.

The photo you see here is from Linda's own ordination into the Holy Order of Episcopal Deacons in the Diocese of Oregon.

We hope you will plan to attend and invite others to come as well.
Updates from our extended family
Please note the following updates and concerns from members of our extended church family:

Nancy and Lee Glenn were just getting settled in to their new home when both of them fell sick again. Lee was admitted to the hospital on November 16th. As of our last update he will go into skilled care to continue his recovery. We are hopeful that he will return home soon.

Peter Hutton is recovering well from his recent surgery and is also working through the sudden loss of his beloved Linda. He appreciates our continuing prayers and is blessed by our love and friendship. It an immeasurable joy as well to be with him in church on Sunday's. We are hopeful that Peter will continue on a journey of healing and grace.

Bill Keller has stayed in contact via text. He has had some particularly challenging days with seasonal sickness combined with a weakened immune system. As of his latest text he was feeling slightly better and making plans to get some scheduled treatments in Nashville at the beginning of 2023.

Carla Money was sick for a few days in mid-November, but has since recovered and returned to work. Seasonal sicknesses have taken a toll on school workers and student alike!

Sara Money is making progress on her recovery from a frightening dog attack that happened on her own property. Sara's dog, who was also attacked, is recovering as well. We are grateful to God that the incident wasn't any worse than it was!

Katrina O'Brien reached out via text and asked for our prayers as she is recovering from two recent surgeries. On Sunday, November 20th, a group of us signed a card and placed it in the mail to her.

Kathy Owens had a recent surgery and sent word that she is on the road to recovery.

Jarod called and spoke to Janelee Wise in early November to check on her and Fr. Gene Wise. Fr. Wise has required a higher level of home care in recent months, but the two of them are in good spirits and send their love to everyone at St. Agnes'. Please keep them in your prayers as well.

Jarod visited Linda Milligan in recent days and also spoke with Pat Underwood by phone. The two of them are doing well overall and send their love.
Remembering Royana
We took a moment in our Sunday service on November 6, 2022, to bless and commemorate Royana Jane Stewart. Royana's son, James, and daughter-in-law, Diane, came forward to join in prayer for her peaceful repose. Royana's remains will later be taken to Florida to a final resting place. Following the service we gathered for a meal and fellowship in remembrance of her life and her friendship. May she rest in peace and rise in glory.
Get Ahead on Recent Sermons
Take full advantage of our online presence, especially if you are unable to attend services in person.

Here are some of our recent Video Sermons:
Each and every Sunday we post the day's sermon on our Facebook page and on our YouTube channel. These posts are followed by an e-mail with video links to everyone in the congregation who was unable to attend on that particular day.

You can show your support by liking and commenting whenever you see a video sermon on YouTube and/or on Facebook. The more likes and comments we receive the more our posts will be visible to the general public.
Fall and Early Winter Birthdays
November 20 - Christie James Grissett
November 20 - Andrew Williams
November 27 - Sheila Leitzel
 
December 3 – Kate Summers
December 11 - Wynona Gibson
December 14 - Bobby Gass
December 16 - Jonathan Scott
December 19 - Lee Glenn
December 22 - Bill Keller
December 31 - Frances Weddington


***

"Watch over thy children, O Lord, as their days increase; bless and guide them wherever they may be. Strengthen them when they stand, comfort them when discouraged or sorrowful; raise them up if they fall; and their hearts may thy peace, which passeth understanding abide all the days of their lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
We Uphold in Prayer
Katrina O'Brien, Sara Money, Peter Hutton, Shane O'Dear, Cash Bissey, Tim Money, Heather Martin, Mary Jane Arnold, Nancy and Lee Glenn, Joey Sisk, Tom Knowles, Steve and Rose Pearson, Sandi Gibson, Dave Myers, Harold Black Jr., Scott James, Wynona Gibson, Steve and Rose Pearson, Marty Judd, Iris Ellidge, Mary McDonald, Roy Tankersley, Bill Keller, and Linda Milligan.

We pray continually for Christians around the world in grave danger.

We pray for those witnessing increasing danger and crime in different areas of the world. We pray especially for God's help and wisdom in the worrisome situation in the The Ukraine.

We pray for those in our armed services, especially Cody Murphy and Anthony Russell.

We bless and commemorate Laura Curtis and Dorothy Wardell who recently passed into glory.

***

"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 Rev'd Dr. Linda Hutton.................................Supply Priest

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