The Church Bell
Vol. 5, No. 5
May/June 2021
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Wear Red for of Pentecost |
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On the 50th Day of Eastertide, the church throughout the world remembers the coming of the Holy Spirit and her empowerment to carry the holy gospel into the world.
This is the Day of Pentecost, also known as Whitsunday.
On May 23rd St. Agnes' will hold a festival Day of Pentecost service at 11:00 a.m. We encourage you to wear something red to symbolize the "tongues as of fire" mentioned in scripture.
Alleluia. The Spirit of the Lord filleth the world: O come let us adore him. Alleluia.
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Join us for lunch and cake after the service on May 23rd!
The Day of Pentecost is a joyful feast that calls us to break bread together and celebrate the mission of the church to all the world!
A meal will be provided after the service. You don't need to bring anything - it's all provided!
We will also enjoy birthday cake to celebrate the birth of the church's mission as well as all of the birthdays we have missed celebrating since the COVID-19 pandemic started in 2020.
The meal we are serving will also celebrate our transition into Phase 3 of our re-opening plan. See below for details.
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Due to much better news on the COVID-19 front, St. Agnes' will move confidently into Phase 3 of our re-opening on Sunday, May 23rd!
The primary purpose of Phase 3 is to restart the after-service coffee hour in the parish hall.
We will celebrate by serving a Day of Pentecost luncheon in the parish hall on May 23rd. You don't need to bring anything! The food and drink will be provided!
From May 30th until we move into Phase 4, we will offer the after-service coffee hour under a particular set of guidelines approved by the Mission Council.
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Phase 3 Guidelines for Coffee Hour
To lessen the risks of serving food in the church, we are taking steps to improve cleanliness and minimize surface contact.
Here's a list of changes we have made so far:
- We have switched to pre-wrapped flatware
- Napkins are now in a dispenser
- Sanitary hand towels are positioned near the food service table
- We now serve canned drinks instead of poured drinks
- Gloves will be available for food handling and for dish/utensil washing
From May 30th onward, we invite anyone and everyone to bring snacks to share after the service. And, we invite everyone to enjoy the food and fellowship that we have sorely missed since the pandemic began.
In Phase 3 we intend to only serve and share snacks that are professionally/commercially prepared and packaged.
We discourage home-cooked food at this time. That policy will hopefully change when we move into Phase 4.
Prior to visiting the food service table, please wash your hands in the restroom and/or use a sanitary hand towel.
Most important of all, we want everyone to enjoy our time together in fellowship!
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May 30th is Trinity Sunday |
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The Sunday that follows Pentecost / Whitsunday is the church's formal celebration of the Holy Trinity .
Linda will lead our 11:00 service on that day.
We also encourage you to come to a 10:30 a.m. reading The Creed of St. Athanasius in the parish hall.
The Athanasian Creed is an ancient document proclaiming and verifying the nature of the Incarnation and of God as the Holy Trinity.
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, one God: O come let us adore him.
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A Prayer for Memorial Day - May 31st |
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"O Judge of the nations, we remember before you with grateful hearts the men and women of our country who in the day of decision ventured much for the liberties we now enjoy. Grant that we may not rest until all the people of this land share the benefits of true freedom and gladly accept its disciplines. This we ask in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." |
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June 14th is Flag Day in Cowan! |
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On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Flag of the United States with 13 stripes of red and blue, and a union of stars on a blue field.
The history of the flag also brings the legendary story of Betsy Ross who sewed the first version according to her family memoirs.
The Town of Cowan will celebrate the history, heritage, and unity of "Old Glory" on Monday, June 14th, at 6 p.m. in front of the log cabin court house. We hope you can attend!
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Between now and Father's Day, June 20th, St. Agnes' will support the "Change for Life" campaign for the Life Choices pregnancy support center.
Life Choices is a dynamic life-nurturing ministry with offices in Coffee, Franklin, and Grundy County.
To participate you can take home and fill up a baby bottle coin jar.
Christie James Grissett is a resource person at Life Choices. For information about the center please reach out to Christie or log on to www.lifechoicestn.org.
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Get Ahead on Recent Sermons |
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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:
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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.
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May 2 - Ella Grissett
May 4 - Greg Cheek
May 9 - Carla Wilson Money
May 11 - Steve Pearson
May 31 - Kathleen Black
June 6 - Brian Judd
June 7 - Linda Milligan
June 9 - Gene Black
June 13 - James Cheek
July 5 - Greg Powers
July 9 - Pearson Garner
July 10 - Richard Paton
July 15 - Robert McDonald
July 21 - Nancy Glenn
July 27 - Alice Black
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"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."
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Dane and Shelia Leitzel - 9 years!
John and Marsha Ruffing - 52 years!
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Updates from our church family |
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Nancy Glenn had a medical procedure at St. Thomas Rutherford on May 19th to help her walk better and hopefully get some long-term pain relief. She is hoping to be fully recovered and back in church very soon.
Bill Keller got some worrisome results from a recent medical assessment. He is planning a follow-up with his oncologist and some further evaluation. Bill asks for our continuing prayers.
Laura Pearson McDonald had surgery on May 17th and is home recovering. She is getting better each day.
Steve Pearson re-started chemotherapy. Although he gets tired from the treatments, he got some encouraging reports at his last assessment.
Tabitha Geer Scruggs (Carla's oldest daughter) will have surgery on May 20th and will spend a few days in the hospital afterward. Please keep her in your daily prayers with hope for a successful recovery.
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Tabitha Geer Scruggs, Nancy Glenn, Laura Pearson McDonald, Herold Black Jr., Scott and Sylvia James, Steve Jellison, Cash Bissey, Rachel Schnabel, Patsy Rigsby, Brandi Rigsby, Joyce Adams, Joy Boswell Owens, David Gibson, Wendi Wallace, Bob Turpin, Wynona Gibson, Brad Roberts, Rosemary Harris, Christy Shepard, Steve Pearson, Dick and Mary Ann Austin, Marty Judd, Jay Yowell, Iris Ellidge, Mary McDonald, Gina, Jordan and Austin Cleek, Brad and Anita Warmbrod, Roy Tankersley, Royana Stewart, Bill Keller, Linda Milligan, and Karen McCallie.
We pray continually for Christians around the world in grave danger and for those in our armed services, especially Wes Nevels.
We bless and commemorate James Johns who recently passed into glory.
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"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."
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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
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The Rt. Rev'd John C. Bauerschmidt..................Bishop of Tennessee
The Rev'd Dr. Linda Hutton.................................Supply Priest
L. Jarod Pearson.................................................Lay Reader
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