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Meet Jim

I’m so excited to welcome Rev. Dr. Jim Abernathy to South Elkhorn! The Cabinet (South Elkhorn’s governing board), with recommendation from the Sabbatical Team and Personnel, unanimously voted to call Jim as Interim Sabbatical Minister for this summer (June 1 – August 31). He will be joining us for worship on May 22 and I can’t wait for you to meet him!

Jim comes highly recommended from former South Elkhorn member and Interim Regional Minister, Dean Phelps. He served in the Cooperative Baptist tradition, which is similar in structure, style and theology to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Indeed, like South Elkhorn, Jim affirms and has helped to empower women in ministry, he welcomes all people to the life of faith, and he embraces the centrality of the Lord’s Table practiced weekly in Disciple churches. You can read more and learn about Jim in his brief bio below.

On June 1, 2022 I will take a break from the duties and responsibilities of pastoral leadership. I am thankful for Jim’s leadership during this time away, especially as Pastor Holly will be busy with so much amazing summer ministry: camps, mission trips, and more. During sabbatical, Jim will provide leadership for staff, preach and lead worship, and provide pastoral care.

I am also deeply grateful for a church that values and promotes real rest for the life of faith, including the long-standing commitment to provide sabbatical rest for full-time pastoral staff. When Pastor Holly took sabbatical in 2018, I saw the spirit-refreshing difference it made for her, and the way we were all blessed because of it.

I can also celebrate with you that South Elkhorn has received a generous “Clergy Renewal Grant” from the Lilly Endowment for this upcoming sabbatical. This grant provides the funding to hire Jim as the Interim Sabbatical Minister and for congregational sabbatical experiences. I hope you’ll take advantage of one of these sabbatical experiences by unplugging, heading into the mountains, and taking some real rest on retreat with the church family in August. It is open to and great for all ages. There you’ll find a labyrinth, hiking paths, a swimming pool, and the beautiful opportunity to connect with others and root yourself deeply in the restful presence of God. Learn more and register here.

The theme for the summer sabbatical is Rooted and is inspired by Jeremiah 17:7-8.

7 Blessed are those who trust in the Lord,
whose trust is the Lord.
8 They shall be like a tree planted by water,
sending out its roots by the stream.
It shall not fear when heat comes,
and its leaves shall stay green;
in the year of drought it is not anxious,
and it does not cease to bear fruit.

I’ll be tending to some crucial roots for a flourishing and faithful life: family, friendship, and spiritual practice. The Clergy Renewal Grant will provide funding for me, Rebecca and the kids to spend time together visiting family and making memories out in Idaho and Oregon. I also look forward to connecting with the roots of South Elkhorn by visiting Spotsylvania Courthouse in Virginia where the long history of the “traveling church” begins. During these summer months I’ll be tending to the roots of spiritual practice, doing some hiking, walking labyrinths and praying, and–most importantly–resting deeply.

I look forward to the worshipful rest of Sunday morning with you. There our hearts find rest in turning our focus to the healing, renewing, and life-giving presence of God. This week’s story of John 12:1-8 invites us to experience God’s presence in a surprising and beautiful way: embracing the fragile character of life.

See you Sunday,

REV. DR. JIM ABERNATHY

After thirty-five years in full-time ministry, I retired in the spring of 2017, relocating from the Washington D.C. suburb of Burke, Virginia to Lexington.

Since retiring to Kentucky I have preached in three Disciples of Christ churches, Crestwood Christian in Lexington in their pastor’s absence, Stanford Christian for two months in early 2020 until they called a new pastor, and as Interim Pastor at First Christian Church in Maysville. While my background is Cooperative Baptist, I am very comfortable ministering in the Disciples of Christ context and have enjoyed the opportunities afforded me thus far.

I have served as Adjunct Homiletics Professor at the John Leland Seminary in Arlington, Virginia (5 years), sang with the Washington National Cathedral Choir in Washington, D.C., and currently sing in the Lexington Chamber Chorale.

I am married to Cindy, a retired music educator, and we have one son, Clayton, who lives in Lexington with his wife, Erika. We share our home with Maggie, our Beagle mix rescue.

 

PS – Holy Week & Maundy Thursday are just around the corner! Close the season of Lent in a meaningful way. On Palm Sunday, Rev. Dr. Don Gillette II will bring an inspiring message. Don is the Regional Minister and President for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Kentucky. Then, on Maundy Thursday you are invited to a contemplative and intimate service in the Historic Sanctuary–experience a hand blessing, communion, song, prayer and stillness. You can help us prepare for Maundy Thursday and which Easter service you plan to attend by making an RSVP below.

Register

Easter RSVP

Learn More About Lent

April 3 / John 12:1-8
April 10 / Luke 19:28-40
Miss last week’s message or want to listen to a previous sermon? Check out the South Elkhorn Christian Church podcast wherever you get your podcasts or use the link below:

Sermon Podcast

A Sabbatical Letter

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May 18, 2022

A Letter on Sabbatical

A Sabbatical Letter

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Welcome Rev. Dr. Jim Abernathy

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May 6, 2022

7 Things You Need to Know About Michael’s Sabbatical

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Welcome Rev. Dr. Jim Abernathy

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April 1, 2022

Palm Sunday Joy

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It's long-lasting and long-reaching. Week of Compassion is the relief, refugee, and development mission fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Learn how your gifts make a difference.

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February 20-27, 2022

How Long is Compassion?

It’s long-lasting and long-reaching. Week of Compassion is the relief, refugee, and development mission fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Learn how your gifts make a difference.

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During that vacation, in two final conversations with my grandmother before her death, when words were hard and fraught, I found comfort in the words of Jesus. In the gospels, Jesus teaches us by his own example to pray. But he doesn't leave us there. He also teaches us how to pray. And then, as if knowing that sometimes prayer is just too much: he gives us words to pray. Words that can carry us.

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During that vacation, in two final conversations with my grandmother before her death, when words were hard and fraught, I found comfort in the words of Jesus. In the gospels, Jesus teaches us by his own example to pray. But he doesn’t leave us there. He also teaches us how to pray. And then, as if knowing that sometimes prayer is just too much: he gives us words to pray. Words that can carry us.

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During that vacation, in two final conversations with my grandmother before her death, when words were hard and fraught, I found comfort in the words of Jesus. In the gospels, Jesus teaches us by his own example to pray. But he doesn't leave us there. He also teaches us how to pray. And then, as if knowing that sometimes prayer is just too much: he gives us words to pray. Words that can carry us.

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During that vacation, in two final conversations with my grandmother before her death, when words were hard and fraught, I found comfort in the words of Jesus. In the gospels, Jesus teaches us by his own example to pray. But he doesn’t leave us there. He also teaches us how to pray. And then, as if knowing that sometimes prayer is just too much: he gives us words to pray. Words that can carry us.

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It seems everyone wants to be more authentic.  Jesus points to a challenging counter-intuitive path with a surprising detour through denial.

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It seems everyone wants to be more authentic. Jesus points to a challenging counter-intuitive path with a surprising detour through denial.

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Holy ground hurts. Sandals don’t stay on when you sprint. I didn’t expect actual flames.

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Holy ground hurts. Sandals don’t stay on when you sprint. I didn’t expect actual flames.

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I was grateful for Acts of Reconciliation resources provided by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). My heart is hurting and my spirit is stirred by the cries of black and brown people who are facing the crushing weight of structural racism. And not only those who are featured in television interviews and news articles, but also those I know personally: friends, colleagues, and siblings in Christ. I'm listening. I'm learning. I'm praying. I'm sitting with the [...]

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Growing up, "whiteness" was mostly invisible to me. I knew that I was white, that others were not, but I mostly didn't think about race. And if I'm honest, when I did think about it, it made me really uncomfortable. I quickly retreated to "colorblindness" (choosing not to see race, and pretending race had no impact on how I treated people). Maybe that's why I still remember when I was shocked by "whiteness"... it was when [...]

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What does glitter have to do with God?

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What does glitter have to do with God?

This weekend is special. You might just discover what glitter has to do with God. I'm so excited for you to experience the unique gifts of the South Elkhorn youth. The online worship service is led by youth sharing their music, song, prayer, short reflections, a children's moment, communion, and more. You can tune in on Facebook at 10:30AM on Sunday, or anytime this weekend here. Their joy, hope, and creativity lifted and elevated my spirit. I suspect [...]

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You might quickly realize where you are on the graph below. Perhaps it accurately describes your own roller coaster of emotional well-being, and maybe even our wider social situation. I don't know about you, but after a period of camaraderie and shared heroic effort, I now sense and see the disillusionment growing, circulating, deepening. Perhaps that's where you are. Maybe that's what you are sensing in others, too. Click the photo to enlarge. That disillusionment [...]

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"We are all monks now."  That headline stopped me in my tracks. Whatever else this moment is, what if it might be our "monastic moment"? What if "healthy at home" can be more than a pandemic precaution, but an opportunity for something more. No, this isn't the shallow cheer leading that suggests we should learn a new language, master a new skill, or build something new with a zealous discipline and loads of "free time." [...]

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Sunday Morning Zoom Communion

Your invited to share Communion by Zoom on Sundays at 11:30 AM. Pause for a sacred moment to greet the church family, hear the words of institution, share bread and cup with whatever elements you have at home, and receive a blessing. To join, follow the links and use the password here.

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Excarnation

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You don't just have a body. You are a body. And bodies matter to God. So much so that God "became flesh" in Christ and lived among us (the "incarnation"). So much so that God raised Christ's body. So much so that when Christ was raised and appeared to the disciples and to Thomas he showed them his scarred body--his hands and his side. Bodies matter to God. And in Christ God embraces and relates to who we are [...]

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My heart soared seeing so many faces yesterday. It was Maundy Thursday, and over 40 screens (filled with 70-100 people) gathered via zoom to remember Jesus' last supper, share in communion from our many different rooms and tables, and receive a blessing. If you weren't able to join, I want to share that blessing with you (at the very bottom of this email). I pray these words bless your soul as they have mine. See you (digitally) [...]

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I think it's grief. At least that's what I've noticed about myself. I'm grieving. It doesn't feel like the grief I expect when a loved one dies. But it's grief, I'm growing more sure of it every day. I've seen some powerful acknowledgment of this grief. Recently I read a beautiful one by a South Elkhorn Church and choir member and professor at Transylvania University, Jeremy Paden. Maybe you've noticed it, too, even if you have [...]

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Keep Connected - email, text, and more

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Keep connected with updates, encouragement, invitations, and opportunities to serve. Join the email and text messaging lists below: {{ vc_btn: title=Sign+up+for+The+Current+e-news&align=center&i_icon_fontawesome=far+fa-envelope&add_icon=true&link=url%3Ahttp%253A%252F%252Feepurl.com%252FcQRAkn%7C%7C%7C }}{{ vc_btn: title=Sign+up+for+Michael%27s+Weekly+Musings&align=center&i_icon_fontawesome=far+fa-envelope&add_icon=true&link=url%3Ahttp%253A%252F%252Feepurl.com%252FcOlOAf%7C%7C%7C }}{{ vc_btn: title=Sign+up+for+Children+and+Youth+e-news&align=center&i_icon_fontawesome=far+fa-envelope&add_icon=true&link=url%3Ahttp%253A%252F%252Feepurl.com%252Fc4pIlz%7C%7C%7C }}{{ vc_btn: title=Get+South+Elkhorn+text+messages&align=center&i_icon_fontawesome=fas+fa-mobile-alt&add_icon=true&link=url%3Ahttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.remind.com%252Fjoin%252Fsouthelk%7C%7C%7C }} Use your phone to sign up for text messages: Share your prayer concerns or prayer requests. {{ vc_btn: title=Prayer+Requests&align=center&i_icon_fontawesome=fas+fa-praying-hands&add_icon=true&link=url%3Ahttps%253A%252F%252Fforms.gle%252FSZtwxFXvUSRdwUiq9%7C%7C%7C }}

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