On Dec. 1, the Corbin District Pastors/Spouses/Families along with those also of the Red Bird Missionary Conference, gathered at Corbin First UMC for their annual Christmas Gathering, with 45 persons present from the RBMC and 65 persons present from the Corbin District.
During the 5:30 pm Christmas Dinner in the Church Gym/Fellowship Hall, Superintendents Chuck Jack and Terry Faris welcomed all the folks, and gave each Pastor a personal gift. Chuck and Betsy Jack gave all their Pastors a beautiful ornament for the tree, and Terry and Judy Faris gave all their Pastors a handmade "Hot Mitts" for the kitchen. This beautiful and practical tool was created and hand stitched by Mrs. Barbara Barker (see attached photo), and it was a joy to have Barbara and her husband, Richard, with us for the evening. It takes Barbara 3 hours to hand make each of the "Hot Mitts," and she gave them a special touch by sewing in the "Cross and Flame."
Judy and I used part of our personal tithe to purchase 95 of these "Hot Mitts" from Barbara (95 x 3 = 285 hours of creative work) for our Corbin District Pastors, RBMC Leadership, Appointive Cabinet, and Conference Staff as expressions of our love and appreciation for who they are in the Lord and what they do for the Lord.
Barbara Barker grew up as an M.K. (Missionary Kid) in Africa, where her father was martyred and is buried in Africa. She and Richard and their 5 children served as missionaries in Japan for 22 years. She said concerning the "Hot Mitts": "I truly enjoyed this most recent challenge of sewing in the United Methodist logo (Cross and Flame), and have prayed for God's blessings to follow each mitt - into every parsonage to somehow enhance the ministries of all!"
Judy and I also thank the Corbin District Pastors for their wonderful Christmas love gift of $700 to us, presented by Ward Wilson, Leader of the Corbin District Superintendency Team. We gave $100 of this love gift to the Barkers as an expression of our love and appreciation for them and their ministry.
During the meal, it was a joy to recognize: Barbara and Richard Barker, Ed de Rosset (President of Union College), Tim and Carol Crawford (Director of Henderson Settlement), Russ and Kathy Pierce (Director of The Bennett Center), Chuck and Betsy Jack (Superintendent of the RBMC), Ruth Wiertzema (Director of Connectional Ministries of the RBMC), and Fred and Pat Haggard (Director of the Red Bird Mission). See attached photo.
At 7:00 pm, we all gathered in the sanctuary for a wonderful program: American Hit Parade 1957 Christmas Spectacular, presented by the talented Corbin First UMC Family. Great music and choreography that brought back many wonderful ministries. It was a "hoot" to see Rev. Susan Elkow with her "Mickey Mouse Ears," singing and dancing like an original "Mouseketeer" (move over Annette)! Even "Elvis" (Ed Garr, Minister of Music/Worship) was present. See attached photo.
