Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church is a congregation that
values a diversity of belief. Whether you're full of faith or full of doubt,
you'll find people who have been there and accept you for where you are.
We welcome all people to worship, pray, eat, seek spiritual answers and enjoy life within this community of faith. All are welcome!
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Responding to Hurricane Helene | |
To be certain, I am not the only one who has been distressed by the devastation of Hurricane Helene since making landfall last Thursday. The pictures on social media are tragic and the stories we’ve all read or heard from family, friends, and neighbors are heartbreaking. Surely none of us thought this storm would drop 20 to 30 inches of rain in some local areas. Beloved places, like Montreat which hosts the annual youth conference each summer or Holston Camp and Conference Center where our church retreats each spring, have been left broken by this storm, but they shall not stay that way! We worship a God of Resurrection, who can bring back life out of destruction, healing out of disaster, and hope out of despair.
It has been amazing to witness how the Church of Jesus Christ is responding to this catastrophe. Within our own denomination, ministries like Presbyterian Disaster Assistance are already at work to help serve areas that have been devastated, both physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Connectional ministries like Holston Presbytery are collecting resources to share with those who are still without water, food, or shelter in North East Tennessee and within Western North Carolina. Sister churches like Black Mountain Presbyterian Church in Black Mountain, North Carolina have opened their doors to feed almost 1000 people a day as part of their mission to ensure that all are fed by the bread of life. While God is the first to grieve with us at all the loss caused by this terrible storm, the Spirit of God is at work within God’s people as we collectively care for the least of these in our greater community and I give thanks to the Lord for all these good gifts!
Years ago, the beloved Presbyterian minister Fred Rogers said, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” Many of you have asked how we might help. While in the coming weeks and months, there will be plenty of opportunities for us to help as the body of Christ, below are a few ways you might consider initially responding now to those in need:
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Pray: Speak with God to give thanks for all that is being done to help, and ask for continued help for those in need.
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Share: Pay attention to the stories coming out of these places that have been affected and share stories of need with others. Take notice of the needs of our neighbors and be willing to share what we have, or connect them with someone who can, in order to meet those needs. And if you have a need, please share it with the church so that we might be able to help you in the midst of this recovery.
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Volunteer: Plenty of opportunities will come our way to help in the coming days. Be open to the requests to serve that may present themselves. One immediate request comes from Holston Presbytery that is putting together a relief task force to meet the needs in our region. In the long term, our presbytery will be looking for volunteers from each church to help rebuild efforts in our area and places like Holston Camp. Please let me know if you are interested in volunteering now or in the future.
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Give: Your donation of financial resources can help make a difference in the early stages of this long recovery. I am grateful the Missions committee has already donated $2000 dollars of our Cents-Ability offerings to Second Harvest Food Bank and Black Mountain Presbyterian Church to feed people in our community and those near Montreat. Below are a few links to some of the mentioned ministries above that could use our help. In addition, our missional partner SMILE Foster Closet is specifically asking for baby formula donations to feed the littlest members of our greater community. The brand does not matter. Donations may be left in the narthex and will be delivered at a later date.
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Thank you for your prayers, your attention to our neighbor’s needs, and your willingness to be a helper. Your generous support is a gift of God’s grace and love to our sisters and brothers in this time of need, and I am most grateful for the compassionate ways our church family will collectively live out our shared faith in the days to come.
Gratefully,
- David
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This Sunday in Worship: October 6, 2024
Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost
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Come share the Peace of Christ with coffee and fellowship before worship, beginning at 9:30 in the Parlor! All are welcome; hope to see you there! | |
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Sunday's Scripture:
Mark 10:1-16, NRSV
Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12, NRSV
Sermon Title:
"Called Unto Me"
Wish to worship with us again or during the week? Click below to view last week's worship service.
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Home Communion will be offered this coming Sunday, October 6 in celebration of World Communion Sunday. Please contact David if you, or someone you know, would like to receive the sacrament that afternoon. | |
Don't Miss This Sunday's Blood Drive | |
Our blood drive is this weekend and there are still a few spots available! CHPC is excited to partner again with the Marsh Regional Blood Center by hosting a blood drive at the church in the Pumpkin Patch! The bloodmobile will be taking donations in the parking lot from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm this coming Sunday, October 6. Contact Mary in the church office or Mike Strickler to sign up today. Thank you for serving in this most special way!
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This Sunday kicks off our annual stewardship season at Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church. We look forward to hearing from various members of our congregation about how God has "Called" them to personally serve and how we all have been "Called" as a family of faith. Stewardship packets are available in the narthex for anyone to pick up. Thank you in advance for prayerfully considering how we are all "Called" to support the collective ministry of Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church. | |
Thanks for Supporting Cents-Ability! | |
Welcoming the Newly Baptized! | |
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We are overjoyed to welcome Lincoln Atticus Williams, son of Lauren and Jess Williams, into the life of Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church! This past Sunday was extra special as we were privileged to celebrate his baptism in worship. Please be sure to speak to the Williams family as we welcome them all into the life of our church family! May we continue to commit ourselves to the promises we made in worship of embracing and supporting this family! | |
Please Sign up to help during our Fall Festival! | |
Our Fall Festival is next Saturday, October 12 from 11-2 and we need as much help as we can get to ensure that this event is a success! Thank you to those who have already signed up to serve so far. Sign up sheets are in the Narthex or you can fill out our volunteer survey below to let us know how you can help. All sales go to support our Children and Youth ministries, such as helping to send our youth to the Montreat Youth Conference. And be sure to spread the word by inviting others to join us for all the fun there is to be had in CHPC's Pumpkin Patch! | |
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The Pumpkin Patch is already off to a fantastic start! In the first four days we have been open, we have already sold over $1,600 in Pumpkins. We still have plenty of pumpkins left to sell--and plenty of empty slots in the Patch! See the sign up sheet in the Narthex or contact Tyler to volunteer.
Not only that, but we have been making connections with our community and turning visitors into friends! Here is one such adorable friend we've made who is posing for a photo-op in one of our pumpkins! This is just one small example of how our Patch is a blessing all around, to our church as well as our community!
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Condolences are offered to the family of Anne Hertel who passed away on Wednesday, October 2. A visitation and Service of Witness to the Resurrection will be held at 4:30 pm on Friday, October 4. Worship will begin at 5:30 pm. Please keep Anne's family and all those who cared for her in your prayers.
Sunday School Classes will not meet this Sunday due to our fellowship lunch immediately after service. Both classes will resume next Sunday, October 13 after worship.
The Children's Choir will not practice this Sunday. We all look forward to hearing our little ones sing in worship on Sunday, October 13. Parents--please contact either Emily Broadhead or Carolyn Barry with any questions.
The Youth Group will be spending every Sunday evening of October out in the Pumpkin Patch! We'll be hanging out from 5-7, having a bible study, enjoying autumnal activities, sharing a meal, and of course--selling pumpkins! Click here to sign up to provide a meal for our youth or if you would simply like to contribute to cover meal, please contact Tyler.
Trunk or Treat will be here before we know it. Please plan to come and decorate your trunk on Saturday October 26 from 5-6pm. We have also begun collecting Halloween candy for this event. Baskets are labeled and in the Narthex on Sunday mornings. Please let Tyler Paulsen or Brenda Hutchins know if you would like to decorate a trunk to share treats with the over 400 visitors who stop by each year.
The Shoebox Ministry is in full swing! If you are interested in sponsoring a shoebox for a child in need, please signup with Brenda or Jonathan Hutchins. Boxes are due by Sunday, October 27 and may be left in the parlor.
The Midweek Bible Study continues each Wednesday from 3-4:00 pm in the Parlor. All are welcome to enjoy this lively discussion about the upcoming lectionary readings used on Sunday mornings. Contact Lisa Pecorini if you would like to participate or know more!
CHPC hosts a special prayer gathering each Wednesday evening in the church parlor at 6:30 pm. This weekly experience meets for a 30 minute intentional time of communal prayer and contemplation. All are welcome to come by and drop in as we turn to the Lord and listen for the movement of God’s Holy Spirit.
Have you already signed up for CHPC's New Phone Tree System? This ministry resource helps to keep the body of Christ connected in praying for various concerns within the church. This new system is able to accommodate a preference between receiving a phone call, email, or text message. Please let Mary know if you desire to be added to the prayer list, or if you have a preference on a specific communication style.
All items for the weekly online newsletter should be emailed to Mary at office@chpres.org by noon on Wednesday.
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Prayer Requests
Emily Bowman, Joyce Callahan, Ramona Gothard, Barbara Holt, Beverly Shelton, Ginny Snow, Boyd Holder, Bethany Thompson, Family of Kirk Cole, Family of Angela Kelly (Bill Kelly's Wife), Family of Evelyn Hill, Joy Weber (Marissa Paulsen's grandmother), Bonnie Cole, Julius Maikis, Dixie Keith, Charles Gibson, Linda and Dwight Young, Richard Crawford, Donna Whitson, Family of Shirley Hurst, Carlos Dimas (Mary's son-in-law),
Family of Anne Hertel
Health Care/ Assisted Living Facilities
Sue Fortney, Charles and Linda Gibson,
Betty McMillin, Wayne & Millie Pruett
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213 Colonial Heights Rd,
Kingsport, TN 37663
423-239-9194
www.chpres.org
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