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!

Our Trunk or Treat will be this Saturday evening! Please plan to come out and decorate your trunk on October 25 from 5:00 to 6:00 pm. Halloween candy is being collected to support this event and may be dropped off in the baskets in the Narthex.

Please let Tyler Paulsen or Ann Johnson know if you would like to decorate a trunk to share treats with the over 400 visitors we expect to swing by on Saturday night!

Get your paws ready for a Blessing of the Animals service that will be this Sunday, October 26! All are invited to bring your beloved animal companion out to the patch at 5:00 pm. We will have a small treat for them and will pray a blessing over our church family's sweet creatures. A drive-thru blessing will be available until 6:00 pm for those furry friends who might be anxious to get too close to other animals or all these large pumpkins. Please save the date and spread the word throughout our community. We hope to see all God's creatures in the Patch!

By the end of the final chapter of Genesis, Joseph and his brothers have buried their father Jacob and are left wondering what will happen to this family of faith left in a foreign land. Fear descends upon them all, but Joseph refuses to be bound by that nightmare again. He boldly proclaims, "Do not be afraid" because what others may have intended for evil, God has intended for good. That's a powerful message for us as a people of faith to remember all these years later. What fears should we not be afraid of in our own lives and how might God be at work for the good of all the world in ways we might overlook in this present age? Join us this Sunday as we wrap up this dreamy sermon series about the story of Joseph and the divine dream of realizing God's Kingdom in a foreign world.

All are welcome to worship with us at 10:00 am in the Sanctuary or online through our weekly livestream on Youtube. And don't forget to come early and share the Peace of Christ with coffee and fellowship before worship, beginning at 9:30 in the Parlor! Hope to see you this Sunday!

Sunday's Scripture:

Genesis 50:14-26, NRSV

Sermon Title:

"Dreams Instead of Nightmares"

Wish to worship with us again or during the week?

Click here to view last week's worship service!



The Session has called a congregational meeting for this Sunday, October 26 to: 1) to approve a slate of five Elders for the class of 2028 and an Elder to serve a one year term for the class of 2026, 2) to approve a slate of two Trustees for the Class of 2028, 3) to approve a slate of three members to serve on the 2026 ONC.

The Nominating Committee is excited to present the slate of leaders below that can help our church family throughout the future. Please thank this group for their hard work and begin praying for these individuals as they prepare to step into congregational leadership. 

Elder: 

Gretchen Bentley, Steve Healy, Vickie Jones,

Shelby Ratchford, Anne Webb, and Cari Parker (for a one year term)

Trustee: 

Gary Lowe and Casey Ratchford

Nominations:

Brenda Clark, Tammy Cox, and Ginger Moody

My husband Casey and I moved to Kingsport from Florida just before Thanksgiving last year, and everyone asks, "Why?" We love telling the story because it’s about a dream—one we believe God inspired. As David has been teaching us in worship, God uses dreams to reveal his purpose, and Casey and I truly believe he called us to Northeast Tennessee and to the family of Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church to be a part of the body of Christ at work in our new community.

God guided us every step of the way, leading us to a home just up the street and through the back doors of this sanctuary. We immediately felt at home in this sacred space. We were welcomed into a Sunday School class, and even invited to spend Thanksgiving dinner by people we had just met! Over the past months, we’ve found abundant ways to serve and participate in stewardship alongside you, including ministries like Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Habitat for Humanity, the CarePortal, and serving at the local Kitchen of Hope. I’m sure I’ve met many of you downstairs while helping plan meals with the Congregational Family Life team. One of our favorite new ministries is Pickleball! We meet weekly on Thursday nights at 7:00 PM in the gym for a fun, friendly game. It's a wonderful way to exercise, build community, and welcome new faces—both members and guests. This group has even sparked a hiking club! This growing fellowship shows how God continues to realize his dream for his kingdom through the people in this church.

I encourage you to pray and consider the dreams God is giving you about where you can plug in to the life of this wonderful church family. If you haven't yet filled out your stewardship and pledge cards, please take the time to prayerfully consider how we might use our gifts to help realize God's Kingdom. Your commitment helps all these vital ministries continue to thrive. Thank you for welcoming us and for the amazing ways you serve!

In Christ,

- Shelby Ratchford

Thank you prayerfully considering how we may live into God's "dream" as a church family in the upcoming year. Additional stewardship packets are still available in the Narthex and online via the church website here. Pledge cards and Time & Talent surveys are also available on the church website and can be returned to the church office. Thank you for prayerfully discerning how our gifts may help to lift up others out of the pit like Joseph!

Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church is overjoyed to welcome in a new baptized child and two new families into the life of our beloved community. Boone Lee Hutchins was baptized on Sunday, October 12 in worship surrounded by his parents Callie and Eric, as well as his big sister Laney. The Seale family and the Ratchford family joined the congregation on Sunday, October 19, with Brandon being baptized in worship and Shelby offering the Moment for Stewardship. How good is the Lord our God for bringing us new friends to do life with and to serve alongside! Please take the time to greet these new members the next time you see them around the church. Thank you for sharing the Christian spirit of hospitality so well as a family of faith!

Your Session met on Monday, October 20 for our regularly stated meeting. A devotion was offered about the topic of Christian Love, minutes were reviewed from two previous meetings, and committee reports were received. Approval was given to sponsor a 5 Cents a Meal Hunger Grant for Kitchen of Hope with Holston Presbytery. Discussion was had about this year's stewardship season and the session continues to ask all members to prayerfully consider what God is calling us all to give in the upcoming year. Thank you for your faithful generosity and support of our shared ministry! The next stated Session meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 17 at 5:30 pm.

In Christ,

David (Moderator) & Chris Broadhead (Clerk of Session)

This past weekend was such a treat at CHPC! Saturday we had our annual Fall Festival and it was a hoot! Thanks to everyone who came out to enjoy it. And special thanks to the CFL committee and all our volunteers for ensuring that this event was so successful. It was such a joy to welcome so many folks to our church for a couple hours of food and fun.

And another thanks to our Missions committee and all of those volunteers who donated blood on Sunday afternoon! So many of our church members are passionate about being the hands and feet of Jesus in the world. Being the body of Christ on earth means pouring out for others, and we are honored by every donation that was gathered this weekend in service of helping those who are in need!

The Pumpkin Patch continues to be a source of fellowship and joy as the weather gets a little cooler. We're grateful for the connections being made in our community and how visitors are being transformed into friends. Thank you for taking the time to serve out in the patch and share the Good News of God's Love by welcoming people to enjoy the goodness of creation on our own front lawn!

Please remember that CHPC's Pumpkin Patch is open daily from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm and that volunteer's are still needed to help make this ministry happen through Sunday, November 2. Please help us to be sure we finish the month strong! Time slots are available in two hour increments and sign up sheets are located in the Narthex. Thank you for helping us to finish strong and ensure every pumpkins finds a wonderful porch to sit on for Halloween!

The Bed Delivery Team has been hard at work making Care Portal deliveries to set up beds alongside our mission partner, Sleep in Heavenly Peace! So much so, in fact, that extra bedding supplies are now needed for future deliveries. Please consider supporting this meaningful ministry of our church family. Donations may be placed in a bin in the parlor. And please speak with Allen Booth for more details on how you can get involved with the next delivery!

• Regular Twin Bed sheet sets for Children
• Mattress protectors for Twin Beds (Available at Walmart for about $12)
• Comforters for Twin Beds
• Pillows

Parents and Youth, mark your calendars for the Holston Presbytery Youth Retreat! All students in 5th thru 12th grade are invited to join us for a wonderful weekend up at Holston Camp. Registration is $70 per student for travel, housing, and food for the weekend. All participants will also receive a sweatshirt, which is included in the final cost. On our schedule for that weekend is a trip to Mast General Store, so please bring extra cash if you would like to. We will leave from the church Friday, November 14 at 5:00 pm. Pickup back at the church will be Sunday, November 16 around noon. Please contact Tyler if you have any further questions or to RSVP! The deadline to sign up is Wednesday, October 29.

Thank you to all who helped support this year's Christmas Shoebox Ministry in partnership with Samaritan's Purse. Boxes are due this Sunday, October 26 and may be left in the parlor. Please contact Brenda Hutchins or Gretchen Bentley with any last minute questions.

Children are always welcome in worship and have a special time together down front after the prayer of confession. Kiddos are invited to also enjoy “Children’s Church” downstairs during the sermon and may be picked up in the Kids Connection room after service.

CHPC Children’s Choir will sing in worship this Sunday, October 26 and practice before service in the sanctuary at 9:15 am. Children's Choir practice will then resume on Sunday, November 2 after worship. Please contact Carolyn Barry or Emily Broadhead with any questions.

Sunday School Classes continue this Sunday after worship at 11:15 am. The Disciples class meets in room 218 and the Remnant class meets in room 221 to discuss that day's worship service and sermon. Please speak to David to learn more about how you can get involved in either class or other various discipleship opportunities.

The Youth Group will be meeting out in the Pumpkin Patch from 5:00 to 7:00 pm every Sunday for the rest of the month. We will have dinner, a bible study, and typically a fun activity or game. Please bring a lawn chair and plan on helping out in the Patch with selling pumpkins. Contact Tyler if you are interested in either joining in on this ministry or supporting it in any way! Click Here to sign up to provide a meal for the kids.

All Saints’ Sunday will be celebrated on Sunday, November 2 to remember members of our congregation and/or immediate family members who have passed away during the previous year. If you have someone that has passed away since November 3, 2024, please email or call the church office with your loved ones name by Wednesday, October 29.

Save the date for a special discussion about the topic of a “Good Death”. All are welcome to participate in this workshop from 10-2:30 pm on Saturday, November 22. The cost is $10. Speak with David to learn more and to RSVP.

All items for the weekly online newsletter should be emailed to Mary at office@chpres.org by the end of the day on Tuesdays.

Please continue to pray for all those on the Prayer List:

Richard Bilbro (Cecil Bilbro's brother), Baby Justice Gilreath, Dolly Parton (Appalachian Prophet), Julius Maikis (Scoutmaster White's father), Family of Wayne Pruett, William Savage (KC Savage's brother), Family of Charles Gibson, Fr. James Fliss (Doreen Heppert's brother), Family of Robert Blessing (Patti Garrett's father), Tina Whiteaker (Teresa Strickler's sister), Jonathan and Brenda Hutchins, Beverly Shelton, Barbara Holt, Ramona Gothard, Joyce Callahan

As well as those in Health Care/ Assisted Living Facilities:

Mary Ann Smith, Mae Dale, Sue Fortney, Linda Gibson, Millie Pruett

Do you have a specific prayer request you'd like to share?

Please contact a member of the Care Shepherds or Pastor David

and we would be happy to pray with you!