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!

CHPC was blessed in so many ways this past weekend! For those of us who were able to go on the retreat, it was wonderful to get away for a few days, enjoy some wonderful weather in the cool mountain air, and practice the gift of sabbath rest. Thanks to everyone who came and contributed to making it such a fantastic retreat! It was also such a joy to have Rev. Dr. Meredith Loftis join us last Sunday and to lead our entire church family in worship as we began this new sermon series about the values of Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church. Thanks to all those who worshiped with us, both at home in the sanctuary and all the way from Holston Camp!

Plans are being made now for next year's Annual Churchwide Retreat. Please speak with Amylyn Crawford-Thornton this weekend if you have a preference between April 16-18, or April 30 - May 2, 2027. We cannot wait to return to the mountains and enjoy time together as a church family!

And a special shout out to Alyssa and Wilson Fletcher who chose to spend their 18th birthday with the church on the retreat! We are so proud of the wonderful young adults they have grown up to become and for all the ways our entire youth group is compassionate, charitable, uplifting, and accepting. Make sure to wish these two a happy belated birthday this Sunday!

For the next five weeks, Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church keeps turning to familiar scriptures to remind ourselves of all the good God keeps doing in this special place. This week, Elder Karen Bennett preaches to our church family about the value of "compassion" and how this gift gracefully empowers our shared ministry. How might God be pushing us to be more compassionate in our thoughts, words, and actions? All are welcome to worship with us this week as we study God's Word found in the Matthew's Sermon on the Mount.

Sunday's Scriptures:

Matthew 5:43-48, NRSV

Colossians 3:12-17, NRSV

Sermon Title:

"Compassion - CHPC Style"

Wish to worship with us again or another time during the week?

Click below to view last week's worship service on 1 Corinthians 3.

All children are welcome in worship this week and have a special time together down front after the prayer of confession. Kiddos are welcome to enjoy “Children's Church” downstairs during the sermon and will return to the sanctuary to celebrate the sacrament of communion with the congregation.

The Children's Choir practices this week after worship at 11:15 am. All children ages 3-11 are welcome to come sing and play! Please contact Jean Fletcher or Laura Wicker for details or to learn how to get involved.

CHPC's "Kids Club" continues after choir practice in the Children's Connection Room while their adults participate in Sunday School until noon. Please speak with Tyler if your child plans to attend and keep spreading the word about this wonderful church activity for our kiddos!

Adult Sunday School Classes combine into one class with David about the Sermon on the mount after worship at 11:15 am in room 220. All are welcome to this intergenerational discussion about the greatest sermon of all time. Please speak with David to learn more about this class or how you can get further involved in various adult discipleship opportunities in the future.

Your Session met for a called meeting on Monday, May 4 to continue important discussions about the upcoming pastoral transition and the regular work of the church. The meeting opened with prayer and a devotion from Pastor Randolph about the important role of the church as a community, then the Session enjoyed a meal together. You can read this devotion from one of David’s friends here. The Session approved the celebration of communion on May 31, the baptisms of Liam Burger, Reed Burger, and Jonathan Hutchins during the month, the welcoming of new members (the Wellman Family) on May 17, and the formation of a strategic task force to recommend a maintenance and improvement schedule for CHPC facilities.

God continues to be doing so much through the shared ministry of CHPC and your Session remains very hopeful for future of this church family. A transition team has been formed of the Session to provide additional leadership during the pastoral transition. Their goal is to help coordinate the various ministries of the church to ensure our shared ministry remains strong, supportive, and most importantly, faithful. This team initially includes the Clerk of Session (Emily Hutchins), Clerk Pro-Temp (Cari Parker), and Co-chair of the Worship Committee (Karen Bennett). The Worship Committee has already lined up preachers for the month of June and the Session has requested Holston Presbytery allow Elder Karen Bennett to officiate communion in the absence of a pastor. More information will be available in two weeks after our next stated meeting on May 18 at 5:30 pm with Rev. Dr. Brian Wyatt from the Committee on Ministry of Holston Presbytery. Members of the Congregation are welcome to ask the Elders any questions about upcoming plans and presbytery procedures as your Session prayerfully considers the best path forward for our church family. Please continue to keep Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church and the Randolphs in your prayers for the days ahead.

In Christ,

Emily Hutchins (Clerk of Session) and David Randolph (Moderator)

For five years, David Randolph has faithfully led our congregation with compassion, kindness, humility, patience and love. In those five years, he rejoiced with us, wept with us, grew with us, and empowered us to do the work of the Kingdom. For this, and for so much more, we will forever be grateful. As we prepare to say our goodbyes, your Session invites you to join us in honoring David with a love offering, that, at his request, will be given to the Legacy of Faith Fund. This invested fund was created in 2025 for the long term benefit of Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church. More information about the Legacy of Faith Fund is available below and any member of Session would be happy to tell you more about how it will help sustain our church ministry for years to come. Any gifts or future commitments can be made to the church anytime between now and May 31st. You may also use this link here to give online directly to the Legacy of Faith Fund.

Sign up now for next week's "A Good Death" workshop from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm on Saturday, May 16. This "Resurrection Edition" will be similar to the event last November and include multiple speakers from various disciplines. The conversations will cover topics of theology, funerals, grief, hospice care, medical directives, estate planning, and more. The greatest goal of the day is to demystify the subject of death in a way that allows us to approach it with grace and love instead of fear. Please speak with David to learn more and to RSVP for this educational event. Family and friends are most welcome, so please spread the word to those who might be interested in joining us for this important conversation.

Wacky & Wonderful Wednesday will run every Wednesday evening from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm during the month of June! This programatic event is open to all children from the age of four through rising fifth graders. These are totally free events that will include a meal, games, crafts, music, and faith based lessons. Make sure your child joins us this summer as we learn more about What Every Living Thing Needs! You may register online by clicking the button below. Please spread the word throughout our community so others may know of this wacky and wonderful ministry of our church family!

Volunteers are needed to make sure this new ministry can happen. Sign ups are available in the narthex for all four Wednesdays in June. Please speak with Tyler or any member of the Faith Formation Committee to learn more about how you can help serve the children of our community.

CHPC celebrates the birth of August Hall Ford, son of Bryan and Andrea Ford, and grandson to Gina and Mark Ford on May 5, 2026. All are doing well and we ask the congregation please pray for the Ford family as we collectively give thanks to God for the gift of this new beloved child in our community!

The Youth Group meets this Sunday night for Bible study from 5:00 to 6:30pm in the youth center. Come and enjoy dinner, fellowship, and study as we prepare for Youth Sunday on Pentecost (May 24)! Don't forget, the youth group also gathers on Wednesday evenings throughout the month from 6:00 to 7:00 pm for even more fellowship and fun!

As part of CHPC's Safe Sanctuary Policy, our church family is willingly completing background checks on all volunteers within our youth and children's ministries. Thank you to all who have already participated. Please reach out to Tyler if you need to receive a new link to complete this work.

Condolences are offered to the family of Linda Gibson who passed away on Monday, April 27. A Service of Witness to the Resurrection will be held on Saturday, May 16 at 2:00 pm. The family will receive friends during a visitation at the church at 1:00 pm. Please keep Linda's son Casey, his family, and all those who loved Linda in your prayers over the days ahead as we prepare to give thanks for her life.

The Session has called a congregational meeting after worship on Sunday, May 17 for the purpose of dissolving the Pastor’s terms of call effective May 31, 2026. A congregational lunch will then be offered on May, 31 as we give thanks to God for the past five years of partnership with David and the Randolph Family.

Do you have a 2026 graduate within your family the church can celebrate? Please share their information and a picture with David by Thursday, May 22 so we can honor them in worship on Pentecost Sunday, May 24. All graduates from day school to grad school and anywhere in-between are welcome!

Home Communion will be offered to any members or friends of Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church on Pentecost Sunday, May 24. Please contact David if you, or someone you know, would like to receive the sacrament.

Do you, or someone you know, have the gift of music leadership and are ready to help others make a joyful noise in worship? Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church is looking our next Praise Band Leader to further enhance our blended worship service. Interested individuals should review the job ad below and follow instructions on our website.

Members are asked to please share this opportunity with those who might be interested learning more.

All items for the weekly online newsletter should be emailed to David by the end of the day on Tuesdays to be included in the next newsletter.

Prayer Requests 

Adam Kirk (Barbara Kirk's son hospitalized in GA), Family of Linda Gibson, Jennifer McQueary (friend of Bethany Seal who was diagnosed with cancer), Thor Hamilton Bos (Karen and Mark Bland's infant grandson born with heart difficulties), Bill Schaefer (awaiting kidney transplant) and his family, Family of Scott Gilham (Friends of Karen Bennett), Debbie Ford (Gina Ford's sister in law), Jud Barry, Jo Ann Michaels, Bobbie Cooper (Sharon Pugh's mother), Vicki Weber (Marissa Paulsen's mother), Jay Walters, Fr. James Fliss (Doreen Heppert's brother), Tina Whiteaker (Teresa Strickler's sister), Beverly Shelton, Barbara Holt

Health Care/Assisted Living Facilities

Dixie Keith, Mary Ann Smith, Mae Dale, Joyce Callahan

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!