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!

The word “freedom” carries a complex connotation: According to the memorable movie, Joe Dirt, freedom means being able to get “spleen splitters, whisker biscuits, hoosker doos, hoosker don'ts, cherry bombs or whistlin' kitty chasers” at your favorite fireworks stand on the fourth of July. According to various political pundits, it means being able to do anything we darn well please despite the “tyranny” of any government that dares to say otherwise. According to my generation, freedom means “you do you; live and let live; or you live your life and I’ll live mine.”

What does freedom mean if we are unencumbered by any kind of responsibility to anyone other than ourselves? Are we free from anything that would inconvenience us or actually require sacrifice upon our behalf?

The Apostle Paul wrote about the topic of freedom to the Galatian Church as they fought over faithful adherence to God’s Law. Their own “separate but equal” battle between Jewish and Gentile converts forces us to look into the mirror as we wrestle with questions of Christian identity and how we might faithfully live into the freedom of Christ. Eugene Peterson paraphrases Galatians 5:13-14 this way: “It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows. For everything we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That’s an act of true freedom.”

Simply put, freedom is not the unrestrained permission to do whatever you please. Freedom is not about your rights or mine; it’s actually not even about you or me; it’s about “we”. The truest form of freedom is found in Christ who offers us the liberty to live for others. Love is the way that freedom in Christ expresses itself and this freedom in Christ makes sacrificial service, born out of love, possible to fulfill the will of God for human relationships.

As Americans, we often treat freedom as a matter of individual rights and love as a personal experience associated with emotional expression. And yet, the Apostle Paul understands freedom and love to be gifts from God given through faith. Like all good gifts, they can be misused and cause harm. Freedom can be manipulated to dominate others and love can be exploited to take advantage of those who serve. However, true freedom and love are signs of the Spirit’s presence, discovered and practiced in the connection of human community. So long as division and strife or claims of superiority dominate the life of any community, there is no real freedom, and certainly no true love. 

If we are to be called “children of God” then we have received this freedom to love and serve in the manner of God’s Son, Jesus Christ. We cannot be ruled by any other notion of freedom, nor accept it in any other shape. Only this: the freedom to obey Divine Love. As we give thanks for the political freedom we have received as Americans this Fourth of July holiday, may our prayer as Christians be to faithfully live into the freedom of God’s Love, knowing that divine love wishes us well, and simultaneously wishes that same freedom for all others too. 

In Christ, 



- Rev. J. David Randolph

Acts can sometimes be a strange book, as the Holy Spirit moves through the world in mysterious ways, and this week the story gets stranger as we take a detour through the wilderness with another deacon named Philip. Philip encounters an Ethiopian eunuch on a desert road who asks, “What is preventing me from being baptized?” Like Philip, we come to see how the light of God’s love shines upon all people, and declare this gift of grace to be Good News! How do the waters of baptism reflect the fires of Pentecost for the Body of Christ? All are welcome this Sunday in worship as we continue “ACTing Out” our faith by celebrating the inclusive sacraments of our Savior. 

Sunday's Scripture:

1 John 4:7-19, NRSV

Acts 8:26-40, NRSV

Sermon Title: "ACTing Out:

Sacraments of Inclusion"

Wish to worship with us again or during the week?

Click below to view last week's worship service.



CHPC is excited to host a special children’s and youth night on Friday, July 11! Kiddos four and older are welcome to enjoy fun evening with the youth group while their caregivers enjoy a restful night off. Drop off is at 5:00 pm and pick up is at 8:00 pm. Please sign up with Tyler and spread the word because friends are welcome! Adult volunteers are needed for this event, please contact Tyler if you can serve in this way.

Thanks to everyon who came out to play Putt-Putt with us a couple weeks ago as a church family! It was a wonderful afternoon with over 30 of our friends, we enjoyed some fun in the the shade, of all places, as our favorite mini-golf venue now has a new course that helps to beat the summer heat! Special thanks to Paradise Acres for hosting our group and congratulations to Ace Tom Pecorini for defending his master mini golf title! Click here to see more pictures on Facebook!

We know that July has just begun, but Rally Day will be here before we know it! Mark your calendars for Sunday, August 3 for our annual Rally Day and Blessing of the Backpacks celebration in worship! All students and educators are welcome to participate in this expression of gratitude and support at the beginning of a new school year. And be sure to save Saturday, August 9 as well for our annual back to school tradition of going to the Kingsport Aquatic Center for our August Splashdown! Friends and family are welcome to join us at either or both events.

Also, it is not too early to Save the Date for a church family trip to Dollywood on Friday, September 12. Please be sure to RSVP with the church office when you can, so we can know how many tickets to order. Tickets are based on a group rate but are expected to be around $75 per adult and 65$ per child. Please let us know you can make it because you won't want to miss this awesome Church Family outing!

The "Care Portal" is a new community communication tool that helps churches like CHPC address individual’s need throughout our surrounding area. Many of these requests are initiated by school guidance counselors or social workers to help families with children who have various needs. Click here to see for yourself the impact the church can make through this connected ministry. A future training event will be held for any interested individuals who would like to know more about how this system works and how our church may best get the word out to meet needs that may exist in Sullivan County. Please contact Allen Booth to sign up or speak with any member of the Missions Committee to learn more.

The Church Office will be closed on Thursday, July 3, in honor of the July Fourth Holiday. Regular office hours will resume the following week on Monday, July 7. 

The Flowers in the sanctuary this coming Sunday are given to the Glory of God in honor of Blaine Cornett’s birthday by KC Savage.

Children are always welcome in worship and have a special time together down front after the prayer of confession. All children may enjoy “Children’s Church” downstairs during the sermon and will return to the sanctuary to receive communion with the congregation.

Sunday School Classes continue after worship at 11:15 am. The Disciples class meets in room 218 and the Remnant Class meets in room 221. Please speak with David to learn more about how you can participate in these lively discussions. 

The Youth Group will meet for dinner and bible study this Sunday from 5-6:30 pm. Please contact Tyler if you or someone you know would like to get involved in this meaningful ministry. Parents - Please remember that Montreat deposits are due. Payments may be given to Sarah in the church office or made online here. Please select the "Montreat" line item.

Parents of Youth, Please have your student make it to 10:00 am worship on Sunday, July 13, to participate in a special commission prayer before we prepare to embark to Montreat. Youth, please plan to sit with us up front (even if you aren't going, to show support for those who are!) and receive this blessing as we prepare ourselves for a fun and worshipful week.

The Wednesday Afternoon Bible Study meets each week at 3:00 pm in the parlor to discuss readings from the weekly revised common lectionary texts. All are welcome to participate! Please contact Lisa Pecorini if you would like to know more or attend.

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:

Family of Ed Dempsey, Robert Blessing (Patti Garrett's father),

Tina Whiteaker (Teresa Stricker's sister), Jonathan and Brenda Hutchins, Charles Gibson, Bonnie Cole, Bethany Thompson, Boyd Holder,

Beverly Shelton, Barbara Holt, Ramona Gothard,

Joyce Callahan, Emily Bowman

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

Mae Dale, Sue Fortney, Charles and Linda Gibson, Wayne & 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!