The Messenger
COLLEGE HILL
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Progressive Theology, Traditional Worship, Inclusive Congregation (PCUSA)
Affiliated with More Light Presbyterians and the Covenant Network of Presbyterians
January
712 S. Columbia Ave.
Tulsa, OK 74104
918.592.5800

Church Office Hours:
Mon - Th, 9 am - 3 pm
Closed on Fridays

Rev. Freeman is now working from home on Mondays.

Worship Schedule:
11:00 am Sundays
Worship services have resumed in the sanctuary.
Services are also live streamed.

Church Email:

Pastor Email:

Website:

YouTube Channel:
Quick Links:

No Session Minutes from December
Word From the Pastor
What can I say. Decades from now people in the congregation will still be talking about the Christmas Eve Service that was cancelled just days before because the pastor (what was his name?) got Covid. The service had to be cancelled because he led worship the Sunday before Christmas with what he thought was an allergy-related runny nose. But it turned out he tested positive for Covid-19 later that week. And following the Session's Covid-19 Protocol Policy the church had to cancel in-person activities for the next week - which not only included the next Sunday, but Christmas Eve itself!!!!!

I know you'll have fun with this story for years. However, it left me (and I know you) deeply disappointed. So, I hope your Christmas was joyful, even with having to miss this important tradition here at College Hill.

Remember: even being vaccinated and having a booster shot doesn't preclude anyone from catching this highly contagious virus variant.

Though postponed a few days, I was still able to fly to Denver to spend time with my older brother and sister-in-law. It was a very relaxing visit. And, as you can see in the photo above, we had some beautiful snow while I was there.

Who knows what this new year will bring? No one. So we will continue to "be" the church (as we have been) even with any disruptions that may continue into a third year of this pandemic.

Please keep all those in need (within and outside our community of faith) in your prayers. I ask for special prayers for the Session of the church, especially for the incoming Ruling Elders. We will have an Ordination & Installation Service on Sunday, January 16, following our zoom Session Retreat on January 11.

It is because of our consistently strong leadership that we have been able to maintain as well or better than any congregation I know during these hectic times.

Remember God's continuing promise of new beginnings! Happy New Year, and new beginnings to you and to us all!

Blessings, Rev. Todd 

p.s. Our Annual Congregational Meeting will be on Sunday, January 23. Unlike our parking lot meeting last year, we will simply stay in the sanctuary after worship, instead of our traditional potluck luncheon in the Fellowship Hall.
Advent 2022
Several members of the Congregational Care ministry team, plus some helpers, putting together the Christmas Bags for our shut-ins and staff. As always, they included a remarkable hand-made card by Susan West!
Visit our Facebook page
for more photos! Click below.
1st Sunday Offering
Our next collection will be on February 6.
Kendall Whittier Inc.
Emergency Food Pantry

Our 1st Sunday Food Collection will go to the Kendall Whittier, Inc. Emergency Food Pantry.
 
We will be collecting canned vegetables and canned fruit, which are especially needed, as well as other food items. Cash donations are also always welcome and appreciated.
Reading Partners
Volunteers Needed

Sign up to help students become proficient readers. Both in-person and virtual tutoring opportunities available!

Please click the button below to view additional information about this non-profit literacy program, including Tulsa schools map.

Day Center Dinner Jan. 22
 
We are still “dropping off” meals at Tulsa Day Center, and will continue to do so until pandemic restrictions are lifted.

January 22, our menu will feature Coney Islander coneys, slaw, pickled okra or dill pickles, oranges, homemade cookies and iced tea, plus 4 gallons of milk for breakfast.

If you would like to donate milk or bake cookies and deliver either to Caroline Johnson’s house or to the Day Center, text Caroline 918-629-2882.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
 
BEIN’ GREEN
 
A couple of “green thoughts” for the new year:
 
From the Great Depression:
Patch it.
Mend it.
Make do.
Use it up.
Wear it out.
 
From the 21st century:
Refuse.
Reduce.
Reuse.
Repurpose.
Recycle.
 
YEA! Curbside recycling is to restart in Tulsa the end of January, so get your blue cart ready for aluminum and steel cans, paper and cardboard, plastic bottles and jugs, glass jars and bottles. 
2022
Birthday Endowment Fund

A meaningful way to ring in the New Year and celebrate your Birthday, is to donate an amount equal to your new age to the Endowment Fund.

This donation is also a wonderful way to honor others such as children, grandchildren and friends and allows the church to have funds available for special projects.

Checks can be made payable to College Hill and marked "Birthday Fund" on the memo portion of the check.
JANUARY BIRTHDAYS
1 - Paulino Allande 
 4 - Megan Featherston 
 6 - Damion Williams
 7 - Louis Coleman
 8 - Julia Allande
 9 - Theo Wright
11 - Camellia McKenzie
13 - Terry Gamel
14 - Jennifer Campbell
15 - Parker Brobston     
19 - Fritha Watts Ohlson
20 - Jeff Dickason
20 - Kathy Brandon
21 - Chris Newsome
22 - Jan Swafford 
22 - Kendyl Bostic
25 - Ethan Buchner
25 - Libby Wright
25 - Ethan Voelkers
27 - David Moser
27 - Tanya Patterson
30 - Dena Schone
31 - Nancy Foote
 
   Remember the 
Birthday Endowment Fund!
Advent in a Bag

Bags with educational and fun items were delivered to all of our families with children. Thanks so much for all the people who worked on the bags and to the people who delivered bags.
Children making a "Thank You for Being our Pastor" sign for Rev. Todd, and then presented it to him at the close of worship. It now hangs above the door inside his study!
After picking and dehydrating apples from our apple tree, planted by Linda Watt's class several years ago, the children handed out small bags of dehydrated apples as gifts to the congregation as they left worship on the Sunday before Christmas.
Beautiful music from the Chancel Choir and the BELLissimo Handbell Ringers during Advent, and as always, from our remarkable organist, Mike Gibson!! Thank you Dr. Kim Childs for your leadership and professionalism!

COLLEGE HILL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC

Dr. Kim J. Childs, Director of Music
Mike Gibson, Organist

SUNDAY MORNING MUSIC OFFERINGS
January 2022

Due to Covid safety precautions due to the rampant spread of the omicron variant, including for those who have been vaccinated and boosted:

Rehearsals and Sunday Worship performances during January have been CANCELLED for both the Chancel Choir and the BELLissimo Handbell Ringers.

However, Dr. Kim Childs will be singing solos using the music previously scheduled for January.

JAN 9 - If Ye Love Me - David Ashley White

JAN 16 - Set Me As a Seal William Walton

JAN 23 - Sing! Shout! Jubilate! - Joseph Martin

JAN 30 - Come, My Way, My Truth, My Life! - Godfrey Sampson
Face masks and physical distancing required in the church building during January.

The Session continues to encourage full COVID-19 vaccination and booster shots for all eligible individuals.

Session-Approved standards:
Re-enter a Modified Phase III for in-person activities at College Hill:

1)    Masks are required inside the building for all individuals, regardless of vaccination status.
2) Normal length weekly worship service, with self-directed entry/exit with social distancing*
3) Continue current sanctuary seating (all pews utilized with staggered seating)
4) Continue use of pew Bibles and Hymnals
5) Resume use of pew attendance pads/discontinue no-touch check-in
6) Continue no touch offering and communion
7) Normal congregational hymns with masks
8) Normal responsive and unison congregational speaking
9) In-person adult church school with masks and social distancing* is allowed.
10) Continue in-person youth or children’s programming (including Nursery, Time with the Children, Worship Connection and Church School) with masks and reasonable attempts at social distancing*
11) Elevator capacity limited to two persons.
12) Limited socially-distanced* fellowship activities with masks, including small receptions (without food/drink), may resume at the discretion of the Session
13) Expanded special services and third-party building use may resume at the discretion of Session with masks, social distancing*, sanitation stations and additional cleaning/disinfecting.

* As indicated by CDC guidance, social distancing may be further reduced or eliminated during Phase III at the discretion of the Session.
Here are some proverbs to help put a smile on your face when you are feeling down in 2022. 

1.  Accept the fact that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue!
2.  Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.
3.  Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.
4.  Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be recalled by their Maker.
5.  If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.
6.  If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.
7.  It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.
8.  Never buy a car you can't push.
9. Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to stand on.
10.  Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.
11.  Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.
12.  The second mouse gets the cheese.
13.  When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.
14.  Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.
15.  Some mistakes are too much fun to make only once.
16.  We could learn a lot from crayons.  Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.
17.  A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.
18.  Have an awesome day and know that someone has thought about you today.
Flower Chart
Sign Up

If you would like to bring flowers to decorate the sanctuary for an upcoming worship service, please sign up on the Flower Chart on the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall.

There are many open dates available for the new year. Your dedication will also be announced in the worship bulletin.

Flowers can be purchased from any store or brought from home. Please bring them in two containers the morning of the service for which you have signed up.
COLLEGE HILL Mission Statement
~ Build an inclusive community of faith
~ Receive and openly share the love of God
~ Reach out with a compassionate voice for peace and justice