The Messenger
COLLEGE HILL
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Progressive Theology, Traditional Worship, Inclusive Congregation (PCUSA)
Affiliated with More Light Presbyterians and the Covenant Network of Presbyterians
September 2023
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:
The church office will be closed
Monday, September 4.
Word from the Pastor
Sanctuary air conditioner replacement update:
The Building & Grounds ministry team has chosen a contractor and the replacement will begin right away. It will be a several-month process.

Bottom line: we will still be worshiping in the Fellowship Hall until the weather changes so that we can worship in the sanctuary without air conditioning. Hopefully, early to mid-October!

There has been something special about sitting closer together during worship in the Fellowship Hall. Not only can we hear each other sing better, it has added to our sense of fellowship and togetherness. We will look for ways to continue this once we move back to the sanctuary.

It has been a joy to have the Chancel Choir back after their summer break. Kim Childs continues to select beautiful and meaningful music, and there is a different dimension with Mike Gibson playing the piano! We are enjoying the variety of music, in part because of the less formal setting of the Fellowship Hall.

Betsy Guyer, Kye May, and our Christian Education ministry team have prepared a festive and meaningful Rally Day on Sunday, September 17. We're hoping for a big turnout, please attend!

Hoping everyone has a safe and restful Labor Day!

Blessings,
Rev. Todd

Invitations will be emailed to everyone next week for our get- together on
November 5, celebrating Rev. Todd’s 15 year Anniversary as our Pastor at College Hill.

In order to recognize him (and the 30th Anniversary of his ordination in October), a prime rib dinner and celebration are being planned for after worship in Fellowship Hall.


Celebrating
Betty Coleman's 93rd Birthday on Sunday, August 27, with a rousing "Happy Birthday" from the entire congregation!
Pat Valencia and Monica Rodriguez setting up the Hispanic Fellowship room. There's a new TV to use, like in the Adult Church School Room.
College Hill was represented at TU’s Faith Fair, held in Sharp Chapel. Thanks to Mike Gibson, Kathy Brandon, and Rev. Freeman for attending and speaking with mostly freshman students interested in faith-based opportunities and organizations while at college.
Book Study Group
Tuesday, September 19
6:30 pm
 
The group plans to meet at Sue Haskins’ home to choose their next book and catch up with those we haven’t seen in a while. Bring your suggestions.
 
If you are interested in learning more about this fun group, please contact Sue.
Celtic Circle Equinox Gathering
Thursday, September 21 at 6:30 pm
at The Gathering Place
 
The Celtic Circle will meet at 6:30 pm at The Gathering Place (near the Lodge), and will be walking with the trees, sharing poems and thoughts, and watching the sun set over the Arkansas River, as we celebrate the balance of nature at this time when the days and nights are equal.

Contact Mark Miller for more details.
 ~"It is no bad thing to celebrate a simple life". 
-Bilbo Baggins
1st Sunday Food Collection
for Kendall Whittier
Emergency Food Pantry
Sunday, September 3

Our First Sunday Food Collection for the Kendall Whittier Food Pantry is in need of breakfast cereal (Cheerios, Corn Flakes, or other less sweet cereals) and 1-2 lb. bags of rice.

Canned fruit is an immediate need for the
Food Pantry, so feel free to bring donations to the church at any time, and we will distribute.

Cash donations are also
accepted and appreciated!

Day Center for the Homeless Meal
September 23
We will be delivering Braum’s hamburgers, slaw, pickled okra, oranges, lemonade and homemade cookies, as well as milk for breakfast.
If you would like to volunteer to help bake cookies, please text Caroline Johnson at
918-629-2882.
September
3 - Todd Freeman
 5 - Taylor Brennan
 9 - Nora Featherston
10 - Jim Campbell
11 - Sharon Coleman
13 - Lauren Harper Fogarty
15 - Adam Brennan
17 - Bill Nole
19 - Kim Childs
19 - P.J. Brobston
20 - Diane Buchner
20 - Laura Wimer
20 - Eric Nelson
22 - Katie Abercrombie
24 - Spencer Livingston-Gainey
24 - John Gammie
25 - Amy Williamson                                
27 - David Ordonez
30 - Sofia Emma Ohlson
30 - Jesper Nils Ohlson
30 - Miles McAnally

 
   Remember the 
Birthday Endowment Fund!
September 17

We are so excited to kick off a great year of fun, fellowship and learning together! Snacks and fellowship (with nametag decorating!) will start at 10:30 am, with the Commissioning of Teachers during worship.

We are also celebrating a new school year with new Bibles! There will be 3 (age) levels of Bibles. If you would like a new Bible for your child, please (click name to) contact Betsy Guyer (Christian Education Ministry Team Moderator) by September 9. 
The CE Team is asking parents to update information and register their child for activities that CE has planned for the year. Forms are also located on the information table in the Narthex and can be completed electronically using the QR code provided.
It is crucial that we have the best information possible on each child to keep everyone safe, so please complete by the deadline of September 9.  
Or
scan the QR Code
with phone:
COLLEGE HILL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC

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

SUNDAY MORNING MUSIC OFFERINGS

September 2023

The Chancel Choir of College Hill Presbyterian Church rehearses Wednesdays at 7:00 pm in the second story choral room (next to the church office) for singing, fellowship and fun!

BELLissimo Handbell Ensemble of College Hill Presbyterian Church rehearses Wednesdays at 6:00 pm in the third floor (Sunflower Room)

If you would like to sing with the Chancel Choir, or are interested in joining our Handbell Choir, (permanent member or substitute), we always welcome new members!

Please (click name to) contact our
Director of Music, Kim Childs,
or call him at 918-230-2770
.......................

SEPT 3 ~ Be Thou My Vision - Alice Parker
Chancel Choir
SEPT 10 ~ How Can I Keep From Singing?
Chancel Choir
SEPT 17 ~ Abide With Me - John Bertalot
Chancel Choir
SEPT 24 ~ Blessed Are They - Marty Haugen
Chancel Choir

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Green Team News

Bein’ Green
 Happy Monarch Month!
 
September brings us Monarchs en masse as they fly the longest and most unique migration in the world. From Canada to Mexico, the Monarchs’ multigenerational migration covers some 3,000 miles with Oklahoma as a central stopping point.
 
Several “Monarchs on the Mountain” celebrations with educational activities are planned for Saturday, Sept. 23:
 
  • At Chandler Park, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the 8th annual festival also will include food trucks and a plant sale. 
  • Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 
tagging and releasing Monarch butterflies, plus native pollinator plants and milkweed for purchase. Entrance is near the main trailhead, 6850 S. Elwood.
Or how about a butterfly walk at your leisure?

  • A new Butterfly Savanna has been created deep in the cross-timbers of the Keystone Ancient Forest with an open meadow planted with wildflowers especially for pollinators. Hours are 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Sunday. The preserve is west of Sand Springs, north of Highway 64. Google Keystone Ancient Forest for map and directions.
Monarch Way Station at The Gathering Place
  • The Gathering Place, along the north end of Peggy’s Pond and the large field between there and the parking area. Just look for the tall swamp milkweed planted there.
  • Tulsa Rose Garden and Philbrook Museum of Art have generously incorporated pollinator plantings.
Oklahoma’s state butterfly, the Black swallowtail
is seen from May to October.
And Sundays, visit your very own
Pollinator Garden at College Hill! 
College Hill's Pollinator Garden
Monarch feeds on its favorite - Milkweed
Do you have a special place where you see beautiful works of nature? Share it with Mark Miller and, if you don’t mind, Bein’ Green readers.
Afghan Family tutors needed for our two Afghan families (the Sakhizadas (Mom, Dad, 5 children from 9 mo–12 yrs) and Momands (Mom, Dad, six children from 11 mo-10 yrs) continue to settle into their new country well, thanks in large part to the support and care given by our College Hill Afghan family support team.

The families’ most pressing need continues to be learning English. Many of our support team members are meeting weekly with these families, but we need a new tutor for the Momands’ 5 yr old girl.

If you are interested, please (click name to) contact Tally Ferguson, or Cynthia Fox for details.
College Hill's
Blessing Box

Beautifully handcrafted and painted by David & Susan West, this Blessing Box is now a permanent fixture in the chuirch's
west garden area.

Half of the funds that College Hill received from a $1,000 Grant from Matthew 25 Ministry PC(USA) was used for the box building materials.

Please bring non-perishable food items to place in the box to help those in need.
Joy/Concern Prayer Requests

Please submit your requests for prayers of joy or concern in the bowl in the Narthex.  

Prayer requests are now being shared during Sunday Worship! Live streaming will be muted while they are shared. 

Also, please reach out to Jan Swafford, Congregational Care Ministry Team Moderator, any team member, or Rev. Todd with needs and concerns.
Oklahoma Presbyterian Network

Holy Land Pilgrimage
Then and Now
February 19 – March 1, 2024

For more information and access to the Reservation Application,
Front page

Back page

Hard copies of the flyer are also available on the information table in the Narthex. For questions, see Rev. Gordon Edwards, OPN Contact.
2023
Birthday Endowment Fund

A meaningful way to celebrate this year's 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.
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