Happy Earth Day! 

April means SPRING and EARTH DAY! Our world is coming out of the sleepy winter and blossoming forth in beauty everywhere. CHPC has paid special attention to the environment and God's world for many, many years. In 2012, the church became an Earth Care Congregation, through the PCUSA. As we have every year since then, we have received notice of our recertification. This recertification for 2024 shows the amount of commitment our congregation has shown to caring for God's Earth. Amazing that we are now beginning our 13th year of seeking intentionally to care for God's Earth.

We saw in the news recently that global warming and climate change are moving faster than expected. We will be celebrating Earth Day on this Sunday, April 21 and rejoicing in our gift from God. Let's all remember that, even if it seems hard, we must continue to keep doing all we can to help recreate and restore the wonderful planet that God has given us.

Garden Camp This Summer

Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church and Sustainable Agriculture of Louisville will sponsor a Garden Camp June 10–14 (overflow week June 3–7). The camp is open to children, ages 7 and older. Experienced children, ages 13 and older, may come as assistant counselors. The cost is $170 per camper per week. Fee includes lunch, snacks, pool fees, and all gardening and art supplies. Scholarships are provided on a sliding scale, as needed.

Garden Camp includes gardening work of all kinds, harvesting, food processing (grinding corn), cooking, canning (hot salsa), baking (raspberry pie, cornbread), storytelling, teamwork, cleaning, hiking, and swimming.

June 2021 will be the 19^th year of Garden Camps. Support is needed to help cover the costs for low-income children, who usually make up 40 percent of the campers. For more information about registering and/or supporting Garden Camp, email Stephen Bartlett at estebanbartlett@gmail.com or call or text him at 502-415-1080. Or visit the SAL website.

In addition, Thursdays from 5-7 p.m. there will be gardening sessions happening at the garden for sharing labor, veggies and knowledge (weather and schedule permitting). Please RSVP by text at 502-415-1080 ahead of time. 

Guatemalan Connection

The Guatemalan Connection will be meeting after worship, at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 21, in the Gathering Room of the back building.

May 1: Off to the Races

Everyone interested in being involved in the mission of CHPC is invited to a special Derby-week event in the Henry Young Fellowship Hall on Wednesday, May 1, at 6:00 p.m. CHPC committees have taken a break from regular meetings over the past few months—but now we are “Off to the Races” and ready to try out a new committee structure!

After much discussion, Session has authorized the creation of 2 committees to plan and oversee the ongoing work of our congregation:

• OPS (Operations) Committee—Guides work formerly coordinated by the Stewardship Committee (finances, budget, upkeep of building and grounds, etc.). Also oversees work of the Personnel Committee and continues the work of the Generosity Team and Building Use Task Force.
• NOW Committee—Guides programmatic work of the congregation, activities formerly coordinated by the Nurture, Outreach, and Worship Committees (including music and worship, Christian formation, earth care, gun violence prevention, garden ministry, etc.).

Because the congregation is smaller than it used to be, Session believes it makes sense to have fewer committees—instead of 2-3 people gathered for each of the 4 committee meetings each month, we will have more people around fewer tables. The goal is to multiply ideas and creativity and improve communication.

Our schedule for May 1: Catered supper at 6:00 p.m., followed by an introduction to the new structure, and initial gatherings of the 2 committees. Please think and pray about where your gifts can be best used and how God is calling you to serve. Then find your seat at one of these 2 tables. With everyone’s participation, CHPC will soon be Off to the Races!

Woosley-Leake Scholarships

Woosley-Leake Scholarship applications for the 2024-2025 school year are now available. Any Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church member or immediate family of a church member who will be enrolled in an undergraduate college or training program is invited to apply. Applications need to be completed and returned to the church office by May 1. Contact Patti Marcum at pdwmarcum@gmail.com to request an application.

Prayer Group for the Middle East

You are invited to join with members of CHPC and other churches in prayer each Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., on Zoom. Paul Seebeck offered to lead this group after several folks met together a couple of times to share information and support each other during the aftermath of renewed violence in the Middle East. Here is the Zoom link if you would like to join in:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81578416917?pwd=cTBLeDd0WFBRbTliclE1aGZVMERwdz09

Meeting ID: 815 7841 6917

Passcode: 972269