August 14: OPS and NOW Committees Meet

Everyone is invited to come together for a meal at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, August 14, with fellowship as the primary goal. That will be followed by, for those that want to stay, continued discussion of our church community and mission. What do we want our community to look like, and how should it be structured? How can we respond to the needs around us—local, national, and international?

Our discussions will take place in two committees:

OPS (Operations) Committee—Guides the work of stewardship and giving, finances, budget, personnel, upkeep of building and grounds, and is currently focusing on deferred maintenance issues.

NOW Committee—Guides programmatic work of the congregation, including music and worship, Christian formation, earth care, gun violence prevention, garden ministry, outreach to the community, Guatemala partnership and overseas mission.

Where is God calling you to serve? Please come August 14 to find your seat at one of these two tables. Even if you are not sure about serving on a “committee,” please come for fellowship! 

Did You Know?

What Presbyterians Believe about Creation

John Calvin, one of the forefathers of the Reformed tradition, viewed nature as an important source of knowledge of God, awakening us to God’s presence in our daily lives, and thus worthy of our care. For decades now, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has called us to be involved in and care for creation. Most recently, the 223rd General Assembly (2018) asked us to “raise a prophetic voice regarding the urgency of healing the climate of the earth, our home and God’s gift for the future of all life, human and nonhuman.”

But it’s hard to care for what you don’t know or have a relationship with. So, if we are to live what it is we say we believe as Presbyterians, our challenge is twofold. First, we must develop new, strong relationships with the rest of creation by providing occasions to immerse ourselves in the beauty and the mystery of creation in our congregational worship and in our daily lives. We might learn where the water in our baptism services and the bread and juice shared during the Lord’s Supper come from, and how the earth or rivers from which they were gathered connect to us and have been treated by us. We might provide occasions for those in our worshiping communities to take off their shoes and stand on the earth, literally as well as figuratively, recognizing the holiness of the ground on which we stand. We might gather on a dark night and look up at the stars, counting them and remembering God’s promise to Abraham and all his descendants.

Then, having strengthened our connections with creation, we must tend to those relationships through our daily

choices — in what we consume, how we get from place to place, and how we treat the beings around us, along with the water, soil, and air. Only then will we begin to embody the Gospel commission to go into all the world and proclaim the good news to all creation.

—Excerpts from an article by Susan DeGeorge in Presbyterians Today

https://www.presbyterianmission.org/story/pt-0319-wpb/

Cedar Ridge Camp Worship and Picnic – August 18

Everyone is invited to gather at Cedar Ridge Camp for worship and a picnic on Sunday, August 18. Pastor Tami will be preaching. Worship begins at 11:00 a.m. at the lakeside pavilion, with the picnic to follow. The pavilion is easily accessible for those with limited mobility. There will be no worship service at the church, but there will be a Zoom option available.

Ben Langley and Jerry Van Marter will be tending the grill, as always. Drinks will be furnished. The rest of the meal will be potluck. The pool will be open for swimming after lunch.

So bring your lawn chairs, sunscreen, and a dish to share to Cedar Ridge Camp on August 18!

DIRECTIONS TO CEDAR RIDGE:

Cedar Ridge Camp is located at 4010 Old Routt Road outside of Louisville, Kentucky. To get there, take the Gene

Snyder Freeway (Hwy. 265) to Exit 23 (Taylorsville - Jeffersontown). Go east 3 miles. At the stoplight, turn right on Highway 155 (Taylorsville Lake Road - as if going to Taylorsville Lake) and go about 1 mile. Turn right (will be first right) on Highway 1531, also called Routt Road. Go two-tenths of a mile, turn right on Highway 2265 (Old Routt Road). The camp is one-half mile down the road on the left-hand side. 

Middle East Prayer Group

Each Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Zoom. Please email Soni Castleberry at soni.castleberry@gmail.com to get the link for the week and to be added to our group email list for regular communication.

Church Treasurer Position

Jack Marcum, CHPC’s treasurer, will be retiring from this position by the end of the year. We are currently seeking someone interested in this volunteer position. For more information, please contact the church office at office@crescenthill.church or at 502-893-5381.