Update on Pastor Search

After Zoom interviews with three candidates, followed by in-person interviews with two of the candidates, the Session has voted to offer one of the candidates the position of part-time stated-supply pastor of CHPC. If the candidate says yes, next steps would be:

• Negotiate salary, benefits, and start date.
• Prepare the required paperwork for Mid-Kentucky Presbytery’s Commission on Ministry (COM).
• Ask COM to approve the contract at its February 5 meeting.
• If COM approves, introduce the new pastor to the congregation.

The pastor would serve on a one-year contract, renewable on an annual basis.

Session members feel that the Holy Spirit has been at work throughout the pastor-search process. We are excited about moving ahead under new leadership. Please continue to pray that God will guide all those involved in putting that new leadership in place.

From the Pastor

Sunday we’ll be looking at the story of a theophany—that’s a theological word used to describe an appearance of God breaking into the world. The story in the Old Testament, in 1 Samuel 3:1–20, begins this way, “The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.”

Samuel was just a boy, ministering to the prophet Eli, and he did not yet know the Lord. As we hear the Lord calling, “Samuel, Samuel,” waking him up both times—and see Samuel going to Eli—we begin to perceive along with the prophet that Samuel is about to receive a word from God.

If we’re honest, don’t we also long for a word from God for a world that seems like it’s on fire? This is what we are going to explore together: receiving the gift of a word from the Lord through the stars of our story, Samuel, yes, but also Eli.

See you Sunday.

Paul

Highlights of the CHPC Officers Retreat

CHPC elders and deacons gathered at the Sisters of Loretto Motherhouse, near Bardstown, January 5–7 for the annual officers retreat. We are grateful to bridge pastor Paul Seebeck and to Nancy Troy, a member of the presbytery’s administrative commission assigned to CHPC, for planning and leading an enriching and productive time together.

Paul led us in times of contemplative prayer, and Nancy led us in conversation on three topics:

1.     What will ministry look like in this new time?

2.     Mission, partnerships, building and land transformation

3.     Structure—getting things done (Designated leaders/contact persons for Stewardship: Jack Marcum and Don Mead; Worship: Beth Yeager; Nurture/Outreach: Soni Castleberry and Eva Stimson.)

The Session met January 6 and took the following actions (in addition to those mentioned elsewhere in this newsletter):

• Elected Polly Cushman as clerk of Session and Jack Marcum as treasurer for the coming year. Elected officers of the corporation for 2024: president Don Mead; vice president Barbara Hedspeth; treasurer Jack Marcum; secretary Polly Cushman; directors Marsha Berry, Soni Castleberry, Eva Stimson.
• Approved a proposed 2024 budget for CHPC.
• Approved participation this year in the four churchwide special offerings: One Great Hour of Sharing, Pentecost, Peace and Global Witness, and Christmas Joy.
• Examined and approved Beth Yeager to serve as elder in the class of 2026. She will be installed January 21.
• Voted to move Teri Lloyd to the inactive list, at her request.

We worked hard, but also took time for relaxation, fun, and sharing food together. During closing worship, we prayed for each member of CHPC by name.

Second Sunday with Sid January 14

Our next once-a-month Second Sunday with Sid (the puppet) gathering on Zoom will be Sunday, January 14, from 9:45 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. We will show several Sid videos, discuss the Bible stories, and catch up with each other as we head into a new year. All children and the young at heart are invited to join us, and feel free to bring pets and friends. We look forward to seeing everyone!

Help Needed to Plan for Lent/Easter

On February 14, Ash Wednesday, we enter one of the most meaningful seasons of the Christian year. Lent can be a rich time of spiritual growth, as we walk with Jesus to the cross and prepare to celebrate his victory over sin and death.

Anyone interested in being part of a task force to plan this year’s Lent and Easter activities is invited to meet Wednesday, January 17, at 7:00 p.m., in the Gathering Room in CHPC’s back building. How can we nurture the spiritual growth of children and youth in our midst? How can we feed the spirits of adults? We need help planning worship and other special activities, preparing the sanctuary, publicizing our events, and reaching out to the wider community.

Please join us January 17, and bring your ideas, energy, and creativity!

Choir Rehearsals

Choir rehearsals will resume Thursday, January 18, at 7:00 p.m. in the church. You don’t have to be a professional singer to join us, it simply takes the love of music, ability to attend rehearsals on Thursday evenings, and the desire to have fun. Talk to Ken for more information or with any questions. Y’ALL COME! 

Artwork Gratefully Accepted by Session

During December you may have noticed the beautiful depiction of Jesus hanging in the sanctuary near the piano. A church member purchased the artwork and Session approved hanging it to celebrate Advent. At the Officers Retreat last weekend, Session members shared positive reactions to the artwork that they had heard and experienced and agreed to wholeheartedly accept this anonymous donation. Session will have the option to continue to display or store the artwork appropriately during each liturgical season.

This gift is a wonderful opportunity for our church to have art by another internationally known artist who is a strong advocate for social justice and peace. The generous donor shared:

“Penny Sisto has always been a favorite artist of mine. I visited her recent show at the monastery of Mt. St. Francis, and the room was filled with her incredible textile art. While all the pieces were amazing, and selling fast, I could not take my eyes off the piece she had named ‘Await the Light.’ Within minutes, I had a strong desire to buy the piece for my church, and before I left I indicated my interest, fearing that it would be sold. Many of the pieces had been sold, and I was amazed that this one had not. It was as if it was waiting for me.”

If you are not familiar with Penny Sisto and her work, you can read about her and the recent show here.

A CHPC Response to the Conflict in Palestine and Israel

Many of us are deeply concerned about the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which is threatening to escalate across Israel, Palestine, and the whole Middle East. Would you like to participate with others at CHPC in exploring that conflict and ways we can respond to it? 

At its January 24 meeting, the Session will consider endorsing the following overtures to the PC(USA) General Assembly:

1.     Confessing Our Complicity in Christian Zionism Today

2.     Promoting 2 Educational Resources (from the PCUSA Israel-Palestine Mission Network and the World Communion of Reformed Churches) for Seeking Ways to End Israeli Apartheid

3.     Directing the PC(USA)’s Committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) to begin focused engagement (possibly leading to divestment recommendations) with General Electric and Palintir Technologies, Inc., because of their contributions to violence and human rights violations in the Middle East and elsewhere.

If Session votes to endorse one or more of these overtures, they would then be sent to Mid-Kentucky Presbytery to consider at its February 24 meeting. A favorable vote by presbytery would move the overtures on to consideration by the General Assembly at its June 25–July 4 meeting. It is likely that we would be joining other presbyteries in submitting these overtures to General Assembly.

Session encourages all members of the congregation to prayerfully consider how we can respond to the conflict in Israel and Gaza. What does it mean in this context for us to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God? Please share your thoughts on these overtures, or other ideas you might have for responding to the situation in Israel-Palestine, with Tricia Lloyd-Sidle, or Session member Don Mead, or any other member of Session before the January 24 Session meeting.

Community Book Read and Panel Discussion

What does the Second Amendment really mean? Did framers of the amendment intend to give everyone in the U.S. a constitutional right to own guns, without restrictions? Guns to Gardens Louisville is sponsoring a Community Book Read and Panel Discussion to explore these questions on Tuesday, January 30, at 7:00 p.m. at Crescent Hill Baptist Church. Discussion will center on the book The Second Amendment: A Biography, by Michael Waldman.

All are invited to join what promises to be a thought-provoking discussion. If you purchase the book at Carmichael's, you will receive a 20% discount. But please come even if you are not able to read the book. Get more information and a free ticket to the event here.

Guns to Gardens Louisville is the new name of the Gun Violence Prevention Team, an interfaith group that got its start in a youth/adult Sunday school class at CHPC. The group has sponsored three gun safe-surrender events and is taking steps to incorporate as a nonprofit organization.

Spirit of Sophia

Spirit of Sophia invites you "Into a Sanctuary of Women with Jan Richardson" for a virtual retreat on Saturday, February 10, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time.  Join us for a conversational retreat exploring themes such as prayer, thresholds, thin places, and longings – among others. In the presence of women past and present, we will be asked to enter into the mysteries that lie at the heart of who we are. 

To learn more and register: https://spiritofsophia.org/a-conversation-with-jan-richardson/

Community Chair Yoga

Each Monday, the Rev. Ginny Brown will be leading a Chair Yoga class at Crescent Hill Presbyterian church from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Yoga is a beautiful journey of one’s body, emotion, mind, and spirit. 



Invite your friends and neighbors. Each person is required to fill out a waiver, and there is a suggested $10 donation to support the ministries of Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church. Upcoming Mondays we will meet in the Gathering room.



Please arrive early. For more information, contact the Rev. Ginny Brown at DHWVLB@Aol.com.

Nativity Sets

Throughout the Advent and Christmas seasons, we have been graced in the sanctuary with nativity sets from around the world. It’s time for them to return to their respective homes. Any remaining in the windows after January 14 will be placed in the display case in the narthex.  A big thanks to all who shared them with us!