Highlights of the CHPC Officers Retreat

Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church elders, deacons, and Pastor Tami Recob gathered at the Sisters of Loretto Motherhouse, near Bardstown, January 24–26, for the annual officers retreat. We were blessed to be joined by music director Aaron Davidson, new church treasurer Aaron Baer (elected by Session to succeed Jack Marcum), new clerk of Session Andrea Trautwein (elected by Session to succeed Polly Cushman, beginning in February), and Macyn Recob, who came to Loretto with her parents.

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

Elder Beth Yeager led an educational session on worship, including liturgist training and guidelines for inclusive/expansive language. Pastor Tami led a time of asset mapping and visioning as we look to the future of our beloved congregation. Elders and deacons reviewed and added items to the church calendar for 2025. Elders will now serve as “Elder of the Month” (instead of “Elder of the Week”), just as deacons serve as “Deacon of the Month.”

Deacons met January 25 to plan their activities for the coming year and work through a checklist of tasks. They elected Janine Linder to represent deacons on the 2025 Nominating Committee.

The Session met January 25 and took the following actions:

• Approved a 2025 budget for CHPC.
• Elected Eva Stimson and Barbara Hedspeth to represent the Session on the 2025 Nominating Committee (along with deacon Janine Linder and at-large members Shannon Langley and Polly Cushman).
• Asked Ben Langley and Soni Castleberry to develop a proposal to discuss with owners of the house behind the church regarding use of their driveway to enter and exit the parking lot.
• Voted to move Teri Lloyd to the inactive list, at her request.
• Elected Soni Castleberry and Andrea Trautwein to serve as commissioners to the February 22 meeting of Mid-Kentucky Presbytery.
• Heard a report on the partnership between the Jefferson County Master Gardener Association and CHPC, including the exciting news that the JCMGA project at our church will be featured on the home page of the national association of Master Gardeners.

From Your Deacons

When CHPC re-instituted the office of deacon a few years ago, their call included leading all of us in the ministry of care and compassion. In order to expand the opportunities to show love for one another, deacons have developed Care Groups, each group composed of members of the congregation and a deacon.

When the Deacon of the Month hears of a particular need in the congregation or community, he/she will make contact with the person in need and find out what might be most helpful. He/she will then notify that care group by email or phone. You may be asked to help in a variety of ways: pray, send a card, provide a meal, make a visit, provide transportation. You won’t be expected to respond to everything, but ideally you will be able to help in some way.

If you have particular questions about this, please talk to one of the deacons (Anita Cary, Claudia Foulkes, Janine Linder, Patti Marcum, and Richard Recob). If you would prefer not to be included in the Care Groups, please let us know and we’ll note that. If at any time it feels like too much and you’d rather opt out, you can always just let one of the deacons know.

We pray that the Care Groups will allow each of us to do an even better job of caring for one another.

What’s Happening in the CHPC Gardens?

Though snow and ice have covered the church grounds for weeks, exciting things are happening underneath. The Master Gardeners, partners with CHPC since last August, report that garlic and onions have been planted in the vegetable garden. “We are working toward our goals of growing produce for donation to areas in the county that suffer from food scarcity,” they say. “Soon we’ll be able to plant crops like peas, collards, broccoli, and more.”

Sister Paris Slapikas of the Sister Visitor’s Center in Louisville’s West End has given the Master Gardeners suggestions on what kind of produce to grow. Gleanky.org will provide transportation to get fresh vegetables to those who need them.

As springtime approaches, colorful flowers will begin emerging from bulbs planted by the Master Gardeners in front of the church and in the perimeter garden between the parking lot and vegetable gardens. Plans for the meditation garden beside the back building include new planting and repair of the wooden arbor.

Pruning and planting of fruit trees is being done in consultation with Stephen Bartlett of Sustainable Agriculture of Louisville and other church members. The Master Gardeners have proposed creating a mini orchard to grow apples, pears, and other fruit. They also have received initial approval from MSD for a water catchment system to conserve and reuse rainwater.



Stay tuned for more reports on gardening projects and how you can get involved!

Readers Theater

Sunday, February 2

The sequel! On Sunday, February 2 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., Phil Lloyd-Sidle will host a second “Adult Sunday School” group reading of the sequel to the Nativity morality play “The House by the Stable.” This play, also by Charles Williams, is entitled "Grab and Grace" and features some of the same characters plus two more: "Faith" and “Grace." It is a fun and thought-provoking play about the time following the death of Jesus.

The reading will take place in the Gathering Room. As before, the bonus of coffee, teas, and baked items will be provided.

Charles Williams was a friend and contemporary of T.S Eliot, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and others in mid-20th-century England. He was most known as a novelist, but also published poetry, works of literary criticism, theology, drama, history, and biography.

Prayer and Action for Middle East

If you are struggling with your feelings about all that is happening in the Middle East and yearn for shared information, prayers, and other possible responses, please join our small group. It includes folks from CHPC as well as other faith communities. Here is our regular schedule:

• 1st Thursday each month, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., we meet in homes so location will vary. Please bring a light lunch snack to share. In February, we will meet Thursday, Feb. 6, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the home of Ruth and Hunter Farrell. Call or text Soni Castleberry at 502-417-6481 to get information on meeting location.

• Other Thursdays each month, 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., we are on Zoom. 

Feel free to join us on Zoom, in-person, or both. This group has enabled such support for one another. We would be grateful to have others join us. Email Soni at soni.castleberry@gmail.com to get the Zoom link and be added to the group email list for regular communication. 

DID YOU KNOW?

What Presbyterians Believe

The PC(USA) confesses its beliefs in statements of faith from across the history of the church. Twelve statements of faith are gathered together in the first part of the denomination’s constitution, called the Book of Confessions. According to the second part of the constitution, the Book of Order, in the confessional statements the PC(USA) “declares to its members and to the world who and what it is, what it believes, and what it resolves to do.”



https://pcusa.org/about-pcusa/who-we-are/reformed-theology

February Birthdays

Please remember these wonderful folks in prayer and, if possible, reach out to them with a card, phone call, text, email or however you choose to honor them.

To double-check your listing, contact Soni Castleberry at soni.castleberry@gmail.com or phone or text at 502-417-6481.

February 2 - Brooke Yeager

February 10 - Beverly Bartlett Turner

February 17 - Judy Steer

February 18 - Elinor McNinch

February 22 - Kate Husk, Jerry Van Marter

February 25 - Allen Bridgman

February 27 - Stewart Bridgman Sr.