In-Gathering Sunday, November 23

Thanksgiving is a time to remember with gratitude how God has blessed us and to share those blessings with others. We will have the opportunity to do that on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, November 23. Please join us for worship this coming Sunday and bring an offering of nonperishable foods (make sure cans are not past the expiration date), diapers, and paper goods.

If you can’t make it to worship November 23, you may bring your donations to the church office the following week. (Please call before you come to make sure someone is in the office.) The donated items will be taken to United Crescent Hill Ministries. With the major cutbacks in federal food programs and so many people out of work during the federal government shutdown, food distribution sites have even greater needs for food and other items this year.

Memorial Service for Bob Abrams

All are invited to attend the memorial service for Bob Abrams Sunday afternoon, November 23, at 2:00 p.m., in the church sanctuary. A reception will follow the service. Bob, a longtime beloved member of the CHPC community, died September 4.

Christ Is Coming! Christ Is Coming Again!

Help us anticipate Jesus’ birth and look forward to Christ coming again. One way you can do so is by bringing a favorite nativity scene / crèche to worship on November 30, the first Sunday of Advent. This would be a way to share a part of your Advent tradition with the congregation.

The Hanging of the Greens (decorating the sanctuary) and the sharing of nativity scenes will be a central part of our First Sunday of Advent worship. You will have an opportunity to bring forward your manger scene during the service to be placed in a windowsill or other part of the sanctuary.



Can’t make it to worship November 30? Bring your nativity scene later in Advent and find a place for it in the sanctuary.

Highlights of November 12 NOW Meeting

Members of the Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church community enjoyed fellowship and a lavish Thanksgiving dinner November 12, thanks to Administrative Assistant Megan Cahill and others who helped cook and serve. Dinner was followed by a meeting of the NOW committee. (Due to absences of key members, the OPS Committee did not meet.)

NOW Committee—This group 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, mission beyond church walls). Actions included:



• Finalized plans for Advent/Christmas activities, including Hanging of the Greens Nov. 30, lighting of Advent Wreath candles, Taize service Dec. 17, Christmas Eve service, and informal worship with carol singing Dec. 28.
• Heard plans for Advent readings Dec. 14 and 21, from 9:30 to 10:30, led by Phil Lloyd-Sidle.
• Heard a progress report on the sculpture for the front plaza being created by Craig Kaviar out of pieces of dismantled guns and donated metal objects; discussed how to unveil it to the congregation and community.
• Encouraged Phil Lloyd-Sidle to move ahead with plans for an adult study group on prayer in January or February.

There will be no committee meetings in December. Next meeting of NOW/OPS: Wednesday, January 14, opening with a fellowship meal at 6 p.m.

Build-A-Bed Event Announcement

Mark your calendars for the joint Build-A-Bed event at First Christian Church, located at 7700 US Highway 42, Louisville, KY 40241on Saturday, December 6–7. Help is needed both days.

• Saturday, December 6, volunteers are needed to set up, cut, and sand wood from 9 a.m. to noon.

•  Sunday, December 7, there will be no worship at CHPC. Instead, all are encouraged to gather for a joint worship service at First Christian Church, followed immediately by the Build-A-Bed event. Lunch will be provided by First Christian following worship.

CHPC is collecting donations of twin sheets, pillows, new stuffed animals, and new diverse children’s books. Sign-up sheets are available in the narthex. If you sign up for any of the above, please bring them to the church by Sunday, November 30. 

As always, this is a wonderful opportunity to care for children in our Louisville community by providing them with a warm bed to sleep in this winter!

Faith in Action with Palestine—December 2

All are invited to gather on Tuesday, December 2, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., in the Gathering Room, to pray and explore ways to work for peace and justice in Palestine— especially during the Advent season.

Several groups formed at a previous gathering October 30 will report on their activities:

• Book read, Christ in the Rubble, by Munther Isaac
• Study group, Why Palestine Matters
• Solidarity circle, Christians for a Free Palestine
• Advocacy, 7 Criteria of Engagement in Advocacy Campaigns

If you have questions, contact Tricia Lloyd-Sidle, at Revtjls@gmail.com.

Choir Practice

Choir practice is held every Thursday at 7:00 p.m. Please feel free to come and see if this is something you might be interested in.

Book Study

Please join us Wednesday mornings, from 10:00 to 11:15, on Zoom, for study and discussion of the book "Christ in the Rubble: Faith, the Bible, and the Genocide in Gaza," by Munther Isaac.



The first meeting was October 29, but new folks are welcome anytime. Any questions can be directed to Claudia Foulkes, 502-939-4129. Please email Claudia at Cfoulkes3@gmail.com to get the Zoom link and be added to the group email list for regular communication.

Prayer and Action for Middle East

Next Thursday, Nov. 27 we will not have our regular Zoom prayer group due to Thanksgiving. We will, however, have our first week of the month in-person gathering on Thursday, Dec. 4, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the home of Carol Mead. Her address is 7522 Dudley Square Drive at Episcopal Church Homes.

Carol is baking her famous ginger cookies and we will all chip in with side items to go with a soup lunch. This group has been such a support as we get to know each other and share our concerns and pray together for the Middle East. Newcomers are always welcome. Please RSVP to Soni at 417-6481 or soni.castleberry@gmail.com.

Did You Know?

What Presbyterians Believe about the Functions of Confessions

The shape of confessions has been determined not only by the historical situation in which they were written but also by the uses for which they have been intended.

1. Worship. Like the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds, some creeds and confessions have been used as acts of worship in the church’s liturgy. This use is a reminder of the fact that the church’s confessions are first of all acts of praise, thanksgiving, and commitment in the presence of God.

2. Defense of orthodoxy. Most confessions have been intended as polemical defense of true Christian faith and life against perversion from within as well as from attacks from outside the church. They are the church’s means of preserving the authenticity and purity of its faith.

3. Instruction. The confessions have been used for the education of leaders and members of the church in the right interpretation of Scripture and church tradition and to guard against the danger of individuals or groups selecting from the Bible or church tradition only that which confirms their personal opinions and desires. Confessions written in question-and-answer form (like the Heidelberg and Westminster Catechisms) were written to prepare children and adult converts for baptism and participation in the fellowship of believers. 

https://pcusa.org/sites/default/files/boc2016.pdf page viii-ix  

November 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.

Nov 5 - George Lindauer, Dana Walker

Nov 8 - Chris Bischoff, Seth Pendleton

Nov 11 - Diana Stephen

Nov 12 - Sebastian Duverge

Nov 15 - Carol Roderick

Nov 21 - Rick Roderick

Nov 28 - Lucy Craig Steilberg

To double-check your listing, contact the office at office@crescenthill.church or call 502-893-5381.