A Lenten Opportunity — Lectio Divina

CHPC is offering a Lenten group devoted to contemplative reading of Scripture. Phil Lloyd-Sidle will be facilitating using a method of prayerful reading that dates back to the early church called Lectio Divina — “divine reading."

When?

Five Thursday evenings in Lent from 5:00-6:30 p.m. The dates are March 13, 20, 27, April 3 and April 10. There will be no group during Holy Week.

Where?

The Gathering Room of the back building.

What is Lectio Divina?

It is a method of contemplative reading that seeks to invite our hearts and minds into an ever-deepening experience of God and God’s word as it comes to each of us in Scripture. We will be reading passages in Matthew and Luke that lift up various aspects of Jesus’ teaching and ministry.

Some details:

As a group process this practice can be very profound. Please be punctual. Things to bring: a Bible version you like, a journal (or paper). Some people like to draw; feel free to bring some colored pens or pencils. Also, it is encouraged that people try to make all five sessions, if possible. There is a great gain in trust and companionship as we each commit to this small-group experience.

Prayer and Action for Middle East

Upcoming Prayer Group for the Middle East will meet on Zoom, Thursdays March 20 and 27, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Feel free to join us on Zoom, in-person, or both. This group has enabled such support for one another as we all struggle to cope with the tragedies in the Middle East and the on and off cease fires and prisoner releases. 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.

Trivia Night!!!

March 22, 2025

Join the Jefferson County Master Gardener's for a fun Trivia Night with a garden spin!

There will be some plant-related trivia along with general trivia. Proceeds raised will be split between CHPC and JCMGA. Proceeds will fund a rainwater collection system to water the on-site garden.

Winning team receives a gift basket! Team costumes encouraged and/or decorate your table with any plant related theme. Best decorated receives a trophy!

Bring your own refreshments. No alcohol allowed on premises. Baked goods and drinks will be available to purchase.

Details: We have room for 9 teams of 6 players each, so sign up soon! (min. age 18) If you don't have a team, please sign up anyway. All are welcome!

$90 per team/$15 per person

No cell phone use during the event 

No Smoking 

Date: March 22, 7:00-10:00 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Where: CHPC Fellowship Hall

Registration: Deadline is March 14 or when 9 teams are fully registered. (Minimum age 18).

Please send funds via Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/JCMGAKY or mail a check to Ed Hill, 5411 Navajo Rd, Louisville, KY 40207 (Make checks out to JCMGA). Once funds are received, your captain will receive a confirmation email that you are fully registered.

Contact mgevent@jcmgaky.org for additional information or questions.

Lunch and Learn

Anti-Death Penalty Speaker

Thursday, March 27, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Joe Ingle, a close friend of Brad and Soni Castleberry, will be here at CHPC speaking about his fourth book: Too Close To The Flame (2024) (Simon and Schuster Publisher). Feel free to bring your own brown bag lunch. We will meet in Henry Young Hall in the back building.

For 45 years, Joe has been an advocate for the men and women condemned to death by an unjust legal system that routinely victimizes the marginalized, Ingle has often found himself waiting through the darkest hours as the spiritual advisor and sole companion of those on deathwatch--the brief period of isolation that precedes an execution. has been nominated twice for a Nobel Peace Prize. Joe will be available for book signings and have some copies available with him.

If you can’t come that day, or want to hear more, please come the night before, Wednesday, March 26, 7 p.m. to First Unitarian Church 809 S. 4th St (4th and York Sts. entrance off Library Lane)

More about Joe Ingle on these links:

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Too-Close-to-the-Flame/Joseph-B-Ingle/9781637632918

https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Joseph-B-Ingle/223261972

Jean Leake Scholarship Fund

The Jean Leake Fund offers assistance to the children and youth of Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church for camping opportunities. Applications for the Jean Leake Fund are now available.

Please contact Patti Marcum at pdwmarcum@gmail.com or 502-403-8269 to request an application or ask questions.

Deadline for applications is April 15. Scholarship applicants will be notified of their award amount by May 1. Payment will be made according to information provided in the application.

Congratulations to CHPC!

Our church was recently recertified as an Earth Care Congregation by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Presbyterian Hunger Program through February 2026. The Earth Care Congregation certification is designed to recognize churches that make the commitment to take seriously God’s charge to “till and keep” the garden.

One of the goals of this program is to inspire churches to care for God’s earth in a holistic way, through integrating earth care into all aspects of their church life: worship, education, facilities, and outreach in the community. CHPC has demonstrated this care in many ways during the last year, such as:

• By joining with the Jefferson County Master Gardener Association both to take better care of our own land and to help educate the community about such care.
• By promoting the Garden Camps in the summer to enable children in the community to experience God’s Earth.
• By continuing allowing use of our Electric Vehicle Charger by the community.
• By holding a worship service in the outdoors and celebrating Earth Day in worship.

There are many other examples. Obtaining this status speaks to the serious commitment that CHPC has made to care for God’s earth. Congratulations to us as a congregation!

Healing the Earth

Members of the CHPC community are invited to donate to an exciting art project that will be a visible witness to our commitment to earth care and ending gun violence. The Session has agreed to contract with local blacksmith Craig Kaviar to create a six-foot iron sculpture for the front plaza. The art piece, called “Healing the Earth,” will be made of pieces of guns chopped up at Guns to Gardens Louisville safe-surrender events.

The cost of this project is $28,514, plus stand, lighting, and installation. Session has set aside $10,000, plus $548 from the Peace and Global Witness Offering, toward the art piece. The remainder of the cost will be covered by grants and donations. If you would like to donate, please make your check out to CHPC and specify in the memo line that the donation is for the sculpture. Or you can use the QR code below.

If you have a tool or other item that you would like to donate for possible use in the sculpture, please contact the church office. Please make sure the object is iron (attracts a magnet).

Guns to Gardens Louisville, which grew out of a Sunday school class in our congregation, has so far received 88 unwanted guns to transform into garden tools, art, and jewelry. Craig Kaviar is a valued partner in this effort. His art piece—along with the gardens flourishing on church grounds—will symbolize to the community our commitment to healing and caring for God's creation.

DID YOU KNOW?

What Presbyterians Believe"

In the past four centuries, Presbyterians have been active around the world, organizing the first presbytery in what would become the United States in 1706 and later establishing schools such as the college that is today’s Princeton University.

The Second Great Awakening in the first decades of the 19th century further shaped the church’s identity, with congregations forming and American Presbyterians serving in mission fields domestically and internationally.

The early 20th century clarified the church’s vision with the Six Great Ends of the Church, which emphasized gospel proclamation, spiritual fellowship, worship, truth preservation, social righteousness, and the exhibition of God’s Kingdom.

https://pcusa.org/about-pcusa/who-we-are/history

March 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.

March 11 - Eva Stimson

March 12 - Bill Gee, Shannon Langley

March 13 - Lengulula Kashama

March 17 - Katharine Griswold

March 19 - Andrea Trautwein

March 22 - Christy Bott-Baird, Rachel Brewer

March 28 - Ethan Myers

March 29 - Dawn Pendleton