The Messenger
College Hill Presbyterian Church
Progressive Theology, Traditional Worship, Inclusive Congregation (PCUSA)
Affiliated with More Light Presbyterians and the Covenant Network of Presbyterians  
  2017
712 S. Columbia Ave.
Tulsa, OK 74104
918.592.5800

Church Office Hours:
Mon - Th, 9 am - 3 pm
Closed on Fridays

Worship Schedule:
9:30 am - Church School - all ages
10:30 am - Fellowship
11:00 am - Worship in English
11:00 am - Worship in Spanish

Church Email:

Pastor Email:

Website:

Join us for coffee, juice, cookies and
conversation in Fellowship Hall before
Church School and Worship.

Word From the Pastor

One of the key factors that draws folks to College Hill is our non-traditionalist and non-dogmatic approach to issues of faith and life. Our prevailing theological perspective is best described by the term, progressive Christianity.


What is progressive Christianity?


As is fitting of progressive Christianity itself, there is no one definition. However, there are some basic characteristics. As expressed in our Church Brochure (you can find it on the Information Table in the narthex, or our church website under “Who We Are”):


  • Willingness to question tradition, including orthodox understandings of church doctrine and biblical interpretation
  • Respect of intellectual integrity, including the use of the latest in biblical and scientific knowledge and understanding
  • Acceptance and affirmation of human diversity – a ministry of hospitality and inclusiveness
  • Strong emphasis on ministries to promote social justice, peace, and care of the environment and all of God’s good creation
  • Centrality of the commandment to “love one another” – a ministry of compassion
  • Outreach to those for whom organized religion has proved ineffectual, irrelevant, or repressive
  • A life of faith is approached as a journey, not a destination


Peter Enns, in his book, The Sin of Certainty: Why God Desires Our Trust More Than Our “Correct” Beliefs, writes, "When did being “right” with God come to mean believing the right things about God—believing the right doctrines, reading the Bible the right way, holding the right views?


For many Christians, this idea is at the very center of their religious lives. And that’s a problem. Because this focus on being correct can actually distract us from faith and from God. What happens when the security of “knowing what you believe” gets disrupted—as it does sooner or later? What if once-settled questions—like “What is God really like?”—suddenly become unsettled?"

Know that I am always open to conversations with anyone in the congregation who would like to visit with me personally about faith or theological matters.

On a personal note, Phillips Theological Seminary has asked me to teach a class on Presbyterian Polity this fall semester. I did so back in 2010. Classes begin on August 28, so I’d appreciate your prayers.

Blessings,

Rev. Todd Freeman

Rev. Dr. Don Roulet
Memorial Celebration
Sunday, August 13 at 4:00 pm
College Hill Presbyterian Church

Through his ministry and activism, Don has touched thousands of lives, spanning multiple generations.

A good friend to College Hill, we will forever be grateful for his service to the community. Don will be missed, but his legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of those he touched.

Just as Don lived his life, Wyneth and family invite all who wish to
celebrate his life and legacy. 

Services begin at 4:00 pm,
with a reception to follow.


In lieu of flowers, it's requested that donations be made to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and Broken Arrow Neighbors, by clicking the links provided.

For more information, please visit the
Roulet Family website.
P H O T O S
Caroline Johnson plays her autoharp and leads the Celtic Circle group in song. Also, Mark Miller, who leads the group, and Gay Miller, holding a storybook to which we sang along. All are welcome to join our quarterly gatherings in the Miller’s home.
Synod Youth Workshop 2017
The Leadership Team of this year's Synod Youth Workshop (SYW) painted the choir room and adjoining hallway as their mission project.

College Hill serves SYW by allowing them to use Fellowship Hall as a 'staging area' for the distribution of their mission project supplies.
Also, many youth groups who need to travel long distances (most from southern and western Texas) stay overnight at the church the night before the conference begins over at TU.
We store many of their supplies in our attic to keep them from having to haul them back and forth each year.
SYW is deeply appreciative of all of College Hill's support. They consider us as one of the conference's sponsors.
An apple growing this summer on the tree planted by the Children of the Church a few years ago.
Annual Kendall-Whittier
4th of July Parade
A cool drizzly 4th doesn’t stop kids from enjoying the Independence Day celebration, nor adult, for that matter. A shout out to College Hill volunteers who helped again with our head leader, Charlotte Bronston! Volunteers included Barb and Bill Nole, Maryanne Stambaugh, Jennifer and Jim Campbell, Marilyn Hill, Emily Major, Gretchen Hannefield and Katy Walker.
Barb made some very festive iced cookies and the two guys did all the watermelon slicing. This event has been an annual tradition for over ten years, and a BIG THANK YOU to Charlotte Bronston for being the College Hill Coordinator every year!
Visit our Facebook page for
more photos!
August Birthdays

    1  - Esteban Valencia
    1 - Laura Stanford
    2 - Pat Valencia
    2 - Elizabeth West
    6 - Meagen Burrows     
    6 - Cooper Thomason
    7 - Patrick Fox
    8 - Michelle Brobston
    9 - Rachel Fuller  
  10 - Kristy Wyatt
  13 - Katy Walker
  13 - Norman Gainey
  14 - Jim Brady
  15 - Judith Nole
  16 - Tim Gillean
  23 - Adrienne Coleman
  24 - Haley Brobston
   25 - Susan West
   26 - Mark Bergner
   26 - Celia Ketcham
   26 - Dana Livingston
   27 - Betty Coleman
   30 - Bruce Ketcham, Jr.
 

Remember the 
Birthday Endowment Fund!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Calendar
August 4-5, 8 am-4 pm: JustHope Garage Sale

Friday, August 11, 6:00 pm - Game Night

Sunday, August 13, 4:00 pm - Rev. Don Roulet Memorial Celebration

Thursday, August 17 at noon - Luncheon Club (at First Watch Restaurant, 67th & Memorial)

Sunday, August 20 after worship - Potluck Luncheon

Thursday, August 24 - Openarms Youth Project Meal
 JustHope Garage Sale
August 4-5 , 8 am - 4 pm
Fellowship Congregational Church
2900 S. Harvard Avenue, Tulsa

Come enjoy this huge sale to help support our mission to create global partnerships that
combat extreme poverty
and nurture sustainable community.


Volunteers are needed both days of the sale, to be available to help shoppers as they browse. 


Feel free to sign up for multiple spots, but any amount of time will help and we

greatly appreciate your involvement!


(Click name to) contact Jennifer Payton
with any questions.
Game Night Resumes!
Friday, August 11 at 6:00 pm

Come in out of the heat and play some board games!  Plan to join us for Game Night in Fellowship Hall!


Please bring a snack to share, so we can munch while we play. If you require childcare or would like more information about the event, please (click name to) contact Marilyn Hill or the church office.


We'll have lots of games, but if you have a favorite game, feel free to bring it! We look forward to seeing you there!

Luncheon Club
Thursday, August 17 at noon

Luncheon Club will meet at First Watch Restaurant , located at 68th and Memorial. Plan to join us for great food fellowship and fun! Please (click name to) contact Gay Miller or Gretchen Hannefield for more information.
Potluck Luncheon
Sunday, August 20

Plan to meet in Fellowship Hall after worship to enjoy food and fellowship with your College Hill family. Fellowship Ministry team will provide the drinks. Please bring a dish to share.


Please (click name to) contact Clay Finck-Ward for more information.

SUNDAY MORNING MUSIC OFFERINGS

August


August 6 – Lori Decter Wright, soprano


August 13 – Alleluia, Praise! Arranged by Douglas E Wagner – featuring the Chancel Choir with Mike Gibson, organist.


August 20 – Let the People Praiseby Buryl Red – featuring the Chancel Choir with Mike Gibson, organist.


August 27 – Rock-a My Soul arranged by Hal H. Hopson – featuring the Chancel Choir and soloists with Mike Gibson, organist.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

 CHANCEL CHOIR


The Chancel Choir of College Hill Presbyterian Church resumes regular choir rehearsals Wednesday, August 9.  The Chancel Choir rehearses Wednesdays at 6:45 p.m. in the second story choral room (next to the church office) for singing, fellowship and fun! If you are a singer and would like to sing with the Chancel Choir this fall, we are welcoming new members. Please contact the Director of Music.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BELLISSIMO HANDBELL ENSEMBLE


BELLissimo Handbell Ensemble of College Hill Presbyterian Church resumes regular ringing rehearsals Wednesday, August 9 at 5:30 p.m.   If you are interested in playing in this fun ensemble (permanent member or substitute) this fall, please contact Director of Music for more information.


(Click name) to contact our Director of Music,  


Dr. Kim J. Childs, Director of Music
Mike Gibson, Organist
Book Club
Sunday, August 20

The Whole Town’s Talking: A Novel

by Fannie Flagg


The Book Club plans to close out summer with a heart-warming, relax-at-the-beach kind of read by beloved author Fannie Flagg. As described in People magazine, The Whole Town’s Talking: A Novel is “[a] witty multigenerational saga,” and it goes on to praise “Flagg’s down-home wisdom, her affable humor and her long view of life offer a pleasant respite in nerve-jangling times.”


This book is available at book stores, your local library, and other book sources. Book Club will meet for lunch and discussion at Panera Bread (1624 E. 15th St., just west of Utica on the south side of 15th St.) immediately following worship service (about 12:15pm).

Thank you!

5th Sunday Offering July 30

Sequoyah Elementary Uniforms

 

Thanks to your generous contributions, we collected several clothing items and over $500 in cash donations! 

CHPC Kids Connection
Summer Volunteer Opportunities!

From July 2 to August 27 (9 Sundays) the Christian Education Ministry team is looking for 9 different volunteers to help Kye oversee the children’s Kids Connection program from 11:00 to 12:00 during worship.  


Kye has been working with the children since last Fall and is quite accustomed working with them.  So, prospective volunteers can expect the responsibility for oversight to be a joint effort. If you choose to volunteer, this is an opportunity to get to know our church’s darling children or learn something new about the ones you already know.

You can share an important Sunday school lessons from your childhood, teach them a song or a craft, tell a story, share a talent, or just hang out with them for the hour.


Please (click name to) contact Nancy Gammie or Alicia Odum to add your name to the calendar for one of the 9 Sundays!  

Summer is here and while it is considered a carefree season, it can be a time of struggle and worry for many families. 62% of Oklahoma children receive free or reduced meals while in school, so during summer break, too many of those meals are lost.

The Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma needs your help to try to supply some of these meals to children in need. Monetary donations can be made through their secure website at www.okfoodbank.org or you may call 918-936-4508. 

DF7O8 Sign Up


The Summer/Fall Dinners for 7 or 8 are being planned. Hosts that have not scheduled your event, please contact your group to do so.


Guests can feel free to contact your host to check the status and see if assistance in planning or scheduling is needed.  Dinners can be held in the home or at a restaurant.


If you are interested in signing up, have questions or need your information resent to you, please (click name to) contact Clay Finck-Ward

Something for  the Spirit

Pearl

By Steve Garnaas-Holmes


Oh, traveler, 
the treasure is not far away.
Oh, merchant,
the pearl is in your pocket.
How much of your life is attic junk?
Escape the trinkets that have been hoarding you.
What you can hold isn't worth grasping.
What you can possess won't last beyond the sale.
Don't seek what you don't already have.
Don't covet what can be taken from you.
What you can't hold in a breath
isn't worth it. 
Breathe in.
Sell all your treasures for that. 
Once you've seen it shine,
it will surprise you what you'll let go of for it.
Throw your arms around this world.
Buy the field of this whole grand life,
its weeds and rocks, its pains and mysteries,
all of yourself. 
Look! Right now,
you are rich beyond belief. 

Openarms Youth Project Meal
Thursday, August 24

Outreach & Mission Ministry Team will be serving the meal at Openarms Youth Project.

Please (click name to) contact Jeff Ream or Tim Smith-Ream for more information.
1st Sunday Food Collection 
KWI Emergency Food Pantry
August 6

Our First Sunday food collection will go to the Kendall Whittier, Inc. Emergency Food Pantry. We will again be collecting canned vegetables and canned fruit, which are especially needed, as well as other food items. Cash donations are also always welcome.
2017 Birthday Endowment Fund
 
A meaningful way to celebrate your Birthday this year is to donate an amount equal to your new age to the Endowment Fund .

This donation is also a wonderful way to honor others such as children, grandchildren and friends and allows the church to have funds available for special projects.

Checks can be made payable to College Hill and marked "Birthday Fund" on the memo portion of the check, and placed in the basket on the Narthex information table.

Penny
Penny Fund Donations Welcome

Thank you for your donations to the Penny Fund! You are always welcome to donate your pennies (or any loose change), in the red container on the Narthex table. 

This money goes toward funding many College Hill needs and events we enjoy throughout the year!
College Hill
Recycle and Donation Center

We have re-purposed the cabinets in the hallway outside of Fellowship Hall for use as a place to deposit recycling and donations.

Recycle bins will accommodate paper, cans, plastic bags, compact fluorescent lamps, batteries, and printer cartridges. 

Donation bins are also available for diapers and baby care products, dry goods and hygiene items, and school supplies.

Flower Chart

M embers are encouraged to  bring flowers to decorate the sanctuary for worship services.  Please sign up on the Flower Chart, which is posted on the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall.

Your dedication will be announced in that Sunday's Worship Bulletin.

Flowers can be purchased from any store or bought from your own yard or garden. Please bring them in two containers the morning of the service for which you have signed up.  

College Hill Mission Statement
~ Build an inclusive community of faith
~ Receive and openly share the love of God
~ Reach out with a compassionate voice for peace and justice
College Hill Presbyterian Church | 712 S. Columbia Ave., Tulsa, OK 74104

Rev. Todd Freeman, Pastor