The Messenger
COLLEGE HILL
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Progressive Theology, Traditional Worship, Inclusive Congregation (PCUSA)
Affiliated with More Light Presbyterians and the Covenant Network of Presbyterians
September 2020
712 S. Columbia Ave.
Tulsa, OK 74104
918.592.5800

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

Rev. Freeman is now taking Mondays off so he can work on a sermon on Fridays because the videoing of the service happens on Saturdays.

Worship Schedule:
Virtual Worship
until further notice

Church Email:

Pastor Email:

Website:
In order for us to maintain good financial health and stewardship, please mail in or drop by your pledge to the church. Thank you!
If needed:
Please click the Give Now button below to remit your
CHPC pledges/contributions.
The Session will meet on September 8 to re-assess when we (upon the recommendation of our Re-union ministry team) feel it is safe to return to in-person church activities.
Word From the Pastor
I don't remember when I've been more ready to flip the calendar to a new month. A common mantra in the news during August was "Just when you thought things couldn't get any worse..." Or, "As if we needed this on top of everything else that's going on." Wildfires, hurricanes, more police shootings, social unrest, back to school issues, too many Covid-related deaths, and politics, politics, politics. And personally, I had a bout of something (though tested negative for Covid), and the sudden loss of my dear One-eyed Jack to canine bone cancer.

But just as we remind ourselves it's a brand new day, it's a brand new month. And regardless of what this month brings, we must never lose hope.

Yet, I will miss our usual September events, like our annual Rally Day kicked off with the Pancake Breakfast, followed by new church school classes.

In fact, September 13 will mark a full SIX MONTHS since we last gathered together for worship in the sanctuary!

Saying that, I am among many, including our church Session, that are being inspired to rethink and rework ways to do and be the church, even after this pandemic subsides and we can meet together again in person.

If ever we needed proof, we are indeed experiencing the "word of God" spoken by the prophet Isaiah, "I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?" (Isa. 43:19).

There is evidence of this in other arenas of life, as well. In August, we focused in worship on Romans 12:2, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God - what is good and acceptable and perfect."

Yes, we are in a pivotal point, socially, in our nation. There is hope that perhaps we are actually turning a corner in understanding the effects of ingrained racism built into our country's past and present, and our complicity (often subconsciously) in perpetuating our own advantages at the expense of others.

So, let us continue to intentionally work stay connected with one another, praying for each other, and keeping our hearts and minds open to the "new thing" happening in our midst.

Special blessings to you,
Rev. Todd
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Elder Nomination Form

The Nominating Committee requests the congregation’s input in recommending persons to serve as a Ruling Elder on the Session.

Please click the button below to download the nomination form, and once completed, either mail it to the church office, or (click name to) email it to the team Moderator, Clay Finck-Ward.

The Nominating Committee members are: Clay Finck-Ward, (moderator), Joy Kelly, Bryan Finck-Ward, Kathy Evanson and Todd Freeman.

In the process of selection, please review the following list of general qualifications associated with the role of serving as a Ruling Elder. We ask that you make your suggestion after prayerful consideration. Ruling Elders will be elected at a Congregational (Zoom Video) Meeting in the Fall.
Hard to imagine it has been 10 years that College Hill has been blessed by having Lisa Hays serve as our Office Manager!

Lisa is gifted in so many ways, dealing with such a wide variety of operational and managing issues. Her professional and interpersonal skills have had a profound impact in our ministry efforts. Please let her know how much she is appreciated.
By the time we are able to return to in-person activities in the church building, an awesome new church sign will be installed! More on this later.
Building & Grounds crew prepping and painting the awning in preparation for the new church sign that will be seen on the west side (parking lot. Thanks to Mary Ann Bumgarner, Mark Miller, Gini Fox, and Jim Campbell.
Todd Redding & Tim Smith joyfully announce to their College Hill family that they were married in the presence of their families in an outdoor ceremony on July 25, 2020 in Chicago, IL.
September Meal
9.26.20

College Hill volunteers will deliver dinner — coneys, oranges and homemade cookies — to the Day Center for the Homeless, plus 4 gallons of milk for breakfast.

Thanks to the Stambaughs’ idea, the
Coney I-lander on 11th Street will provide 200 coneys, double-wrapped and ready to be served by the Day Center folks. Their charge: $1 per dog! Many thanks to the Stambaughs and several other members who pitched in with donations to make it all possible! 

Members who would like to bake 3-4 dozen cookies may deliver them to the Day Center between 5-5:30 on September 26, or earlier in the afternoon to Caroline Johnson2923 S. Boston Court. Please let Caroline know how many cookies you’ll be bringing: Text 918-629-2882 or leave a message @ 918-743-0403. Thanks! 

If you would like to contribute to upcoming Day Center Meals hosted by College Hill, please send your donation directly to the church, (payable to College Hill), with 'Day Center Meals' in the memo line, or you can use the Give Now button at the top of the page.
Create a Butterfly Puddler


Here’s a great project for kids or anyone who wants to attract more butterflies: Build a Butterfly Puddler.

In a 12” or 18” plastic or clay pot saucer, make a slurry of sand, garden soil and enough water to thoroughly moisten the mix. Then add a few small rocks to create landing pads.

Butterflies will congregate at the puddler to drink and get essential minerals and nutrients from the soil and sand.

Add more water as needed to keep the mix moist, and be amazed at how many butterflies your puddler attracts.

(Idea from Paul James, the Gardener Guy at Southwood).
A deep sinkhole developed on the back side of the church (southside). Turned out to be caused by a sewer pipe issue. All fixed!
September Birthdays
3 - Todd Freeman
 5 - Taylor Brennan
 9 - Nora Featherston
10 - Jim Campbell
11 - Sharon Coleman
13 - Lauren Harper Fogarty
15 - Adam Brennan
17 - Bill Nole
19 - Kim Childs
19 - P.J. Brobston
19 - Aubrey Hovenga
20 - Diane Buchner
20 - Laura Wimer
20 - Eric Nelson
22 - Katie Abercrombie
24 - Spencer Livingston-Gainey
24 - John Gammie
25 - Amy Williamson                                
27 - David Ordonez
30 - Sofia Emma Ohlson
30 - Jesper Nils Ohlson
30 - Sandy Farler-Hoyt
30 - Miles McAnally

 
Remember the 
Birthday Endowment Fund!
Thank you SO much to Susan West and the Congregational Care ministry team for the spectacular pop-up birthday card - with the faces of all the children and youth of the congregation! That means the world to me! - Rev. Todd
5 Ways to Support Your Pastor

Because the current pandemic can cause stress in any of us, the Personnel Ministry team thought it appropriate to share this article with you from beautifulchristianlife.com.

Please click the button below to view the article.
CONGRATULATIONS
to Betty Coleman

The extended family hosted a "Drive-By" Birthday Celebration on August 22.
Proud Great Grandmother ~

Kennedy Elizabeth
Born 7/29/20 7 lbs 11 oz
Parents: Adrienne & Eric Driscoll
A Green Team has been launched to help College Hill lessen its impact on the planet, as well as setting an example of environmental stewardship in the community.
"We are exploring ways to have a positive impact and be a restorative force in creation,” says Team Leader Mark Miller.
The 4 R's:
One of the guiding principles of environmental stewardship is Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
  • Refuse items that are unnecessary items such plastic shopping bags when possible. 
  • Reduce, take only what is needed
  • Reuse what you can. If you can’t reuse it, try to find someone who can.
  • Recycle things that are no longer usable.
Future eNewsletter articles will feature ideas and opportunities to practice The 4 R's.
To become part of the Green Team, please (click name to) contact Mark, Rev. Freeman, Caroline Johnson, Jan Swafford or Susan West
----------------------------------------------
Recycling lives!

Collection continues for:

~ Usable plastic and paper shopping bags for Iron Gate’s food pantry. (No produce or newspaper bags, please.)

~ Egg cartons to repackage eggs for a food bank.

~ Orange prescription bottles for re-use. 
The prescription bottles and eggs cartons are projects at Southminster Presbyterian. 

To donate any of the above items, please (click name to) contact Mark or Gay Miller. 
We welcome any photos of your garden, or anything else you would like to share, to be featured in upcoming editions of the eNewsletter! Please email them to the church at collegehilltulsa@gmail.com.
COLLEGE HILL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC

Dr. Kim J. Childs, Director of Music
Mike Gibson, Organist

SUNDAY MORNING
VIRTUAL MUSIC OFFERINGS
Featuring Kim Childs, Director of Music
Mike Gibson, Organist
 
                                     
SEPTEMBER 6                      Kim Childs, tenor
O God of Love – Jane Marshall
 
SEPTEMBER 13               Lisa Wagner, oboe
TBA
 
SEPTEMBER 20                    Kim Childs, tenor
How Firm a Foundation – Emma Lou Diemer
                                                                                                                                                 
~~~~~
The Chancel Choir is in hiatus due to Covid-19 and the pandemic and will not be rehearsing Fall 2020.

BELLissimo Handbell Ringers are in hiatus due to Covid-19 and the pandemic and will not rehearse Fall 2020.

Church members as Notaries

Recently, church members Gay Miller, Gretchen Hrachovec, Sue Haskins, Gary Watts, Emily Gamel and Jan Swafford became official notaries.

We did this so we can help others cast absentee ballots for upcoming elections, like the previous one held June 30, to vote on Medicaid expansion for our state. If you plan to vote absentee and would like one of us to notarize your ballot, please let us know in advance!

If you haven't yet requested an absentee ballot, the best way to do so is through the OK Voter Portal. It is easy to navigate and fast to fill out. If you cannot get the portal to work and would like us to mail either an absentee ballot request form or voter registration form to you, please let one of us know right away.

Some important notes: as notaries, we are unable (by law) to provide further assistance than that. We cannot help you fill out the form or mail it in for you. We cannot help you fill out your absentee ballot itself. We are also limited to only notarizing 20 absentee ballots per election.
 
Please click one of the names below
to send an email:

2020
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.
Please look for our weekly email with a link to the
Zoom Church School
gathering!!
Visit our Facebook page for
more photos!
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