Dear Friends,

I am beginning to settle in with you all and I look forward to meeting with as many of you as I can. I have created an online sign up for scheduling visits. Please go to: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F45A9A92BAAF9C61-visits to sign up for a time. There are only a few slots right now, but I will continue to add more as we go along.

Thank you for your warm welcome of me and my husband Mark.

Peace,

Peggy

Email addrress: peggychpc@gmail.com

Zoom Sunday School for children of all ages has resumed at Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church. Zoom Sunday School runs from 9:45 – 10:15, to allow families to participate and still get to the church for in-person worship at 11:00a.m. Please join us for songs, Bible stories, prayers, crafts, and more!

Teachers are Eva Stimson, Jerry Van Marter and Bev Machin. WE ARE

LOOKING FOR MORE TEACHERS!! Please contact Eva or Jerry if you are interested in being part of the team. We are also joined at least occasionally by Sid (aka Luke Van Marter), who continues to completely misunderstand the day’s Bible lesson.

If you have any questions or comments, please call or email Eva Stimson or Jerry Van Marter.

It’s that time of year—time to make your financial pledge to CHPC for 2022. You should have received a pledge card in the mail; simple complete it and mail it back to the church in the envelope provided. Or bring it to church this Sunday and drop it in the offering plate. Your generosity is appreciated!

Fourth Sunday of Advent 11:00 am

“LOVE” Hebrews 10:5-7

Longest Night Service 7:30 pm

Christmas Eve Service 5:30 pm

First Sunday of Christmas 11:00 am

Christmas in Story and Song

In the flurry of all the Christmas preparations, do you long for some quiet time in holy space? Amidst all the season’s merriment, are you feeling grief or sadness? Are you feeling alone and wish to sit in the company of compassionate others?

Join us in CHPC’s sanctuary or on Zoom for CHPC’s Longest Night Service at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, December 21st. There will be candles, readings, music, song, and quiet time for reflection in candlelight. All are welcome.

The Sacrament of Christmas

By Howard Thurman

Howard Thurman From the Howard Thurman and Sue Bailey Thurman Collections, Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center at Boston University

I make an act of faith toward all humankind,

Where doubts would linger and suspicions brood.

I make an act of joy toward all sad hearts,

Where laughter pales and tears abound.

I make an act of strength toward feeble things,

Where life grows dim and death draws near.

I make an act of trust toward all life,

Where fears preside and distrusts keep watch.

I make an act of love toward friend and foe,

Where trust is weak and hate burns bright.

I make a deed to God of all my days —

And look out on life with quiet eyes.

Reflect

The Christmas season is almost here, but as the world sprints toward Dec. 25, let us commit to staying fully present in Advent. Where joyful carols are ringing, let us continue seeking God’s silences. Where friends and family are gathering safely with virus precautions in place, let us be watching for God’s angels among strangers. Where gifts are being placed under trees, let us remember the greatest gift cannot be found in a box, but in our hearts. Let us join Howard Thurman in making the sacred act of trusting that in little Bethlehem, “our hopes and fears of all the years” will once again be met in Christ. How will you commit to a slower, more prayerful last week of Advent?

Pray

Compassionate God, despite all that is wrong in the world, you have not given up on us. You, who loved the world so much that you gave us your Son, continue to shower us with redemptive love. As we make our way to Bethlehem, the House of Bread, strengthen us for the work that is still to be done. Help us to see the opportunities this week to share the Good News of a Savior born for all humankind. And may our arms be filled with loaves of love to share as we speak of your greatness. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

By supporting the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions (BOP), the Christmas Joy Offering honors the faithfulness of current and retired church workers and their families in need. Thanks in part to support from this Offering, church workers can receive critical financial assistance to support them through life’s challenging circumstances. These generous actions bear witness to our faithful response to God’s charge to love one another as Christ commanded.

CHPC will receive this offering on Sunday, December 19th, but you can contribute at any time during Advent.

Our church has actively supported United Crescent Hill Ministries since it’s formation in 1974. With the help of partner churches like ours, UCHM serves approximately 3,500 of our neighbors with varied programs, including a food pantry, meals for Seniors, youth activities, preventive health services, and emergency support.  A highlight of the year at UCHM is the annual Christmas Connection program, which helps families provide gifts and holiday meals for their children.  This year’s program will look a lot like last year, which helped 183 families have a happier holiday. Instead of asking sponsors to shop for gifts, UCHM is asking for $125 donations to sponsor a child. The donations will be used to purchase retail and grocery gift cards to provide a child's gifts and food for the holidays. Gift cards allow families to prioritize their needs, as well as give them the dignity of providing for their family as they see fit.

 If you are unable to donate the full $125 to sponsor a child, you are still invited to support Christmas Connection. Any amount is meaningful. Donations can be made online through PayPal at https://www.uchmlouky.org/christmas-connection-sponsorship-sign-up/ or by sending checks to United Crescent Hill Ministries, 150 State St., Louisville KY 40206.  Questions about Christmas Connection can be directed to Katie Litanga at klitanga@uchmlouky.org .

Please have all newsletter submissions turned in every Wednesday by noon. Use this link for submissions and follow the prompts. Thank you!

Allen Bridgman is our Deacon of the Month for December 12th - 18th. If you or someone you know is in need of a kind gesture, please reach out to Allen at j.allenbridgman@gmail.com or call 502-314-5884.

Claudia Foulkes is our Elder of the Week. She can be contacted by phone at 502-939-4129 or via email at cfoulkes3@gmail.com. Erin Denny will begin Elder of the Week duties on December 26.