Deysi and Allan

November 14 gathering

Shannon Bostrom, Megan McCarty, Shannon Beck, Doug Yeager, Elisabeth McNinch, Janine Linder, Ben Langley, Soni Castleberry and Jane Larsen-Wigger all gathered at church on Nov 15 to talk about our Partnership and various things related to it.

After prayers of both thanksgiving and intercession, we heard from Shannon Beck about the Reconciliation study trip she was recently a part of in Guatemala.  This was done as a connection between PCUSA, CEDEPCA and the Synodical of IENPG (I think all that’s right!).  The background – and widespread prevalence – of sexual violence in Guatemala, especially among people of faith and in isolated, poverty-stricken areas, was eye-opening for us.  The outcomes of the conference were the hope of re-establishing a working relationship between the IENPG and CEDEPCA, to continue to meet as a group, and to begin to train women to train more women to help with awareness and prevention.

We spent the rest of the meeting talking about various aspects of the upcoming 2016 visit with our partners, including:

- The possibility of using CEDEPCA to organize and facilitate the visit:  We decided we can’t decide this until we know more clearly from our partners what they want us to do and see.  If then we want to see about using CEDEPCA then we need to talk to them (CEDEPCA) about how best to talk to our partners about it

- We talked, as we often have, about the nature and purpose of our trip and the importance of it being relational in nature, with the hope of learning and deepening our relationships with one another and with God.  We talked of the importance of our partners telling us what they want us to do, what they want to show us and not us just telling them what we want to do.   It was decided to emphasize in publicity that this is a Visit, instead of using language of mission trip.

-We discussed plans for the Jan. 29 Fund-raiser and re-iterated that it would be a benefit concert (by Mundo Brew) with a catered, buffet-style meal from 6 -10.  We will charge $35 per person (we neglected to talk about an under-12 cost I think).  Specific tasks that need to be done include:
-Coordinating with the band (Doug)
-Publicity (Soni, with help with graphics from Megan and hopefully Andrea
-Food (??  - need to explore catering options and make reservation)
-Ticket sales (Ben) – these will begin in early January
-Silent Auction (decided if someone would step forward to plan it, we’d do it; otherwise not worry about this aspects.

We explored who is indeed either planning or hoping to go.  Committed folks include Soni and Ben.
-Hopeful folks include Shannon, Doug, Jan
-Maybes that we don’t know about but hope are considering it are Chantel, Perry, Stephanie, Elisabeth, Jacob C-S, Cara Bridgman
-We will be promoting the trip more starting early January and will plan then for a gathering to interpret it to the congregation

After a prayer to close the meeting we called and talked to Ramiro.  They will be having a presbytery executive committee meeting in December and will talk then, at our request, about a calendar and schedule for our visit, what they want us to see and do.  We hope they can let us know before our meeting on Jan. 2. 

Next Meeting:  Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016 – probably at church.

-Jane Larsen-Wigger

Saturday gathering

Be part of the Guatemala Connection:  Gather at 10:00 AM on Saturday, November 14, in the Gathering Room (back building) to talk about summer 2016 Guatemala mission trip, preparation for it, and ongoing activities with eastern Guatemala's Estoreño Presbytery.  Everyone is welcome.

End of the year prayers

This week Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church will pray for and with our Guatemala partners:

 

-On Sunday, November 15, and during the week thereafter: Familia de Noe church in El Estor’s Sinai neighborhood, Pastor Benjamin Sacul and family, and members, deacons, and elders.

-On Sunday, November 22, and during the week thereafter:  Lirio de los Valles church in El Estor’s San Jorge neighborhood, Pastor Mario Xo Ical and family, and members, deacons, and elders.

-Sunday, November 29, and the week thereafter:  Puerto del Cielo congregation in the El Estor suburb of La Union of El Estor, Pastor Leonel Cacao, and all worshipers

 

-On Sunday, December 6, and the week thereafter: Arca de Noe church in El Estor, Pastor Santos Teyul Mucu and family, and members, deacons, and elders.

 

-On Sunday, December 13, and the week thereafter: Altar de Noe church in El Estor’s Los Cerritos neighborhood, Pastor Raul Contreras Tut and family, and members, deacons, and elders.

-On Sunday, December 20, and the week thereafter: Espiritu Santo church in El Estor’s San Marcos neighborhood, Pastor José Domingo Xo Ical and family, and members, deacons, and elders.

 

-On Sunday, December 27, and the week thereafter: Monte Sinai church in the village of San Carlos El Pouvenir outside of Puerto Barrios, Pastor José Sub and family, and member, deacons, and elders.

 

-On Sunday, January 3, and the week thereafter: Hijo del Dios Viviente church in the village of La Guitarra, Pastor Gerardo Pop Ich and family, and members, deacons, and elders.

-On Sunday, January 10, and during the week thereafter: El Buen Samaritano church in El Estor’s Nueva Amanacer neighborhood, Pastor Antonio Choc, and members, deacons, and elders.

 

-On Sunday, January 17, and the week thereafter:  Galilea congregation, Pastor Anselmo Tzul Turcios, and all worshipers

New name

The group of folks who meet regularly to communicate with our Guatemalan partners and plan activities with them last met Oct. 3. One item of business was renaming the group the Guatemalan Connection. The reason was to better reflect the group’s purpose as it stands today. When it began as a task force in 2006 to explore the possibility of a trip to Guatemala, we saw ourselves primarily as a temporary trip planning group.  Little did we know that God would lead CHPC into a partnership with the people of the Estoreño Presbytery and a ministry that would actively involve a major part of our congregation for nearly a decade.

Changing the group’s name to Guatemalan Connection hopefully makes it clear that those who meet regularly are neither the partnership nor the mission group. Instead, they are facilitators who help our church stay connected with our partners and help interested CHPCers become involved in this part of our church’s ministry. All are welcome to attend Guatemalan Connection meetings either to simply see what they are all about or hopefully to become more deeply involved. Some members have been on one or more of the trips to Guatemala. Others have not yet been able to make a trip and some never plan to go. All regular attendees, however, have come to feel a special connection with the people of Guatemala. Some will say these experiences have been life-changing. Others will say this is one way that they see God at work in our church and in their lives.

The next meeting of the Guatemalan Connection will be Sat., Nov. 14 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in the Gathering Room in the back building at CHPC. Please consider joining us and seeing for yourself what this ministry is about. We will plan to talk by phone with our partners as well as discuss possible itineraries for the June 25 to July 3, 2016 proposed trip. Even if you cannot attend this meeting, we hope that you will prayerfully consider the possibility of making this trip next year.

Other highlights from October included:

-Facebook messages were sent and received between Doug Yeager and Ramiro Quib, treasurer for the Estoreño Presbytery. During the summer we had sent $750 to the Presbytery. This sum was the total of the first installment of $500 designated for our partners from CHPC’s 2015 budget and an additional $250 from CHPC’s Presbyterian Women group to support the work of Rosa Marina Tacaj Pop, organizer for the Presbytery’s Presbyterian Women. Ramiro assured us that Rosa Marina’s expenses were included in how the $750 (5700 Quetzales) was spent:

n  2400Q – Travel to theological training in Coban for eight persons

n  1200Q – Scholarships for theological training in Coban for three persons

n  400 Q – Travel expenses to Guatemala City for pastors

n  800 Q – Theological training materials and communication expenses

n  900Q – Hosting expenses for workshops and assemblies

 

-On the meeting day, the final $500 from CHPC’s 2015 budget was sent to our partners.

-Soni Castleberry

October prayers

-On Sunday, October 11, and during the week thereafter:  Makajam congregation, its leaders, and all worshipers.
 

-On Sunday, October 18, and during the week thereafter:  Estoreño Presbytery Executive Committee, President Gerardo Pop Ich, and other officers.

 

 -On Sunday, October 25, and during the week thereafter:  Estoreño Presbytery Presbyterian Women organization, President Carmen Quib Caal, and other officers.

-On Sunday, November 1, and during the week thereafter:  Estoreño Presbytery youth and young adult organization, President Byron Ottoniel Pop Paau, and other officers.

-On Sunday, November 8, and during the week thereafter:  Peniel church in Boqueron, Pastor Fidel Juc, and members, deacons, and elders.

August 29 gathering

The meeting was held in the choir room at CHPC. In attendance were: Shannon Bostrom, Soni Castleberry, Mary Love and Doug Yeager. The group reviewed possible agenda items sent in advance by Perry Chang and agreed to defer some to a future meeting. As Doug Yeager was the only Spanish speaker present, and he was not feeling up to par, it was decided not to call our partners today. Items discussed included:

 

PCUSA Guatemala Network:  Soni Castleberry, Perry Chang and Mary Love went to July 30 meeting in Knoxville. Mary and Soni felt it was worthwhile. They referred folks to Perry’s excellent notes for details. Soni wants us to try and meet with group in Nashville that also works with Qek’chi. She will make contact and see if it seems worth a joint meeting maybe midway.

 

Guatemalan Partnership Budget – All agreed that Perry is authorized to go ahead and send the remaining $500 balance in the CHPC 2015 budget for the support of our Guatemalan partners. This request should be made to the CHPC Treasurer and sent to our partners within the next couple weeks. As always, we will want them to provide an accounting of how the money was spent.

 

Correspondence from Guatemala Partners: Doug Yeager reviewed correspondence received from Ramiro Quib accounting for the $750 previously sent to our partners. The $750 included the first $500 allocation from the CHPC 2015 budget and $250 specifically sent by Presbyterian Women in support of the work being coordinated by Rosa Marina. The $750 (5700Q) was spent in this way:

            2400Q             Travel to theological training in Coban for eight persons

            1200Q             Scholarships for theological training in Coban for three persons

              400Q             Travel expenses to Guatemala City for pastors

              800Q             Theological training materials and communication expenses

              900Q             Hosting expenses for workshops and assemblies

 

Mary suggested that this information be included in Westminster Ways so that all church members will know how the budgeted money was spent. Soni agreed to submit an article by the Sept. 14 deadline.

 

Doug will send a Facebook message to Ramiro to let him know we received his correspondence and appreciated the accounting of expenses. He will ask for more detail as to exactly how the $250 Presbyterian Women money was spent. He will also tell Ramiro that the final $500 for this year will be sent soon.

 

June 25-July 3, 2016 Trip to Guatemala – Although we did not review the tentative itinerary, we each made a commitment to review it and respond to Perry and Jane in thanks for their work on it. We discussed our commitments to the trip and others who may be possibilities. Soni and Shannon Bostrom are committed. Megan McCarty is hoping to go. Perry Chang, Jane Larsen-Wigger and Ben Langley anticipate going. Doug Yeager is doubtful. We hope a couple youth will travel. We all need to encourage others to consider making the trip.

 

Fund Raising – Soni mentioned the need for more money. St. Joe’s Parking reportedly netted about $800. Thanks to Peter for coordinating and all who helped. Next year we need to get a written commitment to ensure St. Joe’s opens the side gate which enables us to attract parkers. Shannon asked if “Mundo Brew” might play for an event. Doug will check with band. Friday, Jan. 29 might be a good date. Soni suggested a simple dinner with invitations to other groups in the community who also have ties to Guatemala. This might include water, adoption and medical groups and other churches. Mary suggested the chaplain at Churchill Downs’ backside.

Next Meeting: We agreed to meet at 1 pm on Sat., Oct. 3. (Note time change.) Place to be decided.

 

-Submitted by: Soni Castleberry

Rest of August-September prayers

This month Crescent Hill church will pray with and for:

-On Sunday, August 16, and the week thereafter: Altar de Noe church in El Estor’s Los Cerritos neighborhood, Pastor Raul Contreras Tut and family, and members, deacons, and elders.

- On Sunday, August 23, and the week thereafter: Espiritu Santo church in El Estor’s San Marcos neighborhood, Pastor José Domingo Xo Ical and family, and members, deacons, and elders.

- On Sunday, August 30, and the week thereafter: Monte Sinai church in the village of San Carlos El Pouvenir outside of Puerto Barrios, Pastor José Sub and family, and member, deacons, and elders.

- On Sunday, September 6, and the week thereafter: Hijo del Dios Viviente church in the village of La Guitarra, Pastor Gerardo Pop Ich and family, and members, deacons, and elders.

- On Sunday, September 13, and during the week thereafter: El Buen Samaritano church in El Estor’s Nueva Amanacer neighborhood, Pastor Antonio Choc, and members, deacons, and elders.

-On Sunday, September 20, and the week thereafter:  Galilea congregation, Pastor Anselmo Tzul Turcios, and all worshipers

-On Sunday, September 27, and the week thereafter:  Huracan Mich congregation in Panzos, Pastor Oscar Tzul Coc, and all worshipers

-On Sunday, October 4, and the week thereafter:  Marc’am congregation, Pastor Gonzalo Tiul Choc, and all worshipers

Saturday afternoon, August 29

Telephone conversation with Guatemala friends, debriefing from St. Joe's picnic parking, and discussion about possible financial involvement in additional Estoreño Presbytery mission and the October PC(USA) anti-sexual violence Guatemala study tour are all likely topics at a 1:00-2:00 pm gathering on Saturday, August 29, in the Youth Room (the large room with sofas in the lower level of the building with the sanctuary that has an exterior door that opens to the parking lot and back building).

Thanks again!

Thanks for your Guatemala mission support and involvement! Thanks to all who helped with parking cars during St. Joseph's Picnic in early August.  We had an eventful St. Joe's weekend.  A special thanks to Friday volunteers who searched the church parking lot for roofing nails and to early Saturday afternoon customers who paid $10 for parking AS THEY WERE LEAVING because we weren't yet set up to accept money when they got there and they are "regulars" who expect/want to pay/support Crescent Hill mission every year. All in all we made about $1,000, which is similar to last year, for our Guatemala mission partnership.  This year a couple of hundred dollars of this will help cover the cost of hiring the off-duty police officer who kept on eye on things Friday and Saturday evening. 

-Perry

St. Joe's parking

Thanks to all who helped with St. Joe's parking,  We had an eventful St. Joe's weekend, with only one car parked and no open gate Friday, no barricade and maybe a dozen cars parked for free before we started up - "early" at 1 p.m., and a customer who fell and got hurt and a non-customer who relieved himself Saturday night.  All in all we cleared about $1,000, which is similar to last year (not counting the $100 donation from a neighbor), although this year we will be donating a couple of hundred dollars to help cover the cost of Officer Horlander, who was there Friday and Saturday PM.  I think we'll need to think about skipping Friday PM and starting at 11:30 a.m. or 12 noon Saturday next year.  Thanks to Peter, Ruth, Soni, Stephen, and Janine - who helped organize things - and to Dave, Polly, Ben, Teri, Ada, Barbara, and Stephanie - and to Mike who brought us the barricade Saturday - and also to our couple of our "regulars" who parked for free at 12 noon but gave us $10 each as they left.

Jomaris (thanks, Jomaris!) and I talked with Rosa Marina - who had called me Friday night - She reported that she and about half a dozen other Estoreno folks - have been continuing their theological education at Coban.  She said the training is in Spanish, with translation into Q'eqchi' and some other Mayan languages represented.  For the first time, Rosa Marina - according to Jomaris - indicated that her intention partly with the training is to become a pastor.  She seemed to e interested in being part of the rotation of people we call (including Raul Contreras and Ramiro).  She still didn't seem to get that the money we sent her was for ALL of the cortes.

Ramiro and I exchanged Facebook messages Saturday.  He said a couple of his relatives have died - plus there has been some very bad flooding in Izabal - with several outlying communities washed out and I think he said more than dozen people dead.  

As we continue to pray this week for Ramiro's church (Arca de Noe), Pastor Santos (another of the Coban theological education students), and all who worship there, we might also pray for Ramiro and his grieving family, and for the families and communities coping with flooding in Izabal (including those who have lost friends and family members).  (I may mention this to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance also.)

With both Rosa Marina and Ramiro, I mentioned that we have some more money to send the presbytery and that we hope to visit again in June-July 2016..  Rosa Marina mentioned that her visiting of women's groups around the presbytery has continued, but they don't always have enough money for her to visit everyone.  She also said it's about a two-hour drive between Puerto Barrios and her community (San Carlos El Porvenir) and to get to Livingston by boat from that area we'd have to go back to Puerto Barrios.

Let's meet next at church 1:00 p.m. Saturday, August 29, among other things to talk about our (hopefully) participation in the CHPC Generosity team-sponsored mission and ministry event after worship Sundays, October 18 and October 25.

 

-Perry

July network gathering

Mary, Soni, and Perry recently returned from the pre-Big Tent Guatemala Mission Network gathering on the University of Tennessee at Knoxville campus.

The national evangelical Presbyterian church (IENPG) may set up four synods – instead of just having one – and then have a national General Assembly.  One would be in northern/eastern Guatemala where most Q’eqchi’ presbyteries are.  But Amanda thought part of the impetus for this was the conservative southwestern presbyteries that have recently returned the fold trying to flex their muscle.  We might ask our presbytery partners about their thoughts on this, Amanda suggested. Certainly, Ramiro – who is now on the IENPG executive committee – would know something about that.

The IENPG had set up a network of “La Patria” schools – including two successful ones (one of these some of us visited in Coban) that really appealed to non-Catholic Ladino elites and had become a big cash cow for the national church.  But the IENPG siphoned so much money off from these schools that they have become less attractive – including with lots of competition from more and more non-Catholic schools – such that these schools are losing students and now losing money (instead of providing a big surplus for the national church.

The national Presbyterian seminary is also barely functioning – mainly hosting once-a-week classes for nearby Presbyterians – as well as providing staff and some resources for regional theological training programs, which many presbyteries have started on their own or with the seminary.

A backdrop is the 2014 re-release of some of the Walton funds – a fund that Sam and Helan Walton (of Walmart) set up based on Helen Walton’s mission trip travel to Guatemala and conversations with what is now PC(USA) World Mission staff – to support theological education with indigenous Presbyterians – but was frozen for seven years because of allegations of misuse. 

The IENPG met in May, repeated the stand it took vis-à-vis ordination of gays and lesbians with the new PCIUSA) stand on same-sex marriage – that they disagree but they want to stay in partnership with us.  The church has sent a letter to that effect.   However, one presbytery – Occidente – has apparently cut its ties with its U.S. presbytery partner, Minnesota Valleys, because of the PC(USA) stand on same-sex marriage.

One of the speakers to both the joint Guatemala and CEDEPCA mission network portion of program emphasized the ongoing political activity in Guatemala, with charges of corruption and the resignation of the vice president and unheard of protests that even Presbyterians, both Ladino and perhaps indigenous have gotten involved in.

We also heard from Teresa Waggener, the PC(USA) Office of the General Assembly immigration staffperson who talked at Cedar Ridge last September about the arrival of unaccompanied children in the United States.  Teresa emphasized that a federal judge has recently opened up the possibility of closing corporate family immigration prisons just completed, and also how Donald Trump’s rhetoric has attached itself to a Congressional effort to deny federal law enforcement assistance funds to “sanctuary” cities and counties that refuse to use traffic stops, etc. to enforce immigration laws.  Teresa also decried a Congressional effort to tie foreign aid to effective immigration law enforcement (Guatemala only get foreign aid if Guatemalans quit coming to the United States), along with U.S. aid to Mexico to expand its efforts to stop and deport Central Americans trying to cross through Mexico to get to the United States.

Amanda led a discussion about the possibility of a 2017 Guatemala mission network gathering that would be a travel seminar possibly on secular education, theological education, and health education – even subdividing perhaps.

Earlier on Hunter Farrell, PC(USA) World Mission director (pictured above), shared with us World Mission's struggles, including the mid-term re-call of four PC(USA) mission co-workers from Brazil and South Sudan, the possible re-call of as many as mission co-workers in a year or two if financial trends continue, continued efforts to solicit financial support for World Mission partnership efforts, and continued efforts to get much more than the 15-20% of PC(USA) congregations that are connected with World Mission and/or PC(USA) mission co-workers.  On the other hand, Hunter argued that he believes the denomination has turned the corner from pure congregationalism, as more and more congregations/Presbyterians realize the importance of staying connected with other Presbyterians/Christians - via not only the PC(USA), U.S. presbyteries, and other congregations but also via the PC(USA) and its partners around the world.

The largest amount of time for the gathering was taken by worship/Bible study led by CEDPCA staff/leadership - especially Judith Casteneda - which included participants reading the Mark passage about Jesus' followers encountering him on the road to Emmaus and using the Listen/Judge/Act method of biblical interpretation to understand/apply it.   

Lots of CHPC folks on the PC(USA) staff were at Big Tent (along with Elisabeth and her family).  At the Guatemala gathering were lots of old friends of CHPC Guatemala mission, including:  Ellen Dozier, Amanda Craft, Ellen Sherby, and Sandi Thompson-Royer.

-Perry

Ramiro in charge

Presbytery Treasurer Ramiro Quib, who has visited CHPC twice, at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Guatemalan national Presbyterian Church (IENPG) at Monte Sinai.  Ramiro is now a member of the Executive Committee.

With the youth

A phone call with Pastor Raul Contreras Tut, of Altar de Noe church, and a game of Guatemala partnership bingo with tres leches cake were high points of partnership activities with a dozen youth participating in CHPC’s Home Mission Experience Monday night.  After technical problems struck, Pastor Jane outlined for the kids there a briefly history of the partnership, and Stephanie, Jane, Vincent, Luiz, Mary, Perry, and Soni shared trip memories/things they’d gotten out of the partnership (and invited age-qualified kids to participate in the 2016 trip.  Mary, Soni, Stephanie and Anna also helped model a cortes and juapiel. 

Elisabeth, with help from Blake, called Raul and told him about the youth’s Home Mission Experience and asked for prayers for traveling mercies for friends and family and for people affected by flooding in Kentuckiana.  Raul reported that one of his relatives had married a relative of Pastor Jose Domingo, of the Espiritu Santo church.  Raul also mentioned that Jorge, a leader in the New Jerusalem Church (?), had died.  And he apparently reported on a youth meeting coming up and on the selection by the national Presbyterian church of Ramiro (who we had tried calling too) as a delegate to their national council.  Some of Raul’s news we couldn’t hear.

Thanks to Vincent, Mary, Ross, and Soni for trying with the technology, and to Stephanie, Luiz, and Vincent for cutting and serving the cake and to Stephanie for creating and M.C.-ing the Guatemala partnership bingo game, which Brian and Daniel won (with Brian getting a little Guatemala bus and Daniel a little Guatemala cresch scene as prizes).  (One adult suggested we play the Guatemala partnership bingo game not only with youth and their parents/youth leaders but also with more CHPC adults.)

-Perry

Mid-summer prayers

This week Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church will pray for and with our Guatemala partners:

-On Sunday, July 19, and during the week thereafter: Familia de Noe church in El Estor’s Sinai neighborhood, Pastor Benjamin Sacul and family, and members, deacons, and elders.

-On Sunday, July 26, and during the week thereafter:  Lirio de los Valles church in El Estor’s San Jorge neighborhood, Pastor Mario Xo Ical and family, and members, deacons, and elders.

-Sunday, August 2, and the week thereafter:  Puerto del Cielo congregation in the El Estor suburb of La Union of El Estor, Pastor Leonel Cacao, and all worshipers

-On Sunday, August 9, and the week thereafter: Arca de Noe church in El Estor, Pastor Santos Teyul Mucu and family, and members, deacons, and elders.

June prayers

This month Crescent Hill church will pray with and for our Guatemala partners:

 

-On Sunday, June 7, and during the week thereafter:  Makajam congregation, its leaders, and all worshipers.
 

-On Sunday, June 14, and during the week thereafter:  Estoreño Presbytery Executive Committee, President Luis Botzoc, and other officers.

 

-On Sunday, June 21, and during the week thereafter:  Estoreño Presbytery Presbyterian Women organization, President Carmen Quib Caal, and other officers.

-On Sunday, June 28, and during the week thereafter:  Estoreño Presbytery youth and young adult organization, President Ramiro Quib, and other officers.

-On Sunday, July 5, and during the week thereafter:  Rosa Marina, the Guatemala Presbyterian church Presbyterian women organization’s organizer in Estoreño Presbytery and her peers across the country.

 

-On Sunday, July 12, and during the week thereafter:  Peniel church in Boqueron, Pastor Fidel Juc, and members, deacons, and elders.

May prayers

Pray with and for our Guatemala mission partners this month:

 

-Sunday, May 10, and the week thereafter:  Puerto del Cielo congregation in the El Estor suburb of La Union of El Estor, Pastor Leonel Cacao, and all worshipers

 

-Sunday, May 17, and the week thereafter:  Galilea congregation, Pastor Anselmo Tzul Turcios, and all worshipers

 

-Sunday, May 24, and the week thereafter:  Huracan Mich congregation in Panzos, Pastor Oscar Tzul Coc, and all worshipers

 

-Sunday, May 31, and the week thereafter:  Marc’am congregation, Pastor Gonzalo Tiul Choc, and all worshipers

Macaria

Ramiro photographed Macaria, who visited us several years and has been ill for quite a while, during a Easter weekend visit with her.

New congregation!

In March, Estereno Presbytery apparently accepted a new congregation as part of the presbytery.

Late March gathering

In attendance:  Soni Castleberry, Perry Chang, Jane Larsen-Wigger, Janine and Lowell Linder,

and Doug Yeager

Perry opened the meeting asking for our concerns and joys and led us in a combined prayer.

Call to Guatemala:  Doug called Rev. Raul Contreras.  He was in a theological education class in Coban thus unable to talk much.  Doug did, however, send greetings for Holy Week and let them know that we would like to visit them June 25 – July 3 next year.  It sounded like that would be okay but Doug will follow up on Facebook to confirm.

Evaluation of Kick-off Event for Trip:  Positive remarks made about photos and information shared from past trips, momentum established, food catered by La Casita and the financial outcome -- ($730 in donations/auction sales). Since Henry Young Fellowship Hall was unavailable while construction is underway in the building, we used the Choir Room.  It worked well, but is not accessible and may have kept some folks from coming.

Structure for our Group:  We agreed to try and keep with a regular meeting schedule and set up some working groups to oversee needed tasks and make progress reports at meetings.

Next meetings:   Saturdays from 11 am to 12:30 pm -- June 6, Aug. 1 and Oct. 3 (please note on your calendars/ places to be decided – contact Perry at 457-7833 or perrydchang@gmail.com if you’d like to host one.)

Work Groups:  Coordinators are needed for the first two groups and members for all groups.  Please consider volunteering.

Education – Plan and implement ways to educate our congregation about Guatemala and the history and future of our partnership with the Q’eqchi’ Estoreno Izabal Presbytery.  This will include a general brochure explaining the partnership and its history (Janine will do this).  Other tasks include writing a more detailed partnership history (Soni will work on this and will check with Eva), planning other occasions/ways to inform the congregation about issues in Guatemala, and sending minutes of our Partnership Group meetings to a larger email list.

Fund Raising – Plan and coordinate fund raising strategies to help with expenses for the 2016 trip and any additional financial support we can provide for the work of our partners.  Use the 15 months between now and the trip to carry out a diversity of ways to raise money including the Aug. 8 St. Joseph’s Picnic Parking (Doug volunteered to coordinate this).  Some folks and church committees have asked the status of another  yard sale.  A decision needs to be made soon.  Soni wants to know if there is interest in opening  an on-going store in the old youth room to sell donations as a yard sale alternative.  Volunteers would need to sort/price items, but otherwise it would operate on an honesty basis.

Recruitment – Soni will coordinate.  Develop and maintain a database of members and visitors who have had past involvement with the Guatemalan Partnership or are interested in becoming involved. Partnership Group meeting minutes will be sent to this list.  Contact and interest information will be maintained and this group will help identify volunteers to help on activities of the other work groups as well as travelers for the trip.

Trip Planning – Perry will coordinate. Develop agenda in collaboration with our Guatemalan partners to outline details for destinations and projects.  We also want to visit the churches in the Presbytery’s eastern area near Belize.  Our partners have mentioned the possibility of our participation in a revival while there.  Our members also have expressed interest in doing activities with children and learning more about whether we could help get the sewing machines, donated to the Presbytery years ago by another group, into use.  Group also will make travel arrangements and plan orientations for travelers.

Submitted by:  Soni Castleberry

Thanks!

March 15^th Kick-off and Silent Auction --  We want to thank those of you who attended this event to kick-off the planning and fund-raising for our 2016 Adult and Youth trip to Guatemala as well as  learn more about this ministry of our congregation. 

The next trip is scheduled for Sat., June 25 – Sun., July 3 of next year.  It will mostly include El Estor, but also the Presbytery’s churches in eastern Guatemala, near Belize, where we have never visited.  Adults and youth who have completed 9^th grade by the time of the trip are eligible.

We raised $730 at the event from contributions for the food, donations and bids on the Guatemalan crafts.  We appreciate the support you gave to this ministry of our congregation.

Eight of the items in the auction did not receive bids.  If there is something you have had second thoughts about and wonder if it sold, call Soni Castleberry, 417-6481, and offer a bid.  If it was one of the unsold items we would be thrilled to sell it to you.  If you have not yet paid for an item you won, please get the money to Soni Castleberry (payable to CHPC) no later than Sunday, April 5 so that the event can be wrapped up most easily.

Many of you have asked about the delicious food that was served at the event and wanted contact information for the caterer.  It was La Casita’s catering group.  The contact is Chef Valentina Cruz.  She can be reached at chefvalentina7@gmail.com.  Her phone number is 502-836-1430.

-Soni

Sunday, March 15 event

After worship on Sunday, March 15, there will be a Silent Auction to kick-off CHPC’s next trip to Guatemala June 25 – July 3, 2016. Please join us in the Choir Room, just behind the front of the sanctuary, to learn more about the trip, bid on Guatemalan items, enjoy Central American-style refreshments and photos and music from past trips.

 

Many of the creative handmade items to be sold were brought to us by our partners when they visited last October. Others have been donated by church members who have gone on our previous trips. Many items would make wonderful gifts for birthdays, Mother’s Day or another special occasion, or could be used to decorate your home. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Guatemalan Partnership. 

 

This next trip, like our first one, is being planned for both adults and older youth. Between now and then, we plan to provide a variety of ways to learn more about the partnership and to support this all-church mission project whether you travel or not. If you have questions about the partnership, please email Perry Chang at perrydchang@gmail.com or call him at cell 457-7833 or at home 812-913-4313. If you have Guatemalan items you would like to donate for the auction, please contact Soni Castleberry at soni.castleberry@gmail.com or 417-6481.

 

The next planning committee meeting will be Saturday, April 4 from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm. Place to be announced. Anyone interested in the partnership is welcome to attend. We always need new ideas and perspectives.

 

-Soni