June 10 meeting notes

Half a dozen plus CHPC folks interested in Guatemala mission gathered on Saturday, June 10.  The group included Jennifer Thalman Kepler, who was recently returned from Guatemala, for a visit that connected with a death and illness.  Thalman Kepler’s theater company, Looking for Lilith, works with a group of Guatemalan women on a Faith Stories project that does theater education, Bible study, and community health promotion.  Most of the women in the group are from NW Guatemala but one is from the old Izabal presbytery, south of Lake Izabal, and Rosa Marina, from Estoreño Presbytery’s faraway Monte Sinai congregation is interested.  Jennifer and others there imagined a possible joint Crescent Hill-Lilith visit to the Izabal area – Jennifer said, as soon as summer 2018 (depending somewhat on whether Faith Stories lands a great to bring the Guatemalan women to the national U.S. Presbyterian Women gathering in Louisville in summer 2018). 

In terms of summer 2017 activities, Ben Langley (and Shannon Bostrom?) agreed to lead a Minute for Mission in worship on Sunday, July 2.  All four members of Crescent Hill’s two 2017 Guatemala visit teams – Ben, Shannon, Megan McCarty, and Soni Castleberry will speak at a post-worship Food for Thought luncheon the next Sunday (July 9), which Ben and Shannon will promote in their Minute for Mission.  Stephanie will make Guatemalan chicken soup, rice, and beans for Food for Thought.  The foursome will exchange ideas and photos, and Megan will help take charge of A/V issues.

Carrie agreed to write a note to give to Sunday’s Elder of the Week to read about this coming Friday (June 16)’s St. Matthews El Tarasco Mexican restaurant fund-raiser (15 percent of sales between 6:00 and 9:00 p.m. go to CHPC Guatemala mission, if you tell your server; second Fridays in July and August too).  Ben and Perry agreed to split leadership of the St. Joseph’s Orphan Home Picnic fund-raising event.  The group decided to look into possibly parking cars both on Friday and Saturday.  Perry agreed to ask Janine if she would try to find out whether the gate at the end of Westminster Court will be open Friday.  Jane agreed to double-check with Stewardship about Officer Horlander or whoever (Megan reported that Session authorized this fund-raiser in general, but wasn’t up to date on how arrangements should proceed).  Ben also has a saw horse and a newish truck to transport it to church.  Many of the folks at the gathering said they would be in town that weekend (August 11-12) and hopefully available to volunteer.

Perry agreed to check around to find out more about sending CHPC money to the Presbytery via the Guatemalan national church, the IENPG.  Soni and Ben were originally going to draft a letter to accompany the money spelling out our aspirations for it.

Folks there agreed to check in after the July 9 Food for Thought to see if people think another summertime gathering is needed.  Jennifer and others there de facto agreed to stay in touch about possible future joint Guatemala visits and possible future collaboration.

Traveling mercies for many folks on the road in June, including Mary, Ben, Soni, Perry, and Elisabeth and her family.

-Perry