March-April prayers

On Sunday, March 4, and the week thereafter:  Espiritu Santo church in El Estor’s San Marcos neighborhood, Pastor José Domingo Xo Ical and family, and all who worship there.

-On Sunday, March 11, 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 all who worship there.

-On Sunday, March 18, and during the week thereafter: El Buen Samaritano church in the village of Nueva Amanacer neighborhood, Pastor Jorge Ortiz and family, and all who worship there.

-On Sunday, March 25, and the week thereafter:  Galilea congregation in El Estor’s Esfuerza neighborhood, Pastor Angel Martin Sacul and family, and all who worship there.

-On Sunday, April 1, and the week thereafter:  Emanuel congregation in the Huracan Mich community of Panzos, Pastor Oscar Tzul Coc and family, and all who worship there.

-On Sunday, April 8, and the week thereafter:  Marc’am congregation, Pastor Gonzalo Tiul Choc and family, and all who worship there

-On Sunday, April 15, and during the week thereafter: Estoreño Presbytery Executive Committee, President Ramiro Quib Caal, and other officers.

 -On Sunday, April 22, and during the week thereafter:  Estoreño Presbytery Presbyterian Women organization, President Ana Coc Tiul, and other officers.

-On Sunday, April 29, and during the week thereafter:  Estoreño Presbytery youth and young adult organization, President Wilman Botzoc, and other officers.

Second Sunday soup sale

Folks at Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church on the second Sunday of the month – starting this Sunday, February 11 – will have an opportunity to take home a quart or quarts of delicious homemade soup in exchange for making a donation to the Guatemala mission partnership.  Donation dollar amount and type of soup are still in the works. The funds will go towards helping make spring and summer visits to Guatemala—for which the church will be soliciting visit team members soon—more affordable.

You may double your money by buying a second quart of soup and donating it to the Deacon’s Freezer for CHPC folks to take to people who are ill, homebound, or suffering loss. Double your money will be a win, win, win for your dining pleasure, for the Guatemala visit, and for CHPC’s ability to reach out to CHPC folks in crisis.

Guatemala Connection folks will meet on Saturday, February 10, at 12:30 PM to create/prepare the soup (and talk about the Guatemala partnership) and will see folks after worship in the Narthex to exchange soup and donations. Join us at either.

Super Bowl Sunday mission co-worker breakfast

Promoting female leadership and preventing domestic violence among Guatemalan Presbyterians will be two key topics on Sunday, February 4. On that weekend, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) mission co-workers Brian and Sandi Thomson-Royer, whom Crescent Hill church supports, will visit from Guatemala.

Brian and Sandi carry on the work of Ellen Dozier and Amanda Craft, working alongside the women of the Guatemalan national Presbyterian Church’s Presbyterian Women organization. Brian also helps spearhead a unique mission and ministry among Guatemalan Presbyterians, including men.  This ministry helps make Presbyterians agents of change in what can be – like ours – a violent society, both in the streets and at home.

During the adult Sunday school hour (9:45-10:45 a.m.) Brian and Sandi will talk with CHPC folks about their ministry in Guatemala. This Mission Co-Worker Coffee will include photos, coffee, and light refreshments.

During worship Sunday morning, Brian will address the broader congregation in a brief Minute for Worship.

Be there at 9:45 Sunday to see and hear about the Thomson-Royer’s amazing ministries, and stay for 11:00 a.m. worship to celebrate and hear more.

-Perry

Guatemalan Connection annual report

Many modest-sized visits and continued communication were hallmarks of 2017 for Crescent Hill’s Guatemala partnership.  CHPC’s Guatemalan Connection helped coordinate the partnership between Crescent Hill church and eastern Guatemala’s Q’eqchi’ Estereño Izabal Presbytery.  2017 marked ten years since our congregation and the presbytery made contact.

In January/February, Shannon Bostrom and Ben Langley represented CHPC at a gathering of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Guatemala Mission Network, which took place near Guatemala City. Also there, representing Estoreño Presbytery, were Pastor Raul Contreras Tut and Elder Ramiro Quib, who have both visited Kentuckiana.  In addition to getting know Guatemalan and North American Presbyterians engaged in mission, the foursome spent a lot of time in fellowship and prayer together.

In April, Soni Castleberry and Megan McCarty represented CHPC at an annual gathering of Estoreño Presbytery’s Presbyterian Women.  Along the way Soni and Megan got to know two PC(USA) Guatemala mission co-workers with whom CHPC is partnered (Brian Thomson-Royer and Sandi Thomson-Royer), two leaders of the national Guatemalan Presbyterian Women, and Rubenia, a young woman who served as a translator and cultural liaison for Soni and Megan.  Soni and Megan got to witness the flowering of female leadership within the presbytery, as well as participate in some intense worship services. 

In May Ramiro punctuated his five-month U.S. sojourn with a long weekend in Kentuckiana, helping lead CHPC worship, brainstorming with the Guatemalan Connection, and visiting with CHPC folks.  Then, in September, Rubenia took time out of her four-week U.S. visit to dine with CHPC folks and visit the Presbyterian Center, the seminary, and some horse farms.

In between visits, CHPC sent $1,500 to the presbytery for PW and theological education.  For the first time, the money went through the national Guatemala church, which went smoothly and which allowed CHPC to make a contribution to the work of the national church.  Five Estoreño folks – three men and two women – were able to participate in a theological education program in Coban, thanks in part to Crescent Hill’s financial involvement.  By phone and Facebook, Estoreño shared news of new leadership, a visit to the faraway Nueva Amanacer community, Ramiro’s ordination as a minister of the Word and Sacrament and installation as pastor of the presbytery’s flagship (Arca de Noe church), and the birth of a grandchild for Ramiro and Elvia.  CHPC folks, in turn, shared news of Pastor Jane’s retirement and introduced Estoreño folks to Elisa, our new pastor.  CHPC and Estoreño folks continued to pray with and for each other throughout the year.

More visits seem on tap for 2018:  February Kentuckiana visit by the Thomson-Royers, a repeat April Guatemala visit for the presbytery-wide PW meeting, and a very early August summertime visit.

Participating in Guatemalan Connection brainstorming in 2017, in addition to Shannon, Ben, Soni, and Megan, Jane, and Elisa, were Carrie Bridgman, Sandra Duverge, Sebastian Duverge, Stephanie Gregory, Jennifer Thalman Kepler, Janine Linder, Mary Love, Elisabeth McNinch, Beth Yeager, and Doug Yeager.

Connection folks bid adieu during the year to Elisabeth, Jane, and – de facto – Shannon and Megan.

Also participating in the partnership through involvement in the early August 2017 St. Joseph’s picnic parking fund-raiser were:  Brad Castleberry, Deborah Fortel, Luiz Kemmerle, Shannon Langley, Janine Linder, Tricia Lloyd-Sidle, Michelle McDonald, Carol Roderick, Jeanne-Marie Rogers, Todd Rogers, and David Sawyer.

Latin food and culture were on the menu for the year’s other fund-raising activities.  Sandra spearheaded an early March Latin Dance Party.  Tim McNinch created the flyer for this event, and the Ville Casinera dance company suppled instructors.  This fun event drew in enthusiastic and paying participants from both the congregation and community and netted the partnership the largest paycheck of the year.  Claudia Foulkes and Soni also spearheaded an El Tarasco fund-raiser throughout the second half of the year.  Thanks to all who learned to dance the Casino at the March Latin Dance Party or who dined this fall at El Tarasco, the Mexican restaurant in St. Matthews that has donated 15 percent of sales to supporters of Crescent Hill’s Guatemala partnership to the partnership.

-Perry

2018 Guatemala visits

Mutual visits have been a critical part of Crescent Hill’s decade-old partnership with Guatemala’s Q’eqchi’ Estoreño Izabal Presbytery.  Visiting each other has helped us sustain personal relationships, engage in shared prayer and Bible study, and learn about each other’s language and culture and faith.  At a gathering of Crescent Hill’s Guatemala Connection this past Saturday, it became clear that as many as four visits between Guatemala and Kentuckiana may pepper 2018:

-Sandi Thomson-Royer and Brian Thomson-Royer, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) mission co-workers who work with women’s groups and on domestic violence issues, will visit from Guatemala on the Souper Bowl of Caring/congregational meeting Sunday (February 4).

-For the second year in a row, a group from CHPC will travel to Guatemala to participate in the annual gathering of Estoreño Presbytery’s Presbyterian Women’s organization. Last year Soni Castleberry and Megan McCarty went, and so ask either of them about this experience.

-In early August a second, hopefully intergenerational CHPC group will visit Guatemala, perhaps for more traditional church visits and workshops.  Perhaps a visit to Coban, the cultural capital of Q’eqchi’ Guatemala, will be included.

-A couple of dozen North Americans involved in similar Presbyterian Guatemalan-U.S. partnerships, along with a few Guatemalans, will visit Kentuckiana during the week of Labor Day (September 5-8) for a PC(USA) Guatemala Mission Network gathering at our own Cedar Ridge Camp.  Mary Love and Soni are helping plan this gathering, along with our friend Ellen Dozier, and so you might ask them about this opportunity.

Join other CHPC folks as part of one or more of these visits.  All of them will require prayer and volunteering and financial investments, including from the congregation, and so listen sharp for opportunities to participate directly in the visits or to be involved in other ways. 

For more information on the Guatemala partnership, Google “Guatemala Crescent Hill” to check out the partnership blog.

-Perry

January 20 gathering notes

Thompson-Royers will be here on February 4^th – Mission Co-Worker Coffee during Sunday School hour – we’ll each bring something for the coffee – Mary will get with them before Sunday to make sure she can run their presentation on Sunday – Brian will either do a M4M or be liturgist – they’ll arrive Wed. 1/31 – Paul Seebeck will pick them up at airport – they’ll be staying with Soni – Thursday & Friday are full days – Soni has offered to have a gathering on Saturday for their local friends – we could join in if we’d like – they are leaving on Monday the 5^th – Soni will take them to the airport

Possible April or August visit to Guatemala – women’s group meeting may be in April – Elisa and Carrie possible folks to go in April – early August might be Elisa, Doug, maybe Molly or one of the youth – to publicize August (and April) trip, maybe have an informational F4T in late February – perhaps need to ask Outreach and Session to OK these trips – would have to cover a lot of the expenses, especially for Elisa – what energy do we have for fundraising for these events? – we have close to $3,000 on hand right now (carryover) – we’re asking Outreach for $3,000 ($1,500 for the presbytery, $1,000 for trips is probably what we’ll get) – we’ll need to do some fundraising this year – St. William has a fundraiser once a month: selling quart-sized containers of soup – they make several hundred $s a month doing that during the winter months – have the soup in the narthex to sell to folks after soup – maybe sell it for $10/qt – maybe do it once a month – Soni to write up a proposal for Session – 2^nd Sunday Soup! Feb 11^th –sell each quart for $20 – selling two soups: a vegetarian and a meat base – after a few months, progress to more soups and a contest!

Soni to write a proposal to Session to ask permission for selling Second Sunday Soup in the narthex – would like a label for each soup with name of soup and a note about the partnership (please pray for…) – Perry will start a flyer about the Second Sunday Soup Sale, reserve HH for last Sunday in February for info re: possible August visit (and fundraiser?)

Raul calling us has raised a red flag for Doug – not sure if he has an ulterior motive – so we need to be careful – if the August visit by us falls through, might we ask the presbytery if they want to send a couple of folks up for the September Network meeting at Cedar Ridge – some of the Network folks are hesitant to have Guatemalans at this meeting –

Phone call w/Raul: dates for the women’s meeting – beginning the process for sending their $1,500 (through IEPN) – Matilda’s baby update – possible dates for our August trip (3^th-10^th/11^th) – he was on the bus, so he was a little hesitant to talk freely – he just got out of the Presbytery Council Meeting – Raul (President), Martin Martin elder at Monte Sinai (Vice Pres), Fidel Juc pastor at Peniel (Treasurer) – gave him the dates of our possible August meeting – and let him know that we are starting the process of sending the money – they’ve had 16 baptisms in the river (pictures on Facebook recently) – need to make sure we get the April women’s group dates

We think it’s a good idea to call different folks but also recognize Raul’s new position

Doug’s feeling the need to have some sort of “theme” for the August trip so that we and they can better understand what we’re all about – we may want to do a M4M the week before the 25^th – after church on the 25^th we want to have our soup and signup for the August trip

For our February meeting (2/10) we’ll meet at 12:30 and start making soup while we’re talking – Doug will get the ingredients, Mary will buy the quart containers – we’ll set meeting time that day for 12:30-3:00 (Mary will be at MKP meeting in Springfield)

Thompson-Royers will be here on February 4^th – Mission Co-Worker Coffee during Sunday School hour – we’ll each bring something for the coffee – Mary will get with them before Sunday to make sure she can run their presentation on Sunday – Brian will either do a M4M or be liturgist – they’ll arrive Wed. 1/31 – Paul Seebeck will pick them up at airport – they’ll be staying with Soni – Thursday & Friday are full days – Soni has offered to have a gathering on Saturday for their local friends – we could join in if we’d like – they are leaving on Monday the 5^th – Soni will take them to the airport

Possible April or August visit to Guatemala – women’s group meeting may be in April – Elisa and Carrie possible folks to go in April – early August might be Elisa, Doug, maybe Molly or one of the youth – to publicize August (and April) trip, maybe have an informational F4T in late February – perhaps need to ask Outreach and Session to OK these trips – would have to cover a lot of the expenses, especially for Elisa – what energy do we have for fundraising for these events? – we have close to $3,000 on hand right now (carryover) – we’re asking Outreach for $3,000 ($1,500 for the presbytery, $1,000 for trips is probably what we’ll get) – we’ll need to do some fundraising this year – St. William has a fundraiser once a month: selling quart-sized containers of soup – they make several hundred $s a month doing that during the winter months – have the soup in the narthex to sell to folks after soup – maybe sell it for $10/qt – maybe do it once a month – Soni to write up a proposal for Session – 2^nd Sunday Soup! Feb 11^th –sell each quart for $20 – selling two soups: a vegetarian and a meat base – after a few months, progress to more soups and a contest!

Soni to write a proposal to Session to ask permission for selling Second Sunday Soup in the narthex – would like a label for each soup with name of soup and a note about the partnership (please pray for…) – Perry will start a flyer about the Second Sunday Soup Sale, reserve HH for last Sunday in February for info re: possible August visit (and fundraiser?)

Raul calling us has raised a red flag for Doug – not sure if he has an ulterior motive – so we need to be careful – if the August visit by us falls through, might we ask the presbytery if they want to send a couple of folks up for the September Network meeting at Cedar Ridge – some of the Network folks are hesitant to have Guatemalans at this meeting –

Phone call w/Raul: dates for the women’s meeting – beginning the process for sending their $1,500 (through IEPN) – Matilda’s baby update – possible dates for our August trip (3^th-10^th/11^th) – he was on the bus, so he was a little hesitant to talk freely – he just got out of the Presbytery Council Meeting – Raul (President), Martin Martin elder at Monte Sinai (Vice Pres), Fidel Juc pastor at Peniel (Treasurer) – gave him the dates of our possible August meeting – and let him know that we are starting the process of sending the money – they’ve had 16 baptisms in the river (pictures on Facebook recently) – need to make sure we get the April women’s group dates

We think it’s a good idea to call different folks but also recognize Raul’s new position

Doug’s feeling the need to have some sort of “theme” for the August trip so that we and they can better understand what we’re all about – we may want to do a M4M the week before the 25^th – after church on the 25^th we want to have our soup and signup for the August trip

For our February meeting (2/10) we’ll meet at 12:30 and start making soup while we’re talking – Doug will get the ingredients, Mary will buy the quart containers – we’ll set meeting time that day for 12:30-3:00 (Mary will be at MKP meeting in Springfield)

-Mary