July gathering notes

Reaching out to the congregation and listening to a fallen comrade were key activities at Crescent Hill church’s July gathering, on Saturday, July 13.  The group heard that up to $1,300 was raised at the late June yard sale, that was part of a Frankfort Avenue-wide sale.  The group also opted to at least postpone the Guatemala night with scrapbooking party and Guatemalan supper that was originally slated for Friday, August 2, partly because a scheduling conflict with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Big Tent that weekend (which will take Gayle Trautwein, among many others).  There was a little discussion about whether to go ahead this activity.  Definitely planned was participation in the fund-raising parking, following Anamchara, on Saturday, August 10.  Crescent Hill shifts are 4-6 p.m., 6-8 p.m., and 8-10 p.m.  Perry and others agreed to cast a wider net for volunteers, including young people.  The group had luck trying to connect with Guatemalan friends by Facebook video.  A phone call to Pastor Gerardo revealed that the Arca de Noe church was in the midst of changing pastors, and Gerardo would be able to stay in house after October only if he could pay rent.  With Rene, Gerardo – and back in the United States – Carlos in different roles/with different capacities now, the group may need to modify its strategies.  A possible late July or early August call to Pastor Raul Contreras, who leads the Estoreño Presbytery’s International Relations Committee, seems in order.  Gerardo had asked a few people over to talk with Crescent Hill folks Saturday, but by the time the call was over only one more person had arrived.  Continuing to support (not financial) Rene and Gerardo, however, may also be in order.   Contacting Roberto, the presbytery treasurer, may also be important, because Rene and Gerardo were the only two Crescent Hill knows were told about the latest church financial donation to the presbytery.  The Guatemala night was also up in the air because key organizers are needed and Soni will be unavailable for a number of weeks.  Other ways to connect with the congregation discussed were profiling individuals Guatemalans who are part of the presbytery in the church newsletter and inviting some presbytery reps back to visit around spring break (March 29 through April 6) or Derby week (April 26 through May 4).  (Previously discussed were possibly making Guatemalan theological education a focus of the official PC(USA) Theological Education Sunday September 18, and sending/giving Guatemalan note cards and bookmarks welcoming new members and inviting them to an event such as the Guatemala Night, and including in a Guatemala night a Facebook video chat with Guatemalan friends and/or testimonials/updates about the partnership.)  The group planned a meeting for Saturday, September 7, and the Yeager family’s home.  But an e-mail message from Peter came later that reopened the question about when to meet and also confirmed some broad questions about the partnership, possibly overlapping with questions that the news from El Estor was already raising.

 -Perry