September prayers

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

-On Sunday, September 1, and during the week thereafter: Acacar church, Pastor Mariano Cuz, and members, deacons, and elders.

-On Sunday, September 8, and during the week thereafter: Estoreño Presbytery Executive Committee, President Benjamin Sacul, and other officers.

-On Sunday, September 15, and during the week thereafter: Estoreño Presbytery Presbyterian Women organization, President Carmen Quib Caal, and other officers.

-On Sunday, September 22, and during the week thereafter: Estoreño Presbytery youth and young adult organization, President Ramiro Quib, and other officers.

-On Sunday, September 29, and during the week thereafter: Luisa, the Guatemala Presbyterian church Presbyterian women organization’s organizer in Estoreño Presbytery and her peers across the country.

St. Joe's parking

We had a good group of people helping park cars during the post-Anamchara “second shift” today (during the St. Joseph's Orphans Picnic) and we made almost $900 for Guatemala mission.  Thanks to Amy, Janine, Lowell, Soni, Luiz, Marianne, Wally, Peter, Andrea, Andrew, and Stephanie for helping out!

-Perry

Under the Tent

Friday afternoon at the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Big Tent Conference, Moderator Neal Presa and Presbyterian Mission Agency Executive Director Linda Valentine helped commission a couple of dozen PC(USA) mission co-workers in new calls, including Crescent Hill's own Jeff and Christi Boyd (headed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Francophone Africa) and another mission worker Crescent Hill has partnered with (in Guatemala!): Amanda Craft (who's headed with husband and their two kids to Mexico or Texas, where she and husband Omar will serve as Regional Liaisons for Mexico and Guatemala.  Also commissioned were Richard and Debby Welch, out of Inland Northwest Presbytery in Washington state, who will be headed in November for Guatemala.  There they will improve their Spanish and then work with indigenous Presbyterians.

In other Big Tent news, the World Mission conference part of Big Tent will feature a workshop led by "Toxic Charity" author Robert Lupton will speak on "Toxic Charity:  How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help (and How to Reverse It)" between 10:00 and 11:30 a.m. Friday in the Galt House's Chandler Room.

- Perry

Planning pictures

Planning for fall English classes

A joint English language learners education ministry planning team included a wider array of people at a late July gathering, including new Center staff, communications experts, a student, and a Second Presbyterian Church representative who doubled as a possible Covenant Community representative.  Among the key decisions were a shift back to 1741 Frankfort Avenue as the site, possible addition of Chelsea Guenther Benham as a co-site coordinator, and adoption of a 10-week fall term (from September 8 through November 14).  Still on the agenda for a 6:00 p.m. Monday, August 12 gathering:  child care, food coordination, curriculum, and publicity.  A publicity committee will also meet at 6:00 p.m. next Tuesday, August 6.

-Perry

August prayers

On Sunday, August 4, and the week thereafter:  Monte Sinai church in the village of San Carlos El Pouvenir outside of Puerto Barrios, Pastor Santos Teyul Mucu and family, and elders, deacons, and members

- On Sunday, August 11, and the week thereafter:  Hijo del Dios Viviente church in the village of La Guitarra, Pastor Fidel Juc and family, and members, deacons, and elders

- On Sunday, August 18, 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, August 25, and during the week thereafter:  Panzos church, Pastor Oscar Tzul, and members, deacons, and elders

- On Sunday, September 1, and during the week thereafter:  Acacar church, Pastor Mariano Cuz, and members, deacons, and elders

Newcomers/old-timers

Richard and Debby Welch, long-time Amigos de K'ekchi' and Guatemala Mission Network activists, out of the Spokane area, whose Inland Northwest Presbytery has maintained a partnership with the Q'eqchi' Polochic Presbytery, just west of Lake Izabal, worshiped at Crescent Hill Sunday.  Hours after dining at Peter, Maria, and Luiz's home (Saturday night), the Welches confirmed that they are headed later this year to Guatemala, where they will more or less replace Roger and Gloria Marriott, working with Q'eqchi' Presbyterians, partly with theological education and record-keeping (anyone say "Walton"?).  The two were in Louisville for training and then commissioning at Big Tent.

-Perry