Pentecost Sunday May 19

Come and feel the wind of God’s Spirit among us as we celebrate the birthday of the church on Pentecost Sunday, May 19. You are invited to wear something red, as we remember the “tongues of fire” that marked the coming of the Holy Spirit to Jesus’ followers in Acts 2. Please bring a contribution (or give online) to the Pentecost Offering, which benefits ministries for children, youth, and young adults.

In the worship service, we will celebrate the diverse groups that enrich our community as they share space with us at CHPC: Alcoholics Anonymous, Bunbury Theatre, Chair Yoga, Garden Camp/Sustainable Agriculture of Louisville, Guns to Gardens, Spirit of Sophia. If you play a musical instrument, you are invited to bring it to help us make a joyful noise (let’s revive the drum circle!). Plan to stay after worship for a Pentecost Potluck lunch in Henry Young Hall and fun activities for all ages.

Please bring a generous dish to share. Grilled burgers, hot dogs, and veggie burgers will be provided. We will also be collecting donations for United Crescent Hill Ministries, so please bring diapers and nonperishable food items.

Your Gifts to the Pentecost Offering

What would it be like to grow up in a war-torn area of the Middle East that is occupied by a foreign power? Jesus' followers knew something about this. So do Palestinian children.

Crescent Hill folks will have an opportunity this Sunday to invest in a school that educates and ministers with Palestinian children growing up in the shadow of war and occupation in the Palestinian West Bank. This school is the House of Hope Vision School, https://houseofhope.vision/ which works with children who have experienced trauma and emphasizes the arts.

Longtime CHPC participants David and Polly Johnson were active supporters of the school.

You will invest in the school when you contribute to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Pentecost Offering. A portion of the offering receipts go to a ministry with children and youth of the congregation's choice. The CHPC Session has designated the House of Hope school as the recipient of our 40 percent.

The rest of the funds we receive will go to the PC(USA) to fund the Presbyterian Youth Triennium, the Young Adult Volunteer program, and other projects.

To donate to the Pentecost Offering (in addition to your regular CHPC offering), write "Pentecost Offering" on the memo line of a separate check or place money in a Pentecost Offering envelope. Place your check or envelope in the offering plate. Or donate via the CHPC website, https://secure.myvanco.com/YPF7/home, clicking on Pentecost Offering as the recipient.

Celebrating Our Graduates

We are proud of our high school and college graduates! If you have information or know of others who are graduating, please contact the church office. Here is the list of 2024 graduates we know about so far: Eli Bartlett-Turner (from Atherton High School; planning to attend the University of Edinburgh), Simon BartlettTurner (from the University of Kentucky), Tess Wallace (from Morehead State University nursing program), Mara Wallace (will graduate in December from Morehead State University nursing program), and Madeline Wilding (will graduate in December from University of Louisville School of Nursing).

Youth News

The high school youth group enjoyed time in Cherokee Park at the end of April to connect, share highlights and lowlights, and catch up after busy spring activities. Our next and last youth group for the school year will be celebrating together on Saturday, May 25. We'll dine out together at a pizza place and perhaps walk some of Bardstown Road. Contact Rebecca, Chris, or Luiz for details.

Guns to Gardens, June 9

The prophet Isaiah offers a vision of a peaceful world in which weapons of destruction are transformed into gardening tools. Guns to Gardens Louisville, an organization birthed at Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church, is taking another small step toward bringing Isaiah’s vision to reality by offering our fourth gun safe-surrender event.

The next Guns to Gardens event will be on Sunday, June 9, from 2 to 4 p.m., at Church of the Promise/The Table, 1800 Portland Ave., in the Falls Art Foundry parking lot across the street. This is an opportunity for anyone with unwanted guns to dispose of them safely and anonymously, with the assurance that the weapons will not be resold or used in acts of violence. Our first three events brought in a total of more than 50 guns to be cut into pieces with chop saws. The pieces are being forged into tools, art, and jewelry by local blacksmith Craig Kaviar.

If you have guns that you no longer want or need, or if you know someone who does, please bring them and help us “turn swords into plowshares” on June 9. Help us spread the word about this opportunity! For more information about Guns to Gardens, contact Eva Stimson or Soni Castleberry.

Summer Camps Start Next Month!

Do you have a child or grandchild going to any overnight camps this summer? Would you like the opportunity to have them receive cards or letters of encouragement and support from the people of Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church while they are away at camp? If so, please let the church office know your child's name, dates they will be at camp, and camp address or email address to send the cards/letters to. This information will be distributed in the announcements section of Sunday's bulletin.  

Garden Camp This Summer

Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church and Sustainable Agriculture of Louisville will sponsor a Garden Camp June 10–14 (overflow week June 3–7). The camp is open to children, ages 7 and older. Experienced children, ages 13 and older, may come as assistant counselors. The cost is $170 per camper per week. Fee includes lunch, snacks, pool fees, and all gardening and art supplies. Scholarships are provided on a sliding scale, as needed.

Garden Camp includes gardening work of all kinds, harvesting, food processing (grinding corn), cooking, canning (hot salsa), baking (raspberry pie, cornbread), storytelling, teamwork, cleaning, hiking, and swimming.

June 2024 will be the 19th year of Garden Camps. Support is needed to help cover the costs for low-income children, who usually make up 40 percent of the campers. For more information about registering and/or supporting Garden Camp, email Stephen Bartlett at estebanbartlett@gmail.com or call or text him at 502-415-1080. Or visit the SAL website.

In addition, Thursdays from 5-7 p.m., there will be gardening sessions happening at the garden for sharing labor, veggies, and knowledge (weather and schedule permitting). Please RSVP by text at 502-415-1080 ahead of time.