2026 Winter-Spring Hill Newsletter

​“I have one desire now—to live a life of reckless abandon for the Lord, putting all my energy into it.” ~Ed McCully, martyred missionary in Ecuador with Jim Elliot

​“Do all the good you can, to all the people you can, in all the ways you can, and as long as ever you can.” ~D.L. Moody

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April 2026
Dear Partners and Co-workers in God’s field, 
Once the Sidewalk Thanksgiving happens—our annual Thanksgiving meal on Thanksgiving Day for those who don’t get one—it starts getting cold. But we don’t let that stop us. And this winter, for sure, was more than cold. Frigid temps started in December and reached through the middle of March, but we were able—thanks to many brave volunteers—to continue our outdoor ministries and outreach each week. Maxine has, also, been able to keep up the weekly Kids Read Out Loud by partnering with the local Hill Library and field trips to Yale events and the Peabody Museum. The kids still Read Out Loud and even had a time of prayer in those public venues. Pretty cool.
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The Sidewalk Thanksgiving saw over 30 folks and families show up and enjoy a Thanksgiving meal. Our annual Hill Christmas Store—made possible by our anchor church, CPC New Haven, the Beacon Bikers, the Trinity Baptist Church Ladies, and a number of individuals who donated funds for store-bought new items for Christmas presents for children—easily served about 40 individuals, single moms, and families this year. The annual Kids Christmas Eve (yep, outside on Christmas Eve) saw about 25 kids come to enjoy some festive food, candy, and presents. Our annual Sidewalk Christmas (complete with breakfast, small stockings—thanks to my mom—and lots of hats and gloves (some even hand knitted) and the annual Sidewalk New Years was much appreciated by our local homeless and neighbors near our Hill apartment. A coats and winter apparel give away (at a mid-January Sidewalk Breakfast) saw a dozen big boxes (supplied by Brookfield First), emptying out within two hours and a half dozen over at Maxine’s. All these winter ministries could not have happened without supporters, volunteers, and partner churches—thank you!
I can have the call and the joyful burden, but I must trust that God will raise up those who will give of their resources so that CPC in The Hill can do the work of the Gospel and so we can live here in the Hill.

Yesterday at our weekly Wednesday Coffee & Conversations, I had a conversation with one of our regular guys; the topic was the local homeless, drug use, and new local police intervention policies. After explaining the new steps the police are taking with the homeless they engage that are high or in possession, we talked of the struggle between knowing they need help, actually wanting help, and then not going to get help. 

Joe: “Others just can’t imagine the struggle—they know they have to get help, but they just can’t do it. It’s so hard. They [the City, the police, anyone really] just can’t imagine the struggle unless they’ve had a drug habit.”
Me: “I cannot imagine. I have never had a drug habit. In fact, I have never done any hard drugs. I hardly even ever drink. But I do know something about our brains. For sure, I am not an expert in neurology or anything, but I have been studying addiction a lot since we started ministering here in the Hill. One thing I have read is that unless one changes the way their brain works, it’s almost impossible to stop any addiction to drugs.”
Joe: “Hmmm. I didn’t know that. But it sounds right based on my experience.”
Me: “Did you know that what we do here—at these Coffee & Conversations times and at the Saturday Sidewalk Church & Breakfast—actually creates space for that change in the brain? What we do—the interactions and talking, the church service and God’s Word being preached, all the people showing love by serving, and even the hugging all help to change their brains. For the positive. Giving them a chance for change—in their brains. That’s one reason we do these every week—no matter the weather.”
Joe: “I can tell you, personally, it does help.”

This is what CPC in The Hill does. Two times a week. Week after week. No matter the weather. Even with single digit temps, many times at -0°. Through your support and partnership, you help to make all this happen--weekly.
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Shopping as ministry: No one at Bible College or Seminary tells you there will be lots of shopping in church ministry, especially with a church like ours . . . continue with whole Newsletter

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