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Christ Presbyterian Church in The Hill Monthly Updates & Videos
Chip & Lisa's Hill video >> Click here
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January 2020 was Most Definitely the Month of CPC in The Hill Ladies––January, right in the midst of Winter cold, we saw our CPC in The Hill Ladies in action. Besides their usual Wednesday evening Bible Study and Prayer time, they were very missional as well. The ladies reached out to a friend who was homeless and showed the Love of Jesus. First, in praying for her. Yet also in helping make the transition into a nearby apartment. On one Wednesday evening, instead of meeting at their regular site (our worship site @ 158 Davenport Ave), they moved the Ladies Weekly Bible Study & Prayer time into her apartment. They all brought house-warming gifts. The lamp here was one of the gifts. Maxine, the Bible Study leader and our CPC in The Hill Office Administrator (on the left) and the host (on the right). She’s been to church service since and plans on coming more often. Ministry in the Hill is direct and personal and could not happen without our financial partners. Your support puts the gospel on display and sometimes in someone’s new living room after being homeless. The Ladies also helped Lisa set up and minister the Sidewalk Breakfast on the January Saturday I had to be at Presbytery. These ladies know how to make things happen. | ||
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A Quilt Made by Our Kids in the Summer Presented by Our Kids for a Needy Family for the Winter––Last summer, during our Soccer & Art Camp, the kids fashioned a quilt. The theme of the camp was G.R.A.C.E., God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense, was woven into the quilt squares. After it was presented at Camp closing, the intention of the kids and camp counselors was to give the quilt to someone in need that could use a blanket. The decision was made to donate the quilt to Christian Community Action (from whom we rent our worship space), who could identify one of their shelter families that would have need of such a blanket for the winter months. On the Sunday before Christmas our CPC in The Hill kids, along with their Arts Camp coordinator (Barb Battista, from our CPC anchor church), presented the quilt to Rev. Grubbs, the Executive Director of Christian Community Action (CCA). The next week she informed us that the quilt had been given to a Grandmother with grand-babies she was caring for at one of the CCA shelters. Our financial partners make it possible to have camp and have church moments like these. |
| December 2019 Update from the Hill |
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Our First Sidewalk Thanksgiving on Carlisle Street––What an incredible experience. On Thanksgiving Day, Lisa and I served a Thanksgiving meal to our neighbors out front of our apartment, similar to our Saturday morning breakfasts. We planned for 20 people and prepared for at least 30 meals (so folks could take food home to family). We easily had 20 and many took food home. My wife did all the cooking--a wonderful co-partner in ministry! Two turkeys. And, dressing and cranberry sauce. Green beans. My wife’s famous string bean casserole. Mashed potatoes. Cider. And, of course, Pumpkin and apple pie. We were up at 5am to prepare and be ready to serve at 11am. A local soul food restaurant (Mama Mary’s) gave us a pan of Yams. Our own Maxine Harris made some Mac ‘n Cheese. It was cold and quite windy, very gusty, so we had to improvise some. Yet, people came. Neighbors. Some who passerby. A few homeless folk. They saw the love of Christ right there on Carlisle Street. Your support ensures that we have the personal resources (this wasn’t in our church budget), so Lisa and I can do these meals for our neighbors—and love on our neighbors
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Total Christ Class, Our First Step in Leadership Training–– Our congregation needs to create a pathway to church leadership. One of these is a course called Total Christ: Our Church Spirituality and Church Leadership. Sixteen people showed up for the first class (amazing—and I was so humbled and honored they did). For those that attend all the sessions, there is a course certificate. Plus, from this group, we will begin a Hill Servant Leadership Board to help learn, further, how to own the events and activities of our church. They don’t take this course to become leaders; they take the course because they are leaders. | ||
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Special Update: Our Saturday Sidewalk Breakfast Outside Our Hill Apartment
As the summer rolled on, Lisa and I prayed about starting a breakfast outside our Hill apartment. We felt we needed a follow up activity from the summer contacts (our apartment is next to the Park where we do the BBQ). We also needed to do something regularly for our neighbors. So, we started a weekly Saturday breakfast. We’ll have this no matter the weather each week as long as one of us (Lisa or myself) is at home on a Saturday. We provide fruit, orange juice, hot oatmeal, breakfast bars, and coffee. Every so often we serve special items. We have had fried fish and grits. This coming Saturday, we’ll pull the grill (which is actually a griddle) up and make French Toast. We served turkey bacon last week. We might try scrambled eggs on the griddle sometime. And, we’ve started having yogurt on the table as well. For full post >>> Saturday Sidewalk Breakfast |
| Saturday Sidewalk Breakfast Outside our Hill Apartment |
“Jesus challenged the powers that ruled the world by deeds of justice and mercy. These were not marginal but central to his ministry” (Michael W. Goheen).
| 2019 September Update from the Hill (my gratitude) |
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Our First Pre-Camp Training & Community Worship Service––Our CPC 2019 Impact Week started with our first annual Pre-Camp Training and Community Worship in the Hill here on Davenport Ave. Our own Rick Varrone and his son’s family’s band provided some worship. The evening revolved around the theme, “What Does Mercy Look Like in the Hill?” Pastor Craig, from our anchor church, kicked off the teaching time with an expositionof Ephesians 4. Afterward I had two teaching sessions: 1) Matthew 9:13, “Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice’” and the issue of clean vs. unclean; and, 2) The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:37), “He said, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘You go, and do likewise’” and the concept of “strong and weak ties.” We concluded with a brief training for volunteers—how to express mercy to our Sports & Arts campers. Over 45 adults and teenagers attended. It was an incredible evening. We intend to build on this with next year’s Impact Week with our 2ndannual Pre-Camp Worship, Bible Teaching, and Training.
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CPC Spiritual Leadership Conference--In February 14 people from CPC in The Hill attended our SoCT CPC Introduction to Spiritual Leadership Conference(ISLC). A Certificate of Attendance was given to our participants to celebrate our church’s first step in building church leadership. We intend to facilitate our own CPC in The Hill ISLC here in the Hill. The goal is to develop a track for leadership, teachers, and eventually elders from the Hill for our church. We will have this 2-day conference in the Spring of 2020 (which will be included in our FY20 budget @ approx. $1,200 for a 2-day event). | ||
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Annual New Year’s Eve Watch Service––Our 2018 New Year’s Eve Watch Service was well attended. This service has become a good, annual tradition for us—and we are at capacity on the stage (i.e., the platform). One more person and we’d have to start sitting people on the floor. If the pattern keeps up, we will begin to see the floor around the stage begin to fill next year. We meet and begin at 10:30pm. After our trademark sticky-note confessions (see the cross to the left where we stick our confessions in red), we eat together in the adjacent room. Then, we re-gather in the sanctuary and read a Word (this year, John 14:1-6) and discuss it together—freestyle and open. After listening to the King’s word, we lifted up our sticky-note prayer requests to God (i.e., stick them—the blue ones—to the cross). Just before midnight and the start of the New Year, we approach the King’s table, break bread to affirm we are one-in-Christ and lift a cup to celebrate our ascended King who sits at the right hand of the Father. We envision this NYE Watch Service will be a significant event each year for the Hill–your support helps ensure this will happen.
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2018 Hill Christmas Store, Loving on Our Neighbors, Partnering with our Sister CPC––Our 2018 Hill Christmas Store was grand as ever. We saw 100+ more gift donations for this year’s event (typically 160ish; this year 274+). Our Beacon Biker friends donated to the day’s event (THANK YOU!). The partnership with our CPC New Haven anchor church, again, proved special and affirming to us. Our CPC in The Hill young ladies worked the whole set up, served our customers (wrapping and wrapping), and stayed for cleanup. This store is a great example of what church family means and for empowering our Hill neighbors. We plan on expanding this event in the future, so stay tuned, we might need your help and partnership!
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Sometimes God’s answer to prayer is a man named Buster––You have heard or read my prayers that God would send us men for CPC in The Hill. Who would have thought that Buster would be one of the answers? Last June, at the Soccer Camp celebration BBQ, who steps out of a car? Buster. I hadn’t seen him in nearly two years. Buster was one of our CPC in The Hill regulars when I first arrived, but had disappeared. Yet, here he was. His first words: “Pastor Chip, you’re still here!” I was glad he showed up—and he was glad I was still the pastor! Buster is basically deaf, needing a hearing aid just to hear a little. Having a conversation with him, you can tell he had learned to talk as someone who cannot hear. He wouldn’t mind me telling you, he also had a drug problem and a pretty messed up life. Yet, here he was and he said he was staying. We certainly don’t have a dress-code at CPC in The Hill, but Buster, with the little he has, bought a new suit—not to impress—but to make a statement: I’m serious about church. His exact words. Buster and I meet together a lot. He is the one constant man at our McDonald’s Men’s Breakfast time. He shows up at almost every event to help. And, he has a bad leg that makes it hard to walk. Buster is most definitely an answer to my prayer for more men at CPC in The Hill. Pray for Buster, that he grows in grace and knowledge of Christ.
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| 2018 October/November Monthly Newsletter |
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“You stepped right back up, even with tears in your eyes. Our Hill kids needed to see that”––This doesn’t look like a fair picture—for the young boy nor for developing support for our CPC in The Hill ministry. But it most certainly is! (FYI: I did ask permission). What you need to know, this was very much a God-moment at our last Summer Park BBQ. On his first try, the board didn’t break, which brought the tears (and embarrassment) in front of a crowd of (easily) 150. Then the cheering started: “Noah! Noah! Noah! Noah!” And then it happened. His composure still unraveled, this young boy, filled with shame and tears stepped back up there. This time the board broke. This was so important for our kids: our young people saw a lesson in stepping back up after failure (public failure) and trying again. They were encouraged that they, too, can step back up, with God’s help and a community (a church!) shouting their name, and try again. This was gospel to those whose address, too often, determines destiny. Later, embracing him, I told Noah, “You stepped right back up there, even with tears in your eyes. Our Hill kids needed to see that. God used you. Sorry he hurt and embarrassed you. But he used you in the life of all these kids.” My friends, your partnership with us enables us to see God-moments just like these.
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| 2018 September Monthly Newsletter from the Hill |
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2018 “In His Midst” Park BBQ Ministry––Eight Wednesday evenings in the park are in the can for 2018. What an adventure this summer has been. I must first thank those who donated to my GoFundMe Park BBQ campaign—you all ensured we had the resources for our signature ministry. We set up around 5:00pm each Wednesday. About 10 minutes before the food is ready I call everyone over (Hey, good people, the hot dogs and hamburgers are ready—come on over!). Between 30 to 40, with a few evenings of 50+, gather to hear the Word before we pray and eat. If anyone is homeless at this hour (and we do have homeless among us), that means they don’t have a bed for the evening (and we might very well be in their bedroom!). We served an average of 85 people each evening; a few at 90+ and our last evening, 140+ for sure. The last night we also handed out backpacks with some school supplies. We are grateful to the Beacon Bikers who donated 100+ backpacks for the kids. We need some rest, but we can’t wait for the 2019 Summer Park BBQ to start next July. I will be raising funds for this particular ministry in April 2019—stay tuned! We will need your help again. [My 2018 BBQ Park Line Selfies in review >> https://tinyurl.com/y82r3t7v]
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| 2018 August News Update from the Hill |
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The Future Begins Now and You Can be a Part of It––Each Sunday, we see several young people at worship. Some come with Maxine and Nigeria. Some come without their parents. Some are dropped off by their parents–and their parents go off to their own church, but the kids want to be here at CPC in The Hill. Amazing. On an average morning, we will see 8 kids (preK-8) and a few teens. Many Sundays we can see a dozen and on some, as many as 24. The young man with John sitting at the laptop (L&R) wants to be a pastor, so he asks to help with the service PowerPoint. He reads, sings, and turns the song slides. The young man in the middle was willing to step up to read the Old Testament reading for that service. He did a great job. This is where it starts! Right there at that laptop. Our church’s future leadership. The future leadership and role models in the Hill. And, future leadership in the Prebyterian Church in America. Minority leadership and leadership from our social margins starts right here. We need to think long—strategic, patient, supporting—loving on these kids. And, we need your support to ensure we don’t lose these kids as they move into the teen years.
| 2018 July News Update from the Hill |
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Our Young People @ CPC in The Hill Make It All Worth It––On each Sunday, young people come to 158, our place of worship, and provide such joy for us. On the left, these ladies help set up the Coffee+ table you see behind them. They are not alone—many of the kids help out each Sunday. The young man below enjoys hanging with me on Sundays because he wants to be a pastor someday. I can’t tell you how privileged I am to be their pastor. When I hear from across the street or at a store, “Hey, Pastor Chip!” I am filled with both humility and pride (the good kind). Many of you have heard my plea for a youth minister for CPC in The Hill. These kids will hit their teens (all too soon) and be pulled in many directions and into paths that will lead away from Christ and His Church. It is for this reason we need someone to focus on our teens; for some day, these kids will be teenagers. Please continue to support us in prayer and giving—and soon we will see this request come to fruition.
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| 2018 June News Update from the Hill |
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Your Support Enables Me and CPC in The Hill to Impact Hill High Schoolers––I have the privilege and opportunity to hang out at a local Hill alternative High School. For many at this school, it is their last chance to finish high school. I spend most every Thursday mornings, 9:30am-noon at Riverside Educational Academy. Mostly I talk to teachers and students as I walk the halls, sometimes I have spoken at their monthly Town Hall (student) meetings, and spend plenty of time visioning with their principal, Larry Conaway (one of the best men I know personally). Some of the students already know me (“Hey, Pastor Chip”). Since there are lack of funds to offer summer school this July, on Thursdays this July, I will do some teaching and tutoring (probably in writing and customer service skills—certainly not math!). Your support and partnership enables me to do this, for if I had to work other jobs to stay in part time ministry, I would not be able to extend our ministry into this local school. Next year, I will be assigned a handful of students to mentor, tutor, and teach on Thursdays. Please consider supporting us or continue partnering with us so I can take advantage of these community opportunities. I cannot do this without you.
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| 2018 May Monthly News Update from the Hill |
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CPC in The Hill ladies at the Women of Virtue Conference––Each year our ladies attend a local women’s conference. The group has grown from a handful to now almost every CPC in The Hill lady plus some friends and other family members. Southern New England is a spiritually dry place, so there isn’t much for special group church-centered events. And, even fewer ones we can afford. So, we are thankful for this free Bridgeport area women’s conference. We pay for some gas money and lunch is on us. We are thankful for our supporters who make even free events manageable for us. The ladies come back encouraged and strengthened in their faith—and so thankful for a CPC in The Hill ladies’ adventure. Our hope is to start our own “Hill” church conference in the near future. |
| 2018 April Update from the Hill |
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Brother John shines at urban ministry conference––Each year we have had the privilege of joining other New Englanders at a workshop on urban ministry sponsored by the Luis Palau Association and Vision New England, the New England City Forum. Brother John, one of our leaders and music director, has joined each of these one day collaboratives. He brings insight and some reality to the discussion, for John is one, if not the only one in the whole group, from the very population we are seeking to serve and reach with the gospel. This year John led some of the discussion and encouraged us never to give up, because what we all are doing is vital to our neighbors “in the hood” (pictured to the left). |
| 2018 March Update from the Hill |
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| 2018 February Monthly Update from the Hill |
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New Year’s Eve Watch Service — CPC in The Hill ends each year and begins the New with a Watch Service stretched between 10pm and 1am. One of the traditions we started at my first Hill Watch Service is to use our time of confession to write on sticky notes the sins, issues, and things God has been dealing with throughout the year—asking forgiveness and believing God assuredly forgives. The sticky-notes are then walked up to a small wooden cross set nearby and posted on the cross, symbolizing that God’s good grace in Jesus’ death covers all our sins and heals our wounds, failings, and weaknesses. As the New Year rolled in, we again pray, thanking God for working in us and anticipating what God will do through us for our families and neighborhoods. This year about a dozen kids (yes, kids) joined us—they also wrote on sticky-notes (after a little extended explanation on sin and our confession) and were the first to go and stick their notes on the cross | ||
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Ordained! Can you believe it! — On September 16th, I successfully passed my floor exam and now hold ordination in the Presbyterian Church in America and will be installed as the pastor of CPC in The Hill on November 19th. If someone would have told me four years ago I’d be ordained (again) and serving as a pastor (anywhere), I’d think the person well-meaning, but delusional. Three years ago, I was called as the interim pastor of CPC in The Hill. There was a good match between my former pastoral experience and my recent career helping poor communities through various social action programs. Last year, I was asked to consider being the full-time pastor, but I’d have to seek ordination in the PCA. At 59 I was not contemplating such a rigorous process for ordination again (in 1988 I was ordained in the Christian & Missionary Alliance). I agreed. And, I studied and rememorized what I had memorized 30 years ago. And, then, memorized a lot more over the last six months. And, I passed! As one of our members said, “Pastor Chip’s ordination wasn’t just for him, it was for us and God’s favor is on CPC in The Hill.” [I will be installed during our service on November 19th @ 10am.] |
| October 2017 Monthly Update from CPC in The Hill |
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Summer of Love, Grilling, and Backpacks in the Park—We served an average of 75 people each evening at our Summer Park BBQ ministry we call “In His Midst.” At least four evenings that we served 85+ (topping at 90 a few times for sure). Even people from the community join us, serving at the tables and/or donating a dish for people to enjoy. Each evening started with a brief message and prayer. The messages started with Isaiah 61 and the question, “Who Wants God’s Favor?” The last two evening’s messages linked the good news of the gospel from John 3:16-17 to the importance and blessing of being a part of God’s new community, His church. The good news of the gospel also gives us the good news of the church. We made many new contacts—hoping some will join us. We renewed previous friendships. |
| September 2017 End of Year Newsletter from The Hill |
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Our 1st HS Grad College Ready—I picked up Ta’quann from his College orientation retreat—call it a pastoral opportunity. On the drive home I told him, “This going to college isn’t just about you. You need to focus and do well. Getting accepted into college isn’t just about you—it’s about all the kids back in the Hill following behind you. They’ll see you and realize, ‘If Ta’quann can do this, I can do this.’” He agreed. He is our first to get into college after graduating high school. This is a milestone, not only for Ta’quann and his mother, but for us as a church. In a ministry like ours in an under-resourced community like the Hill, it is vitally important to connect our ministry to the lives of our families. Yes, Ta’quann had to get the grades—which he did and earned the New Haven Promise Scholarship! But it was a team effort: the church family taking a direct interest in Ta’quann’s success. Committed friends from our anchor church helped with professional college counseling (free of charge!), committing resources and time to college search and help with forms (and forms). They taught and counseled Ta’quann’s mother (Maxine) on how to calculate GPAs and and ask good parent questions. Some of us from CPC in the Hill helped with college visits and assisted Ta’quann staying on top of the countless forms, due dates, and items needed by the college. We are for this young man as he heads to Eastern Connecticut State University for this Fall semester. |
| Aug 2017 Monthly Newsletter from The Hill |
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A Kingdom Moment at Our 2017 Sports & Arts Camp—This young lady was one of our teen counselors at our 2017 Sports & Arts Camp in The Hill. This was that moment, well a shot, a pic of that kingdom moment, seeing one of our anchor church teens loving on one of our Hill kids. When Pastor Graham (the Senior Pastor of our anchor church, CPC New Haven located at 135 Whitney Ave) asked what God moments, what kingdom moments did you see during Impact Week, I thought of the number of times I saw our 135 teen counselors loving on our Hill kids—when a teen would take aside to console a hurt, crying, or sad child; when a teen would embrace a shy, stand-offish child who couldn't find their place in the crowd of other kids. These moments were the gospel to me. These were kingdom moments. And, I betcha the teens didn't even know; they were just doing what came natural. These teens, our 135 teen counselors, were the flesh of the gospel for these past five days of Sports & Arts Camp in the Hill. |
| CPC in The Hill July 2017 Monthly Update |
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“Homeboy” and “Preach,” Names of Honor for Me in The Hill--All in one quick moment: I was just handed two cards from one of our CPC in The Hill teens (who has been accepted to Eastern Connecticut State University) addressed “To My Homeboy,” when a lady on her bike peddled by the teen’s family’s porch--there’s that porch thing again—and shouted, “Hey, Preach!” I do not have words for how I felt right at that moment. I gladly, humbly receive and own these titles. I had never, ever been called someone’s “Homeboy.” Who’d have ever thunk it. The words inside on the cards--priceless. And, being called “Preach” was also such an honor. Being known as the neighborhood’s “Preach” is a good thing. May God open doors for people in the Hill to hear of God’s grace in Jesus—and join us at CPC in The Hill |
| CPC in The Hill June 2017 Monthly Update |
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An Easter Service in The Hill—Twenty-nine kids and seventeen adults joined us for our Easter Service on April 16th. We celebrated the Lord’s resurrection and learned more about how we are the proof of the resurrection in The Hill. I quoted in the sermon Matthew Hauerwas, who once wrote: “The problem is not belief in the resurrection, but whether we live lives that would make no sense if in fact Jesus has not been raised from the dead.” For sure, even with all the sermons about and on the resurrection of Jesus that went forth that Easter morning from pulpits around the Hill and, even, around the globe, we will not have exhausted the meaning and message of that mysterious, wonderful, and significant event. Yet, now all us churches, including CPC in The Hill, will have the next 51 weeks to "be" in such a way that proves the resurrection actually happened. It was a great Easter, with a full(er) house—and lots of kids. Now we seek to live it out in the Hill. |
| 2017 May Monthly CPC in The Hill Update |
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Our CPC in The Hill Kids Learn to be Famous for Forgiveness—For a number Sundays we have been exploring the biblical concept behind our liturgy’s second movement, “Rediscovery of God’s Grace in Confession and Absolution.” Our kids, then, have received several illustrations, parables, and stories about “forgiveness” during the children’s message just before the sermons. One message I asked, “What do you think I’d like you kids to be famous for?” A few answers came. But I was setting them up for the lesson. I told a story about my mom and me asking each other for forgiveness for being a rotten son and for not being a better mom. (Yes, she knows I tell this story.) I eventually told them, “I pray that you kids become famous for forgiveness.” Over the weeks, the kids have said, out loud (together), to the adults, “I forgive you,” and last week said, “Please forgive me.” Powerful and priceless moments. One Sunday, when the children were excused during the sermon, Maxine asked the kids if they understood what Pastor Chip means by forgiveness. They drew their answers. |
| April 2017 Hill Ministry Update |
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City Forum Conference & Empowering CPC in The Hill Leaders—Our small circle of church leadership has been involved in a New England group of pastors, church planters, and Christian workers that gather each year to discuss what we are all doing to engage our communities with Jesus and meet our community’s needs. John, Maxine, Lisa, and I join table-mates from our region in CT (and one person from Zambia) to discuss and plan together how our churches can put to work the things we learn at the City Forum Conference. Maxine asked me: “Why is it good that we go to these?” I replied: “When CPC in The Hill is in the house [at the conference], we are the population they’re trying to reach. Of course, we learn good things for ourselves to act on, but we also bring a realness to the table discussion.” |
| March 2017 Hill Ministry Update |
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My favorite ministry moment—Each January I emphasize the importance of READING YOUR BIBLE, delivering a message entitled “On Reading Your Bible.” For the Children’s Message this year I put Bibles in the hands of our kids. We went over how many Bible books—“39 in the OT; 27 in the NT” —and the types of writing (“History, Dada, you love history. Letters. Prophecy. Gospels. Poetry. Even love stories, yucky, right?”). Then, I used looking up John 3:16 to teach them about chapters and verses. When the kids found the verse, they all read it out loud together. A great moment in worship. |
| Hill Update for February 2017 |
January 2017 Monthly Update from CPC in The Hill
An amazing day, our annual Hill Christmas Store was an event that is more than “the sum total” of its parts. We were making a video of our store. I was asked if any shoppers would be willing to be interviewed: One of our church neighbors was willing—but she spoke Spanish and only limited English. Yet, we had a solution already prepared. We had asked one of our newer ladies, who had been slowly getting involved with us, to be a store worker as our Spanish translator for our Hispanic neighbors who came to the store. So, there you had it: Our English-speaking interviewer asking a Hispanic neighbor and store-customer through our CPC in The Hill store worker-translator what she thought of the store experience. Granted, what she answered is important, but it was the scene, that moment, that spoke the grace of God and displayed our desire to empower the people in the Hill.
When I was interviewed, as the pastor of course, I filled in some of the blanks about our store event: “What does this Hill Christmas store mean to you, pastor?” I replied, “This store is a parable of our church’s message of God’s loving on our neighbors and the way we do the store models what we believe about empowering our neighbors and community to flourish.”
| Hill Update for January 2017 |
December 2016 Monthly Update from CPC in The Hill
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November 2016 Monthly Update for CPC in The Hill
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October 2016 Monthly Update from CPC in The Hill
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| CPC in The Hill 2016 Oct Monthly Report |
July 2016 CPC in The Hill Newsletter
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| CPCintheHill_Jul_2016_Newsletter |
The Anderson's Support & Partnership Brochure (2016-2017)
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Along with a pastoral background, Chip has over eighteen years in social action and community development. His experience and personality provide a good foundation and the capacity for successful ministry in The Hill. Chip desires to help The Hill church family grow in faith through life-on-life discipleship, which includes pastoral care and empowering the members of the congregation. Planting a sustainable church in an under-resourced community need outside help. Please consider partnering with the Andersons as they seek to be agents of transformation, to build Christ’s church, and to change people’s lives with the gospel. A unique, community changing opportunity: We are planting an urban, multi-cultural church in the midst of one of Connecticut’s poorest neighborhoods (43% poverty rate). We seek to grow a sustainable church community through Christ-centered worship, life-on-life discipleship, and community development, enabling those living in The Hill to experience God’s grace in Jesus Christ, His love for their community, and to become agents of transformation themselves so The Hill may flourish. |
| CPCinTheHill_CMA_SupportBrochure |
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The Hill, an under-resourced community, is home to low-income, working-class, and minority individuals and families. Lack of employment, idle teens, crime, and poverty are everyday issues for the good people of The Hill. CPC in The Hill was planted eight years ago as part of a multi-congregational vision of Christ Presbyterian Church New Haven. The Hill congregation envisions reaching their neighbors and changing the neighborhood through church growth and intentional activities that show Jesus’ love and hope. This is not a typical New England urban-city church plant! Your partnership with us will help to sustain both our ministry among the good people of The Hill and provide resources to operate the church and its ministries that will empower families and promote a healthier and more stable neighborhood. |
| Chip and Lisa's Hill 2017 Support Letter |