A year ago I preached on Isaiah 58 at Christ Presbyterian Church in The Hill and, then, the following week, I had the privilege of bringing this same massage to the CPC church plant in Fairfield/Bridgeport. We--at CPC in The Hill--are continually surprised (not really) that we seem to continually come back around to food, the subject of eating in messages (they're all over the Bible), in the very thing that the NT teaches was at the center of the church's gathering--a meal. I think it is pretty clear that God designed us to meet Him in the sharing of food. It is interesting that the biblical concept of Sabbath is also actually linked to food as well. Someone recently asked me if I could drop a dime on the spot in the Hill . . . for CPC in The Hill to find a more permanent home (or own building). . . I'd find it dropped on a spot we can turn into our place of worship AND a place of food (a cafe, inviting the "tax collector and sinners" to a meal, meals and worship, BBQs). "God, we need a place to set ourselves as CPC in The Hill where we can focus on food, eating . . . " But for now, its sidewalk meals and BBQs and BBQs in the Park . . . It is interesting that the prodigal son parable is most often preached without the center (the climax of each), the focus Jesus gives it, and of which Luke sets it in within the narrative. It is interesting that the ONE-in-THREE parable stories of Luke 15 is centered in celebrating at a meal. The parable-trio is given because the poor, marginalized, unclean, uneducated (the socially non-elite) were "eating" with Jesus and the established Temple leadership had problems with that (cf. Luke 15:1-2). Just prior to the parable of the Three Lost Things (again Luke 15), we read about the Great Banquet where the poor and marginalized are invited (Luke 14). We need to follow the whole thread that Luke sets before us (much more openly as we interpret his parables of the Three Lost Things). The three parables were given to judge the accusers (that's what parables do bytheway). Each parable ends with feasting. My goodness, how can we not see the importance of this cultural and literary (i.e., Luke's) context! And it doesn't surprise us that "food" is right there in the Isaiah 58 Sabbath text: "Is it not to share your bread with the hungry This is the privilege, scope, and responsibility of Sabbath pleasure. What are you doing--what is the church doing--so that others may find rest? To find God? Today, as we do every Wednesday evening during the summer, that is, bring a grill into our nearby Hill park and put on a feast of hot dogs and hamburgers and salads and fruit and desert for whoever is in the park. Our 1st evening of the 2019 season of In His Midst Park BBQ Ministry >> Check it out
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Our Summer Park BBQ ministry: Even when the deluge fell, grilling and serving continued (from 2019)4/12/2019 Each week at our summer BBQ in the Park, I witness God’s grace through those who do the serving. While, too often, I get the credit and the thank yous, it is, actually, the CPC in The Hill congregation that is serving and loving on the people in the Park. This is church, the body of Christ, visible to the community. This is an illustration of what we affirm as a church: At the Park on a summer Wednesday evening, you will see the church as the body of Christ, the mediatorial presence of Jesus. Amid the hot dogs, salads, fruit, desert, and the mixture of lives joined over a meal, in a very real way, if you want to see Jesus, you can through the CPC in The Hill serving together, loving on its neighbors. This is truly a sign of the Kingdom of God, right there in Trowbridge Square Park. This is no more evident than during a deluge one Wednesday evening— yes, it poured BIG TIME! We saw it coming—and still made the decision to get to the park, set up, and serve as many as we could before the rain fell. We probably served about 40+ when it started pouring. And it came down heavy. Yet, people still kept coming—lining up--and our servers kept serving. One young lady (pictured below next to the girl with the pan over her head) had been volunteering to help with drinks at the coolers. Eventually drenched to the bone, she still stayed at her post until the last person went through the line. Along with a few other young ladies, this young women, a teenager, often helps us at the park and at Sunday service setting up in the morning. Pictured here (above and below at the grill) is our Nigeria still grilling until the last hot dog was done, last hamburger grilled, and last person had something to eat. We have a no cancelation policy. No matter the weather. No matter. We somehow make it work so the people have something to eat. Please help us ensure we have the resources for this important summer ministry >> 2021 CPC in The Hill Summer Park BBQ Ministry Fundraiser
For the past 4 and a half years, I have been able to get to know the good people who live in the Hill and they get to know me at our Summer Park BBQ evenings. Now, Lisa and I are getting to know the Hill people as neighbors, since we moved into the Hill this past January. During the summer, the people we meet in the park during our evenings of ministry say the darnedest things: One newcomer to our Park BBQ ministry, a 20something in dreads, one Wed-evening told me, after I introduced myself as Pastor Chip, “You don't look like the pastor.” I replied, “I don't. What do I look like?” “You look like someone who belongs to this church.” I can live with that. Please consider helping us ensure this ministry happens this summer. Please give to our annual campaign for our summer park BBQ ministry >> 2019 CPC in The Hill Summer Park BBQ Ministry Fundraiser
On any given Wednesday evening this summer, when we open with prayer and I give a short park sermon, standing around me will be a nice size group of people. Then, as the line gathers for the hot dogs and hamburgers, it will not stop until 85, many times 100 people, and even on more than a few days, will pass through. Among them will be many who are homeless . . .
At that hour, 5:30-6:30pm or so, if there are homeless among us (and there will be quite a few)—and, they're not out for dinner—they are indeed homeless for that night. The shelters and available beds are all gone at 4:00pm and the rest just have to figure out what to do for the evening. Many will not have had a meal that day (maybe no real food all week) and this park BBQ will be their only meal before finding a small space to sleep for the night. Sadly, we encounter a number of homeless families with children as well. The Summer Park BBQ is not a solution to the homelessness problem; nor is it a solution to food scarcity for many who are in the Hill. But, it does put food before those that need it that night and it helps our church (and me as a local pastor) to become friends and known by those most in need. We want to do more. But we know, for now, it is the Summer Park BBQ ministry that we can do—with your help. Please consider supporting us so we may have the resources for the 2019 CPC in The Hill summer park BBQ ministry. Please consider helping:: 2019 CPC in The Hill Summer Park BBQ Ministry Fundraiser PS The above verses are to remind us that Jesus himself was homeless, that apostles were homeless, and that God desires his people to be identified with the homeless. Imagine the grill is smoking with sizzling hot dogs and hamburgers. Tables are set with various salads, some fruit, a few homemade dishes, and, of course, cookies. You notice a handful of people milling about the park, some are sitting on benches, and children with their parents watching are climbing on the playground. You’ve already made the rounds to introduce yourself as Pastor Chip. You recall that most of these enjoying the park are broken and live rather messy lives and at this hour, some are certainly homeless. Now, in a few minutes a meal will be ready. You've told everyone you've met, “Come join us when you hear me shout, ‘The hot dogs are ready!’” 2019 CPC in The Hill Summer Park BBQ Ministry Fundraiser You’re hoping for a good crowd, but at first you don’t see a high turn out this evening. The park crowd seems small. But, in time, that changes. Our Nigeria, at the grill says, “We’re ready.” You shout out, “Hot Dogs are ready. Come join us!” And in a few moments a small crowd of teens, children, and adults appear (as if out of no where) around the tables. Some even know you’re going to preach a little; but, yet, they still come. Now, you’re surrounded by 40-plus families (sometimes 80+) and a number of parentless teens. You welcome them and tell them, “We are Christ Presbyterian Church in The Hill and thank you for letting us be your guests in your park this evening.” You open your Bible to Psalm 23 and begin, “The Lord is my _____________.” And, the crowd without being asked fills in the blank: “Shepherd.” You continue: “I shall not _____________.” They add, “want.” And then, you declare, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of _________.” “Death!” they fill in. “I shall fear no ___________.” “Evil,” they shout without hesitation. You identify with them: “We all have seen too much ‘death’ in our neighborhood. We all know what “evil” looks like.” They all nod in agreement. Some even say, “Amen.” You have their attention. You let them know there is a Shepherd who wants to walk with them through that valley of the shadow of death so they can brave and even deliver them from that “evil.” This happens every Wednesday evening, with different messages, throughout the summer. For nine weeks Christ Presbyterian Church in The Hill shares a BBQ meal in a nearby park. For some, it’s their only meal that day; for some, the only meal in a few days. This is what we call our “In His Midst” ministry—to show up where Jesus is already working, seeking to change lives. The good people of CPC in The Hill is in that park to share the love of Jesus over a meal, spending time listening to their stories and offering prayer, sometimes a scripture, and, mostly, encouragement. This year we have had many more intentional conversations about God and what Jesus has done for them. The “In His Midst” ministry is a natural megaphone to our community that CPC in The Hill cares about its neighbors. I even receive some calls during the week with requests for prayer or just to talk. Pray that the relationships we are developing in that park move toward Jesus, the Shepherd ready and open to change their lives. Please consider helping us >> 2019 CPC in The Hill Summer Park BBQ Ministry Fundraiser CPCHill20—In June 2014, Lisa and I had the privilege to be called as the interim pastor and wife for Christ Presbyterian Church in The Hill, a church plant in a low-income, under-resourced community in New Haven, CT. Fall 2017, I was ordained in the Presbyterian Church in America on September 16th and then installed at the full time pastor of CPC in The Hill on November 19th. In order to raise a portion of our support, over the years we have partnered Living Bread Ministries’ entrepreneur program that helps Thai women vulnerable to human trafficking to start businesses (freegrance.org). Making purchases from Freegrance on their online store of soaps and jewelry made these ladies (using the promo code CPCHiLL20), you can support our Church Plant in the Hill and the women making a new life for themselves. This year, Maxine Harris, our church's administrative assistant (and very much my co-partner in this adventure) has begun taking on some of the fundraising responsibilities we need to raise for the resources and funds to sustain the Hill church planting adventure. For every purchase ordered on Freegrance.com/shop, Living Bread Ministries will give 20% toward Maxine's fundraising, which will help support our Hill Church Plant–and, at the same time, help support the entrepreneur ministry of Freegrance. Would you consider supporting our Freegrance.org fundraiser and share with us in this adventure as we seek to build Jesus’ church, change people’s lives, and be agents of transformation in The Hill. For the Month of February, please take the time to look at the freegrance.com website and consider supporting both of our ministries. Just remember to use the code--CPCHill20—in the promo code discount box on the cart page when you begin your purchase. Please share as well . . . Meet some of our good people and Maxine: "What CPC in The Hill means to me?" > > Video
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Wasted Blogger, Chip M. AndersonI am the pastor and church planter for Christ Presbyterian Church in The Hill; a flawed practitioner of Wasted Evangelism. I am learning about Wasted Evangelism through my experience in The Hill and through the good people of CPC in The Hill. Archives
April 2024
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