CHPC will be closed from Mon., Aug. 17 through Sat., Aug. 22. Worship services will take place as usual today and Sun., Aug. 23. In a decision unanimously approved by Session, the campus closure is being implemented in an effort to reduce costs and give staff a much needed week to re-energize from a rewarding and busy summer. Since summer ministries are winding down, our interns are returning to school, and 3C’s Nursery School /Kindergarten and fall ministries have not yet begun, it is a good time for a weeklong break.

Closing the building also means a reduction in energy, lighting and air-conditioning usage as well as a savings in materials and labor expenses. Although the exact savings are difficult to estimate, in general a reduction in the aforementioned costs will undoubtedly prove beneficial.

This week of campus closure will be conducted as a trial. After conducting the closing, actual cost savings, logistical issues and the general impact can be evaluated.

Despite the closing, the distribution of the collected Tools for Schools supplies
will take place as planned in Fellowship Hall on Mon., Aug. 17 at 8 a.m.

The Tools for Schools program is once again collecting school supplies for Cincinnati students in need this summer. Tools for Schools is part of the Feast of Love Ministry, an organization that strives to alleviate the financial burden experienced by low income families throughout Cincinnati. This is done through such programs as Operation Cool Down/Heat up, Operation Baby Formula, and of course, the holiday feasts.

You can donate supplies until Sun., Aug. 16. Please give all donations to Karen Lane. Also, a team is needed to sort and organize the supplies before they are sent to various Cincinnati schools. If you would like to help, this team will meet on Mon., Aug. 17 at CHPC (despite the campus closure) from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Lunch will be provided; please bring a calculator.

The Session of CHPC has unanimously approved a motion to close the campus of CHPC for six days beginning Mon., Aug. 17 through Sat., Aug. 22. Worship services will take place as usual on Sun., Aug. 16 and Sun., Aug. 23.

The campus closure has been proposed for a number of reasons:

• The closure will bless our staff with additional time off as they accept a 10% pay reduction for the upcoming budget year. This six day period will serve as a sabbatical for our staff as they enjoy a time of rejuvenation after a busy summer of ministry. By Aug. 17, nearly all summer ministries will be completed and interns will be preparing to return to school.
  
  

• There will be cost savings while the campus is closed. Although the savings are difficult to estimate, there will be a reduction in energy usage because of reduced cooling requirements. Therefore, the temperature of the building can be raised and the lighting demands will be nearly eliminated. There will also be savings in maintenance expenses, both in materials and labor.
  
  
• This week of campus closure will be conducted as a trial. After conducting the closing, actual cost savings, logistical issues and staff benefit can be evaluated. All groups that are impacted by this closure have been notified and our staff does not anticipate this having a significant impact on any of them. The distribution for Tools for Schools will take place as planned on Mon., Aug. 17. Incoming phone calls will be managed and appropriate security measures will be taken. Please pray for our staff during this week of rest, that they might return energized and refreshed to continue in their ministry.

Another summer is coming to a close, which means Resident Camp and the 2/3 Overnight have come and gone for the CHPC Children’s Ministry. From July 26 - 31, about thirty kids, the summer interns, Maggie Smith, and Susan Koch, ventured once again to King’s Domain for a week of singing, shouting, playing, and growing closer to God and to one another. We were joined for the second year by our friends from the Groesbeck United Methodist Church. On Thursday night, a group of second and third graders came for their own taste of camp during the 2/3 Overnight.

Our typical camp day looked like this: Each morning after breakfast, campers got to choose their workshop for the day: sports, nature hiking (a lot of it through mud!), dance, worship, drama, art or archery (nine received the Golden Arrow for bull’s eyes). After the workshops, we all gathered every day for “Story Time”, where we learned about the armor of God with the help of Captain Courageous, had a visit from the Woman at the Well, had testimony time, and performed skits showing fruits of the Spirit through Bible stories. In the afternoon, activities rotated between crafts, swimming, a giant slip ‘n slide, Field Day games, and rafting on the Little Miami. Each night there was a camp -wide dinner party! We experienced a poolside luau, a royal festival, sports of all sorts night, two special campfires, and Commando Night (where we completed tasks to rescue our beloved plastic swans, Lafanda and Rondo).

After shower parties, we all gathered again for Domania to worship and see a skit about a prince, princess, and pirates that showed God’s unconditional love for us. On one special night, the boys got to camp out in the muddy wilderness and eat “mancakes” cooked over an open fire in the morning. The girls, on the other hand, were served their “ricecakes” in bed after a Princess Party sleepover.

Despite some homesickness, a lot of rain, and too many cases of a nasty stomach virus, our week at camp was a great one. Sixth grader Cydnee Roberts says of her time at King’s Domain, “Camp was awesome. We did a lot of fun things and got to know God better!”

Aretha Chapman will lead the CHPC congregation in an outdoor concert after the combined worship this morning. Born in Cincinnati, Aretha started singing when she was just ten years old. Since the beginning of the year, she has been the worship leader of Kaleidoscope, CHPC’s 10:45 a.m. service. She truly has a gift from God, and has performed in various venues throughout Cincinnati, including Paul Brown Stadium, the US Bank Arena, and the Sorg Opera House.

In addition to helping us praise the Lord with style, Aretha is the founder and president of “Pumps in the Pulpit Ministries,” an organization that strives to help women of different denominations achieve success in their various ministries. And, as if she wasn’t amazing enough already, Aretha has also dabbled in acting, starring in Trinity Broadcasting Network’s original work “Saving Ebony Scrooge” as well as several other plays.

She wrote all of the music featured in today’s concert. Of the songs, Aretha says that ”Give It To Jesus” is her favorite because “it is an encouraging reminder of the faithfulness of God’s love and grace.” To learn more about Aretha or to buy her CD, “Give it To Jesus,” visit www.arethachapman.com. A whole new way to praise Jesus is waiting for you!

CHPC Member, Phyllis Schoenberger, was honored in June with a Gold Star Award for her work on College Hill Forum’s Quality of Life Team. Sponsored by the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction’s Bureau of Public Information, teams or individuals in Ohio can be nominated for a Gold Star Award if they meet one or more of the following criteria:

• They produce quality work which has improved the efficiency of a department process, policy, or procedures
• They develop a cost savings measure
• They significantly improve an existing process
• He or she has been selected by the Director
• He or she has provided support or contributed to the mission of the department

The Quality of Life Team is just one of eight committees within the College Hill Forum, the community’s council, that provides an opportunity for citizens to engage in open dialogue about local issues.

The Team has been working with the Building and Inspections Department, the Police Department, and other Cincinnati Departments to improve wrecked properties, reduce litter and crime, and encourage housing code enforcement in the College Hill area. They were recognized by the Keep Cincinnati Beautiful project for their efforts. To learn more about the College Hill Forum and how to get involved, visit www.collegehillohio.org. Congratulations to Phyllis and the Quality of Life Team! (taken from www.drc.state.oh.us/Quality/gold.htm)

Last Tuesday was National Night Out at the CHPC BlockParty, the annual week of themed events that have celebrated the power of community in College Hill since the summer of 2004.

Due to rain on Tuesday, all activities were going to be moved inside. However, in an unmistakable God moment, the rain miraculously stopped just before the festivities began. Therefore, local police were still able to bring their horses and patrol the parking lot as planned. According to Amy Finnegan, Vice President of the College Hill Forum, the BlockParty “lets the people who linger on the street know that that’s not acceptable, and?these?are our streets, and we want to make it [College Hill] beautiful and strong.”

Twenty five different neighborhood organizations participated this year. Chris Miller noted: “Every night was different. Thursday was our Talent Night.” This is the first year that a Talent Night was part of the itinerary.

Taking care of each other is a message in this community, a message children were asked to express in the As I See it Contest, which took place in CHPC’s Atrium. Youth from Aiken High School and Winton Hills Elementary were given cameras and training on how to use them. The photos were judged by a panel of five and a winner was chosen. Many of the photographs said something about family, friends and community.

Organizers said that most important thing about National Night Out isn’t just driving away criminals. It’s about bringing neighbors together and making them feel empowered to make a change in their own neighborhood. The story from Channel 12 is available at www.local12.com.

Tuesday, August 4, from 5 to 9 p.m., is National Night Out in College Hill. Join your neighbors as part of this national celebration of community life. This year's event will be held at the College Hill Presbyterian Church parking lot and will include live entertainment, a community cookout and information on all our community groups.

Wednesday, August 5 is Jazz & More, starting 6:30 p.m., hosted by P. Anne Everson-Price and featuring the Young Jazz Messengers. We will be cooking out for dinner and dancing the night away with jazz music.

Thursday, August 6 is Talent & Hoops, starting 6:30 p.m., hosted by Richard Schroer of the College Hill Recreation Center and Ron Whitt of Teen Impact. The evening will include a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, cornhole, and, for the first time ever, a talent show. The talent show is open to anyone, so start practicing those routines and get ready to show off your skills! Montgomery Community Church will provide the meal for the evening.