What immortal song did Stephen Foster compose while living in Cincinnati?

Why was Thomas Edison so terrified in Cincinnati on the night Lincoln was shot?

Did the The Nation's Station first broadcast from College Hill?

Which CHPC member patented "the uniform potato chip" which now sells the world over?

Find the answers to these questionsand many more when Rick Kennedy presents Everything You Need To Know About Cincinnati, an offbeat history of the Queen City. A former Cincinnati Post reporter, Kennedy has managed media relations for GE Aviation for the past 20 years. In his role, he hosts reporters from around the globe, and loves to teach them why Cincinnati’s history of innovation has had a lasting impact on our lives. Now, he will share these stories with you!

Then, Voice of Truth, a group composed of teens from all over the city will be entertaining us as well. Their choice of music combines Kirk Franklin-style gospel and contemporary Christian - with a few show tunes thrown in for good measure. They are part of the Cincinnati Church of Christ Youth ministry and have been singing together for about three years. Voice of Truth recently performed at a local function with our own Super Choir. They are under the direction of Cyndie Imfeld, daughter of Alice Robbins, and assisted by the very talented Willia Crenshaw.

Make your reservations for the Feb. 23, 6:15 p.m. potluck-style dinner by calling
Nancy Rice at 541-4434 by Mon., Feb. 16. The program starts around 7 p.m.
Be sure to invite your friends to enjoy this special evening!

On Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009, the Cincinnati Presbytery assembled for its bi-monthly meeting. Among the items to be voted on was a very controversial proposed amendment to the current PCUSA Constitution. It involved core issues such as “Do we live according to cultural or Scriptural standards if they conflict?”

If passed, G-6.0106b would remove the fidelity/chastity requirement
for ordained clergy and lay leaders.

The 2008 General Assembly, PCUSA’s highest legislative body, had approved the proposed amendment and had sent it to presbyteries to be voted upon. February 10th was the Presbytery of Cincinnati’s date to approve or disapprove.

Within our presbytery, there are a number of small churches. Many of them have given up on relating with the presbytery and have become pretty much isolated. They don’t like what they see happening at higher levels, but don’t think that they could ever influence anything. They have given up attending presbytery meetings or the pastor attends but has no lay person volunteer to come as a representative from the church.

So there was much preparation by those who had not given up on making a difference. For several months in advance, evangelical pastors and lay people met to think of ways to encourage pastors, clerks of session and others to come and vote. Others phoned commissioners to provide information, transportation and prayer support. A respected, well-known pastor sent out an impassioned email. No stone was left unturned.

During the presbytery meeting, six people spoke for and against the overture in the allotted half hour. Others were well prepared to speak on several points, but there was no time.

The whole debate was held decently and in order - undergirded and bathed in prayer. After the votes were tallied, the results were announced:

“83 for... 83 against... 6 abstentions.”

When there is a tie, the current standard is upheld. This meant that the amendment did NOT pass. Scriptural standards of fidelity and chastity were upheld!

After all of this, one commissioner said that this proved that

“Everyone is important...it was worth taking vacation to be there to vote...it was worth coming directly to the meeting from a business trip to vote...it was worth driving 100 miles round-trip in the rain to vote...it was worth going out of your way to pick up someone to vote...it was worth it. In the context of eternity...you were obedient.”

There are many other presbyteries (172 besides our own) that have already voted or will vote on the proposed amendment within the next two months. Please keep this in your prayers.

Please think about this story when it comes to carrying out your part in the life of the church and community. Your involvement in leadership and in serving, in choosing officers and elected officials, in the effect that your life can have on the lives of others can be huge. Remember, it only took one vote this time to make the difference!

Brian Donaldson comes to us with over 18 years of music ministry experience in the region. A Mt. Healthy native, Brian received his Bachelor of Music degree from Cincinnati Christian University and did Master’s work at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY.

He is an active church musician and community performer in musicals, operas and solo presentations. An accomplished pianist as well, Brian has accompanied and actively shares his abilities with various high school choirs. Singing tenor with Vocal Arts Ensemble of Cincinnati, Cincinnati’s premiere professional chamber choir, and the May Festival Chorus are two of his current engagements that he enjoys greatly. Brian teaches on the voice faculty at Cincinnati Christian University and at Musical Arts Center in O’Brianville. When not singing, you may find Brian playing flute and French Horn.

He is excited to be serving at CHPC as interim Chancel Choir Director and Kaleidoscope Band Leader, and looks forward to many special moments of worship together at the services.

Some of the ladies at CHPC really love to knit. So we started a knitting group. We meet on Thursday mornings at 10 a.m. (ask at the Front Desk for the location). Whether you are experienced at knitting or would just like to learn, please join us! It’s a great time of fun, fellowship and reaching out with God’s love.

The group has decided to knit prayer shawls, after a few members received them as gifts during tough times. We put a lot of kindness and caring and prayer into each one. Later, we will give them to others who need to be wrapped in prayer. ~ Nancy Shryock

How It Began

My journey to starting the Prayer Shawl Ministry began when I was reading Debbie Macomber’s novels about a yarn shop. She wrote down instructions for knitting prayer shawls. Being an avid knitter since the age of about 8, I had to try and knit one. Gradually, I got more information on prayer shawls from friends, the computer, and other churches and found it to be a very widespread practice.

Prayer shawls have been made for centuries and symbolize an inclusive, unconditionally loving God. In 1998, Janet Bristow and Victoria Galo began the prayer shawl ministry. Compassion and the love of knitting/crocheting have been combined into a prayerful ministry and spiritual practice of making prayer shawls for those in need of comfort and solace as well as in celebration and joy.

The shawl maker begins to knit the shawls with prayers and blessings for the recipient. The prayers are continued throughout the knitting process. A blessing is offered when the gift is presented to the recipient. Some recipients continue the kindness and make a shawl and pass it on to someone else. Thus, the blessings ripple from person to person with both the giver and the receiver benefiting from the blessings. ~ Jan Lawson

The Cincinnati Opera will be presenting Oh Freedom! a special tribute to Black istory month at College Hill Presbyterian Church on Sat., Feb. 14 at 11 a.m. This is one of nine community performances.

Oh, Freedom! takes audiences on a 45-minute journey from the Underground Railroad through the Civil Rights Movement. Music, history and literature to depict the obstacles and emotions in the struggle for freedom.

Maybe you have something to say about our new series
or some of the issues that are involved in it...

Maybe you would like to re-read the info on Rev. Chip Hall
or the Winton Hills Community Church...

Maybe you’d like to see the series video
all over again...

Check out our series-related Blog. Link to it from our CHPC homepage (www.chpc.org) under Special News or right here!

10:00 am
One, Single, Combined Service

Rev. Chip Hall,
pastor of Winton Hills Community Church (PCUSA)
will speak on
Mistaken Identity.

His congregation will be joining us for the service, and the
All-Church Potluck to follow!

Sherman Bradley
Vice-President of
City Gospel Mission,
will speak at both services.

Rev. Charles King,
Pastor of First Baptist Church , will speak at both services.

His congregation will be present.

A native Ohioan, Charles L. King, Jr. was born in Cincinnati. He is the oldest of three children. A graduate of Walnut Hills High School, he went on to earn a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Economics with a minor in Business Law from Ohio University.

After graduating college he returned to Cincinnati, and is currently a regional claims manager for a local insurance company. During that time he met and married Angela. They are the proud parents of two children, Adrianna and Charles King, III a.k.a. “Tre”.

In June 2002, he announced his call to the preaching ministry, was licensed and ordained in 2005. He actively served on the ministerial staff at St. Mark under the leadership and guidance of Reverend Cecil Ferrell, Pastor. On September 9, 2005, Charles L. King, Jr. accepted the call to the Pastorship at the First Baptist Church of West College Hill.

He thrives on being a person who leads and motivates by the example of Christ.

As a Pastor, he sees himself as one who nurtures, protects, spiritually directs and trains those who have been entrusted to his care. Pastor King sees his task as one who must seek and communicate Christ to the spiritually lost in the community. He is an active member of the College Hill Ministerium, and serves as an Executive Board member for the Cincinnati Habitat for Humanity. In these leadership roles, he is helping to create strategies to organize individuals for community action and encourage others to assume and carry out effective leadership to reflect the broad diversity of the neighborhoods and public at large.

Pastor King is a 2006 graduate of the Health Leadership Institution for Faith Based Organizations. He was a Community Involvement award recipient in 2007 from West College Hill. He was recognized in the “Who’s Who” registry of Executives and Professionals 2007-2008 edition, and was one of four voted as Pastor of the Year by the Cincinnati Gospel Awards 2008.

He is currently working towards a Master of Theological Studies (MTS) degree from Faith Evangelical Lutheran Seminary, Tacoma, WA, and constantly works to enhance his learning and service to God through the purchase of books, Bible software and various conferences and workshops.

He strives to always be evangelistic in his preaching and teaching while holding fast to Biblical truths and practical aspects of pulpit ministry. He seeks to follow the wisdom of the scriptures as an effective leader striving to advance the Kingdom of God, and maintain a lifestyle that complements his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ!

Hunter Farrell, Director of World Missions of the Presbyterian Church USA, will preach on The Gospel in Technicolor at both services on Sun., Feb. 15. Come learn more about the new day in Presbyterian global missions.

“I believe there is an openness at the very top of the church’s leadership for a new day in mission . . . the quality of our mission personnel; the commitment of our staff here in Louisville; the wealth of knowledge and commitment of our partner churches. This combination is an incredible strength.”
– Hunter Farrell, Director of Global Missions, PCUSA

Everyone is invited to a salad luncheon at 12:45 p.m. to hear him share what Presbyterians are doing around the world. You will also have the opportunity to ask him questions and participate in a discussion. To RSVP, call the Front Desk, 541-5676 or Marybelle Chapman at 542-4968.

Rev. Farrell has a B.A. in political science from the University of Texas and his M. Div from Fuller Theological Seminary in cross-cultural studies. He is currently completing a doctorate on the impact of Peru’s political violence on an indigenous community in the central Andes. He also studied traditional African religions at the École des Hautes Études in Paris, France. He is fluent in English, Spanish, French and Tshiluba (a language of Congo).

Rev. Farrell was appointed Director of Global Missions for the General Assembly Council in the summer of 2007. Before that time, he and his family had spent ten years in Peru, working with Peruvians and Presbyterian congregations to overcome poverty, in partnership with the Presbyterian Hunger Program.

From 1991 - 1997, he worked in the General Assembly Council staff as coordinator of Presbyterian mission work in East and West Africa. Prior to his service on national staff, he spent five years as a mission co-worker in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he taught Greek, New Testament exegesis and theology, and community development at the Faculty of Reformed Theology in Kananga.

The Band of Brothers (BoB) which meets at 6:15 a.m. on the first and third Thursdays of each month in the Fireside Room is embarking on a four-month series called Healing -- involving teachings and testimonies from physicians, psychologists, pastors, and believers with special experiences.

The series began on Thursday, February 5 with Dr. Chuck Schubert’s teaching A Physician Looks At Healing. Dr. Tom Dryer will continue the subject in his discussion on February 19.

In March, Dr. David Smith and Tim Sillaman will explore Christian psychologist/therapist views on healing. The series continues into May with views from pastors and others touched by the power of spiritual healing.

This is a unique opportunity to learn from believers, grounded in Scripture, who have been directly engaged in the spiritual healing process in their professional and personal lives.

The meetings begin with coffee, donuts, and fellowship at 6:05 a.m., with worship at 6:15 a.m., followed by the teaching and small-group discussions. We try to conclude between 7:15 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. If you must leave early for work, that’s entirely understandable. BoB is a welcoming group into its fifth year in connecting men. It is not a closed group. Men of all churches (or no church) are most welcome to all meetings - or whichever you can attend. ~ Rick Kennedy

“Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them” (Luke 7:22).

Did you know CHPC has a monthly healing service, held in the Sanctuary the first Sunday of every month at 5 p.m.? Members of the prayer team, who have been studying healing prayer and who feel led by the Spirit (and whose gifts in this area have been confirmed elsewhere in the church) are available to pray for those with physical or emotional illnesses.

The Healing Service begins with a time of worship. After a brief talk, testimonies are given by those who have experienced God’s healing touch within the past month. They are powerful reminders that God is at work in our midst! Then we break into healing stations, while soft music continues to play in the background. Each healing station is manned by two people. When you come forward for prayer, you will have an opportunity to share your prayer request.

No request is too big or too small.

The healing team will listen closely, and then anoint you with oil. The prayer may last a minute or two, or it may go on for ten minutes or more, depending on the movement of the Holy Spirit and the degree of healing you begin to experience at the time. After the prayer, the team will pray to seal the healing. You may then leave the service, or remain in quiet prayer.

Feel free to come and leave as you desire during this service. We begin at 5 p.m., and generally finish by 6 - 6:30 p.m.

“The very name Jesus means Yahweh heals, Yahweh saves. This is one of the reasons why we need a restoration of the healing ministry: so that people can see that God, even in this life, primarily sends life and health, and does not ordinarily will sickness. Jesus brings life-giving power to raise us out of sickness and into life” (Francis McNutt, The Power to Heal).

I didn’t know why I felt the way I did. I was down - certainly not my normal joyful self. At first, I was able to do what I had to do. I even went to Nigeria to help train people there in the use of Theophostic prayer. (Just the fact that it is a phenomenal ministry gave me some joy in the process.) But after our return to Cincinnati, my depression deepened.

It got to a point where I was sleeping all the time. Often I would sleep till dinner, and once stayed in bed until 8 p.m. It was only my obligations such as medical appointments that got me out of the house. I kept asking the Lord, “What is going on?”

My sister-in-law became very concerned and got me in touch with a support group at Deaconess Hospital. This was a morning obligation - which helped get me out of bed. Just feeling her love began the process of my healing. Relating to other people who also had similar problems and seeing them progress also gave me hope, but there was still much more healing to come...from the Lord.

In search for help, I went to a Healing Service. People huddled around me and prayed and anointed me with oil. Again, the tender concern of others continued to restore me.
Then mid-December (I can pinpoint the day), I woke up early morning and got out of bed. I knew then that I was healed! My joy returned.

Soon afterwards, during a time of Theophostic prayer, the reason for my for depression was revealed to me.
Just before it had set in, I had had a wonderful opportunity to participate in the opera Margaret Garner. I had a walk-on part, sang in the chorus with real opera stars, enjoyed the cast parties, visited the site in Kentucky where Margaret had been a slave. It was the fulfillment of a life-long dream!

When this glorious time ended, the deepest part of me had asked, “What is there to do now?”

It was enough to realize what was going on. There was a definable reason for the depression. I was so excited to be well again and went to the very next Healing Service. I practically ran up front to tell what the Lord had done! Praise the Lord!

Last Sunday, photographer par excellence, Barry Carlin, captured the images and spirit of our single, combined service and potluck. Rev. Chip Hall and his congregation, Winton Hills Community Church (PCUSA) led and participated in many ways.

They sang in the choir, played with the band, praised with flags, and Rev. Hall preached on Mistaken Identity!

The potluck emphasized the importance of diversity (in ages, in personalities and in races) on one hand while pointing out at the same time how much we all have in common.

The morning was an exciting opportunity to get outside of our boxes. It was a good experience.