Treehouse Learning Center has moved from the Ministry Center to the lower level of Barnabas Center. Amazing construction by team leader Richard Pestinger and his hard-working crew including Jim Bodmer, Jim Frisa and Chick Hyde has resulted in secure storage for the Treehouse materials and books. The crew also built storage for Sunday School materials and a small stage. Sandy Grimm and her volunteers did a fantastic job with paintbrushes to bring the sunshine into that area! If you haven’t been down to the Great Hall and adjacent rooms in awhile, you really ought to visit.

We had a fantastic team last school year working on homework with fifteen 1 - 4 graders from the College Hill community. Director Donna Pestinger and I send heartfelt thanks to Sally Auble, Carol Baker, Joan Becker, Cindy Carlson, Bob Corson, Susan and Bob Faul, Linda Frisa, Judy Gilman, Betty Goodman, Doreen Johnson, Fran Kelley, Susan Koch, Barb Linder, Lois Oyler, Richard Pestinger, Louise Weaver, Linda Wolber and M’zell Williams for creating a fun, safe and very personalized learning environment.

The students are what Treehouse is all about. This year they were cooperative and eager to learn - most of the time - and always a blessing. The first graders were Jahmere Watkins, Andrew Clark, and De’Shaun Little. Second graders were Tupac Kirkland and Alex Hemsath. Third graders included Nakera Blue, Andrea Clark, Ciera Davis, Eric Griffin, Mariah Hill, Shawn’qua Kirkland, Delando Little, Breyanna Moore, and Trevon Morrow. Representing fourth grade was student Julian Gasset.

In their own words, students like to go to Treehouse because

• “It’s fun and you learn more.”
• “I get a chance to get help with homework.”
• “I get to meet people and know their name.”
• ”I like to learn.”
• “I like to read.”
• “I get to be with friends!”

And they were not slow to list their favorite Treehouse snacks and games, and to give an almost unanimous answer of “Happy!” when asked how they felt when their homework was done. (We admit that there was one answer of “sleepy”!)

We always need more volunteers. If you are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2:30 - 4:30 p.m., October through the end of the school year, and if you are curious to hear more about this ministry, please call me, Sue Baker. If you’d rather not tutor, but would enjoy keeping our library and materials in good order, that’s a twice-a-month task that would be much appreciated. In short, if you’re interested in children’s academic progress, we’ll find a way to get you involved!

Congratulations to former Treehouse student, Aniya Huffman, who won First Prize in the Green River Writers contest in two categories, poetry and short story. Aniya received a check and a certificate and has done her Treehouse tutors proud!

Now is a great time to share the love of Christ through friendship with an international student. Become a volunteer with International Friendships, Inc. (IFI) as a Friendship Partner. It’s a good way for an individual, couple or family to learn about another culture and build a bridge of trust, as well as assist their student to expand his/her English skills and learn about American culture.

Applicants are matched with one or two students from the University of Cincinnati, and get to know them and their culture by communicating once a week by phone or email, and then by getting together once a month. Many people find that this the best way to build bridges of friendship over which to take the message of the Gospel of love. Just this last year five students from China made a decision to follow Christ.

There will be a training session led by IFI on Aug. 23 and Sept. 6 from 9 a.m. - 12 noon. If you’d like to take part, contact Deborah Watson, 513-702-9431 or dlwatson@cinci.rr.com

You can also register online at www.ifiusa.org/cincy/vol/regf.htm or download an application at www.ifiusa.org/listmanager/fpapp.pdf then copy and paste the information and email to dlwatson@cinci.rr.com.

Galilee-by-the-Sea has something for people of all ages, members and non-members, family and friends, older and younger and everyone in-between… AND it’s FREE!

So mark your calendars for June 23 - 26! Register for the 6 - 8 p.m. program or for families with small children and early bedtimes, we will again offer a 5 - 7 p.m. program. Fill out the form below, download one from the CHPC website, or look for forms at church on Sunday mornings. Just drop your completed form in an offering plate or send it to “Galilee-by-the-Sea Registrar” CHPC, 5742 Hamilton Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45224. You will not want to miss a single evening!

You may also be part of organizing, building, assembling, crafting, acting, cooking, dancing, playing or praying in Galilee by-the-Sea. Be part of communicating biblical truths by either dressing up in robes or working quietly behind the scenes with others who have similar interests.

To get involved, fill out the registration form below.

What difference could a sports-loving, Christian woman make as an overseas Global Worker? Wouldn’t she have to set aside her athletic interests - especially in a Middle Eastern country?

Dianne, who received her PhD in Sports Science, has been able to use her God-given abilities to change the lives of handicapped men in Turkey by teaching and coaching them in the sport of Wheelchair Tennis. Recently, they entered an international competition and did very well.

Six members of the Turkish National Wheelchair Tennis Team participated in the ITF 3 Israel Open Wheelchair Tennis Tournament. Two of the team’s competitors won ITF world ranking points for Turkey in men's singles by advancing to the Second Draw second round.

Dianne had the satisfaction of opening the door for these men to focus on their strengths, and for them to be encouraged by the tremendous support from the crowd and home country. Everyone asked the Turkish Team to return next year. We congratulate the players on their efforts and Dianne on her’s, and wish them all every success in the future.

Fifteen years ago, Carol Ross retired as Administrative Assistant to the Executive Vice President - and other senior officers - of US Shoe. Carol was ready for the next season of life looking for a way to continue using those precious gifts of administration to further God’s Kingdom.

Looking for a volunteer opportunity, she submitted a resumé to the church staff highlighting her skills and experience. It didn’t take long for Rev. Don Crank to contact Carol about a new ministry idea involving personal telephone calls on a regular basis to the families of our church. Her talents were quickly put to work as the administrator of the Prayer and Care Connection.

We honor and thank Carol for her fifteen years of committed service to the mission of Prayer and Care, “lovingly, caringly, prayerfully to be in touch with every family within our church”. Carol is transitioning her responsibilities to Wanda Kuyper who has accepted the administration role of this ministry.

Classical Music
Part II of the Back 2 Bach concert series will be presented on June 7, 7 p.m. The first concert received an enthusiastic standing ovation. Four gifted pianists from CCM will perform Bach’s Concerto No. 6 in F Major, No. 7 in G Minor, No. 5 in F Minor and No. 2 in E Major. The concert will be preceded by a performance from young, talented pianists at 6:30 p.m. This evening of classical music will be complemented with an exhibition of classical art by two area oil painters, Richard Luschek and Linda Crank.

Camp S’More hosted a total of 65 students and 8 staff from Parham Elementary School and Bond Hill Academy on May 14th and 15th in Morrow, Ohio. They were treated to two days of fun, good food, and inspiration. They played football in the rain, took a nature hike (which included crossing a swinging bridge, went fishing, listed to Detectives talk about tough choices that they face as a normal course of life, were attentive as Bart Campolo spoke on what it means to be a person of character, wrapped each other up like mummies in TP - with permission from Cedric Lowe, and had a campfire replete with songs, s’mores and hot dogs.

Many people came out to mentor and to bless the students. They included twenty high schoolers and their teacher from Colerain High School along with many others from CHPC and other churches. Bob Faul, Sue and Joe Breiner, Anne Clippard, Sue Wade, Roch Oberding and Nita Diereveld cooked. Jane Cantey led nature activities. Jack Young, Ralph Siereveld, Dan Leisgang, Bob Corson, Justin Bolduc and Vaughn Engle made sure that each one caught a fish. Mike Wagner, Mark Ogg, Barb Snyder, Bob Wade, Chris Knueven, Bev Graves, Robert Fritz, Barb Weidus, Lois Stenger and Jon Hershberger were there to care for each student.

One of the leaders commented that he would “never forget the smiles on the kids’ faces. I’ve got to come back again!” As one child expressed in a Thank You letter:

“Dear Mr. Wally, I loved when we went fishing. It was fun. It is amazing that you know more about fish
than I do. Someday I’ll be a great fisher like you!”

The next Camp S’More will be Oct. 15 and 16. If you would like to be involved, contact Karen Lane, 541-5676, ext. 168.

On his trips to Haiti, Allen was able to reach out with solar power technology in many ways:

• He consulted with the Family Life Outreach ministry about the possibilities of
  using solar to pump water for their irrigation project for Haitian farmers.
• He visited Port de Pax where Sonlight Ministries actively runs a school and helps provide staff for a seminary to consult about adding solar and wind power in the future.
• He surveyed numerous potential sites for installation and trained Donald Lupin, an employee of Karns’ Kids, to be his assistant for future installs in Haiti.
• He oversaw installation of solar at House of Faith, a small orphanage in Bon Repose, a “suburb” of Port au Prince on the east side. The solar power system runs a refrigerator and allows the orphanage to use electricity when not running the generator. Due to high cost of fuel, the orphanage was not using the generator very much. Now they can use lights when they need to, run communication devices and even watch TV on occasion (when the whole community comes over to watch a soccer game).
• He supervised the installation of three new panels at House of Bread, and rewiring of the system to be more efficient. HoB only needs a high efficient refrigeration and a solar water pump to be completely self sufficient.

SonLight Power Family Trip to Honduras, June 6: Two entire CHPC families make up the biggest part of the SLP Honduras Opportunity team leaving Cincinnati June 6. Leo Rader and Bob Wade will join the Sauer family (Bart, Penny, Rachel, Colleen, Kara) and the Snyders (David, Claire, Elisabeth, Rebecca). Solar power will be installed at three schools: Dionisio de Herrera in El Caracol, Sergio Rubin Ortez in El Trapiche, and Miguel Paz Barahona in Cañanini.

Robin Riechel, recently appointed SLP Fiesta Coordinator, has worked with the Sauers and Snyders, insuring a well planned Fiesta for each school.

GA reviews the work of synods, resolves controversies in the church, is responsible for matters of common concern for the whole church, and serves as a symbol of unity for the church. As outlined in the Book of Order, GA seeks to protect our church from errors in faith and practice, is responsible for assuring that the expression of our theology remains true to the biblical standards in our historic confessions. The General Assembly presents a witness for truth and justice in our community and in the world community. It sets priorities for the church and establishes relationships with other churches or ecumenical bodies. In the following weeks, we’ll be looking at some of the issues that will come up at this GA.