It’s time to begin the 2011 church officer election process. Church officers hold key roles in our church body. They make pivotal decisions concerning vision, staff, finances, facilities, services - and more - and oversee their implementation. They also reach out with service in Christ’s name to the congregation and community. What these officers decide and do will affect our church. You are the ones who will nominate and elect them.

It is important that you make nominations with thoughtfulness and prayer. Please continue to pray for the nominees and the Church Nominating Committee as they go through the selection process.

After your nominations are submitted - by March 28 - a careful screening process begins:

1. Each nominee is checked to see if they are a member of CHPC since only members may hold office.
   
   
2. The pastor considers each recommendation looking for any significant personal issues that may make an individual unqualified for office.
   
   
3. The approved nominations are forwarded on to the Church Nominating Committee (CNC).
   • The committee makes sure that every nominee meets the stated qualifications for office (as stated in the
   Presbyterian Book of Order and the church’s Bylaws).
   • They prayerfully and thoughtfully interview each candidate. Together with the candidate, they discern how God is leading. Those who are recommended for specific offices are primarily considered for those roles.
   • A slate of candidates - equal to the number of offices open - is chosen by the CNC to present at the annual
   Congregational Meeting in October. This is done according to the companion of The Book of Order.
   
   
4. The congregation votes by ballot for the slate at the annual meeting. Is is also given the opportunity to exercise the right to nominate candidates from the floor.
   
   
5. New officers are installed in January.

The Church Nominating Committee (CNC) will supply Officer Nominating Forms to the congregation beginning Sunday, March 7, until the nominating period ends on Sun., March 28.

You may also choose to fill out a form and submit it online by clicking here or from the link on the homepage.

The CNC wants to be transparent and answer any of your concerns. If you have any additional questions or comments, please contact them: Cindy Brown (chair), Rob Bechtel, Jim Bodmer, Anne Clippard, Rick Duke, Terry Fischer (Elder Rep), Mark Killian (Deacon Rep), Phyllis Naegele, Becky Salt, Carol Schubert and David Welch.

A devastating magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck Chile Sat., Feb. 27 with a death toll over 799. Approximately 1.5 million homes have been destroyed.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is working with Church World Service in Chile to provide basic humanitarian assistance and to help local partners in assessing the needs. CWS emergency response staff is coordinating with two Chilean agencies, FASIC (Fundacion de Ayuda Social de las Iglesia Cristianas) and the Humanitarian Team of the Methodist Church of Chile, IMECH.

PDA will also coordinate with PC(USA) World Mission and their work with the Latin American Council of Churches and with ACT Alliance member Lutheran World Federation. Carlos Cardenas, PC(USA) mission co-worker in Nicaragua, is assisting in communication of assessments.

John Robinson, PDA associate for national response, was in contact with presbytery staff in the Pacific rim areas over the weekend, in case there were needs arising from tsunamis in the aftermath of the quake. You can read the latest updates and/or make a donation towards these efforts at www.pcusa.org/pda.

There are a number of CHPC members who are no longer able to attend, but still love the church and feel a part of our family. These folks served the church faithfully in the past and need to be remembered as we build upon the contributions they have made. Although we do not see each other now, we can still lift each other up through prayer and notes of encouragement.

George Bass became a member of CHPC 30 years ago. He had been active in his previous church for many years, but in the 1970’s he had a life-changing personal experience with Christ. That led George to a total commitment to Christ, His service and study of the Word, and to CHPC.
 
Following Inquirers’ class, George immediately found a ministry match for his heart for Evangelism and he became a part of Ron Rand’s “E Team” and the Discovery Small Group ministry. Over time, he also served with Lay Pastors and Missions ministries, and with Presbytery’s Committee on Ministry, helping churches resolve problems and planting new churches. He enjoyed assisting FoL and time in prayer groups.
 

His thirst to study Scripture led him to go back to school and attend Cincinnati Bible Seminary and attend various workshops, including time at Fuller Seminary. He joined the CHPC staff as Director of Evangelism and served Missions under Ron Rand.  As Ron mentored him, George led HELPER clinics, teaching evangelism methods in many churches including a group of pastors in Japan. He also led many Inquirers’ classes. 
Over the years, George regularly used his special gift of encouragement as he matched people with ministries of the church. It was his great joy to see them use gifts he had seen in them, which they had not recognized in themselves. When CHPC was experiencing many changes, he served and helped in whatever way he was called until he retired from staff in 1997.
 
After retirement, his entrepreneurial spirit didn’t rest. Many CHPCers enjoyed his travel adventures including a series of tours with studies (led by pastors Pat Hartsock and Wayne Darbonne) that followed the growth and movements of Christianity west from the Holy Land through Turkey, Greece, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, England, and Scotland .
 
George’s pace gradually changed following a diagnosis of Parkinson’s in 2003.  After years of active ministry, George is now confined to his home, courageously living with the effects of progressing Parkinson’s. He is doing so with a peace and strength that can only come from the grace of his Lord and his faith that God is in control.  His smile and sense of humor continue, and he and his wife, Ann, enjoy each day, content in this season of life, thankful for all they experienced during more active times.

If you would like to send a note of thanks to George for the gift of his time and the contributions he has made to the life of our church:

George and Ann Bass
6156 Shady Creek Way
Fairfield Twp., OH 45011

We were introduced to The Kalubi Project in January. A medical clinic is being built in the memory of Alex Kalubi in the area in which he grew up in Congo. He was Jacky Kalubi’s husband and a wonderful Christian. Would you please continue prayer for:

• Jacky Kalubi as she coordinates plans for the trip with both the American Congolese community and Sonlight Power. The best time and route for the trip must be decided soon and airline tickets purchased.
  
  
• Medical Benevolence Foundation, a PCUSA-related ministry, has work nearby in the Congo and is considering becoming involved in supporting the Kalala Muzue Clinic as well. This connection would likely benefit everyone involved.
  
  
• The clinic is open, staff doing what they can for the local refugee population, but without water or electricity.
  
  
• Pray for creativity in problem-solving and good relationships within the staff and with the community.
  
  
• For quick raising of all funds and personnel necessary for the clinic’s well to be completed before the team arrives.
  
  
• For Allen Rainey as he prepares all the necessary equipment for the solar power aspect of the project.

Are you the parent of a child with a disability? Perhaps a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or sibling of a loved one with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, or some other developmental disability? Are you searching for God in a difficult situation? Maybe you have a friend who is struggling to accept a child’s disability and you’re not quite sure how to help. Perhaps you’re a pastor, a Sunday school teacher, or youth leader who is looking for ways to welcome and include challenged children in your church. If so, read on!

Kathy Bolduc, her husband, Wally, and their son, Joel, have attended CHPC for years. You may have seen Joel during the service. During the parts without music, he is bored. He twists and turns in the pew, stares at the people behind him, waves at Pastor Drew, swings or stomps his feet, claps his hands, and at least once says in a loud voice, “I have to go to the bathroom!” Joel is intellectually challenged and has autism.

The Bolduc’s journey with Joel has been recorded through Kathy’s books, His Name is Joel: Searching for God in a Son’s Disability (1999), in A Place Called Acceptance: Ministry with Families of Children with Disabilities (2001), and in a recently published book, Autism and Alleluias: Finding God in a Son’s Disability
.

In Autism & Alleluias, Kathy demonstrates the role of faith in helping families cope. In her series of slice-of-life vignettes, God’s grace glimmers through as her son Joel, and teaches those who love him that life requires:

If you are interested in learning how to rejoice in the midst of a difficult situation
or have a child or grandchild with a disability, Kathy’s book can be found online at: www.amazon.com.

Kathy will also be speaking at Supper Club on Mon., March 22 on Autism & Alleuias.

One Day Conference: Sat., March 13, 9:15 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.
One Place: Lebanon Presbyterian Church, 123 N. East St., Lebanon, OH
One Low Price: $20 (includes box lunch and materials) $15 before March 1.

“Churches that are growing see the primary purpose of the church as joining God’s mission in the world.” Steve Hayner, president of Columbia Seminary, will be speaking along with a dynamic group of leaders at a one day conference on March 6:

Alex Kalubi was a man who believed that he was in God’s firm grip. He trusted the Lord even when he could no longer speak or walk without falling. His family has chosen to honor him and to continue his outreach by supporting a new medical clinic near Alex’s hometown.

The new Kalala Muzue Clinic will serve approximately 50,000 people in the Cibombo Cimyanyi refugee camp in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The majority of the population there has a great number of health problems largely due to a lack of safe drinking water.

At this point, the clinic’s primary building has been constructed. It is about 2100 square feet with six exam rooms and a delivery/operating room. There is still need for medical furnishings and equipment. Currently, it has no water or electricity. Even so, it plans to open this February.

Allen Rainey and a SonLight Power Team will be making a two-week trip in June 2010 to provide these necessities. Solar power will run a clinic refrigerator for medicine plus lights, a radio, laptop computer and microscope. A solar water pump will supply water not only for the clinic but also the nearby refugee population.

Before they arrive, the SLP team is raising funds ($2,000) for a well to supply the water. They are arranging for the local Congolese to dig it by hand, and install a water tank. It will be ready for hookup to the clinic in June.

Alex’s widow and CHPC Elder, Jacky Kalubi will also be on the trip along with her 25 year old son, Daniel, SLP Director, Allen Rainey, a Congolese physician, Dr. Martin Kabongo who is responsible for the actual building of the clinic and one more yet-to-be-determined Congolese. Jacky will be acting as their interpreter because she speaks the local language, Tshiluba, and, of course, she will want to see this memorial to her husband and the impact it will have on so many people.

Please pray for

• connections with the right plumber and electrician in the Congo, and with those who will help bore the well
• the safety of those who dig the well and for the provision of necessary equipment
• the clinic personnel who will be starting their work without water and electricity in February
• the people who will come for medical help to the clinic
• the selection of the final SLP team member