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712 S. Columbia Ave.
Tulsa, OK 74104
918-592-5800
Church office hours:
Mon - Th, 9 am - 3 pm
Closed on Fridays
9:30 a.m. Church School-all ages
11:00 a.m. Worship in English
11:00 a.m. Worship in Spanish
Church email:
[email protected]
Pastor email:
[email protected]
Website:
www.collegehilltulsa.org
Join us for coffee, juice, cookies
and conversation in the
Fellowship Hall before
Church School
and before Worship.
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Mission Statement |
Build an inclusive
community of faith. Receive and openly share the love of God. Reach out with a
compassionate voice
for peace and justice. |
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Annual Congregational Meeting
& Potluck Luncheon
January 25, 2015
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View more photos on our Facebook page
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February Birthdays
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2 - Barbara Perry
5 - Molly Dickason
5 - David Zerger
7 - Ann Franklin
8 - Mark Watson
8 - Joseph West
11 - Jordan Burrows
11 - Jack Robertson
11 - Kevin McAnally
12 - Joy Kelly
12 - Barb Nole
14 - Shelta Sneed
14 - MaryGrace Livingston-Gainey
18 - Barbara Bucchianeri
19 - Katie Fox
24 - Dylan Watts
26 - Chris Allande
26 - Tandi McAnally
Remember the
Birthday Endowment Fund!
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CHANCEL CHOIR
The Chancel Choir of College Hill Presbyterian Church continues its rehearsals on Wednesdays at 6:45 p.m. Come join in the second story choral room (next to the church office) for singing, fellowship and lots of laughter!
If you are a singer wanting to use your talents, please see Director of Music, Kim Childs..
We would love to welcome new members this upcoming spring season!
BELLissimo HANDBELL ENSEMBLE
The BELLissimo Handbell Ensemble of College Hill Presbyterian Church rehearses on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. If you are interested in playing in this fun ensemble, please contact Director of Music for more information.
SPECIAL SOLO OPPORTUNITIES
We would like members of the choir and congregation that are interested in solo vocal/instrumental opportunities to contact our Director of Music.
Click here to contact Kim if you are interested in any of our music ministry opportunities.
DR. KIM J. CHILDS, DIRECTOR OF MUSIC
MIKE GIBSON, ORGANIST
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Transform Hate Project
Spearheaded by Living Arts, Transform Hate is a city-wide initiative to promote peace through interactive projects, performances, and art shows.
108 Contemporary is partnering with College Hill to reach the goal of folding 1,000 paper cranes, which according to Japanese folklore would grant a wish: our wish for peace.
Participants can either come by the church or the 108 Contemporary gallery to fold a paper crane. Project runs through the end of this month.
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February Book Club  Sunday, February 15
The Invention of Wings
by Sue Monk Kidd
As described on Amazon.com: From the celebrated author of The Secret Life of Bees, The Invention of Wings: A Novel is a magnificent novel about two unforgettable American women. Writing at the height of her narrative and imaginative gifts, Sue Monk Kidd presents a masterpiece of hope, daring, the quest for freedom, and the desire to have a voice in the world.
The Invention of Wings: A Novel by Sue Monk Kidd is available at book stores, your local library, and other book sources.
Book Club will meet for lunch and discussion on Sunday, February 15th, at Panera Bread (1624 E. 15th St., just west of Utica on the south side of 15th St.) immediately following worship service (about 12:15pm). If you are interested in more information about Book Club, click (name) to contact Fritha Ohlson.
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Open Arms Youth Project Meal
 Thursday, February 26
The Outreach & Mission Ministry Team will be serving the meal at Open Arms Youth Project. Please contact Jeff Ream or Tim Smith-Ream for more information and to find out how you can help!
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Marcus J. Borg
Liberal Scholar on Historical Jesus, Dies at 72
By Laurie Goodstein, 1-26-15, New York Times
Marcus J. Borg, a scholar who popularized a liberal intellectual approach to Christianity with his lectures and books about Jesus as a historical figure, died on Wednesday at his home in Powell Butte, Ore. He was 72.
Professor Borg was among a group of scholars, known as the Jesus Seminar, who set off an uproar with its very public efforts to discern collectively which of Jesus' acts and utterances could be confirmed as historically true, and which were probably myths.
His studies of the New Testament led him not toward atheism but toward a deep belief in the spiritual life and in Jesus as a teacher, healer and prophet. Professor Borg became, in essence, a leading evangelist of what is often called progressive Christianity.
Click here to read more.
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College Hill
Recycle and Donation Center
 We are re-purposing the old cabinets in the hallway outside of Fellowship Hall for use as a place to deposit recycling and donations. Temporary signs should be up by the time you read this with permanent signs to follow shortly. Recycle bins will accommodate paper, cans, plastic bags, compact fluorescent lamps, batteries, and printer cartridges. Donation bins will be provided for diapers and baby care products, dry goods and hygiene items, and school supplies.
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Penny Fund
Thank you for your donations to the Penny Fund! You are always welcome to donate your pennies (or any loose change), in the red container on the Narthex table. This money goes toward funding many College Hill events/needs!
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Flower Chart Sign Up
If you would like to bring flowers to decorate the sanctuary for an upcoming worship service, please sign up on the Flower Chart on the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall. There are many dates for 2015 available. Your dedication will also be announced in the worship bulletin.
Flowers can be purchased from any store or brought from home. Please bring them in two containers the morning of the service for which you have signed up. |
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2015 Birthday Endowment Fund
2015 brings about another Birthday for each of us.
A meaningful way to celebrate this occasion is to donate an amount equal to your new age to the Endowment Fund.
This donation is also a wonderful way to honor others such as children, grandchildren and friends and allows the church to have funds available for special projects.
Birthday Fund envelopes are available on the Narthex table, under the Birthday balloon. Checks can be made payable to College Hill and marked "Birthday Fund" on the memo portion of the check.
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KWI 1st Sunday Food Collection
Sunday, February 1st
Our 1st Sunday Food Collection goes to the Kendall Whittier, Inc. Emergency Food Pantry.
Currently, there is an urgent need for canned goods, especially canned beans, canned meat (chili, spaghetti, stew, chicken, etc.), canned vegetables and canned fruit, as well as other food items. Cash donations are also always welcome.
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Marcus Borg, a "hero in the faith" for many of us, passed away in January at the age of 72. He was a historical scholar of the New Testament and early Christianity, member of the Jesus Seminar, and a brilliant author of books concerning God, Jesus, the Bible, faith, and the Christian Life. The religious community, across the entire spectrum of theological thought, owes a debt of gratitude to Borg and his work.
Before there was even an official term for what we now call Progressive Christianity, Borg, along with others like Jon Dominic Crossan and John Shelby Spong, formed the leading edge of this progressive movement within Christianity.
Borg authored influential books like, Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time: The Historical Jesus and the Heart of Contemporary Faith (1994), and Reading the Bible Again for the First Time: Taking the Bible Seriously but not Literally (2001).
I was profoundly influenced by these works, but no more so than by his 2002 book, The Heart of Christianity: Rediscovering a Life of Faith. It was when I read that particular book that Christianity in the 21st century all started to make sense. In the Preface to that book, Borg lays out the difference between what he calls the 'earlier paradigm,' and the 'emerging paradigm' of seeing Christianity. Here's a quick synopsis:
"Earlier paradigm" - views the Bible as the unique revelation of God, emphasizes its literal meaning, and sees the Christian life as centered in believing now for the sake of salvation later - believing in God, the Bible, and Jesus as the way to heaven. Typically, it has also seen Christianity as the only true religion.
"Emerging paradigm" - a product of Christianity's encounter with the modern and postmodern world, including science, historical scholarship, religious pluralism, and cultural diversity; a product of our awareness of how Christianity has contributed to racism, sexism, nationalism, exclusivism, and other harmful ideologies.
For the majority of the members and friends of College Hill, including myself, the earlier version of Christianity no longer works. That's why Borg and others are moving us to explore what is really at the heart of Christianity - which also implies that it is deeper than just the intellect and the world of ideas, or any set of Christian beliefs.
I commend the books and work of Marcus Borg to you as you explore your own journey of faith. (To see the article written about Borg in the New York Times after his death, look at "Something for the Spirit" in this eNewsletter).
Concerning death and the afterlife, I'll close with a quote from Borg himself. Religious leaders everywhere should take heed to also have the courage to simply state, "I don't know."
"So, is there an afterlife, and if so, what will it be like? I don't have a clue. But I am confident that the one who has buoyed us up in life will also buoy us up through death. We die into God. What more that means, I do not know. But that is all I need to know." - Marcus Borg, 1942-2015.
Blessings,
Rev. Todd Freeman |
February 18th in Fellowship Hall
Come prepare your hearts and minds for Lent!
Monastic Soup Dinner and
Contemplative Readings
5:45 pm
Worship Service
6:15 pm
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College Hill 2015 Session
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Standing (left to right): David Zerger, Bill Major, Danielle Hovenga, Jeff Ream, Nancy Gammie, Clay Finck-Ward, Tally Ferguson, Rev. Freeman
Seated (left to right): Jennifer Campbell, Christy Lyke, Gini Fox, Pat Valencia, Bert Woodall, Johnna Thurston
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2015 Ministry Teams:
Building & Grounds
Jeff Ream*, Gini Fox, David Zerger
Christian Education
Nancy Gammie*
Congregational Care
Gini Fox*
Evangelism & Communication
Danielle Hovenga*, Clay Finck-Ward
Fellowship
Clay Finck-Ward*
Pat Valencia
Finance & Stewardship
Bill Major*, Johnna Thurston
Hispanic Fellowship
Pat Valencia*, Danielle Hovenga
Nominating
Pat Valencia*, Christy Lyke
Outreach & Mission
Tally Ferguson*, Jeff Ream, Pat Valencia
Personnel
Johnna Thurston*, Christy Lyke
Worship & Music
Bert Woodall*, Gini Fox, Christy Lyke
* Denotes Moderator
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Rev. Todd and his dog Jack, hard at work during the SESSION RETREAT held at their home Jan 10.
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Groups &
Volunteer Opportunities
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Celtic Spirituality Small Group
 The Celtic Spirituality group will gather on Tuesday, February 3, 2015 at 6:30 pm at the home of Mark and Gay Miller. We will be discussing the Gaelic festival of Imbolc which is also know as St. Brigid's day. Imbolc is a time for anticipating the end of winter and the rebirth of the natural world. During our gathering we will also explore the feminine spiritual forces and be discussing hospitality. Click (name) to contact Mark if you have any questions. |
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Parents Fellowship Group
Saturday, January 31
A new fellowship group has been formed for parents in the congregation with young children! Our goals for this group include fun, support, service, and an opportunity for the parents and our children to get to know each other better and form lasting friendships.
Our first event will be held on January 31st at the home of Fritha and Patrick Ohlson. Please plan to attend and bring your children! Click (name) to contact Amy Williamson for the venue address or more information about the group. Disclaimer: this group does not yet have a catchy name.
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Worship Connection
Volunteers Needed
We are in need of volunteers for our Worship Connection schedule for 2015 who can work with our young children during worship service 3-4 times during the year.
New volunteers will need to submit to a basic background check, per our church policy. Please click (name) to contact Gary Watts.
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Connect with Our Youth Group!
We're getting the band back together!
OK, maybe not the band, but we are getting the youth group back together. College Hill is joining with Fellowship United Church of Christ, First Lutheran, Bethany Christian and Eastside Christian. Each of these churches are in a similar place as College Hill - a small number of youth, but not enough for a "critical mass".
Together this group hopes to provide an open, caring environment for everyone. Initially the group will meet once a month, with a heavy focus on fun activities and as time (and success) progresses, adding mission and study opportunities as well.
College Hill is lucky to have Brian Fink-Ward,
Rebecca Howard and Joy Kelly (not pictured) serve as the youth group sponsors.
Click (name above) to contact Brian or Rebecca for more information.
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DF7O8 Sign Up
We are now planning our winter dinners. If you volunteered to host a winter Dinner For 7-8, you have already received your list of guests. If you need a new copy of this list please request that from Clay Finck-Ward. Winter dinners for 7-8 will be held sometime in February or March.
If you are a guest wondering whose home will be hosting, there is a master list posted in Fellowship Hall.
I f you have any questions or concerns feel free to (click name) to contact Clay. |
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Kendall-Whittier, Inc.
Welcomes New Executive Director
Reverend Todd, who also serves as the President of Kendall Whittier, Inc., is pleased to announce the appointment of Lori Decter Wright as the organization's new Executive Director.
As Executive Director, Ms. Decter Wright will oversee operations and staff, fundraising, communications and the organizations two programs: Emergency Food Pantry and GROW Garden/Tipton Garden.
She was previously the Director of Education and Membership for Sweet Adelines International, an international nonprofit music education association for women, from June 2008 through September 2014. For more than 20 years, she has served nonprofits at all program, fundraising, executive and leadership levels, and has a breadth of perspective and experience. She will bring leadership and creativity to KWI's programs and a strong commitment to serving its mission in the neighborhood.
"I look forward to learning from and partnering with the area's volunteers and nonprofit organizations to serve the residents of Kendall Whittier neighborhood" remarked Lori. "Kendall Whittier, Inc. plays an important role in improving the quality of life for those that live and work in this neighborhood and I am excited to have an opportunity to directly impact the lives of Tulsans in a positive way."
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5th Sunday Offering in February
KWI GROW/Tipton Garden
What? There's not five Sundays in February!? THAT'S RIGHT, however, March has five Sundays and the 5th Sunday happens to be Palm Sunday. Due to a packed service and the parading of palms, it's been suggested to have our 5th Sunday offering for March in February!
Okay, now that we know when, what shall we bring forth for one of our Mission projects? We have once again chosen the Kendall-Whittier GROW/Tipton Garden! That's Growing to Reach Out and Welcome.
As you get your garden ready for Spring, help their garden with money to purchase a good set of loppers and a strong garden fork. They will also be happy to receive work gloves, hand trowels and other garden tools!
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