AUGUST 2019

“On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.” - Psalm 145: 5

Rev. Leigh Benish

Pastorleigh.hillup@zoominternet.net
SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP
10:30 A.M.—Worship Service Elder Louise Evans
11:30 A.M.—Coffee, Snacks, and Fellowship Time in the Fellowship Hall
Jenny Martin, Choir Director

Nancy Slezak, Memorial Handbell

Director and Organist

Kathleen Davis

Elean Heist, Administrative Assistant

and Financial Secretary
Elean.hillup@zoominternet.net

Lyn Goehring, Treasurer

John D. Whittington
#hillupflatjesus
is having out of this world adventures this summer!

501 Second Street

Butler, Pennsylvania 16001
724-287-5427
E-mail: hillup@zoominternet.net
www.hillup.org
WORSHIP SCHEDULE
SUNDAY MORNING
WORSHIP SERVICES
10:30 - 11:30 A.M.

SUNDAY
AUGUST 4, 2019
8th Sunday After Pentecost
Lord’s Supper - By Intinction

Rev. Leigh Benish

Scripture: 1 Samuel 2: 1-10; Psalm 16

AUGUST 11, 2019

9th Sunday After Pentecost

Rev. Leigh Benish

Scripture: Psalm 147: 1-11; Isaiah 40: 21-31

AUGUST 18, 2019

10th Sunday After Pentecost

Rev. Leigh Benish

Scripture: Isaiah 49: 8-15; Matthew 6: 24-34

AUGUST 25, 2019

11th Sunday After Pentecost
WorshipWithoutWalls

Rev. Leigh Benish

Scripture: Psalm 71: 1-6; Jeremiah 1: 4-10

 Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been
revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him,
for we will see him as he is. –1 John 3:2

This July I had the blessing of attending two different continuing education
events. The first was the Centennial Assembly of The International
Association of Women Ministers, held in Pittsburgh. The second was the Annual Conference
for Young Clergy Women, International, held in Atlanta, GA.

These were very different experiences. While both are international in scope and for female
ministers in particular, one was held close to home and one far away. One was for
clergywomen of all ages, while the other is only for clergywomen under 40. At one I was
simply a participant; at the other, I was on the conference planning team.

Although different in many ways, both conferences coincidentally (or providentially?) had a
similar topic The IAWM conference’s theme was Women’s Prophetic Leadership In A
Changing Church, and the YCWI conference theme was Alters and Altered. Both looked at
transformation and change, from a personal level all the way up to a systemic Church level.

Transformation and change can be scary, especially when we feel it is forced upon us. This
congregation has gone through a lot of change in the last few years, and for many this has been
quite uncomfortable. My mere presence in the pulpit at Hill is a prime example of this change.

The larger Church is facing similar change. In her book The Great Emergence, the late Phyllis
Tickle wrote that, historically, approximately every 500 years, the Church has a “giant
rummage sale,” an intense period where the Church has to decide what to keep, what to get rid
of, and how to make room for new things. About five centuries after the birth of Christ, the
Roman Empire fell, changing the public nature of Christianity. Around 500 years later, the
Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox church divided in what is now known as the
Great Schism. And 500 years after that, we saw the beginning of the Protestant Reformation,
which resulted in new branches of Christianity. This is said to have started in 1517.

We are, many theologians and church historians argue, in another “rummage sale” period. The
greater Christian church, in many ways, is in a time of enormous upheaval. Mirroring our
culture at large, we are seeing increased division and disagreement between various branches
of Christianity. And we only seem to be moving farther apart.

As dire as this may sound, I actually find it exciting to be alive and a part of a great revision of
our faith. Yes, it is uncomfortable and scary. But I have incredible hope that God is guiding
us, and that we are moving faithfully forward toward God’s Kingdom. As challenging as it is,
may we continue to be open to the movement of the Spirit within us as individuals, a
congregation, and a broader Church, so that we may continue to make room for all of God’s
people.

Peace-
Rev. Leigh

3
 BIBLE READING S FOR AUGUST

Date Morning Evening

1 Ps. 57, 58, 59 Rom. 4
2 Ps. 60, 61, 62 Rom. 5
2nd - David Jacox, Jr. 3 Ps. 63, 64, 65 Rom. 6
4 Ps. 66, 67 Rom. 7
5th - Mason Brewster 5 Ps. 68,69 Rom. 8: 1-21
6th - Lydia Osniak 6 Ps. 70, 71 Rom. 8: 22-39
7 Ps. 72, 73 Rom. 9: 1-15
8th - Nancy Daugherty 8 Ps. 74, 75, 76 Rom. 9: 16-33
9th - Jim Kamerer 9 Ps. 77, 78 Rom. 10
10 Ps. 79, 80 Rom. 11: 1-18
10th - Thomas McGrath 11 Ps. 81, 82, 83 Rom. 11: 19-36
12th - Patricia McCafferty 12 Ps. 84, 85, 86 Rom. 12
13 Ps. 87, 88 Rom. 13
14th - Brenda Jacox 14 Ps. 89, 90 Rom. 14
16th - Ian Thompson 15 Ps. 91, 92, 93 Rom. 15: 1-13
16 Ps. 94, 95, 96 Rom. 15: 14-33
17th - Kathryn McNutt 17 Ps. 97, 98, 99 Rom. 16
18 Ps. 100, 101, 102 I. Co. 1
18th - Pam Barkus, Jesse Raabe, and 19 Ps. 103, 104 I. Co. 2
Robert Scott 20 Ps. 105, 106 I. Co. 3
21 Ps. 107, 108, 109 I. Co. 4
20th - Phyllis Beale 22 Ps. 110, 111, 112 I. Co. 5
21st - David Jacox, Sr. 23 Ps. 113, 114, 115 I. Co. 6
24 Ps. 116, 117, 118 I. Co. 7: 1-19
22nd - Kim Arn, Nick Jacox , and 25 Ps. 119: 1-88 I. Co. 7: 20-40
Nicholas Slomer 26 Ps. 119: 89-176 I. Co. 8
27 Ps. 120, 121, 122 I. Co. 9
26th - Robert Graham 28 Ps. 123, 124, 125 I. Co. 10: 1-18
30th - Benjamin Mikan and Jonathon Rogerson 29 Ps. 126, 127, 128 I. Co. 10: 19-33
30 Ps. 129, 130, 131 I. Co. 11: 1-16
31st - Jeffrey Miller 31 Ps. 132, 133, 134 I. Co. 11: 17-34

COME JOIN OUR FAMILY OF FAITH!!

Invite a guest or two as you give thanks and worship our Lord in the beauty
of His creation during our annual Worship Without Walls service on
Sunday, August 25th at the Masonic Shelter at Alameda Park (the large
shelter beside the big, purple playground). Again, we have invited other
WORSHIP ATTENDANCE
Presbyterian churches in our area to join us! Our annual Church picnic will IN JUNE AND JULY
immediately follow worship. The Nurture Committee asks that you bring a
salad or side dish to serve at least 10 people (no Sunday
refrigeration is available). The committee will
provide hot dogs with a choice of toppings. Other 6/2 88
churches will bring desserts, and drinks. Contact 6/9 100
the Worship Committee for more information or
to volunteer to help. 6/16 57
6/23 107
On a steamy July evening, 18 Community Dinner volunteers served
a picnic-style dinner to 80 guests. The menu was chicken, potato 6/30 89
salad, green bean salad, watermelon, and cake. In addition to cakes 7/7 70
baked by the volunteers, Barb Graham and Pam Lentz donated 7/14 92
cakes this month. Thank you to everyone who served and baked!
4 7/21 72
 The Mission Support Committee thanks you for your overwhelming
support for the female veterans who will reside at Robin’s Home. Because
of your generosity, we delivered the following items to the
home: 24 toothbrushes, 27 tubes of toothpaste, 37 bottles of shampoo and
conditioner, 59 soaps, 19 boxes of tissues, 29 feminine hygiene products,
24 deodorants, 6 cans of shaving cream, 10 body lotions, and a number of miscellaneous items.

The Committee itself, through the line item of New Mission Initiatives, donated $250.00 for utilities as well
as a pack and play and a stroller. The Board of Deacons also donated generously, contributing $500.00 of
Boscov’s gift cards that were used to purchase curtains, throw rugs, wall art, and other household items.

The Mission Support Committee and Robin’s Home director Mary Chitwood are extremely grateful for this
congregation. Your faith is once again made evident through your generous giving.

IN
WEDNESDAYS ALL AROUND THE WORLD began on July 10 with a “visit” to
Canada. Pastor Leigh led us in hands on devotions based on Genesis 1, our Grill Guys
served up excellent burgers and hotdogs. Then we were off to play Native American
hockey with Mr. Chad, make Dreamcatchers with Ms. Louise and Ms. Nancy or make
maple, bacon donuts with Chef David and Sous chef Gerry. (Several of the students
visited Ms. Kathleen the next day to help with her move to a new home and they were
SO happy to eat the left-over donuts!) A VERY good time was had by all. Our next
stops are Morocco, Japan, and Chile.

TUESDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY participants – Thursday, August 8 is the date for
our trip to Kelso Bible Museum. We will meet here at 9:00 AM. Now comes the extremely
hard part of our journey- where will we eat? The Highland Park section has several
interesting spots: Smiling Banana Leaf (Thai), Park Bruges (Belgian), Teppanyaki Kyoto
(Japanese), Taza D’Oro (a coffee shop that also sells great sandwiches and salads), and that perennial favorite-
the Lock and Dam Dog shop. By far the best burgers, fries, and hot dogs in the Burgh. (Technically in
Morningside.)

The National Youth Triennium is underway. Our delegation of seven students and two adults
left at 6:15 AM on Tuesday, July 16. Amazingly, everything fit in the van with two cubic inches
to spare. We are so proud of our students and so grateful to Steve Arn and Barb Graham, our
incredible youth leaders.

Don’t forget to spread the word amongst friends and fellow Presbyterians! The Education committee is
sponsoring a new activity at Worship without Walls- The Butler Highland Games. Kids of all ages can join
in some unusual adaptations of traditional Scottish sports after lunch. Pastors of the participating churches
will be standing beneath the traditional weight toss (although the weights will be water balloons). Our high
school students are eagerly awaiting the chance to help out. I hope our gentlemen are as eagerly pressing their
kilts and buffing their sporrans for their kilt contest!

The session did not met in July, but will meet again on Monday, August 12, 2019. New
and returning elders will be welcomed.
Louise Evans, Clerk
5
 FLAT JESUS FAILS TO MAKE A SPLASH in LAKE ERIE

Summary of the 2019 Ghana Mission Network(GMN) Meeting Erie, Pa. June 27-29, 2019
Hosted by Lake Erie Presbytery

The annual meeting of the GMN was attended by Nancy and Norbert Slezak, Flat Jesus, and Jim
Ihlenfeld, all who were self-funded for the meeting. Over 60 persons were in attendance and
were housed at Gannon University with the worship and business portion of the meeting held at
the First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant.

The GMN, begun in 2001, is a yearly meeting of Presbyterians who have a strong interest in
mission between the country of Ghana in West Africa and the United States. Every 3 rd year the
gathering is in West Africa. Ghana has two branches of Presbyterianism. The Evangelical
Presbyterian Church of Ghana (EPC) is the denomination to which we are in partnership. The
Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) is the other denomination. The difference? Theological
differences are slight, but it is due to German evangelists/missionaries forming the EPC in 1847
and evangelists/missionaries from the Basel Missionaries (Swiss) and Scottish Mission forming
the PCG. Each founded churches based on the tenants of their home denomination.

Mission is changing in the sense that the PC(USA) is focusing less on sending folks out and then
having them come back. Mission is still about sending people, but more so about building
relationships, teaching, helping partners to do whatever is needed for them to become more self-
sufficient. This is what Hill Church is hoping for in our providing scholarship money. In return,
we expect the scholarship young women to write letters, send pictures and share their lives via
social media. This would be their gift to us.

PARTNERSHIP CONNECTIONS

Westminster Church-Albany NY with Greenwich Meridian and Tema Redemption churches.

Projects include a ‘Keeping Girls in School’ project ($6,000), sustainable agricultural project
($2,000), support Josh Heikkila ($5,000), and healthcare for developing teenage girls.

Calvin Church-Beaver-Butler Presbytery with Oti Presbytery of the EPC of Ghana. This is in the
planning stages. The hope is to provide funds for Catechist training through Peki Seminary.
There is a great shortage of trained ministers or Catechists. Some pastors serve six churches and
more churches keep cropping up. Evangelism is rampant in Ghana.

Hill UP Church with the Bubiashie District of the EPC of Ghana. Scholarship money is provided
for young women to be able to attend high school or college (70 in this past year).

Jim Thomas, International Director with the Prison Ministry of Ghana. This is the 24th year.
Rehabilitation is the goal. Women are taught to bake bread. Men are taught to make concrete
blocks. The ministry holds weekly bible studies in all prisons. Preaching is a regular Sunday
offering. 5000 bibles have been provided to prisoners. Future goals include farming land in
Zebilla, complete a greenhouse project on Ho, drill for water in Zebilla, and establish a vegetable
project in Akuse.

6
There are many other partnerships, some dealing with Living Waters of the World, visitations
between the partners, motorbikes for Pastors, financial resources for chapel construction,
establishment of a mid-wifery school, and a street children ministry in Nenyo Haborbor. There
are many more Spirit led activities. Thanks be to God.

BUSINESS MEETING

This was very informal. There were no motions. Consensus was very important to move
forward. We discussed several items including what was best for each partnership. How do
Ghanaians and Americans understand each other (not language as all speak English)? How do
we work together for the common good? All need to monitor and evaluate their partnership.

Ruth Brown, a Mission Co-worker, came to us via Skype and explained a project of agri-
forestation in the Upper Northern Region. She spoke of the situation with women accused of
being witches. She is working with a literacy project and educating church members in writing
skills.

Reverend Dr. Hunter Farrell, Director of World Mission Initiatives, located at Pittsburgh
Theological Seminary spoke of cross-cultural barriers and understanding the differences between
these from the perspective of each country or even each section of the USA.

Elder John Etheridge from Rocky Mount, North Carolina, talked of his Christian journey to this
point. He is long time retired, but has signed on to be a long-volunteer where he will become
established in Ho and will tutor and mentor youth, will assist in addressing root causes of
poverty, and will counsel and nurture older adults. He needed $10,000 by September 1st and has
just begun his fundraising. Right after Elder Etheridge’s presentation, a young pastor pledged
$1,000 on the spot.

A young woman came into the meeting towards the end. Lauren Vaughn has a dream. She is a
graduate of the Savannah College of Art & Design with a Master’s degree from the Frank Lloyd
Wright School of Architecture in 2011. Currently she is enrolled at Pittsburgh Theological
Seminary. Lauren had just returned from Ghana. Her dream? By the end of five years she will
have designed and constructed a school for high school students in the Upper Northern Region
where no such school exists. She expects to staff this school for 600 students from that region.
Let us pray for this woman with a vision.

Next year’s meeting is scheduled for Tamale, Ghana, in the Upper Northern Region. It is about a
ten-hour drive north from the capital of Accra on ‘sketchy’ roads. Air flights are strongly
encouraged.

By the way, Flat Jesus said that he had been on a lake many years ago. He preferred to stay back
and pray for the attendees of the GMN meeting to have a safe ride on the Lady Kate as they saw
the sights of Erie.
Mark and Karen Scott, Mark is the son of our former Youth/Associate Pastor
Rev. C. Arthur Scott (1962-1966), stopped in Butler for a visit this past week.
He was able to talk to Ruth and Bob Scott and share some memories. Should
you be interested in contacting them please see Elean Heist for their
information. 7
8
 VOLUNTEERS FOR AUGUST 2019
USHER COUNTING CHURCH FELLOWSHIP
LITURGIST ACOLYTE OPENER/
TEAM ELDERS HOUR
POWERPOINT

Pat
Brennen Elder
Ladies’ Ben Alan Volunteer
AUGUST 4 Steve
Team Pam Huba Milanovich Needed
Arn
Lentz
Steve Pat
Arn Deacon McCafferty’s
Ladies’ Bella Louise
AUGUST 11 Barb 90th
Team Mike Heist Evans
Graham Birthday
Freeze Celebration
Terre
Men’s Patterson Suzzanne Juliet Anne
AUGUST 18 Deacons
Team Anne Freeze Miller Miller
Miller
Marcia
Worship McCaw
AUGUST 25 Without Worship Without Walls
Walls Becky
Plymale
Communion Team – Team B
Newsletter Team in AUGUST (for September) – Team B (Willing Workers)
Sunday morning ride service driver for AUGUST - Marsh Miller (724-287-5444)

PULPIT FLOWERS
AUGUST 4 AUGUST 11 AUGUST 18 AUGUST 25
Donated in loving
Donated in loving
Donated with love in memory of None
memory of
memory of her dad, Jean Anderson Worship
Eli Barber
gone but not forgotten, by Without
by
by Karen Bryson. John Anderson Walls
Susan Catanzarito.
and family

PEW GREETERS
Hill Church for many years was known as “The Glad Hand Church.” The Nurture
Committee wants to continue this tradition. Pew Greeters will now welcome visitors,
encourage them to sign the guest registry, and invite them to Fellowship Hour on Sunday.
MIDDLE SECTION—BRADY STREET SECTION PEARL ST. SECTION—OVERFLOW AREA
AUGUST 4 Sharon Montag, 724-285-3231 Karen Shultz, 724-283-2413
AUGUST 11 Nancy Daugherty, 724-285-1013 Janet Edinger, 724-282-7782
AUGUST 18 Lois Minich, 724-283-1875 Volunteer Needed
AUGUST 25 Volunteer Needed Volunteer Needed
 SUN MON TUE WED THURS FRI SAT
1 2 3
9:00am - Hill Quilters 11:00am - AA

8th Sunday
After Pentecost
4 Lord’s Supper- 5 6 7 8 9 10
Intinction
11:00am - Staff Meeting 8:00am - Women’s 11:00am - AA
10:30am - Worship - Rev. 7:00pm - Deacons’ Fellowship Breakfast at
Leigh Benish preaching Meeting Mac’s Café
11:30am - Fellowship Hour 9:30am - Willing Workers

9th Sunday
After Pentecost
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
9:30am - Community 6:45pm - Session Meeting 11:00am - Staff Meeting 8:00am - Women’s 11:00am - AA
Lunches Fellowship Breakfast at
10:30am - Worship - Rev. Mac’s Café
Leigh Benish preaching 5:00pm - Community
11:30am - Fellowship Hour Dinner
Janice Carter

“Let the heavens

be glad, and let the
10th Sunday
earth rejoice; let 18 After Pentecost
19 20 21 22 23 24
the sea roar, and 10:30am - Worship - Rev. 11:00am - Staff Meeting 8:00am - Women’s 11:00am - AA
Leigh Benish preaching Fellowship Breakfast at
11:30am - Fellowship Hour Mac’s Café
all that fills it; let 9:30am - Willing Workers

the field exult, and

everything in it.
Then shall all the 11th Sunday
After
Pentecost 26 27 28 29 30 31
trees of the forest 25 Worship Without Walls at
Masonic Shelter - Alameda 11:00am - Staff Meeting 8:00am - Women’s 6:00pm - Handbell Practice 11:00am - AA
Park Fellowship Breakfast at
sing for joy before Mac’s Café
10:30am - Worship - Rev.
Leigh Benish preaching
the Lord” 11:30am - Church-wide
Picnic and Highland Games
Psalm 96: 11-13a
Cut out the picture and Bible verse and use it as your bookmark for your Bible for the month of August!