We welcome Dave Bush as our preacher today. Dave is originally from San Diego, California. After graduating from college, he moved to a beautiful little college town in Northern California; while in Chico, Dave earned an M.A. in history, taught U.S. history at local colleges, volunteered at a soup kitchen, was an advocate for students and adjunct faculty in the community college system, and spent his free time fly fishing for trout in cool Sierra Nevada mountain streams. Finally listening to God’s call, Dave entered Princeton Theological Seminary. It was there that he met Molly, and they were married in Tulsa on May 5, 2005 (05-05-05 an easy date to remember!). They now live in the Highlands with their two dogs, Burnin’ and Huckleberry.

Jane Larsen-Wigger, our pastor, is traveling with a group of pastors in the Holy Land until February 10. She covets your prayers for her and the group as they travel. If you have a pastoral concern, please contact Mary Love, Parish Associate, at 541-7434 or Carlos Lara, Seminary Intern, at 619-2846 or Sky Olt, Seminary Intern, at 445-9900.

Lunch Bunch is an opportunity to go out for lunch after worship and get to know others better.  Newcomers are especially welcome. Today we will be going to El Terasco, 110 Fairfax Avenue, 895-8010. For more information or directions, someone will be available in the Gathering Room after worship with a Lunch Bunch button or sign.

Bowl of Caring: "Lord, even as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us be mindful of those who are without a bowl of soup to eat." More than 20 years ago, this simple prayer from a single youth group began the Souper Bowl of Caring—an inspiring, youth-led movement to help hungry and hurting people around the world. Today, 140 million Americans will tune in to the Super Bowl football game. There will be parties with abundant food, friendship and fellowship. At the same time, there will be people worrying about staying warm, finding shelter and a warm meal. Please join young people around the country as they demonstrate God's love by loving their neighbors through the Souper Bowl of Caring. It's a simple, yet significant act of caring for others. Drop $1 (or more) or drop one non-perishable food item (or more) in the soup pot as you leave worship. Donations will be given to support the United Crescent Hill Ministries food pantry. Checks may be made out to CHPC.

Youth Group: After collecting for the Souper Bowl of Caring, youth (in grades 6-12) will meet for lunch in Fellowship Hall, followed by a "canstruction" design competition in teams using canned food donations. No regular youth group this afternoon.

UCHM Discount Cards: Janine Linder, one of our United Crescent Hill Ministries (UCHM) board members, will be selling $10 Discount Cards after worship to help support our neighborhood UCHM. These discount cards are good for all of 2012 (take the same discount or deal more than once) and pay for themselves almost immediately. Businesses offering great discounts or deals include Comfy Cow, Homemade Pie Kitchen, Clifton Pizza, Reader’s Corner Books, Sol Azteca, Frankfort Ave. Beer Depot and Elizabeth’s Timeless Attire. UCHM is in a critical funding situation like most of the nonprofits and every dollar spent on these cards goes to help needy church neighbors in the community.  Of course, folks can also give Janine a donation check made out to United Crescent Hill Ministries (or UCHM).

EFL/ESL classes resumed on January 16 at James Lees Presbyterian Church, and we can all play a part in bringing this mission to our neighbors. Please take some of the fliers that are available in the narthex, and share them with those who can benefit from these classes. Grocery stores, restaurants, building sites and community centers are some of the places you may want to post a flier. By all means, please don't hesitate to put a flier in the hand of someone you think may benefit from these classes! A personal invitation is the very best way to bring this gift to folks. And if you would enjoy cooking a meal for the class, or teaching, please contact our intern, Sky Olt, and he will get you involved!

The Women’s Spirituality Group will be meeting again—beginning this week (Tuesday, February 7)—on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM at the home of Dana Butz. The evening includes a brief worshipful experience, discussion around a book of spirituality, and time for laughter, prayer, sharing and fun!  In February, we will begin discussing The Artist’s Rule, by Christine Paintner.  Please contact Laura Sullivan at lalalouie@gmail.com for more information about the study of this book.  Contact Dana at 339-8903 if you need directions.

Guatemala Partnership: CHPC folks interested in the church's partnership with the Estoreño Presbytery in Guatemala will gather at 5:30 PM, Wednesday, February 8, at James Lees Presbyterian Church at the corner of William Street and Frankfort Avenue (1741 Frankfort Avenue), a block from Mellwood (the entrance is on William Street). A possible prayer vigil and Guatemala trip will be discussed. Everyone is welcome.

CHPC Councils will meet on Wednesday, February 8. Everyone is invited to participate in one of these areas of our ministry: Nurture, Outreach, Stewardship, or Worship. If you have an idea or concern—or just want to get more involved in the ministry of the church—you are invited to join us. We begin at 7:00 PM together in the Fireside Room.

Senior High Retreat: Senior High Youth will be meeting at Marcia Myers’ home, 309 Chelsea Road, from 9:00 AM on Saturday, February 11, through Sunday, February 12, at 2:00 PM for speakers, worship, and fun. Bring sleeping bags, pillows, enthusiasm, snacks to share, swimsuits for hot tub.

Adult Sunday School Class for February: Our seminary intern, Schuyler Olt, will be taking us on a tour of Christianity in the Medieval world of Europe and the Mediterranean. There, we will meet knights and monks, intrepid peasants and the early ancestors of the Reformation. Our journey will also encounter early English translations of the Bible and the brave souls who published them. We will meet a barefoot king in the snow and popes in the woods of France. And what journey would be complete without meeting Michael the Drunkard? Learn some of the rich history that led to the Reformation, and which still reverberates in today's world. No passport required!  This class meets in the Fireside Room on Sundays at 9:45 AM.

Food for Thought: You are invited to join us on Sunday, February 12, after worship in Fellowship Hall for a simple lunch of soup and bread. Our speaker will be Sarah Lynn Cunningham, director of Louisville Climate Action Network. She will talk with us about climate change and how we can help reduce its impacts.

Taize Service of Healing and Peace: Our next Taize Service of Healing and Peace will be Wednesday, February 15, at 7:00 PM in the sanctuary. The service will be held every other month during 2012 on the third Wednesday of the month. Everyone is welcome. We believe you will find solace at these services—a time of silence, song, and prayer. Scripture, Words of Confession and Assurance, and Prayers of Intercession are encircled by beautiful songs led by a cantor. At the end of the service, those who choose to come forward can receive either or both blessings: The Anointing of Oil (the sign of the cross on the forehead) and The Laying on of Hands (at this time you can offer a specific prayer request if you choose.) Childcare will be provided. Any questions or concerns, please address them to the Worship Committee via email to the church office.

Friendship Ministry: The Friendship Ministry is in need of volunteers to reach out the people of our church.  These volunteers work with the deacon of the month in offering assistance to individuals and families who are experiencing illness or hospitalization, loss or distress. Primarily, you are asked to deliver a meal or call to see how they are doing.  If you would be available to help with this vital ministry within our church, please contact the church office (893-5381). 

Warm Clothes Needed: The Coalition for the Homeless needs the following items for distribution to men, women, and children: Warm coats and jackets, backpacks, blankets, shoes, boots, socks, and gloves. You may place items in the container (marked Coalition for the Homeless) in the Gathering Room (near the front doors of the sanctuary). Items will be taken often for distribution. Please continue to bring items as you are able. Thank you to those who brought the knitted hats for men, women, and children!