JUNE 2020

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.”
2 Corinthians 13: 13

Rev. Leigh Benish

Pastorleigh.hillup@zoominternet.net

Elder Louise Evans

Due to COVID-19, Jenny Martin, Choir Director

Hill Church is closed Nancy Slezak, Memorial Handbell

Director and Organist

until further notice. Kathleen Davis

Please check our Elean Heist, Administrative Assistant

website or Facebook and Financial Secretary

Elean.hillup@zoominternet.net

page for updates.

Lyn Goehring, Treasurer

Bob Cuffman

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.

JUNE 7, 2020
Trinity Sunday
Lord’s Supper - Traditional

Rev. Leigh Benish

Scripture: Psalm 8; Genesis 1: 24-31

JUNE 14, 2020
2nd Sunday After Pentecost

Rev. Leigh Benish

Scripture: Psalm 46; Genesis 6: 13-22

JUNE 21, 2020
3rd Sunday After Pentecost

Rev. Leigh Benish

Scripture: Psalm 8; Ecclesiastes 3: 1-13

JUNE 28, 2020
4th Sunday After Pentecost

Rev. Leigh Benish

Scripture: Leviticus 19: 1-2, 15-18; Matthew 22: 36-40

 Friends-

In Greek, the language in which the New Testament was written, there are
two words for “time.” One is chronos, which means a specific time. The
other is kairos, which is a time appointed by God. Basically, we’ll know it
when we get there. Think of childbirth, for example. A physician gives an
expectant mother a due date when they can expect the baby to be born. This is chronos time.
But we all know that due dates don’t really mean anything; the baby will be born when the
baby will be born, regardless of the date on the calendar. This is kairos time.

So far during this closure, the Session and leadership of the church have been looking to
chronos time. We’ve extended our closure with specific dates in mind, and have adjusted
accordingly. In our Western, particularly American, culture, chronos time is where we’re
comfortable. We like to run according to the clock. What we have learned in the past two
months is that chronos time is not a good measurement in our current situation. As Drs.
Anthony Fauci and Rachel Levine remind us often, the virus determines the timeline, not us.

The Session met on the evening of May 19, and we have collectively decided to move away
from measuring our reopening efforts on chronos time and will instead allow ourselves to
live into kairos time. So, rather than extending our closure to another specific date, the
Session has voted to remain closed for all activities and events (except for elections) until
at least when the state moves Butler County to “green,” at which point we will reevaluate.

I know this is a welcome announcement for some and deeply disappointing for others. I
hope you trust that the Session does not take making these decisions lightly, and also want
you to know that this was a unanimous decision. Taking into account all that we know at
this point, the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and the Pennsylvania
Department of Health, what other churches are doing, as well as our own personal
experience with a Covid-19 death in our own congregation, the Session and I feel confident
that this is the correct decision for us at this time.

As always, I encourage you to continue to access our online worship services and to engage
with our multiple offerings for study and fellowship. We also thank you for your generosity
in continuing to give your tithes and offerings during this time of closure, and ask that you
continue to do so. Although we are “saving” money in some places, we are starting to see
the costs of the equipment that we will need for reopening, such as cleaning supplies and
new technology.

From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you for your flexibility and understanding, and
also for the support you have shown me during this time. It is an honor to be your pastor. I
miss you all dearly and am looking forward to that day – in kairos time – when we will be
together again.

Blessings-
Pastor Leigh

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 Pipes & Bells
In previous issues I have written about the Hill Church organ and handbells. In addition it has been
interesting to feature information about the hymns used in Worship in the weekly bulletin. Our current
world wide issues have had me thinking about other music we hear during our Zoom Worship
Service. The Prelude usually associates with the theme of the service that day.

With patriotic holidays coming during the summer I began to think in another direction. During the
Memorial Day and Fourth of July times I found a hymn many of us like. That hymn is, “Mine Eyes
Have Seen the Glory” or “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”. I urge you to find the playing and
singing of this hymn at the funeral of George H. W. Bush. This is probably my favorite.

This hymn as we know it has an interesting history. The lyrics we sing are by Julia Ward Howe, poet
and abolitionist during the 1860s. Before her lyrics were written the music had another tune.

In 1861, Boston, Mass., at a flag raising ceremony at Fort Warren the tune to “Oh! Brothers” and the
“Gloria, Hallelujah” chorus was public-ally used. In 1890 the 2nd militia worked together to write the
lyrics to “John Brown's Body”. (There is a story behind this, but for you to research.) Some of the
battalion thought the lyrics were course and irreverent. In the early years of the Civil War the militia
was sent to Kentucky.

At a public review of the troops outside Washington Julia Ward Howe heard the song. Her
companion, the Rev. James Freeman Clarke, suggested that Julia write new lyrics for the fighting
men's song.

Staying at a hotel in Washington, she awoke early the next morning and before she would forget what
she had in her head she wrote the lyrics we use today. Julia's husband, Samuel was a blind scholar in
the education of the blind. Interesting are the words in the first verse of her poem. The words to one
verse follow. Originally Mrs. Howe wrote six verses.

Verse 1
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage where grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightening of his terrible swift sword,
His truth is marching on.
Chorus
Glory, glory, hallelujah! Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah! His truth is marching on.

In February 1862 the lyrics appeared on the front page of the Atlantic Monthly. The editor, James T.
Fuller, who paid Julia $5, is credited with naming the song by which it is known today.

On Mother’s Day, Marsh Miller and Barb and Jim Kamerer made and served bagged
lunches to 21 people. Left over lunches were delivered to Washington Manor personal care
home. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Hill Church continues to serve the needs of the
community.

Marsh Miller and Jim Ihlenfeld served Community Dinner to 96 guests in May. The
menu was pasta, salad, and a dinner roll served take out style from Simply Catered.

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 Across
2. David asks God to do this to know
his thoughts and desires and
challenge him.
4. God is light, so if you hid in this
God can still find you.
6. David gets upset when he thinks
about these people.
9. David wrote his thoughts as a way
to God for all He’s done.
10. This is the book in the Bible where
David’s songs/poems are kept.

Down
1. God has more of these than all the
grains of sand.
3. God knew you from the very
way before you were born.
5. We can’t get away from God. He is
with us!
7. God was involved in every
of who you are inside and out.
8. You were planned and made by
God who made you and
unique.