GET INVOLVED
EDUCATION | SERVICE | FELLOWSHIP | MUSIC | WORSHIP
Education
We believe that education is a life-long activity; one that is essential to the health and spiritual vitality of our community. To that end, the Education Ministry seeks to support individuals of all ages in their spiritual growth, notably through organizing classes, discussion groups, and various special and seasonal events.
Sunday School | Youth and Adult
CHPC offers a slate of educational opportunities for all ages and interests. During the year, from 9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., we offer Sunday school classes for children. If you are interested in Adult Sunday School, please check out our calendar or contact the Education Elder.
There is no Church School from Memorial Day through Labor Day and on the Sunday following Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s.
Additional Study Groups and Special Events
Want to know what else we’re up to? Check out our calendar for ongoing and upcoming discussion groups as well as other special and seasonal programming.
Service
We contribute time, talent, materials, and money to projects at the church, in partnership with community organizations, and through the National Capital Presbytery (NCP) and Presbyterian Church (USA). Our Service Ministry primarily focuses on the four areas below.
Feeding the Hungry
One of our congregation's favorite service projects is our monthly preparation of 150 breakfast burritos for Our Daily Bread. If you are interested in helping out, please check our church calendar for the date of our next “Burrito Sunday.”
Each February, we participate in the nationwide Souper Bowl of Caring, typically raising over $1000 for community nutrition programs.
Throughout the year, we also organize and send volunteers to the Capital Area Food Bank.
Welcoming the Stranger
CHPC works with other congregations on Capitol Hill to help resettle refugee families who have recently arrived in the United States. Through Good Neighbor Capitol Hill, we've outfitted more than 50 families.
For more information, check out this presentation.
Supporting Our Neighbors
CHPC was a founding member of Everyone Home DC and regularly supports their housing programs financially. Each November, CHPC prepares Thanksgiving Baskets for families working with Everyone Home DC.
You can also help your neighbors in need of household goods through Mutual Aid Ward 6.
Going Beyond Our City
We've organized teams to serve others beyond our home community, including rebuilding in response to natural disasters and to areas experiencing extreme poverty.
Every year, we financially support the social justice and advocacy work of the National Capital Presbytery.
Through PCUSA's denominational programs, CHPC assists national and international efforts through annual offerings for Peace & Global Witness, Christmas Joy, One Great Hour of Sharing, and Pentecost.
Each December, we also encourage alternative gifts of love through Fonkoze (micro-finance lending organization in Haiti) and the PCUSA's Alternative Giving.
Fellowship
Nurturing and supporting our church family (members and friends) through warm and welcoming events sustain a living, loving community of faith. Our mission is both inward, nurturing those who regularly participate in our church life, and outward, welcoming new attendees.
Women’s Prayer Group
The Women’s Prayer Group was formed in 1993 by three church members seeking greater spirituality in their lives. All women in the congregation were invited to participate. Initially, we met at lunchtime as several of us were home with babies. After a few years, the group began to meet on Saturday mornings.
We take turns hosting the group in our homes. The host provides breakfast foods, and others are invited to bring items too. We eat and socialize for the first hour and pray during the second.
At our meetings, which now occur on the first Saturday of the month, everyone brings a prayer journal to record one another’s prayer requests. Over time we can see how our prayers have been answered. It is a lovely way to spend a Saturday morning.
Our prayer methods are based on the book, What Happens When Women Pray, by Evelyn Christenson, who created the Six S’s:
Pray about one subject at a time
Keep prayers short
Keep prayers simple
Offer specific prayer requests
Allow for silent periods
Keep groups small.
The women’s prayer group is currently being led by Diane Shages. Please check the church calendar but be sure to contact Diane about meeting times and dates.
Men’s Fellowship Group
The Men’s Fellowship Group is an opportunity to get to know the men in our church on a more personal level. We meet at local restaurants for lunch twice per month—the first and third Tuesday of the month. It is fun to talk about issues of the day or things going on in our lives. If you are interested in participating, please reach out to Mike Rutkowski. Upcoming lunches are also noted on our calendar.
Meet-Ups and Special Events
Throughout the year, we organize a variety of additional special events, informal gatherings, and other opportunities to meet up outside of Sunday worship (including an annual baseball game outing). Please check out our calendar for upcoming activities!
Hospitality
We are also called upon to act in ad hoc events as they arise (such as meal trees for new parents or for those experiencing illnesses/accidents). Current and upcoming needs can be found in Lifelinks, our weekly newsletter.
Outreach
For those who are interested in joining our church, we host membership classes throughout the year. These classes meet on a Sunday evening and include teaching about the Presbyterian Church, Reformed Theology, and the work of CHPC. This class is taught by our minister.
Following completion of the class, new members are approved by the Session and welcomed in worship.
Music
Worship at CHPC is always filled with beautiful music led by our choir, which is open to anyone with a desire to lift their voice in praise of God. Music in worship is guided by a philosophy of sacred music as worship rather than performance.
Choir
The choir sings from September through May. Special music is prepared for Christmas and Easter, and the choir performs concerts during the year as opportunities for community fellowship and outreach.
Practice times are Sunday before worship at 9:00 am (warm-up rehearsal) and following worship from 12:30 to 1:30 pm. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact our Music Director, Caitriona McEniry-Roeschke.
Children’s Choir
The children’s choir meets each Sunday as part of their Sunday School time and sings in worship several times during the year. If your child is interested in getting involved, all they need to do is show up on Sunday!
Additional Opportunities
During the summer, individuals regularly contribute their musical talents—both vocal and instrumental—to worship. To get involved, please sign-up via SignUpGenius.
You may also contact our Music Director, Caitriona McEniry-Roeschke, directly if you would like to sing or play an instrument in worship then or during other parts of the year.
Worship
The Worship Ministry is the primary vehicle for planning the worship life of the church; we strive to create and maintain a worship environment in which the congregation—members, visitors, and regular attendees (friends)—can have a meaningful, enriching experience through our weekly and special seasonal services.
Serving on Sundays
Interested in getting involved in Sunday worship? There are numerous ways that you can help, including through: