JULY 2020

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts; so I am helped, and my heart exults,
and with my song I give thanks to Him.” - Psalm 28: 7

Rev. Leigh Benish

Pastorleigh.hillup@zoominternet.net

Due to COVID-19, Elder Louise Evans

Hill Church is closed Nancy Slezak, Memorial Handbell

Director and Organist

until further notice. Elean Heist, Administrative Assistant

Please check our

and Financial Secretary
Elean.hillup@zoominternet.net

Lyn Goehring, Treasurer

website or Facebook Bob Cuffman

page for updates.

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
JULY 5, 2020
5th Sunday After Pentecost
Lord’s Supper - Traditional

Rev. Leigh Benish

Scripture: Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 12: 12-27

Movie: Apollo 13

JULY 12, 2020

6th Sunday After Pentecost

Rev. Leigh Benish

Scripture: Psalm 40: 5-10; Luke 1: 26-38

Movie: Elf

JULY 19, 2020

7th Sunday After Pentecost

Rev. Katie Barrett Todd

Scripture: TBA
Movie: Moana
JULY 26, 2020
8th Sunday After Pentecost

Rev. Abby Mohaupt

Scripture: 1John 5: 1-6; John 15: 9-17

Movie: Charlotte’s Web
 Therefore, as God’s choice, holy and loved, put on compassion, kindness,
humility, gentleness, and patience. -Colossians 3:12
Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they
were troubled and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. -Matthew 9:36

Compassion: “sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or

misfortunes of others.” Literally, to “suffer with.”

It’s something that is lacking in much of our society today. Even though God calls us to put
on compassion, and even though Jesus himself modeled it for us, many people today simply
lack the ability or desire to be compassionate. The “me first” attitude that has made so
many financially successful has caused the United States to have nearly 40% of the Covid-
19 cases and deaths reported worldwide. It has led to shortages of essential items. In our
collective resistance to keep the needs of others in mind, we have severely damaged not
only our national morale, but our international standing.

That’s why I am so thankful that our church is participating in a Virtual Vacation Bible
School experience this year. It’s called Compassion Camp: Be Loved, Be Kind, Be You.
The goal of this camp is to use themes (At the Table, To the Neighbor, For Myself, Along
the Way, With the World) and scripture (Luke 15:11-32; Mark 2:1-12; Mark 12:28-31; Ruth
1:1-22; Leviticus 25) to help all of us better understand and practice compassion for each
other.

Through prerecorded videos and virtual Zoom gatherings, Bible stories, music, movement,
creative projects, games, service, and more, participants will not just have fun, but will also
learn some valuable skills for living compassionately. Although it is intended for students in
grades K-5, all youth (and those who are young at heart) are welcome to join in the fun!
Please make sure to register so that you can have access to the materials and videos:
https://forms.gle/w4jGmh5wSujFwEyv8

As you are well aware, these past few months have been difficult for all of us, and I have
felt the weight of leading our church through the unknown. You have expressed incredible
compassion to me all along the way, and I am eternally grateful that I am here in this time
and place, and that you have been so supportive of me. I am looking forward to some time
away in July to rest, recuperate, and to spend some much-needed time with my family. I am
grateful for an incredible staff and leadership team who is encouraging me to take time off
and is willing to take care of things in my absence. My hope is that I can return rejuvenated
and energized as we continue to be church in this challenging time.

Wherever life leads you this month, my sincere hope is that you will be both the giver and
recipient of deep, deep compassion. If we all practiced this a little more, imagine what a
wonderful world this would be.

Peace-
Pastor Leigh

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At the Wednesdays on the Hill Meet Up on June 10, we played Story Cubes. Each role of the cubes yielded a
picture. We took turns making sentences for a story based on the picture we got. Miss Kathleen wrote the story
down. She, Pastor Leigh, Dom, Kendall and Grace are great authors.
One day a woman named Leigh was sitting on the deck in her quick-dry T shirt when she dropped her phone over the
side. When she went to look for it, she got soaked by the sprinkler. The sun was hot that day and her sunglasses started to
melt. These were big problems because she was getting ready to leave for a visit to the Pyramids but she needed her phone
and her lunch first.
It turned into a very cloudy morning. Her friend Dom had a big toy jet that he just put a new motor into. He
accidentally flew it right into Leigh’s face. The clouds began to rain and Leigh’s quick dry shirt shrunk and got stuck on
her head with her half melted sunglasses and the big bump on her nose from the jet that flew into her face. She was a
mess. But it got worse. When she tried to take off the shirt that shrunk, she walked right into a tree. (Editor: You really
aren’t supposed to take your clothes off outside.)
Dom was riding by on his motorbike and was going to stop and help with the stuck T shirt. But he was eating Doritos
while driving and one blew into his eye so he went home. Kendall felt bad so she brought over an ice cream cone for
Leigh, who was still stuck in the shrunken T shirt. The ice cream turned into a big mess. Luckily, Miss Kathleen walked
by. Leigh said, “Reach in my pocket and get my keys!” She made a little diamond shaped hole in the shirt with the keys.
Leigh could see a light shining through the hole. The light was shining from a jewel in the crown of a Frog Prince
who was passing carrying a briefcase and a lunch box. The briefcase was full of spy secrets and the lunch box was full of
tasty, spicy grits. Leigh loved spicy grits and she was getting hungry. Luckily, she remembered she had a ribbon in her
hair so she grabbed it and tied a knot in it. She lassoed the frog prince! Dom and Kendall grabbed a cup of hot coffee, ran
over and dumped it over Leigh’s head, burning away the rest of the shrunken T shirt. Miss Kathleen said, “Ooooo, that’s
gonna leave a mark in the morning!” (Leigh had several bumps, bruises, and burns now but the Frog Prince thought she
looked good.)
Leigh was afraid the Frog Prince would escape so she threw him up in a tree. It was a money tree! When the Frog
Prince landed, money came raining down. The frog jumped down and took the money and went to the Recycling Center
where he dropped off the Spy Secret briefcase to his contact. Meanwhile, Leigh ate the spicy grits. She felt better.
The Frog Prince returned looking for Leigh because he wanted a trophy wife. But Leigh said, “You better like me for my
personality too!” The Frog Prince picked up a scale and whapped himself upside the head. He said life wasn’t worth
living without Leigh. She said she’s give this relationship a chance so they finally went off to see the pyramids. Since the
sun was peeking out from behind the clouds, they went shopping and bought a new remote control car. The car had a built
in compass and the Frog prince checked to see which way was west because he wanted to propose at exactly sunset.
He knelt down on one knee but the Egyptian sun was so hot his crown melted and burned his butt. At that very
moment, the mailman brought a letter to Leigh. It was from the Frog Prince! Even though he was in pain, he said, “Open
it quickly! Read it!” She opened the letter and inside was a note that said, “Meet me at the Hill Church tonight to watch
the moon and stars rise.” But instead, the got the first plane home and landed at Grace’s house and she married them on
the spot. The End.

PAULA DEEN’S SPICY “GIRL, I ONCE LIVED IN TEXAS MYSELF” SHRIMP AND GRITS
½ pounds shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 lemon, juice only
Hot sauce to taste
1 cup stone-ground grits
3½ cups chicken stock
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted Butter
1 10-ounce can seasoned tomatoes (such as Rotel), drained with liquid reserved
8 ounces Sharp Cheddar, shredded
6 slices bacon, diced
2 tablespoons Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
1 cup dry white wine OR chicken stock
1 to 2 tablespoons steak sauce, such as A1

Directions: PLACE shrimp in a zipper closure plastic bag. Squeeze lemon juice over and add hot sauce to taste. Set aside.
BRING 3½ cups chicken stock, reserved tomato liquid and butter to a rolling boil in a 3-quart saucepan over medium-high
heat. Reduce heat to lowest and, stirring constantly, gradually add grits. (Stirring while adding grits slowly is the key to
making creamy grits.) Simmer, stirring occasionally, until done, 25 to 30 minutes. Add in drained tomatoes and shredded
cheese, stirring until cheese is melted. COOK bacon just enough to render fat in a skillet over medium heat. While
stirring, sprinkle flour over bacon and drippings. Continue stirring and cook until flour is golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in
wine or stock and simmer until it begins to thicken. ADD reserved shrimp and cooking, stirring occasionally, just until
done approximately 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in steak sauce to taste. SERVE shrimp immediately over grits.
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