TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2025

Jesse Tree Devotionals

This year we are centering our Advent Devotionals on Jesse Tree Symbols and Bible Stories. A Jesse Tree is a way of preparing for Advent by journeying through the stories on Jesus’s family tree. Each day of Advent, there is a Bible story about someone in Jesus’s family and an ornament symbolizing their story. The tree shows us how, through many generations, God prepared for Jesus to be born. Printed devotionals can be found at the Frampton Fellowship Hall entrance. Devotionals can also be found at scapc.org/advent-devotionals.

Presbyterian Women's Christmas Program Tonight

A special worship service will be held in the Chapel tonight at 6 p.m. with preaching by Ashley Brown and music performed by Betsy Uschkrat and Steven Blackmon. A collection will be taken up for the Presbyterian Hunger Program. Kathryn and Benton Smallpage will host a reception following the service at their home, 5701 Garfield Street.

Food Drive Support/Immigration Group

Our friends at Jefferson Food Pantry continue to experience a high volume of need in light of recent immigration actions in our community. SCAPC will continue our food drive to support Jefferson Food Pantry through Christmas. Please bring donations to the church office. In addition, food items can be dropped off at 3300 Royal Street, to support families who cannot leave their homes. If you have interest in the issues related to immigration policy and how our faith leads us to act in the midst of increased federal immigration enforcement operations in our city and the greater New Orleans area, please email Rev. Sarah Chancellor Watson (sarah@scapc.org) to be added to a SCAPC affinity group related to these issues.

Children's Christmas Play

The Children's Christmas play will be performed tomorrow night in the Chapel at 6:30! "The Mysterious Animal" is a new nativity play for kids that tells the story of Jesus’s birth from the perspective of the animals in the barn. It’s a funny play with a sincere message: the creatures who share the barn with baby Jesus are among the first to receive and understand the good news of the gospel. Please note that WNO supper reservations are now closed, however the play is open to all at 6:30.

White Gift Is This Sunday

White Gift Sunday is this Sunday, December 14! Please consider bringing unwrapped gifts of sports equipment, Foot Locker gift cards, board games, and art supplies to be dedicated during the 10:30 service. These gifts will be distributed to the New Orleans Women & Children's Shelter. Presbyterian Women are also collecting wrapping supplies: colorful wrapping paper, tissue paper, and bows, to be given to New Orleans Women & Children’s Shelter for gift wrapping.

Advent Sunday School Class:

Mysteries Around Christ's Birth

Mysterious guiding stars, virgin births, dream warnings, angel messengers and ancient prophecies! This class, led by Sandra Jenkins and Ashley Brown, explores the more mysterious themes of Jesus’s birth story. We examine the important role historical context plays when studying Scripture and how to engage our questions surrounding these biblical mysteries. Class meets in the Land Building Riverside Room. Visit our Sunday School page for recordings.

Nov. 30: The Mystery of Angelic Prophecy

Dec. 7: The Mystery of the Virgin Birth

Dec. 14: The Mystery of Guiding Stars

Dec. 21: The Mystery of Dream Warnings

Youth Christmas Party Talent Show Sign-Up

The annual Christmas Party Youth Group for youth and youth alumni is this Sunday, December 14, starting at 5 p.m. with a White Elephant gift exchange. Each youth is asked to bring a wrapped gift that is either handmade or bought ($10 limit). After our gift exchange, we will move on to our talent show! All kinds of talent from singing to instruments to dance to comedy to art to a sports demonstration to literally anything in between are welcome. Email chrishazlaris@scapc.org to sign up. Those signed up will be asked to come to one quick run-through on Saturday. All who attend the party are encouraged to dress festively in their favorite Christmas shirts, sweaters, or PJ’s! The party will end at 7:30.

Giving Tuesday: Thank You!

Thank you to all who contributed to our community and global ministries on Giving Tuesday! We are excited to announce that $2,356 was raised. If you requested a centennial Tervis mug, please find yours on the table outside of the church office through Sunday, December 14.

YAF Game Night

Young Adults & Families: For our last PINTS of the year we'll skip the normal format and have a YAF Game Night on Wednesday, December 17! Join us from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Land Building for drinks, board games, and fellowship. (Note that there is no WNO beforehand). Bring your favorite game if you have one you'd like to play! Questions? Caitlin@scapc.org. 

Reading Tutors Needed

Start the Adventure in Reading (STAIR), is looking for literacy tutors for 2nd and 3rd grade students in the Greater New Orleans Area. STAIR offers both virtual and in-person tutoring options over 10 weeks during the spring semester. All curriculum and training for tutors are provided. Tutors must be 18 or older and no experience is needed. If you are interested, please email us at program@stairnola.org or text/call at 504-202-8187.

Christmas Eve Family Service Sign-Up

The Christmas Eve Family Service will take place at 4 p.m. in the Sanctuary and children 1st-12th grade are invited to participate. Please register your child to participate at this link by Tuesday, December 16. Children's choirs will perform during the service, and children 1st grade and older may both sing in the choir and participate in the pageant.

• Costumed Non-Speaking Characters (unlimited number): 1st–7th grade
• Costumed Speaking Characters (limited number): 2nd–7th grade
• Ushers (unlimited number): 6th–12th grade
• Liturgy Readers (limited number): 8th–12th grade

There is one mandatory rehearsal on Tuesday, December 23 from 4-5 p.m. Questions? Please email michele@scapc.org.

Luminary Memorials & Honorariums

On December 21-25, pathways of luminaries, given in memory or honor of loved ones, will be lit in front of the church. Luminaries cost $15/each and can be purchased in honor or memory of a family member, friend, or even pet. Acknowledgements for each memorial and honorarium will be included in the bulletins on December 21 and Christmas Eve, as well as online and in The Quatrefoil e-newsletter. Click here to place your order. The order deadline is this Sunday, December 14.

Family Nativity Display

A collection of nativity scenes leant by our church members are on display in the Phifer Library through December 21. Come see the many ways the Christ family is portrayed! If you wish to display your nativity, drop it off to the church this week with your name and a description of why it is special to your family.

SCAPC Choir & Orchestra

Our annual “Celebration of Carols” by the SCAPC Chancel Choir and Orchestra on Sunday, December 21 at the 10:30 service will include William Mathias’ Ave Rex, Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Winter Songs from Folk Songs of the Four Seasons, and arrangements of familiar Christmas hymns and songs. Music Director Steven Blackmon will conduct. A special offering for our music ministry will be collected that day.

The Latest at Aden

Last week at the Aden Program for Elder Care, SCAPC member Ted Kennedy came by to lead a sing-along, including a birthday song for Lisa Stahl, SCAPC member and Aden volunteer!

Aden Director Search

Aden Elder Care Program is looking for a fun, dynamic, personable, and creative person to serve as our next Director. This is a part-time position of about 20-25 hours a week, specifically Tuesdays and Thursdays 9 a.m.-3 p.m. during program hours. For more information and a job description, please visit scapc.org/aden, or email Pastor Sarah. 

Advent Diaper Drive

During the season of Advent as we prepare our hearts to welcome Jesus in our lives once again, we are collecting items that remind us of the needs of baby Jesus. We will be collecting diapers (baby and adult sizes, open packages acceptable) and period products that will support our community ministry partner, Junior League Diaper Bank, to help uplift families in our community. Collection bins can be found by the State Street entrance and by the Phifer Library.

Sympathy

Our sympathy is extended to Scott Zander and his family on the death of his mother, Carolyn Carter Zander, who passed away on Sunday, December 7. We also extend our sympathy to the family of Robert Wilklow who passed away on August 25.

40/50's Progressive Christmas Dinner

The 40/50's group enjoyed an evening of Christmas celebration on Sunday. Thank you to Lauren and Jeff Habetz for hosting and to Jennifer Keene and Neely Griffith for organizing!

YAF Christmas Brunch

The Young Adults & Families had a fun time at their annual Christmas Brunch and White Elephant Gift Exchange last Sunday!

McMillan Society Songs & Sips of Joy

The McMillan Society enjoyed a festive evening at their "Songs and Sips of Joy" Christmas Party last week with caroling led by Steven Blackmon!