TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2025

After the events this week that included a school shooting at Evergreen High School in Colorado that took the lives of two students and injured another (this shooting barely made the headlines) and the political assassination of Charlie Kirk, I am not sure I can continue to live and drink my coffee and read the news as if everything that is happening is completely normal. The increased acts of violence and cancel culture/assassination culture are not unconnected to the pandora’s box of online activity.

I also know I cannot fix everything or solve the world’s problems. But in a piece entitled ‘Jonathan Haidt is Right about Social Media,’ author John Inazu writes that one of the most important takeaways for me is that individual willpower is unlikely to overcome algorithms carefully designed to induce and amplify our worst instincts. We’ll need more creative approaches for engaging with—and disengaging from—the algorithmically driven feeds that cross our screens.’

I think Augustine’s prayer has something to teach us about our habits, our loves, and our restless hearts. What can we do in our communities and neighborhoods that might re-train our hearts, un-learn our excesses, and help us better follow the love of Christ in acts of civic virtue and civil discourse? The Christian community has always sought to live counter-culturally as it seeks to offer the world a community that bears a likeness to the humanity of Jesus Christ. What might that look like in our life together? Perhaps a commitment to only have our disagreements political and otherwise face to face, rather than in an email blast or an online forum. Maybe we need to ask ourselves if we would text or email what we are communicating face to face? Even when we mean well, the algorithm is set up to amplify our worst and rile up the worst in us. Why feed that; why believe we are immune. When our youth go to Montreat they have at least two days of phone Sabbath while they are there. Might we need practices of online Sabbath in this current environment; might we need to limit our intake of news and political discourse; might we need more restraint on what we share and how we participate in the online public community? You may have some best practices I have not thought to share, so I hope to hear from you. In the words of the hymn, ‘though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.’ I know something is wrong and it feels like we are at an inflection point. I believe our restless hearts will only find their rest and purpose and hope as we creatively challenge the reigning practices of disdain, hatred, and division that have been unleashed. The incarnation was the entry of God into our humanity. Might we be called to practices that are incarnational rather than transactional and artificial and veiled behind the screen interaction? Can we be a community that embraces the countercultural practices of face to face conversation, bridge building across our divisions, and love of neighbors and enemies, for the sake of Jesus Christ and for the sake of the world God so loves? I think our lives might depend on it.

Grace and Peace,

Chris

Come Celebrate Donald!

This Sunday, September 21, following 10:30 worship, we will celebrate Donald Jefferson's 30-year anniversary as SCAPC sexton! Join Donald and his family for cake, refreshments, and an entertaining video presentation in Frampton Fellowship Hall.

Fall Churchwide Day of Service

Saturday, October 4

All ages and abilities will find a project to join in as we serve local and global neighbors with projects taking place both at the church and out in the community. We’ll begin the morning with breakfast and prayer at 8:30 a.m. before dispersing to our various worksites. Most projects will wrap up by noon (if not sooner). Sign-ups and project details can be found on our volunteer webpage. You can also sign up following worship in Frampton Fellowship Hall on Sundays, September 21 and 28. Email Pastor Sarah with any questions.

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS:

Serve our global neighbors with Backpacks for the Border and Sisters of the Cross bracelets for Cuba. Both projects take place on the SCAPC campus and include all ages. 

Help us honor and celebrate 20 years of our RHINO (Rebuilding Hope in New Orleans) Ministry with a special Habitat for Humanity build. Building shifts include morning only (8:00-11:30 a.m.), afternoon only (11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.), or all day. Our worksite will be in Terrytown on the Westbank. No special skills or tools are required. Habitat staff will lead us in everything we need to know. Volunteers must be 16 years or older. 

SCAPC Photos

As a church community, we often like to share photos from our events and activities on our website and social media platforms. If there is a reason we should not include your photo in our public platforms, please let us know by replying to this email. Thank you!

Join an Usher Team!

Serving as an usher is one of the most important and fun ways to volunteer for the church. In addition to greeting everyone as they gather for worship, ushers record attendance, pass offering plates, and assist congregants with special needs. Each usher team serves two months of the year. To join a team, contact Geoff Snodgrass at gpsnodgrass@gmail.com.

YAF POLO (Parents of Little Ones) Party

Join us on Sunday, September 28 from 4-6 p.m. at the Land Building for a POLO (Parents of Little Ones) Party! This event is geared towards families with children aged three and younger (siblings welcome). Come and chat with other families on the same parenting journey while the little ones play! Questions? Email Caitlin, caitlin@scapc.org. 

Men's Retreat

Registration is now open for the 2025 Men’s Retreat taking place Friday-Saturday, October 17-18 in Pass Christian, Mississippi. Our theme is “(Un)Mitigated Faith: The Promise and Peril of Technology and Faith”, led by Rev. Dr. Tony Sundermeier of First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta, GA. For details and registration click here. The registration deadline is September 30.

Sunday School Adult Classes

First and Second Samuel | Sept. 7 - Nov. 23 | Phifer Library

During the reigns of Saul and David as recorded in First and Second Samuel, the people of Israel experience fear, disappointment, heartache, and betrayal. The compelling theme that weaves its way through these two books and into our lives is the need to balance both the gift of life from God and the promise of God’s steadfast love with the ever-present human temptation to take control and usurp God’s authority. Recordings are posted at scapc.org/sunday-school.

Lessons from the Lectionary | Sept. 7 - Nov. 23 | 2nd floor conference room | led by Caitlin Wallace-Rowland

Join us as we deep-dive into the lectionary scriptures of the day’s service. This discussion-based class will use commentaries and other resources to guide us as we learn about the week’s text—reading it together, discussing what we think it means, how we can connect it to our lives, and what we think God is calling us to do. Together we will add greater depth to our understanding of the scripture behind each week’s sermon.

An Evening of Harmony at SCAPC

SCAPC is hosting "An Evening of Harmony" by Nocturne Quartet (known for their contemporary approach to barbershop harmony), featuring NOLA Vox a capella ensemble and McKinley St. Function. The performance will take place Friday, September 26 at 7 p.m. in the Sanctuary with a suggested donation of $10/person. Prepare to be immersed in an evening of ringing chords and heartfelt song!

Rebuilding Hope Texas Flooding Recovery Trip

November 5-9

Stay at the beautiful Mo-Ranch and serve the Texas Hill Country community as they continue to clean up, recover, and begin to rebuild from the flooding disaster that hit the area in July. The cost is $600 per person and includes lodging, food, and ground transportation. For more information and to sign up, go to scapc.org/rebuild. There is a scholarship spot available if anyone is interested in going and needs financial assistance. Please email Pastor Sarah with any questions. 

Borderlands Experience Mission Trip

Build Relationships, Bear Witness, Serve Others

November 10-14

Join us for a service-learning experience in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. We will be working with our Global Ministry partner, the House of Love and Justice, to serve poor communities known as “Colonias” on the US side of the border and migrant shelters in Mexico with distributions of food and other essential supplies. We will also be learning about the realities of life and government policy along the US/Mexico border from US Customs and Border Patrol, non-profit and church workers, lawyers, etc. Our goals for this trip are to reach out a hand in love to those in need, to learn about the humanitarian crisis at our border from a variety of voices who live and work in the Rio Grande Valley, and to share our experiences back with the rest of the congregation. 

The cost of the trip is $550 per person and includes lodging, meals, and ground transportation. Participants are encouraged to fly to/from the Harlingen Airport. Registration can be found at scapc.org/border. The deadline to sign up is October 10. Please contact Pastor Sarah for more questions. 

Cuba Ministry Reflection

SCAPC has had a partnership with sister churches El Fuerte and Juan G. Hall Presbyterian in Cardenas, Cuba since 1988. Here, SCAPC member Karen Donaldson reflects on her visit to these congregations last year as a devotional for SCAPC Presbyterian Women:

When we visited Cuba in February, we experienced many loaves and fishes moments. Between six of us, we each carried two 50lb suitcases filled with food, toys, candy, medicines and other essentials. Of course we could not have filled these suitcases had it not been for the loving and giving spirit of our Presbyterian Women. Your contributions each year do so much more than provide necessities for our Cuban church family. We shared in many meals with some of the food that we brought and that was also shipped through Supermarket 23. Simple meals of beans, fresh salad, rice, and even chicken were spread out like a Thanksgiving feast. The children clamored around Keith as he handed out M&M’s as if it was the Golden Ticket from Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. The over-the-counter meds were received with gratitude by our siblings at El Fuerte, the Guisimas neighborhood mission clinic and Te Te Santana children’s mission. 

We played games, sang songs and dispensed candy to about 30 children at the mission. If you think you can imagine the glee in the face of a child waiting patiently and impatiently to receive a lolly pop, well think again. Their precious faces will be forever committed to memory.We gave out hugs and were embraced with joy, song and even a little dancing. 12 suitcases once filled within ounces of the limitation now lay empty, deflated. Did we do enough? Did we fill the need? It didn’t feel like enough; but then again it did. The gratitude for the love we shared and the support we extended was overwhelming. We went to Cuba not just with a giving spirit, but inadvertently to receive. Our hearts were full of the love shared with our brothers and sisters. Like Jesus and the 5000, we showed up with little and left with baskets overflowing.  

Welcome, New Members!

Join us in welcoming Sarah Hedgecock, Daniel Fletcher and their son Isaac, as well as Molly and Stan L'Hoste, all of whom became SCAPC members on Sunday!

Daniel Fletcher and Sarah Hedgecock with son Isaac

Stan and Molly L'Hoste

WNO School Spirit Night

Wednesday Night Out kicked off last week with School Spirit Night! Everyone came decked out in their school colors while Chef Matt and his kitchen krewe (shown here with volunteers Arden Weiser, Jacob Bruno, Amy Kehlenbach, and Christina Carlisle) prepared the meal for a fun evening of school trivia. Following dinner, YAF's PINTS (Presbyterians Imbibing in Necessary Theological Study) met on the Land Building porch for fellowship and discussion led by new YAF Coordinator Caitlin Wallace-Rowland.

The Latest at Aden

Last week at SCAPC's Aden Program for Elder Care, everyone enjoyed entertainment by pianist Jeanne Breazeale and singer Larry Folse who brought special guest trumpeter Larry 'Rico' Talerico! The group enjoyed an afternoon of artistic painting as well.

Program of Hope

During the month of September, we continue to collect clothing for the Program of Hope homeless ministry at First Presbyterian Church, specifically adult clothing items and shoes (no suits or children's clothing, please). There is a bin in Frampton Fellowship Hall for donations. Shown here is SCAPC volunteer Ann Van Horn sorting clothes at the program's weekly Wednesday morning ministry.

Fourth Graders Receive Their Bibles

On Sunday our fourth graders received their Bibles during 10:30 worship. This is a decades-long tradition at SCAPC. Pictured here are Alice Granade, Cal and Theo Carlisle, Morgan Smith, Brady Kennedy, Quinn Smith, Lillian Berger, Beanie Breaux, Jack Wilson, and Harris Lemoine.

Youth Group

What a crowd! 64 middle and high schoolers turned out Sunday evening for the first Youth Group of the year. Learn more about our youth programs on our youth webpage.

Youth Parent Welcome Party

At our Youth Parent Welcome Party on Sunday, 20 parents came out to enjoy dinner and discussion together while their 6th-12th graders engaged in Youth Group next door.