Connecting us with one another, our community, and the world...
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“As long as I am breathing,
I am just beginning.”
Criss Jami
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In worship this week:
January 14, 2018
Pastor: Rev. Janie McElwee-Smith
Music Director: Aubrey Nelson
Pianist: Bingyu Peng
Liturgist: Rosemary John
Youth Liturgist: EmmaStewart
Ushers: Bob & Connie Buck
Hospitality: Bob & Connie Buck
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Flowers this Sunday are presented
to the Glory of God
by John and Louise Dye.
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New Year, New Beginnings . . .
It’s hard not to recognize the beginning of the New Year as a time of new beginnings. We buy new cal-endars. We put away Christmas decorations. Some of us even clean out closets. But we don’t really like the idea of New Year’s resolutions. They just don’t seem to get us very far into the coming year, before we once again fall back on not so good habits.
As our Thought for the Week points out, “As long as I am breathing, I am just beginning.” In the spirit of “beginning,” look ahead to ways to begin anew with your family at Highland. Sign up to be ushers, liturgists, hospitality providers, flower providers or communion servers. Look at the dif-ferent opportunities offered and join in. Sign up to bring a dish for a Third Sunday Lunch. Join a group you’ve never tried before. It’s the New Year only once. What better time to try “beginning.”
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This week in PCUSA Mission:
Welcoming the Stranger
For nearly three decades the Synod of the Coven-ant (Michigan and Ohio) has participated in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Mission to the USA program. The synod began participating in the effort, which links congregations in the synod with mission partners, in 1989. Each host congre-gation helps the mission partner become fully immersed in the life of the local church. Mission partners and congregations spend three weeks together working to break down cultural barriers while allowing the mission partners and members of the host congregations to become brothers and sisters in Christ. Mission partners and congre-gation members share worship, Bible study, pas-toral care, meals and much more.
“This effort was started by the national [PC(USA)] church quite some time ago,” said Eileen Best, resource center director for the Presbytery of Lake Michigan and program coordinator for the past three years. “However, the Synod of the Covenant is the only synod that continued its participation. This program is great because it allows individuals to become fully engaged in the life and day-to-day activities of the host church. That helps to build long-lasting relationships that develop into part-ner relationships.”
Each year the program features a theme reflecting a significant issue in the life of the church. Past focus areas have included topics such as the Belhar Confession. In 2013, Mission partners from South Africa were invited to the synod to share their ex-periences. For 2014–2016, the focus was the Mid-dle East. For 2017–2019, the focus is Muslim/ Christian relationships in countries where the population has a Muslim majority.
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Immediate Church Family*:
Betty Bagent;
Carol Behrmann;
Doris Baugh; Inez Geoghegan; Betty Lancaster; Mary Perry; Deanna Lewis Sklar; Brad Smith; Caitlin Thompson.
Extended Church Family*
:
Brandon Behrmann (Carol’s nephew); Ron Brelsford (Rosemary John’s brother-in-law); Lettie Capers (friend of the Leonards); Austin Casey (Jack and Betty Bagent’s grandson); Wayne Cline (Sherry Hutchinson’s brother);
Steve Dull (husband of Lynn Nichols Dull);
Dan Durway (former Pastor of Highland); Cecil and Judy Eubanks (former members); Eva Fuller (Inez Geoghegan’s niece); the Miller twins (friends of Brad Smith); Aleta Pickholtz; Earl Rabe (friend of Rick Gurtner); Joy Walker (niece of the Pfeifers);
Larry Wilcoxson (friend of the Leonards); Barbara Zeagler (friend of the Dyes.)
*
New names or concerns added to the prayer list this week are in italics.
Birthdays
January 14-20:
Louise Dye & Betty Lancaster(15)
Anniversaries
January:
none
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Monday, January 15:
Martin Luther King
Day
12:00 p.m. AA
12:00 - 5:00 p.m. PSL Youth Day of Service
Tuesday, January 16:
10:30
a.m. Bible Study
12:00 p.m. AA
7:30 p.m. AA
Wednesday, January 17:
12:00 p.m. AA
5:30 p.m. HPC choir practice
7:00 p.m. Ladies’ AA
Thursday, January 18:
12:00 p.m. AA
8:00 p.m. Men’s AA
Friday, January 19:
12:00 p.m. AA
Saturday, January 20:
Yard Crew – John Dye & Mike Groves
Sunday, January 21:
9:30 a.m. Worship
11:00 a.m. Third Sunday Lunch
7:00 p.m. AA
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Upcoming Opportunities at HPC
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- New Year – new opportunities to participate. Participation in the life of Highland Presbyterian Church is a blessing all year round, but especially at this time of year we are looking for people to sign-up as ushers, litur-gists, hospitality providers, flower providers and communion servers for the coming months. Please consider a small commitment of time to provide service to Highland. The blessings are great for you and everyone else.
- Betty Lancaster’s Birthday Party – 2:00 p.m., Sunday, January 14 at Garden View Assisted Living, 3130 Jones Creek Rd. All are invited to attend.
- Third Sunday Lunch, Jan 21 – “Souper Bowl of Caring.” Get those soup bowls ready! Our Third Sunday Lunch will feature soup and all the fixings. A sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board. All proceeds will go to fight hunger in our area.
- A Session Retreat is scheduled for Saturday, January 27, 2018, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 pm. All remaining, outgoing, and incoming Ruling Elders are expected to attend. Lunch will be provided.
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Highland Presbyterian Church
is a vibrant tree in God's grace-filled orchard. Deeply rooted in God's life-giving presence here on earth, this tree extends its branches to support one another in faith and reach into the world around it to produce fruit. Whether you are seeking God's presence through questions or service, discussion or fellowship, there is a home for you at Highland.
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Connecting with Our Pastor
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Rev. Janie McElwee-Smith
office hours for Rev. Janie are Mon. 10:30 am – 1:30 pm
and Thurs. 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
by appointment Mon. – Thurs. 9:00 am – 4:30 pm
cell (call or text): 314.283.7596
office: 766-5775 (please leave a message)
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Highland Presbyterian Church (USA)
10024 Highland Road • Baton Rouge, LA 70810 • 225.766.5775 • www.highlandpresbyterian.org
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