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Thought for the Week:

“Keep looking up . . .
that’s the secret of life.”

Snoopy

       
 In worship this week:
July 22, 2018

Pastor: Rev. Janie McElwee-Smith

Pianist: Ana Paula Simoes

Liturgist: Doris M. (Skippy) Thompson

Ushers: Todd and Mei Stewart

Hospitality: John and Louise Dye
Flowers this Sunday are
presented to the glory of God
by John and Louise Dye.
Focus on HPC:     
“Lift Every Voice”
Montreat Youth Conference

How do we describe Montreat Youth Conference? Let’s think of some words: Thought-provoking, Eloquent, Welcoming, Every Voice Matters, God’s Voice, Difficult Voices, Our Voices, Silenced Voices, United Voices, Music, Energizers, Anderson, Lake Susan, Communion, Candlelight, My Father’s, Billy Elliot, Sons of Anarchy, Story Corps, Lions, Bears, No Tigers (just kidding), Don’t Go Behind the Barn, Service, Sign Language, Small Group, Keynote, Worship, Let the Air Out, Tear the Roof Off, Ubuntu, Billy Bob, A Chicken and a Pig, Noah, Family, Laughter, Tears, Hugs, Creeking, Hiking, Chocolate, Love, Amen! There is far more where that came from. We hope that you will ask our younglings about their experience so that we can hear the message of “Lift Every Voice” through theirs.

And please keep your eyes out for more information about Youth Sunday - when our youth will have the chance to open up about all that they’ve learned as they lead us in worship. Plans are in the works for September.

Last, but not least, thank you for supporting our youth as they continue in becoming who God has called them to be.












This week in PCUSA Mission:                
         
Listening to the Spirit in South America

It happens quickly, often in a single generation. Yours is the big church on the town square, the church that your family has attended for generations. Once, this church was the spiritual heart of the community. This is where people supported one another in times of crisis, remembered their roots and celebrated their joys. Once, there were jobs in the town, but today young people leave to study and work in the big city. Now, on a good Sunday, 25 or 30 people gather for worship; your church struggles to survive. Sound familiar?

Two years ago, the Waldensian Evangelical Church of Río de la Plata (IEVRP), a PC(USA) ecumenical partner in Uruguay and Argentina, looked in the mirror and decided that this description fit too many of their congregations. In addition to revitalizing small and struggling churches, they understood that they needed to rethink their pastoral presence in the cities .

With support of the American Waldensian Society, another PC(USA) ecumenical partner, the society designed an exploratory visit to the PC(USA) and other Reformed churches and theological seminaries in New York City, northern New Jersey, North Carolina and Kentucky. Rev. Carola Tron was joined by student minister Alfredo Servetti and elder Yanina Vigna, both from a Waldensian congregation in Buenos Aires, for 10 intense days of exploration and dialogue, looking at how churches in U.S. urban areas are responding to pastoral challenges, including immigration, youth ministry, the training of lay leaders and creation of safe and welcoming spaces for sexual minorities.

Reflecting on the experience, Yanina and Alfredo noted how often small churches in the city fall into a bunker mentality: “One of the lessons of this trip,” said Yanina, “was to visit churches that had come to understand themselves as public spaces, as truly in service to the whole community.”
Immediate Church Family*:
Betty Bagent; Doris Baugh; Inez Geoghegan; Betty Lancaster; Preston Lancaster; Mary Perry; Bill Pfeifer; Deanna Lewis Sklar; Brad Smith .

Extended Church Family*:
Brandon Behrmann (Carol’s nephew); Austin Casey (Jack and Betty Bagent’s grandson); Woody and Susie Chew (friends of Deanna); Wayne Cline (Sherry Hutchinson’s brother); Steve Dull (husband of Lynn Nichols Dull); Dan Durway (former Pastor of Highland); Eva Fuller (Inez Geoghegan’s niece); Julius Fuller (Inez Geoghegan’s brother); Claudia Hill (Connie Leonard’s sister); 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
July 22 - 28: Jacob John (23), Shaylon Taylor (25), Brandi Thompson & Rickie Taylor (28)

Anniversaries
July – none           
  
Detail of the Prague Astronomical Clock in thePrague Old Town

This week at HPC:
Monday, July 23: 
 12:00 p.m. AA

Tuesday, July 24:
9:30 a.m. WW Quilters
10:30 a.m. Tuesday Morning Class
 12:00 p.m. AA
 7:30 p.m. AA

Wednesday, July 25:
 12:00 p.m. AA
7:00 p.m. Ladies’ AA

Thursday, July 26:       
 12:00 p.m. AA
8:00 p.m. Men’s AA

Friday, July 27:
12:00 p.m. AA

Saturday, July 28:
Yard Crew – Jack Bagent & Bill Pfeifer

Sunday, July 29: 
9:30 a.m. Worship
7:00 p.m. AA
coming soon brand new product release next up promotion and announce road sign or announcement billboard
Upcoming Opportunities at HPC
  • Tuesday Morning Study continues to meet during the summer months. This Tuesday (July 24) we will study “The Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son.” 

  • Lagniappe Ladies will meet for dinner 6:00 pm, August 7, at Tokyo Café in the Bluebonnet Shopping Center. If you will be attending, please sign the list located on the bulletin board. Contact Carol Behrmann for more information.

  • Next Sunday (July 29) Rev. Janie will continue her summer series on The Lord’s Prayer with “Daily Bread” from Matthew 6:25-34 and Luke 11:5-10.

About HPC
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.
Connecting with Our Pastor
Rev. Janie McElwee-Smith

office hours for Rev. Janie are Mon. 10:30 am – 1:00 pm
and Thurs. 10:00 am – 1:30 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)
blog: http://evenbefore.blog
blog: http://highlandtree.blog


Highland Presbyterian Church (USA)
10024 Highland Road • Baton Rouge, LA 70810 • 225.766.5775 • www.highlandpresbyterian.org