Connecting us with one another, our community, and the world...
Thought for the Week:

“The true meaning of life is
to plant trees,
under whose shade
you do not expect to sit.”

Nelson Henderson
             
       
 In worship this week:
May 6, 2018

Pastor: Rev. Janie McElwee-Smith

Guest Preacher: Rev. Dr. Michael Elmore

Music Director: Aubrey Nelson

Pianist: Bingyu Peng

Liturgist: Dudley Payton

Ushers: John and Louise Dye

Hospitality: John and Louise Dye

Communion Servers: Sherry Hutchinson & Mary Martin
Flowers this Sunday are presented
to the glory of God
by Bill and Barb Pfeifer.
Focus on HPC:     
Pentecost

Acts 2:1   (NIV) When the day of Pentecost came, they (the disciples) were all together in one place. 2  Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.  3  They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.  4  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
5  Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.  6  When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.

What began as a Jewish holiday marking the 50 th day after Passover, became, through the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Christian Church. What a joyous and dramatic birth! On this day we also celebrate another birthday – the birthday of Highland Presbyterian Church. On the Day of Pentecost, May 22, 1983, Highland Presbyterian Church was commissioned by the Presbytery of South Louisiana, and Rev. Lee Nichols was installed as Pastor.  We have been “Connecting our Com-munity with Christ” for 35 years! Let us mark this milestone in the same joyous and dramatic manner (with a touch of bewilderment) as they did when the very first church came into being.         















This week in PCUSA Mission:                
         
Fair Trade Day - May 12

Haiti Education and Production Initiatives (HEPI) is a nonprofit organization begun in 2010 by members of the Charleston Atlantic Presbytery in South Carolina. Haiti had been a focus of the presbytery for a few years prior to 2010. HEPI’s foci are education for children and adults, and production. Creations of Hope is the production arm of HEPI.

HEPI supports Haitian men and women with the skills and marketing information to enable them to earn a living. Many people are familiar with the art that is created with 50-gallon oil drums. There are about 300 men in Croix des Bouquet creating products and HEPI works with about 50 of them. We provide advice about products that can be sold in the U.S., arrange for packing and shipping to South Carolina; and then sell the products through Creations of Hope. HEPI spends considerable time working with the women in LaChapelle who are learning to sew with electric sewing machines, knit, crochet and create Kumihimo braiding accessories. All products are paid for in full before leaving Haiti.

The presbytery has supported other work in Haiti as well. HEPI began working with Father Jean Jeannot Joseph, an Episcopal priest who is responsible for 17 churches and 14 schools in the Artibonite area of Haiti. Father Jeannot introduced us to the lay ministers of St. Michel’s Episcopal Church. The people of St. Michel wanted a building where they could worship in any kind of weather. Raising money to build a church was not a simple matter, but we persisted and the building now exists.

Immediate Church Family*:
Betty Bagent; Carol Behrmann; Doris Baugh; Inez Geoghegan; Betty Lancaster; Preston Lancaster; Mary Perry; Deanna Lewis Sklar; Brad Smith.

Extended Church Family*:
Brandon Behrmann (Carol’s nephew); family of Mary Etta Brown; Lettie Capers (friend of the Leonards); Austin Casey (Jack and Betty Bagent’s grandson); Woody and Susie Chew (friends of Deanna); Wayne Cline (Sherry Hutchinson’s brother); Susan Corona (friend of the Bucks); Steve Dull (husband of Lynn Nichols Dull); Dan Durway (former Pastor of Highland); Eva Fuller (Inez Geoghegan’s niece); Donald Leake; the Miller twins (friends of Brad Smith); Aleta Pickholtz; Earl Rabe (friend of Rick Gurtner); Family of Betty Rich (Jack Bagent’s sister) ; 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
May 6 - 12:  none

Anniversaries
May 19 – John & Marian Kleinpeter
May 23 – Jacob & Audrie John
May 28 – John & Louise Dye
Detail of the Prague Astronomical Clock in thePrague Old Town

This week at HPC:
Monday, May 7: 
12:00 p.m. AA

Tuesday, May 8:
9:30 a.m. WW Quilters      
10:30 a.m. Tuesday Morning Study
12:00 p.m. AA 
7:30 p.m. AA

Wednesday, May 9:
12:00 p.m. AA
7:00 p.m. Ladies’ AA

Thursday, May 10:
12:00 p.m. AA
8:00 p.m. Men’s AA

Friday, May 11:
12:00 p.m. AA

Saturday, May 12:
Yard Crew – John Dye & Mike Groves

Sunday, May 13: Mother's Day
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
  • Sunday Study – Today.  Following Worship, A Clash of Kingdoms (how Paul communicated the Good News of Christ to Philippi) continues with Lesson 4 – “The Philippian Jailer.”

  • Tuesday Study Class (May 8) – continues its study, The Return of the Prodigal Son, by Henri Nouwen. Coffee will be ready at 10:30 followed by the lesson, “Part 3 - The Father” (pages 89-119). 

  • Gifts of Literacy - End of the Year. As the school year ends, “Gifts of Literacy” provides a book for each first grader at Magnolia Woods Elementary. If you would like to participate, please contact Connie Buck.

  • Pentecost (May 20) is a red-letter day in the life of Highland Presbyterian Church. Come celebrate and enjoy (real) Jambalaya. A sign-up sheet for sides is on the bulletin board. We also encourage everyone to wear red in honor of this special day.

  • The sermon next week (May 13) is “Sent” from 1John 5:9-13 and John 17:6-19.
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

This week office hours for Rev. Janie are
Thurs. 10:00 am – 1:30 pm
by appointment: Tues. – 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