Connecting us with one another, our community, and the world...
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Time change is this Sunday, November 5
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“I am no saint, unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying.”
Nelson Mandela
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In worship this week:
November 5, 2017
Pastor: Rev. Janie McElwee-Smith
Music Director: Aubrey Nelson
Pianist: Bingyu Peng
Guest Musicians: Jake Ciulla, Shane Courville,
Colton Johnson, and Aron Tappalla
Liturgist: Dave Adams
Youth Liturgist: Mei Stewart
Ushers/Hospitality: John and Louise Dye
Communion Servers: Dave and Peggy Adams
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Flowers this Sunday are presented
to the Glory of God and
in celebration of the birthday of
Brent Lancaster,
Preston Lancaster's son.
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Rethinking Stewardship
Every year about this time, churches begin their campaigns for pledges to fund the church in the following calendar year. And we can almost hear the collective groan from the congregations around the world.
However, stewardship is about more than just sharing our treasure (as important and necessary as that aspect is.) We are also invited to share our time and talents. Time is one of our most precious commodities, because we can never get it back. Talents are those special gifts that each of us has received from God that enable us to strengthen the body of Christ in a unique way that only we can. Next Sunday when we set aside a time to speci-fically re-dedicate ourselves to Christ’s ministry in 2018, we hope that you will offer your whole selves and lives to God’s work here at Highland – your time, your talents, and your treasure.
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This week in PCUSA Mission:
Pastors, Leaders Urged to Regard Giving
As an Aspect of Spiritual Life
Nonprofits are doing a better job than most churches of compelling people to support their work, says
Adam Copeland
,
a noted stewardship expert. He believes churches need to work harder at telling the stories of their work and the ways the church impacts lives, and ensure church members make the spiritual connection to giving.
Stewardship should be seen through the lens of pastoral care, Copeland said, and to do so pastors and stewardship leaders need to understand the full financial picture of the average American house-hold. A few statistics help illustrate the finances of the average American family:
- 63 percent of Americans have less than $500 in emergency savings
- Nearly half of Americans have no retire-ment savings
- Average American households have $16,000 in credit card debt, $27,000 in car debt, $48,000 in student loan debt and $169,000 in household mortgage
In most churches, 20 percent of the congregation is giving 80 percent of the gifts the church receives. On average, charitable giving in the U.S. is about 2 percent of a family’s household budget. This hasn’t changed much since 1974, Copeland said. He said this awareness helps church leaders understand the anxiety and stress around money issues in homes, and it changes the conversation. “It changes the process from anxious, apologetic budgeting to
inspired discernment anchored in pastoral care.”
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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); Eva Fuller (Inez Geoghegan’s niece); Jonathan Kellebrew and family (the Pfeifer’s daughter’s nephew); the Miller twins in NICU in Nashville (friends of Brad Smith); Aleta Pickholtz; Earl Rabe (friend of Rick Gurtner); family of Pat Ragsdale (brother of Tillie Groves); family of Sammy Salvato (friends of the Leonards);
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
November 5 – 11:
Mary Perry (11)
Anniversaries
November 21 –
Jack and Betty Bagent
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Monday, November 6:
9:30 a.m. CPM meeting (Rev. Janie)
12:00 p.m. AA
Tuesday, November 7
10:30 a.m. Bible Study
12:00 p.m. AA
7:30 p.m. AA
Wednesday, November 8:
12:00 p.m. AA
5:30 p.m. HPC choir practice
7:00 p.m. Ladies’ AA
Thursday, November 9:
12:00 p.m. AA
8:00 p.m. Men’s AA
Friday, November 10:
12:00 p.m. AA
Saturday, November 11:
Yard Crew – Jack Bagent & Bob Buck
Sunday, November 12:
Dedication Sunday
9:30 a.m. Worship
11:00 a.m. Session Meeting
7:00 p.m. AA
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Upcoming Opportunities at HPC
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- Lagniappe Ladies – November 7, 6:00 p.m. at Highland. All ladies are invited to join in for fellowship and a Thanksgiving meal from Frank’s Smoke-house. Cost for the meal is $11.00 per person.
- Dedication Sunday – November 12. After a prayerful season of stewardship, all are asked to return their pledge cards as we celebrate and reaffirm our dedication to Christ’s work on earth.
- Third Sunday Lunch/Raffle Drawing – November 19. Join us to give thanks for the blessings we have and share those blessings with others. Ham will be the lunch entree; so please sign up for sides. Following lunch, we will have the raffle drawing for the two quilts donated by the Giving Quilt ladies. Proceeds from the raffle go to fight hunger. For tickets or more information about the raffle, see Louise Dye.
- Sermon next week (Nov. 12 – Dedication Sunday) is “Keep Your Lamps” from Psalm 78:1-7, and Matthew 25:1-13.
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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. 1:00 - 3:30 pm
Thurs. 10:00 – 11:30 am
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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