Connecting us with one another, our community, and the world...
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“I never knew how to worship
until I knew how to love.”
Henry Ward Beecher
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In worship this week:
October 21, 2018
Pastor: Rev. Janie McElwee-Smith
Guest Preacher: Elder Robert Lowry
Pianist: Bingyu Peng
Liturgist: Amy Stewart
Ushers: Bill and Barb Pfeifer
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Flowers this Sunday
are presented by Dudley Payton
to the glory of God
and in loving memory of
Barbara Payton.
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Tuesday Morning Study,
Christian Doctrine
As Reformation Sunday approaches, it brings to mind the tenets of our faith. The Tuesday Morning Study class will be doing a 4-week study of
Christian Doctrine
by Shirley Guthrie and invites all to join in for a short “refresher” course in the basic beliefs of our reformed faith.
Week one (Tuesday, October 30) the class will examine Chapter 3 – “How Can We Find God? The Doctrine of General Revelation.” Week two (Tuesday, November 6) the class will examine Chapter 4 – “How Does God Find Us? The Doctrine of Special Revelation.“ Weeks three and four (Tuesday, November 13 & 20) will be used to examine Chapter 12 – “Where Is God? The Doctrine of Incarnation.” Classes will meet in the Adult Sunday School classroom in the Sanctuary building and begin at 10:30 a.m.
A class schedule and books will be available for all interested participants to pick up in the fellowship area on Sunday, October 21. For more information contact Connie Buck or Louise Dye.
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This week in PCUSA Mission:
Joys of Collaboration
One of the marks of Presbyterianism is that we are a “connectional” church — that is, our congregations are connected through presbyteries that are connected to synods and to our General Assembly. In some profound ways, our “being connectional” is a way of practicing “being church” — sharing our gifts, talents and resources as well as our sorrows and pain.
Connectional mission can further our practice of being the church within our own presbyteries, across our denomination and within the broader ecumenical family. But if we focus for a few moments on our congregations, presbyteries, synods and General Assembly, we can see many benefits of doing mission in a connectional way. My own (Rev. Dr. Jo Ella Holman) ministry in the Caribbean region, where I serve as a mission co-worker, is built on and seeks to strengthen PC(USA) connectionisms. Let me give one example from our mission partnership in Cuba.
There are 90-some partnerships between PC(USA) congregations and presbyteries with the Presbyterian Reformed Church in Cuba. Some are presbytery-to-presbytery partnerships and some are congregational. Several of these are more than 25 years old. There is a depth to the relationships that is hard to find in many places. Just imagine: Two or three generations of American and Cuban Presbyterians have worshiped together, served together and become friends. This is no small thing: to develop and nurture Christian ties that bind us together over time and across cultural and language barriers, across walls of hostility between our two governments.
On the PC(USA) side, presbytery partnerships offer unique opportunities for working together within our own presbyteries, for building relationships as we learn and work together toward common goals and commitments. We can make space for members of smaller churches to participate in a larger mission engagement. We can do presbytery-wide youth activities, cultural events, Bible studies and many other activities that are related to the partnership. Such common mission focus can build unity and friendships within our own church, and in these fractured
days in which we live, that is a worthy goal.
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Immediate Church Family*:
Betty Bagent; Doris Baugh; Inez Geoghegan; Betty Lancaster; Preston Lancaster;
Mary Perry; 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); 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); Carol Harrison (Rob Stewart’s Mother); Claudia Hill (Connie Leonard’s sister); Phillip Lanier (friend of Rosemary John); the Miller twins (friends of Brad Smith); Aleta Pickholtz; Earl Rabe (friend of Rick Gurtner); Phillip Walker (nephew of the Pfeifers);
Larry Wilcoxson (friend of the Leonards); Barbara Zeagler (friend of the Dyes.)
*
New names added to the prayer list this week are in italics.
Birthdays
October 21 - 27:
Todd Stewart (26)
Anniversaries
October 29
– Hans and Rosmarie Dunner
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Monday, October 22:
12:00 p.m. AA
Tuesday, October 23:
9:30 a.m. WW Quilters
10:30 a.m. Tuesday Morning Class
12:00 p.m. AA
7:30 p.m. AA
Wednesday, October 24:
12:00 p.m. AA
7:00 p.m. Ladies’ AA
Thursday,October 25:
12:00 p.m. AA
8:00 p.m. Men’s AA
Friday, October 26:
12:00 p.m. AA
Saturday, October 27:
Yard Crew – John Dye & Mike Groves
Sunday, October 28:
9:30 a.m. Worship
7:00 p.m. AA
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Upcoming Opportunities at HPC
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- Flu shots/Third Sunday Lunch – Today. This is the time to take advantage and get your flu shot from a registered Walgreens pharmacist. Please bring your medical insurance card so that this shot may be billed correctly, usually at no charge. All are invited to stay for lunch!
- Connectional Denomination. One of the marks of Presbyterianism is that we are a “connectional” church — that is, our congregations are connected through presbyteries that are connected to synods and to our General Assembly. In an effort to improve these connections, Moderator of the Presbytery of South La Chip Chiphe will be having informal table conversations with those attending our October Third Sunday Lunch.
- Stewardship Season begins on Reformation Sunday, October 28. The three Sundays, Reformation Sunday (Oct. 28), All Saints Sunday (Nov. 4) and Dedication Sunday (Nov. 11) provide the perfect opportunity to look toward Highland’s past, present and future as we prepare for our commitments to God’s Kingdom.
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The
Congregation of Highland Presbyterian Church
met for a Special Meeting on Sunday, October 7, 2018. Mike Groves and Dudley Payton were elected to serve as Ruling Elders, Class of 2021. Carol Behrman, Rosemary John, and Anne McKnight were elected to serve as members from the Congregation for the 2019 Nominating Committee.
The
Session of Highland Presbyterian Church
met for its regular stated meeting on Sunday, October 14, 2018. The following business was conducted:
- Session approved conducting a raffle for the benefit of Heifer International during the month of November. The prize for the raffle will be an LSU themed Quilt donated by the Wasted Women Quilting Group. The tickets will be sold for $5.00 each, with the winning ticket selected at a drawing to be held during the Third Sunday Lunch, November 18, 2018. All proceeds from the raffle will go to Heifer International.
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Reports of Interest
Pastor:
- Plans for Stewardship include three Sundays: Reformation Sunday, October 28, will focus on the past of Highland Presbyterian Church; All Saints Sunday, November 4, will focus on the present of Highland Presbyterian; and Dedication Sunday, November 11, will focus on the future of Highland Presbyterian.
- Letters concerning Stewardship will be sent out to the Congregation. It was suggested that giving statements for the third quarter be included.
- The theme for Advent 2018 will be “Come to God’s Table.”
Clerk of Session, Correspondence:
- An Immunization Service agreement was received, signed by Clerk of Session Louise Dye, and returned to Walgreens Pharmacy for flu immunizations to be offered on October 21, 2018.
- Moderator of the Presbytery of South Louisiana Chip Chiphe requested a time to come for informal conversations with the Congregation concerning the purpose and function of the Presbytery. He will attend the Third Sunday Lunch, October 21.
Congregational Care/Christian Education:
- A reception following the 35th Anniversary worship on September 23 was coordinated.
- A reception following the Gather Us In program on September 23 was coordinated.
- Planning is underway for a Halloween themed Third Sunday Lunch on October 21.
- Planning is underway for an internationally themed Third Sunday lunch on November 18.
- Planning is underway for a Christmas Brunch for Third Sunday, December 16.
- The Tuesday Morning Study will begin a new 4-session study of Christin Doctrine by Shirley Guthrie on October 30.
- During Advent the Tuesday Morning Study will do a DVD study, The Purpose of Christmas, by Rick Warren.
Evangelism:
- Attendance at Sunday worship for the third quarter of 2018 averaged 34 persons.
Finance:
- For the month of September, expenses of $8,052.54 exceeded income of $6,931.98 by ($1,120.56).
Missions:
- The Peace & Global Witness Offering was received on October 7. Currently the offering totals $290. One-fourth of the offering to be distributed locally ($72.50), along with $47.50 from the previous year, totaling $120.00, is designated for the Interfaith Federation of Greater Baton Rouge.
- The Christmas Joy Offering will be received on December 23, 2018.
Personnel:
- A candidate for Music Director was offered the position but declined. The search for another candidate has been put on hold.
Property:
- Conversations continue between Attorney David Cohn (representing America Homeland), Attorney John Dunlap (representing Highland Presbyterian), and Clerk of Session Louise Dye concerning revisions of the Servitude Agreement from America Homeland, LLC (Highland Cove developer).
Worship:
- September 16, 2018, was Youth Sunday. The Highland Presbyterian Youth Group conducted the Service and shared their recent experiences at Montreat.
- September 23, 2018 was our 35th Anniversary Celebration. New paraments designed for the occasion had been installed. At 9:30 a.m. a Celebratory Worship Service with Communion was held. It was followed by a reception in the Great Hall. At 4:00 p.m. Gather Us In, a program of music and scriptures for the community was hosted at Highland. Performances were given by the Brass Quintet from LSU, a Vocal Quartet (with Aubrey Nelson), Acoustic Oxygen a woodwind quintet, a vocal duet by Aubrey Nelson and Rev. Janie McElwee-Smith, the Highland Presbyterian Choir, Rosemary John on Bagpipes and Pennywhistle, and pianist Bingyu Peng.
- October 7, 2018, was celebrated as World Communion Sunday.
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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 – 1:00 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
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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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