Connecting us with one another, our community, and the world...
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“A friend is someone who gives you
total freedom to be yourself.”
Jim Morrison
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In worship this week:
October 7
Pastor: Rev. Janie McElwee-Smith
Pianist: Bingyu Peng
Liturgist: Jack Bagent
Ushers: Bill and Barb Pfeifer
Hospitality: Mike and Tillie Groves
Communion Servers: Mike and Tillie Groves
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Flowers this Sunday
are presented to the glory of God
by Bob and Connie Buck.
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Ruling Elders
The Ministry of Discernment and Governance
(from
The Book of Order
– G-2.03
)
As there were in Old Testament times elders for the government of the people, so the New Testament church provided persons with particular gifts to share in discernment of God’s Spirit and governance of God’s people. Accordingly, congregations should elect persons of wisdom and maturity of faith, having demonstrated skills in leadership and being compassionate in spirit. Ruling elders are so named not because they “lord it over” the congregation, but because they are chosen by the congregation to discern and measure its fidelity to the Word of God, and to strengthen and nurture its faith and life. Ruling elders, together with ministers of the Word and Sacrament, exercise leadership, government, spiritual discernment, and discipline and have responsibilities for the life of a congregation as well as the whole church, including ecumenical relationships. When elected by the congregation, they shall serve faithfully as members of the session.
Highland has a Session comprised of six Ruling Elders, divided into three classes of two Elders. Each class is elected to serve three years and is named by the year their service ends. Today we are electing two members for the Class of 2021. An Elder may be elected to serve no more than two terms or six consecutive years. A nominating committee nominates Elders and members of the congregation to serve on the following year’s nominating committee at a congregational meeting for that purpose. When elections are held, full opportunity shall always be given to the congregation for nomination from the floor by any active member of the congregation provided the person nominated has given their consent. A majority of all the active members present and voting shall be required to elect.
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This week in PCUSA Mission:
World Communion Sunday
Peace and Global Witness Offering
In armed conflicts around the world, the combatants include tens of thousands of children who were conscripted to serve against their will. They are snatched away from their childhood innocence and from the nurture and comfort of their families. Princeton Abaraoha was a carefree 13-year-old boy when he was grabbed by soldiers and taken to a military training camp. Two weeks later, he was carrying a gun as a soldier in Nigeria’s civil war.
He didn’t see his family for 2½ years. He returned home still recovering from battlefield injuries that required six surgeries and emotional wounds that were buried deep inside him. His family grieved as anger led to destructive behaviors, but his life changed after professing his Christian faith for the first time. “My mother says God changed a heart of stone into a heart of flesh,” Princeton said.
Eventually, Princeton came to the U.S. and today he is pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Midlothian, Texas, and he serves the whole church through the national initiatives of Intercultural Ministries. Princeton speaks from the heart when he says using child soldiers is “an evil that we need to exterminate, and we need to call attention to any system that supports this evil.” Thanks to your gifts to the Peace & Global Witness Offering, we are doing just that.
Our participation in the offering encourages and facilitates congregational involvement in the Red Hand Campaign. Presbyterians across the country send prints or paper cutouts of red hands along with an accompanying note to the Presbyterian Ministry at the U.N. The hands and a cover letter are then sent to countries that have yet to sign a U.N. protocol that forbids the use of child soldiers, so that experiences like Princeton’s are not repeated.
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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 Geoghe-gan’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 Pick-holtz; 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 7 – 13:
Alan Cutter & Debbie Gurtner, 11
Anniversaries
October 7
– Chacko and Rosemary John
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Monday, October 8:
12:00 p.m. AA
Tuesday, October 9:
9:30 WW Quilters
10:30 a.m. Tuesday Morning Class
12:00 p.m. AA
7:30 p.m. AA
Wednesday, October 10:
12:00 p.m. AA
7:00 p.m. Ladies’ AA
Thursday, October 11:
12:00 p.m. AA
8:00 p.m. Men’s AA
Friday, October 12:
12:00 p.m. AA
Saturday, October 13:
Yard Crew – Mike Leonard & Brandon Lithgoe
Sunday, October 14:
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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- Special Meeting of the Congregation will be held following worship today. The purpose of this meeting is to elect two Ruling Elders to the class of 2021 and three members of the Congregation to the 2019 Nominating Committee. Please plan to stay for this meeting.
- Flu shots/Third Sunday Lunch – Sunday, Oct. 21. Right now it might not feel like we’re moving into Fall, but let’s get prepared. Following worship, flu shots will be available (usually at no charge) from a registered Walgreens pharmacist. Lunch’s entree will be a spooky good pork loin with lots of treats. Check the bulletin board for other items to bring and contribute to the lunch.
- Your help is needed! The fourth-quarter list for ushers, hospitality, and liturgists is posted. Please sign up for an opportunity to offer needed help in the life of our church.
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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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