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Connecting us with one another, our community, and the world...
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"Every truth, every deed, every teaching is reduced to nothing more than religious noise when it isn’t placed under and clothed in the commandment to love.”
Greg Boyd
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In worship this week:
September 10, 2017
Pastor: Rev. Janie McElwee-Smith
Music Director: Aubrey Nelson
Guest Pianist: Bingyu Peng
Liturgist: John Dye
Ushers: Jack and Betty Bagent
Hospitality: Jack and Betty Bagent
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Flowers this morning are presented
to the glory of God
by Jim and Mary Martin.
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WE ARE Highland Presbyterian Church!
This parable is a true story. Listen carefully to what it says. Three church groups arrived at the same restaurant on their mission trip evening off. The largest group, all from one church, sat in the front room, broken into smaller tables, each with only their closest friends, having a good time. The smallest group, from another church, sat together at one table and looked as though they could not stand to be near one another, were frustrated, and had no idea of what they were doing there. The final group from a third church was still relatively small, sat all together at one table, and could be heard halfway across the restaurant - laughing and celebrating being together.
This year, we will be celebrating who we are here at Highland Presbyterian Church – a family of faith dedicated to one another and to being the church in every place we find ourselves. As our vision statement says, “We stand as a mighty tree
in our community: strong and rooted, soaring and
reaching, vibrant and fruitful, sheltering and nurturing."
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This week in PCUSA Mission:
Bible Explorations:
Acting Like God’s People
by
Chip Hardwick, Director of Theology, Formation &
Evangelism, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourselves more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. —
Romans 12:3 NIV
One of my favorite seminary professors once said that you can sum up all of Paul’s letters in eight words. Eight words! The first four words are “You are God’s children.” That’s what the first 11 chapters of Romans are all about: The gospel is the power of God for salvation to all who have faith. The last four words? “Now act like it.”
Romans 12 is the big turn from “You are God’s children” to “Now act like it.” Paul challenges us to live sacrificial lives as we worship God. The apostle warns us that being transformed is always better than being conformed to the world. After all, the former helps us discern the will of God, so that we’ll identify what is good and acceptable and perfect. As we are transformed by the renewing of our minds, we realize that our pursuits are not our own.
The chapter goes on to flesh out the action of putting others before ourselves rather than fooling ourselves into a self-importance that leaves others behind. We are all members of each other, with different gifts of grace given to strengthen the church.
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Immediate Church Family*:
Doris Baugh; Inez Geoghegan; Betty Lancaster; Dudley Payton; Mary Perry; Deanna Lewis Sklar; Brad Smith.
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 (the Pfeifer’s daughter’s nephew);
family of Rosemary Maloy (who entered the Church Triumphant on Aug. 30); the Miller twins in NICU in Nashville (friends of Brad Smith);
Aleta Pickholtz; Earl Rabe (friend of Rick Gurtner); Neomi Robinson (Mary Perry’s helper); 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
September 10-16:
Anne McKnight (12)
Anniversaries
September 21 –
Robert and Amy Stewart
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Monday, September 11
:
12:00 p.m. AA
Tuesday, September 12:
9:30 a.m. WW Quilters
10:30 a.m. Bible Study
12:00 p.m. AA
6:00 p.m. Lagniappe Ladies
7:30 p.m. AA
Wednesday, September 13:
12:00 p.m. AA
5:30 p.m. HPC Choir
7:00 p.m. Ladies’ AA
Thursday, September 14:
12:00 p.m. AA
8:00 p.m. Men’s AA
Friday, September 15:
12:00 p.m. AA
Saturday, September 16:
Yard Crew – John Dye & Mike Groves
Sunday, September 17:
9:30 a.m. Worship - Youth Sunday
11:00 a.m. Third Sunday Lunch
7:00 p.m. AA
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Upcoming Opportunities at HPC
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- Happy Birthday to all those born in the month of September and Happy Anniversary to all those married in the month of September!
- Lagniappe Ladies will meet this coming Tuesday, Sept. 12, 6:00 p.m. for a potluck supper at the church.
- Youth Sunday and Third Sunday Lunch - Sunday, September 17. Next Sunday we will celebrate in worship and at lunch the blessings our Youth have brought to this church. The lunch entrée will be Sloppy Joes. Please indicate your contri-bution for sides on the sign-up sheet.
- Baptism of Arthur and Lucien Smith – Sunday, September 24. The Rev. Melanie Smith and Rev. McElwee-Smith will co-celebrate this joyous service. All are invited to attend a reception in the Great Hall following the worship service.
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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. 10:30am-1pm,
Thurs. 10am-1:30pm
available 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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