Connecting us with one another, our community, and the world...
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“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do
than by the ones you did do.”
Mark Twain
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In worship this week:
September 9, 2018
Pastor: Rev. Janie McElwee-Smith
Pianist: Bingyu Peng
Liturgist: Dudley Payton
Ushers: Bill and Barb Pfeifer
Hospitality: Bill and Barb Pfeifer
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Flowers this Sunday
are presented to the glory of God
by Jim and Mary Martin.
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Highland Presbyterian Youth
Next Sunday, September 16, we will celebrate the Youth of Highland Presbyterian Church: who they are, what they’ve done and what they hope to achieve in the coming years. Under the guidance of Rev. Janie, this group has met together for Bible study, fellowship and mission over the past three years.
The highlight of this year was their trip to Montreat, NC to attend the PC (USA) Youth Conference July 6 – 15, 2018. This conference was titled “Life Every Voice,” and strove to be a place where authenticity, community, connection, and God’s truth could thrive. The description of the conference stated that it “sought to be a place where each voice could be heard and where each heart could be molded; where change is invited, challenge is expected, and where all are embraced.” This unique experience provided a chance for our Youth to meet with young people from all over the country for a week of study, worship, and recreation in the beautiful setting of the North Carolina mountains. They did not come away unchanged.
This Youth Sunday will allow them to share with you the experiences they had and the faith they have grown as they lift their voices to the glory of God.
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This week in PCUSA Mission:
Most Members Are Challenged
by the Church to Be More Christ-Like
Only 33 percent of members and 22 percent of ministers strongly agree that their church is spiritually vital and alive, according to a recently released research report by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). But what does it mean for a congregation to be vital and alive?
Research Services of the PC(USA) tested a set of scales they have developed to measure how vital a congregation is according to seven indicators: discipleship, evangelism, outward focus, servant leadership, worship, relationships and health. The Presbyterian Panel report provides a snapshot of how Presbyterians across the country feel about the vitality of their congregation in their latest panel survey.
Based on these measures of vitality, members give their congregation an overall score of 76 percent. “This would be a C+ if it were a report card,” said Susan Barnett, coordinator for Research Services. “Members tended to rate their congregation most highly in discipleship and outward focus and lowest in evangelism.”
Most members (97 percent) say that their church challenges them to at least a small extent to be more Christ-like. And most (87 percent) frequently engage in some form of spiritual practice. “Of course, what people define as a spiritual practice can vary,” said Angie Andriot, sociologist and research associate for Research Services. “For example, one panelist said, ‘I must really be Presbyterian — I consider being on committees a spiritual practice.’”
The results do show there is room for improvement in how Presbyterians grow as disciples. Only 35 percent of members state that they frequently read the Bible privately outside of worship. Only 64 percent say they frequently pray or meditate outside of a church. Not surprisingly, only 19 percent of minsters say their church does a good job prioritizing faith formation and discipleship.
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Immediate Church Family*:
Betty Bagent; Doris Baugh; Inez Geoghegan; Betty Lancaster; Preston Lancaster;
Mary Perry; Bill Pfeifer; 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); Wayne Cline (Sherry Hutchinson’s brother); 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); Aleta Pickholtz; Earl Rabe (friend of Rick Gurtner); Philip Walker (nephew of the Pfeifers); Larry Wilcoxson (friend of the Leonards); Barbara Zeagler (friend of the Dyes.)
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New names added to the prayer list this week are in italics.
Birthdays
September 9 - 15:
Anne McKnight (12)
Anniversaries
September 21:
Robert and Amy Stewart
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Monday, September 10:
12:00 p.m. AA
Tuesday, September 11:
9:30 a.m. WW Quilters
10:30 a.m. Tuesday Morning Class
12:00 p.m. AA
1:00 p.m. PSL Council (Rev. Janie)
7:30 p.m. AA
Wednesday, September 12:
12:00 p.m. AA
5:30 p.m. HPC Choir practice
7:00 p.m. Ladies’ AA
Thursday, September 13:
12:00 p.m. AA
8:00 p.m. Men’s AA
Friday, September 14:
12:00 p.m. AA
Saturday, September 15:
Yard Crew – John Dye & Mike Groves
Sunday, September 16:
9:30 a.m. Worship - Youth Sunday
7:00 p.m. AA
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Upcoming Opportunities at HPC
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- Today - Session Meeting following worship.
- Youth Sunday, September 16. We will celebrate all the exciting things that the Youth have been doing this year with a Youth-led worship service.
- 35th Anniversary Celebration, Sunday, Sept. 23. Join us in celebrating this joyous occasion. At 9:30 am we will have a Celebratory Worship Service followed by a reception in the Great Hall. At 4:00 pm we will come together for “Gather Us In,” a concert of music and scripture. For more information or if you need a ride contact Louise Dye.
- Flu Shots – For those who have asked, we will be offering flu shots again, tentatively scheduled for our Third Sunday Lunch in October (October 21).
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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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