TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2026

From the Pastor's Desk

In gratitude for your stewardship

Dear SCAPC community,

To quote Andy Bernard from the finale of the television series ‘The Office,’ ‘I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them.’ I thought about that line recently when I participated in a baptism of a child of a former member who is currently a member of a Presbyterian church elsewhere but wanted to return to have his daughter baptized in worship in this congregation.

Sounding like Andy Bernard, he said growing up in SCAPC and being a part of this community until he was a young adult, he assumed all churches were just like this one. But now, after living elsewhere and participating in other church communities, he had come to realize how special the St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church community is. His formation occurred a generation ago in this special congregation. Stories like this are the result of stewardship giving that makes good ministry possible. Today we are grateful for the ministry made possible by your Stewardship pledges for the present generation and those to come. Thank you.

Grace and peace,

Chris Currie

Special Session on Mindfulness

Tomorrow, Wednesday, July 15, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in the Land Building Lakeside Room, the Spiritually Hungry Women will meet for a special session led by member Lauren Lemmon on mindfulness, entitled “The Powerful Pause: From Reaction to Compassion.” Lauren is a retired judge, certified mediator, and faculty member at the National Judicial College, where she teaches Mindfulness for Judges. All are welcome to attend, whether in person or via Zoom. (Email bethpoe@tulane.edu for Zoom link).

Commemorating 300 Years of African Americans in the Presbyterian Church

The Presbyterian Historical Society of the Southwest recently published The Proceedings of the 49th Annual Meeting of the Society which was held at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in March. SCAPC member Henrietta Harris gave a detailed presentation entitled "Commemorating 300 years of African Americans in the Presbyterian Church: With a Brief Highlight of Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas." She explores "the genius, the distinctive gifts, the capacity, and the spirit of Black Presbyterianism" from its earliest antebellum roots through today. Her review of the history of African American Presbyterians in Louisiana outlines worship constraints, the formation of independent congregations, 19th century challenges, social hubs, leadership and activism, national representation, growth and diversity, and recent shifts. Her presentation can be read at this link.

YAF Beignets & Coffee After Church

Join the Young Adults & Families group for a casual summer meet-up after church this Sunday, July 19! We’ll meet at Uptown Coffee, 4141 St. Charles Avenue, at about 11 a.m. for coffee, beignets, and fellowship. All ages are welcome! Check out all our upcoming events on the YAF webpage.

Challenger Class (4th & 5th Graders) Outing to Museum of Illusions

All rising fourth and fifth graders are invited to a Challenger Class outing to the Museum of Illusions in the French Quarter followed by Café du Monde this Friday, July 17. Drop-off at the church will be at 1:30 p.m. and we will return at 3:30 p.m. The cost is $20/person. To sign up, please contact Michele Murphy at michele@scapc.org. 

Come Celebrate Luke!

Next Tuesday, July 21, at 2:15 p.m. in the Land Building Lakeside Room, we will have a send-off celebration for Luke Kellett who has served as a Young Adult Volunteer for the last two years. Luke led SCAPC’s Camp RHINO and has worked with our Aden Program for Elder Care every Tuesday and Thursday, in addition to his involvement with other community organizations. Come enjoy some sweet treats and refreshments in Luke’s honor!

Crescent Cify Café Opens New Restaurant:

"Pay What You Can" Model

Congratulations go out to our community ministry partner, Crescent Cify Café, on the opening of their long-awaited "Pay What You Can" restaurant! Last week, the City Council approved its opening at 4807 Magazine Street. SCAPC provides both stewardship pledge dollars and volunteers to the Café. WDSU ran a spotlight on the new restaurant which you can find on our community ministry webpage.

STAIR Rising Readers Camp

Last week, the STAIR program (Start the Adventure in Reading), housed in the SCAPC Land Building, held the first week of their Rising Readers Camp. Ten elementary school children gathered for one-on-one tutoring and fun activities centered on a different book each day. STAIR has been one of our community ministry partners since their founding at SCAPC in 1985. To learn more about the program, visit stairnola.org.

Sympathy

Our syampthy is extended to Michelle Green on the death of her mother, Jeareatha Crawford, who died on July 11.

Seeing God All Over the World

Thank you to all who have sent us postcards sharing where you've seen God this summer! Send us a postcard or bring one to church to let us know where you've been moved by the spirit. We are sharing them on the bulletin board in Frampton Fellowship Hall. Here are some we received this week:

Keith and Karen Donaldson wrote:

"Happy 250th to all from the Nation’s Capital and the Louisiana tent of the 'Great American States Fair'. We saw God in the kindness of strangers from all walks of life coming as one, enduring heat, crowds, lightning and late night fireworks, to celebrate our Freedom."

The Carlisle family wrote:

"Team Carlisle has been driving across the Great Plains, imagining the journeys of cowboys and pioneers, as well as the trials of the Lakota. In Christ, Christina and Matthew, Liam, Adele, Cal, and Theo"

The Hughes family wrote:

"Dear SCAPC Family,

Ireland is an especially beautiful country filled with delightful, happy people! We loved visitng Trinity College, Cliffs of Moher, Dingle Peninsula, and Gap of Dunloe. Claire loved the fish and "'mushy pear.'"

Cathy and Danny Franklin wrote:

"We loved this Peace Memorial Museum. The translation in front--'A pain broke me, brotherhood made me stand again, and from my wound, a river of freedom came out.'"

Ashley Brown and Ben Morrison wrote:

"We saw God in the mountains of Montreat with all our fellow SCAPC members, and celebrated the engagement of Caroline and Scott."

Hymn Sing

A fun crowd gathered for Sunday evening's "Hymn Sing" Worship Short. Chris Currie spoke about the important role hymns play within our worship services, after which Steven Blackmon took hymn requests from the crowd for all to sing. Scrumptious cookies were also enjoyed by all!

Needle Arts Group

The SCAPC Needle Arts Group met on Sunday, escaping the rainy weather with some fun knitting crafts. Pictured here from left are Frances and Bria Rault with Jessie Bruggers. The Needle Arts Group meets on the second Sunday of each month from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Land Building Lakeside Room. If you enjoy crocheting, knitting, sewing, cross-stitching, or any other needle arts, come join in! August 9 is the next gathering date.