TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2025

Sometimes what we (the church) have to offer our world gets overwhelmed by the damage of an AR-15 or the unfreedom of an anti-semitic massacre or our own personal grief or family struggles. Our lives can be overwhelmed by unexpected tragic loss or frayed relationships. And into all that, Christmas professes that Christ still comes. The New Testament scholar N.T. Wright tells us that the ‘church is to be a small working model of God’s coming new creation.’ 

Even when life comes at us fast, even in the midst of grief and tragedy, even in the words of the hymn, when ‘though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet,’ Christ still comes, and we are called to offer our world a small working model of the new creation we are in Him.

Christ comes. Now more than ever.

Grace and peace, Chris Currie

SCAPC Choir & Orchestra

Our annual “Celebration of Carols” by the SCAPC Chancel Choir and Orchestra this Sunday, December 21 at the 10:30 service will include William Mathias’ Ave Rex, Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Winter Songs from Folk Songs of the Four Seasons, and arrangements of familiar Christmas hymns and songs. Music Director Steven Blackmon will conduct. 

Music Offering

In support of this Sunday's music and all worship music throughout the year, we are collecting a special offering for the SCAPC Music Fund this month. To contribute via Paypal, click the link below. You can also send a check to the church made out to “SCAPC” with “Music Fund” in the memo.

Sanctuary Reopened: Organ Pipes Installed!

Well, at long last it’s finally here! And we’ll no longer have to live in exile in Frampton Fellowship Hall. It was kind of a Christmas miracle that everything came together for White Gift Sunday…the organ, the Christmas banners, the poinsettias, the SEASON! There is certainly great cause for celebration for having finally reached this moment. We have miles to go before we can actually listen, though. Each one of the nearly 4500 pipes must be lovingly and tenderly voiced and tuned before we can actually put the organ into service. That process will commence early in January and will likely take 6-8 weeks; however, it is one of those things that takes as long as it takes. The way I figure, because this is the way the universe works, is that it will likely be ready to make its debut on Thoth Sunday, when we have only one service at 8:30, and virtually everyone is out enjoying Mardi Gras! So, as always, Stay Tuned!

Fondly, Steven

Advent Sunday School Class:

Mysteries Around Christ's Birth

Mysterious guiding stars, virgin births, dream warnings, angel messengers and ancient prophecies! This class, led by Sandra Jenkins and Ashley Brown, explores the more mysterious themes of Jesus’s birth story. We examine the important role historical context plays when studying Scripture and how to engage our questions surrounding these biblical mysteries. Class meets in the Land Building Riverside Room. Visit our Sunday School page for recordings.

Nov. 30: The Mystery of Angelic Prophecy

Dec. 7: The Mystery of the Virgin Birth

Dec. 14: The Mystery of Guiding Stars

Dec. 21: The Mystery of Dream Warnings

Volunteers Needed for Luminary Set-Up Saturday

Volunteers are needed this Saturday December 20, from 3–5 p.m. (or earlier if we finish) to help set up the luminaries in front of the church. Any and all ages are welcome. We are filling small luminary bags with gravel and placing the candles and papers on the ground around the front of the church. You can stop by to help for any amount of time you can. Contact katie@scapc.org with questions. 

Longest Night: A Service of Wholeness and Healing

A Longest Night service will be held this Sunday, December 21. This will be a time to worship on the longest night of the year, with those for whom this season may be a time of loss or sadness. We will begin our worship at 6 p.m. in the Chapel, then gather in the columbarium to name our struggles. We will support each other in times of darkness, even as we acknowledge that the light shines in the darkness, in this season and all seasons.

Food Drive Support/Immigration Group

Our friends at Jefferson Food Pantry continue to experience a high volume of need in light of recent immigration actions in our community. SCAPC will continue our food drive to support Jefferson Food Pantry through Christmas. Please bring donations to the Phifer Library. In addition, food items can be dropped off at 3300 Royal Street, to support families who cannot leave their homes. If you have interest in the issues related to immigration policy and how our faith leads us to act in the midst of increased federal immigration enforcement operations in our city and the greater New Orleans area, please email Rev. Sarah Chancellor Watson (sarah@scapc.org) to be added to a SCAPC affinity group related to these issues.

Christmas Eve Services

4:00 - Family Service with Tableau

Sanctuary | childcare available

7:00 - Lessons & Carols with Chancel Choir & Communion

Sanctuary & Livestream | please note childcare will not be available

PW Retreat: Last Call to Register

Now through Sunday, December 21

Please hand-deliver your registration and payment by check as we are past the point of reliable mail delivery. The retreat will be a wonderful time of learning, spiritual renewal, and fellowship at the beautiful Solomon Retreat Center on Sunday-Monday, January 18-19. Our registration table will be in the Frampton Fellowship Hall this coming Sunday or you can stop by the church office during the week to drop it off. 

YAF Game Night

Young Adults & Families: For our last PINTS of the year we'll skip the normal format and have a YAF Game Night tomorrow! Join us from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Land Building for drinks, board games, and fellowship. (Note that there is no WNO beforehand). Bring your favorite game if you have one you'd like to play! Questions? Caitlin@scapc.org. 

Sunday, December 28 - Worship at 9:30

On Sunday, December 28, we will have one service at 9:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary. Children are asked to remain in worship as childcare will not be available.

Update on England/Scotland Pilgrimage

Cathedrals and Communities of Faith

A pilgrimage to sacred spaces from London, England to Edinburgh, Scotland

We are busy making preparations for our October 2026 SCAPC travel pilgrimage to the UK. Jim Wallace, our travel pilgrimage coordinator writes: "I just wanted to let you know that I’ve been able to make some very nice arrangements for your tour. I’ve been doing hotel visits to make sure we could find the best places to stay as some of those spots are not on our usual routes. I’ve booked a very nice hotel which is a little north of Durham. I’ve also held accommodation at Peebles Hydro for our two nights in the Borders. It’s lovely. By getting us north of Durham that first night we are within an easier drive of Holy Island so we can go straight there the next morning. We also have a good hotel in London where I’ve stayed before myself and a nice place in Edinburgh. I’ve secured the services of a lovely guide who will join us at Durham and accompany to Edinburgh. And we’re looking at doing something a bit different in Edinburgh also which will suit the theme of the tour and be good for folks who’ve been there before. So that’s all looking great."

Registrations and bookings are being accepted now with the early bird deadline of Sunday, January 4. In addition, there will be another information session for those interested or who want to learn more after worship on Sunday, January 4 in the Land Building Riverside Room. See the resource page for booking forms, pilgrimage information, etc. at scapc.org/scotland. 

Session Meeting Highlights

The December 15th meeting of the session welcomed two more elders in the class of 2028, Mike Pugh and Lauren Fish, who both gave their faith statements and were affirmed as they begin their service in 2026. The Leadership Development Committee recognized the outgoing elder class of 2025 with thank you gifts of travel size bibles. In addition to year end reports from session committees, four baptisms were approved for 2026, gratitude for the efforts of the stewardship committee and their campaign were acknowledged, and the session called a congregational meeting for Sunday, January 25, 2026, to concur with Sarah Chancellor Watson’s request that the Presbytery of South Louisiana dissolve her terms of call with SCAPC as she begins a new call as Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Richardson, Texas. Clerk of Session Jill Nalty organized a beautiful Christmas reception, and information about the 2026 Session Retreat (January 30-31) with guest speaker Susan Quinn was presented.

Ringers & Singers

On Sunday, the Ringers & Singers bell choir opened worship with "We Three Ships." Pictured from left are Mills Kehlenbach, Chris Hazlaris, Arden Weiser, Savannah Weiser, Corinne Currie, Vivian Kane, Amelia Grace Lemoine, Harrison Currie, and Charlie Kehlenbach with Director Peggy Crain.

White Gifts & Jesse Tree

On Sunday, Pastor Sarah led a Children's Message including the week's Jesse Tree ornaments and the collection of White Gifts from the congregation. These gifts will go to families of the New Orleans Women's and Children's Shelter, Raintree Children and Family Services, and the St. Thomas Health Center, all SCAPC community ministry partners.

Christmas Memories at the Aden Program

Last week at the Aden Program for Elder Care, SCAPC volunteer Harriet Riley collected Christmas memories from all participants and brought them to life through poetry. The SCAPC Nursery School children also led everyone in caroling.

Church Staff Christmas Lunch

The SCAPC staff enjoyed their annual Christmas lunch today!