TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2025

From the Pastor's Desk

This is a season of beginnings…and also goodbyes. New school year and college departures. New seasons and family transitions. I still have the letter, dated August 10, 1993, handed to me upon my departure for college long ago. I still have it today, so it must have been meaningful enough to keep all these years. I thought I would share some excerpts to all of you who may be navigating beginnings and adjournments.

‘…NO doubt you will meet different folk, some who will push you and your convictions and beliefs to the wall. That’s ok. That has a lot to do with what college is about. But remember who you are and you’ll be fine. In our family, we have not talked a lot about ‘faith,’ rather we have worshiped and loved together. I am not going to talk a lot about faith here, but we both know it is at the root of all that we are….I really only have two other pieces of advice. The first, don’t ever quit. For the first time in your life you will be on your own. You won’t have me or Mom telling you what to do or even expecting that you will do it. So what you choose to do, whether it be football or chemistry, will be up to you. So live faithfully with the choices you make, and having chosen, don’t quit on them. Woody Allen, who has problems of his own, was right about one thing: 98% of life is just showing up. Show up. Go to class. Do the reading. And do your best. Everything else will take care of itself. Do not be afraid to take hard courses or hard professors. Those are the ones from which you learn the most. Hang in there and study hard.’

‘Secondly, (and apparently, but only apparently in contradiction to what I have just said) have fun. That is not something I had a lot of in college. Some students think that is all that college is about and soon, you will notice they are not there anymore. But college should be, among other things, fun. I hope you make many friends and find new interests and even a consuming passion or two. Friends, you will find if you have not already, become more important to you as you get older. Call sparingly, write often, and remember we will be thinking of you and praying for you. All our hopes are wrapped up in you. See you at Thanksgiving….’

The writer Alexander McCall Smith reminds us that all our goodbyes are just adjournments.

So in your beginnings and new seasons and goodbyes, may you sense the presence of God mysteriously at work in all our beginnings, endings, and goodbyes.

With every good wish,

Chris Currie

Katrina Memorial Service

A Service of Lament, Thanksgiving, and Healing

We invite you to join us for worship this Friday, August 29 as we remember and lament what was lost and we give thanks to God for the ways we have been cared for and carried through this tragedy. We will honor those who were lost, those who came to help, and those who, with resilience and strength, came back and rebuilt this community. Music will be provided by Dr. Jazz and his band and Steven Blackmon.

5:30 p.m. Doors open for quiet prayer and reflection

6:00 p.m. Worship begins (will be livestreamed to our YouTube page)

Day of Service

Lakeview Presbyterian Church will mark the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina with a day of service on the LPC church campus (5914 Canal Blvd.) on Saturday, August 30 from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. In addition to projects improving the church’s building and grounds, there will be a supply drive to assemble hurricane/disaster preparedness kits for the clients of Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services and the public at-large. This event is in partnership with Ask Wonder Explore, the Lakeview Presbyterian Weekday School, PCHAS, and other building partners.

Zoom With Our Ghana Friends

This Sunday, August 31, during the Sunday School hour, 9:30-10:15 a.m., we will be hosting a conversation with our friends and ministry partners in Senchi Ferry, Ghana. Join us in the Land Building Riverside Room to learn more about the Gethsemane Presbyterian Church community, the Senchi Ferry Learning Center, and the Ghana Scholarship Fund we support through our Global Ministry funds. Learn more about our Ghana ministry at scapc.org/ghana.

Welcome, College Students!

This Sunday, August 31, SCAPC’s college-age worshippers are invited to meet up at Dat Dog (5030 Freret St.) after 10:30 worship. Any and all of our local college students or college visitors are invited to this lunch to get to know one another better and hear about the ministry opportunities offered to them this year, both at SCAPC and through our campus ministry partners with Tulane and Loyola, NOLA Wesley. Learn more on our college ministry webpage.

Sunday School Class Line-Up

Sunday School for all ages begins September 7 at 9:30!

ADULT CLASSES:

First and Second Samuel | Sept. 7 - Nov. 23 | Phifer Library | recordings posted at scapc.org/sunday-school

During the reigns of Saul and David as recorded in First and Second Samuel, the people of Israel experience fear, disappointment, heartache, and betrayal. The compelling theme that weaves its way through these two books and into our lives is the need to balance both the gift of life from God and the promise of God’s steadfast love with the ever-present human temptation to take control and usurp God’s authority. This class uses the Interpretation Bible Studies series which offers solid biblical content in a creative study format. Through dynamic, flexible, and user-friendly resources, it makes deep biblical insight available to all.

Lessons from the Lectionary | Sept. 7 - Nov. 23 | 2nd floor conference room

Join us as we deep-dive into the lectionary scriptures of the day’s service. This discussion-based class will use commentaries and other resources to guide us as we learn about the week’s text—reading it together, discussing what we think it means, how we can connect it to our lives, and what we think God is calling us to do. Together we will add greater depth to our understanding of the scripture behind each week’s sermon.

YOUTH AND CHILDREN:

Youth Sunday School (grades 6-12) meets in the Youth Room on the 3rd floor and occasionally on Instagram @scapc_youth.

The Challenger Class (grades 4-5) meets in a special room on the 2nd floor that is set up with sofas and chairs where students can explore their faith, ask questions, and begin to verbalize what they believe. This year’s class topics include Psalm 23, John Calvin, Prayer and Worship, and the Apostle's Creed.

Three-year-olds through 3rd graders gather by age group for classes that focus on hands-on learning. They are divided into three groups: 3 yrs to PreK, Kindergarten-1st grade, and 2nd-3rd grade, all meeting in rooms on the 2nd floor. They engage in Bible stories through activities, interactive games, and creative crafts. Throughout the year we explore stories from the Old and New Testaments. Weekly lessons help kids navigate the stories and begin to compare what they learn to their own lives.

The Nursery for ages 0-3 is open 8:15-11:45 a.m. in the Bear Classroom which is the corner classroom on the first floor.

New to Youth Group Event

SCAPC’s youth ministry will have a “new to youth group” welcome night on Monday, September 1, 6-8 p.m., in the youth room. At this event, anyone who is new to youth group or wants to try it out for the first time will be given an orientation. We will talk about what youth group is, the ins and outs of our third floor space, and expectations for our participants, and, of course, we will give our new students a glimpse of some of the favorite games we play together when we are in youth group! This is a really great opportunity for new youth to have a blast getting to know other new youth in a small atmosphere before the first big youth group of the year, get comfortable with the environment, and have a better understanding of what we do on Sunday nights. Dinner is provided!

Children's & Youth Choirs

Children’s Choirs and Youth Ringers begin rehearsals on Sunday, September 7! Children’s Choir 1 (3 years-Kindergarten) rehearses from 11:45-12:15 in the Learning Center on the second floor. Children’s Choir 2 (1st-5th Grades) rehearses from 11:45-12:15 in the choir room on the third floor. Ringers (6th-12th Grades) rehearse from 12:15-12:45 p.m. in the choir room on the third floor. For details and to register, visit our children’s/youth choirs webpage at scapc.org/childrens-choirs.

Spiritually Hungry Women: New Study

The Spiritually Hungry Women group will begin a study of the book Welcoming the Unwelcome: Wholehearted Living in a Brokenhearted World by Pema Chödrön. Weekly meetings are held on Wednesdays at 12:30 p.m. in the Land Building, and all are welcome. Email Beth Poe at bethpoe@tulane.edu with any questions.

Yak, Snack & Read

The 40/50's Yak, Snack, & Read book club meets next on Thursday, September 11 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at the Garden District Book Store in the Rink, 2727 Prytania Street. Join your fellow book lovers and enjoy snacks and a drink at the in-shop Bar Epilogue! Our next book is Fly Into the Wind by Don Rooney. Prior reading is not required!

Member News

BIRTH: Our congratulations go out to Laura Mutter and Andrew Kwon on the birth of their daughter, Anna Alicia Kwon, who arrived on Thursday, August 21.

SYMPATHY: Our sympathy is extended to the family and friends of Susan White who died on Friday, August 22. A service will be held Friday at 2 p.m. at Lakelawn Metairie Funeral Home with visitation at noon.

NEW MEMBER: Please join us in welcoming Dr. Alex Hughes who became a SCAPC member on Sunday! She is pictured here with husband Brendan and daughter Claire.

Shabbat Service at Temple Sinai

As part of our interfaith ministry, the members of Temple Sinai invited our congregation to attend their Musical Shabbat Service last Friday. 24 SCAPC visitors attended this special service. Pictured here foreground are Chris, Emilia, and Jenn Keene, Laurel and Lilla Rowland and Ashley Brown; background are Shyla and Mitch Nuland, Charlotte Urban, Cindy and Ed Bush, Caitlin Wallace-Rowland, Julie Nice, and Melissa McDonald.

YAF Cocktail Competition

Young Adults & Families enjoyed a fun night time at their annual Cocktail Competition last Saturday at the home of Katie Brendler. Winners included Sean Chaney for his Hibiscus Pisco Sour (Best Cocktail); Mary Carroll Waller and Caroline McArthur for their Jungle Juice (Best Presentation); and Brittany Colson for her Cotton Candy Rose (Runner-Up).

Sextons at the Saints Game

Veteran sextons Donald Jefferson and Joe Bean joined our newest sexton "3-D" to cheer on the Saints at their game last Sunday!