MLK Message; Farewell Reception for Sarah; Upcoming Events; Photos & More

TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2026

Martin Luther King, Letter from a Birmingham Jail

"One day the South will recognize its real heroes. They will be the James Merediths, with the noble sense of purpose that enables them to face jeering and hostile mobs, and with the agonizing loneliness that characterizes the life of the pioneer. They will be old, oppressed, battered Negro women, symbolized in a seventy two year old woman in Montgomery, Alabama, who rose up with a sense of dignity and with her people decided not to ride segregated buses, and who responded with ungrammatical profundity to one who inquired about her weariness: 'My feets is tired, but my soul is at rest.' They will be the young high school and college students, the young ministers of the gospel and a host of their elders, courageously and nonviolently sitting in at lunch counters and willingly going to jail for conscience' sake. One day the South will know that when these disinherited children of God sat down at lunch counters, they were in reality standing up for what is best in the American dream and for the most sacred values in our Judeo Christian heritage, thereby bringing our nation back to those great wells of democracy which were dug deep by the founding fathers in their formulation of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence."

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--closing section of 'Letter from a Birmingham Jail,' by Martin Luther King, Jr., April 16, 1963

Congregational Meeting & Reception for Sarah Chancellor-Watson

The session of St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church has called a congregational meeting for this Sunday immediately following the 10:30 service in the Sanctuary. The purpose of the meeting is to vote on Rev. Sarah Chancellor-Watson’s request that the Presbytery of South Louisiana dissolve the pastoral relationship between her and this congregation as of February 3, 2026 (this Sunday being her last Sunday leading worship).

Please come to a RECEPTION after this meeting to celebrate Sarah’s ministry with us for 9 ½ years, to share our love with Sarah and her family, and to send them off to her new call at First Presbyterian Church of, Richardson, with our love and blessings.

Borderlands Ministry Presentations

This Thursday, January 22, Caly Fernandez of McAllen, Texas will give a presentation on the House of Love and Justice Ministries, an organization which provides assistance and education to the migrant community at the Texas/Mexico border. The House of Love and Justice is one of SCAPC's global ministry partners. The event will take place 5-7 p.m. in the Land Building (new location) and will include dinner. All are welcome and no reservation is required.

Youth Parents Beer Tasting Sunday

Parents of 6th-12th grade youth are invited to the Land Building at 5 p.m. this Sunday, January 25, concurrent with the start of youth group, for a beer tasting event. Jacob Landry, youth group dad and founder and president of Urban South, will be hosting the event, generously bringing beverages to taste and learn about. We hope this will be a fun way for our parents to share fellowship while youth enjoy a night of growth and games together next door at Youth Group.

PINTS Spiritual Art Collage Workshop

with Visiting Artist Bethanie Mangigian

Join us for a collage workshop to explore the connection between art and spirituality. The workshop will take place Wednesday, January 28, from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Land Building. This guided experience offers space for reflection, intention-setting, and creative expression. No experience with collage is needed. (Participants are invited to bring a notebook if they’d like to journal as part of this practice or magazines if they have specific imagery they’d like to use). All other materials are provided. Participants will leave with a meaningful piece of collage art that reflects their journey! Bethanie is a local collage artist and clinical social worker exploring how creativity can be a vehicle for healing. Please RSVP on the SCAPC app. Questions? Contact Caitlin, caitlin@scapc.org.

Youth Sunday is February 1!

Youth Sunday is celebrated annually at SCAPC as an opportunity for our 6th-12th graders to lead the congregation through all aspects of our liturgy. Our youth create all of the worship components from the prayers to the sermons to the hymn selections. We at SCAPC believe that youth are not just the “future of the church”, they are the church here and now, with God-given gifts, creative instincts, and thoughtful theological insights that we are called to honor and learn from. We encourage you to welcome their leadership at the 8:30 and 10:30 services on February 1 with an attentive heart and open mind.

PW Book Club Upcoming Titles

The Presbyterian Women's Book Club meets on the third Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in the Land Building Riverside Room, and all are welcome to join! Contact Elizabeth Artigues at artigues4@gmail.com with any questions. Upcoming books are:

FEBRUARY 19: Clear by Carys Davies
MARCH 19: The All of It by Jeannette Haien
APRIL 16: Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy

Save the Date: SCAPC Stitchers Soirée

Are you curious how the Baptism cloths are created? Do you enjoy cross stitching? Join the Baptism Stitching Group (AKA the SCAPC Stitchers) for a social gathering on Tuesday, March 3 in the Land Building from 6:00-7:30 p.m. to meet this wonderful group and learn about what we do. We will have our baptism cloths in hand as we enjoy one another's company. Please contact Judith Halverson at jhalver0510@gmail.com with any questions.

Sunday School Adult Classes

We Believe...1700 Years with the Nicene Creed

January 4 -February 8 | Phifer Library | led by Chris Currie

The year just finished, 2025 marks the 1700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed. This class explores the early Trinitarian and Christological beliefs and the desire to reach some sense of consensus about ‘one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,’ why these words we declare in our oldest creed matter and affect our lives as Christians who stand in the tradition of the Nicene Creed.

Writing from the Heart: Journaling as Sacred Practice

January 4 -February 8 | 2nd floor conference room | led by Harriet Riley

When the world feels chaotic and you are seeking quiet in the storm, a spiritual journal can be the best way to process feelings and thoughts. A journal can also be a path to nurture your faith through interactive prayer. Using the recently published The Book of Alchemy: A Creative Practice for an Inspired Life by Suleika Jaouad, this participatory class explores the art of journaling as a spiritual practice.

Member News

NEW MEMBER: We are delighted to welcome new member Mary Olson who joined SCAPC on Sunday!

BIRTH: Yesterday, Carly and Jack McCleskey welcomed daughter Elyse Claire McCleskey! She is the granddaughter of Monique and Bob McCleskey.

PW Retreat

A wonderful time of learning, worshiping and fellowship was enjoyed by SCAPC Presbyterian Women at their 31st Annual Retreat at the Solomon Episcopal Conference Center this past Sunday and Monday. Please be on the lookout for upcoming emails related to experiences at this year’s retreat and plans for future retreats.

In addition, PW was pleased as an organization to present Sarah Chancellor-Watson with a gifted opportunity to enjoy a special fine dining experience in her new hometown as a thank you for her decade of partnership and service with us.

YAF Trivia Night

On Thursday, the Young Adults and Families group enjoyed a Trivia Night at Skeeta Hawk Brewing. Pictured here from left are Sam Centeno, Shelby Sundmaker, Stafford Primeaux, Chris Hazlaris, Ethan Rault, Ben Morrison, Preston Valois, and Sarah Bleile.

This Week's Prayer List

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