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Thought for the Week:

"What if, today, we were grateful
for everything?"

Charlie Brown
             
        
In worship this week:
November 26, 2017

Pastor: Rev. Janie McElwee-Smith

Guest Preacher: Rev. Steve Wallace

Music Director: Aubrey Nelson

Pianist: Bingyu Peng

Liturgist: Connie Buck

Youth Liturgist: Emma Stewart

Ushers: John and Louise Dye

Hospitality: John and Louise Dye
Flowers this Sunday are presented
in gratitude for God's bounty
by Highland's Orchard and
Bill and Barb Pfeifer.
Focus on HPC:       
Reaching Our Branches

This past Sunday during our Third Sunday Lunch, we con-ducted a raffle for two quilts. The Missions committee is excited to report that we sold 146 tickets, totaling $730.00 that will go toward hunger relief. First prize went to Mary Lew Sfondouris (a ticket sold by Mike Groves) and Second prize went to Ale Sanchez (a ticket sold by Rev. Janie).

This raffle gave us an opportunity to highlight three of the mission projects that Highland supports throughout the year. The first is the “Wasted Women/Giving Quilt,” our quilting group that is housed on Highland’s campus. This group makes quilts all to be given away and all made from donated materials (thus the name “Wasted”).

The second project is the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank in conjunction with St. John’s UMC Shepherd’s Market. These organizations fight hunger in our backyard, something that has been one of the key ministries of the Christian Church for over 2000 years.

The third project is Heifer International. This organization, which supports fighting hunger and promoting self-suffic-iency around the world, has long been an outreach of Highland. This involvement traces its roots back to our early members from the agricultural community at LSU.

Sometimes it is hard to see just how far and how wide our branches stretch. Hopefully you’ll take a minute to look upward and see how far they reach. Thank you for your support! 
















This week in PCUSA Mission:                
         
Giving Tuesday

Before the sun set on Thanksgiving Day, stores across our country opened their doors to shoppers seeking an early start on Black Friday specials. This “busiest shop-ping day of the year” is etched deeply into our culture and our economy. In the past decade, another retail phenomenon has developed in the days following Thanksgiving. The technological revolution and savvy marketers have given us Cyber Monday, which is filled with promotions aimed at online shoppers.

On the heels of these two commercial events, a third post-Thanksgiving tradition has emerged, and it is claiming the attention of more and more people, including Presbyterians. Giving Tuesday exists for one purpose: to celebrate and encourage giving. The event, which is in its sixth year, was created by the 92nd Street Y, a cultural and community center in New York City, in partnership with the United Nations Foun-dation. It is billed as “a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration.”

By the time Giving Tuesday arrives, most of the Thanksgiving dinner leftovers have been eaten or thrown away, and the season’s hymns of gratitude have been set aside for another year. However, Giving Tuesday’s emphasis on generosity offers Christians an opportunity to hit the reset button and rediscover the joy of giving thanks.
Immediate Church Family*:
Betty Bagent; Carol Behrmann; Doris Baugh; Inez Geoghegan; Betty Lancaster; Mary Perry; Deanna Lewis Sklar; Brad Smith; Caitlin Thompson.

Extended Church Family* :
Brandon Behrmann (Carol’s nephew); Ron Brelsford (Rosemary John’s brother-in-law); Lettie Capers (friend of the Leonards); Austin Casey (Jack and Betty Bagent’s grandson); Wayne Cline (Sherry Hutchinson’s brother); Cecil and Judy Eubanks (former members) ; Eva Fuller (Inez Geoghegan’s niece); the Miller twins (friends of Brad Smith); Aleta Pickholtz; Earl Rabe (friend of Rick Gurtner); Joy Walker (niece of the Pfeifers); Larry Wilcoxson (friend of the Leonards); Barbara Zeagler (friend of the Dyes.)

 * New names or concerns added to the prayer list this week are in italics.

Birthdays
November 26 – December 2: none

Anniversaries
December: none
Detail of the Prague Astronomical Clock in thePrague Old Town

This week at HPC:
Monday, November 27:
12:00 p.m. AA

Tuesday, November 28:
9:30 a.m. WW Quilters
10:30 a.m. Bible Study
12:00 p.m. AA    
7:30 p.m. AA

Wednesday, November 29:
12:00 p.m. AA
5:30 p.m. HPC choir practice
7:00 p.m. Ladies’ AA

Thursday, November 30:
9:30 a.m. Ad Hoc Property Committee
12:00 p.m. AA
8:00 p.m. Men’s AA

Friday, December 1:
12:00 p.m. AA
1:00 p.m. Feliciana Retreat Center Work Days
begin

Saturday, December 2:
3:00 p.m. Feliciana - Work Days end
Yard Crew – Jack Bagent & Bill Pfeifer

Sunday, December 3: 
9:30 a.m. Worship
10:30 a.m. Congregational Meeting/Greening of
the Church
7:00 p.m. AA
coming soon brand new product release next up promotion and announce road sign or announcement billboard
Upcoming Opportunities at HPC
  • Devotional Advent Calendars are available for pick-up. The first Sunday of Advent is December 3.

  • Feliciana Retreat Center Work Days – Dec. 1-2. Something for everyone to do! For more information, contact Jack Bagent. For a ride on Saturday, contact Louise Dye.

  • December 3 - Called Congregational Meeting for the purpose of reviewing Rev. McElwee-Smith’s 2018 Terms of Call and Greening of the Church.  We will decorate the Sanctuary for the Advent season. Please make plans to stay following worship.

  • Lagniappe Ladies will meet Tuesday, Dec. 5, 6:00 p.m. at the church. Everyone is invited to bring a plate of cookies, candies or other sweets to share with the entire group, and everyone will go home with goodies for the holidays. There will be a pork tenderloin dinner for those attending – cost $8.00/person.


About HPC
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.
Connecting with Our Pastor
Rev. Janie McElwee-Smith

Rev. Janie will return from vacation November 28
office hours for Rev. Janie are Thurs. 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
by appointment Tues. – Thurs. 9:00 am – 4:30 pm  

cell (call or text): 314.283.7596
office: 766-5775 (please leave a message)
Highland Presbyterian Church (USA)
10024 Highland Road • Baton Rouge, LA 70810 • 225.766.5775 • www.highlandpresbyterian.org