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Thought for the Week:

“No one can be saved –
in virtue of what he (or she) can do. 
Everyone can be saved –
in virtue of what God can do.”

Karl Barth
             
        
In worship this week:
January 28, 2018

Pastor: Rev. Janie McElwee-Smith

Music Director: Aubrey Nelson

Pianist: Bingyu Peng

Liturgist: Brandon Lithgoe

Youth Liturgist: Caitlin Thompson

Ushers: Brandon and Sharyn Lithgoe

Hospitality: Brandon and Sharyn Lithgoe
Flowers this Sunday are presented
in honor of our families
by Brandon and Sharyn Lithgoe.

Focus on HPC:       
Souper Bowl of Caring . . .

In 1990 Brad Smith (not our Brad Smith,) then a seminary intern serving at Spring Valley Pres-byterian Church in Columbia, SC, gave birth to the Souper Bowl of Caring with this prayer: “Lord, even as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us be mindful of those who are without a bowl of soup to eat.”

Twenty-eight years later, lamentably hunger in the United States is still with us. Fortunately this youth-led movement uses the attention given to the Super Bowl to remind us of the need that’s still there by collecting dollars and canned food for those who struggle to put enough nutrition on their tables. At this time of the year, youth throughout the U.S. collect donations then send every dollar (and can) to local anti-hunger groups of their choice.

HPC’s Youth Group has once again chosen to join in this campaign. Please help them by donating cash in the red bucket marked “Food Bank” or non-perishable food items in the bins located in the fellowship area. In the spirit of the Super Bowl we will also have our teams to support with con-tributions: “ I’m here for the game ,” “ I’m here for the commercials ,” or “ I just want to help my community .” All are super winners!




















This week in PCUSA Mission:                
         
SDOP-Supported Group Making
Difference in San Francisco’s Chinatown

Norman Fong grew up in a housing project. Coming from a low-income family he learned early in life what it was like to be evicted and to not know where to go. These days, Fong serves as a pastor of a Presbyterian church in San Francisco’s Chinatown, the church he credits with helping his family find a place to live. He also serves as execu-tive director of the Chinatown Community Devel-opment Center and has become a champion for low-income housing residents.

People living at or below the poverty line have struggled for decades to find affordable housing in cities like San Francisco. The high cost of living has forced many to seek community housing, but housing conditions often have not been up to par. “Housing has been a huge issue for Chinatown, and most people don’t realize that families live in these single-room hotels,” he said. “New York and Chicago tore them down, but here in San Fran-cisco, we tried to save them all because we can’t have single-family homes; there’s not enough space.”

Fong says families can’t find affordable housing in San Francisco, and the housing units are a “last resort.” The Community Tenants Association (CTA) was formed to help provide a voice for low-income housing families. The Presbyterian Com-mittee on the Self-Development of People pro-vided initial support for the group. “Residents were being evicted and wanted to come together and form their own association. They were meeting in a small room but kept growing,” he said. “We found a local elementary school that had a huge gym, and we started hosting these ‘Super Sunday’ meetings there.

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); Steve Dull (husband of Lynn Nichols Dull); Dan Durway (former Pastor of Highland); Cecil and Judy Eubanks (former members); Eva Fuller (Inez Geoghegan’s niece); Hank and Helen McKinney (former members); 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
January 28 – February 3:  none

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

This week at HPC:
Monday, January 29:
12:00 p.m. AA

Tuesday, January 30:
10:30 a.m. Bible Study
12:00 p.m. AA 
7:30 p.m. AA

Wednesday, January 31:
12:00 p.m. AA
5:30 p.m. HPC choir practice
7:00 p.m. Ladies’ AA

Thursday, February 1:
12:00 p.m. AA
8:00 p.m. Men’s AA

Friday, February 2:
12:00 p.m. AA

Saturday, February 3:
Yard Crew – Jack Bagent & Bill Pfeifer

Sunday, February 4: 
9:30 a.m. Worship - Communion
10:45 a.m. Sunday Study Class
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
  • Sunday Study Class resumes February 4 – A Clash of Kingdoms. Travel to Greece and learn how Paul communicated the Good News of Christ to Philippi, a Roman colony that worshiped false Gods. The class will meet in the Adult Sunday School classroom following worship on the first and fourth Sundays each month.

  •  Youth collect donations for Souper Bowl of Caring through February 4. See "Focus on HPC" for more information.

  • Lagniappe Ladies - Tuesday, Feb-ruary 6, 6:00 p.m., dinner out at Adrian’s Restaurant (18143 Perkins Rd East, Ste D – across from Blue Bayou.)  Please indicate if you will be coming on the bulletin board sign-up sheet. For more information contact Carol Behrmann.

  • Sermon next Sunday (Feb. 4) - “Just Stop” based on Isaiah 40:21-31 and Mark 1:29-39.
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

office hours for Rev. Janie are Mon. 10:30 am – 1:30 pm
and Thurs. 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
by appointment Mon. – 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