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Thought for the Week:
“Wherever people love each other
and are true to each other
and take risks for each other,
God is with them and for them
and they are doing God’s will.”

                                     Frederick Buechner                                       
              

In worship this week:
July 16, 2017

Pastor:  Rev. Janie McElwee-Smith

Pianist:  Cibele Perusso

Liturgist:  Doris M. (Skippy) Thompson

Ushers:  Anne McKnight and Mary Martin 



Flowers this Sunday are presented
to the Glory of God
by John and Louise Dye.

Focus on HPC:           
           
    Mission Items

          As you know, six of our youth and their advisors will travel to Orlando, FL, for a week of serving our brothers and sisters there.  As part of this service our Week of Hope organizers have requested that we bring a few items to assist in some of their ministries.  The first item is paper products – plates, cups, napkins, etc. – to support a local food kitchen serving the hungry.  The second item is diapers (any size) to support a local emergency shelter for abused women and their children.  This second opportunity is particularly special this year because of our newest (almost baptized) members who know how many diapers they can go through in a day.
              There are two ways you can help.  One - bring paper goods or diapers and place them in the plastic bin in the fellowship area.  Two - if you’re not a shopper, you can make a cash donation that the Youth will use to purchase the items.  Mark your checks “Mission Items” and make your donation no later than Sunday, July 23.






    This week in PCUSA Mission:                             
                     
    DIRTY HANDS, TIRED FEET, AND
    ELEVATED SPIRITS IN ST. LOUIS                           

                When J. Herbert Nelson II, Stated Clerk for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), began touting his Hands and Feet initiative at last winter’s Montreat College Conference and initiative manager Andrew Yeager-Buckley talked up its service/learning opportunities, the UKirk campus ministry at Michigan State University (MSU) immediately signed on.  A group of MSU students and their campus minister, Neil Myer, were recently the first of what Nelson hopes will be many groups to go to St. Louis, the host city for the 223rd General Assembly (2018), to engage with communities in need through PC(USA) community outreach ministries in Giddings-Lovejoy Presbytery.
           So how did the inaugural Hands and Feet engagement by the MSU UKirk group go?  “My hands are dirty,” one student said during a May 9 break.  “My feet are tired,” added another.  “But maybe that’s what it’s all about,” one young man responded.  The group had spent the morning learning about the many “food deserts” in St. Louis, where access to affordable and nutritious food is a daily struggle. Then, under the supervision of the Rev. Peggy Harris, a retired United Church of Christ minister, they helped prepare a community garden at the St. Agnes Senior Community.    r ead more at . . . 
     https://www.presbyterianmission.org/yearbook
     /July-18-2017/
    Immediate Church Family*:
    Doris Baugh; Inez Geoghegan; Betty Lancaster; Dudley Payton; Mary Perry; Deanna Lewis Sklar; Brad Smith; Lucien Smith.
    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); Eva Fuller (Inez Geoghegan’s niece); Jonathan Kellebrew (the Pfeifer’s daughter’s nephew); Rhonda Matthews (friend of the Lancasters); Aleta Pickholtz; Earl Rabe (friend of Rick Gurtner); Neomi Robinson (Mary Perry’s helper); 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
    July 16 - 22:  Joseph John & Rosemary John (17),
             John Kleinpeter (21)

    Anniversaries
     no anniversaries in July
    Detail of the Prague Astronomical Clock in thePrague Old Town

    This week at HPC:
    Monday, July 17: 
         12:00 p.m. AA
    Tuesday, July 18     
         10:30 a.m. Bible Study
         12:00 p.m. AA     
         7:30 p.m. AA
    Wednesday, July 19:
         12:00 p.m. AA
          7:00 p.m. Ladies’ AA
    Thursday, July 20:
          12:00 p.m. AA
          8:00 p.m. Men’s AA
    Friday, July 21:
          12:00 p.m. AA
    Saturday, July 22:
           Yard Crew – Jack Bagent & Bob Buck
    Sunday, July 23: 
           9:30 a.m. Worship
           11:00 a.m. Sunday Study
            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


    • July Third Sunday Lunch is today! We will have a picnic with all the trimmings, but no ants, mosquitoes, or heat (join us in the Great Hall.)  Proceeds will go toward the Youth Mission Trip.

    • Our Sermon next Sunday, July 23, will be “Rooted and Grounded” on Ephesians 3:14-21 and Revelations 22:1-5.

    • Sunday Study will meet next Sunday, July 23.  “Don’t Forget Us,” will be the final lesson of Walk as Jesus Walked. All are encouraged to attend.

        Session News

        The Session of Highland Presbyterian Church met for its regular stated June/July Meeting on Sunday, July 9, 2017.  The following business was conducted:
        • Session approved the request of Rev. Janie McElwee-Smith to celebrate the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper with the participants of the Youth Mission Trip during their early morning worship service on July 30, 2017.
        • Session approved the following courses of Continuing Education for Rev. McElwee-Smith:  two on-site courses, “Worship and the Arts” September 25-29 at Montreat Conference Center and “Improvisational Leadership” October 10-12 at Columbia Theological Seminary; and two online courses through Columbia Theological Seminary, “Church Systems Theory” (Aug/Sept) and “ Readings in Spiritual Classics” (Sept/Oct).
        • Session approved supporting the Youth in their Mission Trip endeavors by allowing and endorsing a church-wide drive for paper goods and baby diapers (as per the request of GROUP Mission Trips.)  Donations of either items or cash to purchase these items will be received July 16-23.
        • Session approved the appointing of Ruling Elders Connie Buck (chair), Mike Leonard, and Dudley Payton to an Ad Hoc committee to explore options for replacing the destroyed church sign.  Rev. McElwee-Smith will serve as an ex-officio member of the committee.




        Reports of interest

         Christian Ed and Congregational Care:
        • The Tuesday Bible Study class began a new study, Reading Biblical Literature, Genesis to Revelation, from The Great Courses DVD series.
        • The Sunday Study class began a new study, Walk as Jesus Walked, from Ray Vander Laan’s “That the World May Know” series.
        • Plans and fundraising for the Youth Mission Trip to Orlando, FL, July 29 – August 5 are going well.
        • The nursery was prepared for Rev. Janie’s twins with new cribs, changing table and rocking chair.  Special thanks go to Tillie Groves for the loan of the rocking chair.
        Evangelism and Membership:
        • The average worship attendance for the second quarter of 2017 was 36 people.
        • There were four visitors during the quarter.  All four provided contact information and the appropriate follow-up was done.
        Finance and Personnel:
        • In May expenses of $13,585.42 exceeded income of  $5,524.47 by $8,060.95.  The overage was partly caused by a payment of $3,265.23 for property insurance.
        • In June income of $9,019.80 exceeded expenses of $6,350.80 by $2,669.00
        Property:
        • Connie Buck reported on the Highland Presbyterian sign that was destroyed June 22 by a falling tree limb.  Guide One Insurance and Thompson Electric, the original sign installers, were contacted.  Since the replacement cost of the sign ($9,825) was more than the insured value ($8,000), the deductible was waived and Highland Presbyterian was issued a check by Guide One for $8,000.  Ken Heard Tree Service was paid $900 for the removal of the broken limb.  An Ad Hoc committee was appointed to explore options for replacing the sign.
        Worship and Music:
        • The Pentecost Service was held on June 4, 2017.  It was also celebrated as Highland’s birthday with a traditional jambalaya lunch following worship.
        • Cibele Perusso was employed as summer pianist.
        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. & Wed. 9:30 am – 12:30  pm
        available by appointment Mon. – Thurs. 9:00 am – 4:30 pm
        cell (call or text): 314.283.7596
        office: 766-5775 (please leave a message)
        email: revjaniehpc@gmail.com

        Highland Presbyterian Church (USA)
         10024 Highland Road • Baton Rouge, LA 70810 • 225.766.5775 • www.highlandpresbyterian.org