Connecting us with one another, our community, and the world...
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“I believe in Christ, like I believe in the sun – not because I can see it,
but by it I can see everything else.”
C. S. Lewis
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In worship this week:
April 8, 2018
Pastor: Rev. Janie McElwee-Smith
Music Director: Aubrey Nelson
Pianist: Bingyu Peng
Liturgist: Doris M. Thompson
Youth Liturgist: Emma Stewart
Ushers:
Hospitality:
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In memory of
. . .
Eddis and Sally Buck; Bill and Alita Gaines
by Bob and Connie Buck;
Pat Ragsdale
by Mike and Tillie Groves
;
Bill Perry
by Mary Perry;
Barbara Payton, Jane Payton
by Dudley Payton;
Jane Elding
McElwee {-Nast}, Claude W. McElwee, Jr., and Robert Frederic Nast,Sr.
by Janie & Brad Smith
In gratitude for
… Mike and Connie Leonard; Bill and Barb
Pfeifer
by Inez Geoghegan;
Janie, Brad, Lucien and Arthur
by Mike and Connie Leonard;
Our Families
by Chacko and Rosemary John;
Caitlin and Taylor Thompson
by Lucien and Arthur Smith;
HPC Youth Group
by Janie Smith.
In honor of
….
Margery Leonard
by Inez Geoghegan;
Bradford J. Smith
by Janie Smith;
Dr. Joseph A. Smith &
Barbara Bradford Smith
by Brad and Janie Smith
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“The Garden” is an original artwork papercut by our pastor, Rev. Janie McElwee-Smith, that has been hanging at various locations around the sanctuary throughout Holy Week. Within it, you will find the Tree of Knowledge from the garden of Eden, with its fruit in ample supply; the tomb of Christ with the stone blocking the light from escape; and the Tree of Life, also from Eden, represented as a leafing cross in the center. On either side of the cross are two small crosses on either side, representing the two thieves crucified with Christ: as the thief on Christ’s left begged for mercy and so is enveloped in the leaves of the Tree of Life, while the thief on Christ’s right treated him with contempt. The Greek words, which run from the bottom to top, are "kai akoma egero," which means "and still, I will rise."
Photo Credit: Carol Behrmann
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Tuesday Study Class:
The Return of the Prodigal Son – A Story of Homecoming
By Henri Nouwen
A chance encounter with Rembrandt’s
The Return of the Prodigal Son
catapulted Henri Nouwen on a spiritual adventure which he shares in his book by the same title. In seizing the inspiration that came to him through this depiction of the powerful Gospel story, Henri Nouwen probes the movements of the parable: the younger son’s return, the father’s restoration of sonship, the elder son’s vengefulness, and the father’s compassion.
Beginning April 17, join us for five Tuesdays as we look through Nouwen’s eyes to understand the powerful lessons of the Gospel - how to love as the father and be loved as the sons. Copies of the book can be picked up on the narthex table. The class will meet at 10:30 a.m. for coffee and fellowship. For more information, contact Connie Buck or Louise Dye.
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This week in PCUSA Mission:
Presbyterians Ponder Possibilities
for the Church of Tomorrow
What
could be “next” for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)? Nearly 700 participants pondered that question at the recent NEXT Church 2018 gathering in Baltimore. The annual conference brings together PC(USA) members, pastors and those in affiliated ministries to envision what is “next” for the denomination. The theme for this year’s event was “The Desert in Bloom: Living, Dying and Rising in a Wilderness Church.”
Preaching on the conference theme from the text of Isaiah 35, the Rev. Billy Honor, founding pastor of Pulse Church in Atlanta, followed up the reading with an example of a toy firetruck he received as a child. Enamored with the toy and the firetrucks that would pass his house, Honor was unable to get the toy’s siren to work until a family friend inserted batteries. Referring to the Isaiah reading, he said, “It’s a wilderness text; we know what to do with it — ‘the wilderness’ is like the church operating without batteries. Even though we have all the machinery, all the mechanics, it still doesn’t operate the way it’s supposed to.” Equating batteries to the work of the Holy Spirit, Honor said, “The wilderness [story] is like the people of God standing around looking for the power. ... Isaiah’s words are not words of sadness, not words of judgment — they are words of hope. “It’s time to stop complaining about the church you’re part of and start being the type of church you want to be,” he added, recognizing the tendency to lament when one feels stuck in the wilderness. “That’s what NEXT Church is all about.”
Calling on the PC(USA) to be a church dedicated to restorative justice, Honor offered encouragement: “All this work, we don’t have to do it on our own...
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Immediate Church Family*
:
Betty Bagent; Carol Behrmann; Doris Baugh; Inez Geoghegan; Betty Lancaster; Preston Lancaster; Mary Perry; Deanna Lewis Sklar; Brad Smith; Caitlin Thompson.
Extended Church Family*
:
Brandon Behrmann (Carol’s nephew); 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); Eva Fuller (Inez Geoghegan’s niece); Donald Leake; the Miller twins (friends of Brad Smith); Aleta Pickholtz;
Lynn Pye (Cody’s dad, Emma Stewart’s friend)
; 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
April 1 - 7: Hans Dunner (5)
Anniversaries
April 27 - Rick and Debbie Gurtner
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Monday, April 9
:
12:00 p.m. AA
Tuesday, April 10
:
9:30 a.m. WW Quilters
12:00 p.m. AA
7:30 p.m. AA
Wednesday, April 11:
12:00 p.m. AA
5:30 p.m. HPC choir practice
7:00 p.m. Ladies’ AA
Thursday, April 12
:
12:00 p.m. AA
8:00 p.m. Men’s AA
Friday, April 13
:
12:00 p.m. AA
Saturday, April 14
:
Yard Crew – Jack Bagent & Bill Pfeifer
Sunday, April 15
:
9:30 a.m. Worship
11:00 a.m. Third Sunday Lunch 7:00 p.m. AA
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Upcoming Opportunities at HPC
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- Third Sunday Lunch – April 15 will be a celebration of spring with an entrée of ham. Please look on the bulletin board for the sign-up sheet of what sides will be needed.
- Tuesday Study Class (April 17) – will begin a new study, The Return of the Prodigal Son, by Henri Nouwen. Complete information above.
- The Session will have a combined April/May meeting on Sunday, April 22. Please mark this on your calendar.
- Sermon next Sunday: “Ghost Story” on 1 John 3:1-7 and Luke 24:36b-48
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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.
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Connecting with Our Pastor
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Rev. Janie McElwee-Smith
office hours for Rev. Janie are Mon. 10:30 am – 11:30 am
and Thurs. 10:00 am – 1:30 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)
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Highland Presbyterian Church (USA)
10024 Highland Road • Baton Rouge, LA 70810 • 225.766.5775 • www.highlandpresbyterian.org
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