Connecting us with one another, our community, and the world...
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“It is the cross
that is the true tree of life.”
Unknown
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In worship this week:
April 14, 2019
Palm Sunday
Pastor: Rev. Janie McElwee-Smith
Pianist: Ana Paula Simões
Liturgist: Doris M. (Skippy) Thompson
Ushers: Todd and Mei Stewart
Hospitality: Sherry Hutchinson
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One Great Hour of Sharing
(from OGHS Leaders’ Guide)
Around the world, millions of people lack access to sustainable food sources, clean water, sanitation, education, and opportunity. The three programs supported by One Great Hour of Sharing — Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the Presbyterian Hunger Program, and Self-development of People — all work in different ways to serve individuals and communities in need. From initial disaster response to ongoing community development, their work fits together to provide people with safety, sustenance, and hope.
Received during the season of Lent (March 6 – April 21), each gift to One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) helps to improve the lives of people in these challenging situations. The Offering provides us a way to share God’s love with our neighbors in need. In fact,
OGHS is the single, largest way that Presbyterians come together every year to work for a better world.
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This week in PCUSA Mission:
Creating a Modern “Wailing Wall”
Westminster Presbyterian Church in downtown Minneapolis continues to break down walls between church and community. As an engaged urban partner, it is listening to, and praying for, the concerns of its people.
Last summer, the church created its own kind of “Wailing Wall.” Passers-by were invited to write their prayer requests and hang them on the church’s railing that borders Nicollet, a 12-block shopping and dining hub in the city. Thousands of people pass by the church every day.
The prayer wall was the idea of the Revs. Sarah Brouwer, Westminster’s associate pastor for congregational life, and Meghan Gage-Finn, the church’s executive associate pastor. The pastoral duo wanted to move the midweek contemplative worship service onto the church’s new outdoor plaza during the summer months. So, they hung a sign on the railing that read: “We pray for the city … let us pray for you, too.”
Brouwer and Gage-Finn ordered 1,000 shipping tags. They wrote prayers on some of the tags and then attached them to the railing. Then, hundreds of blank tags were left, along with waterproof markers, for anyone walking by to add their own prayer.
“We prayed the prayers of the city that the people had written on the tags during every Wednesday and Sunday service. Some were so poignant. Children wrote prayers; others wrote in different languages,” said Brouwer. “People asked for prayers for all kinds of things. One person wrote: ‘I’m an atheist, but I have hopes for the world.’ Another one wrote: ‘I’m addicted, and I need help.’ These prayers changed the tone of our prayers at worship.”
The prayer wall did more than provide a sacred space for voices to be heard. It transformed both congregation and community, as it made the large monolithic stone church more approachable. A kind of unspoken spiritual dialogue with the wider world began.
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Immediate Church Family*:
Betty Bagent; Inez Geoghegan; Mike Groves;
family of Betty Lancaster (who entered the Church Triumphant April 9, 2019)
; family of Mary Perry; Deanna Lewis Sklar; Brad Smith.
Extended Church Family*:
Barbara Behrmann (Carol's mother); Brandon Behrmann (Carol’s nephew); Austin Casey (Jack and Betty Bagent’s grandson); Steve Dull (husband of Lynn Nichols Dull); Dan Durway (former Pastor of Highland); Eva Fuller (Inez Geoghegan’s niece); Julius Fuller (Inez Geoghegan’s brother); Randy Geoghegan (Inez’s son); Carol Harrison (Rob Stewart’s Mother); Claudia Hill (Connie Leonard’s sister); Phillip Lanier (friend of Rosemary John); Aleta Pickholtz; Barbara Smith (Brad Smith's mother); Larry Wilcoxson(friend of the Leonards).
*
New names added to the prayer list this week are in italics.
Birthdays
April 14 - 20:
Brad Smith (20)
Anniversaries
April
- none
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Monday, April 15:
12:00 p.m. AA
Tuesday, April 16:
12:00 p.m. AA
7:30 p.m. AA
Wednesday, April 17:
12:00 p.m. AA
7:00 p.m. Ladies’ AA
Thursday, April 18:
12:00 p.m. AA
5:30 p.m. Maundy Thursday Meal and Worship
8:00 p.m. Men’s AA
Friday, April 19:
12:00 p.m. AA
Saturday, April 20:
Yard Crew – John Dye & Mike Groves
Sunday, April 21: Easter/Resurrection of the Lord
9:30 a.m. Worship
7:00 p.m. AA
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Upcoming Opportunities at HPC
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- A Funeral Service for Betty Lancaster will be held today, Sunday, April 14, at 2:00 p.m. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until the service. Following the service, there will be a reception in the Great Hall.
- Easter Lilies will be available to decorate the sanctuary on Easter Sunday. If you would like to purchase and dedicate one or more lilies, please fill out an Easter Lily form found on the Narthex table. Return the form with a check made payable to “Highland Presbyterian Church” no later than April 17, 2019.
- A Maundy Thursday Congregational Meal and Worship Service, will be held at 5:30 pm, Thursday, April 18. There is a place at the table for all. Please make plans to participate in this special time of worship.
- Highland’s Traditional Easter Wor-ship Service will be Sunday, April 21 at 9:30 a.m. This joyous service will include special music and a “flowering of the cross.” The One Great Hour of Sharing Offering will be received.
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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
cell (call or text): 314.283.7596
office: 766-5775 (please leave a message)
blog: http://evenbefore.blog
blog: http://highlandtree.blog
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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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