Connecting Our Community with Christ

1983-2023

For 40 years we have stood

as a mighty tree in our community:

Strong and rooted,

Soaring and reaching,

Vibrant and fruitful,

Sheltering and comforting.

In worship this Sunday

September 10, 2023



Preacher: Rev. Jeff Day

Liturgist: Carol Behrmann

Usher: Connie Buck

Refreshments: Jack and Betty Bagent

Flowers this Sunday

are dedicated by Carol Behrmann.

If you would like to participate with Highland Presbyterian Church remotely, we will stream this Sunday's service (9:30 a.m.) on our facebook page, 

www.facebook.com/HPCBR

Session

Notes

Stated Meeting Wednesday, September 6

Business:

• Session received the Annual Insurance Review for 2023.
• Session called a Special Meeting of the Congregation on Sunday, October 1, 2023, for the purpose of electing two Ruling Elders for the Session Class of 2026 and three Congregational Representatives for the 2024 Nominating Committee.
• Session approved hosting a Congregational Lunch on Sunday, September 17, 2023. The lunch will offer a time for discussion facilitated by Session members concerning “The Path Forward” following Rev. Day’s retirement.

Committee Reports:

Christian Education & Congregational Care

• Lagniappe Ladies met for lunch on August 16 at Pedro’s Taco and Tequila Bar.
• Shut-in members Dudley Payton and Skippy Thompson have been visited.
• Chris Payton has been contacted about celebrations for Dudley Payton’s 100^th birthday, November 4, 2023. Highland has been offered as a site for a catered event. Connie Buck will be the coordinator.



Emergency Preparedness

• New directories have been printed and are being distributed.
• Louise did some cleaning of the "record" closet in the Administration bathroom. There are two “archive” boxes for "backup records." Hard copies of Session and Congregational minutes from 1983 - 2020 have been consolidated into one box.  Clerk of Session information from the early 2000s through 2020 - statistical reports, member rosters, membership counts, terms of service, incorporation information and old attendance information, has been put into another box. Digital copies (in cd form) of records maintained by Clerk of Session; including copies of the Alphabetic Roll, Chronological Roll, Ordained Elder Register, Marriage Register, Baptism Register, Death Register, and Pastor Register are included with the Clerk of Session information. Official copies of Minutes, Rolls, and Registers are printed and in notebooks in the second to bottom drawer of the locked filing cabinet in the office work room. (There is a concern that all records are in the same building, and moving backup records to the other building will be explored at a later time.)

Committee Reports (cont.)

Emergency Preparedness (cont.)

• John and Louise met with the St George Chief of Fire Prevention, Darian Williams, on Wednesday, August 10, 2023. He was surprised that we were not inspected annually. He did an inspection and found four violations - slide bolts in the Great Hall, expired fire extinguisher inspections, dead batteries in exit signs, and no certification for the fire alarm system (last inspection done in 2019 - should be done annually also). Allied Systems, who maintained our fire alarm system previously, was contacted and the system has been inspected and re-certified. The slide bolts in the Great Hall have been removed. The fire extinguishers have been inspected and recertified by Cayards. All remediations will be completed prior to the next in-spection. 
• The inventory file is located in the 3rd drawer of the locked filing cabinet along with insurance information. 

Evangelism/Membership

• The average attendance for August was 18.
• We welcomed two guest pianists in August (Scarlett Ellender, and Rhonda Weyhrich)

Missions

• The Peace and Global Witness Offering will be received on Sunday, October 1, 2023, World Communion Sunday. A Minute for Mission will be given on September 24.
• Although Highland has discontinued delivering bread from Our Daily Bread due to the reduction of supply, we will continue to collect and deliver non-perishable food items from the basket in the Narthex. A thank you was received from Theresa Sandifer, Director of the Shepherds Market Food Bank, as follows: “Thank you so much for all your efforts. Y’all are awesome supporters of the feeding ministry. Partners for sure! Feed my sheep.”

Property

• Remediations for fire safety continue, primarily replacing backup batteries in the exit signs.
• The Acer laptop computer has been donated to the Capital Area Corporate Recycling Council. Donation documentation will be filed in the inventory folder.
• Watering of the orchard and newly planted oak tree will continue as needed.

Worship

• Jeff will be on vacation Sunday, October 15, 2023
• To complete the month of August, Scarlett Ellender and Rhonda Weyhrich served as pianist.
• Arturo Fernandez began his term as pianist on Sunday, September 3, 2023.