January 2003 Lifelines Newsletter

A Monthly Newsletter of Highland Presbyterian Church (225) 766-5775 January 2003

It’s that time of the year again – time to buy a new calendar and transfer all those important dates that were hastily scribbled on the final page of last year’s calendar. The start of a new year means closing the books on one chapter of our lives and looking forward to a fresh start for a new year. Although New Year’s Resolutions seem to be going out of popularity these days, the beginning a new year gives us time to reflect on last year’s achievements and challenges, and set goals for the year ahead.

I write this a few days before the session and elders-elect meet to reflect on the ministry and mission of Highland Presbyterian Church and pray/discuss/discern our future course. In preparation for that meeting I have been reading the session minutes from the first years of Highland’s 19+ year history and discovered an interesting fact. Questions about our purpose and calling have been raised almost every year since Highland was first chartered as a congregation. There have been moments with a clear vision for Highland’s mission and a unity of purpose, but these questions continue to challenge us: Why are we here? And what is God calling us to be and do today?

I believe 2003 will be a pivotal year in the life of this congregation. By God’s grace we weathered economic struggles other churches faced in 2002, and we have seen the transfer, moving or passing of many dear members. In 2003 we will face tremendous challenges with regard to worship, discipleship, pastoral care, fellowship and the critical stewardship of our financial, property and people resources. How will we respond without a clear, shared vision of the future? It is one thing to dream about a future, but it is harder to bring that future about when the world changes so quickly.

I wish I had the gift of foretelling the future so that I could assure you that all will be well in 2003 and that we will grow in our love and knowledge of God, but I don’t. I do have the gift of biblical prophecy – the “forth-telling” of God’s word to God’s people. God does not want us to be ignorant or without guidance. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God -- what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom. 12:2). God desires that we fully know and understand why we are here and what God’s mission is for us.

“For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:11-13).

This is the comfort and hope we have to face the future, certain or uncertain. To discern God’s will we must allow God to transform us, to change us as to seek God with all our heart. That sounds like a good New Year’s resolution to have: “I resolve this year to seek God with all my heart.” Will you join me in making this our joint resolution for 2003?

Grace and Peace,

The Stewardship Committee mailed an important envelope to members and friends last week. The envelope contains the unopened commitment card from 2002, giving records for 2002, the proposed budget for 2003, AND a new commitment card for 2003. Session has approved a budget for 2003 of $216,254, and has elected to continue the faith commitment process for accomplishing God's plan for Highland. Members and friends are asked to complete the commitment card, place it in the envelope provided, seal it, and bring it to worship on Sunday, January 12, 2003. If you cannot attend on Sunday, you may mail your card to the church or put it in the collection plate on a following Sunday.

A Leadership Training Retreat will be held on Saturday morning, January 11, from 8:30 until 12:30 at the church. A light breakfast and lunch will be provided.

The retreat will be a time for brainstorming, dreaming, goal setting, fellowship, and spiritual growth for all elders. The class of 2002 is especially urged to be present to help with a smooth transition into the work of 2003. The new class will be examined as required by the Book of Order. It is important that all elders be present so that the Session can begin to prepare for 2003 with energy and enthusiasm.

The Elders, class of 2005 and one of the class of 2004, will be ordained/installed on January 26 during the morning worship.

Elders are ordained for life before their initial installation and then are simply installed thereafter for a limited term. Elders should be persons of "faith, dedication, and good judgement." "Together with ministers of the Word and Sacrament, they exercise leadership, government, and discipline and have responsibilities for the life of a particular church as well as the church at-large, including ecumenical relationships." Specific responsibilities are spelled out in the Book of Order.

In ordination, the church sets apart those who have been elected with prayer and the laying on of hands. Those prepared to be ordained and installed answer questions posed by the Book of Order, and then the congregation promises to accept, encourage, respect their decisions, and to follow the leadership of the elders elect as they serve Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church.

One of the things that made Highland's celebration of Advent and Christmas really inspiring was the music. The first Sunday of Advent brought special music by a quartet of Joe Skillen's students, and then a brass quintet added much to the service of lessons and carols on December 8. Thanks to all who made that possible.

Our own musicians made a significant contribution to later services: soloists and cantors Abby Rollins, Peggy Adams, Hugh Huffman, John Rhoades and Chris Rollins; instrumentalists Sheldon Howe, Monique Howe, Rosemary John, Joseph John, Jonathan Martin, Deanna Sklar, Abby Rollins, Amanda Rollins, and Joe Skillen. Accompanists were Laurelie Gheesling and Judy Eubanks. Joe Skillen pulled it all together and kept the music on track. Thanks to all (and to anyone I may have omitted).

The choir is the backbone of the music program of any church. Thanks go to the individual members who are willing to participate by helping to lead in worship. The choir would welcome new members who would like to join. Especially needed are men who can learn (with help if needed) a tenor or bass line. We have fun even while we think that our music is important to our worship experience. I can't even imagine not having music! (M. Martin)

Congratulations to Brian and Kristen Crouch on the recent birth of their daughter, Grace Evangeline Crouch. Wanda Owens is Grace's grandmother.

Christian sympathy is extended to the family of Topsy Tolbert who died on Friday, December 20, 2002.

As far as her high school career is concerned, Abby Rollin's swansong has begun. Abby will graduate from Tara High School in May, ending a time of grand excitement and achievement, especially in the music department. Abby is known at Highland as a member of the choir and as a trumpet player who frequently enhances our worship music. At Tara, she is known as the drum major of the marching band. She won places in the All District Choir and the All Parish Band through auditions in the fall. The choir appeared in a performance in November, and the band will play early in the spring. Congratulations to you, Abby!

Besides her music, Abby is the editor of the yearbook at Tara. She is considering going to college next year at either Millsaps or Trinity. Enjoy your last semester, Abby!

Christian Education

This class will discuss the current upheaval in worship styles affecting the church today by examining Jewish worship in the Old Testament and during the time of Jesus, early church worship and its development after Christianity became an established religion of the Roman Empire, liturgical reform as a result of the Protestant Reformation, and the current smorgasbord of worship experiences. In particular, we will explore three dominant worship styles today referred to as historical/traditional, contemporary-praise/evangelical-free church, and the newest innovation, the seeker service.

Protestant Perspectives on Mary -- What can we say? Mary has been largely ignored by Protestants since the Reformation. There seems to be a bit of renewed interest by theologians -- not to take on the Catholic dogma, but to examine again her unique place and contributions to our understanding of who Jesus is in his divinity and his humanity.

The Bible Class will examine various perspectives as presented in the book Blessed One, a collection of essays by various Protestant theologians and compiled by Beverly Roberta Gaventa and Cynthia L. Rigby. Mary Martin will lead the study, and everyone is welcome. The class will be held in the library during the Church School hour during January.

Do you know the four “myths” about marriage that can lead to immediate problems? Do you know the six bad things that can sneak up on good marriages, even after many years? How do you and your spouse deal with pressure and conflict? And what role does faith play in a healthy marriage? These questions, and many others, are addressed in the video-based series, Making Marriage Work: A Biblical Look at Marriage. In addition to these materials, the perspectives of contemporary psychologists, including the famous Dr. Phil from T.V., will be explored. All ages are invited to be a part of this class, to get to know each other at a deeper level, and to be a part of a lively (and controversial?) discussion.

Something different is happening at Highland Church these days. As a follow-up to a study of six spiritual traditions led by Cecil Eubanks this fall, and six advent worship services in which Jim Rollins emphasized each tradition, small groups of eight to ten people are meeting in the homes of various members of the congregation for further exploration of how these traditions translate into spiritual practices. The six traditions being discussed include the Contemplative Tradition, the Holiness Tradition, the Charismatic Tradition, the Social Justice Tradition, the Evangelical Tradition, and the Incarnational Tradition.

The purpose for these meetings is to reconnect members of the congregation in a smaller, informal setting. Each group will establish its own comfort zone, mixing fellowship and learning in the appropriate proportions for its own members. Groups meet once a month, and everyone in the congregation has a designated group. If you have not participated with your small group, please come and try it out! You may find that fun, fellowship, faith, and a true sense of community are just what you’ve been looking for.

The Wilson family greatly appreciated the generosity of the HPC members. Each of the five children received a stocking with treats and 10 to 12 gifts. A small decorated Christmas tree and a gift certificate to Wal-Mart for clothes for the children were also given.

The poinsettias donated by HPC members for the sanctuary in December were given to the Care Center on Florida Boulevard and the Louisiana Guest House in North Baton Rouge.

As we return to Cuba this time (our sixth), we will bring and encounter changes. Our change is that Gary is the new Cuba Coordinator for the Presbytery of South Louisiana. In Cuba we will be met at the airport by the new Moderator of the Presbytery of Matanzas, Elder Martha Elvis Collazo of Cardenas. There is also a new Executive Secretary (Miguel’s former position) whose name is Francisco Morrero. Francisco is on the Faculty of the Seminary in Matanzas where he teaches Old Testament.

Miguel’s very slow recovery from his detached retina surgery made him decide to retire a little sooner than he had planned. His doctor prescribed complete rest which is not easy for a person as active as he was when we last saw him. He and Tania are still in the manse where we will visit them.

A group of eight of us will travel to Cuba from the 8^th to the 17^th of January. Gary and Juanita represent Highland; John Geiser, Jane Stickney, and Mary DeWitt Dukes represent St. Charles Ave.; Sandra Samson represents Clinton; Lois Ferguson represents First Lake Charles; and Barrett Kennedy represents UPC. This is an official Presbytery trip.

Gary and Juanita go joyfully, laden with vitamins, asthma medicine given by Diane Garton, and antibiotics given by Cecil Eubanks. We have other assorted toys and stuff which arrived too late for the last trip, Church School literature in Spanish, some donated by the Presbytery Office, Church School supplies, gum for the children, and, of course, some more of the never ending supply of Mardi Gras beads which they love! And, there are the pen pal letters which get special treatment in with the clothes to protect them.

Your giving to assure enough money to pay excess baggage/duty was extremely generous, especially Bonner Stewart’s contribution.

This time perhaps the most special gift is the precious cards made by the little children of Highland under the direction of Dale Hair and the hands-on guidance of Abby and Amanda Rollins. The cards were produced in their class on the Sunday before the trip and say in Spanish- Hello, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year to the little children of Matanzas. Each has a Highland child’s name on it; each is different, colorful, beautiful! What a treasure to carry! It is wonderful when little children are led and encouraged to participate in Mission!

Highland, you do Mission so very well! Your response each time Gary and Juanita go to Cuba simply amazes them. May God richly bless you in the New Year and always!

For the third year, Highland is sponsoring a Heifer International fundraiser in January. The Heifer Project began during WWII when one man decided that rather than giving milk to poor children everyday, it would be better to give a family their own cow so they could be self supporting. Check the mission bulletin board for more information about this worthy charity, including stories about differences the project has made in individual lives.

If you would like to contribute to Heifer International with others from Highland, you can place your contribution, marked “Heifer Project” in the offering plate during January.

Whether they’re rock climbing in Lafayette, ice-skating at the Centroplex, or playing balloon baseball and eating pizza during an overnight lock-in, the combined youth groups from Highland and Faith Churches are getting to know each other and having new experiences! In addition to fellowship, the two groups also coordinated an advent mission project -- the Angel Tree – at their respective churches.

At Highland Church, members of the congregation selected the name or names of children from the Angel Tree and bought each child three books which were gift-wrapped, tagged with the child’s name on an angel gift card, and placed under the Christmas tree. Your generous book donations went to 62 children at Forest Heights Elementary School. They were greatly appreciated! You donated a total of 186 books.

Having a combination youth group has been beneficial for both churches, doubling the resources and the fun!

During the month of January you are invited to suggest your favorite hymns from our Hymnal for use during the coming year. The Church Seasons are Ordinary Time (January 19 – March 2), Lent (March 9 – April 13), Easter (April 20 – June 8), and Ordinary Time (June 15 – November 16). Forms and a box to deposit your suggestions are available on the table in the back of the sanctuary.

PSL Celebrates will be held this year on March 22 at the University Presbyterian Church in Baton Rouge from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00. The keynote speaker will be Ann Beran Jones, Vice Moderator of the 214^th General Assembly. Mark your calendar now so that you won't miss this important event.

Joe Skillen, Church Musician

Pat Huffman, Clerk of Session