A Monthly Newsletter of Highland Presbyterian Church (225) 766-5775                                    December 2002

Dear Friends,

You are invited to join us for special Advent – Christmas – Epiphany celebrations at Highland.

In preparation for our 20^th birthday celebration on Pentecost Sunday 2003, we have been focusing on growing in our faith through spiritual practices and disciplines. Our “Week of Evenings” in June kicked off the year-long emphasis, introducing us to reformed spirituality, liturgical spirituality and spirituality expressed through the arts. At a retreat/renewal weekend in September, we learned how to integrate contemplative practices (such as contemplative prayer, hospitality, worship, sharing faith stories, etc.) throughout the life of the church. In October and early November, Cecil Eubanks presented six historical traditions of spirituality based on Richard Foster’s book, Streams of Living Water. These traditions are:

¨      Contemplative: the prayer-filled life

¨      Holiness: the virtuous life

¨      Social Justice: the compassionate life

¨      Charismatic: the Spirit-empowered life

¨      Evangelical: the Word-centered life

¨      Incarnational: the sacramental life

In the next six months we will be gathering in small fellowship groups to learn and experience these traditions more intimately.

During this holy season you are invited to join us as we hear the Christmas message through the voices and lives of Mary, Joseph, John the Baptist, the shepherds, the Magi and Jesus. For each service of worship during the Sundays of Advent, Christmas Eve, the Sunday after Christmas and Epiphany Sunday, we will reflect one of the spiritual traditions in style of worship that day. On the Second Sunday of Advent we will celebrate with a service of Lessons and Carols based on the “Wisdom of God, the Word of God” and will include a brass ensemble.

Sunday evening, December 15^th, you are invited to an Open House at the church beginning at 5:00 p.m. The evening will include fellowship, a processional into the sanctuary, a children’s pageant, drama, special music, singing Christmas carols and a joyous time  together. On Sunday, December 22, we will meet at the church at 5:00 p.m. to car-pool downtown to walk the Christmas Pilgrimage of Churches. This is a wonderful opportunity to experience the rich heritage and styles of worship in five downtown churches, all in a three hour period.

Come join us in worshiping the King of kings and Lord of lords – Jesus Christ!
 

Grace and Peace,

Jim

Elder Class of 2005

Congratulations go to the newly elected elders, class of 2005.  The congregation pledges its support and cooperation as it joins the Session in the work of governing Highland  Presbyterian Church.  Those elected are:

Dave Adams                         Sheldon Howe

T.A. DeBose                          Mary Martin

Dale Hair                                Nancy Snow

Also elected to fill a vacancy in the class of 2004 was Bonner Stewart.

Thanks to Elder Class of 2002

Thanks go to the elders who are rotating off the Session.  They have served well and deserve our appreciation for their good work.  Those in the class of 2002 are:

Dianne Garton                       John Rhoades

Rosemary John                     Joe Skillen

Kathleen Redman

Elders Who Continue to Serve

Class of 2003                        Class of 2004

Bob Buck                               Linda Alwood

Cecil Eubanks                       Rick Gurtner

Bob Hammer                         Pat Huffman

Gary Kelly                               Steve Irwin

Ed McKnight                          Skippy Thompson

Tom Shelton

2003 Congregation Nominating Committee 

Members of the congregation elected to serve on the Congregation Nominating Committee 2003 are:

Jack Bagent              Connie Buck

Shelby Brown            Jane Dunn

They will serve along with three representatives of the Session.

Special Thanks!

HPC thanks the Junior Girl Scout Troop #994 for weeding and planting winter annuals in its flowerbeds.  Paula Odom was the troop representative for this special project.  The troop meets bimonthly in the Great Hall on Friday evenings.

PSL Men's Rally

Saturday, December 14, 2002

Broadmoor Presbyterian Church

9340 Florida Blvd.

924-4271

9:00 a.m. Breakfast Brunch

10:00 a.m.  Program

Ray Moorhouse, Guest Speaker

Mr. Moorhouse is a U.S. Customs Service special agent for the tri-port area on the Mississippi River.

&

Tom Ed McHugh, Guest Speaker

Mr. McHugh is a former mayor of Baton Rouge and President of the Louisiana State Association of Municipal Administrators.

Prayer Concerns

Please remember in your prayers and with cards:

Doris Baugh                Coca Miguel Perez

Betty Bagent                Alvin Taylor

Connie Leonard          Rickie Taylor

Kimberly Orr               Topsy Tolbert 

Birth

Congratulations to John and Patricia Scardina on the birth of their new daughter, Emma Elizabeth Scardina, on November 14, 2002.

Sympathy

Christian sympathy is extended to Doris Baugh in the death of her husband, Gordon Baugh, who died on Monday, November 4.

We extend our Christian sympathy to Virginia Davis in the death of her husband, Dr. Harry Francis Davis, who died on Friday, November 22.  Virginia is a former member of HPC and a current member of University Presbyterian Church.

Congratulations

Congratulations to Chris Rollins who received her National Teacher Board Certification.

What if??????? 

What if there were no greeters or ushers at the door on Sunday morning?  What if there were no church schoolteachers for the children and youth?  What if coffee wasn't made for the Sunday fellowship time?  What if there were no liturgists during Sunday service?  What if the lawn wasn't neatly mowed each week?  Certainly, a church would not exist for long if there were no answers for all of these "What ifs." 

Fortunately, when members and visitors arrive at Highland on Sunday -- ushers are at the door, church schoolteachers are available, the coffee is made, the grass is mowed and there are liturgists.  All is in place because HPC is a church of caring and giving members.  We are a church of faithful volunteers who have responded to all of the "What ifs."

Faithful volunteers give of their time and talent for church initiatives and represent a very important part of the stewardship program at HPC.  As we approach a new year and a new budget, I would encourage you to contemplate the value of volunteerism as a part of your personal stewardship plan.  There are countless places where "extra help" could make a difference -- just ask any committee chair.  Become a major contributor to the life of Highland -- volunteer yourself for action.

Holiday Food Drive

What better way to get into the spirit of the season than to give to those who struggle to put food on their table during the holiday season and everyday?  Highland Presbyterian Church (HPC) and the Community Cooperative Nursery School (CCNS) will join together to collect non-perishable food items in the food barrel located in the educational wing hallway from December 2 through December 16.  Others will be thankful that you did!!!  Any questions may be referred to Jamie at HPC at 766-5775 or Desha Martin at CCNS at 343-6806. (D. Martin)

Joy Offering

We will be holding the annual Joy Offering on Sunday December 22^nd.  This offering is to support ethnic minority Presbyterian colleges and retired church workers. Each Sunday in December a bulletin insert will tell you a little more about the various lives of those supported and helped by this offering. Please take the time to read them each Sunday, and contribute generously to this important Presbyterian Church offering on December 22^nd.

Uniforms for Kids Meeting

Ten Highland members and Jan Boydstun, a member of UPC, attended our  meeting on Saturday November 16^th with Gerry Malone, director of the Uniforms for Kids program. Gerry gave us a clear understanding of the entire program, and expressed her thanks to Highland for all the work done in which so many members of our church participated. We received a lot of useful information and came up with many ideas to make the process run smoother and faster. University Presbyterian has expressed a strong interest in participating, as well as the Unitarian Church on Goodwood Blvd.  We plan to have the used uniforms delivered on alternating days to each church, which will more evenly distribute the workload. Another meeting is set for April, when we will work on more detailed planning and training for the process. 

Advent Season

The Advent Season is upon us!  We invite you to come and "visit the Christ Child" in worship and fellowship during the coming weeks.  From December 1 through January 5, each Sunday worship will explore a spiritual tradition as it is expressed in the Christmas story.  Each service will feature communion, special music, scripture and the spoken word.  On the eve of Christmas there will be a candlelight worship service beginning at 5:00 p.m.  Finally, on the evening of December 15 there will be a gathering of fellowship and worship, beginning at 5:00 p.m. in the Great Hall, where refreshments will be served, followed by a processional to the sanctuary where we will enjoy poetry, an Angel Tree, reader's theater, a children's pageant and songs of celebration.  Come join us -- bring family and friends -- invite a stranger.  (C. Eubanks)

Poinsettias

During the Advent Season, beginning on December 8, we invite you to bring a poinsettia plant to church.  Ushers will be available to assist you in placing the flowers at the front of the sanctuary.  After Christmas the flowers will be donated to local retirement and nursing facilities.  Thanks.

(C. Eubanks)

December 8th Worship

As part of our special services during the advent season, we will be presenting a worship service of readings and music on December 8th.  The choir has been working to prepare some new music for the service.  We will have a brass quintet and two readers, plus some other special musical surprises.  The readings will focus on God's wisdom through the ages using scriptures speaking of his prophecy and the incarnation of Jesus Christ in the New Testament.  It is sure to be a meaningful service!  Be sure to mark your calendar to include all of the special Advent services this year.

Special Invitation

Come hear Baton Rouge's 5th Annual TubaChristmas!!  On Saturday December 7th at noon, Joe Skillen will be leading TubaChristmas at the Mall of Louisiana.  In what has become a Baton Rouge tradition, Skillen gathers all of the area's tuba and euphonium players and creates a mass choir to perform Christmas carols in the center of the mall.  It usually gathers a lot of attention and is impossible to miss while walking through the mall.  There will be 40-50 tuba and euphonium players involved.  Come check it out in front of Sears on the lower level near all of the other Christmas displays. 

For more information, call Joe at 578-2646.  MERRY TUBACHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!

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