Monthly Newsletter of Highland Presbyterian Church (225) 766-5775              December, 2005

 

Advent-Christmas at Highland

 

November 27 – 1^st Sunday of Advent

“Keep Awake!”

Preparing for the Coming of Christ

 

December 4 – 2^nd Sunday of Advent

“Hanging of the Greens”

A service of decorating the sanctuary and

hearing the biblical foundation behind our Christmas traditions.

 

December 11 – 3^rd Sunday of Advent

“The Prophets Proclaim – The Promise Foretold,”

A service featuring Choral Anthems, Handbells and special Instrumental Music

 

Christmas Open House at Highland

3:00 – 5:00 p.m.

 

December 18 – 4^th Sunday of Advent

“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”

A service patterned on the “O Antiphons” – seven Advent prayers developed by Benedictine monks in the Middle Ages and based on the prophecies of Isaiah about Jesus.

 

Downtown Christmas Carol Pilgrimage

Begins at 6:00 p.m. at Mt. Zion First Baptist Church (356 East Blvd.), and then proceeds on foot to First Methodist, First Presbyterian, St. Joseph’s Catholic Cathedral and First Baptist Churches

 

Saturday, December 24 – Christmas Eve

“A Service of the Nativity of Jesus”

5:00 p.m.

With Communion and Candle-lighting

 

Sunday, December 25 – Christmas Day

“O Come, Let Us Adore Him!”

 “Let us go now … and see this thing that has taken place,

which the Lord has made known to us.” – Luke 2:15

 

 

 

Dear Friends,

 

Advent is such a strange, awkward, and confusing time. It seems that everyone wants to rush the season. But we can’t totally blame the rush toward Christmas on retailers who rely on this time of the year to make up the bulk of their profits. We all want to bypass the waiting and have the baby. Just ask any expectant mother and a likely response will be: “Nine months is too long to carry this weight. Just get this baby out!”

 

Waiting does not come naturally to us who live in a 24-7 world. We want what we want when we want it – and we want it right now! Television shows on demand, a complete Christmas dinner in a box (just heat and serve), instant holiday decorations (Christmas trees with all the lights and trimmings permanently attached – just pull it out of the box and plug it in).

 

The past few months have shown us that we can’t always control events the way we would like. The days of longing and expectation for that new promotion, that new job, that new house, that new car, that new whatever – have been given over to nostalgic memories of gasoline prices under two dollars, interstate delays only during rush hour, and taking just thirty minutes to travel the length of Essen during lunchtime.

 

Now that the 2005 hurricane season is finally over, the reality we face is a future far different from anything we had imagined or planned for. Lives have been uprooted, families displaced, jobs lost or relocated, infrastructures stretched, cities demolished, the world is at war and acts of terrorism occur the most unlikely places. Is there any light at the end of this tunnel?

 

Since the first century, Christians have awaited the advent of the true Light in prayer and worship by shouting the word Maranatha, often translated “Our Lord, come!” This cry/prayer and the season of Advent emphasize both our remembrance of the past and our hope for the future. In Advent, the beginning and end times meet.

 

Several years ago I took a course from Peter C. Bower, pastor and liturgical scholar. In his book, Companion to the Book of Common Worship, he writes:

 

In Advent we expectantly wait for the One who has already come. We anticipate the promised justice of God’s new world, yet we praise God who raised the ‘righteous branch’ to rule with justice and righteousness. We hope for the restoration of the afflicted, the tormented, and the grieving, yet we delight that healing has come in Christ. We long for the beating of swords into plowshares, yet we rejoice that the Prince of Peace has appeared. We yearn for the barren deserts of our inner cities to flourish, yet we laud the desert Rose that has bloomed. We dream of the land where lions and lambs live in harmony, yet we acclaim the child born to lead us into the promised land. Christ has come! Christ is risen! Christ will come again! In Advent, we are living between the first and the second coming of the Lord.

 

It may be that this year we can celebrate a good Advent. We can focus our thoughts and attention on the things that matter most in life – faith, family, and friends. While even these too will pass and fade away, we have these words of assurance (Revelation 22:20):

 

The one who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.”  Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

 

 

Grace and peace,

 

 

Jim

 

 

What’s Going on at Highland?

 

 

Special Music Is on 3rd Sunday

 

“The Prophets Proclaim - The Promise Foretold”

(See page 1 for the 3rd Sunday of Advent, December 11.)

 

Scripture readings and the music will carry the message.  In addition to our congregational hymns and responses, we will have three anthems from our Vocal Choir and two from our Handbell choir, one of which will be the Offertory Anthem.

 

Special music guests will be the Trombone Choir from LSU, who will present three anthems during the service as well as the Postlude.

 

A preview of worship: www.highlandpresbyterian.org, (scroll down and click on “Worship” to see the bulletin for this Sunday.)

 

 

Christmas Open House Is Dec 11

 

Come and take part in fellowship and festivities of the season together from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.  Mariana and Monique Marmol will be here to care for the children.

 

Bring your favorite finger food for everyone to enjoy.  (Toothpick food is ok, too, if you bring toothpicks.)  Bring the goodies on a tray or dish, ready to serve.

 

 

HPCers Buy Books Again

 – The Gift of Literacy

 

There are still a few nametags left on the small tree at the back of the sanctuary.  These are first graders at Melrose Elementary School – there are 60 in the two First Grade classes, and most children’s names are already on gifts.

 

You can buy 3 books for beginning readers, wrap them in a Christmas gift package, and select one of the remaining nametags for your package.  Then it can go under the small tree by Sunday, December 18, to keep the other books company until they go to school.

 

The books will be presented to the children on Thursday, December 22.

 

 

Lagniappe Ladies Hold Cookie Swap

 

The December meeting at the DeAngelo's Restaurant on Jefferson Highway featured a "cookie swap.  Dozens of different favorite Christmas cookies made the rounds and ended up in places different from where they started out!

 

The January meeting of Lagniappe Ladies will be at 6:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday, January 10^th, instead of the usual date.  It will be at Highland because plans are to have homemade soup and bake communion bread in the church kitchen.. A sheet will be posted on the bulletin board in the Narthex to sign up – either to bring an ingredient for the bread or to make a pot of soup.  Plan to come – all the ladies of Highland are welcome.

 

 

 

Session Sets Ordination / Installation

 

At its November meeting Session took note that the Elders-elect had participated in Officer Training led by Jim Rollins. 

They examined theElders-elect according to Book of Order G-14.0205 and set January 8 as the date for Ordination and Installation of Connie Buck and Monique Howe and the Installation of Doris M (Skippy) Thompson.

 

 

 

Congregation Meets– “Lot Next Door”

 

Because of certain conditions that the prospective buyer/ developer of the“lot next door” has proposed, Session called a special congregational meeting.  At this meeting, on Sunday, November 27, the congregation approved the Session recommendation that “Highland Church not oppose the re-zoning of the property to allow construction of garden homes or town homes.”  The congregation also approved a motion that the developer be required to install a wooden privacy fence.

 

These actions were to be communicated to the prospective developer and his attorney.

 

 

Treasurer Gives Report

 

“Rejoice always, pray constantly, and give thanks in all circumstances.”  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

 

Dave Adams, Stewardship Chair, thanks all who have responded to the call to pledge and he encourages any one who has not returned a pledge card to do so as soon as possible.  Overall pledges to date (late November) are $117,350

 

The Session is continuing to review the 2006 budget in light of pledges and projected income.  The projected income is less than the amount needed to support the asking budget, so the Session will be looking at necessary reductions.  One step the Session made was termination of the contract for janitorial services, saving $4,500 per year.

 

It was not clear from the November financial report in Lifelines (as it was in earlier reported information) that the lawn mower and Katrina expenses came from funds collected specifically for these causes.  Other special offerings or appeals made during this year have resulted in a total of $4,658 collected for the Tsunami, One Great Hour of Sharing, Disaster Relief, Heifer International, and the Pentecost Offering Funds

 

Payments from the General Fund to benevolent efforts have included $400 to Operation Hope, $200 to the Theological Education Fund, and $12,500 to Unified Mission Giving.  It is planned to give $2500 more to Unified Mission Giving in order to meet HPC’s 2005 commitment. 

                                                        Connie Buck, Treasurer

 

Homegrown Cleaning Teams Start Work – You Can Help!

 

Four Teams of Highlanders will now be keeping our church clean.  A combination of budget situation (see above) and poor housekeeping and cleaning led to the termination of the contract of the “professional” cleaners.

         Chris Rollins has volunteered to organize the cleaning crews under volunteer team leaders Mary Martin, Jack Bagent, Skippy Thompson, and Chris Rollins.

         If you can help, please let Chris know – the more people who work together, the easier each person’s work is.  And with four teams, your turn will come approximately once a month. 

         (People are already saying how much better the church looks!)

 

 

Katrina Fund Work Continues

 

In a short Mission Committee meeting early in November we reviewed what has been done so far to help out those affected by the hurricanes, and discussed what can be done next. 

 

We have noticed that if we contact the schools that we are helping only once regarding our assistance, they may not get back to us when they need it.  We therefore need volunteers to contact the schools on a regular basis to find out their needs as they develop.  We still need liaisons for several schools, so please let Rosemary John know if you can help in this way.

 

We have donated $2000 of the Katrina funds to “Pat’s Coats for Kids,” which will provide for hurricane evacuees among other children who need coats.   We are also planning another grant of gift cards for the teachers at Mayfair Elementary School, most of whom are evacuees themselves.

 

We have received a thank you letter from Jacqui McDonald, the principal of Mayfair Elementary School, which will be posted on the bulletin board in the Narthex. At this time they have no requests for school supplies or other items, but in the coming months when the donations have slowed they will probably need help, especially in the area of consumable supplies.

 

Julia Stewart (Bonner's daughter), who teaches at a private elementary school in Atlanta, is organizing a new-underwear drive at her school. The children at her school have been asked to donate a package of underwear in their own size.  Mayfair Elementary has been contacted about the project, and they are hoping to receive these by December  20th, the last day of school before the holidays. 

 

We may need help in organizing the items as we don’t know how many Julia’s school will send.  If you want to help with this or to become involved in Highland’s efforts in Katrina relief, please talk to Rosemary John.  Also, consider attending the next mission committee meeting to learn more about how you can help.

                                                                       Rosemary John

                                                              Katrina Fund Coordinator

 

 

HPC Garden Has Extra Grapefruit

– beyond those that the St Agnes Soup Kitchen can use this season.  You may help yourself to any available on Dec 11.

         Consider donating your time and energy to the garden – or finances to the garden fund.

 

Highland People

 

Celebrate December

Wedding Anniversaries

 

06        John and Linda Alwood

19        Cecil and Judy Eubanks

19        Dale and Kathleen Redman

21        Hulen and Jean Nasse

 

and December Birthdays

 

2          Barbara DeBose

10        Marie Mei-Mei Stewart

11        Harriet Adams

11        Jack Bagent

16        Gary Kelly

21        Amanda Rollins

22        Joyce Babb

24        Helen McKenney

26        Anna-Karin Skillen

27        Jim Martin

27        Jennifer Shelton

30        Jane Dunn

 

 

Thanks Go to All Who . . .

 . . .participated in the recent “Food for Families” collection for the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank.  We took 129 pounds of food to the Food Bank on Monday, November 21.  The children enjoyed helping bring the food to the scale to be weighed.  Afterwards, everyone had fun at the Howes’  -- picnicking and bouncing in the “Space Walk.”

                                                             Brandi Thompson

 

HPC Also Gives “The Gift of Life”

 

If you did not donate blood in early November, then December would be a good time to go to the Blood Bank at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center and donate in the name of Highland Presbyterian Church. 

 

Blood supplies are usually lower at holiday times, and yours might just be the pint that’s needed for someone’s health.

 

Look for the OLOL Bloodmobile at Highland again in April.

 

 

Carol and John Rhoades and

Mary Cunning

have a new address and phone number, effective on December 12, closing day for the purchase of their house in Columbia, Missouri.  After John hung up the last part-time bit of his hat in final retirement from the LSU Veterinary School, Carol resigned from the HPC Session and they all three headed back to Missouri, to

            2404 Wild Oak Court

            Columbia,  MO  65201

            Phone (573)-442-2870

We will miss them all, greatly.

 

 

Gladys Williams

Is moving with her family to Mexico in the very near future.  (That’s old Mexico.)  We wish her well – she will also be missed!

 

 

Hugh and Pat Huffman

at last have a “land-line” telephone and cable and internet service:

            Phone (859)-523-6952

e-mail <huffmanph@insightbb.com>

Though they are in Lexington, KY, they still, for the time being, have a Baton Rouge cell phone no – 802-7995

 

 

Dan and Flo Durway

joined us for worship and good fellowship on November 27, visiting from Raleigh..  (For recent HPCers, Dan retired as our pastor in 1999.)  Flo is now also retired but was on a consulting visit for the International Baccalaureate Program at LSU Lab School.

 

 

Kimberly Orr

recently e-mailed us:  “I will participate in the Fannie Mae Foundation Help the Homeless Walkathon on Saturday, November 19, 2005 and I invite you to support this effort. … I'm not walking the whole way!!! don't worry!”

Visit www.helpthehomelessdc.org to learn more.

 

Mary Perry and Rosemary John

recently sent off 7 hand-knitted sweaters to Guideposts Magazine for distribution through OXFAM to children throughout the world.  If you knit or crochet – ask about it.

 

Please remember in prayer

for health and wholeness:

 

Presbyterian congregations - their pastors - their staff - who have been affected by the hurricanes.

 

God of compassion, you have given us Jesus Christ, the great physician, who made the broken whole and healed the sick.  Touch our wounds, relieve our hurts, and restore us to wholeness of life, through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord.

 

 

 

Presbytery Met Nov 19

 

The Presbytery of South Louisiana met on Saturday, November 19 at the Broadmoor Church.  The morning was spent in worship that included a recognition of the retirement of the Rev. Russ Stevenson of First Church, Baton Rouge.  The emphasis of worship was on assurance of the love and care of our Lord God during this time of loss, uncertainty, and confusion.

 

Worship was followed by small group discussions that allowed participants to tell their stories of how the storms affected them and what they see as future steps that are needed.

 

After lunch and a presentation on Cursillo the PSL commissioners broke into regional or “cluster” groups to select representatives for the nominating committee to call a General Presbyter.  The Rev. Harriett Cale and Elder Gene Timms were elected from the Greater Baton Rouge Cluster.

 

Routine business followed in the afternoon.  The Rev. Chan Willis and Elder Jolie Berry were elected as commissioners to the next General Assembly.  New pastors were introduced: Robert Weathersby, Lisa Easterling, and the team of David and Sabelyn Pussman. 

 

 

Ted Roeling, Interim Treasurer and Chair of the PSL Disaster Recovery Commission, gave a report that summarized grants that have been made to individuals and churches, and he introduced persons employed by using funds from Presbyterian Disaster Assistance: Judy Persall as Recovery Coordinator, Glenda Keegan as Coordinator for Counseling and Communication, and Wood Rogers as Director of Information Technology.  The proposed presbytery budget for 2006 anticipates a deficit of $255,859. 

 

The relocation of the presbytery office is expected by mid December.  Barrett Ingram of St. Andrew Church in Lake Charles was examined and approved as a candidate for ordination as Minister of Word and Sacrament.  A funding schedule for the proposed River Community Church South (in the Pelican Point area of Ascension Parish) was approved.  The Rev. Russ Stevenson was called as a Parish Associate by River Community Church to work to establish the new church. 

 

Of interest to us is the election of Jim Rollins as chair of the Permanent Judicial Commission for 2006, making him a member of Presbytery Council.

 

Other routine matters that carried out the business of the presbytery were approved from the crowded agenda.  For those who persisted, it was a full day.

                                                                 Mary Martin

                                                 Elder Commissioner to Presbytery