TUESDAY, JULY 25, 2023

Prayers for the People

Dear God,

We lift up our prayers this morning to you and ask that you help ease the weight of worry from our hearts. We pray this morning for the church, for the city of New Orleans, beleaguered by heat and violence.

We pray specifically today for the elderly, for the young children and for those who are struggling to pay their bills and who are suffering these summer months. We pray for the delivery drivers and mail couriers, working 12-hour shifts for Amazon and UPS in mostly un-airconditioned vehicles. We pray for the Earth, for those in South Sudan and Greece and for all affected by climate change. Help us ease our footprints. 

We pray for loved ones in hospitals, hospices and facing new and uncertain roads ahead. We pray for those dying, may they be covered in your holy peace and love as they exit this world. May those left behind know this same peace and love, and grieve freely in their own sacred ways. We pray for the angry and lost, who curse and scream on the sides of roads as we drive by, our heads down, eye contact avoided as if such anger and fear might be a contagion. We pray for the unhoused, the hungry, the violence inflicted on those who live on the margins of our beloved city.

And God, let us counterbalance our grief and sorrow with song and dance. Because that is what you are, Great God--you are joy, and when we dance, sing, laugh and play, we are experiencing the greatest gift you’ve ever given us…Your son. Our hope, and our salvation. Amen.

- Ashley Brown, SCAPC Pastoral Resident

from Sunday's worship service

Crescent City Café

The Crescent City Café serves the poor and marginalized members of our community with dignity and provides individuals the opportunity to build relationships and connect with one another through the sharing of a meal.

The Café's annual Me+3 Brunch Fundraiser is this Saturday, June 29! Come enjoy delicious food, introduce your friends to the Café, and pay it forward. We'll have seatings at 9:30 and 10:45 a.m. A $20 donation will provide a meal for you and 3 future café guests. Reserve your spot at this link.

YAF Breakfast Servers Needed

The YAF group (Young Adults & Families) are looking for 10 volunteers to help serve breakfast at Crescent City Café on Saturday, August 5 from 7:00-10:30 a.m. We will meet at Rayne Memorial Methodist Church to help prepare and serve the meal.  Please email tyler@scapc.org by Wednesday, August 2 with any questions or to sign up!

Missed the Class? Explore the Recordings!

Senior Pastor Chris Currie led the newly established Thursday Theology Reading Group in a study of Daniel L. Migliore’s Faith Seeking Understanding: An Introduction to Christian Theology. The group met in person from 12:15-1:15 p.m. in the 2nd floor conference room and on zoom. The study was dynamic and explored in detail many Christian doctrines. The book is considered a standard Christian theological text. Chris clarified and expanded on the various concepts presented, and lively discussion often ensued. The entire class was taped and is available at scapc.org/theology. A new study will be announced shortly. 

Cleaning Day for Our Young Adult Volunteers

This month we celebrate and thank the 2022-2023 New Orleans Young Adult Volunteers who have worked with SCAPC as one of our Community Ministry Partners, dedicating "a year of service for a lifetime of change." A Volunteer Community Cleaning Day will take place at the YAV House this Saturday, July 29 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. (Find details on the YAV Facebook page). A special thank you goes out to YAV's Lena Kennedy and Khyah Van Es for their outstanding work with Camp RHINO this year!

Presbyterian Women of PSL Fall Gathering

The Presbyterian Women of the Presbytery of South Louisiana will hold their Fall Gathering on Saturday, August 19 at First Presbyterian Church of Scotlandville in Baton Rouge. The Gathering will center on the study Sacred Encounters through workshops and worship. Sacred Encounters, the PW Horizon's Bible Study for 2023-2024, focuses on the books of Luke-Acts with a new look at beloved stories. The cost is $15/person and all women are invited. The Gathering will begin with registration at 9:30 a.m. and conclude with lunch served at 12:15 p.m. The details and registration form can be found at this link.

Flower Volunteers Needed

Looking for a fun and rewarding volunteer opportunity? Congregational Care is looking for volunteers to help on Monday mornings at 9 a.m. for its "Flower Outreach Program". No experience is necessary! Enjoy a pleasurable and easy morning assembling flowers that will bring joy to those in our congregation who are in need. Signing up is quick and easy too. Click here to sign up. Or you can reach out to Gail Kaliszeski at gkaliszeski@cox.net .

Carrollton Camp

SCAPC Carrollton Campers are enjoying their second week of fun and learning! Here they're beating the heat with lawn games on "water day" and enjoying story time with Pastor Chris.

Montreat Youth Conference

This week, 16 of our senior high schoolers and 5 adult chaperones are in North Carolina for the Montreat Youth Conference. This year's theme is "In Joy" in which youth are exploring the sources and meaning of authentic joy grounded in the light of God’s love and healing power through worship, music, learning, and play. Keep our group in your prayers as they experience this week of faith, fellowship, and fun!

Our Sympathy

Our sympathy goes out to the family and friends of SCAPC member Linda West who died on July 10. We also extend our sympathy to Kevin Murphy and his family on the death of his mother, Edith Murphy, who died on July 22.