TUESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2023

The Living God in Modern Life

"The God who is worshipped is the living God, who is in constant interaction with people and the whole world, and invites us to take a responsible part in fulfilling his purposes now. Modern life is extraordinarily diverse and complex, throwing up one challenge after another. Christianity cannot thrive if it tries simply to repeat the past or reject the present. Contemporary life is not all good and not all bad. It is a complex mixture, which means that we must constantly ask questions, explore possibilities, search the past with sensitivity, and listen to many other people in order to arrive at responsible discernments, judgements and decisions before God. Then we are able to avoid the two extremes of uncritical assimilation to modernity and uncritical rejection of it."

- by David F. Ford, A Muscat Manifesto:

Seeking Muslim, Christian and Jewish Wisdom in the 15th, 21st, and 58th Centuries

SCAPC Photographic Tour of Cuba

SCAPC members returned to Cuba this past spring after several cancelled trips due to the pandemic. This Sunday, August 20, come take a photographic tour of our work with our sister church partners and water projects, and learn how the Cuban people are faring in their current challenging environment. The presentation will be led by Cindy Bush at 9:30 a.m. in Frampton Fellowship Hall.

Let Us Hear from You

The Strategic Planning Committee is holding listening sessions with various church groups as part of their input-gathering process. The purpose of the committee is to compose a plan of ministry outcomes envisioned through the year 2030. There will be two general sessions for the congregation, the first to be held this Sunday, August 20, at noon in the Sanctuary. All are invited to attend and share their thoughts and ideas.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance in Maui

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is working with the Presbytery of the Pacific following this week's fires that killed at least 99 people in Lahaina on the Hawaiian island of Maui and also burned portions of south Maui and the island’s Upcountry region.  The Red Cross has asked PDA to be on standby to provide a team of spiritual care providers who could be embedded with the Red Cross for their ongoing response on Maui. To learn more about PDA's efforts in this region, and to make a donation if desired, click here.

Interfaith Dialogue Class

MOSQUE VISIT

Yesterday, members of the Interfaith Dialogue Class visited the Masjid Abu Bakr Al Siddique mosque. They were greeted with baklava and a wonderful talk by Interfaith Representative Dr. Anwer Bashi before observing 1:30 prayers.

THIS MONTH'S THEME: FORGIVENESS

Tomorrow, the class will meet both via zoom and in-person from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. in the Land Building for their August Scriptural Reasoning session with the Rose Castle Foundation, and all are invited to participate. This session will be moderated by a special guest, Joseph Ramsden of the L8 Interfaith Group out of Liverpool, England. Joseph is an active interfaith activist in the UK, and it should be very interesting to hear his perspectives. The theme for this month is “Forgiveness”. The zoom link can be found on the Interfaith Dialogue Class page.

YAF Cocktail Competition

All Young Adults & Families are invited to the YAF Cocktail Competition at the Bruggers-Chaney Home, 3026 Nashville Avenue this Saturday, August 19 from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Bring a cocktail or a mocktail to share with the group and we will vote on the best one from each category! RSVP to tyler@scapc.org by tomorrow. 

Welcome Back Youth Events

Our youth ministry is offering a few special welcome-back opportunities for students this month. First, all 6th-12th graders and their families are welcome to a breakfast on the third floor between services this Sunday! Any kids looking to get involved with the youth community for the first time are invited to the youth room later that same day from 3-5 p.m. for an afternoon of games. We hope this will help them meet some SCAPC peers and ease their transition into youth group. Finally, don’t forget about our big Welcome Back Pool Party on August 27 from 4-6 p.m. at the Talbot House!

Lunch Servers Needed at Okra Abbey Next Wednesday

Okra Abbey, a community garden in the Pigeon Town neighborhood of New Orleans, has been a SCAPC Community Ministry Partner for many years. In addition to growing fresh vegetables for local residents and serving as a safe space for neighbors to get a cup of coffee and fellowship, Okra Abbey also delivers food to shut-ins in Pigeon Town every Thursday through their Peas & Love program. Every Wednesday, staff and volunteers serve their Grace & Greens hot lunch to anyone who walks up. SCAPC will provide, prepare and serve the Grace & Greens lunch on August 23. If you would like to help, you can sign up at this link.

40/50's Group Pickleball Social

40's and 50's, join us next Friday at the new Exchange Pickleball venue from 6-8 p.m. for a fun night of pickleball and socialization. All levels from beginner to advanced are welcome, with a pickleball instructor on-site to teach new participants the ins and outs of the game. We will also have 2 additional courts for regular play reserved. You do not need to have ever played in order to attend! 

Please wear tennis shoes and comfortable athletic wear. Pickleball paddles, instruction, courts, and balls are included in cost. The Exchange is located at 2120 Rousseau Street.  Food and drink are not included in the $15 cost, but there is a cash bar and restaurant at the location that you can enjoy at your leisure. Please RSVP by August 22 by issuing payment. The cost is $15 per participant, and can be dropped off to the church office or sent via Venmo to @Michele-Murphy-12. Questions? Email Ashley Brown.

SCAPC 101

Our next SCAPC 101 will be held on Sunday, August 27, from 9:30-10:15 a.m. in the second floor conference room. This class is designed as an orientation for new members and visitors interested in joining our church...or anyone wishing to learn more about SCAPC! We will talk about our basic beliefs as Presbyterians, the history of SCAPC, and how you can get involved in its ministries. It is also a great way to get to know new and longstanding members alike!

Men's Retreat

All men are invited to attend the SCAPC Men's Retreat on Friday-Saturday, October 6-7, in Pass Christian, Mississippi. The theme will be "The Gospel According to Ted Lasso" (though you don't need to have watched the show to enjoy the discussion!) The registration fee of $100 includes meals and accommodations, and the deadline is September 15. There is an optional golf game on Friday afternoon. Retreat details and registration can be found on the men's retreat page, scapc.org/mens-retreat.