TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2023

Peace & Global Witness

Almighty God,

even as the drums of warfare beat on through the night,

even as the cries of injustice linger in the morning,

even as the hustle of busyness rumbles through the day,

quiet our hearts. Still our thoughts. Join us in our worship.

Remember us in your mercy as we try to remember you,

through the proclamation of your good news, in story and in song,

and through the hospitality of your gracious table.

Welcome us again, one Lord, Creator, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

-from World Communion Sunday Liturgy, PC(USA)

Bring Breads for this Sunday

This Sunday is World Communion Sunday, and we will be celebrating Holy Communion not just at SCAPC, but with Christians all around the world. To help us visualize this great feast, we need bread of all nationalities, sizes, shapes and colors. If you would like to contribute some bread (which you don't have to bake yourself!), please contact Sarah Chancellor-Watson at sarah@scapc.org and bring your bread to church by Friday at 5 p.m. There will be a box for bread donations in the church kitchen refrigerator. 

Bringing Communion to Those at Home

If you or anyone you know would like home communion next Monday or Tuesday, please contact our Parish Associate, Miriam Hollar, via email at miriam@scapc.org.

ADULTS

"Exodus: God Revealed to Moses and His Community"

Land Building Riverside Room | led this week by Phil Stagg

Click here for last week's class recording.

"When Kids Ask Hard Questions" | 2nd Floor Conference Room

This week's topic: "But Those are MY Toys" led by Bria Rault

YOUTH

Classes for grades 6-12 take place in the Youth Room on the third floor. Occasionally classes are posted on our youth Instagram page, @SCAPC_Youth.

CHILDREN

The Challenger Class (grades 4-5) meets in a special room on the 2nd floor that is set up with sofas and chairs where students can explore their faith, ask questions, and begin to verbalize what they believe.

3-year olds through 3rd graders gather by age group for classes that focus on hands-on learning. They are divided into three groups: 3 yrs to PreK, Kindergarten-1st grade, and 2nd-3rd grade, all meeting in rooms on the 2nd floor.

The Pray Ground is a special place that is designated for children where families with children of any age can experience worship together. Our Prayer Ground is located in Frampton Fellowship Hall where the 10:30 service is live-streamed to the large screen. There are toys, books, and puzzles provided to help kids stay engage and present.

The Nursery for ages 0-3 is open 8:15-11:45 a.m. in the Bear Classroom which is the corner classroom on the first floor.

Blessing of the Animals, October 1

Please join us for our first annual “Blessing of the Animals” this Sunday, October 1, at 4 p.m. in the front yard of the Land Building. Bring your pets on a leash or in a crate/carrier for a short worship service, blessing, and light refreshments. If your pet does not travel well, you can bring a photo to represent them. Our offering will be donations of pet food to the SPCA. If you wish to participate, please let Pastor Sarah know by emailing her at sarah@scapc.org no later than September 30.  

Our Fall Day of Service is THIS SATURDAY! We have projects lined up for all ages and abilities. The day will begin with breakfast and prayer, after which we will break into groups to go out and serve. Email sarah@scapc.org to sign up. Projects include:

• Gardening and landscaping at Okra Abbey, Eden House, and the New Orleans Women’s and Children’s shelter
• Organizing clothing donations at New Orleans Mission
• Assembling refugee assistance backpacks for our Global Ministry partner, Puentes de Cristo
• Building a home with Habitat for Humanity’s Unity Build
• Making lunch for volunteers with Habitat’s Unity Build

Café Reconcile Receives National Recognition!

Café Reconcile, one of our community ministry partners, was recognized last week by the New York Times as one of "the 50 restaurants we are most excited about now." Wow! This recognition celebrates the Café’s most essential ingredient, the young people training in its workforce development program. When you enjoy a meal, you become an active participant in this work, with 100% of all restaurant profits directly funding the interns’ training experience. "Cafe Reconcile Does Brunch Part III" will be October 15 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (Parts I and II sold out). Email catering@cafereconcile.org to make your reservation.

Final Week to Bring Men's Clothes

This is our final week of collecting men’s clothing for our community ministry partner, the Program of Hope homeless ministry at First Presbyterian Church. There is a blue collection bin in Frampton Fellowship Hall where you can place your donated items through this Sunday. If you are not familiar with Program of Hope, you can visit their webpage to learn more about their holistic ministry which creates a welcoming and nurturing environment within its Sanctuary doors every Wednesday, providing housing vouchers, clothing, counseling, spiritual strength, healing, food, shelter, help finding employment and much more.

Meeting Our Neighbor Nuns at Poor Clare Monastery

Join us on Thursday, October 5 from 8-8:45 a.m. to attend an early morning Mass with the nuns at the Poor Clare Monastery located at 720 Henry Clay Avenue. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about their lives and work in the Catholic faith here in New Orleans. As Presbyterians, we won’t be allowed communion, but we will be able to enjoy all other aspects of the worship service alongside the nuns. Please RSVP to Ashley@scapc.org

McMillan Society Opera Night

The McMillan Society for ages 55+ is throwing an Opera Night on Thursday, October 5 beginning with wine and cheese in the Land Building at 5:15 and continuing on to dinner at 6 p.m. in Frampton Fellowship Hall with a performance by Tyler Smith, tenor and Betsy Uschkrat, soprano! The cost is $30/person and your check is your reservation. Please send your check, made out to SCAPC with opera night in the memo, to Pierce in the church office by Tuesday, October 3 at noon.

High School Retreat

SCAPC’s high school retreat for students in 9th-12th grade is now accepting sign-ups. Cost for the retreat is $150/person, though scholarships are certainly available to any families needing assistance. The retreat will be held at Camp Istrouma near Baton Rouge from Saturday morning, October 14 - Sunday afternoon, October 15. The theme will be “Rooted in Love.” In addition to re-grounding our youth in God through meditations and Bible Study, there will be plenty of time for our high schoolers to bond through joy-filled recreation, including paintball, climbing walls, campfires, and lake activities! Please contact chrishazlaris@scapc.org if you are interested or have any questions.

Challenger Class Retreat

The Challenger Class Retreat for 4th-5th Graders will take place Friday, November 3-Sunday, November 5 at Tickfaw State Park. It will be a weekend of recreation and fellowship and our theme will be "Who Is Jesus?" We will leave on Friday at 5:00 p.m. and return Sunday by 10:30 a.m. With everyone’s busy schedule, we hope you will make every effort to attend! If you are available to chaperone or have questions, please let Michele know, michele@scapc.org. The retreat is open to all 4th and 5th graders no matter of church affiliation. Cost of $120 includes lodging, meals, and transportation. Register at scapc.org/challenger-retreat.

Congratulations

Congratulations are extended to Lizzie and Neal White on the birth of their son, and to Monique and Bob McCleskey on the birth of their grandson, Cornelius Dee White V, who was born on September 19.

During worship on Sunday, our fourth graders received their own personalized bibles...a SCAPC tradition that goes back many decades. Pictured here back row from left are Avery Danner, Neve Christiansen, Adele Carlisle, Raven Breaux, Lars Beezley, and Kate Beevers. Front row from left are Caroline Wheeler, Suzie Lanier, Craig Egan, Maddie Duvernay, and Clementine DiSalvo.

On Friday, SCAPC Nursery School students presented a birthday poster to sexton Percy Woods.

Last week, Pastor Alison Infante Zamora of Juan G. Hall Presbyterian Church in Cardenas, Cuba (our sister congregation) visited Okra Abbey with SCAPC members including Michele Murphy (left) and Laura St. Clair (center).