‘SHARING HOPE FROM THE HEART OF THE HIGHLANDS’

Why do we (still) go to church? It’s actually become an interesting question in America. We are right

at the point where participating in a religious community is about to become counter-cultural. It is

not quite as evident here in Kentucky as it is in other parts of the United States where religious

affiliation is falling rapidly (the Pacific Northwest and parts of New England are among the lowest in

the nation). But just last week, one of my pastor friends told me that a local funeral director said that

over 40% of the people he works with either do not have a church home or do not want traditional religious ser-

vices for their loved one who has died. My hunch is that many of you have friends and co-workers who fall

into this category, especially among those who are younger.

A little over a year ago, our Session adopted a mission statement which sets out who we hope Highland

Presbyterian Church will be. It is an aspirational statement that seeks to lift up our core values. It begins by saying

that HPC is “a community.” That, I think, is one of the most counter-cultural things about Christianity: we believe

that drawing closer to God means sharing our lives with others in a community shaped by the story of God’s love

in Jesus Christ. In congregations, we gather for worship where we ground our lives in God, are reminded of God’s

love for us and for all, and renew our commitment to follow God’s path. As we gather, we build relationships with

others we might not otherwise know, whose lives are sometimes very different from ours. But in Christian

community we practice learning how to love: how to bear one another’s burdens, how to share one another’s

joys, how to share what we have with others in need.

Our mission statement describes the quality of life we hope to build as a congregation and the life we

hope to share with others. I truly believe that being a healthy and strong congregation is one of our most

important missions. Being a community is itself a witness to God’s hopes for the human family. Participating in

such a community has shaped my life. I’m thinking (and hoping) it has shaped yours as well. I look forward to

sharing the year ahead with you!

Cynthia Campbell, Pastor

SEPTEMBER 1, 2015

GIFTS have been given in memory of Mary Virginia Henry by Ann Anderson, Sara Anderson, Linda Billingsley, Jeri Britton, Brenda Kee & Wayne Brown, Carol & Buddy Cutler, Bill & Linda Ellison, Clyde & Betsy Foshee, Dorothy Friesen, Gene & Lynn March, Bill & Marcia Murphy, Randy & Glenda Neely, Frances O’Connor, Harryette Pickens, Tom & Janet Raderer, James & Margaret Seiffert, Dale & Lisa Thompson, Al & Lee Welsh, and Cynthia Welch; and in memory of Leon Rapier by Ann Platt. Highland is most appreciative of these gifts.

Everyone at Highland - both big and small - are invited for our Sunday School Rally on September 13th at 9:30 in the Sanctuary! This will be a time for reconnecting with our Sunday School classes, for promoting our children, for fun and singing, and for finding out what adventures our Christian Education team has prepared for this year! During this time, our 3-year-olds will receive devotionals and our 1st graders will receive their Bibles! Come! Meet your Sunday School Teachers and help us get our year of Sunday School opportunities kicked off!

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL Feasting on the Word – This class meets on Sunday mornings at 9:30am in the Session Room of the Pleune-Mobley Building (across Highland Ave. from the main church building). Each week, this class reads and discusses the scripture texts read in worship for that morning.

A Place at the Table – This class meets on Sunday mornings at 9:30am in the Dining Room located on the church’s lower level. The class will begin the year engaging what it means to be “Presbyterian” in theology and practice for five weeks using an engaging film series called

Issues Class – Meets in Fellowship Hall at 9:30am. September 20 – Issues will feature Teddy Abrams from the Louisville Orchestra. He’ll share about how the experience of music makes a difference for communities and lives. October 11 will feature Cynthia Campbell, pastor at Highland. Understanding that religions are called to make the world a better place, she will discuss how Christianity has helped and hindered in this call. Her lecture will be a preview to a lecture delivered at a Kaufmann Interfaith Institute event titled “To Repair the World.”

Biblical Wisdom Literature Class— This two-session class will be taught by Dr. Amy Plantinga-Pauw on Sundays, September 13 and September 20 at 4pm in the Session Room of the Pleune-Mobley Building. She is the recent author of the Ecclesiastes-Proverbs Commentary in the theological commentary series. Amy Plantinga Pauw is the Henry P Mobley Jr Professor of Doctrinal Theology at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary.

Shame, Guilt, Forgiveness—Meets at 4:00 in the Session Room. Anthropologists tell us that most cultures fall into one of two categories: those influenced by shame and honor (historical examples being Japanese, Kore-an, or ancient Greek) or those with behavior affected by guilt and the need for repentance (historical example being Judaism). These values are deeply ingrained in our subconscious and develop while we are very young. This fall HPC Adult CE is sponsoring a series of classes that will explore how these ideas shape us and guide our decision making and behavior as we accept who we are and as we interact with others.

October 4, Dr. Joe Dambrioso and Dr. Anna Faul, researchers from the Kent School of Social Work and the Institute of Sustainable Health and Optimal Aging at the University of Louisville, will lead us in an exploration of the constructs of shame and guilt. They will consider the difference between the constructs, review the main concerns and triggers related to shame and guilt, in order to better understanding their influence on our perceptions and behaviors.

October 11, Dr. Joe Dambrioso and Dr. Anna Faul, will continue the discussion of shame and guilt, looking at the connection between these constructs and theology to better understand the reparative features available. This session will also include a discussion about forgiveness and compassionate love as a path to freedom from the negative effects of shame and guilt that can lead to shame resilience.

October 18, Rev. Matt Nickel will consider the theological implications of Guilt, Shame, and the respective relationship with Forgiveness.

October 25, we will explore our capacity for forgiveness further with a presentation from Jeannie Bishop, author of “Change of Heart: Justice, Mercy, and Making Peace with My Sister’s Killer,” her recently published book that relates her very personal journey to rethink compassion and forgiveness in the most extreme of

situations. Bishop’s presentation will begin at 4:00 pm.

10 Minutes with Gene and Lynn Gant March By Lee Hinson-Hasty

Gene. Our daughters brought us to Highland in 1984. Solid preaching kept us here. Cynthia is outstanding. I get dried up and she helps fill me back up! Lynn: 2nd Presbyterian was my home church. I came with Gene and my daughter (Amy Fitzgerald) and grandchildren are active. In addition to the youth ministry and worship, I stay because of the people. I find ... they are genuine, biblically intelligent, theologically curious, and modest. Gene: I also like the diversity and welcome to all… something I find Highland values. I especially love it when the kids go to the front!

Gene: During communion I like to see what is given to people materialize in the world. I saw that clearly when celebrating communion in Guatemala! Lynn: [That’s true when we ask] how are we a gift of God? How should we serve? What can I do? Gene: [That’s true for] those who have gotten personally involved with welcoming refugees, those who have been readers in elementary school, and others who become the face of God for others.

Lynn: I like we get to be with other Highland members in smaller groups. Gene: This is a marvelous idea; one I hope we do every year!

Lee: Gene: I believe in the local church. If ministry is going to happen, it is going to happen there. I have Highland in my long term plans, my will, too. Lynn: Everything we have… we owe it to God. It is a pay-it-forward kind of thing. Gene: I began giving when I was in college… a little bit every week even when money was tight. I never went wanting. What I have been called to be is a good steward. I just wish I had even more resources to give! Lynn: Gene is a cheerful giver, a mindset I would like to have. I am lavish in the giving of my time and skills without charge. Gene: I carry two stones in my coin purse from times when I renewed my baptism. They help me remember my baptism, (that I am a child and gift of God)… because it is with my money I am most likely to betray my Lord. [Some churches] never ask for money. I don’t agree. I believe Highland needs to be challenged. Together, we have the capacity to give much more.

SCRIPTURE READERS

9:30 11:00 9/6/15 No Service Youth 9/13/15 No Service Gerry Toner

9/20/15 Youth Greg Allen-Pickett

9/27/15 Confirmands Judy Stubbs

HPC SUNDAY GREETERS 9:30 11:00 9/6/15 No Service Andrew & Diana Robinson 9/13/15 No Service Courtney and Brandon Schadt

9/20/15 Bill & Susan Grubbs Kevin & Kay Orr

9/27/15 K. Kuntz & Willie Harshaw Betty Smith; Dana Cohen

ROBERT BOZEMAN IN RECITAL - September 20, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. The Arts on the Corner series begins with Dr. Bozeman performing a concert of music in two parts. The first

portion will walk through the seasons with music for various times of the year, concluding with

Arvo Päärt's Gospel music, specifically hymns, will be the focus of the sec-

ond half. Joined by Faith Aeilts, alto, and Jane Halliday, violin, this trio will perform some well-

known melodies such as and in both familiar and unique

ways.

COMMUNION PREPARERS NEEDED—The Worship & Spiritual Life Committee hopes to find a few committed souls who would like to help prepare the elements for communion for worship services in which the Lord’s Supper is celebrated. Preparers work in teams of two, and take responsibility for several services a year, but not every month. With multiple teams, we are able to work around fluctuating travel schedules. If you have a friend you would like to volunteer with, that would be great. If not, we will team you up with another volunteer and you can make a friend. Claudette Taylor coordinates communion preparation. For more information, or to volunteer, Claudette can be reached by phone at (502) 412-7547 or by e-mail at claudettetaylor@bellsouth.net.

USHER in the new church year! Volunteer to serve one Sunday a month at either a 9:30 am or 11:00 am service. We are especially in need of 9:30 am Ushers but have openings at 11:00 o'clock services too. Ushers play such a vital role in our worship service and we need to let a few of our long term Ushers retire. USHER UP! Contact Jane Burbank at burbankjane@gmail.com for more information. Thanks for your help!

MUSIC FESTIVAL—SUNDAY, September 27, 9:30 & 11:00 A.M. SERVICES As is our tradition, the Music Ministry will hold its annual Music Festival at both services on Sunday, September 27. We will commission the musicians of our congregation. At 9:30 a.m. the Chancel Choir will lead worship. Joyful Noise & Hallelujah, Lyric, Alpha and Omega Choirs join in the celebration with the Chancel Choir at 11 a.m. Mark your calendar to participate in this Noteworthy experience!

GOSPEL CHOIR LEADS WORSHIP ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4 AT BOTH SERVICES—Rehearsals are Sunday, September 20 from 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. & Sunday, September 27 from 3 - 5 p.m. For more information, please contact Frank Heller, III, at 451-2910, ext. 239 or fahiii@aol.com.

CHANCEL CHOIR is off and running! –Join us Thursday evenings at 7:30 p.m. It’s time to make room in your life for Chancel Choir!

YOUTH CHOIR MUSIC MINISTRY begins rehearsals Sunday, September 13— Alpha Choir - grades 6, 7, 8, & 9 will meet in the Choir Room / 6:40 - 7:40 p.m. on Sunday; Omega Choir - grades 10, 11, &12 will meet in the Choir Room / 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. on Sunday.

CHILDREN'S MUSIC MINISTRYstarts September 9 —Joyful Noise, 4 year olds through Kindergarten led by Suzanne Bowman & Lorie Williamson from 6:30 - 7:15 p.m. will meet in room 202; Hallelujah Choir, grades 1 & 2 led by Martha Makela & Lorie Williamson from 6:30 - 7:15 p.m. will meet in room 203; and Lyric Choir, grades 3, 4, & 5 led by Amanda Boyd with assistance by Mary Rapier from 6:15 - 7:15 p.m. will meet in the Choir Room. These are all Wednesday classes.

SERVICE OF HEALING & WHOLENESS — A worship service for healing and wholeness will be on Thursday, September 10 at 6:30pm in the Sanctuary.

mailto:claudettetaylor@bellsouth.netmailto:fahiii@aol.com

KENTUCKY REFUGEE MINISTRIES ANNUAL GLOBAL GOURMET - The16th Annual Global Gourmet will also celebrate Kentucky Refugee Ministries’ 25th Anniversary on Friday, September 25, 2015

from 6:30 – 11:30 P.M. at the Mellwood Art Center. You can buy your tickets (until September

12) at http://kyrm.org/global-gourmet-2015/ Tickets are $70/individual and $600/table of

eight.

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Volunteer Coordinator Paige Farris at pfarris@kyrm.org. Reservations will be

confirmed via email. Tickets will be held by name and distributed at the door on the night of the event. No tickets

will be mailed. Please respond by September 12.

SUMMER SCHOOL SUPPLIES THANK YOU—Thank you to the many people who participated in the school supply drive for Highland Community Ministries and Kentucky Refugee Ministries. This year Highland was able to

split the donation of supplies between the two. Combined we collected: 45 backpacks, 40 binders, 150 notebooks,

60 boxes of markers, 100 packs of pens and pencils, 50 boxes of crayons, and many miscellaneous items like

scissors, pencil cases, glue sticks and folder. Thank you for giving the gift of learning to young people in Louisville.

SERVE AT OPEN HAND KITCHEN— On Saturday, September 26 from Noon to 1pm, people from Highland will serve meals at the Open Hand Kitchen of St. Vincent de Paul. Join us to help support some of our neighbors. Where:

1026 S Jackson at Old St Paul’s Church When: Arrive at 11:45am finish around 1pm Age: 15+ can serve hot food,

there are jobs for younger volunteers too. Youth need to be accompanied by a parent/guardian. Wear a hat as a

stylish substitute for a hairnet. Sign up using the following link: http://bit.ly/openhandkitchen or email Matt Nickel

at matt.nickel@hpclousiville.org

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY PRESBYTERIAN BUILD DEDICATION—This Summer, Highland participated in the annual Mid-Kentucky Presbytery House Build. The Presbyterian Build supported a

homebuyer named Patricia Scrivener to accomplish her goal of home ownership. A special thanks to

the many people who came out to help build. Many hands made for a successful project. As the house

is completed, the dedication will be held on Saturday, September 12 at 1:00pm at 1919 Hazelwood Ct. You are

invited to celebrate Patricia and her family in this wonderful milestone in their lives.

PORTLAND AVE. COMMUNITY TRUST FOOD COLLECTION-Each September HPC collects food and helps stock the food pantry at Portland Avenue Community Trust. Please bring non-perishable food items (avoid glass

containers) through the month of September. Deposit items in the mission bins located in the Fellowship Hall coat

closets. Shopping lists are available at the Welcome Center in Fellowship Hall. Let’s offer gratitude for our

abundance by offering support to those with a need. Among any non-perishable food items, some recommended

donations include:

REFUGEE CO-SPONSOR TEAM On August 19 a group of church members set up an apartment for a Syrian refugee family from Aleppo. The next day, they welcomed them at the airport and brought them to their apartment in Louisville. For the next three months Highland will seek to compassionately support the family of two adults, a 10 year old son and 5 year old daughter as they become self-sufficient in Louisville. If you want to help be a friend to this family, (there are a variety of ways from helping them learn schools, grocery shopping, transportation, English, and culture) contact Matt Nickel matt.nickel@hpclouisville.org.

http://kyrm.org/global-gourmet-2015/mailto:pfarris@kyrm.orghttp://bit.ly/openhandkitchenmailto:matt.nickel@hpclousiville.orgmailto:matt.nickel@hpclouisville.org

PEACE AND GLOBAL WITNESS OFFERING—The Peace & Global Witness Offering enables the church to promote the Peace of Christ by addressing systems of injustice across the world. Beyond

giving to this special offering, Presbyterian Churches see to deepen our understanding of peace and

how, through Christ, we can nurture it inside ourselves and out in the world. Yet, to understand the

value of peace, we must also understand the cost of conflict, and the many forms it can take. Conflict

can be individual, collective, domestic, international, and historic. From bullying, to violence against

women, to domestic abuse, to structural racism, to human trafficking, the conflicts that demand attention are many.

The Peace & Global Witness Offering supports a range of ministries devoted to peacemaking and reconciliation to

help address such conflicts. This includes bearing witness in communities of conflict around the world, programs to

raise awareness, driving local peacemaking efforts, offering catalyst support to our mission co-workers, and much

more.When you give to the Peace & Global Witness Offering your true gift is the peace of Christ, for all of God’s chil-

dren. With each gift, we can begin to create a world of peace—together. Please give generously during worship on

October 4, 2015, or in one of these ways: Through the church (please write Peacemaking on check memo lines)

Text PEACE to 20222 to give $10 or give online at presbyterianmission.org/give/peace-global

EMPTY BOWLS FUNDRAISER—Save the Date and Help Highland Community Ministries feed the hungry on Thursday, October 8 from 5:30-8:00pm in Bellarmine University’s Frazier

Hall. A light, delicious meal of many soup varieties are served in handcrafted bowls by local

potters and artisans. Tickets are available at the door or during coffee hour from 10:30-

11:00am on Sunday September 27 and Sunday October 4.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS — On Sunday, August 16th we welcomed new members in worship: Jeff Wagner, Angie Andriot, Sarah Williams, Megan and Mark Nelson. Welcome to HPC!

PRESFEST FUN! - Our annual block party was a blast. Thank you for coming out to share the great day with the church community. A special thank you to the many people who brought food and a very special thank you to those people who volunteered with set-up, clean-up, food preparation and the roles that made PresFest a great success. Thank you and let’s look forward to next year.

COMMUNITY FRIDAY—One Friday each month, people from Highland Presbyterian Church gather at Molly Malone’s Irish Pub at 933 Baxter Avenue. This month, we’ll meet on Friday, September 18. Join us from 5:30pm to 8pm for fun, friends, food, faith and fellowship. Babysitting is available in the Walker-Nevin Building between those times. Ask the restaurant’s host for Highland Presbyterian and they’ll show you to the table!

PRESBYTERIAN UNION—Join us Tuesday, September 1, 2015 at 11:30 at Vincenzo’s, The Courtyard Room, 105 South 5th Street for a program with the Rev. Dr. Shannon Craigo-Snell, author of The Empty Church: Theater, Theology, and Bodily Hope (Oxford University Press, 2014); Living Christianity: A Pastoral Theology for Today (Fortress, 2009) with Shawnthea Monroe; and Silence, Love, and Death: Saying Yes to God in the Theology of Karl Rahner (Marquette University Press, 2008) Her topic will be: “The Grawemey-er Awards in Religion”. Lunch: Buffet salad and entree, dessert, iced tea. Cost is $15.00 including gratuity. Please RSVP by 4:00 pm Monday, August 31 via email to Ann Schell at adschell@bellsouth.net or call (502) 894-8440.

EVOLVING FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES — As our congregation’s needs and desires change, Fellowship Com-mittee and Adult Christian Education Committee decided not to host the Fourth Wednesday Connect events this year. This will provide for new opportunities through the year to gather with church friends. Keep you eyes on the calendar for other events like cookouts, church meals, and cultural opportunities that will be added to the calendar.

Your Nursery and Weekday School is delighted to be at the cusp of another wonderful year! Kindergarten is already in session and the children are already enjoying all the wonderful aspects of our program. The Nursery and Pre-school programs will begin next week and we can't wait to have a building full of learning and laughter!

We are also excited to share that our Outdoor Visions have taken some notches forward over the summer. Decking was installed under the pergola on the Patio and we now have a "master plan" for recreating the play-park adjacent to the Walker-Nevin building. We will be sharing it with you in the next weeks. If you would like to support our school's Lacy Morris Scholarship Fund without spending one penny of your own, you can do so by enrolling in the Kroger Community Rewards program. To do this you go to

and select our school from the list. (You need your Kroger card number to do this the first time.) If you shop at ValuMarket, we will be happy to sell you

their rewards card for $5. In both of these programs, we get a portion of your grocery spending every time you shop! We have a grand time next door and we hope that you will come visit to see for yourself the vibrant, engaging program we provide for infants through kindergartners. Call us to schedule a visit!

Senior High School Youth Group 5:00 p.m. Omega Choir Rehearsal-Choir Room 6:00 p.m. Senior High Dinner-HPC Dining Room 6:30 p.m. Senior High Hang Out-YMMC 6:40 p.m. Senior High Youth Group-YMMC

Middle School Youth Group 5:00 p.m. Middle School Recreation-Outside Pleune-Mobley Center 5:30 p.m. Middle School Youth Dinner-HPC Dining Room 5:50 p.m. Middle School Youth Group-YMMC 6:40 p.m. Alpha Choir Rehearsal-Choir Room

Junior High Youth Group 5:00 p.m. Junior High Youth Group-YMMC 5:50 p.m. Junior High and High School Dinner-HPC Dining Room 6:15 p.m. Junior High Recreation-Outside Pleune-Mobley Center 6:40 p.m. Alpha Choir Rehearsal-Choir Room

Youth Group Sunday Evening Schedule Begins September 13, 2015

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Tuesday & Wednesday

Thursday

WOMEN’S BOOK GROUP—Our next meeting will be Wednesday September 23rd at 10:00 in the Memorial Lounge. Please read “Wild Swans” Three Daughters of China: by Jung Chang. Please join us. For more information contact Sharon Harless at 502-338-7692.

SESSION SUMMARY—August 19, 2015

Revised Wedding Policy: The Session approved a revised wedding policy.

Christian Education: The Session voted to approved Erin Wicklander Federici as a new member of the Board of the Highland Presbyterian Church Nursery and Weekday School. The Session also approved the curriculum and teachers for the 2015-2016 Christian Education program. Church in the World: The Session approved two collections from the congregation: Food Collection for Portland Avenue Community Trust in September 2015 and January 2016; and, Thanksgiving Basket Food Collection for Highland Community Ministries in November 2015. Fellowship: Session approved that the women from STITCH can sell their products at PresFest and may retain their proceeds.

VOLUNTEERS—We’ll take it! 1 or 2 hours of your time! Some months we are in need of a person or persons to help fold or place labels on letters for mailing. If you would be willing to put your name on our list, please call the church office at 502-451-2910 or email lynn.diebold@hpclouisville.org. Highland would be most appreciative of the gift of your time.

FLOWERS FOR THE SANCTUARY If you would like to honor a special person or occasion by donating flowers to the sanctuary on a particular Sunday, please call Lynn Diebold at the church office. Available dates in 2015 are September 13 & 27; October 4 & 18; and November 8, & 29.