The Messenger Newsletter

What kind of church do you want Lake Highlands to be?  What are your expectations of our congregation's leadership, both elder and clergy?  These are some of the questions we will explore together at the Congregational Gathering on March 26, following 11:00 a.m. worship.

First, we will gather in the Fellowship Hall to share a meal...Taco Salad!!  Then, we break up into small groups to discuss our congregation's future.  This is your chance to help shape the vision that guides our planning, to offer your ideas for mission and ministry, to share your hopes and dreams. The session will then use this input to complete a Mission Foundation Statement. This Statement will be approved by Presbytery and offered to the Pastor Nominating Committee, when it is elected, as a guide in searching for our future permanent pastor.

I urge you not to miss this opportunity to be a part of shaping the vision of Lake Highlands Presbyterian.  Everyone is invited!

   —Larry

The Seder, the ceremonial feast of the Passover, is an incomparable creation.  It represents the unique artistry of the Jewish soul.  If we should desire to distill and preserve the accumulated Jewish experience and wisdom of centuries, we would do well to experience the Seder.  This joyful but serious religious service is the same meal observed by Jesus with his disciples that we know as the Last Supper.

On Sunday, April 9, at 6:00 p.m., as part of our Lenten observance, we will hold a Seder in the Fellowship Hall.  Traditional foods and symbols will be used in the liturgical sections of the feast.  Larry Thomas will be our guide for the celebration and will interpret the feast from a Christian perspective.  Peyton Strouth will be our Cantor to lead us in the musical parts of the celebration.  We will gather around tables family style as in the traditional Passover feast and share a delicious meal...all together.

"Why a Seder for Christians?"  The Seder gives us a glimpse back to the Jewish roots of our faith, helps us understand more fully the meaning of the Christian sacrament of Holy Communion, and enables us to enter more deeply into the events of Holy Week.  As the Apostle Paul wrote, "Christ our Passover is sacrificed;  therefore let us feast with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth".

Everyone is invited; especially families with children.

Palm Sunday:  Sunday, April 9
9:45 a.m. 11:00 a.m.	Christian Education Classes   Palm Sunday Worship Requiem by John Rutter
(Please note that there will not be an 8:30 a.m. or a 9:00 a.m. worship service on this Sunday.)
6:00 p.m.	Seder Meal, A Christian Celebration of Passover
Maundy Thursday: April 13
7:00 p.m.	Maundy Thursday Communion and Tenebrae Service
Easter: Sunday, April 16
8:30 a.m. 8:30 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 10:15 a.m. 11:00 a.m.	Easter Worship   Easter Breakfast (ends at 10:30 a.m.)   Praise On High Easter Celebration   Easter Egg Hunt (for all children)   Traditional Easter Worship

Let's all join together and give White Rock Center of Hope wonderful Easter Baskets filled with non-perishable food.  Beginning Sunday, March 19th, there will be a large basket in Fellowship Hall to receive most needed items:

• Peanut Butter
• Jelly
• Canned Meats
• Bath Soap (Bar)
• Toothpaste
• Toothbrushes

Please give generously. Thank you, Mission and Reach-Out Committees

Rutter Requiem on April 9, with Special Guest Soloist!

On Palm Sunday the Chancel Choir will be presenting Requiem, by John Rutter.  We will have an ensemble of guest musicians as well as a special soloist, Stefanie Moore.  We are truly honored to be able to lead worship on Palm Sunday and hope that you will come and worship with us as we begin Holy Week.  I would like to give you a bit more information about our special guest:  Stefanie Moorea frequent guest soloist for choirs in Texas and the surrounding area.  She has performed with Austin based Conspirare for four years and has also appeared with the Texas Bach Choir of San Antonio, Houston Masterworks, and she was the New Young Artist for the Victoria Bach Festival in 2003.  In 2005 and early 2006 she performed the Vivaldi Magnificat, Lyric Opera's controversial staging of Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, and upcoming performances include soloist for the Chichester Psalms and a recital of Debussy, Purcell, and Handel.  2006 holds great things for her, as she has recently auditioned for the Boston Early Music Festival's production of Lully's opera Psyche and the Yale Institute of Sacred Music's Early Music Masters program.  Stefanie studies with Hank Hammett and Dale Dietert of Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

July 10-14

As a follow up to last year's super-successful, Music Camp, this year we will be having Arts Camp and we need volunteers.  Last year we had over 60 children and we expect to have at least as many this year.  We will be introducing the campers to music, drama, and visual arts as well as teaching them about the Bible using the Theme of Noah's Ark.  What an excellent opportunity for our church to positively affect the lives of the children of our community!  The dates are July 10-14 from 9 a.m. til 2 p.m. and we need lots of volunteers.  If you are interested in helping out, come to our next meeting on April 10th at 7:00, or contact Meg or Peyton.  Thanks, and did I mention we need volunteers.

We still need more people in the handbell choir!  If you are interested Please let me know because this is a wonderful ministry that we need to keep going.  It takes very little time and if you can read and count you can play handbells.

On Sunday, March 26th, Praise On High, affectionately known as POH, will be celebrating its first birthday.  The service has continued to grow and we would like to invite you to come to celebrate with us on this very special day in the life of our Church!  If you regularly attend another service, you may want to consider coming to two services this Sunday.  We will be having a regular worship service, with a little bit more celebrating and fun, you only turn one once you know!

Meals on Wheels Volunteers Needed!
Do you have three free hours, once a month?  If so, we need you on our team of volunteer drivers who deliver hot meals to individuals in the Lake Highlands area.  We deliver meals during the first week of each month, Monday - Friday, 9:45a.m.-12:30p.m.  If you are interested in being a driver or would like to be on the "sub list", please contact Missy Rodgers at 214-902-9935 or missyro@earthlink.net.

Sack Lunch Stories
Tuesday, April 4 at noon in fellowship hall.  Come and hear Marion Santangelo share her story.  Everyone is welcome.

Men's Fellowship
The Men will have Bible Study on April 4 and 18, with the regular Men's Fellowship on April 11.  In addition, the Men are inviting anyone who would like to join us on Tuesday, March 21, at 7:00 p.m. to watch the movie, "The Gospel According to John".  The Men's Bible study group has just finished studying the Gospel of John.  Everyone can just bring a snack for themselves or to share.  After the movie, we will have a discussion.

Don't forget to attend the Talent Show on April 25th at 7:00 p.m.  Everyone is invited.  We are still seeking talented individuals from the church or neighborhood to perform.  See Steve Moore with any questions.

When Presbyterian Women everywhere combine their Birthday Gift Offerings a mighty mission force is created. Since 1922, Presbyterian Women have contributed to this fund which helps in areas that are not met by regular mission sources.  A national committee of Presbyterian Women selects the recipients after much deliberation and many prayers.  Seven recipients will be helped this year, six in the U.S., and one in Lahore, Pakistan, where a hostel will be remodeled at the Forman Christian College for 92 deserving Christian and Muslim girls from villages and rural areas who could not attend college without this facility.  It is hoped that $1.2 million will be contributed this year to the Birthday Fund.

On April 1, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. in Fellowship Hall all women and guests of LHPC and mothers of the CDC children are invited to attend our annual LHPC Women's Birthday Tea.  Women of Circle 2 will serve as hostesses.

Circle l will meet Monday, April 17, at 7:00 p.m. at the home of Sharon Pinnell, 8511 Hackney.

Circle 2 will meet Tuesday, April 18, at 9:30 a.m. at the home of June Faircloth, 9711 Dartridge.

Circle of Hope will meet Wednesday, April 19, at 9:45 a.m. in Fellowship Hall with Doris Bruner and Barbara Sudderth serving as hostesses.

Circle of Joy will meet on Monday evenings, April 10 and April 24 at 7:00 p.m. at LHPC.

Other Opportunities
Women's Board Meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 12, at 10:00 a.m. in Fellowship Hall.

Youth Schedule

April 2: Youth Fellowship (4:00-6:00 p.m.)
April 23: Youth Fellowship (4:00-6:00 p.m.)
April 20: Youth Fellowship (4:00-6:00 p.m.)

Youth Summer Camp Dates:
July 10-14: Cumberland Presbyterian Youth Conference
July 22-27: Red River Summer Camp at Camp WOW
Grace Presbytery Summer Camps: Offered throughout the summer

Kid Stuff

Stay-N-Play Dates (for Toddlers -5th Grade)
April 2: 12 Noon (Pizza, games & Service Project)
May 7: 12 Noon (Lunch and Zoo Trip)

Kid's Summer Camp Dates

Red River Junior Camp: (4th-6th grade) July 22-27 at Camp WOW
Grace Presbytery Summer Camps: Offered throughout the summer

Summer Camps information for children and youth posted on the bulletin boards in the main hallway or contact Meg Richardson at the church office.

Mark your Calendar

Vacation Bible School: June 12-16

Lake Highlands Presbyterian Church and St. James Episcopal Church Big Brother/Sister Training June 5-9; VBS: June 12-16

LHPC Arts Camp: July 10-14

Volunteers are needed to help with this year's Arts Camp.  This year we will include breakout groups for Drama and Set Design.  If you would like to find out more about volunteer Opportunities, contact Peyton Strouth or Meg Richardson at the church office.

To the Women of Lake Highlands Presbyterian Church:
Thank you to the Lake Highlands Presbyterian Women for their generous $500 gift to the Sanctuary Sound System Fund. It is truly appreciated!

Honorary Gifts Carl & Nelle O'Neal Eula Watterson CDC Gifts Anonymous Conor Puckett Mission Enhancement/POH Anonymous Ralph & Jan Gifford Steve Moore Linda Swanson Dale Talley Sanctuary Sound System Bill & Martha Boyd Bill & Grace Cooper Pauline Ellis Joe & Beth Gillespie Billie Hill Al & Dolores Iliya Fawzi & Aida Iliya Jim & Cinda Koch Eloise Love Rich & Tammy Mackesey Glen & Geri McCleskey Charles & Lisa Matz Steve Moore Vic Parish Mary Simpson Dale Talley Leslie Durham POH Project Jim & Cinda Koch Choir Music Cecil & Ashita Dass Harriet Dressen Cal & Johnie Foster Don & Betty Heaton Steve Moore Suzanna Swanson Dale Talley Doug Van Wey Ginger Williams Anna Wynne

The best thing about the future is that it comes only on day at a time.

The following persons visited worship service during the month of February:

Ciocan Family, Dixie Edwards, Lio Urban, Greg Harrison, B.J. Thomas, Retta Miller, Cindy Wood, Amy Greeman, Evan & Ginny Secor, Christy Brown, Chuck & Janet Crawford, Elaine Keefer, Ron & Amy Chester, Joyce Adams, Bo & Christine Smithhart, Robbie & Marsha Tucker, Amy & Justin Jeter, Teresa & Trisha Mullins, Sondra & Shane McDeidei, Kevin & Karon Caldwell, Autumn Howell, Becca, Rigel & Hunter Linedum, Shawn & Jennifer Herrin, Chris & Judy Ramsay, Rachel Glass, Sharon Morrow, Rich, Bradley & Becky Paterik, Scott & Joel Spreier

If anyone is interested in playing softball during the summer, please contact Cecil Dass.  The games will be on Thursday nights, and will be played at Norbuck Park.  Cecil can be reached at Cecil Dass or acca23@sbcglobal.net.

Congratulations to Paul and Cari Logan, on the birth of a son, Shane Matthew on February 28, 2006.

Please join us on Easter morning for an all-church breakfast hosted by the Fellowship Committee at 9:45 a.m. All children, toddlers through 5th grade are invited to participate in the Egg Hunt at 10:15 a.m.

Donations needed for the Egg Hunt:

     Plastic Easter Eggs
     Individually wrapped candy
     Fruit snacks
     Small party favor toys

You may drop them off at the church office or bring on Sunday mornings