The Messenger Newsletter

The congregation has now elected a Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) and I don't believe I have ever seen a PNC better equipped for its calling.  The members include:  Ralph Gifford, Bert Hager, Lin Johnson, Cinda Koch, Tammy Mackesey, Chuck Ramsay, Missy Rodgers, Herman Sawyer and Dale Talley.

This group fulfills the requirements of gender equity, range of ages, experience in church leadership, and knowledge of the Presbyterian Way.  I have great confidence that this group will faithfully and effectively fulfill its mandate to recommend the person that God's wants for this church.

The next step for the PNC is "Getting Organized."  I will call the first meeting in consultation with our Committee On Ministry liaisons, the Revs. Laura Finch and Susan Boulden.  This first meeting will be primarily for organization and orientation.

The committee will choose a chairperson.  The role of the PNC chairperson is:

• To encourage discussion of various viewpoints rather than discourage them.
• To delegate responsibility and see that tasks are carried out.
• To ensure that decisions reached are the consensus of the group.
• To carry on correspondence with the presbytery, candidates, ministers etc.

Also, an assistant chair is chosen to preside when the chair can not be present and secretary is selected to do correspondence, keep records of the committee and to perform other duties as determined by the PNC.

After the committee is organized, the first order of business will be establishing the requirements for the position and writing and submitting the Church Information Form.  The "CIF" is basically a comprehensive description of our church, the position to be filled, and the kind of person the committee is seeking.

Ordinarily as Interim Pastor I do not meet with the PNC.  My role is to act as consultant to the committee, monitor the process to make sure it is proceeding smoothly and in accordance with our constitution and the guidelines of the Committee on Ministry, and to facilitate communication between the PNC and the congregation.  However, the committee will not be left on its own; Laura and Susan will meet often with them to provide guidance and support.

Your task as a congregation is to support the PNC with your prayers and encouragement as they begin this all-important task.  This is an exciting time in the journey of Lake Highlands.  I truly enjoy being your Interim Pastor and continue to believe that this church has a great future ahead.

   —Larry

Are you looking for a way to get involved with Arts Camp but know you can't take the week off to volunteer? We have the perfect opportunity for you.

This year, you can sponsor a child for Arts camp!  The cost is $7 per child.  Sponsor one or sponsor a few.  We are hoping for 100 children participating this year and your donation will help us present a quality, free program for children in the church, CDC, and in our neighborhood.

Your donation can help make a difference in the lives of the children and youth of our community.  While we do have a budget it will take a bit more to cover the cost for this year's super camp.

You may place your donations in the offering plate and mark them "Christian Education-Arts Camp."  We thank you in advance for your help.

I want to invite all members to the new series I will be starting on Sunday, June 4th in the Youth Activities Hall (or the Praise on High room) from 10:00 until 10:45 a.m.  "The World of C. S. Lewis" will be a six-week exploration into the life and teaching of this extraordinary Christian thinker.  Lewis, who has been called, "The Apostle to the Skeptics," gave his life to helping his contemporaries understand the meaning and importance of the Christian faith.  I believe you will find his work as fascinating and provocative as I have.  The first Sunday, we will focus on Lewis' life and spiritual pilgrimage.

Meg Richardson will be directing Junior Camp and Peyton Strouth was asked to be music director for the Red River Presbytery Summer Camp Program.  Both Meg and Peyton will be at Camp WOW in Oklahoma July 22-27.

At the May meeting of the session, note was made of two new members who will be introduced to the congregation at the 9:00 a.m. service on May 21.  Amy and Justin Jeter have come to LHPC by reaffirmation of faith.

Notation was also made of the death of Dortha Curry on April 29, 2006, and of Nelle O'Neal on May 13, 2006.

The Stewardship and Finance Committee reported that they had met with representatives from the Presbyterian Foundation and currently plan to meet on June 6 with Gerald Farley of the Generis Group to discuss plans for Phase Two of the building program.  (The Generis Group is the one with whom we worked on the Building Campaign.)

Lastly, Mr. Pendergrass stated that at the beginning of the year it was believed that the CDC could break even in 2006 and contribute at least $30,000 per year beginning in 2007.  At this point, it appears that CDC's contribution may be earlier and larg-er than was anticipated in January.  The next two months should tell us a lot.

There was no other business and the meeting was adjourned.

Please check the bulletin board in the hallway if you wish to read the minute in its entirety.

White Rock Center of Hope
The Missions Committee and Reach Out Task Force would like to thank everyone who donated food items for the White Rock Center of Hope and books for the New Orleans Public Library.  There are numerous needs within our community and throughout the world, and the members and friends of LHPC continue to give generously and lovingly from the heart.

2nd Annual LifeNet Kite Fest
LifeNet's "Up & Away Day" provides public awareness, media exposure, and a significant opportunity for fund raising to further the accomplishments of LifeNet's children's program, benefiting underprivileged local children and families.

LifeNet, formerly known for 22 years as Phoenix House, is the only non-profit provider of comprehensive services (including Clinical, Permanent Supportive Housing and Supported Employment) to the homeless and mentally ill in Dallas County.

Visiting Nurses Association Monthly Bereavement Luncheons
Monthly Bereavement Luncheons are held on the last Thursday of each month from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the Church of the Incarnation, 3966 McKinney Ave., to provide public grief support resources for any adult in the community who has lost a loved one in the past twelve months.  The catered meal is free, but reservations are required (214-689-0633).

Sack Lunch Stories
Sack Lunch Stories continues on the first Tuesday of each month.  Cris Emrich will be sharing her story on June 6th at 12:00 p.m.  We will take the month of July off, but will pick up again in August.

Stay-N-Play
Stay-N-Play visited the Dallas Zoo on Sunday, May 7th, with 13 children and youth and eight adults.  We had a great time seeing all the animals, especially the new and improved gorilla exhibit.  Watch for details about our upcoming summer activities!

The first annual "Send a Kid to Camp" talent show and fundraiser was a big success.  We want to thank everyone who bought tickets and those who attended.  We especially want to thank those who donated their time and talent to the show.  We are already discussing plans for next year's show.  We learned a few things from this one that will help to make next year's show even better!  Congratulations to Ed Boyer and Lisa Matz who won the NorthPark Gold!

Men's Fellowship is back to the regular schedule:  Men's Bible Study meets every Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m., except for the second Tuesday, which is Men's Fellowship cook-out night.

The second Sunday of each month we will be serving breakfast to continue our fundraising cause for the kids' summer camp fund.  If you are interested in participating or would like to receive regular emails about Men's activities, please send an email to Steve Moore at steve911@sbcglobal.net.

Although the Women's organizations will not meet regularly over the summer, please remember to save Campbell, Prego, Swanson, Franco-American and Mrs. Pauls labels for our day school.  Also, save cancelled commemorative stamps with 1/8" of envelope around the stamp for mission work, and old eyeglasses for the Lions Club to recycle.  Containers for all of these donations are located in Fellowship Hall.

The Women's Board Meeting will be at 10:00 a.m. on July 19th and August 9th in Fellowship Hall to make plans for the upcoming year.

All of the women of Lake Highlands Presbyterian Church are invited to help host the annual birthday party that our women give for the residents in the Health Unit at Grace Presbyterian Village on Tuesday, June 20, at 10:30 a.m.  If you would like to join those who have already signed up, please phone Nelda Walker at 214-824-7685.

Vacation Bible School Leadership Training
June 5-9; 9:00 a.m.-12:00 Noon
(10 year olds-12th grade)

Vacation Bible School
June 12-16; 9:00 a.m.-12:00 Noon
(3 year olds-9 year olds)

Six Flags: June 19

Midweek Madness
12:oo Noon in Youth Activities Hall
Come for pizza, games, movies and fellowship!

Youth Car Wash
June 11th
Free!
After 11:00 a.m. Worship
Donations Appreciated!

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'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.

Familiar Cause, New Look

For twenty-some odd years St. Timothy Cumberland Presbyterian Church has hosted a softball tournament to benefit the Denton Cumberland Presbyterian Children's home.  This year after much consideration, they have decided to join forces with St. Matthew Cumberland Presbyterian Church for a new way to raise money.

June 23-24: Volleyball Tournament (Youth and Adult Divisions) to be held at St. Matthew CPC.  Cost: $15.00 per person (All proceeds benefiting Denton Cumberland Presbyterian Children's Home)

June 24: Golf Tournament (All Ages) at Hidden Creek Gold Course.  Cost: $80.00 per team.  (All proceeds benefiting Denton Cumberland Presbyterian Children's Home)

If you are interested in forming a team for either one of these events, please see Meg Richardson for registration information.

To Our LHPC Family:

We want to thank all of you for the loving support you've shown us during the illness and subsequent deaths of our brothers, Alan and Chuck.

We appreciate all the prayers, calls, cards and warm hugs we've received. Those things make a very difficult time easier to bear, and we're grateful to be a part of a caring church like Lake Highlands Presbyterian Church.

     Don & Joni Kern

Thanks to Our Volunteers

The CDC Director and Committee Chair wish to take this minute of your time to express our appreciation to the volunteers who so cheerfully filled in for vacancies on the staff on Monday, May 1st.  Without them, we would have had to close the Center for that particular day.

So, Thank You, Johnie Foster, Betty Heaton, Lin Johnson, Cinda Koch, Geri McCleskey, Audrey Pierce, Meg Richardson, Missy Rodgers, Linda Swanson, and Ginger Williams.

Honor Gifts In Honor of Maxie Hardin Anonymous Guest Musicians/Easter Worship Ralph & Jan Gifford CDC Anonymous Music Ministry/POH Anonymous Ralph & Jan Gifford Jim & Cinda Koch Matz Family Steve Moore J.B. & Mary Lou Pendergrass Linda Swanson Dale Talley Sanctuary Sound System Deborah Marshall-Brown Jack Martin Steve Moore Margaret Phillips Puckett Family Herman Sawyer Dale Talley Eula Watterson

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

Hayley Adams received her Masters of Education in Health Education from the University of Texas at Austin on May 20th.

Melanie Lacy and Ryan Paige were married on March 4th in Denton at the Little Chapel in the Woods on the campus of Texas Women's University.  Melanie is graduating with her Masters of Education in Special Education with a speciality of Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities from TWU in May.

Congratulations to Perryn and Terri Rice on the birth of a daughter, Lauren Endia Rice, born on March 17, 2006.  She weighed 7 lbs., 8 oz.; and was 19 3/4 inches long.  According to the proud father, she is gorgeous, and Jonathan is enjoying the new role of big brother.

Welcome to Lake Highlands Presbyterian Church — Justin and Amy Jeter.

The Church expresses Christian Sympathy to the family of Dortha Curry, who passed away April 29, 2006.  Services were held at the Wildwood Chapel at Restland Funeral Home with the Rev. Dr. James C. Gilbert and the Rev. Dr. Robert M. Shelton officiating.

The Church expresses Christian Sympathy to the O'Neal and Puckett Families upon the death of Nelle O'Neal, who died on May 13th.  Services were held at Lake Highlands Presbyterian Church on May 17th, with the Rev. Randall McGee officiating.

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

Bret & Christy Sudderth, Risa Brown, Jill Donaldson, Sharon Morrow, Gretchen Mock, Daryl Douglas, Ciocan Family, Don Scroggins, Ron & Amy Chester, Bill & Irene Keil, Jacqueline Welsh, Justin & Amy Jeter, Brian & Penny Coles, Kevin Wood & Family, Kaye & Jenni Morgan, Shannon Savage, Elizabeth King, Karan Callaway, Bob & Maryellen Volker, Sal Urban, Shannon Blackburn, Rachel Glass, Tricia & Alyssa Perchella, Jennifer Gross, Patricia Forrest, Mr. & Mrs. Al Massoud, Jordan Breakey, Zuma Breakey, Andrea Herodes, Joan Harvey, Dixie Edwards, Greg Harrison, Jim & Christy Cumbie, Dean, Donna & Shannon Foster, Mary Ann Puckett, Joe & Mary Sanders, Evalyn James, Mew & Frank Duckett, Mr. & Mrs. Burkwall, Mario Barone & Family, Susan Tolliver, Robert Rodgers, Jo & Mike Base, Hank Hammett, Dale Dietert, Greg Smith & Family, Kershaw Family, Kay Doss, B.J. Thomas, Gene Harrelson, Autumn Howell, Doug Van Wey, Lillian Quinn, Rich & Teresa Johnson, Bruce & Julie Kidder, Don & Judy Logan, Shannon Savage, Lola LaCrosse, Randy Tully, Ted & Jeanne Wooldridge

"A Few of Our Favorite Things, a Concert of American Songs"

The Lake Highlands Presbyterian Church Choir will present a concert of it's favorite songs on Sunday, June 25th at 5:00 p.m.  This will be followed by a picnic.  It is a free concert, with donations accepted to go to the Choir and Fellowship Committee.  The food will be a classic picnic, with hotdogs, hamburgers and all the fixings.