March 2013
From the Senior Pastor
So why all this emphasis the suffering and death of Jesus right before Easter? Why put everyone through all the betrayal, crucifixion, and death? Wouldn’t it be easier on all of us if we just journeyed with Jesus as usual on Sunday, celebrated Palm Sunday with a parade, and then shouted “He is Risen” on Easter. Sure Highland Church could enjoy one happy Sunday after the other, but that is not real life. We all have downs and ups, disasters and parties, grief and hopefulness. The only way to get from the bad times to the good is to work through it, to move through it. Yes, we get comfort and help from family, friends and our church family, but we have to move through the pain to reach a time of joy.
No one can give you faith. No one can strengthen your faith. Only by walking in the “valley of the
shadow,” the valley of pain and suffering, can your faith grow and deepen. That is why Highland Church provides so many different ways for you to walk through the Holy Week experience.
Palm Sunday March 24th
To remember Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, there will be a parade to begin worship!
Labyrinth Available 9am to 4 pm Monday through Thursday and 9 am to noon on Friday Evenings Monday through Saturday, 6-7 pm
This may be totally new for you. A Labyrinth will be set up in the Social Hall. It looks like a maze, only this has one way in, and one way out. It was used by Christians in the Middle Ages as a way to go on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem without going to Jerusalem. Twenty-first century Christians use a labyrinth as a way to slow down and pray to God. Printed materials will be available to you
when you come and center yourself before God as you pray the labyrinth. Come as often as you would like.
Sunday Morning
Schedule
8:30 am Worship
9:45 am Sunday School
11 am Worship (Sanctuary)
11 am The Compass
(in the Fellowship Hall
Casual dress)
Office Hours
Monday – Thursday
8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Friday
8:00 am – 1:00 pm
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Highland United Methodist Church______Page 2
Senior Pastor’s
Maundy Thursday March 28th
Meal 6 pm, worship 7 pm
You are cordially invited to a meal of lamb, bitter herbs, and unleavened bread in the Passover style that Jesus celebrated His whole life.
The meal begins at 6 pm. Please let the church office know how many of your family to expect. This is not a fund raiser, but a donation of $10.00 per person is suggested to cover the cost of the meal.
At 7 pm, we will gather in the Sanctuary for a Maundy Thursday service of Word and Communion.
Good Friday March 29th worship at 7 pm
We will gather to remember the day Jesus died on the cross. The service is called Tenebrae, or “Darkness”. Gather in the Social Hall.
Holy Saturday March 30th worship at 7 pm
Easter Vigil begins at the foot of the large cross in the front yard. From there, we will proceed into the sanctuary to hear God’s Word.
Easter Sunrise March 31st Worship at 6:45 am
We will greet the morning on the church lawn between the Sanctuary and the Social Hall. If the weather is rainy, we will move into the sanctuary. Following worship, we will enjoy a light continental breakfast in the social hall.
Easter Celebrations
8:30 am classic worship in the sanctuary
11 am classic worship in the sanctuary
11 am Compass worship in the social hall.
There will be a wooden cross between the sanctuary and the social hall. Please bring flowers from your yard or a shop to remind all who pass by that we worship the Risen Christ!
May your faith be enriched and your soul blessed as you prepare for Easter!
Pastor Dorothy and
Pastor Mike
Highland United Methodist Church______Page 3
Greetings to my Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
February was a great time for ministry at Highland UMC! Highland members deepened their marriage relationships and friendships with other members at a marriage enrichment retreat at Lake Gaston, twelve individuals attended the Blackstone District Youth Retreat, and forty-two youth and volunteers had an incredibly fun time Wii Bowling. However, the great opportunities for ministry, mission, fun, and fellowship won’t end with the closing of February, because March is here. With Holy Week and Easter Sunday, trips to Swader’s and the bowling alley, and the formation of spring small group meetings, the month of March is shaping up to be an exciting time of worship, discipleship, and good old fashioned fun. Without further ado, here is what is coming up soon.
Small Group Updates:
In 1729 Charles Wesley along with George Whitfield and other fellow students at Oxford began meeting with his brother John on a weekly basis to study faith, hold each other accountable in Holy action, and order their lives through their methods of right living. These students were branded “Methodists” by other students who mocked this small group’s new approach to faith. Small groups are at the very foundation of our denomination.
As the spring session of small groups draws near, it is our desire to offer meaningful small group choices as a way for Highland United Methodist Church to find new levels of faith development and community formation. We would like to offer the following topical small group studies, and ask that members of the Highland Community step forward to be group facilitators. Please read the topic description and decide if you are interested in helping facilitate or participate in the group study.
I Am Second Small Group
I am second is meant to inspire people of all kinds to live for God and others. Actors. Athletes. Musicians. Business leaders. Drug addicts. Your next-door neighbor. People like you. The authentic stories in the I Am Second DVD study provides insight into dealing with the typical struggles of everyday living. These are stories that give hope to the lonely and the hurting, help from destructive lifestyles, and inspiration to the unfulfilled. This six-week small group session will talk about how when we try to “go it alone” in life, we usually end up going nowhere, and what we can do to put ourselves second and God first.
Leaders – Looking for a volunteer
Meeting Times – TBD
Start Date – First Week of April
Group Size – Limited to the first 12 registrations
Length – 6 Weeks
Meeting Location – Looking for host home
For Registration – Sign up on bulletin board outside of Sanctuary or in Compass Space
When God’s People Pray: The Transforming Power of Prayer
Prayer can change lives and circumstances like nothing else can. What are the keys that unlock its power, that turn prayer from a mere activity into a vital and intimate link with God? In this DVD, Jim Cymbala, pastor of Brooklyn Tabernacle, shows you truths about prayer that God has used to turn his own church from a tiny, struggling inner-city congregation into a vital, thriving community of believers who pray with passion, focus, and faith. Featuring teachings by Jim Cymbala and video interviews of ordinary people who have received extraordinary answers to their prayers, these six sessions will help you pray with new confidence. Sessions include: 1. God's Heart for Us 2. The Amazing Power of Prayer 3. Obedience in Prayer 4. The Word of God and Prayer 5. Why Prayer Matters 6. Creating a Prayer Ministry in Your Church. Continued Page 4
Highland United Methodist Church Page 4
Associate Pastor’s - Continued
Leaders – Bryan Mallary
Meeting Times – TBD
Start Date – First Week of April
Group Size – Limited to the first 12 registrations
Meeting Location – Looking for a host home
For Registration – Contact Brian Mallary at or 804-796-9636
What Do other Faiths Believe?
Synopsis – A discussion of the major religions of the world, using Paul Strobel’s book “What Do Other Faiths Believe”. We will explore Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and other faiths to explore how the beliefs and practices of these religions are similar to and different from basic Christian beliefs. The foundations of our faith will strengthened by understanding what other religions believe about sin, forgiveness, salvation, life after death, and ethics, and exploring what we believe about the same issues.
Leaders – Looking for volunteers
Meeting Times – TBD
Start Date – First Week of April
Group Size – Limited to the first 12 registrations
Meeting Location – Looking for host home
For Registration – Sing up on Bulletin Board outside of Sanctuary or Compass Space
Day Time Bible Study
Synopsis – We would like to offer a Bible study during the day as an opportunity for Highland members who may not be comfortable driving at night. This study will focus on issues and topics chosen by group participants with the purpose of growing deeper in their faith.
Leaders – Pastor Dorothy O’Quinn
Meeting Times – TBD
Start Date – First Week of April
Group Size – Open
Meeting Location – Highland UMC
For Registration – Sing up on Bulletin Board outside of Sanctuary or Compass Space
If you have been involved with small groups in the past, I hope you will continue to be a part of the small group offerings at Highland. If you haven’t been involved with a small group, I invite you to choose a group you may be interested in from the list above and either sign up on the bulletin boards outside of the Sanctuary or in the Compass Space or contact the group’s leader to register.
Youth Events:
Youth Day Trip to Swader’s Sports Park:
This trip is a fellowship event to provide an opportunity for youth to get out and have fun together as a community. This is also an opportunity for youth to invite friends to come and be a part of the HUMC youth group.
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Highland United Methodist Church _Page 5
Associate Pastor - Continued
- Event Date - March 10
- Time – Leave After Church and return at 4:00pm.
- Cost – Various depending on activity, best deal is $25 for run of park, this includes 3 rides/attractions and $10 for the arcade.
- Point of Contact for questions – Pastor Mike at or Hannah Carper at .
Youth to Visit Pamplin Park:
The youth will travel to Pamplin Park to be exposed the history that surrounds them in their own back yard. This trip help youth understand that what you do today echoes in the future, and there is a cost to the freedom they enjoy.
- Event Date - April 6
- Time – leave church at 10am and return at 2pm
- Cost - $12 per student
- Point of Contact for questions. – Pastor Mike at or Hannah Carper at .
Youth Mission Trip to New York for Hurricane Sandy Relief:
Hurricane Sandy struck the Atlantic Gulf Coast October 29, 2012. Sandy is considered the second costliest storm in US history. Winds and tidal surges had a direct hit on New York City and the New Jersey coasts. The effects of Sandy were compounded by another storm that approached New England from the west. The convergence of these two powerful storms gave the name “Superstorm Sandy.” As time passes the call to action fades, and many residents still face tremendous suffering, devastation, and hopelessness. Our youth will come to the aid of those living in New York and New Jersey’s impact zone, bringing hope to the residents who are still there. We will repair broken spirits and help families move beyond the destruction of their homes by doing a wide variety of repairs–clean out, drywall, mudding, sanding, debris removal, roof repair, fence mending, etc, and we will also have the opportunity to serve in local soup kitchens, food pantries, feed the homeless and visit the elderly.
-Event Date – July 15-20
-Cost - $324 per youth
-Point of Contact for questions. – Pastor Mike at or Hannah Carper at .
In the Love of Christ,
Pastor Mike
Highland United Methodist Church Page 6
Back by popular demand, or at least we want to think so!! The Faithfinders are sponsoring another
Spaghetti Diner
This wonderful meal will be available on Saturday March 23 from 6:00 to 7:00 PM. As always the costs are reasonable at $9 for adults and $6 for children. Tickets are available in advance, because we think we sell more that way, but as always you can also get them at the door. To-Go Meals will also be available. The proceeds will go to class missions; however, we are committing 25% of the proceeds to purchase Bibles and other religious materials for the table in the Fellowship Hall. These materials are available to anyone at no cost. It has been a big addition to the Wednesday Night Feeding mission. We look forward to see you all on March 23.
From our Recreation Committee
We are hosting a bowling out, Saturday, March 16, 2013 at Colonial Heights Bowling Alley from 1 – 4 pm. The cost is $6.00 for 2 games and shoes are free. Those interested sign up at the Sunday School desk by March 10th.
Golf Tournament