Highlands United Methodist Church

Transcription

1 Highlands United Methodist Church March 2017 SUNDAY SCHEDULE 8:30am Devotion & Communion 9:00am Sunday School 9:30am Coffee Fellowship 10:00am Blended Worship 11:30am Choir/Band Rehearsal 4:00pm Youth Group 6:30pm Young Adult Group MARCH CALENDAR 3/1 Ash Wednesday Service 5:30pm 3/1 Community Campfire 7:00pm 3/5 First Sunday, First Fruits 3/6 Grief Ministry 3:30pm 3/6 Friendship Sisters 6:00pm 3/7 SPRC Meeting 2:00pm 3/8 Community Campfire 7:00 3/10 Basic Sewing Class 6:00pm 3/11 Basic Sewing Class 10:00am 3/11 Youth Bible Study 3/12 Men s Breakfast 7:30am 3/13 Mission Monday 10:00am 3/13 Grief Ministry 3:30pm 3/14 Leadership Team 5:30pm 3/15 WCDC Board Meeting 11:30am 3/15 Community Campfire 7:00pm 3/20 Grief Ministry 3:30pm 3/21 Worship Team 5:30pm 3/22 Feed My Sheep 5:00pm 3/22 Contemporary Worship 6:00pm 3/24 Sewing Class 6:00pm 3/25 Sewing Class 10:00am 3/27 Mission Monday 10:00am 3/27 Grief Ministry 3:30pm 3/28 Prime Timers 10:00am 3/29 Community Campfire 7:00pm From the Pastor s Desk Ash Wednesday is March 1 st and with it begins the season of Lent, a 40 day period where we prepare for Easter. Lent should be a time of seeking the Lord, of spending more time with Him, often trying different spiritual disciplines to help us grow in our relationship with Him. Here at Highlands we have lots of different opportunities to grow in our faith during Lent. One great spiritual discipline is to read and study scripture. The study of scripture is so important because it is through scripture that God reveals Himself to us. Studying scripture together with a group of believers is great because we can encourage one another, ask questions, and grow together in our faith. This Lent we will be studying a book by Adam Hamilton called John: The Gospel of Light and Life. I would encourage all of us to join a Bible Study this Lent. This will be a great time of learning about the life of our Lord and growing in our love for Him. However, even if you are unable to join a Bible Study I would encourage all of us to read through the entire Gospel of John this Lent. It s as simple as just reading half a chapter a day. I pray that as we read through the Gospel of John we would grow not only in our knowledge about Jesus, but more importantly our love of Him. As we read through John I hope that we will find the Holy Spirit revealing new insights to us, revealing the depths of God s love to us all. Another spiritual discipline is prayer, and I would encourage all of us this Lent to pray more than we currently do. This might look different for each and every one of us. Some of us might need to stretch ourselves to pray once a day, others might need to stretch ourselves to pray longer, while others might need to stretch ourselves to pray differently. Maybe if we are people who only pray for ourselves we need to learn this Lent to pray for others. Or perhaps if we are people who only ask the Lord for things we need to spend this Lent in thanksgiving, or even confession. Whatever it is, I would encourage us all to stretch ourselves in our prayer life this Lent. Lastly, Lent is often characterized by fasting or giving something up. Fasting does not just have to be food. Many give up meat, chocolate, or eating out during Lent, but we can give up television, social media, or even negative behaviors. Perhaps the Lord is calling you to fast from something this Lent. Remember even if you give up a certain type of food that fasting is not about weight loss. Fasting is about turning our focus toward God. People who fa st completely from food would pray every time they felt a hunger pain, turning their focus away from themselves, and turning instead toward God. So if you give a certain food up this Lent, use it as an opportunity to turn your heart toward God. Whether it be a craving for chocolate or passing up a certain food at a church potluck, use that moment as a moment to turn toward God. Whatever spiritual discipline you choose to engage in this Lent, I hope that you intentionally seek after the Lord this Lent. Let this season be a time of preparing yourself for the Good News on Easter Morning that the tomb is empty. I hope you join me on a journey this Lent to know and love the Lord deeper. Blessings, Pastor Katie

2 March Celebrations 3/1 Terry Kovel (PLWM) 3/2 - Chloe Loudermill 3/2 Theresa Wingate 3/8 Owen Wingate 3/12 Parker Loudermill 3/15 Shelby Higgins 3/15 Ken Risberg Easter Cantata Palm Sunday, April 9th during Worship Voices are needed for the Easter Cantata. If you don t normally sing but would like to help out just for the season, rehearsals will begin this Sunday, March 5th after worship and on Wednesdays at 5:30p.m. beginning on March 8th. Musicians only rehearsals will be on Feed My Sheep evenings at 6:30p.m. Town Hall Meeting Our new District Superintendent, Jay Therrell, would like to meet you and have an opportunity to answer your questions. Join him and our district lay leaders for two Town Hall Meetings. They will also share briefly about our district s vision, mission and values. Tuesday, March 7 th from 7-9pm at New Life Community UMC or Thursday, March 9 th from 7 9pm at Keystone UMC, Keystone Heights Child/Youth Protection Training March 19th, 2017 Immediately after Worship Mandatory for anyone who works directly with children or youth. FDLE background checks are required every five years. You will be notified if you are in need of renewal.

3 Children s Home Field Trip Eileen Phelps from Wesley Fellowship U.M.C. is coordinating a trip to visit the Florida United Methodist Children s Home in Enterprise, Florida on Monday, May 1st and has asked Highlands to join in. If interested, please RSVP to the church office no later than Monday, April 17th. They will gather at Wesley Fellowship at 8:30a.m. the day of the trip and depart at 9:00a.m. and will be back in the afternoon. Food Pantry February Referrals Total Referrals 179 Adults 203 Children 180 Disabled 28 Total Individuals Served 411 Feed My Sheep Community Meal March 22, :00-6:30p.m. Contemporary Worship Service 6:00p.m. Menu: Chicken & Dumplins, Lasagna, Tossed Salad, Green Beans, Dinner Rolls and Assorted Desserts. Open House A Poem When days get lonely and sad And night feels empty and blue What can lift us up If God s love shining through The words and thoughts of His children Shared with love and joy Lifting up and encouraging For our hearts to explore God changes us if we let Him in And carries us along the way And sometimes He sends Angels To brighten another's day. Thank You for all you say and do In word, deed and prayer, May God bless you all too For all the love you share. Received from James Norcross (PLWM)

4 Highlands is offering free sewing classes. You can come and learn basic sewing or a particular project class. You can sign up in the Narthex or contact one of the teachers. Here is the current schedule of classes: Beginning Machine Sewing March 10 th & 11 th ; April 7 th & 8 th ; May 12 th & 13 th. Friday from 6pm to 9pm and Saturday 10am to 6pm You will learn all about the part of the sewing machine and what they do. You will make a fabric bookmark and a pillowcase. Project Classes: March 24 th & 25 th Basic Garment Construction Friday from 6pm to 9pm and Saturday 10am to 6pm Choose a simple pattern (must be approved by teachers) and we will construct a basic garment such as an apron or lounge pants. April 22 nd Messenger Bag/Purse Saturday 10am to 6pm We will be making a purse like Miss Louise and Miss Kathy carry. If you purchase double quilted fabric, it takes about an hour to an hour and a half for a newer sewer to make the purse. (So in the span of the class, you might be able to make two.) May 26th & 27 th Table runner Friday from 6pm to 9pm and Saturday 10am to 6pm A simple table runner will be made so that you can learn to sew pieces together, layer, quilt and bind. For any questions, please contact Louise Walther or Lori Ann Prange. FREE SEWING CLASSES OFFERED Throughout the Lenten Season we are going to be collecting new underwear for our Sister Church in Cuba. They desperately need and want panties, briefs, bras, and socks. (For those ladies out there, imagine if all you could buy was 1950 s Russian pointed cupped canvas bras and they cost $100 well maybe a bit of an exaggeration, but not too much!!) You can sign up to buy a specific thing and size; you can donate into the bucket or designate money to Undie Sunday or you can make a purchase and bring it to the church Narthex any time between Ash Wednesday and Psalm Sunday. If you have any questions, please contact Lori Ann Prange or Carol Stevens.

5 ALMOST 100 CHILDREN S OUTFITS HEADED TO CUBA!! On February 12 th, Pastor Katie blessed our duffle bag to go to Cuba!! We are sending 48 pounds of clothes, which was almost 100 outfits and included underwear, toothpaste, a camera, two pairs of sneakers, stuffed animals and more!! This bag will be headed to Cuba on March 17 th to our Sister Church, El Gautao in Cuba. Thanks to everyone who helped in making this duffle bag a reality to those who donated fabric; to the cutters and seamstresses; to the packers; to the folks who donated money to send the bag. Praise be to God for His blessings and mercies to allow us to serve HIM in this way. COUNTERS WHAT ARE THEY AND WHY DO WE NEED THEM? A counter is someone who comes to the church and helps count the offering with another counter in order to make the weekly deposit. It is a simple task, and all you need is the ability to count cash and an attention to detail is helpful. Of course what you see when counting is confidential and stays in the counting room. There are always two counters and the Financial Secretary. We are in great need of counters so we can allow each counter to come just once a month. Our plan is to do counting on Monday Morning for the early risers and on Sundays right after services twice a month for those who aren t such early risers. Please think about it, pray about it, and if you d like to come and observe the process, please let Lori Ann Prange know and we ll set you up. If you re called to serve in this simple way, please contact Lori Ann. FACING DARKNESS Samaritan s Purse is offering a single showing of Facing Darkness on March 30 th at 7pm at the Regal Avenues Stadium Cinemas. (9525 Phillips Highway) Tickets are $14.00 each. If we have members interested in viewing this onetime event, please sign up in the Narthex and we will organize getting tickets and travel to the movies that night. Here is the summary of the movie: Fathom Events and Samaritan s Purse are proud to present the compelling documentary, Facing Darkness, A True Story of Faith: Saving Dr. Brantly from Ebola in Africa. In the spring of 2014, while the world stood by as Ebola consumed West Africa, one ministry stepped forward to provide aid and comfort. When two of their own medical personnel became infected with Ebola, Samaritan s Purse, led by Franklin Graham, sprang into action to attempt the impossible transport and cure. With only faith and determination, this is the story of how a committed team moved mountains to make way for a miracle. Following this moving story, audiences will hear from Samaritan s Purse President, Franklin Graham, and Dr. Kent Brantly, the first American to survive Ebola, regarding their time in Africa, the organization s mission, and their lives since the high drama of the epidemic.

6 MISSION MONDAY SAVE THE DATE: APRIL 28 TH, 29 TH & 30 TH WE NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE!! Highlands United Methodist Church 1955 Broward Rd., Jacksonville, Florida Phone: (904) Web: humcjax.com