Worship with us! Palm Sunday at 10am, Maundy Thursday at 7pm, and an Easter Sunday service at 10am.

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1 HIGHLANDS ARP CHURCH HIGHLANDS HIGHLIGHTS April, 2017 Volume XIII, Issue IV SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST: > April 1 Church work day 9am > April 9 Palm Sunday, puppet show 11am, 11:15 Deacon meeting > April 10 Soup nite 47pm > April 13 Maundy Thursday communion service 7pm Worship with us! Palm Sunday at 10am, Maundy Thursday at 7pm, and an Easter Sunday service at 10am. > April 15 Bunny Brunch 10:30am > April 16 Easter Breakfast 9am > April 21 College & career games 9am > April 24 soup nite 47pm > April 29 Grayson day 10am-4pm INSIDE ISSUE: THIS From the Pastor 2 Young family Minis- 3 try Missions 4 Youth 5 Join us at the table Easter Morning for a time of food and fellowship as we celebrate our Risen Savior! All donations go to support the Youth Summer Mission Trip. WELCOME MMO 6 College & Career 7 Memorials 8-9 Up coming Events 10- NEW MEMBERS to Highlands. The Jones family Joined Highlands on February 26th by reaffirmation of faith. Their Children Ryeland age 8 and Keegan age 1 were baptized on the 26th. Jon was in the Navy from 2001 to His favorite Hymn is Amazing Grace. Jon en- joys Mt biking, video/board games and fishing. Bre s favorite hymn is On Eagles Wings. She enjoys crafts, baking, cooking and reading. They have a sweet dog named Indy Anna. Please welcome the Jones family

2 H I G H L A N D S H I G H L I G H T S Page 2 From the Pastor After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:3 NIV) For most of us in the Christian Church today we often assume that after the resurrection Jesus went immediately, or if not immediately then within a day or so, to heaven. However, as we see in the text from the Book of Acts Jesus carried on with His earthly ministry for a period of 40 days following His resurrection from the dead. The question then is what did He do during those forty days? Well, Jesus appeared to the disciples on at least four recorded occasions and prepared them for the task to which He had called them, that of telling the good news that He, the Son of God, had come to save His people. He did this by demonstrating He was God by simply appearing within locked rooms in their midst. He displayed his wounds and doubting Thomas put his finger into the nail hole of Jesus's hand and his hand into the wound in Jesus's side. On an occasion that is reported in 1 Corinthians 15, He appeared to over 500 of the brethren at one time. We re also told that it was during this time that Jesus appeared to His half-brother, James, who had not up to this point embraced Jesus as the true Messiah the one promised to free Israel from their captivity to sin. It appears it was this post resurrection appearance that convinced James to believe and set him on the path to become a leader in the Christian Church and a writer of the epistle that bears his name. Another time after the apostles had fished all night without a single catch, Jesus gave them a miraculous catch of fish so large the apostles were amazed the nets didn't tear. Then after Jesus had prepared a breakfast for the disciples, He asked Peter, the one who denied him three times, to publicly declare his love for Him three times thus restoring Peter to fellowship with Himself (John 21:15-17). He also went on to instruct Peter that he was to feed and take care of His people. It also appears that Jesus taught the apostles during His 40 days on earth after the resurrection showing them how He had fulfilled the Old Testament scriptures about Himself as evidenced in the story of the two men on the road to Emmaus which is recorded in Luke 24. Jesus gave the apostles the Great Commission during this time. He told them to go into the entire world preaching the Good News and making disciples of all nations. (Matthew 28:19) He also instructed them to wait together in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit to empower them. The last thing Jesus said (Acts 1:8-9) to the apostles was, "...you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. There were many convincing proofs of Jesus s resurrection as He continued His earthly ministry for 40 days. And although we don t have a complete record of everything He did, the Apostle John tells us that these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name (John 20:31 NIV). Pastor Mark

3 Page 3 VOLUME XIII, ISSUE IV March Play Date Sunday School & Wednesday Nights! The students are learning verses each week at Sunday School and on Wednesday nights. This past month two students were struggling to get along. They were told to work it out. A few minutes later, one of the students came back with understanding in her eyes as she said, "Make every effort to live in peace!" This was the Bible verse they had learned about the previous week, and she realized that was what they were asked to do! Consider having your children or grandchildren attend so they can learn Bible verses and truths that will change their lives

4 HIGHLANDS HIGHLIGHTS Page 4 The Cochran Family, Michael, Laura, and Fox, will be joining us on Sunday, April 2 during the Sunday School hour to share with us their new ministry in Wales. They are missionaries with World Witness, and it is their desire to be involved with International Church Planting. The Cochran s are currently at Huntersville ARP church in North Carolina before they head overseas this summer. Support the Youth in their Summer Mission Trip to Widows Ministry! Easter Breakfast Sunday, April 16 at 9am Grayson Day Booth Saturday, April

5 Page 5 VOLUME XIII, ISSUE IV March was an awesome month for the youth! The biggest thing we did was attend the Middle School Retreat at Bonclarken. Rev. Matt Miller gave an amazing series of talks on the Lord s prayer and challenged us in many ways! The youth that attended had a great time and are looking forward to going in the fall. They also attended seminars on apologetics, temptation, and contentment. I was able to teach a seminar on controlling your tongue. We also participated in Soup Nite, and had a great time helping serve some delicious food. During Sunday School we have continued our Study of the Gospel of John, and on Wednesday nights we have been looking at justification, adoption, and sanctification! No Youth Group April 5 and 12 Bunny Brunch April 15 Easter Breakfast April 16 Nerfs & Waffles April 19 Grayson Day April 29 Braves Game May 6 Cookout May 24

6 HIGHLANDS HIGHLIGHTS Page 6 Highlands MMO & Preschool April Theme: Transportation This month we will be learning about Transportation! We will be talking about planes, trains, cars, bicycles, and more! We will be talking about safety, and the importance of always wearing your helmet when you ride your bike or scooter. We will also be learning about the first Easter and having an Easter Celebration on April 14th. Tupperware Fundraiser: We will host a Tupperware party on Tuesday, April 25th. Products can also be ordered by catalog before the party. Consider making a purchase and support the MMO & Preschool Program. See Bonnie or Lea for more information. We are now taking registrations for the school year. Thanks for telling your family and friends!

7 Page 7 VOLUME XIII, ISSUE IV The College and Career group had a wonderful time of fun and fellowship at K1 Speed Go Kart

8 H I G H L A N D S H I G H L I G H T S Page 8 MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR PAT ROBERTS Patricia Irene Grunwald Roberts, age 80, of Grayson Passed away on Tuesday, February 21, She was born on May 10, 1936 in Brooklyn, NY and was the daughter of the late Emil Grunwald and the late Louise Holly Grunwald. Patricia graduated from John Adams High School before moving to Atlanta in She was employed at Sinclair Oil Company where she met Charles Roberts. They were Married on December 21, Patricia was a devoted wife of 60 years, loving mother and grandmother. She loved her Highlands Presbyterian Church family, dancing, antique shopping, and restoring antique dolls and toys. She was an animal lover and cherished her Boston Terriers. She enjoyed being a homemaker and gardening, loved to laugh and Christmas was her favorite time of year. Patricia is survived by her loving husband, Charles Roberts of Grayson, daughter and sonin-law, Cheryl & Van Cowan of Grayson; son, Charles Roberts, Jr.; and granddaughter and husband, Lindsay and Blake Bridges of Alpharetta. Thank you for the visits, cards, and meals prepared during Mom's illness and at our time of loss. Your kindness and concern for our family means so much to us. Mom held her church family near and dear to her heart, and it especially lightened her spirits when she received visits and cards. We are truly blessed to have wonderful friends like you and are thankful for your love and support during this difficult time in our lives. Love, Charles, Cheryl, Van, Lindsay and Blake

9 Page 9 V O L U M E X I I I, I S S U E I V MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR EMILIE WINGFIELD Born Martha Emilie Cole at her paternal grandmother's house on Hill street in Atlanta to Joseph Forrest and Willie Thrasher Cole, Emilie was named after her grandmother. She was baptized as an infant into the Highland's Presbyterian Church (formerly First ARP Church of Atlanta) where she worked tirelessly in the Woman of the Church Ministry, Children's Ministry, Choir, Diaconate, and most memorably in the kitchen. For many years she served her Savior by serving others. Wednesday night would always find Emilie setting up tables, heating rolls, and making her famous sweet tea. As a youth, she lived near Peachtree Street and would take the streetcar to school. Later in her childhood, she and her family moved to the Morningside neighborhood and she attended Girls High School of Atlanta. During the summers, she worked at the Bonclarken Assembly, the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church Conference Center. After high school, she attended Atlanta Business College and worked alongside her father at Eastman Kodak in Atlanta. She met her husband of 56 years while he was a student at Georgia Institute of Technology. She had four daughters and was the most dedicated and loving wife and mother imaginable. She instilled in her daughters a love for family. She truly had a God given talent for motherhood. She also worked diligently alongside her husband as he built his business that would provide blessings for their family and their church. She would work filling orders while her children were at school and after her children were in bed, she worked long into the night doing the accounting for the business. As the grandchildren came and the business grew, she was able to retire to being "Gaga". And what a devoted Gaga she was. She provided full time childcare for her grandchildren as they came along. She took great pride in all her children, six grandchildren, and over the last ten years, her six great grandchildren. She always loved the babies! And Gaga's babies were always "so smart for their age!" Whether they were succeeding or failing, her love was never ending. Every night, she would read her bible and pray for each of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren by name. And God answered those prayers! She loved to travel and visit family. She took 3 daughters to see the country in 1978 driving from Georgia to California and back. She particularly liked to go to Branson, MO and see the shows and take in the sites. She took great joy and had a special place in her heart for the group, "The Lennon Sisters" who couldn't help but love her back. That's just how she was. For 95 years, she devoted her life to her Savior, her church, her parents, her siblings, her husband, children, grandchildren, great- grandchildren, nieces, nephews and many friends. She had an uncanny ability to make everyone feel important and that they were part of her family. We praise God for the gift we all received by knowing and being loved by Emilie Wingfield.

10 H I G H L A N D S H I G H L I G H T S Page 10 Below is a message found on Emilie Wingfields IPAD: "My name is Emilie Cole Wingfield and I may well be the oldest lifelong member of Highland ARP Church. I will celebrate my 94th birthday on September 9th of this year, When the church was being built on Highland Avenue in Atlanta, the congregation was meeting in a store at Virginia Avenue and Highland Ave. At the time it was know as the First A.R.P. Church of Atlanta. It was in that store I was baptized as an infant by Dr. C.B. Williams, our minister. My first real recollections of my Sabbath School was the kindergarten. My teacher was "Miss Minnie". We were all crazy about her and my little sister and I would play Church and I would be Miss Minnie. That began my years of Sabbath School. I went on through all the classes and attended the YPCU, incidentally, the youth advisers at the time were George, Sr and Sarah O'Farrell and their little boy George, Jr. I attended the youth conferences at Bonclarken. As an adult, I attended S.S., women's ministry, kitchen duty, singing in the choir and teaching the toddler nursery. I really did become "Miss Minnie". I was involved with each move the church has made: the move to Stone Mountain and the move to Grayson. I have been blessed to have had many wonderful ministers through the years. I was one of the first women deacons of the church after our denomination voted to let women become deacons. Highlands, as the First A.R.P. church of Atlanta, had its first building on Whitehall Street in Atlanta. As the members began moving to the outskirts of the city, it was decided to move the church as well. That was when the building was built on Highland Avenue. My husband, Chandler, had been a Baptist, but joined the ARP denomination when we married. He became very active, becoming deacon, elder and then Elder Emeritus. He taught SS, was superintendent of S.S. and was active in all aspects of the church. He was on the committee to find a location in Grayson, and was on the building committee. I am blessed to have most all of my family still members of Highlands and so proud to say that my grandson Chris McCoy attended Erskine College and Seminary and is now youth Pastor at Highlands. God has blessed me greatly with such a wonderful church family here. I am unable to make it to church every Sunday but am so happy that I can be there by way of the great invention of the television and computer. I have lived to see so many inventions in my time. I pray that God will bless Highlands with many more years of service to our Lord and to the community of Grayson." Emilie Wingfield

11 Page 11 V O L U M E X I I I, I S S U E I V SENIOR LIVING MINISTRY OUTREACH Highlands spent a delightful afternoon with the residents of Magnolia Senior Living. The children came, read books, and brought joy and entertainment to all. The gospel was proclaimed through scriptures and hymns. Everyone had a great time. Grayson Day April 29th Please plan to help with this Out Reach Ministry at our booth in Grayson Park on Grayson Day Work, work, work Yes it is time to do some work at Highlands on Saturday, April 1 at 9 AM. As is our custom, we will be doing spring cleaning and other chores in preparation for Easter Services. Not only will the church be getting the usual thorough cleaning, we will be spreading pine straw, spraying weed killer, spreading mulch on the playground, and installing safety mats under the swings and slide. The Men of the Church will be purchasing the pine straw, mulch, and safety mats from the proceeds of the Fall BBQ sales. It takes a lot of effort to keep the building and grounds in good shape, and many of our members work behind the scenes to keep the building maintained. So please make an effort to come and help on April 1. Even if you are unable to physically do the work, we need some good supervisors, and we always enjoy the time of fellowship together with our brothers and sisters in Christ! PRAYER CORNER Please be in prayer for Emily Christopher in Hospice care. Highlands Missions Lee and Jerita Hunts granddaughter Cheyanne with health issues Doris McInnish health issues The Roberts family with the loss of Pat. Praise Carole Sexton s son Jonathan good CT reports Roger Waters healing of infection is his leg Anna Wimer health issues The Wingfiled family with the loss of Emilie, and prayer for their great Aunt Martie with health issues Bill & Kaity Wright s friend Gene Peerbolte health issues Martha Young recovering from heart valve surgery. The Emilie Wingfield Family would like to thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers, visits, memorials, flowers, cards and meals during our Mom's illness and her transition to her Heavenly home. Her strength was always in her relationship with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We know she is at peace and we will be reunited with her someday. We do thank all of Highlands family for your continued thoughts and prayers.

12 HIGHLANDS HIGHLIGHTS Looking for volunteers to help Page 12 Highlands Retreat at Bonclarken June 2 4 Save the Date! Vacation Bible School June GRADUATION Dear Highlands, After four years of prayers, learning and evolving, it is finally time! I will be graduating from The University of Georgia this coming May 5th in Sanford Stadium at 7:00 p.m. There will also be another graduation ceremony on April 27th at 10:00 a.m. at the Classic Center in Athens as well, that you are also invited to attend. I consider you all family and each one of you have been a part of this chapter in my life. I am extending this invitation to my entire Highlands family! I would love for you all to be there and experience this huge moment with me. Whether you come to one graduation, both or can't make either, I want to thank you for your constant support, prayers, goodie bags, hugs and smiles during this chapter in my life. Best, Omekah Edmondson

13 Page 13 V O L U M E X I I I, I S S U E I V Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 Church work day 9am 2 9:00 SS 10:00 Worship 3 4 Keri Ashe, Betty Reinhardt 7pm Ladies Bible Study 5 George O Farrell 6 7am Men's Prayer Breakfast John Avitabile 9:00 SS 10:00 Worship- Palm Sunday 11:00 Puppet Show, 11:15 Deacons meeting 16 Betty West 9:00 Easter Breakfast 10:00 Worship 10 MMO 4-7pm Soup Nite 11 MMO Elizabeth Gill 7pm Ladies Bible Study 17 MMO 18 MMO 7pm Ladies Bible Study 12 MMO 13 MMO 7am Men's Prayer Breakfast Maundy Thursday service 7pm 19 MMO Andrea Eklund, Lee Hunt, 6:30 Youth Nerfs & Waffles 7:00 Dinner 7:30 Bible Study 20 MMO 7am Men's Prayer Breakfast 7:30pm Session meeting Bunny Brunch 10:30am 21 9pm College & Career game and dessert 22 Charles Roberts 23 9:00 SS 10:00 Worship 24 MMO 4-7pm Soup Nite 25 MMO 7pm Ladies Bible Study 26 MMO 6:30 Youth 7:00 Dinner 7:30 Bible Study 27 MMO 7am Men's Prayer Breakfast 28 Theo Edmondson, Tyler Edmonds, Gail O Farrell 29 Grayson Day 10am-4pm 30 9:00 SS 10:00 Worship

14 Worship Times And Activities Sunday: Tuesday: Wednesday: 9:00 AM Sunday School for all Ages 9:10 AM Choir Practice 10:00 AM Worship 11:00 Bell Practice 7:00 PM Ladies Bible Study 6:30 PM Youth & Children fun and games 7:00 PM Dinner 7:30 PM Bible Study Important Phone Numbers (770) Phone (770) Fax Pastor: Associate Pastor: Music Director: Secretary : Mark Hornby Chris McCoy Bonnie Hornby Alexia Cundey Thursday: 7AM Men's Prayer Breakfast at Main Street Restaurant on Hwy 78 in Snellville Saturday: 9:00 AM Fellowship Breakfast (Periodically) 9:45 AM Highlands Men of the church & WOC meeting Highlands Highlights April, 2017 Newsletter CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED Candle Lighters: April 2 Nate Edmondson April 9 John Mark Avitabile April 16 Nate Edmondson April 23 John Mark Avitabile April 30 Nate Edmondson Warmly Welcoming our Members & Visitors each week: April 2 Frank Sexton, Stan Whitaker, Ricky Summers, Sal Macaluso April 9 Bob Statham, Rob Kuykendall, John Avitabile, Earl Thomas April 16 Robert Whittle, Bill Houston, Lee Hunt, George O Farrell April 23Paul McInnish, Glenn Martin, Charles Roberts, John West April 30 Bob Statham, Rob Kuykendall, John Avitabile, Earl Thomas