April 2015 Newsletter

APRIL 2015

www.highlandsucc.org 1910 Saint Paris Pike

[email protected] Springfield, Ohio 45504-1206

937-399-7493

From the Pastor The writer of Mark records that after Jesus resurrection, he charged the disciples to spread the gospel throughout the world. And he said to them, Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. Mark 16:15 (NRSV). Have you ever wondered about verses like this? What do they mean? Does it only charge English speaking churches to go into the world and share the good news? In January 2012, I was blessed to travel to Cuba to visit several congregations who live the gospel and share the gospel. I have been fortunate to know pastors from other countries including Kenya, the Ukraine, India and Thailand among others who shared the gospel. It seems that Gods love and Jesus gospel know no boundaries. The gospel can thrive anywhere at any time. On Monday, April 20th, at 1:30 p.m., we will be blessed to have co-pastors Beatrice (Bety) and Gustavo from the Shema Church in Havana visit us to tell us how they share the gospel and to hear how we share the gospel. The Shema Church is a house church (as are most Cuban congregations) and is affiliated with the Fraternity of Baptists. One of their missions is to share the good news of Gods love for those within the LGBT community in Havana. The name of Shema church comes from the Shema, a Jewish prayer which originates in Deuteronomy 6:4-9 which gives us the origins of the first great commandment the LORD our God, the LORD is one. And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And as Jesus says in Matthew 22:36-40, He [Jesus] said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Shema church, like Highlands extends Gods love and extravagant welcome to all people no matter who they are or their life journey. We truly are engaged in proclaiming the good news! Wont you join us on April 20th to visit with our friends from Cuba as we rejoice in our joint ministries and lift one another up in prayer and support? Blessings,

Highlands Leadership

Pastor: Rev. Avery Sledge Church Officers: Pam DixonModerator Jan KushmaulVice Moderator Linda OwensTreasurer Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 9:00 a.m.12:00 noon

Pastors Office Hours Monday and Thursday 9:00 a.m.12:00 noon Wednesday 12:00 noon3:00 p.m.

You can reach Pastor Avery in the church office during those hours or at 937-429-1536.

A Safe Zone Outside the pastors office is a sign that says, This is a SAFE ZONE. You can talk about anything here. The sign lists some of the many things you can discuss. Check it out.

Maundy Thursday

The Maundy Thursday service will be held on April 2nd at 6:00 p.m.. We will be joining South Vienna church again this year.

We will enjoy a light meal with scripture before moving into the sanctuary for the foot washing/hand washing service. This

service is a very moving and meaningful time.

Please attend if you can and renew your spiritual growth during this special season.

LIVING THE QUESTIONS The Adult Discussion Group continues a study of the Living the Questions series which explores Christianity through looking at how the Bible and our Christian life applies in the modern world. This is a video series and each week stands on its own so no advance reading is required. Speak-ers in this series include theologians Marcus Borg, Walter Brueggeman, and John Dominic Crossan. We will discuss how the Bible was written, how it came to be viewed as authority and how we can live our lives in this fast-paced and sometimes difficult world. Please grab a cup of coffee, tea, or hot cocoa, and join us for a lively discussion.

Blooming the Cross

We will celebrate Easter again on Sunday, April 5, at 10:30 a.m. with Blooming the Cross.

Bring a flower to bloom the cross on Easter Sunday. The flower can be live or

artificial. If you forget your flower, dont worry, we will have some extra available.

Christian Contemplative Retreat with the Earth

Saturday, April 25, 2015, 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon, all are invited to participate in a quiet morning on the nature trail behind the National Parks and Trials District office, 1300 Mitchell Blvd., Springfield. This is an opportunity to commune with nature as we care for the earth. We will pray, observe spring, and consider Gods marvelous creation as we assist in cleaning the walking trail.

There is no charge for this session, but you are welcome to bring a snack to share. Pease bring your own cup and plate to avoid waste. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes.

This contemplative event is co-sponsored by First Baptist Church of Springfield and Highlands United Church of Christ. For more information or to register, call First Baptist Church at 937-325-5537.

If Church is Canceled Is it snowing really hard? Is inclement weather forecast? Are schools, churches, and other places closing due to weather? Tune into these TV stations and watch for a notice of whether or not Highlands is also closing. WDTN, Channel 2 WKEF, Channel 22 WHIO, Channel 7

Worship Helpers for April Greeter: 5/12 Dixie Jenkins 5/26 Sandy Ryon Liturgist: Jan Kushmaul Ushers 5/26 Sandy Ryon Sound system: Kathy Howard Fellowship Hour: 5 EASTER 12 19 Sandy Ryon 26 Judy Rude The sign- up sheet for April, May, and June is on the table in the narthex. See where you can help; you will be glad you did. Thank you to each one who assists in worship. Helping those who come to church each Sunday is a very rewarding experience. Sharing hospitality with those who seek a safe place to express their faith provides much satisfaction to those who give as well as to those who receive. Greeting people as they enter the church, helping them during worship, and sharing food during fellowship time makes us a member of the body of Christ sharing Gods love with one another.

If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, please call 937-399-7493 and ask to have your name removed from the Outreach newsletter mailing list.

Boards Change Meeting Times The governing boards of Highlands United Church of Christ are holding their meetings on Sundays following the fellowship hour. Diaconate meets the first Sunday. Trustees meet the second Sunday. Council meets the third Sunday.

Dont Forget the Food Cart We collect food and non-perishable items for Open Hands Free Stores food pantry. In February, we donated 42 items. That was a month when we had to cancel two worship services. You can help feed the hungry by dropping off items to Highlands Church, 1910 St. Paris Pike, between the hours of 6:00 am and 5:30 pm. The grocery cart is inside the narthex. Come through the door under the covered walkway, turn right into the area

outside the office doors leading to the sanctuary and the stairs to the lower level.

The March 2015

Childrens Noisy Collection

totaled $41.00 As determined by the children of Highlands, donations have already been made to On the Rise in Clark County and The Heifer Project through Heifer International. A check has been made out to the Blanket Project through Church World Service and another will be sent to Project Jericho in Springfield. Noisy Collection is the second Sunday of each month. Next noisy collection will be April 12

Box Tops & Labels collected for Oesterlen Services for Youth A number of organizations collect BOX TOPS and food labels to raise funds for their non-profit agencies. Highlands re-ceived a plea from Oesterlen and we have responded. If you would like to help, a list of the items that are being collected is on the bulletin board in the fellowship hall outside the kitchen window. There are too many products to list. A can is located on the table in the narthex to place the box tops and labels. When we have collected a number of them, we will take them to Oesterlen.

Highlands continues to Recycle

Paper, plastic, metal, cardboard all are collected and taken to the recycling centers 1602 W. Main St. and between the Project Woman building and the Clark County Combined Health District building on East Home Rd.

Household hazardous waste is also collected for a fee of $1.00 per pound at the W. Main St. location on the first Sat. of these months: Apr.5, June 7, Aug. 2, and Oct. 4. More information is posted outside the kitchen door.

Kroger Community Rewards The Kroger Community Rewards Program has generated $157.89 during 2014. The more people who use their Kroger Plus cards and designate Highlands Church as their organization of choice, the more Community Rewards dollars the church will receive. Thanks to all who do.

Items for Interfaith Hospitality Network are being collected Some of the members of Highlands Church are collecting items for Interfaith Hospitality Network. We have a box in the narthex if you wish to join us in this effort. Once we have several items, we will take them to IHN. Here are a few things needed. Hygiene - such as bath, hair, and body products. Household - such as cleaning, storage, paper, products. Health care - such as ointment, band-aids, baby items, pain relievers, over the counter medications. A complete list is located on the Community News bulletin board in the fellowship hall outside the kitchen window.

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What does Highlands Stand For? One of the sentences in our Vision Statement reads Highlands United Church of Christ is called by God to set an Open Table for all who hunger. What do we mean by that? First and foremost, the Communion table at highlands is an open table where all are invited to partake of the bread and the cup. The pastor says each time communion is served, It is not our table, but Gods table where no one is excluded. Communion is served the first Sunday of every month and on significant days of the church calendar. Every Sunday, following worship, we meet together for a time of fellowship with a few snacks and once in a while, we hold a carry-in meal. We welcome all to the table every Sunday, no exceptions. In addition, Highlands welcomes all to the spiritual table where we worship each Sunday. Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness are invited to enter the sanctuary at Highlands to be nourished by the Spirit of the Living God. Once a quarter, Highlands holds a Service of Prayer for Christian Unity in the Taize style where all denominations and those without a church but who seek a closer relationship with God can come and worship in silence, scripture and song. During worship, participants are fed not only from the texts written centuries ago but from the writings and songs that come from contemporary witnesses to Gods inclusive Love. At a recent worship service we heard the Peter, Paul, and Mary song, Take the Chance performed by Peter Yarrow and Judy Collins. Highlands holds to the principle that God is still speaking if we only take the time to quiet ourselves and listen. Of course, Highlands is also known for the actual food that is provided to the community in a variety of ways. The food ministry at the Clark County Fairgrounds has been around since 1950 (65 years). We held our Annual Chili Sup-per in support of the Open Hands Food Pantry last month. The ladies cook meals for community groups. We take a meal to Interfaith Hospitality Networks shelter periodically. We are open to other opportunities to feed those who hunger. If you need a place to gather whether for your family or for a group you are with, call Highlands Church at 937-399-7493. We are happy to serve.

Kids World of Springfield KIDS WORLD of Springfield is a Christian Pre-School/Day Care with a mission of developing the whole child, keeping the love and nurturing of children as our top priority. KIDS WORLD will create a caring, value-based environment while providing safe boundaries and opportunities for children to grow develop-mentally with structured learning activities. Opening in 2005, ten years later, our mission is still going strong while also reaching out to the community. We have developed a relationship with Wittenberg University and our center is a site for Psychology and Education students who are able to observe children in all different developmental stages and conduct their Pre-School teaching practicum in our classrooms. We also enjoy working in collaboration with Highlands United Church of Christ to provide a Harvest Festival in the fall to our students and the community alike. KIDS WORLD is your family away from home so give us a call and check out our wonderful pre-school/day care program. Krista Yost, Admin/Owner & Kelly Stewart, Owner 399-2444.

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Highlands United Church of Christ 1910 Saint Paris Pike Springfield, Ohio 45504

www.highlandsucc.org

Mission Statement

Our Mission is to be the loving heart and healing hands of God in the world; we are a welcoming community of faith, seeking to accompany and support all

on their journey to Christ, and bearing authentic witness of Gods inclusive love as proclaimed through Jesus.

Highlands United Church of Christ, is called by God

To open doors for all who seek a safe place for their spiritual journey To extend extravagant hospitality To set an open table for all who hunger To provide sanctuary for all who seek forgiveness, reconciliation, and healing To do justice and pursue peace

Highlands Open and Affirming Statement

The worshipping family within the faith community of Highlands United Church of Christ believes in Christ's gospel of unconditional love. We joyfully welcome into full participation, membership, and leadership of this congregation persons of every race, language, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, economic or marital status, and faith background. We affirm and celebrate all loving, committed relationships affirming that all families defined by love are blessed." Adopted by the congregation January 13, 2013

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