JUNE 2016

www.highlandsucc.org 1910 Saint Paris Pike

highlandsucc@sbcglobal.net Springfield, Ohio 45504-1206

937-399-7493

From the Pastor…

Last month, Cecelia and I went to La Comedia to see Fiddler on the Roof. As you may recall, the very first song of the play sung by the lead character, Tevye, is Tradition. This song recalls his attempts to maintain his Jewish religious and cultural traditions as outside influences encroach upon his family's lives. I was reflecting on some of our own family and spiritual traditions. We read—a lot! We pray before meals, even when we eat out. We give thanks for our family and for God’s provision from time to time. I regularly read the Bible and try to love my neighbor. However, I was reminded that some of my spiritual traditions are not quite so firmly grounded. Outside influences somehow seem to get in the way.

Recently, I have been re-reading a book, An Altar in the World, by Rev. Barbara Brown Taylor, an Episcopal priest who is now a college professor at a small North Georgia college. As I recalled my own spiritual traditions, I realized that sometimes (maybe many times) I struggle with how to pray. But, apparently I’m in good company. Taylor, a theologian and one of the recognized outstanding preachers in the U.S. also struggles; so I take some comfort that I am not in the boat by myself. “I am a failure at prayer,” she confesses in this book. “To say I love God but I do not pray much is like saying I love life but I do not breathe much.” Now there’s a woman after my own heart. Often times, I find myself like Anne Lamott who observes that we are often reduced to two prayers—“Help me! Help me! Help me!” and “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”, with no more concern for connecting with God or the Holy Spirit than getting through the immediate circumstance.

Every once in a while, as I have observed though, prayer overtakes me and I am overwhelmed with a powerful, transcendent presence. As Rev. Taylor observes, most of the time, we find a more immediate sense of God in paying attention — as we go about our daily routines, particularly if we leave room for the spirit to enter. Have you ever stopped to notice the moon, round and full “like the wide iris of God’s own eye”, as Taylor describes it? One of my favorite singers Peter Mayer, describes in his song “Holy Now” a spirituality of the everyday, of finding the Holy in the feeding of the cats and the dogs, in being with family and friends, in talking with a perfect stranger. These are Holy places that we don’t normally associate with the Holy. Taylor suggests that, instead of waiting for God to answer our prayers, we wake up to the fact that our lives are the very answer to the question we ask. The sacred is right there in plain sight and always has been. Our daily actions can become our prayers.

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Jacob's experience of angels going up and down the ladder while he sleeps, suggests that God can drop a ladder anywhere, so to speak; in the middle of a wilderness, or even in Beavercreek or Springfield, Ohio. Where do we find the sacred? Do we connect with God in the everyday mundane activities of life? Do we recognize the sacred in plain sight? Do our daily actions become our prayers?

This week I planted tomatoes—a springtime tradition. There is nothing like fresh home-grown tomatoes—so plump, so juicy, so sweet--fresh from the garden and into a tomato sandwich at lunch or a salad for dinner on a hot summer day. It’s a religious experience like no other. God is fully present, I am fully present and paying attention, and I give thanks for that tomato.

Blessings as you encounter the Holy in unexpected places.

Peace and grace,

Time to renew your participation in the Kroger Community Rewards Program

Go on-line to: www.krogercommunityrewards.com. Follow the prompts to update

your enrollment.

Highlands NPO number is 82186

If you have a Kroger Plus card and have not enrolled in the program, you can go on-line and apply at the address above.

RELAY FOR LIFE

Friday, June 10, 6:00 P.M.—Midnight We have a team organized to raise funds for Relay for Life. Relay for Life is an opportunity to unite as a community to honor cancer survivors, to learn what we can do to reduce cancer risk, and to raise money to help the American Cancer Society fight the disease. Luminaries can be purchased in honor or memory of someone who has cancer. Forms are available on the table in the narthex. Give to Betty Mougey and she will turn them in. We are planning to sell walking tacos at the event. We will have walkers on the track Friday evening. How wonderful if Highlands could have someone on the track the entire time. Please sign up for a time to walk. If you cannot walk, come and sit and visit and be a part of this important event. This is just one more good thing Highlands does in our community.

Highlands’ Leadership

Pastor: Rev. Avery Sledge

Church Officers: Pam Dixon-Moderator Jan Kushmaul-Vice Moderator

Linda Owens-Treasurer

Worship Helpers for June

Greeter Liturgist Barbara Romaca June 5 Dixie Jenkins June 12 Pam Dixon June 19 Barbara Romaca June 26 Ushers Sound System Kathy Howard Fellowship hour

Ushers and Greeter needed Please consider being an usher or greeter in June. The sign-up sheet is on the table in the narthex.

See where you can be of service and give glory to God by serving during worship.

Sign-up on the table in the narthex.

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Pastor’s Office Hours

Monday and Thursday 9:00 a.m.—12:00 noon Wednesday 12:00 noon—3:00 p.m. You can reach Pastor Avery in the church office during these hours or at 937-429-1536.

A Safe Zone Outside the pastor’s 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!

Springfield Celebrates PRIDE Month! On Saturday, June 11, Equality Springfield will celebrate PRIDE month on the City Hall Plaza in downtown Springfield. Beginning at 12:00 noon and running to 4:00 p.m., there will be food, entertainment, local celebrity speakers, and opportunities to showcase all the ways Springfield supports its gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities. Highlands will be present with materials that show our welcome and support of all God’s creation. We need a few people to attend the event and represent Highlands United Church of Christ. A sign-up sheet is on the table in the narthex.

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

highlandsucc@sbcglobal.net.

Highlands Looks to the Future!

Your Futures Team continues to work on ways to keep Highlands’ mission alive in Springfield and Clark County. We will be part of the Relay for Life event on Friday, June 10, at the Clark County Fairgrounds. We will participate in the Second Annual PRIDE month celebration on the Springfield City Hall Plaza on Saturday, June 11. We begin preparations for the Clark County Fair Ministry by preparing the building on Thursday, June 16. See the articles in this newsletter for details. The Team is in the process of collecting information necessary to the planning for the future. This takes time. We have that time. We are financially able to maintain current activities, worship, community involvement, donations to the ministries we have chosen to support, and care of those in need. If you have suggestions, questions, or ideas, contact a member of the Team and make your voice heard, Jan Kushmaul, Kathy Howard, Dixie Jenkins, Millie McNeal, Linda Owens, Flo Keaton, Sandy Ryon, or contact Pastor Avery or Moderator, Pam Dixon.

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Clark County

Fair

Save these dates!

July 22—29

Getting ready! Clean up day is Thursday, June 16, starting at 6:00 p.m. All hands are needed. Meat prep will be July 12 & 13 from 8:00 a.m. to noon. Supplies arrive on Tuesday, July 19, salad prep is Thursday, July 21, and Fair starts Friday, July 22.

These are very important dates to put on your calendar! We will need all of your help to get this big job accomplished. What a wonderful way to serve the community and help the church with its one big money making activity, not to mention we will enjoy some wonderful fellowship time!!

Justice and Peace Wall The wall in the narthex under the picture has been made into a Justice and Peace Wall. The justice and peace activities that Highlands is involved in are displayed on the table where those entering the church can see them. Check it out to see how you can be part of the Justice and Peace Ministry of Highlands United Church of Christ.

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 creates a caring, value-based environment while providing safe boundaries and opportunities for children to grow developmentally with structured learning activities.

Krista Yost, Admin/Owner & Kelly Stewart, Owner 399-2444

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Highlands United Church of Christ is pleased to have this high-quality pre-school/day care program in our facility. We hear high praise from parents whose children attend.

Trustees of Highlands

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Box Tops for Oesterlen Services for Youth Highlands continues to collect box tops and bar codes from certain products for Oesterlen. In April, we delivered 128 items worth 10 cents each. We received a nice note of thanks. Thank you for saving and bringing these box tops and bar codes! Names of products that have box tops and bar codes are listed on the Community Bulletin Board outside the window to the kitchen in the fellowship hall.

Recycle at Highlands!

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 Road.

Household hazardous waste is collected for a fee of $1.00 per pound at the West Main Street location 9:00 a.m. to noon on the First Saturday

of March, April, June, August and October. More information is posted outside the kitchen door.

Items donated to the Open Hands Free Stores’ food pantry in May!!

Sixty-three (63) items were brought in during May including meats, peanut butter, soup, veggies, fruit, pasta, sauce, and cleaning supplies. Thank you for your continuing to feed the hungry “For as much as you have done it for the least of these, you did it for me.” Matt. 25:40.

Bring your food donations in during the week between 6:00 and 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 and 5:30 p.m. At other times, the doors are locked and the door bell for Kids World can be rung. Please place items in the grocery cart inside the entry to the sanctuary.

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Dinner and Concert

June 4, 2016

Trinity UCC, Fairborn presents Dinner at 6:00 pm

Concert by Joe Saksa, Jr. at 7:30 pm

Tickets: dinner $8.50 in advance 9.00 at the door

Concert only: $5.00

Trinity United Church of Christ, 821 N. Central Ave., Fairborn For tickets and information contact:

Lee Naragon bnlnaragon@gmail.com or 937-879-2568

Items for Interfaith Hospitality Network are still being collected

Highlands Church collects items for Interfaith Hospitality Network. We have a box in the narthex under the

table. In May, we collected 24 items including pasta and sauce, toiletries, hygiene products, vitamins, manicure kit, and baby lotion.. 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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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 God’s 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

Return Service Requested

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