October 2014 Outreach

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October 2014

www.highlandsucc.com 1910 Saint Paris [email protected] Springfield, Ohio 45504-1206

937-399-7493

rom the Pastor

Its hard to believe, but I have served with you for over a year now. It seems like only a few short weeksago that I came to be with you and walk with you. Thank you for all your help and patience as youtaught me the rhythms of Highlands UCC.

Time does have a way of moving along quicklyand when we are busy and engaged with what seemslike exhausting schedules, many responsibilities, and critical decisions, we often long for a place of quietrestperhaps a worship setting that will refill our spirits and revitalize our souls. Sometimes thishappens during regular worship through joining our voices in song and hearing the Word preached.Sometimes perhaps we long for a more still and reflective setting.

We offer quarterly Taiz services which is one way to hear Gods voice in our hearts and to connect with

our spiritual center. Contemplation allows us to move into a rhythm of prayer and communion with Godbefore going out to engage the world in our ministries.

One doesnt need any special skills or knowledge to participate in contemplation. Contemplationsimply implies a desire to seek God and to be open to however God might choose to move within us.Contemplative worship increases our love and closeness to Godfalling deeply in love with the Onewho loves us without condition.

The weekend of October 24th-26thwe will partner with other congregations to offer a weekend to explorediffering ways of connecting with God through contemplation. The weekend will offer a chance toexplore contemplative practices with Carl McColman who leads workshops and retreats world-wide.You will be offered an opportunity to walk a labyrinth and the weekend will conclude with a Taiz

worship service at Highlands. This promises to be an exciting weekend as we join with other Christiansin Springfield in learning and worship. I invite and encourage you to take a break from the busy-ness oflife and attend as much of the contemplative weekend as you can. You will be blessed!


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Highlands Leadership

Pastor: Rev. Avery Sledge

Church Officers: Pam DixonModeratorJan KushmaulVice ModeratorLinda OwensTreasurer

Office Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday,Thursday, Friday9:00 a.m.12:00 noon

Blessing of the Animals

Saturday, October 4, 2014 at 10:30 a.m.

Come and join us for the blessing of the animals!

Bring your pet, yourself, your children, and a friend.

In the shelter House at the rear ofHighlands United Church of Christ1910 St. Paris PikeSpringfield, Ohio 45504

We invite one and all to a service of blessing to all.

Pastors Office Hours

Monday and Thursday 9:00 a.m.12:00 noonWednesday 12:00 noon3:00 p.m.

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

Clean up Time at Highlands

Outside clean-up is scheduled for Saturday, October 11, 2014, from 9:00 a.m.

to 12:00 noon. We will:

Check yard for dead trees, bushes, and plants and remove them.

Check for weeds along the fence rows and remove them.

Clear the fire ring near the shelter house.

Check the play equipment on the playground for safety.

Collect debris near parking lot ready for removal.


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hildrens Sabbath

Sunday, October 19, is a Sunday we focus onchildren. Jesus had much to say about theimportance of children at a time when children

were not considered of much importance at all.

We now recognize that the way we interact withour children has a lot to do with the adults theybecome. They are not empty slates on which wewrite our plan for their lives. They come into theworld with a personality and a temperament thatplays a part in how they learn and respond to theworld around them.

Let the children come unto me, Jesus said. Fortheirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. WOW! You

cant get any more important than that.

FALL HARVEST FESTIVAL

Highlands Church and KidsWorld

Saturday October 25th

12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Hot Dogs, Chips, Beverages Pumpkin PaintingCookie Decorating

Games & Candy

Picture Taking with Costumes Crafts

Children of all ages from Springfield and Clark County welcome.


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Fall Sale Aids Missions

Highlands Annual Fall Sale brought

$50.00 into the scholarship fund from

the Book Sale. As noted below,

$130.00 was raised through food sales.

Another $464.00 will go toward the

support of Highlands ministries

including worship opportunities and

community outreach. Total from the

Annual Sale $644.00.

Highlands helps Open Hands Free Store Pantry

Highlands Church gave a big boost to the Open Hands FoodPantry through food sales at the Annual Fall Sale. $130.00 wasraised through the bake sale and snack bar.

We continue to fill the Food Cart in the narthex at the church with food and nonper-ishable items such as paper towels and toilet paper. These are taken each month tothe Open Hands Free Store in the Southern Village Shopping Center. You may dropoff items between 6:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

This is one of the ways we meet our mission to feed the hungry.

Kroger Community RewardsProgram

Thank you to each of you who has registeredyour Kroger Plus card and named Highlands

as your charitable organization. You havealready begun earning funds for Highlands.

If you have not yet registered your card, andyou are not sure how to do it, please call Jan

Kushmaul at 206-1005. She can walk youthrough the process.

The September 2014Childrens Noisy

Collectiontotaled $32.50!!

Noisy Collection is the second Sunday ofeach month. $100 of the contributions you

have made during these col-lections this year go to OnThe Rise, a ministry thathelps children and youth meettheir potential through workwith animals and plants..

Next noisy collection will be October 12.

Semper Fidelis

Meeting

Date: Wednesday, October 8, 2014Time: 7:00 p.m.Hostess: The class

Devotions: Millie McNealRoll Call: Hebrews 13:15

Everyone welcome, come join our group!

Semper Fidelis will serve a meal on Tuesday, Oct. 14,at 6:00 p.m. The meal served on Sept. 8 brought in$290 for Highlands ministries.


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Highlands Hires Musician

Highlands is pleased to announce the employ-ment of a new organist/pianist beginningOctober 1st.

Alan Gagnon is a graduate of the Universityof Kansas in organ performance.. He alsoplays the viola and has led choral groups.

Alan has played for us several times prior tohis hiring, so he is not a stranger to us.

Please welcome Alan to the staff at Highlandswith your attendance at our worship services.

SONKA Gathering

November 1, 2014, the churches ofSONKA will gather at First United Churchof Christ, 120 S. Market St., Troy, Ohio

This is a business meeting where we willvote on a new Constitution & new officers,celebrate the ministries of SONKA &ordination anniversaries, and worship withjoy, gratitude, and grace.

Registration can be made on-line. If you areinterested in attending, tell Pastor Avery orModerator, Pam Dixon.

Registration is paid by the church.

Are you looking for quality child care?

Check out Kids World located at Highlands Church, 1910 St. Paris Pike. Krista orKelly will be happy to answer all your questions. Kids Worldprovides a warm, caring environment that helps children growphysically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually.

937-399-2444

Equality Springfield Continues Film Series

The third of the three events in the 2014 LGBT Documentary filmseries will take place Thursday, October 23, at 7:00 p.m. in the Cinema5 theater at the Upper Valley Mall.

Highlands United Church of Christ is a co-sponsor of the series and has5 tickets to give free to anyone who wishes to attend. Tickets can alsobe purchased at the door for $5.00.

People For Safe Water

Highlands supports efforts to keep our water supply safe. People For Safe Water are community leadersworking to have the hazardous waste now stored in the Tremont City Barrel Fill removed from the areaclose to the Springfield wells and taken elsewhere. Highlands assists this effort by providing a meetingplace for the Planning Committee. The third Thursday of each month, this group gathers to plan thestrategy to press the United States Environmental Protection Agency to clean up the hazardous waste soit will not jeopardize the water supply in the southwest section of Ohio. Lets all work together to keepour water clean.


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Fellowship

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Diaconate

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A Retreat for All SoulsAn invitation to deepen your spiritual life

Friday, Oct. 24Hallowed Eve.An Introducon to Chrisan Contemplave Pracce.

(5:30 Labyrinth open) 6:30-9:00 p.m. First Baptist Church (FBC), 638 South Fountain Ave.

Saturday, Oct. 25Sacred Morning Praying with the Saints

Learning to sit with God and Deepening our Spiritual Pracce.8:30 a.m.12 Noon First Baptist Church (FBC), 638 South Fountain Ave.

Sunday, Oct. 26Gathering All Souls

Learning from the Celts, Praying in Nature, Taize Worship for

Chrisan Unity and Fellowship Meal. Bring food to share.3:00-6:30 p.m. Highlands United Church of Christ (HUCC), 1910 St. Paris Pike.

Other optional events.

Saturday -12:30-2:30 p.m. Harvest Fesval, includes lunch at HUCC

4:00-6:00 p.m. South Fountain Preservaon Associaon Fesval at FBC

Sunday-10:00 a.m.Contemplave Worship at FBC with Carl McColman

& Pastor Ken Whitt

11:00 a.m. Adult Forum with Carl McColman at FBC

Sponsors/Promoters: Christ Episcopal Church, First Baptist Church & Highlands United Church of ChriPromoters: Champion City Vineyard, High Street United Methodist Church, St. Raphael Catholic ChurchSt. Teresa Catholic Church, Wittenberg Lutheran Campus Ministry

Carl McColman is the author of The Big Book of Christian Mysticism andAnswering the Contemplative Call, as well as apopular website and blog. He lives in Atlanta, GA and is the member of the Lay Cistercians of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit a contemplative community under the spiritual guidance of Trappist monks. Carl frequently leads workshops and retreats ocontemplative spirituality at churches, seminaries, monasteries and retreat centers. As a speaker, he is noted for his warm, down-to-earth style; his sense of humor and conviction that so -called serious topics

like mysticism and meditation can be fun and whimsical; and his ability to make complex topics accessible to everyone.Read more about him at www.carlmccolman.com.and www.patheos.com/blogs/carlmccolman

Registration Fee: $25. Scholarships available if you need nancial assistance to aend.Registration Deadline: Monday, October 21.Name __________________________________ Address: ________________________ City/State/Zip ____________________Phone __________________________________ Email __________________________ Church _____________________________ Enclosed is $25 for my registration fee. (Make check payable to: Highlands United Church of Christ). ___ I would like to apply for a scholarship of _____ (amount) because: ________________________________________.

Please mail in your application to: Carl McColman Retreat, c/o Highlands United Church of Christ, 1910 St. Paris Pike, Springfield,

Ohio 45504 or give it to Jan Kushmaul, Debbie Copeland or Nancy Flinchbaugh. For more informaon : Email: Jan Kushmaul

([email protected]) or Phone: Nancy Flinchbaugh (937.206.0265).
http://www.carlmccolman.com/http://www.carlmccolman.com/http://www.carlmccolman.com/


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Highlands United Church of Christ1910 Saint Paris Pike Springfield, Ohio 45504

www.highlandsucc.com

Return Service Requested

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 inChrist's gospel of unconditional love. We joyfully welcome into full participation, membership, andleadership of this congregation persons of every race, language, age, gender identity and expression, sex-ual orientation, physical or mental ability, economic or marital status, and faith background. We affirmand celebrate all loving, committed relationships affirming that all families defined by love are blessed."

Adopted by the congregation January 13, 2013

Documents

October 2014 Outreach