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Highland Presbyterian Church seeks to be a diverse and inclusive Christian Community as we embody the love and forgiveness of Jesus by serving the Community and the World, drawing people to Christ. | |
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Highland Happening
March 24th, 2023
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Worship this Sunday
Join us for worship this Sunday, March 26th for the Fifth Sunday of Lent where the focus will be from the Gospel of John where Jesus hears of the death of his friend Lazarus and travels to Bethany to be with his sisters Mary and Martha. We will hear the famous and short verse, ‘Jesus wept’ and one of the most compassionate moments in Jesus’ ministry.
We are currently in the low risk category for covid transmission in Blount County and we will have no mask requirements this Sunday, March 26th
Watch the service live on our Facebook page at 10:30 am.
Pastor Matthew will be out of the office on Monday, March 27 and Tuesday, March 28 while attending the Maryville College’s Board of Church Visitors yearly gathering.
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Holy Week Schedule
Sunday, April 2 - April 9
Sunday, April 2 -On Palm Sunday the Liles will bring their llamas to the church for the annual tradition of walking around the property with our palms and songs before returning to the sanctuary for worship.
Thursday, April 6, 6:00 pm- Maundy Thursday/Good Friday service in the sanctuary with communion.
Sunday, April 9 - Men’s Easter Breakfast in the Fellowship Hall at 9:00 am before Easter Worship and then Easter Egg Hunt following worship.
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Presbytery Newsletter
Being Presbyterian means we are part of a connectional church. Our local governing body is the Presbytery of East Tennessee and at the link below you can read the weekly newsletter that provides updates to events and ministries that are happening all around us. You can also sign up to get the newsletter by going to the Presbytery’s website and going to the bottom of the homepage.
Newsletter link for week of March 20th.
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Session recap
On Sunday, March 12 the session of Highland gathered for our monthly meetings. It was agreed that we would go forward with the Men’s Easter breakfast and Easter Egg hunt and also decided that we would not do Easter lilies this year. Matthew updated on upcoming vacations and Sundays off (April 30, July 16 and 23). Matthew will also be the preacher at the Smoky Mountain Highland Games on Sunday, May 21 in Townsend. Minutes from previous session and congregational meetings were approved and an action item from B&G was approved to collect a special offering for roof repairs. Our session will meet next on Sunday, April 2nd.
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Free Little Neighborhood
Item of the Week
The item of the week is breakfast foods. Help us keep our boxes stocked with cereal, oatmeal, granola bars and more as we continue to help our neighbors. This is two weeks in a row for this ‘item’ but there are so many options that fit under this, so let’s see how much we can gather!
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Lenten Study and Dinner
Wednesdays March 1-April 12
Join us this Lent for a book study and dinner as we read through the devotional Meeting Jesus at the Table that reflects on Jesus gathering with people around tables and we enjoy a meal together. We will gather in the fellowship hall on Wednesdays from 5:30-6:00 p.m. for appetizers and fellowship and 6:00-7:00 p.m. to discuss that week’s reading and eat dinner together. Study goes Wednesday, March 1 through Wednesday April 12. Books are still available for $20.
Read an excerpt from Meeting Jesus at the Table
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Spring Clean Day and Manure Sale
Saturday, March 25th
Join the Building and Grounds Committee for a Spring Cleaning Day at Highland Saturday, March 25th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. We will have projects inside and outside and we plan to meet rain or shine.
The Sustainability Committee will also host a manure sale from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm for home gardeners to purchase bags of aged horse manure. The sale will take place at the top of the parking lot and we ask everyone to enter from Jones Ave and exit to Lamar Alexander.
We will have coffee and snacks at the church and the to-do list of what needs to be cleaned and organized is pretty long. Come out for a fun day and help us get our beautiful church ready for a big year ahead!
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Cummings Conversations at Maryville College
March 27 & 28
Held annually at the College since 1877, the Margaret M. Cummings Conversations on Faith, Learning, and Service, renamed in 2019 and formerly known as “February Meetings” have offered Maryville College and local community an opportunity to come together to consider questions of faith and responsible living in the world.
Theme for 2023
The Good News of Neuroscience: Faith and the Brain for a Better You and a Better World!
Monday March 27, 7 p.m., Ronald and Lynda Nutt Theatre in the Clayton Center for the Arts, “Brains, Bodies, Beliefs and Behavior”
Tuesday March 28, 1 p.m., Ronald and Lynda Nutt Theatre, “A Brain Technique for Speaking Without Notes and Acing Every Exam!”
Tuesday, March 28, 7 p.m., Ronald and Lynda Nutt Theatre, “Brain Secrets for Exercising Your Mind, Your Body and Your Faith for a Complete and Fulfilling Life”
The lectures are free and open to the public.
Learn more by following this link.
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Presbyterian Women in the Presbytery of East Tennessee (PWPET)
The March e-newsletter of the Presbyterian Women of the Presbytery of East Tennessee is here! It can be viewed by following this link.
Check it out! There is headline news about Eusebia Presbyterian Church, World Water Day, PW-PET’s Spring Gathering, PW’s report from the last Presbytery Meeting and much more!
Highland’s Circle of Presbyterian Women will continue its Bible Study of Lesson 7, “Sabbath and Self-Care”, on Thursday, April 6 at 1:30 pm in the Church parlor. For more info, contact moderator Diane Brown at dianebrowntn@gmail.com
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One Great Hour of Sharing
On Easter Sunday we will officially collect the first PCUSA Special Offering of the year, the One Great Hour of Sharing offering. The three programs supported by One Great Hour of Sharing - Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the Presbyterian Hunger Program, and Self-Development of People - all work in different ways to serve individuals and communities in need. From initial disaster response to ongoing community development, their work fits together to provide people with safety, sustenance, and hope.
Learn more about this offering’s impact at this link.
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Habitat Build
Blount Habitat for Humanity’s first house build in 2023 is the Faith Build. Area churches, including Highland, have come together to fund the construction. All the churches involved are invited to come out and pound nails, wield paint brushes, supply lunches, or just fellowship.
The house is one of 20 that will be built (5 already completed) on Spurlock Street in Alcoa. Work days are Monday, Wednesday and Friday, usually 8:00 until 12:00. If you are interested in helping, let Sandy Miller (865-223-8278) know and she will get you added to the email list. You will then be kept up to date on what the scheduled time and planned work for the day is.
If you are not sure of your skills or don’t have tools, don’t worry. There is a wonderful group of “regular” volunteers who will teach you everything you need to know. When we have dates that we are responsible for providing lunch, we’ll get the word out. Everyone is always welcome to just stop by and watch the amazing process of building a home for a family in need!
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Easter Breakfast
Sunday, April 9th
After 3 years of absence due to the Covid epidemic, Easter breakfast is back! This extravaganza is put on by the Men of the Church who will have their culinary expertise on full display. Serving will begin at 9:00 AM EDT on April 9 before our Easter Worship Service.
If you have any questions or will not be at church on Sunday, but want to participate do not hesitate to call Rich Schenk at (865) 207-9456 or email at cfschenk@gmail.com.
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Prayers, Concerns and Joys | |
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Please pray for our members, families, and friends.
We lift-up prayers for those among our community who are shut in. Be with them as they are separated in body from their loved ones.
Elisha Phelipe- Janvier and Mayele Malipo have welcomed a healthy baby boy, Elisha, to the world. Prayers for this new life.
Millie Sieber - Millie has been moved to assisted living at Asbury so she can rehab further before moving back to her apartment. Continue to pray for strength and recovery.
Baby Malakai - Kerry and Margaret Remp's grandson, Malakai, had successful heart surgery and has been able to go home sooner than expected. Continued prayers for strength and recovery.
Skip Brackbill - Tom Brackbill requests prayers for his brother, Skip, dealing with a cancer diagnosis.
Covid-19 - All in the world who are suffering from Covid-19, especially for patients, the mourning survivors of those who have perished, and the heroic medical professionals who are fighting the battle for us.
Mental Illness - Prayers for those suffering from mental illness and those who help to treat them.
Homelessness - Prayers for those who struggle to find a place to live.
Ukraine - Prayers for the country of Ukraine and the unknown future that is coming upon them. May we all strive for peace and harmony throughout the world. Visit the PCUSA Mission page here to donate to the refugee fund of the mission agency.
Earthquake Devastation - For the communities of Turkey and Syria who have experienced thousands of deaths following an earthquake this week.
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Will Kilgore- March 2
Kathy White- March 5
Baret Webb-March 6
Jack Tymon- March 7
Julie Yeager- March 8
Judith Gregory- March 15
Sara Morris- March 18
Jeremy Lloyd- March 19
Marie Erickson- March 20
Sheri Liles- March 20
Alexis Durand- March 21
Herman Long- March 24
Mark Durand- March 25
Matthew Benz-Whittington - March 27
Georgia Benz-Whittington- March 29
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If there are any announcements that you would like to include in the Highland Happening, please email communications@highlandpresby.org by noon the Wednesday prior to the Highland Happening going out.
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Click the button above to visit our online giving page. It only take a few minutes to set up an account and you can schedule automatic payments to keep up with your pledge. | |
Visit the new calendar page on the Highland website to stay up to date with what is happening in the life of the church. | |
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