Join us on Tuesdays this fall as we dig into scripture together using Disciple Bible Study and Bible Project videos. We'll journey through the Old Testament this fall, continuing into the New Testament this winter and spring, finishing up around Easter. Classes begin at 11:45 am in Room 204, starting September 15. Lunch is available for $12 with reservation. Study manuals are $20/semester. New to the group? You're welcome here!

To reserve your spot and a manual, contact Reggie Holder – reggie@highlandsumc.net.

Lunch RSVP: Suzanne Hoye – srhoye@live.com

Join us on Sunday, October 25 to celebrate Halloween Highlands style! All are invited to a seasonal fellowship meal, and bring your costumes for a carnival with activities for kids, youth, and adults! Save the date and invite your friends to join us! We’ll need bagged candy for prizes and volunteers to help run simple carnival games and distribute prizes during the event. If you are able to help make this day memorable and fun for the children in our church, please contact Mary Elizabeth Neal at maryelizabeth@highlandsumc.net.

Table of Hope is your chance to come together with wonderful neighbors just like you who champion Urban Ministry! During the evening you’ll enjoy dinner, delight in stories told by Rev. Garrett Harper and other neighbors, and hear the stories of resurrection blooming in West End.

You won’t want to miss out on this chance to celebrate Urban Ministry’s work in West End, so claim your place today!

Join us on Tuesdays this fall as we dig into scripture together using Disciple Bible Study and Bible Project videos. We'll journey through the Old Testament this fall, continuing into the New Testament this winter and spring, finishing up around Easter. Classes begin at 11:45 am in Room 204, starting September 15. Lunch is available for $12 with reservation. Study manuals are $20/semester. New to the group? You're welcome here!

To reserve your spot and a manual, contact Reggie Holder – reggie@highlandsumc.net.

Lunch RSVP: Suzanne Hoye – srhoye@live.com

Third Sunday Potlucks take place every third Sunday of the month.

Bring your favorite main course, side dish, bread, or dessert to share. Don’t have time to bring something? You can make a small donation toward paper products and beverages. Join us for good food and warm fellowship. All are welcome and invited!

Contact: Michelle Jones – michelle@highlandsumc.net

Stewardship for Ministries in 2027: Ready to Launch

Look toward the horizon as we continue our shared spiritual journey together! Highlands United Methodist Church is a community in motion — called by God, fueled by grace, and ready to take flight. Your pledged giving provides the fuel that enables Highlands to love God, serve our neighbors, and to follow where God leads. Your commitment will help us:

Stay On Course: Strengthen existing ministries and programs that help us grow in faith and serve our community.

Maintain Altitude: Keep pace with rising costs outside our control while sustaining the ministries we value.

Climb Higher: Launch new worship opportunities and spiritual formation offerings, creating new ways to connect, grow in faith, and live out our calling.

Thank you for prayerfully considering your pledge for 2027.
Completed pledges requested by Sunday, October 18, 2026.

Join us on Tuesdays this fall as we dig into scripture together using Disciple Bible Study and Bible Project videos. We'll journey through the Old Testament this fall, continuing into the New Testament this winter and spring, finishing up around Easter. Classes begin at 11:45 am in Room 204, starting September 15. Lunch is available for $12 with reservation. Study manuals are $20/semester. New to the group? You're welcome here!

To reserve your spot and a manual, contact Reggie Holder – reggie@highlandsumc.net.

Lunch RSVP: Suzanne Hoye – srhoye@live.com

United Women in Faith Meeting

Highlands United Women in Faith will meet at the church on Monday, October 12 at 11:00 am. Our guest presenter will be Reggie Holder. Lunch will follow for $12 with reservation.

Contact: Mary Beth Lloyd – mblloyd85@yahoo.com
Lunch RSVP: Suzanne Hoye – srhoye@live.com

Join us on Tuesdays this fall as we dig into scripture together using Disciple Bible Study and Bible Project videos. We'll journey through the Old Testament this fall, continuing into the New Testament this winter and spring, finishing up around Easter. Classes begin at 11:45 am in Room 204, starting September 15. Lunch is available for $12 with reservation. Study manuals are $20/semester. New to the group? You're welcome here!

To reserve your spot and a manual, contact Reggie Holder – reggie@highlandsumc.net.

Lunch RSVP: Suzanne Hoye – srhoye@live.com

Join us on Tuesdays this fall as we dig into scripture together using Disciple Bible Study and Bible Project videos. We'll journey through the Old Testament this fall, continuing into the New Testament this winter and spring, finishing up around Easter. Classes begin at 11:45 am in Room 204, starting September 15. Lunch is available for $12 with reservation. Study manuals are $20/semester. New to the group? You're welcome here!

To reserve your spot and a manual, contact Reggie Holder – reggie@highlandsumc.net.

Lunch RSVP: Suzanne Hoye – srhoye@live.com

Save the Date: Bishop Holston Preaching at Highlands - September 27

Join us in worship on September 27 for a special and uplifting service as Bishop Jonathan Holston, the bishop of the North Alabama and Alabama-West Florida conferences, will be preaching. This is a wonderful opportunity to come together in fellowship, to listen and be inspired by his powerful message. We warmly invite you to experience this meaningful day with us, and to invite friends to come to church with you.

Join us on Tuesdays this fall as we dig into scripture together using Disciple Bible Study and Bible Project videos. We'll journey through the Old Testament this fall, continuing into the New Testament this winter and spring, finishing up around Easter. Classes begin at 11:45 am in Room 204, starting September 15. Lunch is available for $12 with reservation. Study manuals are $20/semester. New to the group? You're welcome here!

To reserve your spot and a manual, contact Reggie Holder – reggie@highlandsumc.net.

Lunch RSVP: Suzanne Hoye – srhoye@live.com

Church Council Meeting - September 20

The Church Council will meet on Sunday, September 20 in the Fellowship Hall worship following the Third Sunday Potluck. Church Council meetings are open to everyone; all are welcome to observe our church leadership at work.

Contact: Anne Rand - asrand@yahoo.com

Tuesday Bible Study Resumes September 15

Join us on Tuesdays this fall as we dig into scripture together using Disciple Bible Study and Bible Project videos. We'll journey through the Old Testament this fall, continuing into the New Testament this winter and spring, finishing up around Easter. Classes begin at 11:45 am in Room 204, starting September 15. Lunch is available for $12 with reservation. Study manuals are $20/semester. New to the group? You're welcome here!

To reserve your spot and a manual, contact Reggie Holder – reggie@highlandsumc.net.

Lunch RSVP: Suzanne Hoye – srhoye@live.com

United Women in Faith Meeting

Highlands United Women in Faith will meet at the church on Monday, September 14 at 11:00 am. We will be making breakfast casseroles for Community Ministries. Lunch will follow for $12 with reservation.

Contact: Mary Beth Lloyd – mblloyd85@yahoo.com
Lunch RSVP: Suzanne Hoye – srhoye@live.com

Renewal Quilt Dedication - September 13

Join us next Sunday, September 13, during 10:30 am worship as we dedicate our Renewal Quilt, a beautiful expression of the stories, hopes, prayers, and shared life of our Highlands community. Woven together piece by piece, square by square, the Renewal Quilt reminds us of our Connectedness in God’s Grace – that each of us is part of something larger than ourselves. Come celebrate the threads that bind us together and the beautiful tapestry God continues to weave among us. All are invited to this special celebration!

This fall, make a little room in your Sunday mornings for conversation, curiosity, and community. You don’t have to be a regular Sunday school attendee or have all the answers to join in. Our adult spiritual formation classes are welcoming spaces to ask questions, explore faith, and get to know one another. Join us each Sunday at 9:30 am starting next week! More information at www.highlandsumc.net/sundayschool

Continued Conversation Led by Mikah Hudson in Room 209

For those who want to keep wrestling with the questions that don't have easy answers, this class offers an ongoing space for honest dialogue on faith, culture, and the issues shaping our lives today. Expect thoughtful conversation, differing perspectives held in respect, and room to think out loud together. We will reflect on the lectionary, recent sermons, and timely topics.

Faith & Films Discussion Series Led by Kyle McKinnon in Room 210

A Sunday school discussion around movies that aren’t traditionally categorized as faith-based films. Like a book club, each week we will discuss a different movie, covering themes like humility, restoring relationships, resisting societal norms, and mortality, with an overall focus on finding God’s influence in unexpected places. The films will be All That Heaven Allows (1955), The Straight Story (1999), Perfect Days (2023), and The Life of Chuck (2024).

Civic Virtues: Through the Lens of Christ Led by Mark Chambers in Room 204

Based on Senator Corey Booker’s book, STAND, this class explores ten core civic virtues: agency, vulnerability, patriotism, truth, humility, community, creativity, perseverance, grace, and vision. Each week we will randomly choose a card with a virtue and a few questions based on some of Christ teachings for discussion.

Join your friends from Highlands for a movie night! We will visit local independent movie theater, Sidewalk Cinema in the basement of the The Pizitz Food Hall downtown, for Mary Oliver: Saved By the Beauty of the World. Choose from two screening times – Wednesday, September 9 at 6:15 pm or Thursday, September 10 at 4:45 pm. Parking is available at metered spaces on the street or at The Pizitz parking deck off 18th Street North.

Seating is limited, so advanced ticket purchase is highly recommended!

Overview

If poetry had a pop icon, Mary Oliver would be it. Celebrated best-selling poet, Pulitzer Prize-winner, lover of dogs and long walks in the woods, openly queer but intensely private, Oliver was America’s unlikely contemporary mystic, stalking the ponds and forests of Cape Cod for nearly fifty years in order to open herself – and her readers – to the known and unknowable world. From a lonely childhood to literary fame, Oliver’s life was shaped by devotion to nature, paying attention, and the long journey toward learning to love and to be loved. Her poems inspire liberals and conservatives, atheists and believers, naturalists and urbanites, speaking directly to contemporary anxieties about attention, presence, and the human relationship with the natural world – issues that feel especially pressing in an era of climate crisis, digital distraction, and social fragmentation. Featuring interviews with her close friends, including John Waters, never-before-seen personal photos, notebooks, and correspondence from her archive, and recitations of her work by Stephen Colbert, Lucy Dacus, Steve Buscemi, and Oprah Winfrey, Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World considers the poet’s long lifetime of work in context, capturing the uniqueness of her world and the natural beauty that inspired her.

*All Wednesday screenings are captioned if made available by the distributor.
*Films will usually have an average of 8-10 minutes of trailers before each screening. 
*Seating is general admission. Arrive early to screenings if you want to ensure everyone in your group sits together.
*No outside food or beverages. We have a full bar and concessions in the cinema, and anything purchased from there can be taken into the theatre. 

Join your friends from Highlands for a movie night! We will visit local independent movie theater, Sidewalk Cinema in the basement of the The Pizitz Food Hall downtown, for Mary Oliver: Saved By the Beauty of the World. Choose from two screening times – Wednesday, September 9 at 6:15 pm or Thursday, September 10 at 4:45 pm. Parking is available at metered spaces on the street or at The Pizitz parking deck off 18th Street North.

Seating is limited, so advanced ticket purchase is highly recommended!

Overview

If poetry had a pop icon, Mary Oliver would be it. Celebrated best-selling poet, Pulitzer Prize-winner, lover of dogs and long walks in the woods, openly queer but intensely private, Oliver was America’s unlikely contemporary mystic, stalking the ponds and forests of Cape Cod for nearly fifty years in order to open herself – and her readers – to the known and unknowable world. From a lonely childhood to literary fame, Oliver’s life was shaped by devotion to nature, paying attention, and the long journey toward learning to love and to be loved. Her poems inspire liberals and conservatives, atheists and believers, naturalists and urbanites, speaking directly to contemporary anxieties about attention, presence, and the human relationship with the natural world – issues that feel especially pressing in an era of climate crisis, digital distraction, and social fragmentation. Featuring interviews with her close friends, including John Waters, never-before-seen personal photos, notebooks, and correspondence from her archive, and recitations of her work by Stephen Colbert, Lucy Dacus, Steve Buscemi, and Oprah Winfrey, Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World considers the poet’s long lifetime of work in context, capturing the uniqueness of her world and the natural beauty that inspired her.

*All Wednesday screenings are captioned if made available by the distributor.
*Films will usually have an average of 8-10 minutes of trailers before each screening. 
*Seating is general admission. Arrive early to screenings if you want to ensure everyone in your group sits together.
*No outside food or beverages. We have a full bar and concessions in the cinema, and anything purchased from there can be taken into the theatre. 

No Sunday School Classes - September 6

There will be no Sunday School classes or Atrium next Sunday, September 6 during Labor Day Weekend. The Nursery will open at 10:15 am.

Ministry Fair - August 30

Come discover the many ways to connect, serve, grow, and make a difference at Highlands! On Sunday, August 30 during the Sunday School hour, our Ministry Fair will showcase meaningful opportunities in worship, compassion, welcoming, and growing ministries. Join us in the Fellowship Hall at 9:30 am—and invite a friend to come explore with you!

Need a break? Join the women of Highlands for a relaxed social gathering at Panera Bread in Vestavia Hills on Tuesday, August 25 at 7:00 pm. No agenda, no book to read – just friends fellowshipping together.

Contact: Lauri Soong – laurisoong@hotmail.com

During the summer months, our Third Sunday Potlucks become Third Sunday Cook Outs! Join us on Sunday, August 16 for great food and warm fellowship. We’ll provide the cook-out favorites; the congregation is asked to bring sides and desserts. All are welcome and invited!

Contact: Michelle Jones – michelle@highlandsumc.net

Bring A Friend Sunday - August 16

It is a wonderful time to invite friends to come with you to church! We invite you to bring a friend, neighbor, or co-worker to Sunday school and worship on Sunday, August 16. All are welcome! Invite your friends to experience the warmth of God's loving community here at Highlands and to experience the beauty of our worship, and stay after for our Third Sunday Potluck. Let's all extend our love into the community by welcoming friends and neighbors to Highlands!

United Women in Faith Meeting

Highlands United Women in Faith will meet at the church on Tuesday, August 11 at 11:00 am. We will meet for lunch and fellowship at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens Cafe. RSVPs are requested.

Contact: Mary Beth Lloyd – mblloyd85@yahoo.com
Lunch RSVP: Suzanne Hoye – srhoye@live.com

As summer approaches and folks return home from school or work, we want to extend a warm invitation to college students and young adults to join us for a bi-monthly meal and fellowship gathering. It’s the perfect opportunity to reconnect with old friends, make new ones, and share in a time of reflection and spiritual growth. Gatherings will include a delicious meal, time for catching up with each other, and a short devotional to inspire and encourage you as you navigate this season of life. We believe that community is essential for growth and support, and we would love for you to be a part of ours.

Contact: Reggie Holder – reggie@highlandsumc.net.

Meeting Schedule and Locations:

Monday, June 1 – Top Golf Outing, hosted by The Soong Family

Wednesday, July 15 – The Harper-Holder Family

Monday, August 10 – The Rand Family

One Sunday each month, our children, youth and adults will gather together during Sunday School for Heart and Hand Sundays, where we will work together on service projects for our church and community. This inter-generational time of service will start with refreshments and a short devotional suitable for all ages. Join us at 9:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall

Back Ministries - August 9 

You are invited to join us during the Sunday School hour on Sunday, August 9th, to help prepare bags of weekend food for local students. These students receive free breakfasts and lunches each school day, but are food insecure on weekends. This year, we hope to pack about 740 bags per month and deliver them to Glen Iris Elementary School, Midfield Elementary School, and Rutledge Middle School. Counselors will discreetly place the bags in their backpacks every Friday afternoon, which is why this is called the backpack ministry. Each bag contains at least 12 items of nonperishable food.

 In addition to packing at church throughout the year, you can make a monetary donation by going to the church website to the giving option and dropping down to backpack ministry. We also pack at Midfield Elementary about every 3 weeks, usually on a Wednesday from 9:30 to 11:00. If you would like to be on the email list to be notified when we are packing at Midfield, please contact Cathy Ivey at cathycivey@gmail.com or 205-903-9311. 

Donation Items:
- boxes of Mac and cheese (not microwaveable type)
- canned tuna or chicken
- cans of soup like chicken noodle or chicken & rice
- individual packets of instant grits
- individual packets of instant oatmeal
- nutrigrain bars (no nuts)
- squeezable packets of applesauce
- cans of spaghetti-o’s or ravioli

Join us after worship this Sunday, July 19 for a summer veggie luncheon! PJ Ellis will prepare a feast from locally grown produce to celebrate the abundance of summer. This delicious spread will take the place of our regular Summer Sunday Cook Out, so there's no need to bring sides or desserts.

As summer approaches and folks return home from school or work, we want to extend a warm invitation to college students and young adults to join us for a bi-monthly meal and fellowship gathering. It’s the perfect opportunity to reconnect with old friends, make new ones, and share in a time of reflection and spiritual growth. Gatherings will include a delicious meal, time for catching up with each other, and a short devotional to inspire and encourage you as you navigate this season of life. We believe that community is essential for growth and support, and we would love for you to be a part of ours.

Contact: Reggie Holder – reggie@highlandsumc.net.

Meeting Schedule and Locations:

Monday, June 1 – Top Golf Outing, hosted by The Soong Family

Wednesday, July 15 – The Harper-Holder Family

Monday, August 10 – The Rand Family

Need a break? Join the women of Highlands for a relaxed social gathering at Panera Bread in Vestavia Hills on Tuesday, July 14 at 7:00 pm. No agenda, no book to read – just friends fellowshipping together.

Contact: Lauri Soong – laurisoong@hotmail.com