highlands umc

Blessing of the Infants

Reggie Holder — Wed, 09 May 2012 11:35:00 CDT

This Sunday, May 13th we welcome the Rev. Doreen Duley of Alabama Children's Hospital for our annual Blessing of the Infants. This annual Mother's Day tradition brings together those children born into our congregation and infants from our Child Development Center for the first part of our worship service. Each child is blessed and recieves a small Bible. We hope you will join us this Sunday at 10:30 a.m. in the sanctuary and you should bring your Mom!

Into the week

Reggie Holder — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 09:04:00 CDT

Holy Week has started. Jesus has entered Jerusalem with shouts of Hosanna only to be reviled and crucified at the end of this week. Not only has he entered Jerusalem but he has entered our hearts! We will recall the Last Supper on Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. and end with the stripping of the altar. On Friday we will have two services at Noon and 6:30 p.m. The sanctuary will be draped in black as we mourn his loss.

See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them. Isaiah 42:9

Holy Week

Reggie Holder — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 08:52:00 CDT

Palm/Passion Sunday, April 1^stOur 10:30 a.m. service of worship begins with a procession of the palms from Brother Bryan Park. We will gather at the park at 10: 15 a.m. and follow a donkey, our children and choir to the church remembering Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. During the service we will remember how the people turned from that moment of joy calling out “Hosanna” to calls for Jesus’ crucifixion. Palm/Passion Sunday is the beginning of our Holy Week experience.

This Sunday

Reggie Holder — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 10:41:00 CST

This Sunday, March 11, Amelia Rathmell will be baptized. The Old Testament Lesson will be the Decalogue (the Ten Commandments) and the Epistle Lesson will be Romans 7:7-25. Our opening hymn is a church favorite, "Lift High the Cross. We hope that you will make plans now to join us in worship at Highlands.

Ash Wednesday

Reggie Holder — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:49:00 CST

We will hold two services for Impostion of the Ashes on Wednesday, February 22. One at Noon and one at 6:30 p.m. Both will be held in the Sanctuary.

Annual Meeting

Reggie Holder — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:29:00 CST

Join us this Sunday, January 29th at 9:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall for our annual meeting and the unveiling of the Church Council's three year strategic plan. Meet new staff members Deb Welsh, Lelia McCloud and Lydia Poore.

Advancing Our Spiritual Life

Reggie Holder — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 08:16:00 CST

Our Advancing Our Spiritual Life series has been really terrific. We have great speakers who have both challenged and inspired us. This Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m. we are joined by Joe Elmore, retired paster of Vestavia Hills UMC and the 1917 Clinic. Join us at 6:30 p.m. as Joe shares on the topic of Grace and Compassion.

Christmas Eve Services of Light

Reggie Holder — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 07:48:00 CST

Join us this evening for Christmas Eve Services of Light and Christmas Day Lessons and Carols

Children's Pageant this Sunday

Reggie Holder — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 10:30:00 CST

This Sunday our annual Children's pageant will conclude our 10:30 Sunday morning worship service. As Christmas draws closer we will hear special music from Handel's Messiah by the choir and string quartet, hear the stirring words of Mary's Magnificat recorded in the first chapter of Luke and sing familar carols. This Sunday is one of our most popular Sunday services of the church year, don't miss it.

Advent 1

Reggie Holder — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 08:07:00 CST

A member of our church posted this quote this morning: "Advent is concerned with that very connection between memory and hope which is so necessary to man. Advent’s intention is to awaken the most profound and basic emotional memory within us, namely, the memory of the God who became a child. This is a healing memory; it brings hope. The purpose of the Church’s year is continually to rehearse her... great history of memories, to awaken the heart’s memory so that it can discern the star of hope.…

It is the beautiful task of Advent to awaken in all of us memories of goodness and thus to open doors of hope."

We hope you will join us this morning as we light the first Advent candle as a sign of our hope that shines in the darkness.

Top Ten Reasons to Come to Church in Advent

Reggie Holder — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 11:31:00 CST

Top Ten Reasons to Come to Worship During Advent and Christmas

Aesop's Fables - November 16

Reggie Holder — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:02:00 CST

All are invited to join us Wednesday, November 16 for our Children’s Fall Production of Aesop’s Fables. Our young children have been hard at work over the recent weeks and we hope to have a good turnout of the Highlands’ Church Family to show our love and support. Our neighbors from the Community Trades Tower have been invited to come as our special guests. We will serve a simple Black Bean Soup for supper at 5:30 p.m. and the children will perform at 6:30 p.m. Extra hands to escort our guest from the Towers to church and then home will be most welcomed. We hope to see you on Wednesday evening.

On-Line Pledge New Option

Reggie Holder — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 12:28:00 CDT

Stewardship Chair, Randall Wells is pleased to announce that Highlands now offers the option of making a pledge to the annual operating budget online through the church's webpage. Simply click the Giving banner at the top of the page and you will be directed to a secure web form to make your pledge. Additionally, you may make arrangements to pay your pledge for the coming year by electronic transfer. For more information, contact financial secretary, Jerry Johnson in the church office at 933-8751 or Jerry@highlandsumc.net.

Joining With Our Neighbors on World Communion Sunday

Reggie Holder — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 16:58:00 CDT

We will once again join with neighbors from South Highland Presbyterian, Southside Baptist, Baptist Church of the Covenant and St. Mary's on the Highlands to celebrate World Wide Communion Sunday on October 2 on the front lawn at 11:30 a.m. We hope you will join us.

Blessing of the Backpacks

Reggie Holder — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 09:48:00 CDT

Next Sunday, August 21 at the 10:30 a.m. worship service, we will have a Blessing of the Backpacks. Preschoolers, elementary students, middle and senior high students and college students are invited to bring their backpacks to worship for a time of blessing as a new school year begins.

Service 101

Reggie Holder — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 08:39:00 CDT

All are invited for an after-church lunch on Sunday, August 14^th. While we eat, a presentation will be made about the service ministries of our church. Participants from Community Ministries, Project ID, and Appalachian Service Project will share their experiences in our mission and outreach areas. There will also be information about how we give and receive money for these ministries. Please make plans to eat with your church family this Sunday. You may call the church office or make a reservation through email to office@highlandsumc.net.

Help Wanted - Lay Readers

Reggie Holder — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 10:36:00 CDT

Lay Readers are an important part of worship each week. Reading the scriptures during public worship is an old and meaningful tradition and one that all are welcomed to participate in. Readers are recruited at least a month or two in advance and receive detailed instructions and coaching if desired. If you would like to be a Lay Reader during the 10:30 service during the coming months please call or email Reggie Holder at 933-8751 or Reggie@highlandsumc.net.

YMA Report Tonight

Reggie Holder — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 09:45:00 CDT

Join us tonight at 5:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall to hear the report from Youth Ministry Architects on their recommendations on our ministry with youth and children. A full copy of their report will be available on line in coming days once the report is complete.

Youth Ministry Assessment

Reggie Holder — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 08:31:00 CDT

Youth Ministry Architects will be on site next week to help evaluate and develop our Ministry with youth and children. Below you will see the scheduled events. We hope you will make every effort to be on hand to help us create the best youth and children's ministry that we can have at Highlands.

Summer Sunday School Series

Reggie Holder — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 14:15:00 CDT

Join us for the next five Sundays at 9:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall for our Summer Sunday School Series - Five Practices of Fruitful Living.

Immigration Bill Conversation

Reggie Holder — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 11:06:00 CDT

Highlands United Methodist Church will host a North Alabama Conference sponsored public conversation on Alabama HB 56, the state’s new immigration law, this Tuesday evening, June 28 at 6:30 p.m. in the sanctuary. This time of worship and prayer will include a discussion among those who support the law, those against it, and those seeking to discern how to respond. You are invited to participate in this civil, prayerful, and respectful exploration of the law with those gathered.

Youth and Children's Ministry Assessment

Reggie Holder — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:39:00 CDT

Youth Ministry Architects has been invited to Highlands July 18 – 20, 2011 to hear what you have to share about the children and youth ministries. They will spend the majority of their time listening to leaders, parents and youth and at the end of their visit provide a clear overview of our program and a clear plan of where to go and what to do next.

Job Opening

Reggie Holder — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 10:20:00 CDT

Nursery coordinator – part time

Summer Intern

Reggie Holder — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 13:50:00 CDT

We welcome Miriam Smith as our summer ministry intern. Miriam graduated from Birmingham-Southern College and has complete two years of seminary at Duke Divinity School. She grew up attending Trinity United Methodist in Homewood and attended the Church Without Walls in college. Miriam was a part of the Honors program, active in Service-Learning and completed a Leadership Studies practicum with Project I.D while at Southern. Miriam is a very gifted and energetic person seeking hands on experience ministering in the local church. She is preparing for Ordination as an Elder in the United Methodist Church. She will work and minister in a variety of ways over the summer especially in the areas of worship, pastoral care, and church administration.

Blood Drive Sunday, June 12

Reggie Holder — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 09:12:00 CDT

Highlands will host a blood drive for the American Red Cross on Sunday, June 12 from 8:00 a.m. until Noon. Members and the local community are encouraged to participate. Donors must be 17 years old or older and are requested to bring a photo ID or American Red Cross Donor Card to the event. To make an appointment to donate blood, please visit www.redcrossblood.org and enter the Sponsor Code - HighlandsUMC. For more information, please contact the church office at (205) 933-8751.