THREE
Highland Church eNewsletter
May 16, 2013
Pentecost is the day we celebrate the birth of the church. It ought to be a high holy day in the church. We lose or ignore Pentecost in the shadows of Christmas and Easter.
The longest season of the church year follows Pentecost – Ordinary Time. The name “ordinary” is misleading; there is nothing mundane or boring about this time in the church year. During ordinary time, we find our way, build up ourselves and our church. In Christ, the ordinary becomes extraordinary. Christ is risen! Now it’s time to bring that news down to earth.
Pentecost is like those “high points” in our lives when something grand, glorious, and beyond our wildest expectations bursts on us and sets us on fire. Once the flames die down, it is our job to keep the embers glowing, the sparks burning, and the fire breathing. Ordinary time is that season in our life when we stoke the fire to keep it burning, knowing the importance of that fire is not just to keep ourselves warm but also to draw others to the warmth like moths to a flame.
Prayer:
Creator of branches, rivers and stones,
of fiery flames and startling stars;
kindle the spark of your spirit within us;
set our hearts on fire
Knit us together –
the hands, feet, ears, and eyes
and voices and yes, even the elbows and knees
until we become one body in Christ.
Gather us together as your people, into one person in Christ.
Amen.
Kathleen Long Bostrom - For Everything, A Season, pp. 52-56
Calendar of May/Early June Worship & Events
Sunday, May 19 – (One service at 10:00 a.m.) Pentecost - Celebrating Highland’s 55th Anniversary – Installation of Officers – Campaign Update
Sunday, May 26 – Memorial Day Weekend – No Sunday School
Saturday, June 1 – Dorothy Rose Smith Concert –
Benjamin Britten’s “War Requiem” – Summer Sunday School begins for children – No Youth Sunday School until fall
PENTECOST SUNDAY—WORSHIP AT 10:00 a.m. (One Service)
FOLLOWED BY A PARTY!
May 19 marks Pentecost Sunday, the birthday of the church. This year, Pentecost coincides with the 55th birthday of Highland Presbyterian Church and the 25th Anniversary of the Samaritan Counseling Center. Therefore, we will celebrate with one worship service in the Sanctuary at 10:00 a.m., followed by food and fellowship at 11:00 a.m. in the Narthex. Wear red, sing "Happy Birthday", enjoy cake, visit with friends, family, Charter Members of Highland and staff from the Samaritan Counseling Center. The Holy Spirit will be present; will you?
PENTECOST ANTEPENDIUM
The antependium displayed on Pentecost is brilliant red with the shimmering orange and yellow flames of the Holy Spirit dancing across it. It celebrates the birth of the church, the time when the Holy Spirit descended on the multitudes and they went out preaching the news of Jesus Christ. This is used on the 50th (“penta”) day of the Easter Season and may also be used when ordinations take place at other times. The beautiful lily of the Easter antependium, depicting the resurrection of Christ, and placed on the white background of purity, is displayed from Easter morning through these 50 days until now, the 7th Sunday of Easter. These banners have been created by Phyllis Thompson and Mary Kay Hymes at the request of the Highland Worship Committee.
CARE AND COMPASSION
PRAY FOR OUR MILITARY MEMBERS, FAMILY AND FRIENDS-
Airman First Class Joshua S. Wylie -grandson of Mary Louise and John Wylie, Edwards AFB, California; CPL Drew D. Smith- USA; Major Megan K. (Wood) Lippert - USAF,T-1 flight instructor, Laughlin AFB, TX,; Major Royce M. Lippert – USAF, T-6 flight instructor, Laughlin AFB, TX; Lt. James Hitch, Bagdad, Iraq-field artillery; Lt. JG Laura Dogger-USS Mitcher DDG.57, Navigator stationed in Norfolk, VA; Staff Sgt. Corey R. Pierce-Willow Grove; LCPL Donald Oatman, Jr., US Marines-Quantico, VA; Lance Corporal Clay Johnson, Afghanistan; Chief Warrant Officer 2, Jesse A. Dunn, U.S. Army Aviation, Apache Helicopter Senior Pilot 1st Battalion, Combat AviationBrigade,101st Air Assault Division, Afghanistan; Cadet 3/C Ethan Dewart, U.S. Military Academy, Midshipman 1/C Josh Sindorf, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy; and Midshipman 2/C Elizabeth Hoerner, U.S. Naval Academy; Major Ryan Lippert, USAF –F15 E pilot, Seymour- Johnson, AFB, NC; Major Shannon Lippert, - USAF, F15E pilot, Seymour- Johnson, AFB, NC; Pvt. 1St Class Christopher Britton, Afghanistan; Senior Airman, Andrew S. Bailey serving in Afghanistan – Patti Mackley’s grandson.
If you have updates on the location of a service member or if he/she has had a change in rank, please call the church office with the information or email the information to: Linda Crosswell at lindacrosswell@highlandpc.org
CONGREGATIONAL LIFE
EVERYONE’S INVITED
COME JOIN US FOR A HIGHLAND PICNIC
WHEN: Sunday, June 2, 2013 from 12:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m.
WHERE: Neffsville Community Park, Kiwanis Pavilion
WHY: Get better acquainted with others in our congregation and have some fun!
WHO: Sponsored by the Congregational Life Council
HOW: Join us after the 11:00 a.m. service. Sign-up will occur in the Narthex beginning the first Sunday in May and continuing on all May Sundays. Each family will be asked to bring a food item to share. Hamburgers and hotdogs will be provided.
Questions: please contact Linda Rice at 393-7367 or ricesamlinda@aol.com
THERE WILL BE NO RAINDATE.
MISSION
HOMELESS STUDENT / CAMP DONEGAL PROJECT
Your support is needed! This is the TENTH year in which Highland will sponsor children from the Lancaster City School District Homeless Student Program for one week at Camp Donegal. We will send 3rd and 4th graders to “Crazy Camp” from June 23 - 28, and 4th and 5th graders to “Artistic Expression Camp” from July 14 - 19. We need your support - either monetary, or by volunteering your time as a shopper or a driver (drivers needed for the afternoon of June 23 and the evening of June 28, or for the afternoon of July 14 and the evening of July 19). Contributions should be sent to Bev in the Church office (marked “Homeless Student - Camp Donegal”) or they can be dropped off at the kiosk in the Narthex on May 3. Call Nancy Holtzapple (399-2162) with questions or to volunteer your time to this project.
MARS HILL MISSION TRIP: July 21-July 27
Building Supply Money Needed ! The Mars Hill Mission Trip needs financial support for building materials to make the homes of the rural poor in Appalachia warmer, safer and drier. If you would like to donate money toward this mission trip, please write out a check to Highland Presbyterian Church, noting “Mars Hill Building Materials” in the memo. If you send the check to Highland Presbyterian Church, please place “attention Beverly Geib— Mars Hill Mission Trip” on the envelope.
SIGN UP NOW!
Can you do any of the following: remove old and install sub-flooring, hang and finish drywall, install insulation, put moisture barriers in crawlspaces, paint, trim and other carpentry, hang doors and cabinets, tile work, or yard work? If you can do any of those things, sign up to help the week of August 18-23 in Pt. Pleasant N.J. Registration forms available in the office and at the welcome center. Cost $150. Minimum age: 16. For questions contact Larry Fowler at lwfassoc@gmail.com or 656-6884.
YOUTH
YOUTH GROUP SUNDAY NIGHT
Students are invited to youth group this week. We'll be finishing our series called "WORDS" and we'd love to have everyone there. Middle school meets from 5:00-6:15 p.m. Dinner will be provided for all students from 6:15-7:00 p.m. High school will meet from 7:00-8:30 p.m. See ya there!
MARS HILL & SUMMER TRIP DEADLINES!
If you have a student interested in going on the Mars Hill missions trip with the youth group you must submit the registration by Sunday, May 26. Students coming on the Creation trip and the Pittsburgh Project should sign up now to secure spots! Talk to Matt for more details.
BOARD/CARD GAME NIGHT!
Next Sunday, May 26, we will be having a night of board games and card games. Everyone (and friends) can come to the TYC at 6:00 p.m. We'll have dinner on the grill. Bring your favorite board/card game to play. For more info talk to Matt.
SHINE ON! Registration Is Open.
This three-day Vacation Bible School is filled with awesome work shops to let young people discover new and different ways to praise God. If you are starting 6th, 7th, 8th or 9th grade this fall, then SHINE ON! is for you. Try your hand at acting, work with pottery or wood, decorate a cake, play team games, bake cookies, sew something cool. You get to pick! Last year’s topics are updated for 2013 and new workshops have been added. SHINE ON! takes place August 5,6,7, at Highland from 9-4 each day. Check out the display table in the Narthex for a registration form (due June 16). Bring A Friend! Questions: Contact Kate Mobley at katemobley@hotmail.com
MUSIC
Dorothy Rose Smith Concert Series
Saturday, June 1, 2013 - 7:00pm
Benjamin Britten War Requiem
On the night of November 14, 1940 the 14th century cathedral in Coventry, England was destroyed in a German bombing raid. When the new cathedral, built inside the ruins of the old one, was finally completed in 1962, the Dean and Chapter turned to Benjamin Britten, one of the most widely performed composers of the twentieth century, to write a work for its dedication and as a memorial not only to those who died in the bombing, but as a monument to 500 years of faith.
The resulting work was the War Requiem, which rapidly became hailed as one of the masterpieces of the 20th Century. In addition to the traditional text of the Latin Mass for the dead, Britten added poems by the English First World War poet Wilfred Owen that speak out against the horror of war and man's inhumanity to man. The work is therefore a passionate statement about how people who proclaim the Prince of Peace must both work towards a world without war and speak out on behalf of peace.
Our Chancel Choir will be joined by many guest singers, a large orchestra, chamber orchestra, three soloists and the Mennonite Children's Choir of Lancaster. This work is rarely performed because of the number of performers, so our performance—one of only five in the whole of the United States this year—will be an unforgettable event. Co-sponsored by the Justice, Reconciliation and Peace Committee.
GENERAL INFORMATION
PRESCHOOL UPDATE
After a number of years of declining enrollment, the Highland Preschool board has decided to suspend operations for the 2013 -2014 school year. A task force is forming to look at how we can better reach the needs of the community and have enrollment up to where the school is in a break even position. If you are interested in helping this process or have questions, please contact any board member. Jim Hymes (outgoing chair), Jim Kleppinger (incoming chair), Vickie Kutz (treasurer) Barb Droz (secretary), Anita Hanna, Gine Lancaster, Matt McClintock, Helen Moe, and Jennifer Switch.
YOU ARE INVITED!
Please join us on Friday, May 31, at 3:00 p.m. in the Community Room of the Brightwood Building to celebrate the completion of The Long Community at Highland Campus. Tours of each building are being offered and light refreshment served from 3:00-5:00 p.m. RSVP to Connie Soto at 381-4900 Nancy Deibler at 502-8887 or ndeibler@presbyterianseniorliving.org by Friday, May 24.
MEN OF HIGHLAND WHO LIKE TO COOK
Place your culinary skills on display at Juneteenth, an annual fundraising celebration sponsored by Crispus Attucks. This year’s event, featuring “Men Who Cook”, will take place at the Thaddeus Stevens College of Science and Technology on Saturday afternoon, June 15, from 1:00 to 3:30. Juneteenth commemorates June 19,1865 when the Emancipation Proclamation was finally read in Galveston, Texas, and the last remaining slaves were freed. Celebrations within the Afro-American community date back to the early 20th century. The local event includes role-playing, music, and discussion. For further information, contact Larry and Anita Ewing at 824-3318.
HELP WANTED!
The SonWest Roundup VBS is here at Highland, June 24-28, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Sign up in the Narthex at the Children's Ministry kiosk or at heathermingle@highlandpc.org. Ye-Haw! To find a VBS registration form, please go to our website. Go to "Children" and click on the link You can also find a link for the summer education schedule for children.
FRUITFUL IN FAITH DISCIPLESHIP IN THE THIRD STAGE OF LIFE
Fruitful in Faith: Discipleship in the Third Stage of Life engages adults in exploring the sixteen skills to grow in discipleship. Beginning Thursday, June 6 and continuing each Thursday through September 25, adult learners will grow in faith through shared learning, reflective Bible study and table fellowship. Each class is offered on an individual basis to accommodate participants’ summer schedules. Rev. Dr. Ann Osborne will facilitate the majority of the sessions, supported by Rev. Dr. Rabey, Rev. Mingle and Highland’s parish associates. Sessions will be held in Fellowship Hall each Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to noon. The summer series will draw upon ideas and resources presented in Eugene H. Peterson’s book, “A Long Obedience in the Same Direction.” The book will be available for purchase in the Narthex for $12. Plan to join the fun and meet 100 new friends at Highland! See Sunday’s bulletin insert for dates of classes and the weekly topics.
This entry was posted on Thursday, May 16th, 2013 and is filed under Newsletter.