MARCH 2015

www.highlandsucc.org 1910 Saint Paris Pike

highlandsucc@sbcglobal.net Springfield, Ohio 45504-1206

937-399-7493

From the Pastor…

I was reminded by an article I recently read that the great reformer, Martin Luther spoke of dying and rising with Christ every day. Dying and rising daily is a key meaning of being spiritual in the Christian tradition. We all mess up daily…we all long for a better relationship with God…we are constantly saying “oops, I messed up again!” We are continually asking for forgiveness. The late theologian, Marcus Borg, wrote “There’s nothing terribly mysterious about spirituality. Spirituality is paying attention to our relationship with God. Spirituality is about becoming intentional about this process of being born again”. This is largely what the Lenten season is about—about following Jesus’ final journey—about participating in his death and resurrection—about being born again. Maybe we need to die to specific things such as destructive or dysfunctional behaviors. Maybe it’s our mouth, maybe it’s being too tied to the computer, maybe it’s gossip, maybe it’s sowing discord, maybe it’s alcohol or drugs, maybe its our temper, among the many possibilities. Perhaps we need to move on from unre-solved grief or move from one stage of our life to the next. We may even need to give up being selfish or too preoccupied with our own lives to care for others. There are as many considerations as there are folks. But the Good News is that it IS possible to move beyond death. We can become intentional in our relationship with God. God is so awesome that we mess up, dust ourselves off and die and are reborn daily to ourselves. So that is, in a nutshell, the story of Lent…dying and rising daily, about leaving room for the Spirit to move and transform us to live and experience life fully. Isn’t that what we desire in our deep-est hopes, our deepest yearnings? May we, this Lent experience the transforma-tional life in Christ. May we truly be born again. Blessings,

Highlands’ Leadership Pastor: Rev. Avery Sledge Church Officers: Pam Dixon—Moderator Jan Kushmaul—Vice Moderator Linda Owens—Treasurer Office Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 9:00 a.m.–12:00 noon

Pastor’s Office Hours Monday and Thursday 9:00 a.m.—12:00 noon Wednesday 12:00 noon—3:00 p.m. You can reach Pastor Avery in the church office during those hours or at 937-429-1536. A Safe Zone Outside the pastor’s office is a sign that says, “This is a SAFE ZONE. You can talk about anything here. The sign lists the many things you can discuss. Check it out.

Service of Remembrance for Doris Ryon

A Service of Remembrance for Doris Ryon will be held on

Sunday, March 1, at 1:30 p.m. at

Highlands United Church of Christ, 1910 St. Paris Pike, Springfield.

A Service of Prayer for Christian Unity In the Taize style

Sunday, March 15, 2015

5:00 p.m.

Highlands United Church of Christ 1910 St. Paris Pike Springfield, Ohio

In the candlelit sanctuary, silence, song, scripture, silent and spoken prayer are lifted to God. The service is conducted in the Taize style patterned after the community in France where all people are welcome. Holy Communion is served. A time of fellowship with refreshments follows the service. All who seek a closer communion with God are invited to attend.

Don’t Forget the Food Cart We collect food and non-perishable items for Open Hands Free Store’s food pantry. In February, we donated 42 items. That was a month when we had to cancel two worship services. You can help feed the hungry by dropping off items to Highlands Church, 1910 St. Paris Pike, between the hours of 6:00 am and 5:30 pm. The grocery cart is inside the narthex. Come through the door under the covered walkway, turn right into the area outside the office doors leading to the sanctuary and the stairs to the lower level. The cart awaits! We will support the Food Pantry in March with our Annual Chili Supper. See article below.

Highlands Church Helps the Community in Many Ways.

Highlands United Church of Christ Annual Chili Supper

Date: Saturday, March 28, 2015 Time: 4:30 to 7:00 PM Location: Highlands UCC, 1910 St Paris Pike, Springfield, OH 45504. Choose from many different kinds of chili plus a variety of toppings. Cole slaw, desserts and beverages round out your meal. COST: Nonperishable foods and household staples for the Open Hands Food Pantry. Want to bring your favorite chili? Call Dixie to let her know 244-4855.

If Church is Canceled Is it snowing really hard? Is the temperature below zero? Are schools, churches, and other places closing due to weather? Tune into these TV stations and watch for a notice of whether or not High-lands is also closing. WDTN, Channel 2 WKEF, Channel 22 WHIO, Channel 7

Worship Helpers for March

Greeter: Geneva Falkner Acolytes: Liturgist: Jan Kushmaul Ushers: Geneva Falkner Alta Lou Miller Sound system: Kathy Howard Fellowship Hour: Barb Korn 1 Keri Flory 8 Debra Lynne 8 Pam Dixon 15 Barbara Romaca 22 Millie McNeal 29

The sign- up sheet for April, May, and June is on the table in the narthex. See where you can help; you will be glad you did. Thank you to each one who assists in worship. Helping those who come to church each Sunday is a very rewarding experience. Sharing hospitality with those who seek a safe place to express their faith provides much satisfaction to those who give as well as to those who receive. Greeting people as they enter the church, helping them during worship, and sharing food during fellowship time makes us a member of the body of Christ sharing God’s love with one another.

If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, please call 937-399-7493 and ask to have your name removed from the Outreach newsletter mailing list.

Boards Change Meeting Times The governing boards of Highlands United Church of Christ are holding their meetings on Sundays following the fellowship hour. Diaconate meets the first Sunday. Trustees meet the second Sunday. Council meets the third Sunday.

Lenten Services to Continue

The Combined Lenten services of the Crossroads Cluster of UCC churches begin on Ash Wednesday, February 18. All services are held on Wednesday and begin at 7:00 p.m.

Theme for the series is “Wilderness Time”

March 4 Highlands UCC, Springfield “A Time of Dependence” March 11 Knob Prairie, Enon “A Time of Doubt” March 18 West Liberty UCC, W. Liberty “A Time of Comfort” March 25 Plattsburg UCC, Plattsburg “A Time of Beginnings”

The February 2015 Children’s ‘Noisy’

Collection totaled $25.30

As determined by the children of Highlands, donations have already been made to On the Rise in Clark County and The Heifer Project through Heifer International. Additional donations will be made to the Blanket Project through Church World Service and Project Jericho in Springfield. “Noisy’ Collection is the second Sunday of each month. Next ‘noisy’ collection will be March 8.

Items for Interfaith Hospitality Network are being collected Some of the members of Highlands Church are collecting items for Interfaith Hospitality Network. We have a box in the narthex if you wish to join us in this effort. Once we have several items, we will take them to IHN. Here are a few things needed.

Hygiene - such as bath, hair, and body products. Household - such as cleaning, storage, paper, products. Health care - such as ointment, band-aids, baby items, pain relievers, over the counter medications. A complete list is located on the Community News bulletin board in the fellowship hall outside the kitchen window.

Box Tops & Labels collected for Oesterlen Services for Youth A number of organizations collect BOX TOPS and food labels to raise funds for their non-profit agen-cies. Highlands received a plea from Oesterlen and we have responded. If you would like to help, a list of the items that are being collected is on the bulle-tin board in the fellowship hall outside the kitchen window. There are too many products to list. A can is located on the table in the narthex to place the box tops and labels. When we have collected a number of them, we will take them to Oesterlen.

Highlands continues to Recycle Paper, plastic, metal, cardboard all are collected and taken to the recycling centers 1602 W. Main St. and between the Project Woman building and the Clark County Combined Health District building on East Home Rd.

Household hazardous waste is also collected for a fee of $1.00 per pound at the W. Main St. lo-cation on the first Sat. of these months: Mar. 1, Apr. 5, June 7, Aug. 2, and Oct. 4. More infor-mation is posted outside the kitchen door.

Kroger Community Rewards The Kroger Community Rewards Program has generated $157.89 during 2014. The more people who use their Kroger Plus cards and designate Highlands Church as their organization of choice, the more Community Rewards dollars the church will receive. Thanks to all who do.

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What does Highlands Stand For?

One of the statements in our Vision Statement reads “Highlands United Church of Christ is called by God to extend Extravagant Hospitality.”

What do we mean by that? Last month, we shared what it means to open doors to all. To extend extravagant hospitality means that when we open these doors, we do everything in our power to make the experience welcoming and enriching. The coffee pot is on with hot tea

and hot chocolate also available. Our facility is clean, well maintained, and a pleasure to be in. When Kids World Preschool and Day Care holds an event for families of the children in their care, we put the coffee on, help to serve, and greet families on behalf of Highlands.

When there is a death, whether a member of the congregation or a family member, we extend hospitality in the form of a meal. We offer our facility to groups and individuals in the community both the church building and the shelter house in the back. We’ve hosted spiritual retreats, work-shops held by community agencies, meeting space for community groups (People

for Safe Water, Relay for Life), weddings, memorial services, birthday parties, anniversaries and more.

If you need a place to gather whether for your family or for a group you are with, call Highlands Church at 937-399-7493. We are happy to serve.

Kids World of Springfield KIDS WORLD of Springfield is a Christian Pre-School/Day Care with a mission of developing the whole child, keeping the love and nurturing of children as our top priority. KIDS WORLD will create a caring, value-based environment while providing safe boundaries and opportunities for children to grow develop-mentally with structured learning activities. Opening in 2005, ten years later, our mission is still going strong while also reaching out to the community. We have developed a relationship with Wittenberg University and our center is a site for Psychology and Education students who are able to observe children in all different developmental stages and conduct their Pre-School teaching practicum in our classrooms. We also enjoy working in collaboration with Highlands United Church of Christ to provide a Harvest Festival in the fall to our students and the community alike. KIDS WORLD is your family away from home so give us a call and check out our wonderful pre-school/day care program. Krista Yost, Admin/Owner & Kelly Stewart, Owner 399-2444.

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Highlands United Church of Christ 1910 Saint Paris Pike Springfield, Ohio 45504

www.highlandsucc.com

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 God’s 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 in Christ's gospel of unconditional love. We joyfully welcome into full participation, membership, and leadership of this congregation persons of every race, language, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, economic or marital status, and faith background. We affirm and celebrate all loving, committed relationships affirming that all families defined by love are blessed." Adopted by the congregation January 13, 2013

Easter Egg Hunt Calling All Children! As is our tradition here at Highlands, we will have our annual Easter Egg Hunt on Palm Sunday, march 29, during the fellowship hour. Kids of all ages, nursery through high school take part in this fun activity. This is sponsored by the Christian Education Ministry Team. We are excited; hope you will be also. Refreshments for the fellowship hour will be provided by the Semper Fidelis Class. Come and enjoy.