So Much to Celebrate

We have a long list of things to celebrate this week: a successful BBQ & Bake Sale, a wonderful Creation Celebration, and our continued participation in Habitat for Humanity (the ladies pictured here helped by serving lunch to the builders--and we need more volunteers to supply lunch throughout the Spring!).
We are so grateful to have these opportunities to share our mission with the wider community, and we, of course, couldn't have done any of this without all of the amazing volunteers who made each of these events such a success! Amazing things happen when Highland folks come together.
We also celebrate with Allison and Arlyn Morgan the birth of their son, Theodore James Morgan, on April 6.

Highland Youth Joyfully Serving the Community

On Saturday, April 13, 16 Highland youth spent the morning with special needs kids and their families playing baseball and having an all around great time! We teamed up with The Miracle League of the Triangle, whose mission is to create positive life experiences for children and adults with special needs and for their families through baseball. We are blessed to have such active and compassionate youth who are eager to do good in our community.

Easter & Anniversary Celebrations

Alleluia! Christ is risen! Here are some scenes from our worship together on Easter morning.

We'd also like to wish a very happy 65th wedding anniversary to George and Beth Deaton, who have spent 50 of those years here at Highland! We are grateful to have you among us.

Confirmation Retreat 2024

Last weekend, 18 youth and adults traveled to Trinity Center in Salter Path, NC for a confirmation retreat. It was a time for learning, bonding, and growing in faith together. This wonderful group of young people are set to be confirmed during worship in May. The Highland community is blessed and honored to walk alongside these youth on their faith journey!

Confirmands: Leyton Atkins, Tate Wilkinson, Evan Baucom, Grant Shaffer, Violet Townsend, Madeline Townsend, Madeline Driver, Fiona Lockett, Braedon LaRocca, James Riordan

Mentors: Eddie Wood, Becky Wood, Lee Smither, Rick Richards, Paige Gant, Chuck Stuber, Laura Horn, Pam Hood, Corrine Lusic

Habitat Build & Time Change Breakfast

Last weekend, we officially kicked off our Habitat build with several other community groups around the area. It was a very special time of sharing and camaraderie. There are plenty of opportunities to join in the fun over the next several months! Click here to sign up.

We also welcomed the spring forward time change with a pancake breakfast on Sunday morning. Thank you to ALL our volunteers who make our faith community such a vibrant, inviting, and loving place!

2024 Women's Retreat

Last weekend, a group of Highland women traveled together to Mt. Shepherd Retreat Center in Asheboro for a time of fellowship and spiritual growth. Many thanks to the Rev. Lib Campbell for leading our group to deepen our faith through spiritual disciplines.

Celebrating the 15th Season of our Victory Community Garden

The 15th season of our beautiful garden has officially begun! This garden has created so many special stories and memories for people in the Highland community, and has fed countless people in the wider community! We are so grateful to everyone who tends this garden for the glory of God.

If you'd like to join in the fun, a crew gets together every Saturday at 9 AM. Learn more from Donna Wolcott: donna.wolcott2@gmail.com.

A Week of Reaching Out to Our Wider Community

One of our primary goals at Highland is to serve as Christ's hands and feet in the world. Last week, we came together to do this in several ways: serving hot chocolate to local school children on their way home for National Hot Chocolate Day, sharing the gift of music with our friends at The Oaks at Whitaker Glen senior living community, and collecting over 400lbs of food for the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle during our quarterly food drive.

We are grateful for every opportunity we have to show God's love to the world.

We Welcome Amy Wagner into our Family of Faith through Baptism

In last Sunday's Connection Worship service, we had the privilege of witnessing the sacrament of baptism for Amy Wagner. We welcome you to Christ's family, Amy, and promise to walk alongside you in your faith journey as you grow!

Fellowship for Youth and Young-at-Heart

Our Youth Group took their annual Winter Retreat for skiing, tubing, and fellowship over the long weekend. 24 of our young people were in attendance along with 6 adults. We are grateful to volunteers Chuck Stuber, Christine Taylor, Angie Martin, Chris Martin, and Kiyo Takahashi, and we are grateful that everyone had a great time and got home safely!

Our young-at-heart Highlanders held their first gathering of 2024, where participants were treated to a delicious lunch provided by JoAnne Swartz, along with a fascinating presentation from Chuck Stuber on his travels to the Galapagos Islands and Machu Picchu.

We are grateful for so many opportunities to be together as a church family!

The Beauty of Church Family Christmas Traditions

The third Sunday of Advent gave us no shortage of things to celebrate: a Christmas Hymn Sing complete with handbells and orchestra, the baptism of James Gordon & Catherine Summerlin Morrison (children of Rachel & David Morrison), a festive Youth Christmas Party, and Highland's meaningful rendition of the Moravian Lovefeast. What a joy that we have these beautiful traditions to celebrate together each year as a church family.

Holiday Fellowship

Scenes from our Women's Bible Study Christmas Luncheon and the Circle 7 Christmas Party. We are grateful for all the opportunities we have to celebrate the season together as a church family.

A Wonderful Start to Advent

We kicked off our Advent celebrations with our Advent Wreath Workshop on Sunday afternoon (12/3). More than 50 Highland folks of all ages came together to create their own Advent Wreaths, create Christmas crafts, and enjoy a meal together. What a wonderful time to come together as a church family to learn about how and why we observe this season--all while having fun and being creative!

Our Youth completed their Winter Service Project last Sunday by packing 7,500 meals for Rise Against Hunger. We are so grateful that these young people have hearts for service in their community.

We are also grateful to the many volunteers who have decked the halls around campus. Many hands made light work, and we are blessed to have such beautiful surroundings as we observe the season of Advent together.

Vivaldi Gloria & Farewell Reception for Candi Scott

It was a bittersweet day this past Sunday as we celebrated the work and ministry of Candi Scott. While we will miss her terribly here at Highland, we will always be grateful that we had her in our lives for over 15 years. We wish her the very best in her new chapter! 

We were also treated to the Highland Choir's rendition of Vivaldi's Gloria during 11 AM Worship. We are so grateful for the vastly talented members of our staff and congregation who make days like Sunday possible. Thanks be to God!

Our Vibrant Youth Ministry

Our Youth had some amazing time together last weekend with the annual UMC Youth Pilgrimage in Rocky Mount and the first 2024 Confirmation Class gathering at Temple Beth Or.

In worship on Sunday, we welcomed new member Corrine Lusic during the Connection Service, and we were treated to the beautiful music of Ann Pearce, Sarah Mann Willcox, and Phyllis Vogel as they performed the Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 during 11 AM worship.

Thanks be to God that we have so much to celebrate every week at HUMC!