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Highland Presbyterian Church seeks to be a diverse and inclusive Christian Community as we embody the love and forgiveness of Jesus by serving the Community and the World, drawing people to Christ. |
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Highland Happening
September 9, 2021
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I’m so excited that this Sunday will be the day we kick off our Sunday school year! We have purchased a copy of Growing in God’s Love A Story Bible for each child. Our Sunday school curriculum for the next few YEARS will come directly from this story Bible and our children will get to engage with the pictures, questions and well written stories. We will present the Bibles to our children this Sunday so please attend either worship if possible. We will also have a blessing for the school year as well so we would love to see you.
We will constantly keep an eye on Covid numbers and make plans with the safety of everyone in mind as we plan for any events this fall and winter. Please know that the safety of each and every one of you is at the front of session’s and my mind.
Thanks and blessings,
Rev. Matthew Benz-Whittington
Pastor of Highland Presbyterian Church
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This Sunday, September 12th, we will have our 9:00 am pavilion service and 10:30 am sanctuary service.
We will focus on Mark 9 where Jesus blesses the children and it will be a perfect text as we bless our children who have returned to school and we kick off our Sunday school year.
Use the link below to join our Zoom meeting for the 10:30 am service. Use the buttons to our Facebook Page and YouTube Channel.
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Sometimes the right answer is the one right in front of you.
We are happy to announce that our organist, Jussara Horton, has accepted the offer to lead our choir as she continues to play piano and organ for us!
Jussara comes with years of experience leading music and also has a master's degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Tennessee. Her skills are perfect for our choir and we are so excited to have her in this new role.
Make sure you congratulate her on Sunday morning!
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Our New Communications Manager |
Please give a big welcome to Tabby Parker who is joining us on a contract basis as our Communications Manager. As we have had a gap in our front office position, Tabby has been brought on to assist with our weekly emails, social media and our website. She brings years of experience working with larger companies and managing their communications.
Tabby and her husband, Roland, welcomed their daughter, Grayson, into the the world this summer. Both Roland and Tabby are Maryville College alum and have called Maryville home for several years now.
For the foreseeable future, if you have any announcements for the Highland Happening, website or our social media, email Tabby at [email protected]
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Daytime Circle Bible Study |
Highland’s Daytime Circle will begin the new 2021-2022 PW Bible study in September: “What My Grandmothers Taught Me: Learning from the Women in Matthew’s Genealogy of Jesus”. The study is open to ALL circles, and the entire congregation! We will meet the first Thursday of every month. For more information, or to sign up, contact Diane Brown (865-323-7701 or [email protected]).
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Fall Book Study
Tuesdays from Sept. 14-Oct. 19
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This fall we will read the book Race in America as a church book study. As we have become a Matthew 25 congregation, one of the challenges is Dismantling Structural Racism and this book will be a great starting point to educate us.
There will be an in-person session in the morning (10:00-11:00 am) at the church and an evening (7:00 pm) session on Zoom.
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Progressive Dinner
Sunday, September 19th
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The Progressive Dinner is less than 2 weeks away! It is scheduled for September 19th and we will be doing things a little differently this year.
Our first stop will be the Pavilion at Asbury Place- 2648 Sevierville Road, Maryville. You turn onto Aldersgate and go approximately 100 yards where you will turn left on to St. Claire and go to the end of the parking lot where you will see a path to the pavilion on the lake. Parking is available in front of the Tremont homes on the right side of the parking area only. There is also loading/unloading/ handicapped parking on Wilder Chapel Lane, the next road just past St. Claire. You can bring any appetizers/main dishes/side dishes with you to the pavilion. We plan to begin eating at 4:30, so we can begin gathering before then.
Plates/utensils/cups/napkins/drinks will be provided.
Our last stop will be the pavilion at Highland. We will meet at approximately 5:45 for dessert. This will also give the children a place to play. You may bring any desserts with you then, or if they need to be chilled, you may bring them to the church earlier in the day.
We will be abiding by the CDC guidelines, including social distancing and mask wearing where necessary. We will also have 2 people at each location acting as servers as another step to keep us all safe.
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Happy Highlanders
Tuesday, September 21st
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Happy Highlanders will meet on 9/21. We will gather at the church at 11:00 and car pool to Metcalf Bottoms for a picnic. It was decided that it will be safer for everyone to bring their own food. We’ll share fellowship rather than food! In the event of rain, we will meet in the fellowship hall. Please join us! |
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Maryville College Homecoming Weekend |
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Support Presbyterian Disaster Assistance |
There are currently several major humanitarian crisis events happening in the world including the recent earthquake in Haiti and the collapse of the Afghanistan government. Our denomination has always assisted where it can and one of our best resources in the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. Please visit their website and consider making a donation that go directly to help where it is needed.
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Being a Matthew 25 Congregation means we are constantly working toward creating the beloved community. Each week, in this email, we will share resources or stories of ways of engaging the three challenges of Dismantling Structural Racism, Eradicating Systemic Poverty and Building Congregational Vitality. For more information on the Matthew 25 initiative, visit their website by clicking on the picture to the left.
The Stated Clerk for the PC(USA) shares his thoughts about the crisis happening in Afghanistan as the US pulls out of the country. He also writes a heartfelt prayer and an inspired call to action for all people of faith. At the bottom of the page are a list of resources for how we can all respond.
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Prayers, Joys and Concerns |
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Please pray for our members, families, and friends.
We lift-up prayers for those among our community who are shut in. Be with them as they are separated in body from their loved ones.
Bob Crouch- Brother-in-law of Gene Johnson has been diagnosed with liver disease and has been placed on hospice. Be in prayer for Bob and his wife, Clara, who is Gene’s sister.
Mike Outler- Stacey Nordquist’s Brother-in-Law will begin cancer treatment at MD Anderson in Houston, TX. Please keep him and his family in your prayers.
We lift-up especially the following prayer concerns:
All in the world who are suffering from Covid-19, especially for patients, the mourning survivors of those who have perished, and the heroic medical professionals who are fighting the battle for us.
At home:
Jim Cornett
At Shannondale:
David Campbell
At Asbury Place:
Mildred Engelhardt
Bruce Watt
Nancy Davis
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Carole Schenk – Sept. 5
Cheryl Baker- Sept. 6
Jennie Puffer- Sept. 6
Dennis McCarthy- Sept. 8
Fred Erickson- Sept. 11
Don Kilgore- Sept. 13
Bergen Erickson- Sept. 15
Portia Carver- Sept. 20
Katie Hill- Sept. 20
Tiara Kemp- Sept. 27
Shea Peace- Sept. 28
David Young- Sept. 28
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Click the button above to visit our online giving page. It only take a few minutes to set up an account and you can schedule automatic payments to keep up with your pledge. |
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Download a copy of the church calendar. |
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