Worship this Sunday

Join us for worship this Sunday, May 28^th for Pentecost Sunday and make sure you wear red which is the liturgical color to represent the Holy Spirit! This is the Sunday we celebrate the ‘birth’ of the church when the Holy Spirit rushed through the room the disciples were hiding in and gave them the gifts they needed to go out into the world and share the good news of Jesus Christ. What gifts do we need to go out into the world and share that same good news? How do you feel the Holy Spirit moving in your life? Come to worship this Sunday and we will explore these questions and more. 

The church office will be closed, Monday, May 29^th for Memorial Day. 

Watch the service live on our Facebook page at 10:30 am.

Highland is a More Light Congregation

On Monday, May 22^nd, the session of Highland voted for us to become a More Light congregation. This is a recognition within our denomination that we are a congregation that, ‘work(s) for the full participation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people in the life, ministry and witness of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and in society.” 

This is the beginning of a journey and opportunities for education and growth and we recognize that not everyone is on the same part of this journey. You might have a lot of questions. Here are a few helpful links to help you understand the More Light organization. 

More Light Website

History of More Light

What We Believe

Becoming a More Light Church and Why

Presbytery May 2023 Meeting Recap

Elder Tracey Farr was the commissioner for the May 2023 meeting of the Presbytery of East Tennessee and attached here is her report from the meeting. 

Free Little Neighborhood Item of the Week

The item of the week is kid’s snacks and supplies. Since we are officially collecting the Pentecost offering this Sunday which helps to support youth and young adults in our denomination, let’s get our Neighborhood boxes filled with snacks, food, wipes, diapers or anything that would make life easier for parents of young children.

Presbytery Newsletter 

Being Presbyterian means we are part of a connectional church. Our local governing body is the Presbytery of East Tennessee and at the link below you can read the weekly newsletter that provides updates to events and ministries that are happening all around us. You can also sign up to get the newsletter by going to the Presbytery’s website and going to the bottom of the homepage.

Newsletter link for week of May 22^nd  

Pentecost Special Offering

Sunday, April 30-Sunday, May 28

Highland will collect the next PCUSA Special Offering, The Pentecost Offering on Sunday, May 28. A gift to the Pentecost Offering helps the church encourage, develop, and support its young people, and also address the needs of at-risk children. 40% of the Pentecost offering can be retained by individual congregations wanting to make an impact in the lives of young people within their own community. The remaining 60% is used to support children-at-risk, youth, and young adults through ministries of the Presbyterian Mission Agency.

Our 40% of the offering will be split between a donation to the Boys and Girls Club and towards our Free Little Neighborhood.

Learn more about the offering at this link.

The Beloved Community Outreach Foundation 

Join the Beloved Community Outreach foundation for their 10^th Annual Memorial/Decoration Day Celebration on Monday, May 29, 2023 noon-1:00 pm at Cedar Lawn Cemetery in Alcoa. This location is on Kings Court off of N. Hall Road and a little past the Quality Inn Hotel. This will be a time of remembrance, celebration, and fellowship.

Presbyterian Women Bible Study 

Thursday, June 1^st, 1:30 pm

Highland’s own Circle of Presbyterian Women will meet to discuss the final lesson of the 2022-2023 Bible study on Thursday, June 1 at noon in the Fellowship Hall. (Please note the change in time and location.) We will discuss Lesson Nine in the study “Celebrating Sabbath”. The topic is “Sabbath and Community.” Since “community is key for sustaining us in our Sabbath journey,” we will celebrate our community with a pizza lunch! All are welcome! For more info, contact moderator Diane Brown at [email protected].

The May e-newsletter of the Presbyterian Women of the Presbytery of East Tennessee is here! It can be viewed at this link. 

We have lots of news about the Spring Gathering held on May 6. In addition, you can read about PW’s scholarship recipient Jessica Lewis, Mission Haven’s Spring Events, Historic Mars Hill Presbyterian Church in Athens, and the latest on peace and justice causes.

Summer Story Time with Pastor Matthew 

Join Pastor Matthew for Summer Story Time on Wednesdays from 10:00-11:00 am in the church pavilion starting on Wednesday, May 31st. This is a time that is meant for younger children and similar to a story time that you would see at a library. We will have a theme of the week with stories, activities, and art. Come out for a fun time! 

Visit the new calendar page on the Highland website to stay up to date with what is happening in the life of the church.