Worship this Sunday

Join us today for worship in person or online!

Our scripture readings will be from Genesis 11: 1-9 and Acts 2: 1-21.

Beth Ragsdale, CLP will lead morning worship.

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



Social Media Update

We have been experiencing some connection issues with our Facebook and other social media accounts recently. While we are working to resolve these issues, some of regularly scheduled announcements and updates have not been posted.

The office is happy to announce that most of these digital interruptions have been addressed, and our announcements and news updates should be back in track this week. Thank you all for your patience while we have worked through these challenges. Should you continue to experience any issues, please information the church office at office@highlandpresby.org.

Free Little Neighborhood

Item of the Week

Our Free Little Neighborhood Item of the week is dry breakfast food.  

Next time you’re at the grocery store, please pick up any dry cereal or breakfast bars that would be easy for an adult or child to prepare at home. 

Adult Sunday School

On Sunday, May 4 at 9:15 a.m. to 10 a.m., our Adult Sunday School Class will begin an eight-week book study of How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life & Faith, by Mariann Edgar Budde, Episcopal Bishop of Washington.

Books are $20 and will be ordered soon. Please contact Martha Vargas 865-599-4583 or sign up in the back of the sanctuary to request a book and join us!

On January 21, 2025, many Americans were introduced to Bishop Budde thanks to what The New York Times called “an extraordinary act of public resistance.” During her prayer service for Donald J. Trump’s second inauguration, Bishop Budde addressed the president directly, imploring him “to have mercy on the people in our country who are scared now,” from those who are part of the LGBTQ+ community to immigrants and refugees.

But for Bishop Budde, this moment was the culmination of a lifetime spent thinking about those pivot points when we’re called on to push past our fears and act with strength. With How We Learn to Be Brave, she teaches us that being brave is not a singular occurrence; it’s a journey that we can choose to undertake every day.

Here, Bishop Budde explores the full range of decisive moments, from the most visible and dramatic (the decision to go), to the internal and personal (the decision to stay), to brave choices made with an eye toward the future (the decision to start), those born of suffering (the decision to accept that which we did not choose), and those that come unexpectedly (the decision to step up to the plate). Drawing on examples ranging from Harry Potter to the Gospel According to Luke, she seamlessly weaves together personal experiences with stories from scripture, history, and pop culture to underscore both the universality of these moments and the particular call each one of us must heed when they arrive.

With Bishop Budde’s wisdom, we can learn to live and to respond according to our true beliefs and in ways that align with our best selves.  How We Learn to Be Brave will provide much-needed fortitude and insight to anyone searching for answers in uncertain times.

Summer Worship Music                     

Make a Joyful Noise to the Lord!!  Our wonderful choir will be taking a well-deserved break during June & July. Please consider sharing your own musical talent during our summer services by signing up for Special Music on any Sunday during those two months. There's a Sign Up Sheet at the rear of the Sanctuary, or you may contact Jussara directly at hortonjussara@gmail.com.

Pentecost Special Offering 2025

Sunday, June 8th

The Pentecost Offering unites us in a church-wide effort to support young people and inspire them to share their faith, ideas, and unique gifts with the church and the world.  Psalm 71 testifies that a foundation of faith established during childhood helps ensure lifelong faith and service. The patterns and lessons established during these formative years continue to bear fruit throughout a person's life.  By receiving the Pentecost Offering, you are nurturing the faith of children, youth, and young adults.

• 40% is retained by congregations to support work with at-risk children, youth and young adults in their local community. 
• 50% supports ministries with youth and young adults. 
• 10% supports child advocacy/children at risk. 

Most congregations receive this offering on Pentecost Sunday. However, your congregation can celebrate this Offering at any point in the year.  Congregations remit through their normal receiving agency (usually the presbytery) or Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) P.O. Box 643700 Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700.

Godspell at Clayton Arts Center

June 6th - June 8th

Jenny Ribble, our MC student who helps with children’s Sunday School, is participating in an upcoming play at the Clayton Arts Center.

The Broadway Center for the Arts will be returning to the Clayton Center for the Arts to bring a new production of Godspell.

Godspell was the first major musical theatre offering from three-time Grammy and Academy Award winner, Stephen Schwartz; and it took the world by storm. 

A small group of people help Jesus Christ tell different parables by using a wide variety of games, storytelling techniques and a hefty dose of comic timing. An eclectic blend of songs, ranging in style from pop to vaudeville, is employed and allow Jesus’ messages of kindness, tolerance and love to come vibrantly to life.

The show will run from June 6th — June 8th. More information can be found here.

Happy Highlander June Picnic at Top of the World

June 17th

Tuesday, June 17th, Happy Highlanders will kick off summer with a potluck picnic at the pavilion near the lake in Marilyn Massey's neighborhood at Top of the World.

We will plan to carpool and leave Highland at 11am to drive up to Top of the World to spend time together with Marilyn in her lovely neighborhood pavilion. Please bring a dish to share. Plates, utensils, cups and drinks will be provided.

Nelda Camper - June 3

Leonard Blankner - June 5

Katherine Nordquist - June 10

Martha Vargas - June 10

Bob Ambler - June 26

Elizabeth Kemp - June 27

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