Highland

Heartbeat

WORSHIP TIME

9:30 a.m. Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary

11 a.m. Contemporary Worship in Fellowship Hall

12:30 p.m. - Lighthouse Imani Church in the Lounge

PASTORAL STAFF

Senior Pastor/Head of Staff:

Rev. Dr. Roger Rabey

Assoc. Pastor for Congregational

Care: Rev. Dr. Ann Osborne

Assoc. Pastor for Mission and

Family Ministry: Rev. Dr. Noé

Juárez

Parish Associate for Visitation:

Rev. Dr. Robert Burns

Seminary Intern:

John Chege

500 E. Roseville Rd. Lancaster, PA 17601 Phone: 717-569-2651 www.highlandpc.org

OFFICE HOURS

Mon—Thurs 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Friday 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Minster on call for pastoral emergencies for the week of Monday, Dec. 11 to Sunday, Dec. 17 is Rev. Dr. Roger Rabey 717-823-2672

Have an announcement or story

idea for The Heartbeat? Contact

bulletin@highlandpc.org

For more information please

visit our web site:

www.highlandpc.org

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Please Recycle!

Finished reading the Heartbeat already? Don’t throw it away! We want to keep them for those who may have missed it! Please place them at the Welcome Center in the Narthex.

A Stephen Ministry Congregation December 10, 2017 Volume 46 Issue 2

Thank you to everyone one who came out to kick off the Advent season with our Carols by

Candlelight concert. We had a great crowd and a great show with performances from the

Hand bell, Children’s, and Chancel choirs!

And on Sunday morning, our Children’s Ministry passed out the first of their nativity gifts. The

children will be given a piece of a nativity set every Sunday during Advent to make a full

nativity for Christmas morning! They also participated in a Christmas store to purchase gifts

for their family and friends.

Celebrating Advent at Highland!

PW Christmas Tea

Register today for the annual PW Christmas Tea on Thursday, Dec.21. We will start at 11:45 a.m. with music by Daniel and Dana Droz. The event is a prepay $7.00 this year as we are having some of the goodies catered. Sign up in the Narthex Dec. 10 and 17. We hope to see every women of the church at the tea this year!

Adult Christian Education Upcoming Events

Sundays

9:30 a.m. Focus on our Faith: Working Together on the Journey Room: 208; Facilitator: Dr. Hugh Smith Join other parents of children and teens for an hour of fellowship, learning, conversation and fun and COFFEE! The group’s conversation will be a six week study of “Soul Keeping” by John Ortberg. We look forward to seeing you!

11 a.m. Faith Café’ Room: Library A discussion group that looks at current topics through the lens of scripture and our faith. We use a newsletter, the Wired Word to provide topics and discussion points.

4:30 p.m. The Gifts of Imperfect Parenting Hudson Room; Facilitator: Laura Rothacker; Class will run once a month beginning Oct. 8 Kids Club parents are invited to join the video course "The Gifts of Imper-fect Parenting: a Wholehearted Revo-lution" by Brene Brown. We will ex-plore what it means to raise children with courage, compassion, and con-nection.

An Online Exploration of Faith

This class runs through May 2018

Messages for Today from the New Testament Online; Facilitator: Mary Kay Hymes; To participate visit: Hpccybercircle.wordpress.com

Veritas Preschool Fundraiser ~ Come out on Wednesday, Dec. 13 from 5 p.m.– 9 p.m. to the Greenfield Isaac’s Restaurant (The Shoppes at Greenfield; 565 Greenfield Road, Lancaster ) for fundraiser benefiting Veritas

Preschool @ Highland. Bring your family and friends to enjoy great food and great company while supporting our wonderful preschool and the great Christian environment that it provides. Flyers can be found at the Welcome Center in the Narthex or at the church front office. You MUST have a flyer with you.

Anniversary cookbooks~ 60th Anniversary Cookbooks are available for purchase on Sunday mornings between the services from now through Dec 17. They make a great Christmas gift. If you have not picked up your prepaid book, they are also available. All proceeds go to Highland mission work. Exact change of $15 or a check is suggest-ed.

PW Book Group ~ Join us on Wednesday Dec. 13 in Room 208 at 12:30pm. We will be discussing The Boston Girl by Anita Diamont. Cookies and punch will be served to celebrate the holiday but as always bringing your own lunch is optional. For more information call Judy Eyster at 717-299-3327 or email jeyster02@gmail.com. We welcome visitors!

Needles 'n Pins (Highland's any-kind-of-needlework group) will gather in the Narthex on Tuesday, Dec. 12 from 1:30 p.m. -3:30 p.m. Please join us! Questions? Call Martha Matt, 717-572-7593 or Kathy Potier, 717-569-0564.

Thursday Men’s Breakfast ~ Our Thursday Men's Breakfast Group is changing loca-tion and time. Effective January 4, 2018 the group will be meeting at Homestead Village Dining Room “Plow and Pineapple” instead of Bob Evans. All are welcome to join!

Volunteer Opportunities

Arch Street Center Volunteers ~ On Friday, Dec. 15, the Local Outreach Committee

will be providing and serving a Christmas lunch to the members of Arch Street Center

from 12 p.m.-1:30 p.m. To help with this event, please contact Linda Neumann at

717-560-1793 or lgneu56@gmail.com. Thank you!

Vantage House Christmas Caroling Event! Please consider joining

a group of Highlanders at Vantage House in Downtown Lancaster

on Monday, Dec. 11 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. to share the Christmas

spirit with the women and children currently living at Vantage

House. We are also in need of some homemade Christmas good-

ies, so if you are willing to bake a batch of cookies, that would be

great too! Please contact Gail Robinson at gailarobinson96@gmail.com or 717-

808-0651 for details. This is a wonderful way to share the joy of Christmas! Thank you

and hope to hear from you!

Christmas Eve Cookies~ This Christmas Eve, Highland will be collecting donations for

St. Anne Church in Lancaster for their annual Christmas Dinner to feed over 800 indi-

viduals who may not have any other meal that day. No sign ups are necessary, simply

bring along a dozen of your favorite cookies for fellowship and a dozen to donate to

the 10 a.m. morning service. Let’s celebrate the season of giving, together!

Distribute Christmas Meals in Lancaster ~ Please join us on Saturday Dec. 23 at 7:30

a.m. for an opportunity to usher in Christmas by serving our neighbors. You are invit-

ed to to participate in Lancaster County Project for the Needy—Christmas Food Bas-

ket, holiday meal distribution. We will meet at Clipper Stadium by the outside play

area (by 3rd base). Direct any questions or R.S.V.P. to Allison Brown at

a.doddbrown@gmail.com or 610-316-1004.

Join us for Yoga!

Christmas Bags ~ Presbyterian Women are gathering items for the Christmas gift bags for all residents at Elderwood Senior Living on Rider Avenue. Still needed to complete the bags are individually-wrapped hard candy, both regular and diabetic, emery boards, toothbrushes and travel-size tooth paste. Items can be dropped off in the basket marked toiletries by the Food Cupboard. Questions? See Barb Droz.

Christmas Joy Offering ~ During this Advent and Christ-mas season, we reflect on the birth of Jesus as God’s greatest gift, given to all of us. Giving to the Christmas

Joy Offering is one way we can celebrate and honor that gift. Envelopes can be found in the pew racks beginning the first Sunday in December and also in the 2017 envelope package. Highland is encouraging members of the congregation to bring the envelopes to be placed in the offering on the morning of Dec. 24.

Alternative Gift Catalog ~ Thanks to everyone who picked up an Alternative Gift Catalog at the services on November 12. You can place your check and order form in the plate at a service, drop them off at the church office, or mail them to the church, to Mike Nolt's attention. Catalogs are still available at the church office and at the welcome centers in the Narthex. If you would like a catalog mailed to you, please contact Ian Turner at ukusc8591@yahoo.com or 717-371-2764.

Advent Devotionals

Highland Presbyterian Church invites all kids (newborn-5 years old) and a guardian to get out of the cold and play (gym) and sing (jam) every Wednesday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. beginning Oct. 11, 2017 until April 18, 2018. Where: Highland’s Gym Cost: Free Will Offering Why: Because kids need to play even when it’s cold!

Advent Devotionals are available in the Narthex between services today. You can also follow along on Highland’s website at highlandpc.org/prayer/2017-advent-devotional/ - the daily devotion will be posted for each day. Additional copies will also be available at the church office. The Worship & Music Council and Contemporary Worship Committee members hope that your family will be blessed by the Advent reflections of our congregation as we “Bring Jesus to Life This Christmas”.

Gym Jam is Back!

Take a mid-week break and unwind with yoga and a devotional every Wednesday until Christmas from 9:30 a.m. to 10: 30 a.m. $5 per person (cover the cost of childcare). Bring water and a yoga mat!

Announcements

Mars Hill Mission Trip! Imagine, spending a week eating together, laughing and sharing devotionals; then going in groups to help people whose homes needs improvement in the Appalachian Mountains. You don't have to be a professional in construction. Please pray about this mission opportunity and considerer joining us next year July 15-21, 2018 to make homes warmer, safer, and drier! If you are interested please contact Jim Eberle at: ebtide86@gmail.com or Pastor Noe Juarez at: noejuarez@highlandpc.org.

Journey to El Salvador ~ The Global Outreach Committee at Highland has scheduled a return trip to visit our brothers and sisters in Christ in El Salvador from Saturday, June 9th to Friday, June 15th, 2018. Highland has been in partnership with the Reformed Calvinist Church of El Salvador (ICRES) for fifteen years. Over these many years we have worked with the church in El Salvador to create a number of economic and educational assistance projects to assist

communities there. The deadline for joining the mission team traveling to El Salvador from June 9-15, 2018 is Friday, January 12. Space is still available. If interested, or if you have any questions, please contact Ian Turner at ukusc8591@yahoo.com or 717-371-2764.

Kinston, NC ~ Join a Highland team in Kinston, NC on March 11-17,2018. In the Fall of 2016, Hurricane Matthew created flood waters two and a half feet above the record levels of Hurricane Floyd in 1999. Hundreds of homes in Lenoir County were flood-ed. Highland's team will help this community that is still in great need of assis-tance. First Presbyterian Church of Kinston, NC will host us. Registration for the March trip will be available on Jan. 1, 2018.

Lend a Hand Locally ~ In October 2018, another relief team will be organized to assist those affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. By October local organizations will be ready to host outside teams and use their skills most effective-ly. Look for more information in the spring or early summer.

2018 Mission Trips

Staff Listing extension

Roger Rabey Senior Pastor 226 Ann Osborne Associate Pastor 222 Noe Juarez Associate Pastor 213 Robert Burns Parish Associate Jenny Kutzner Youth Director 228 Laurie Juarez Children’s Ministry 218 Jonathan Lefever Multimedia/Info.Tech 229 Josh Witmer Contemp. Music Leader 214 Mike Nolt Church Administrator 224 Donna Stettler Facility Scheduler & Admin 210 Steve Smith Facility Supervisor 225 Myla Merkel Communications Coordinator 211 Kevin Estes Music Dir. & Organist 217 Alan Danthua Custodian Jo Hall Food and Fellowship Coordinator Mike Hutchinson Groundskeeper Amanda Smith Housekeeper Mindy Witmer Child Care Coordinator

All staff can be reached at their Highland email

addresses. Example:

fullname@highlandpc.org

Prayer List The Family of Reina Lamb The Family of Jean Bosch —- Carol Anderson John and Doris Bair’s granddaughter, Heather Nancy Bare & family Charles Bender Dorothy Bitting (Jane Higdon) Jeffery Bosch (Jean Bosch’s grandson)Florence Brubaker (Sue Savage’s Aunt)Michelle Brunner Elsie & Bill Culp Mark Falvey (nephew of Claudia Falvey) Gail Frederick (friend of Kathleen Shuman)Jean Fontes & Children Bill Foreman Ryan & Krista Ginn Brad Guimond (Linda’s son) Linda Guimond Audrey & Gene Hannum Clarise Hart (family friend of Jan Fitzgibbon)Karen Hirte Bonnie Jodz (Richard Hankel’s sister in law) Carly Klassen (Joe & Jan Chestnutt’s neice) Peggy Koelsch & family Pat Leidy Ken Mattern Chuck Matt (Dale Matt’s Brother) Austin Morgan Nancy & Dave Roy Karen Schlemmer John Sourber (Greg Sourber’s dad) Jean Stearn Dorie Steinman Jeanne Utz (Connie Tower’s mom) Carol Wenger Sandy & John Wolfe’s daughter Randy & Arlene Zerr Elevate Men’s Basketball - Men’s families in Puerto Rico

Sunday, December 10 - Second Sunday of Advent

9:30 a.m. Christmas Cantata

4:30 p.m. Kid’s Club Pajamas & Christmas Movie party

Sunday, December 17 - Third Sunday of Advent Rev. Dr. Roger Rabey “Joseph’s Merciful Character”

9:30 a.m. Traditional Service; 11 a.m. Contemporary Service

Thursday - December 21 11:45 a.m. PW Christmas Tea

Sunday, December 24 - Fourth Sunday of Advent 10 a.m. COMBINED service

Rev. Dr. Noe Juarez “How Did Joseph Support Mary”

Christmas Eve Services Rev. Dr. Roger Rabey “Journey to Bethlehem”

4 p.m. Family Service; 8 p.m. Traditional Service; 10 p.m. Communion Service

Sunday, December 31 - First Sunday After Christmas Rev. Dr. Ann Osborne “Planning for God’s Future”

10 a.m. COMBINED Service

Abundant thanks for your Generosity!

The second week report of the Highland Presbyterian Church annual pledge drive continues to be encouraging but does point out some challenges.

As a congregation we continue to respond to the request for financial and personal commitment in the life of our church. Approximately fifty additional cards were received.

We are at 82% of last year's total pledge.

New pledges continue to be strong equaling 15% of the current total.

What are the challenges?

1. A large number of our congregation does not pledge. This doesn't mean that they do not give. It means that we don't know how to anticipate the funding we will have for the programs we want to meet our Strategic Goals to grow this church.

2. About 30% of the cards returned were for the same or decreased giving. The pledged amount of these cards is significant and the giving is strong. The challenge is for us to understand what is going on in their lives and how as a church family we can respond.

Thanks to all for your cooperation and support! Please, if you have not yet pledged, WE NEED YOU to do so before the end of the year, to you your card in our church office by Sunday, December 31.