~ MINISTER’S MESSAGE ~ The Newsletter of Highland Presbyterian Church JUNE 2016 www. highland-presbyterian-church.org Highlights • JUNE 2016 • 1 Pastoral Nominating Committee (PNC) Steve Hardy, Amy Hill, Guy Matta, Pete McCallum, Sam Tharpe, Jr., Carole Walkden, and Brian Wood From the Interim Pastor . . . Mission Study Results As a result of congregation-wide listening and the work of leadership toward the latter half of 2015 a Mission Study process was conducted to help Highland find the next Pastor. It is important in looking for the next pastor that Highland has a sense of God’s call for the mission and ministry of HPC. Your PNC (Pastor Nominating Committee) will be using this important information as they seek the next pastor. They will be looking for people who seem to be energized by your sense of God’s call and who would be very comfortable in the leadership of HPC. I am sharing excerpts from the Mission Study data in my part of the weekly email but thought it good to share here as well. Below are some vital descriptions of our mission together. Mission Statement – “To share Christ’s love and grow disciples” (currently displayed at the top of the steps as you enter the worship building). Vision Statement – “Our church family and the wider community will feel God’s presence and mercy.” Values – 1) Welcoming, 2) Service, 3) Fellowship, 4) Worship Near-term Goals – 1) Improve external communications, 2) Help our members with time management and prioritizing, 3) Eliminate leader burnout Peace and Wonder! Pastor Ray
Transcript
~ MINISTER’S MESSAGE ~
The Newsletter of Highland Presbyterian Church
JUNE 2016
www. highland-presbyterian-church.org Highlights • JUNE 2016 • 1
Pastoral Nominating Committee (PNC)
Steve Hardy, Amy Hill, Guy Matta, Pete McCallum, Sam Tharpe, Jr., Carole Walkden, and Brian Wood
From the Interim Pastor . . .
Mission Study Results
As a result of congregation-wide listening and the work of leadership toward the latter half of 2015 a Mission Study process was conducted to help Highland find the next Pastor. It is important in looking for the next pastor that Highland has a sense of God’s call for the mission and ministry of HPC. Your PNC (Pastor Nominating Committee) will be using this important information as they seek the next pastor. They will be looking for people who seem to be energized by your sense of God’s call and who would be very comfortable in the leadership of HPC. I am sharing excerpts from the Mission Study data in my part of the weekly email but thought it good to share here as well. Below are some vital descriptions of our mission together. Mission Statement – “To share Christ’s love and grow disciples” (currently displayed at the top of the steps as you enter the worship building). Vision Statement – “Our church family and the wider community will feel God’s presence and mercy.” Values – 1) Welcoming, 2) Service, 3) Fellowship, 4) Worship
Near-term Goals – 1) Improve external communications, 2) Help our members with time management and prioritizing, 3) Eliminate leader burnout
Peace and Wonder!
Pastor Ray
www. highland-presbyterian-church.org Highlights • JUNE 2016 • 2
HIGHLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
T S Rev. Raymond Meute, Jr. Moderator
Valerie Matta Sarah DeBaugh Craig DeRan Barbara W. Richardson Eugene Jones Marilyn Sams John Walkden Claudia Scarborough Sam Tharpe, Jr. T D Emily Hardy Koren Buehler Sandra Demczak Nancy R. Jones Sharon Hunt Martha Durand Joyce Lilly Rebecca Link-Wood Heidi Richardson
T T Rachel Ayres Steve Hardy John Durand Wilson Tharpe Terry Hunt Marcia Jones Carole Walkden Brian Wood David Thompson
F O
Financial Secretary Claudia Scarborough Assistant Financial Secretary Becca Wood Memorial Fund Nancy R. Jones Marcia Jones, Assistant Treasurer Eugene Jones Rachel Ayres, Assistant Cemetery Treasurer Eugene Jones Rachel Ayres, Assistant Endowment Fund Claudia Scarborough
M M
Sanctuary Choir Director Laurie Falkner Organist Nancy R. Jones Praise Team Leader / Pianist Kathy Zamostny
C S
Administrative Assistant Lea Ann Mainster Cleaning Service Sherry Everett Clothing Closet Coordinator Sherry Everett Flower Committee Chair Rachel Ayres Interim Youth Director Sherry Everett
HIGHLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 701 HIGHLAND ROAD
STREET, MARYLAND 21154
Phone: 410-452-9394
Please contact the church to be added or deleted from the mailing list, to offer suggestions for content, to submit articles, or to inquire about Highland Presbyterian Church.
Session Organization Rev. Ray Meute, Jr., Moderator
Clerk of Session Craig DeRan Christian Formation and Nurture Valerie Matta, Sarah DeBaugh Mission and Stewardship Claudia Scarborough, Barbara Richardson, Gene Jones Worship Marilyn Sams, Sam Tharpe, Jr. Personnel and Nominating John Walkden Liaison to Trustees Eugene Jones
www. highland-presbyterian-church.org Highlights • JUNE 2016 • 3
SESSION NOTES—MAY 2016
The Session took the following actions in its meeting this month:
Approved minutes, commission reports and financial reports.
Arranged for Communion to be held at outdoor worship service June 5.
Arranged for refreshments to be served after June worship services.
Heard a report from the Pastoral Nominating Committee.
Approved additional vacation dates for Rev. Meute.
Discussed potential web services.
Approved a $100.00 donation from Highland to benefit the North Harford High School Baccalaureate program.
The Pastoral Nominating Committee (PNC) has met four times. Pete McCallum and Carole Walkden have been appointed as co-chairs, and Sam Tharpe, Jr. is serving as the recorder. Presbytery liaison, Mrs. Karen Gyolai, has provided us with guidance to start our journey. Using the results from the congregation's self-study we will begin the process of choosing attributes that our church wants in our next minister. Your continued prayers and support are greatly appreciated as the PNC move forward in our ministerial search.
HIGHLAND FINANCIAL REPORT
Year‐to‐Date Year‐to‐Date
5/26/2016 5/26/2015
GENERAL FUND
Contribu ons/Receipts $ 72,044 $ 84,578
Expenses ($73,541) (80,860)
Surplus(Deficit) $ (1,497) $ 3,718
MISSIONS*
Contribu ons/Receipts $ 16,445 $ 9,331
Paid ($16,987) (11,426)
Surplus(Deficit) $ (541) $ (2,095)
PER CAPITA ($33.70 per member)
Received $ 1,620 $ 1,929
Paid (2,725) (2,240)
Surplus(Deficit) $ (1,105) $ (311)
www. highland-presbyterian-church.org Highlights • JUNE 2016 • 4
HIGHLAND MEMORIAL PRAYER GARDEN AND COLUMBARIUM
On Sunday, May 15, Claudia Scarborough and David Thompson, gave a Power Point presentation of the plans for the Highland Memorial Prayer Garden and Columbarium followed by a question and answer period. Packets containing a copy of the artist renderings of the Garden, designed by David Thompson, as well as details about the proposed Columbarium were provided for each person attending. The Garden will be located in the corner created by the kitchen addition and will provide a view of the entire cemetery. Seated in the Garden, you will be surrounded by beautiful shrubbery and flowers. It will be a peaceful place for reflection and prayer and remembrance of loved ones who have passed on. The Columbarium will be located within the Memorial Prayer Garden and will provide a place for inurnment of cremated remains and their perpetual care. The budget for the entire project is $40,050. Over $10,000 has been donated towards the Prayer Garden, but $16,330.00 is still needed. Also, three commitments have been received for purchase of a niche in the Columbarium. A separate bank account is being established to process the purchase of niches in the Columbarium. The price of a niche is $1,750 if paid by November 15, 2016, and $2,000, which can be paid in installments, after November 15. Each niche will hold the cremated remains of two persons. At this time, donations are being accepted for the creation of the Highland Memorial Prayer Garden. Please mark your checks clearly for the Memorial Garden and forward to the church or place in the offering on Sunday. For more details about the Highland Memorial Prayer Garden and Columbarium, a packet may be requested from the church office or questions may be forwarded to any member of the committee. We hope, with the support of the congregation, to see this important project become a reality. Committee: Chairman, Pete McCallum, Rachel Ayres, Ian Fallon, Eugene Jones, Marilyn Sams, Claudia Scarborough, Wilson Tharpe, David Thompson and Pastor Ray Meute.
This rendering shows three Columbarium units, but the plan is to start with one unit and expand as needed.
Rendering of Proposed Highland Memorial Prayer Garden and Columbarium
www. highland-presbyterian-church.org Highlights • JUNE 2016 • 5
The Body of Christ serving others . . .
Conversing With God
Prayer is truly the key component in our relationship with God, for it is essential to our fellowship with He who first loved us (1 John 1:1-4, 4:19). Prayer should primarily be a two-way conversation between God and His child, which He inspires more than we realize, rather than a one-sided pouring out to Him of our petitions, which we initiate. Sometimes this happens, of course, but prayer is not just about us; it is a time also to thank God, share concerns about others, and a time to lift Him up. Simply put, prayer needs to be a God-led balance between our speaking and our listening to Him, for it is essential that we hear from Him if we want to remain in His will (Rom. 12:2). A key barometer to whether or not we are in His will, is our "heart-peace." When restless, dissatisfied, confused, grieved, or angry, we are surely not at peace, or rest, as He desires (Heb. 4). Only when we are in close communion with God, giving Him our burdens (Matt. 11:28-30), trusting in Him and following His path (Prov. 3:5-6), do we know His peace. God has even given us His telephone number in Jeremiah 33:3, telling us to call upon Him and He will answer. We therefore need to trust God's ability to move people's hearts, and to go before us in all situations, a divine preparing of the way, then fully let go and believe (have faith in) He who is in us, being greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4). We also need to confidently place our time in His hands, as David did in Psalm 31:15. God knows our time is so precious to us, that giving it to Him to regulate, is one of the greatest gifts we can give Him. There are benefits to our releasing our cares to Him. Daily prayer truly causes our relationship with God to grow, then as we experience the blessings and rewards from abiding in Him (John 15), we cannot help but yearn for more time in His presence. It is only then when our thirst is quenched (the spiritual kind). I've found that my daily heart attitude is directly related to the length of time I spend with God in prayer and/or worship, and/or the Word, at the start of a day. The longer I put off His call to my heart, allowing interruptions & distractions to have first place, the less I accomplish and the more easily frustrated I am. I believe obedience to God, by giving in to His silent calls, then allowing and trusting Him to prioritize for me, reveals what is most important to Him. If you don't already function this way, try it out - for Him, and your self, then be blessed. Prayers and blessings, Carolyn Patrinicola Highland Prayer Fellowship
www. highland-presbyterian-church.org Highlights • JUNE 2016 • 6
PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVINGS AND INTERCESSIONS
PRAISE & THANKSGIVING All 2016 Graduates & All Teachers
Zamostny Family thanks for Highland Church
INTERCESSIONS Ed Christman Jean F. Galbreath Melvin Good (friend of Dave Thompson) Chris Hill & family Gene Jones Marcia Jones Jeanne Larsen Clay Miller (friend of the Matta Family) Jim Nix (brother of Dave Taylor) Barbara K. Richardson Norma Taylor Roy Walter (friend of Jimmy & Jeanne Galbreath) Louis White (father of Barbara W. Richardson) Ray Wilson
ASSISTED LIVING/NURSING Donald Jackson
Bill Seldon Helen Watkins Samuel Wilson
OUR DEPLOYED MILITARY
Russell Heilman, Navy - Japan Adam McNutt, 101st Airborne Army US
The Maryland National Guard
TIME OF TRANSITION
Pastoral Nominating Committee (PNC) Steve Hardy, Amy Hill, Guy Matta,
Pete McCallum, Sam Tharpe, Jr., Carole Walkden, and Brian Wood
Session Leadership Presbytery Support
MINISTRIES Church - Prayer Garden & Columbarium Local - Harford Hammers, Inc. Missions - Doug & Chrystie Adams Porcupine Pres & Learning Camp - Ruby Weston, Sonia Weston Presbytery of Baltimore - Cuban Partners & Churchville Presbyterian Church General Assembly of the PCUSA - Portland, Oregon June 18 - 15, 2016
COMMUNITY & WORLD CONCERNS Harford Center & Highland Activity Ctr
Porcupine Presbyterian Church Our Nation
Families of Egyptian plane Crash
**PRAYER LIST INFORMATION**
PLEASE NOTIFY THE CHURCH OFFICE BY PHONE OR EMAIL CONCERNING ALL PRAYER REQUESTS & ALSO REMEMBER IT IS IMPORTANT TO LET US KNOW WHEN A REQUEST CAN BE REMOVED TO KEEP OUR LIST
UP-TO-DATE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO OUR PRAYER MINISTRY.
www. highland-presbyterian-church.org Highlights • JUNE 2016 • 7
Terry Hunt, Chairman of the Clothing Mission Renovation Project, prepares to cut the ribbon celebrating the Grand Reopening of Threads of Hope on Saturday, May 14.
Congratulations and thanks to everyone for support of this mission.
. . . in serving others, we serve Christ!
Harford Center ~ We say “Thank you” to your clients for their
volunteer hours in the Threads of Hope Clothing Mission!!
www.highland-presbyterian-church.org Highlights • JUNE 2016 • 8
Dear Highland Family, Thank you so very much for your love and support with your prayers, cards, calls, and visits during my healing journey. A special thank you to Pastor Ray for many inspiring visits. Sincerely, Jeanne Larsen
In Memoriam Benjamin Walker Denton September 26, 2015 ~ May 6, 2016
In Memoriam Joyce Cosenzo
January 27, 1948 ~ May 10, 2016
In Memoriam Jerome J. Zamostny
December 2, 1960 ~ May 10, 2016
Congratulations & God’s Blessings on little
Liam Warren Hunt
born on May 4, 2016!!
Proud Dad & Mom are Gregory & Megan Hunt Very proud Grandparents are Terry & Sharon Hunt
To Our Highland Family, Norma Taylor and Sherry Everett would like to thank everyone for their visits, cards and prayers during Norma’s hospital stay and recovery time as well as during the time of the loss of her sister, Joyce Cosenzo. Thank you!
www. highland-presbyterian-church.org Highlights • JUNE 2016 • 9
BDLC 2016 Mission Team needs your help!
We will be collecting new or gently used (in good condition) children's books to be shipped out to Porcupine prior to our trip. We are particularly in need of Bible Story books this year. A box for donated books is located in the church foyer. Thank you in advance for your support as we strive to make a difference in these children’s lives!!
Taylor Mezzatesta graduates from John Carroll High School and will attend Chestnut Hill College. Taylor is the grandson of Jim & Ruth Lawrence.
Recognition of 2016 Graduates
Taylor Everett graduates from Harford Technical High School and will attend Harford Community College for a degree in Nursing. Taylor is the daughter of Sherry & Joe Everett and granddaughter of Norma & Lacy Taylor.
Justin King graduates from North Harford High School and is planning to enter the work force. Justin is the son of William & Lisa Wallace and the grandson of Dave & Jenny Street.
Abby Matta graduates from Salisbury University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies. Abby is considering a future with Americore. Abby is the daughter of Guy & Valerie Matta.
Abby Ulmer graduates from North Harford High School and will attend the University of Maryland College Park for a degree in Environment Science. Abby is the daughter of Debbie and Woody Ulmer.
www. highland-presbyterian-church.org Highlights • JUNE 2016 • 10
Sunday, June 5, 2016
ALL are Welcome, so please join us for . . . Worship at 10:00 AM ~
celebrating Communion as we worship around the table, a time of fellowship and Picnic to follow!! A meat entrée will be supplied, but please
bring a covered dish to share and your own chairs if you have them!
We will hold everything inside
in the event of bad weather.
Highland High School Alumni Banquet ~ Saturday, June 4th!
We will be serving a luncheon on Saturday, June 4, at 1:00, to the alumni of the
Highland High School. Help is needed in the kitchen both in the morning and afternoon. We also need servers and a clean-up crew. Please contact Claudia Scarborough at
The next Women's Fellowship Night will be held on Wednesday, June 1st at 6:00 PM in Netting Hall. At 6:30 PM Sam Tharpe Jr. will be joining us to share
his knowledge on flavoring. If you would like to assist with any of the details of the event
please contact Valerie Matta!
If you would like to stretch and exercise, too, come at 5:30 PM!!
Kick off your summer break at Vacation Bible School Jointly led by Emory United Methodist & Highland Presbyterian Churches
Held at Emory UMC, 911 Cherry Hill Rd (on Rt. 543), Street, MD 21154
June 20th-24th 5:30 - 6:00 PM – Kid-friendly Dinner
