On Sunday, September 7 after worship, we invite all parents of Atrium-aged children to a Lunch & Learn presentation. Our lead catechists will share insights into what your children will be learning this year in each level of the Atrium, and Camille Caldwell Morris, a former teacher at Creative Montessori, will share an introduction to the Montessori method which we use to guide all interactions in the Atrium. Childcare will be provided during the presentation.

Contact: Mary Elizabeth Neal – maryelizabeth@highlandsumc.net

Bring A Friend Sunday - September 7

As we kick off our fall activities, it is a wonderful time to invite friends to come with you to church! We invite you to bring a friend, neighbor, or co-worker to Sunday school and worship on Sunday, September 7. All are welcome! Invite your friends to experience the warmth of God's loving community here at Highlands and to experience the beauty of our worship. If you have friends with children, there is also an Atrium Lunch and Learn that day with childcare provided. Let's all extend our love into the community by welcoming friends and neighbors to Highlands!

No Sunday School Classes - August 31

There will be no Sunday School classes or Atrium next Sunday, August 31 during Labor Day Weekend. The Nursery will open at 10:15 am.

Heart and Hand Sunday - August 24: Book Drive and Highlands Quilt

Heart & Hand Sundays are intergenerational Sunday School service projects for the whole Highlands family! One Sunday each summer month, our children, youth and adults gather to work together on service projects for our church and community.

This year, we will be collecting items for a local charities and working together to create a Highlands quilt as part of our 2025 Renewal.

June 1 - Diaper Drive for East Lake UMC Co-Op Ministries
July 13 - Pet Supplies for Greater Birmingham Humane Society
August 24 - Gently Used Children’s Books for Little Free Libraries

Everyone is invited and encouraged to take part! These experiences are a great way to get to know the Highlands family better, and are a perfect opportunity to invite friends and neighbors to see what Highlands is all about.

Acolyte Training

Being an acolyte at Highlands is more than just wearing a robe and carrying a torch or processional cross - it is an act of praise and service to God, and your church family. Acolytes illuminate the Word, direct our attentions toward spiritual matters, and enhance our communal worship experience. This fall, you are invited to join the Acolyte Ministry at Highlands. All you have to do is attend one of our training sessions. Lunch will provided and training takes about an hour. Acolyte training is open to everyone: adults, youth, and children fourth grade and older. All currently trained acolytes are also encouraged to attend a training session.

During the summer months, our Third Sunday Potlucks become Third Sunday Cook Outs! Join us on Sunday, August 17 for great food and warm fellowship. We’ll provide the hamburgers and hot dogs; the congregation is asked to bring sides and desserts. All are welcome and invited!

Contact: Michelle Jones – michelle@highlandsumc.net

Join us for our annual back-to-school tradition!  All students may bring their backpacks to worship for a moment of blessing and prayer for another great school year.  Teachers and childcare givers are invited to take part as well.

During the summer months, our Third Sunday Potlucks become Third Sunday Cook Outs! Join us on Sunday, July 20 for great food and warm fellowship. We’ll provide the hamburgers and hot dogs; the congregation is asked to bring sides and desserts. All are welcome and invited!

Contact: Michelle Jones – michelle@highlandsumc.net

Heart and Hand Sunday - July 13: Pet Supplies Drive and Highlands Quilt

Heart & Hand Sundays are intergenerational Sunday School service projects for the whole Highlands family! One Sunday each summer month, our children, youth and adults gather to work together on service projects for our church and community.

This year, we will be collecting items for a local charities and working together to create a Highlands quilt as part of our 2025 Renewal.

June 1 - Diaper Drive for East Lake UMC Co-Op Ministries
July 13 - Pet Supplies for Greater Birmingham Humane Society
August 24 - Gently Used Children’s Books for Little Free Libraries

Everyone is invited and encouraged to take part! These experiences are a great way to get to know the Highlands family better, and are a perfect opportunity to invite friends and neighbors to see what Highlands is all about.

Join us after worship on July 6 for Hymn Sing Sundae, an ice cream social to celebrate Independence Day Weekend with our church family. Invite your friends and neighbors

Join us on Sunday, July 6 for a Hymn Sing! The singing of hymns is one our oldest Methodist traditions, as we collectively lift our hearts and voices for the worship of God. We will sing our favorite songs of the faith, both old and new. Make plans to join us for worship this week!

Join us to help prepare Market Baskets for needy families at the East Lake Farmer’s Market. More information to come!

After a five-month renewal leave, Rev. Mikah Hudson will return to worship and leadership at Highlands on Sunday, June 22. Please join us for worship and stay after for a luncheon in celebration of our whole-church renewal in 2025.

RSVPs not required, but help us prepare!

Renewal 2025 Supply Pastors Reception

While Senior Pastor Mikah Hudson is on renewal leave, funded by a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment, we have been blessed by the leadership of The Reverend Dr. Bill Morgan, The Reverend Dr. Rick Owen, and Bishop Mike Watson to Highlands.

Save the dates and join us after worship in the Greeting Space for light refreshments to thank our supply pastors for their leadership during Mikah’s renewal leave.

June 1 - The Reverend Dr. Bill Morgan
June 8 - The Reverend Dr. Rick Owen
June 15 -Bishop Mike Watson

Save the Date for our Welcome Back Renewal Celebration Lunch after worship on Sunday, June 22.

Pride Parade - June 14

The Central Alabama Pride Parade is this Saturday, June 14. Highlands is excited to have a float in the parade this year, and would like to invite all to participate! Wear your Highlands t-shirts or any colorful apparel and comfortable walking shoes. The parade begins at 8 p.m.

We will meet at 5:30 p.m. at the church parking lot to carpool to the line-up area.

Renewal 2025 Supply Pastors Reception

While Senior Pastor Mikah Hudson has been on renewal leave, funded by a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment, we have been blessed by the leadership of The Reverend Dr. Bill Morgan, The Reverend Dr. Rick Owen, and Bishop Mike Watson to Highlands.

Save the dates and join us after worship in the Greeting Space for light refreshments to thank our supply pastors for their leadership during Mikah’s renewal leave.

June 1 - The Reverend Dr. Bill Morgan
June 8 - The Reverend Dr. Rick Owen
June 15 - Bishop Mike Watson

Save the Date for our Welcome Back Renewal Celebration Lunch after worship on Sunday, June 22.

Renewal 2025 Supply Pastors Reception

While Senior Pastor Mikah Hudson is on renewal leave, funded by a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment, we have been blessed by the leadership of The Reverend Dr. Bill Morgan, The Reverend Dr. Rick Owen, and Bishop Mike Watson to Highlands.

Save the dates and join us after worship in the Greeting Space for light refreshments to thank our supply pastors for their leadership during Mikah’s renewal leave.

June 1 - The Reverend Dr. Bill Morgan
June 8 - The Reverend Dr. Rick Owen
June 15 - Bishop Mike Watson

Save the Date for our Welcome Back Renewal Celebration Lunch after worship on Sunday, June 22.

Heart and Hand Sunday - June 1: Diaper Drive and Highlands Quilt

We hope you'll join us this Sunday for our first Heart & Hand Sunday of the summer! Heart & Hand Sundays are once-a-month service projects for our whole church family, featuring a “work of the heart” collecting donation items for outreach ministries of our church or community partners and a “work of the hand” to make something helpful, beautiful, or needed for our community.

Donation Item: Diapers for East Lake UMC Co-Op Ministries
This Sunday, we will be collecting diapers of all sizes and brands. Donations will be collected at the start of Heart & Hand Sunday and taken to East Lake UMC for their Cooperative Minstries later this week. Pick up a few packs while you're out this week and bring them on Sunday morning!

Highlands Quilt:
This summer, our "work of the hand" will be creating a collaborative Highlands Quilt as part of our Renewal: Connectedness in God's Grace. This quilt will feature images of our church and its ministries, surrounded by squares created by our church families. Families will begin designing their quilt square this week with the help of several experienced quilters and crafters. Sewing is not required! Quilt squares will be completed over the course of each Heart & Hand Sunday, so you'll have several sessions to make your family's square special!

Everyone is invited and encouraged to take part. Heart & Hand Sundays are a great way to get to know the Highlands family better, and are a perfect opportunity to invite friends and neighbors to see what Highlands is all about. Hope to see you this Sunday at 9:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall!

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June 1 - Diaper Drive for East Lake UMC Co-Op Ministries
July 13 - Pet Supplies for Greater Birmingham Humane Society
August 24 - Gently Used Children’s Books for Little Free Libraries

Third Sunday Potlucks take place every third Sunday of the month.

Bring your favorite main course, side dish, bread, or dessert to share. Don’t have time to bring something? You can make a small donation toward paper products and beverages. Join us for good food and warm fellowship. All are welcome and invited!

Contact: Michelle Jones – michelle@highlandsumc.net

Family Summer Kick-Off Party - Saturday, May 17

Join the families of Highlands for a relaxed gathering to celebrate the start of the summer season! We'll gather at Homewood Park on Saturday, May 17 from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. for fellowship, sweet treats, and lots of fun together. All children and their families are invited! We hope to see you there!

RSVP to Lauri Soong at laurisoong@hotmail.com

Church Office Closed - Easter Monday

The church office will be closed Monday, April 21. We will resume normal business hours on Tuesday, April 22. Happy Easter!

Our regular Third Sunday Potluck will not take place today so that families may celebrate Easter together. Join us for our next potluck on May 18.

United Women In Faith Bake Sale

Cookies, cakes and pies, oh my! United Women in Faith (UMW) are holding a bake sale before and after worship service on April 13. The proceeds will support UMW local missions projects. Payment by cash, check, or Venmo accepted.

UWiF supports Urban Ministries, Embrace Kids AL, McCoy Adult Day Care, University of Montevallo Music Scholarships, as well as many Highlands United Methodist Church programs and world-wide United Methodist Church ministries.

Join us on Saturday, April 12 at the Children’s Fresh Air Farm in Bluff Park for our annual Church Picnic and Easter Egg Hunt. Arrive at Noon for boxed lunch on the grounds, games, bounce house, and an Easter Bonnet contest! Egg hunts by age group will begin at 1 pm and will be followed by an Easter Bonnet Contest - beautiful, silly, and anything in between welcome! Prizes for everyone! Special prizes for finding Golden Eggs and Easter Bonnets!

This free event is open to the whole church and guests, so please invite friends and neighbors! Participants are encouraged to bring Easter baskets and camp chairs.

Children’s Fresh Air Farm is located at 501 Park Ave, Hoover, AL 35226.

Click here to reserve your boxed lunches.

Contact: Mary Elizabeth Neal – maryelizabeth@highlandsumc.net

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Volunteers are needed to hide eggs, lead activities, and serve food. Sign up at the display in the Greeting Space or contact Mary Elizabeth Neal – maryelizabeth@highlandsumc.net.

Third Sunday Potlucks take place every third Sunday of the month.

Bring your favorite main course, side dish, bread, or dessert to share. Don’t have time to bring something? You can make a small donation toward paper products and beverages. Join us for good food and warm fellowship. All are welcome and invited!

Contact: Michelle Jones – michelle@highlandsumc.net

PLEASE BE AWARE: SEVERE WEATHER MAY CHANGE OUR PLANS. WE WILL UPDATE THOSE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO PARTICIPATE AND POST CHANGES HERE AND ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE.

Five Points South St. Patrick’s Day Celebration

March 15

The annual St. Patrick’s Day parade is back, and will pass right in front of Highlands on Saturday, March 15 at 1:30 p.m. There will be festivities throughout the day from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., including Irish-themed food and drinks along with live music on our front lawn and other participating businesses. Wear something green and come out to support our neighborhood next Saturday!
More information about Five Points South St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations

Highlands will offer Sanctuary tours from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and will have a float in the parade. Anyone who would like to participate in the parade may sign up here.

Third Sunday Potlucks take place every third Sunday of the month.

Bring your favorite main course, side dish, bread, or dessert to share. Don’t have time to bring something? You can make a small donation toward paper products and beverages. Join us for good food and warm fellowship. All are welcome and invited!

Contact: Michelle Jones – michelle@highlandsumc.net

Third Sunday Potlucks take place every third Sunday of the month.

Bring your favorite main course, side dish, bread, or dessert to share. Don’t have time to bring something? You can make a small donation toward paper products and beverages. Join us for good food and warm fellowship. All are welcome and invited!

Contact: Michelle Jones – michelle@highlandsumc.net