All children age 4 and older are invited to an afternoon of service projects and fellowship on Tuesday, November 11 from 1 to 3 PM. Children may be dropped off in the Fellowship Hall. Contact Lauri Soong at laurisoong@hotmail.com to RSVP.
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 November 23. The proceeds will support UMW local missions projects. Payment by cash, check, or Venmo accepted. If you’d like to contribute baked goods to the sale, please contact Laura Williams (swilliams1521@msn.com) or Denise Williams (denisew60al@gmail.com).
As is our tradition, Highlands will serve Thanksgiving lunch to our Community Ministries friends on Thursday, November 27. Prior to the meal, we need volunteers to cook desserts and sides as well as set up and decorate the Fellowship Hall. On Thanksgiving Day, we need volunteers to help with serving, welcoming, and clean up.
If you will be out of town on Thanksgiving, please consider making a donation to assist with the purchase of the meal. Checks may be made to HUMC with “CM Thanksgiving” in the memo line and dropped in the offering plate during worship or delivered to the church office.
To volunteer or for more information, contact Danny Jones or Mark Chambers
Celebrate the holiday season with a Community Breakfast on Sunday, December 28 in the Fellowship Hall. We will serve breakfast for our community guests from 9 to 10 am, wrapping up in time for worship at 10:30 am. We have several volunteer opportunities, including providing food and beverages, serving, hosting tables, and setup and clean up. If you’d like to help out, contact Nancy Hill. We hope you’ll join us for breakfast!
Contact: Nancy Hill – nancy.hill849@gmail.com or 205-602-4793
Heart & Hand Sunday - October 12
Our next Heart & Hand Sunday is October 12! We will be Weaving Together Friendships - blending together the "work of the heart" and the "work of the hands" to create friendship bracelets and strengthen the bonds of friendship between our church members. Join us for singing, crafting, storytelling, and fellowship with your Highlands friends. Truly an activity for all ages! Come to the Fellowship Hall at 9:30 am on October 12 to take part!
There will be no other Sunday School offerings this Sunday! The nursery is available for children age 4 and younger starting at 9:30 a.m. Children should accompany their parents to worship and will be dismissed to Children's Choir following the Children's Moment.
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.
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 to help prepare Market Baskets for needy families at the East Lake Farmer’s Market. More information to come!
This summer, our youth group will travel to Deer Lodge, TN to work at the Morgan Scott Project, a non-profit helping the elderly, needy, handicapped, and unemployed in Morgan and Scott counties, which are among the most poverty-stricken counties in Tennessee. The leadership intends to have us work on a project that is a good match for our group’s size and abilities; we’ll know more about the project when we can tell them more about the group that is coming. Typical projects include building a wheel chair ramp, painting, and helping rehab a bathroom. The Morgan Scott Project will provide onsite leadership for all projects.
All youth (rising 7th - graduating 12th graders) are invited to participate. Registration is open through June 4.
Accommodations
MSP has two rooms with four bunk beds each, an additional two fold out couches, and ample space for air mattresses. There are private bathrooms and showers where we are staying, along with a kitchen and dining area.
Adult Chaperones
If you are interested in attending as an adult chaperone, please contact Danny Jones.
Cost
Total cost of mission trip is $280 per person. Cost covers transportation, meals, lodging, supplies, and t-shirt. Participants may wish to bring a little pocket money for the Morgan Scott Project thrift shop, extra snacks, or soft drinks. Please do not let cost be an obstacle to participation! Full or partial scholarships are available upon request. To request a scholarship, contact Danny Jones at danny@highlandsumc.net prior to registration so that we can send you the correct discount code.
A $50 deposit is due at the time of registration. Use the following codes to pay only the deposit cost at checkout.
For one participant: DEPOSIT1
For two participants: DEPOSIT2
For three participants: DEPOSIT3
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Danny Jones at danny@highlandsumc.net
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
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!
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.
This year’s Special Lenten Offering will be split 50/50 with Grace Klein Community and Highlands Community Ministries.
Grace Klein Community rescues edible food from local restaurants, grocers, and cafes, seeking to minimize food waste and give that food to the hungry in Birmingham. Highlands Community Ministries provides meals, hygiene supplies, and essential services to all comers, many of whom are unhoused. Grace Klein is a primary source of food for Highlands' Community Ministries meals. Donations this Lenten season will help Highlands continue to serve our community in powerful ways. Scan the QR code to give now or place in the offering plate using the Special Offering envelopes in the pew racks.
Celebrate the holiday season with a Community Breakfast on Sunday, December 29 in the Fellowship Hall. We will serve breakfast for our community guests from 9 to 10 am, wrapping up in time for worship at 10:30 am. We have several volunteer opportunities, including providing food and beverages, serving, hosting tables, and setup and clean up. If you’d like to help out, contact Nancy Hill. We hope you’ll join us for breakfast!
Contact: Nancy Hill – nancy.hill849@gmail.com or 205-602-4793
The Highlands family is invited to come out and ring the bell for the Salvation Army on Saturday, Dec 21st. We will be at Belks at the Summit from 10am to 6pm. Please volunteer for a 1 hour shift. It is a great opportunity for families to help out those that need the most this Christmas season. Please contact Mark Chambers to sign up: markc205@yahoo.com.
Festival of the Three Kings - December 14
This year’s Festival of Three Kings will take place on Saturday, December 14, from 2 to 5 pm. We are continuing our wonderful partnership with Jefferson County DHR with an aim of sponsoring 60 children for Christmas! Gifts should be returned to the church office by Wednesday, December 11.
Volunteers are needed to assist with gift distribution on Saturday, December 14. To sign up, contact Danny Jones at the church office 205-933-8751 or danny@highlandsumc.net.
As is our tradition, Highlands will serve Thanksgiving lunch to our Community Ministries friends on Thursday, November 28. Prior to the meal, we need volunteers to cook desserts and sides as well as set up and decorate the Fellowship Hall. On Thanksgiving Day, we need volunteers to help with serving, welcoming, and clean up.
If you will be out of town on Thanksgiving, please consider making a donation to assist with the purchase of the meal. Checks may be made to HUMC with “CM Thanksgiving” in the memo line and dropped in the offering plate during worship or delivered to the church office.
To volunteer or for more information, contact Danny Jones or Mark Chambers
One Sunday each month, our children, youth and adults will gather together during Sunday School for Heart and Hand Sundays, where we will work together on service projects for our church and community. This inter-generational time of service will start with refreshments and a short devotional suitable for all ages. Join us at 9:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall on November 24 to make decorations and other preparations for our Community Thanksgiving Meal.
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 November 24. The proceeds will support UMW local missions projects. Payment by cash, check, or Venmo accepted. If you’d like to contribute baked goods to the sale, please contact Laura Williams (swilliams1521@msn.com) or Denise Williams (denisew60al@gmail.com).
All children age 4 and older are invited to an afternoon of service projects and fellowship on Monday, November 11 from 1 to 3 PM. Children may be dropped off in the Fellowship Hall. Contact Lauri Soong at laurisoong@hotmail.com to RSVP.
One Sunday each month, our children, youth and adults will gather together during Sunday School for Heart and Hand Sundays, where we will work together on service projects for our church and community. This inter-generational time of service will start with refreshments and a short devotional suitable for all ages. Join us at 9:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall on October 6.
Heart and Hand Sunday - August 11 - School Supply Drive
During the summer months, our children, youth, and adults gather once a month for Heart & Hand Sundays, to work together on service projects for our church and community. These intergenerational experiences are a great way to get to know the Highlands family better and to invite friends and neighbors to see what Highlands is all about. Join us on Sunday, August 11 when we will be collecting and sorting school supplies for the students of WE Kids at Urban Ministry and Hemphill Elementary School. Click below for a supply list and flyer you can share with your friends and neighbors.
Heart and Hand Sunday - July 14 - Hygiene Kits
During the summer months, our children, youth, and adults gather once a month for Heart and Hand Sundays, to work together on service projects for our church and community. These inter-generational 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 on July 14 when we will be assembling hygiene kits or Community Ministries.
Save the date for future Heart & Hand Sundays: August 11
Youth Mission Trip
June 16-21, 2024
Registration will open in May 2024. More information to come.
Heart and Hand Sunday - June 2 - Assemble Breakfast Casseroles
During the summer months, our children, youth, and adults gather once a month for Heart and Hand Sundays, to work together on service projects for our church and community. These inter-generational 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 on June 2 when we will be making breakfast casseroles for Community Ministries.
Save the date for future Heart & Hand Sundays: July 14 & August 11
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 21. The proceeds will support UMW local missions projects. Payment by cash, check, or Venmo accepted. If you’d like to contribute baked goods to the sale, please contact Joy McPherson bhamjoy@yahoo.com and Esther Glenn eglennrn@gmail.com.
Heart and Hand Sunday - April 7
Our next Heart and Hand Sunday will be next Sunday, April 7 at 9:30 am in the Fellowship Hall. We are collecting books for Books to Prison, which provides books to Alabama and Texas prisons, and Little Libraries to stock several Little Free Libraries around Birmingham that cater to children. We are especially in need of paperbacks of all genres and gently used children’s books. Like our food drive last summer, this is an excellent opportunity to ask your friends and neighbors to help out with donations; pick up a flyer in the Greeting Space to help start the conversation.
Contact: Lauri Soong – laurisoong@hotmail.com
This Lent and Eastertide, Highlands is partnering with RIP Medical Debt, a non-profit organization dedicated to removing the burden of medical debt, using sophisticated data analytics to pinpoint the debt portfolios of those most in need of relief. RIP purchases unpaid and unpayable debt at significantly reduced rates; this debt is forgiven, no strings attached. For every $1 donated, an average of $100 in debilitating debt is forgiven. We have set a goal to relieve ONE MILLION DOLLARS of medical debt in the greater Birmingham area by raising $10,000 through a special Lenten and Easter Offering. We hope you will join us in this worthy cause this season.
CM Fellowship Hall Work Day - February 3
As we prepare to expand our Community Ministries Hospitality Hours to Saturday service, we need to spend a little time and elbow grease preparing the Fellowship Hall for our guests. Join us on Saturday, February 3 from 10:00 am to Noon to scrub tables and chairs, straighten up the serving area, and organize supplies. There will also be an opportunity for those who have never served in Community Ministries or who haven’t served since before the pandemic to “learn the ropes” and get some training before Saturday service begins on February 10. There’s no need to RSVP but if you know you’ll be able to join in, we’d love to hear from you.
Contact Danny Jones - danny@highlandsumc.net
Ring in the New Year with a Community Breakfast on Sunday, December 31 in the Fellowship Hall. Both church members and guests from our Community Ministries program are invited to enjoy a New Year’s sit-down breakfast from 9 to 10 am. We will wrap up in time to move upstairs together for worship at 10:30 am. We have several volunteer opportunities as we will need help with preparing and serving breakfast, bringing donuts and pastries, and hosting tables.
Contact: Danny Jones – danny@highlandsumc.net or Mark Chambers – markc205@yahoo.com
Festival of the Three Kings - December 16
This year’s Festival of Three Kings will take place on Saturday, December 16, from 2 to 5 pm. We are continuing our wonderful partnership with Jefferson County DHR with an aim of sponsoring 60 children for Christmas! Gifts should be returned to the church office by Wednesday, December 8.
Volunteers are needed to assist with gift distribution on Saturday, December 16. To sign up, contact Danny Jones at the church office 205-933-8751 or danny@highlandsumc.net.
Save the date! On Sunday, November 26, we will begin preparations for the Advent season. Join us during the Sunday School hour to create a beautiful Advent wreath for your home, featuring hand-rolled beeswax candles, seasonal greenery, and hand-crafted prayer cards. Space and materials are limited! RSVP to save your spot!
Contact: Mary Elizabeth Neal – maryelizabeth@highlandsumc.net.
