AUGUST 2016

www.highlandsucc.org
highlandsucc@sbcglobal.net
937-399-7493

1910 Saint Paris Pike

Springfield, Ohio 45504-1206

From the Pastor

Precious Memories, how they lingerwith the heat wave of the past month,
I was reminded of this song and some of the memories of my youth. We
endured some hot, sultry days that I recall my Grandma Tanner, saying
were the Dog days of summer. Dog days, she always told us, were those
summer days so hot that the dogs would lie around under the porch or on
the porch and not move. They were days of lethargy, when everything
seemed to move a little slower. In reality, Dog Days have more to do with the ancient Greeks
and Romans and their beliefs about the the dog star, Sirius. Their beliefs center on the coincidence of the appearance of the star, the heat of summer, and the onset of fevers which were
believed to be a sign of evil.
My fondest memories of these sultry southern days and nights were of spending Saturday
night with my grandmother, where it was too hot to sleep in an unairconditioned houseeven
with window fans running at full speed. It seemed the drone of the fans eventually put one to
sleep on these nights. On Sunday mornings after breakfast, she would call a cab to take us to
church on Sunday. This was my first exposure to churcha little clapboard Southern Baptist
ChurchSunnyside Baptist Church, with a fire and brimstone preacher named Rev. Hawkins,
who scared me to death when he got wound up, yelling and screaming and condemning us to
hell.
These were the days where women wore their Sunday best, with gloves. All the men had on
suits and we sweated togetherpartially due to the heat and perhaps some due to the sermon.
During the service one could hear the rhythmic sounds of funeral home fans, that used to be a
staple in every church, struggling to get any movement of air in the stifling heat. I can still
hear my sweet grandmothers voice as she sang some of the old hymnsAt the Cross,
Bringing In the Sheaves, Where He Leads Me, The Old Rugged Cross, Have Thine Own Way
Lord, Sweet Hour of Prayer, among the many songs that are etched in my memory. These
hymns were sung to accompaniment of an out of tune piano due to the heat and humidity of
summer. Folks, as southerners do with gospel music, picked a part and harmonizedeven if
everyone was not exactly on key. Mr. Brown sang bass, Mr. Evans sang tenor, Mrs. Middlebrooks sang Alto and so forth. It was real, it was an alive faith, it embraced the mystery, it
filled me with fear, yet also filled me with wonderwhat do these folks find comforting? I
believe it was the community of the faithful, not understanding, but coming together. As a
five and six year old, this church experience was very formative in my faith journey.
Continued on page 2

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As we finish out summer, I ask you to remember How was your faith formed.
Who had an impact your faith journey? Who do you give thanks for? Maybe
since its so warm, we can sit inside and remember these folks and say a prayer
of thanksgiving to God.

Ecclesiastical Council for Terri Legge

Please support Pastor Terri as she comes before an Ecclesiastical Council at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday,
August 7, 2016 at Knob Prairie UCC in Enon. The Ecclesiastical Council is the last step prior to
seeking a call in the UCC and being ordained. Terri has preached at Highlands several times and
has assisted Pastor Avery with visiting shut-ins. She has completed a long road which required
significant education, prayer, presenting papers and meeting with SONKA leadership from time to
time. Please join her as she moves closer towards ordination. There will be a reception following
the council.

Highlands Leadership
Pastor:

Rev. Avery Sledge

Church Officers:
Pam Dixon-Moderator
Jan Kushmaul-Vice Moderator
Linda Owens-Treasurer

Worship Helpers for August

Greeter
Liturgist

Pastors Office Hours

Ushers
Sound System
Fellowship hour

Monday and Thursday 9:00 a.m.12:00 noon

Wednesday

Linda Owens 8/7

Victoria Smitson 8/14
Flo Keaton 8/21 & 8/28
Kathy Howard

12:00 noon3:00 p.m.

Ushers and Greeters needed

You can reach Pastor Avery in the church office

during these hours or at 937-429-1536.

Please consider being an usher or greeter in Aug.

The sign-up sheet is on the table in the narthex.

A Safe Zone

Outside the pastors office is a sign that says, This

is a SAFE ZONE. You can talk about anything
here. The sign lists some of the many things you can
discuss. Check it out!

See where you can be of service and give glory

to God by serving during worship.

Highlands Looks to the Future!

The Futures Team is ready to present its work to the congregation. A Special Congregational Meeting will
be held Sunday, September 11, 2016 immediately following the worship service. A light refreshment will
be served. Because of the importance of the work done, we anticipate it may take longer than the traditional
congregational meeting.
A letter with information to be discussed will be sent prior to the meeting. The meeting will be an
opportunity to clarify questions and share the plan to engage in further discussion prior to the Annual
Meeting in January.
If you have suggestions, questions, or ideas, contact a member of the Team and make your voice heard,
Jan Kushmaul, Kathy Howard, Dixie Jenkins, Millie McNeal, Linda Owens, Flo Keaton, Sandy Ryon,
or contact Pastor Avery or Moderator, Pam Dixon.

Highlands Helps the Springfield/Clark County Community

31 items donated to the Open Hands Free Stores food pantry in July: veggies, boxed meals, tuna fish,
canned meat, peanut butter, soup, pasta & sauce, and laundry soap.
39 items donated to Interfaith Hospitality Network: baby food, toiletries, and baby food.
Box Tops and bar codes for Oesterlen Services for Youth: check out the list on the bulletin board outside
the kitchen window in the fellowship hall.

If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, call 937-399-7493 to have your name
removed from the Outreach newsletter mailing list or email
highlandsucc@sbcglobal.net.

Clark County Fair

As this is written, we are just beginning the Fair Ministry. The building is in
great shape and food is prepared. The Health Department has given the
go-ahead and even congratulated us on the clean and safe food service we are
providing.
By the time you read this, it will all be over. We will be tired, but pleasantly so as we will know that
we have given an important service to those who spend many hours at the fair. Our customers are
people who stay with animals all week and people who tend the rides and concessions. Some are
even people who have other food booths, but want a really good hot, nutritious meal each day. And,
of course, we have the many people who just come to the fair to see the sights, enjoy the entertainment, and have a good time.
Most of all, we want to thank each of you who came out to work. The job could not be done if it
werent for each and every one of you. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
Betty Mougey and the Fair Committee

Items for Interfaith Hospitality Network

are still being collected
Highlands Church collects items for Interfaith Hospitality Network. We have a box in the narthex under the
table. Items collected include pasta and sauce, toiletries, hygiene products, vitamins, manicure kit, and baby
lotion. Once we have several items, we will take them to IHN.
Here are a few things needed:
Hygiene, such as bath, hair, and body products. Household, such as cleaning, storage, paper, products.
Health care, such as ointment, Band-aids, baby items, pain relievers, over the counter
medications. A complete list is located on the Community News bulletin board
in the fellowship hall outside the kitchen window.

Dont Forget the Food Cart!!

We collect food and non-perishable items for
Open Hands Free Stores food pantry. You can help
feed the hungry by dropping off items to
Highlands Church, 1910 St. Paris Pike, from
6:00 to 10:00 am and 3:00 to 5:30 pm.
Come through the front door under the covered walkway.
The grocery cart is right inside!
See the article on the next page for more information.
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We ran this article last year and it bears repeating from time-to-time, to remind us that there
are many items that arent foods that are STILL needed by food pantries, food banks, free stores
over and above food items. Typically the items in this area that are high demand are toiletry
items and proteins. Items that are most appreciated by homeless folks as well as folks
struggling to make ends meet include socks. When working a ministry to the homeless in
Denver, the folks who we met and talked with were most appreciative of the two pairs of plain
white athletic socks they received. Socks will become even more important as colder weather
approaches. Some items are in high demand at the food bank and you may not realize it. But,
because they arent essentials, food bank staffs dont usually ask for them. A recent survey on
Reddit.com asked volunteers what items people would be most appreciative of and the top 10
are listed below. Having worked with folks who rely on food banks in several states and in
Appalachia, I can vouch for these items which are sorely needed and greatly appreciated. ~
Pastor Avery
Items that Food Banks Need but Dont Usually Ask For

The following is reprinted from an article that appeared on Facebook recently.

1. Spices. Think about it. People who r ely on the food bank eat a lot of canned food, r ice,
oatmeal, white bread, etc. They love spices. Seasoned salt, cayenne pepper, chili powder,
cumin, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, oregano, basil and so on.
2. Feminine Products. Can you imagine being wor r ied about affor ding these? Pads,
tampons, panty liners, etc. Recommended: Buy in bulk at Costco for donating.
3. Chocolate. People dont need it, but think about being in their shoes and how nice it would
be to be given a chocolate bar or brownie mix along with your essentials.
4. Toiletries. Gr ocer y stor es ar e gr eat about donating sur plus or unsold food, but they
have no reason to donate toilet paper, tooth paste, soap, deodorant, shampoo, etc. Food
stamps often dont cover these.
5. Canned meats and jerky. This isnt true of all food banks, but many struggle to give
users enough protein.
6. Crackers and tortillas. They dont spoil and everybody likes them.
7. Baby toiletries. Diaper s, baby wipes, baby for mula, baby shampoo, baby soap,
baby food, bottles, etc.
8. Soup packets. Sometimes you look at r ice, beans, instant potatoes, and cans of
vegetable and think, What do I make with this? Hearty soup is a complete meal.

9. Socks. Fr om a for mer homeless per son: Socks mean the world to you. They keep
you warm, make you feel like you have something new, and just comfort you.
10. Canned fruit other than pineapple. Food banks get a lot of pineapple donated.
Their clients love it when other kinds of fruit are available.
Of the items listed, the most commonly needed items are protein items (canned meats or
peanut butter), feminine products, baby toiletries, socks, and toiletries. All are not usually as
readily available as canned beans or pasta or cereal. If youre looking for an easy way to help
out with some of these appreciated items, pick some of these up while shopping and drop
them off in the food cart in the narthex.
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Recycle at Highlands!
Paper, plastic, metal, cardboard all are collected and taken to the recycling
centers 1602 W. Main St. and between the Project Woman building and the
Clark County Combined Health District building on
East Home Road.
Household hazardous waste is collected for a fee of $1.00 per pound
at the West Main Street location 9:00 a.m. to noon on the First Saturday
of March, April, June, August and October.

Box Tops for Oesterlen Services for Youth

Highlands continues to collect box tops and bar codes from certain products for
Oesterlen. In April, we delivered 128 items worth 10 cents each. We received a nice note
of thanks. When we have collected another nice batch, we will take them over. Thank you
for saving and bringing these box tops and bar codes!
Names of products that have box tops and bar codes are listed on the Community Bulletin
Board outside the window to the kitchen in the fellowship hall.

Kids World of Springfield

KIDS WORLD of Springfield is a Christian Pre-School/Day Care with a mission of developing the
whole child, keeping the love and nurturing of children as our top priority. KIDS WORLD creates a
caring, value-based environment while providing safe boundaries and opportunities for children
to grow developmentally with structured learning activities.
Krista Yost, Admin/Owner & Kelly Stewart, Owner 399-2444

*****************************************
Highlands United Church of Christ is pleased to have this high-quality
pre-school/day care program in our facility. We hear high praise from
parents whose children attend.
Trustees of Highlands
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Worship
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Pastor Terri Legge
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Highlands United Church of Christ

1910 Saint Paris Pike
Springfield, Ohio 45504
www.highlandsucc.org

Return Service Requested

Highlands Open and Affirming Statement

The worshipping family within the faith community of Highlands United Church of Christ believes in
Christ's gospel of unconditional love. We joyfully welcome into full participation, membership, and
leadership of this congregation persons of every race, language, age, gender identity and expression,
sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, economic or marital status, and faith background. We
affirm and celebrate all loving, committed relationships affirming that all families defined by love are
blessed."
Adopted by the congregation January 13, 2013

Mission Statement
Our Mission is to be the loving heart and healing hands of God in the world;
we are a welcoming community of faith, seeking to accompany and support all
on their journey to Christ, and bearing authentic witness of Gods inclusive love
as proclaimed through Jesus.

Highlands United Church of Christ, is called by God

To open doors for all who seek a safe place for their spiritual journey
To extend extravagant hospitality
To set an open table for all who hunger
To provide sanctuary for all who seek forgiveness, reconciliation, and healing
To do justice and pursue peace