PRESBYTERIAN MESSENGER

UPCOMING EVENTS. . .

Every Sunday 10:00 AM Worship

Communion served 1st Sunday of Month

Choir Practice 8:30-9:30AM

Knitting Group 2nd Sunday of Month in

Sanctuary 12-1:30PM

Every Tuesday – Bible Study 7-8:30PM

Every Wednesday – Bible Study with

Rev. Lou Kilgore 10-11:30AM

Bell Choir Practice 7PM

Sun 4/9 Palm Sunday/Petting Zoo 9AM

Thu 4/13 Maundy Thursday Service

Sun 4/16 Easter Sunday

OGHS 2017  

The Christian season of Lent is marked with fasting, a traditional practice of giving up food and devoting yourself to prayer.  But this isn’t the only type of fasting the Bible talks about.  Isaiah 58 describes a new kind of fast, not to give up bread, but to SHARE it. Isaiah calls us to SHARE bread with the hungry.  We are called to offer help to those in need. One way to answer that call is through our gifts to the One

Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS).  We will join with congregations all over the country as we seek answers to God’s call.  We can make a difference in the lines of many, many families.  Please join with us and watch for information to follow.

New Church Office Email

Please note that all email correspondence to the church office/Chris Buckley should be sent to office.manager@highmountainpres.org.

Walk In Dinner

Our Church will host our annual Pasta Dinner for the homeless at the Iglesia Presbyteriana Chuch in Paterson on April 29.  We will serve them again on September 30.  There are sign-up sheets in the Narthex to make a pasta dish (recipe and aluminum pans will be provided.)  Also, would you be willing to help serve?  We fed about 130 homeless people last year and I’m sure we will do the same again this year.  The Mission Team thanks you for your help and we thank you for those that we will be serving. 

Ḟaithworks

In this week’s story from John 11:1-45, we hear a story about Jesus and three of his closest friends. Mary, Martha, and Lazarus lived in Bethany, just outside Jerusalem. When Jesus comes to Bethany, he always visits them, and sometimes stays at their home. The author of the gospel of John places this story just before Jesus goes to Jerusalem, and the last days of his life.

Now Lazarus became ill, very ill. Martha and Mary sent word to Jesus that Lazarus was ill. They thought Jesus would want to know, probably even come to see Lazarus. They waited and waited. No sign or word from Jesus. Lazarus got sicker and died. Martha and Mary were so sad. Four days after Lazarus had been buried, Jesus showed up. Martha went out to greet him, but Mary stayed in the house where many guests had come to comfort them. Martha hurried to Jesus and said, “Why didn’t you come right away when you got our message? Martha even expresses her belief that Jesus still can do something for her brother but she is not sure if the action will take place on this day. “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.  But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” “Your brother will rise again,” said Jesus.   Jesus’ amazing act – raising Lazarus from the dead – demonstrates that God is more powerful than death.

Each member of our group has probably experienced endings that have left them sad and disoriented. Some will know the very painful experiences of divorce and death. Others may have experienced the end of friendships, the loss of a much-loved pet, or the end of the familiar environment of one school to attend another. This week’s reading from the gospel of John, which initially explores the pain and grief of the death of a beloved brother and friend, moves on to affirm that God is in control, even in this situation. We will have the opportunity to explore questions like, why did Jesus wait so long? Why did he put his friends through such pain and grief? How could Lazarus actually come alive again? And we will be reassured that God is with us in difficult times, as Jesus shared the sadness of Mary and Martha.

All children and youth are welcome to join us for Bible story time and activities on the 2^nd floor after the time of conversation with the pastor. The group will come back to the church to take Communion. Childcare is available for children 4 and under on the 2^nd floor as well.

Upcoming Faithworks Events

April 9 – Palm Sunday. Next week! Petting Zoo for everyone to enjoy beginning at 9;45 am. Chickens, ducks, lambs and other farm animals will be outside for everyone to touch. Then, we will join in the Palm procession into the church. Following Worship, we will have our Easter Egg Hunt from 11 am to 12 noon. All are welcome!

Easter Food Baskets

Easter Food Bags will be in the Narthex this Sunday, March 26 to open our Easter Food Drive for Center For Food Action (CFA). The food drive will end on Palm Sunday, April 9.

Prayers & Announcements

Announcements for the Sunday Worship service should be emailed to the church office. If you would like the community to pray with you please call the office at

201-891-0511.

Book Club at HMPC

The Book Club meets on the 4th Friday of the month and anyone is invited to come and discuss the books.

April 28 – I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes

May 26 – When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

HMPC Sunday Servers: Second Quarter 2017

*Assigned families can decide who will be reader. Please inform Chris (201-891-0511), who is reading one week before you are scheduled. If you will not be available for your assigned date, please try to switch with someone else and inform the office of this change.  Please check PM regularly to see the date of your assignment.        

Thank you for taking time to assist with this church service!