Bulletin Announcements 11/29/09

Beginning today, Pastor Travis is preaching an Advent sermon series on the person of Jesus. These services will also include a special emphasis on welcoming. Please pick up invitation cards in the foyer today to distribute to your friends and neighbors – we especially want to welcome guests who are not as familiar with the Christian faith.

This Sunday we continue our special offering collection for our Christmas Deed Ministry.

This evening at 5:45 p.m. we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper together. Please bring a main dish and a side to share.

The Jones family is hosting lunch today at their farm. All are welcome to come eat and spend all or part of the afternoon at their home between services.

Saturday, December 5th, at 6:00 pm we will celebrate Jesus’ Birthday at Linda Summer’s house. Come for a wonderful time of fun, stories, fellowship and more! Please bring a plate of cookies or finger foods – but more importantly, bring your friends.

This Saturday morning, you are invited to join with other ladies from Highlands for breakfast together before doing your holiday shopping. Meet at the Cracker Barrel in East Ridge at 9:00 am.

If you work with children in any capacity here at Highlands, we need to have a completed background check on you! If you are not sure if your file is completed, or if you are a new volunteer, please see Bekah to sign your permission for background check retrieval.

Our Iranian Sisters are Released!

From Jihad Watch website:

[note the wonderful testimony they gave to the judge near the end of the post]

Surprise: Converts from Islam to Christianity set free in Iran
International pressure sometimes works. Some unexpected good news in an update on this story: "Freedom for imprisoned Christian 'apostates,'" by Chelsea Schilling for WorldNetDaily, November 19 (thanks to all who sent this in):

After millions of prayers and numerous petitions from around the world, two Iranian women jailed for no other reason than being Christian were released from a Tehran prison today.
Maryam Rustampoor, 27, and Marzieh Amirizadeh, 30, were imprisoned for 259 days - since March 5. They were repeatedly told to recant their faith and that they would be executed as "apostates," solely because they are Christians.

But now Open Doors USA has confirmed the women have been released from the notorious Evin prison with no bail, a rarity for Christians released from prison in Iran. [...]

Compass Direct News noted that the women may still face charges of proselytizing and "apostasy," or leaving Islam.

An Iranian source told Compass the Iranian government faced intense public pressure for imprisoning the women.

"It was from the international pressure, and also the government couldn't handle it anymore," said the source. "Already their detention was illegal. At the same time, the government wasn't ready to prosecute them for apostasy. They already have many headaches. They cannot handle everything."

According to Facebook groups that support the women, Rustampoor and Amirizadeh had been participating in religious gatherings and handing out Bibles prior to their detention. Iranian security officials searched their apartments in March, confiscated their Bibles and arrested them.

As WND reported, Rustampoor and Amirizadeh appeared before a court in Iran and were charged with "crimes of apostasy, and propagation of the Christian faith." In a display of raw courage, they told a government prosecutor that not only are they Christian, it is up to God, not a bureaucrat, to whom He talks.

According to Elam, a dramatic part of the hearing came when they refused to deny their Christian faith.

They explained that God had convicted them through the Holy Spirit.

"It is impossible for God to speak with humans," Haddad, a deputy prosecutor identified only by his surname, stated.

"Are you questioning whether God is Almighty?" Amirizadeh asked him.

To which Haddad then replied. "You are not worthy for God to speak to you."

"It is God, and not you, who determines if I am worthy," she said.

Haddad earlier had asked if the women were Christian.

"We love Jesus," they replied.

"You were Muslims and now you have become Christians," Haddad stated.

"We were born in Muslim families, but we were not Muslims," the women said.

The deputy prosecutor asked about their regrets, and they said, "We have no regrets."

"You should renounce your faith verbally and in written form," he warned.

They refused....

read the rest here.

Office Closed

The Highlands Church office will be closed Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving Holiday. Services will be at the normal time on Sunday. We're celebrating the Lord's Supper this Sunday evening. Friday is our day of Fasting and Prayer.

22 November 2009

Announcements for the week of Sunday, November 22 -

We will be celebrating the Lord's Supper next Sunday, November 29th, at 5:45 pm. Please bring a main dish and side to share.

You are invited to fast and pray on Friday, November 27th, in preparation for the Lord's Supper.

The Jones family will host lunch next Sunday at their farm. All are welcome to spend the afternoon at their home between services.

Wednesday, November 25th, is the Operation Christmas Child trip for the youth group. Please call Dan Hudson with any questions.

Starting on November 29th, Pastor Travis will be preaching an Advent sermon series on the person of Jesus. These services will also include a special emphasis on welcoming. This will be a great time to bring guests who are not as familiar with the Christian faith.

Church Service Moved This Sunday

Greeting to all members, attenders, and visitors to Highlands Church! This Sunday we will not be having a worship service at our LaFayette, GA campus. We will be having our worship service at Camp Vesper Point in Soddy Daisy, TN. Please join us at the "Bob" Lodge at 10:00 a.m. - we'd be delighted to have you.

Here are links to Camp Vesper Point's photos, directions, printable schedule of activities and a campus map.

WHAT TO BRING - Click HERE.

We also will not be having small group meetings this Sunday.

The following Sunday evening (November 29th) we will be observing The Lord's Supper at Highlands. You are invited to fast and pray in preparation in Friday, November 27th.

Updated Cabin Assignments for This Weekend's Retreat

Here are links to Camp Vesper Point's website for photos, directions and a campus map.


Cabin assignments (somewhat drastically UPDATED 11/18, but subject to finalization)

9 – Alisa B, Sam B, Pam B, Patrick B, Maria B, Chad S, Debbie S, Toby S, Sophia S, Elizabeth S

10 – Will J, Alli J, Trav H, Kim H, George H, Paul H, Aaron R, Sarah R, Jeremiah R, Nathaniel R

11 – Eric S, Naomi S, Lucy S, Matt V (whole V family coming on Saturday), Joan V, Kate V, Rose V, Ike B, Renee B

12 – Gama B, Adria B, Dan H, Shanna H, Eli H, Israel B, Elvia B, Irlanda B, Belen B, Caitlyn

14 – Daniel J, Lauri J, Jonah J, Marley J, Christopher J, Steve J, Sarah J, Allan B, Joan B

15 – Amanda E, Sarah L. J, Amalia S, Anita R, Katie C, Emily B, Micki C, Luisa Di, Abigail J, Sadie C, Shawnee C

16 – MaryAnne, Andreana, Cathy A, De De C, Michelle C

17 – Matthew A, Jason N, Ben B, Seth B, Zach Mc, Jeff B, Gabe C, Scott B, John O, David R, Drew C

Duplex - Dennis L, Barb L, Rae C

Retreat - Cabin Assignments and Movie!

The retreat is nearly here! Several of you have asked about a book reading discussion - we're not having one this year, but we are having a film viewing discussion. Eric and Naomi will be leading a discussion on Saturday about the film "Rabbit Proof Fence" (and no, this is not an animated Disney flick.) You are encouraged to view the film prior to coming on the retreat if at all possible; however, there will be time to see it at the retreat before the discussion. Parents, please use discretion about your children seeing this film; it is rated PG for emotional intensity and involves kidnapping and slavery in the story.

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Cabin assignments (UPDATED 11/16, but subject to finalization - if you see someone on this list that you know isn't attending, or if you know someone who is attending who is not on this list, please contact the church office ASAP!)

9 – Matthew A, Jason N, Ben B, Seth B, Zach McE, Jeff B, Gabe C, Scott B, John O, David R

10 – Will J, Alli J, Travis H, Kimberly H, George H, Paul H, Ike B, Renee B

11 – Eric S, Naomi S, Lucy S, Matt V (whole V family coming on Saturday), Joan V, Kate V, Rose V, De De C

12 – Aaron R, Sarah R, Jeremiah R, Nathaniel R, Gama B, Adria B, Isai B, Dan H, Shanna H, Eli H

14 – Daniel J, Lauri J, Jonah J, Marley J, Christopher J, Steve J, Sarah J

15 – Amanda E, Sarah L. J, Amalia S, Anita R, Katie C, Emily B, Micki C, Luisa DiB, Abigail J, Sadie C (coming on Saturday)

16 – MaryAnne B, Andreana, Allan B, Joan B, Cathy A,

17 – Brent B, Alisa B, Sam B, Pam B, Patrick B, Maria B, Chad S, Debbie S, Toby S, Sophia S, Elizabeth S

Duplex - Dennis L, Barb L, Rae C