Assembly date: May 25, 2008

We would like to extend a warm welcome to our guests this morning! We ask that you fill out one of the white Welcome to Highland cards found in the rack on the back of the seats. Place it in the collection tray as it is passed or hand it to one of our greeters at the Welcome Center in the Atrium. If you would like help in selecting an adult Bible class to attend this morning, class information is available at the Welcome Center.

Highland Church of Christ
425 Highland Avenue
Abilene, Texas 79605
(325) 673-5295

Our Purpose: The purpose of the Highland Church is to call all people to God. The God we call people to is most perfectly seen in Jesus Christ. Our task is to imitate Him. We commit ourselves through the power of the Holy Spirit to be God’s living expression of Himself on earth.

Our Mission: The mission of the Highland Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ who prayerfully join together in missions, ministry and worship.

Sunday: Worship: 9:00 a.m. Bible Classes: 10:30 a.m.
Lifeteams: 1st and 3rd Sunday Evenings
Wednesday: OASIS Classes: 7:00 p.m.

Assembly Order • May 25, 2008
Worship Leader: Jeremiah Gibson

Nobody Fills My Heart Like Jesus

Family Concerns ~ Suzetta Nutt
Pastoral Prayer ~ Bob Gomez

Baptism of Marvin Foster

Blessing of Savannah Leigh Rollins, daughter of Aaron and Christina Rollins

Beautiful One
Here I Am to Worship
Open the Eyes of My Heart
The Lord’s Prayer

830 - Open My Eyes, That I May See

“With Eyes Wide Open” ~ Josh Ross

The Bread Has Been Broken

Communion
Thoughts and Prayers ~ Dan Allen
364 - Come, Share the Lord

Tithes and Offerings
Introduction of the Into All the World Teams
Blessing and Charge ~ Charles Small

Days of Elijah

Benediction ~ Mike

“Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’” ~ Matthew 25:34-36

“Hospitality is not first a duty and responsibility; it is first a response of love and gratitude for God’s love and welcome to us. Although it involves responsibility and faithful performance of duties, hospitality emerges from a grateful heart.” ~ Christine Pohl

“Be meek, sympathize with the suffering, bear the weak; and on this occasion of the concourse of so many strangers, and needy, and suffering people, let your hospitality and your good works abound.” ~ Augustine

LIVING HOSPITALITY
Hospitality is difficult because it involves hard work. In our structured, planned-out and controlled world, hospitality seems unpredictable and somewhat reckless. Hospitality is difficult because of our busyness and tightly controlled schedules. Most people have significant responsibilities and trying to add hospitality onto a full agenda is frustrating and often discouraging. Offering hospitality will call for us to rethink our priorities and agendas. Offering hospitality provides an opportunity for the pain and rejection that others have felt to be shared. It is often difficult to absorb the pain that guests bring with them.

It is important to acknowledge the difficult adventure of living hospitality. If we expect it to be easy, we will be disappointed and discouraged easily. Offering hospitality requires we let go of our agendas and expected results and simply welcome others. We can learn to be free from expected outcomes and simply be welcoming and friendly.

Hospitality will not likely occur in our lives unless we are intentional. Hospitality is not so much a task as a way of living our lives and of sharing ourselves. Offering hospitality grows out of our attempts to be faithful to God, of hearing God’s voice in the Bible and from the people around us. Christine Pohl says, “A life of hospitality begins in worship, with a recognition of God’s grace and generosity.”

May we be a people shaped by God’s love and welcome and be courageous enough to act as Jesus to all we encounter! May we be living hospitality!

Prayer Ministry: Everyone is invited to meet with the Highland Prayer Ministry from 12:00 noon - 1:00 p.m. each Monday in the Highland Prayer Room to lift up in prayer those who are struggling. If you would like to share a prayer need, please call the Prayer Request Line at 672-3151.

A reception honoring Heather Alkire will be held this Saturday, May 31, from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. in the Highland Living Room. Come to share in blessing her and supporting her as she prepares to leave for Salvador, Brazil, to work with Randy and Jennifer Porter during the next two years.

DATES TO REMEMBER
June 14: Freedom VBS
July 6 and 13: Summer Food Pantry Restocking
July 19: Freedom Fellowship Praise and Prayer Service

New Ministry Opportunity: There will be a brown bag lunch meeting on Tuesday, June 3, from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. in Highland Room 110 for anyone interested in showing hospitality to The Vineyard apartment complex, formerly called the Colonial Apartments. For more information, please contact Joe Almanza at 673-5295.

FaithWorks summer session will begin June 9. FaithWorks is seeking individuals or small groups to help provide complete, healthy lunches. If you cannot help by providing a meal, consider making a cash donation or providing only the main entree (meat), and FaithWorks will supplement with side dishes purchased at the Food Bank. If you would like to help, please contact Becky Almanza

Celebrate Recovery: A Christ-centered 12-step recovery program meets Sundays in Room 207 at 5:00 p.m. For more information, see the Highland Celebrate Recovery website at www.crhighland.wordpress.com.

SUNDAY MORNING UPDATE
The Front Porch is a small class community for building spiritual friendships and inviting people into the way of Jesus. If you are looking for a place to connect at Highland, you are invited to visit the Front Porch in Room 102.

Many of our adult classes are participating in a four-week congregation-wide study on hospitality called Finding God in the Stranger. Please stop by the Welcome Center in the Atrium if you would like assistance in finding a class.

WEEKDAY BIBLE STUDIES
Summer Studies - Beginning in June:

To Live is Christ is an eleven-week study by Beth Moore. Class begins Monday, June 2, and will meet in Room 110 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Women of all ages are invited to this series that includes daily study and weekly discussion at table groups. Books are available at the first session. For more information or to register for childcare, contact Gay Lynn at 673-5295.

Stepping Up: A Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent begins Tuesday, June 10, and will meet from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. in Room 111. This seven-week video study by Beth Moore explores Psalms 120 - 134. For more information, please contact Jean Isom.

University Students and Young Adults: Class meets Sunday mornings at 10:30 and will meet throughout the summer in Room 206, across the hall from the regular university classroom.

Sophomore, Junior and Senior Huddles will NOT meet this week due to finals.

Huddle Leaders: We love you and want to show you our appreciation! Join us TODAY from 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. in the High School Living Room. Childcare will be provided.

Breakthrough 2008: All current 5th - 7th grade students are invited to our in-town Middle School Retreat this summer, June 6 - 8. Get ready to join the race as we face the Breakthrough Gladiators. Applications are available in the Middle School Classroom and at the Welcome Center. These are due TODAY, along with the non-refundable $55.00.

Fortress: All current 6th - 8th grade girls are invited to go on the Fortress Mission Trip on July 7 - 10. Applications are available TODAY in the Welcome Center or in the Middle School Classroom. Applications are due, along with a $50.00 non-refundable deposit, by NEXT SUNDAY, July 1.

Breakthrough Volunteers: There will be a meeting THIS WEDNESDAY, May 28, from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. in Room 206. We will go over everything you need to know about Breakthrough!

Junior Lunch: Meet in the High School Living Room after class NEXT SUNDAY, June 1, from 11:30 - 1:00 p.m. Bring money for lunch at a fast food restaurant. We will begin planning Crossover 2008 and you will not want to miss it!

Attention Mexico Missionaries and Sponsors: The first training session as a team will be NEXT SUNDAY, June 1, from 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. at the Campbell’s. Please contact us at 673-5295 if you will not be able to be at this meeting.

Freshman Huddle Party is THIS WEDNESDAY, May 28, from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Meet at the Highland Playground to load up and leave for the Moody’s for a cookout and sand volleyball. Bring $4.00 for dinner.

Junior Huddle Campout is THIS FRIDAY and SATURDAY, May 30 - 31. Meet at Abilene State Park Friday at 6:00 p.m. Bring $4.00 to enter the park. Dinner and breakfast will be provided if you RSVP to Anna Reynolds by THIS WEDNESDAY, May 28. The campout ends Saturday morning around 10:00 a.m. Remember to bring your overnight bag and bedding.

HIS KIDS Worship will not meet this morning or next Sunday, June 1.

Wednesday Night: 1st through 4th grade meet this week in Room G in the Children’s Wing. 5th grade girls meet in Room E and 5th grade boys meet in Room F. Nursery, preschool, and kindergarten children meet in their regular classrooms.

5th Grade Blessing: Parents mark your calendars for Wednesday, June 4, for the 5th Grade Blessing. We will meet in Room 100 for this special evening.

Summer Camp: All elementary families should have received information in the mail regarding New Beginnings Camp for current kindergarten - 5th grade children. Contact Dava Lynn Sullivan (677-6232) if you have any questions.

Parent Prayer Connect: Parents, pick up a prayer card located at the Children’s Information Desk to use to pray this week for your child to live by God’s Spirit.

Elementary Promotions: Get ready! Elementary promotions will occur Sunday, June 8!

Childcare is available for all twos during worship. Younger Twos meet in Nursery E, off the South Foyer, and the Older Twos meet in the 2’s classroom, located downstairs in the North Children’s Wing.

Nursery care is provided each Sunday in the attended Nursery Suite off the South Foyer. Also, the Mom’s Nursery and Family Room are available for infants and toddlers accompanied by parents or grandparents.

Into All the World Fundraising Opportunity:
Itu, Brazil - Used Printer Cartridges
We need your old printer cartridges! We can exchange them for coupons worth $3.00 each, to be used to purchase supplies for the Itu Youth Camp. Please bring your cartridges to the box at the Welcome Center in the Atrium no later than Sunday, June 15. With your help, we can bring down the cost of camp supplies!! Obrigado!

Dwelling in the Word
Sunday: Psalm 114, 115; Proverbs 9:1-12; Acts 8:14-25
Monday: Psalm 9, 15; Proverbs 10:1-12; I Timothy 1:1-17
Tuesday: Psalm 36, 39; Proverbs 15:16-33; I Timothy 1:18 - 2:8
Wednesday: Psalm 119:25-48; Proverbs 17:1-20; I Timothy 3:1-16
Thursday: Psalm 37:19-42; Proverbs 21:30 - 22:6; I Timothy 4:1-16
Friday: Psalm 35; Proverbs 23:19 - 24:2; I Timothy 5:17-25
Saturday: Psalm 42, 43; Proverbs 25:15-28; I Timothy 6:6-21