Assembly date: August 16, 2009

We extend a warm welcome to all of our members and guests today! If you are visiting, we invite you to fill out one of the white Communication Cards located in the rack on the back of the seats, and 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 a Bible class to attend this morning, information for youth and adult classes is available at the Welcome Center. Information for children’s classes is available at the HIS KIDS desk in the North Foyer, just outside the Auditorium.

Assembly Order • August 16, 2009
Worship Leader: Val Durrington

Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Welcome and Greeting
Shout Hallelujah!

Family Concerns ~ Steve Hare
Pastoral Prayer ~ Mark Lewis

Great in Power
Psalm 89 ~ Jennifer Crisp
Praise the Lord
How Great Is Our God
The Lord’s Prayer

John 11:17-44
“Faithing” ~ Randy Harris
Mighty to Save

Welcome to the Lord’s Table
Thoughts and Prayers ~ Richard Beck
“Who Am I”
What the Lord Has Done in Me

Tithes and Offerings
Blessing and Prayer for Incoming University Students and Their Parents ~ Steve Hare
A New Anointing
Benediction ~ Randy

Speaking next Sunday, August 23 ~ Jeff Childers

"Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ welcomed you, for the glory of God." ~ Romans 15:7

"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

"We truly worship God by showing hospitality to strangers, ‘for by so doing some have entertained angels without knowing it’ (Hebrews 13:2). A life of intentional praise will take seriously the importance of hospitality and service of every kind." ~ Gary Holloway and Earl Lavender

CHURCH@WELCOME
Welcoming others is a big part of our mission in this world. Jesus welcomes us; we welcome others. It sounds so simple, yet many are left to feel alone and not welcomed. As we enter a new academic year with many new people coming to visit, it is always good to remember our identity as a welcoming people.

Welcome as a verb means: To greet, receive, or entertain (another or others) cordially or hospitably or to receive or accept gladly. More often than not we are so glad to see our friends and family we forget there are new people in our midst.

One of Jesus' most delightful characteristics is his ability to draw people in, to welcome everyone (especially the morally and socially outcast) to his table. The image of Jesus "at table"- so common in the Gospels - is significant, for in Jewish culture to eat with someone was to accept him or her as family. And Jesus' table never lacked people, people of every conceivable "type." All felt embraced. All acknowledged their need for him.

God welcomes us, we welcome God, and we are called to welcome one another. As we seek to "be Jesus" to our world, we must welcome all sorts of people. Our table should look like his table.

CONGREGATIONAL CARE MINISTRY
The Highland Prayer Ministry meets each Monday from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. in the Prayer Room. If you would like to leave a prayer request, please call the Prayer Ministry Request Line at 672-3151. If you would like to have a loved one’s name placed on the Highland Connection prayer list, please contact Beth Reeves at 673-5295.

COMMUNITY MINISTRY
Grace Fellowship Interest Meetings: If you are interested in ministering to the north side community of Abilene, please join us on Monday nights at Grace Fellowship at 7:00 p.m. We will be seeking direction and vision through prayer and a study of Mark.

ADULT FAITH MINISTRY
SUNDAY MORNING UPDATE
Celebrate Life is open to all ages of adults and focuses on life skills from a Christian perspective. Bruce Campbell and Terry St. Pierre lead the current study in Room 103.

Faithseekers is a large multigenerational class meeting in Room 112. The class continues a series on Finding God in the Story of Your Life. Ranise Parks will be sharing God’s work through “Camp Courage.”

WEEKDAY GROUPS
Mark your calendar for opportunities this fall:
Tuesday Ladies Bible Class begins September 1. Meet for visiting and coffee at 9:00 and Bible study at 9:30 in Room 112. Denecia Hubbard will be teaching from the Letter to the Hebrews. Childcare is provided in Room 113, off the South Foyer. The At His Feet class will offer the Beth Moore series on Esther, beginning September 29.

One in a Million, a new video study by Priscilla Shirer, begins on Monday, September 14, at 7:00 in Room 207. This seven week study explores the Israelites’ journey from Egypt to the promised land. This series includes daily study and weekly discussion at table groups. Books will be available at the first session. For more information, contact Gay Lynn at the Adult Faith Ministry office, 673-5295 or gaylynn@highlandchurch.org

MOPS begins Monday, September 14! All mothers of preschool children are invited for fun, friendship, and encouragement in the Christian life. The Highland MOPS group meets two Mondays a month from 9:30 - 11:30 in Room 207. For more information, check their website at www.abilenemops.com. Childcare workers, both paid and volunteer, are needed. Contact Laura Tuck at moppets@abilenemops.com.

CAMPUS MINISTRY
Our Sunday Morning Gathering meets at 10:30 a.m. upstairs in Room 207. Join us as we grow in love for one another and for those in our community.

3D MINISTRY
Donate Your Donut: High school and middle school students are encouraged to come to class TODAY with money to donate toward your “donuts”. All money collected will go to support the Missions Special.

Church@Welcome: All high school and middle school students are invited to join the Church@Welcome THIS WEDNESDAY, August 19, from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. in the Auditorium. Do not miss this opportunity to meet our new university students! The evening will conclude with ice cream.

6th and 7th Grade Girls Sleepover: THIS FRIDAY, August 21, come to Diane Cope’s home at 7:30 p.m. Please have your parents pick you up Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m. Remember to bring $5.00 to help cover some of the expenses of this fun-filled sleepover. Pack a sleeping bag, pillow, bathing suit, and towel. Pizza will be provided later in the evening.

Fall Parent/Student Meeting: Make plans to join us NEXT SUNDAY, August 23, during class time in the Gym. This informational meeting is for all middle school and high school students and their parents.

HIS KIDS MINISTRY
HIS KIDS Worship is not meeting this morning or next Sunday, August 23.

Kindergarten Parents: Come to Bible class with your child this morning! We will start in the Pre-Kindergarten classroom downstairs and then move upstairs to the Kindergarten classroom. You will have the opportunity to write a blessing to be placed in your child's Kindergarten Bible. The Kindergarten Bible Blessing will be next Sunday, August 23.

Books for Rwanda: This morning there are boxes available in all three foyers to collect new and gently used children's books to be sent to children in Rwanda as they learn to read English. Thank you for your participation in this very special activity!

Preschool Splash Party: All 3 - 5 year-olds and their families are invited to join us this Tuesday evening, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., at the home of Ryan and Holly Morris. We will have sprinklers, small pools, and other splashy activities! Bring a brown bag dinner; snacks will be provided. Call the HIS KIDS ministry office at 673-5295 if you have any questions.

Wednesday Night: There will be no Bible classes this Wednesday night, August 19, as we all welcome incoming Abilene Christian University freshmen!

For Twos Only: Childcare is available for all two year-olds during worship. Younger Twos meet in Nursery E, off the South Foyer, and the Older Twos meet in the 2’s classroom, 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.

Join the Church@Welcome this Wednesday, August 19, from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. in the Auditorium.

If you would like information about serving as part of the Highland Missions Committee, please contact Greg Powell.

Please continue to lift up in prayer the members of the Preacher Search Team while they serve this body, as we seek God’s will for our future.

JOIN TEAM TATUM!
A team is forming to walk in the Light the Night event hosted by the Leukemia/Lymphoma foundation on August 29 at ACU to support the Flaming family as they face the leukemia diagnosis of their three year-old, Tatum. Register for the walk at http://pages.lightthenight.org/ntx/Abiline09/TeamTatum. T-shirts are also being created as a fundraiser for the family. For more information contact Amy Boone.

Dwelling in the Word
Sunday: Psalm 118; II Samuel 17:1-23; John 5:30-47
Monday: Psalm 106; II Samuel 17:24 - 18:8; Mark 11:12-26
Tuesday: Psalm 121, 122, 123; II Samuel 18:9-18; Mark 11:27 - 12:12
Wednesday: Psalm 128, 129, 130; II Samuel 18:19-23; Mark 12:13-27
Thursday: Psalm 131, 132, 133; II Samuel 19:1-23; Mark 12:28-34
Friday: Psalm 140, 142; II Samuel 19:24-43; Mark 12:35-44
Saturday: Psalm 137, 144; II Samuel 23:1-17; Mark 13:1-13