Raylitts's Blog

We Are Highland Park!

raylitts — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 02:02:05 +0000

We are Highland Park! During January we are looking at what it means to be a United Methodist Congregation in our time and in our town.

The first week our emphasis was on United Methodist beliefs and our combination of faith and works. We belief and we act on those beliefs. Our second week the spotlight was on our ministry to young people.

This week we will bring together our beliefs and our work with young people. We deliberately have all ages come together to reach out to others. One generation helps another “so that” they can be coached to do the work of God.

I hope you caught the “so that” that was just used. Understanding the “so that” of our ministry is a necessary step in making sure we are doing God’s work in the here and now.

Lovett Weems, respected United Methodist Leader has written extensively on the “So That” principal. He recalls Exodus 25:8–“Have them make me a sanctuary, so that I may dwell among them.”

Lovett goes on to say that a growing congregation envisions a new educational building to help more children and youth grow in their faith. There are passionate about the possibilities. Members of the congregation begin to make plans and project costs. From that moment, everyone will be preoccupied with whether to build now or later, the cost of the project, interest rates, and a host of other legitimate issues. How did it happen that the building receives 90 percent of the attention when the church never set out to build a building but set out to reach more people for Christ or help children and youth grow in their faith?

Lovett told this story to remind us of the “so that” of scripture. We tend to forget we are doing one thing “so that” another thing happens. Life becomes all about the first thing and we lose our focus.

For Methodist Christians we seek to “make disciples for the transformation of the world.” Everything we do should be towards that end. Yet, we have to fight our natural inclinations to stop short of the goal and set our sights on doing that which makes us feel good. The “so that” principal of scripture asks us to examine whether our actions lead to that which makes us feel good or that which enables the transformation of the world.

See you Sunday at we look at the so that principal of scripture.

Pastor Ray

Be Still OR Listen

raylitts — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:56:42 +0000

Be Still Or Listen

You can ask a young child to be still or you can ask them to listen. However, you cannot ask them to both be still and listen. The child psychologist who uttered these words grabbed my attention and still gives me something to ponder.

How old do you have to be before you can do two things at one time? I am over 50 and cannot think of many things that I do, and do well, at the same time I am doing something else. Maybe, just maybe it is hard for any of us to do two things really well at the same time.

Consequently, when a child comes to church can we ask that child to both sit still and listen? If I have to choose I would rather the child listen than sit still. Many times a moving child has surprised me by how well they have listened and learned.

What else do I need to consider so that I communicate with children the Good News of God. The Bible tells me to work at it morning, noon and night. Deuteronomy 6- Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

This week we will focus on this biblical command as we continue our series We Are Highland Park. We are looking at what it means to be a United Methodist Congregation in this place at this time. Part of our work is to minister to young people. The scripture wants us to begin the witness in our homes. Of course that raises the question of how can we accomplish such a task? I would love to hear stories of how you have reached young people with the love of God.

However, this is not just a worship celebration for those with children at home. For those homes without children I want us to consider if God is calling us to be a mentor in some way. One on One contact with a young person will change both of your lives.

Remember we now have available on the homepage-www.hpumc.net

Online giving

Online membership directory

T-shirts are available that proclaim WE ARE HIGHLAND PARK.

See you Sunday, Pastor Ray

He knows who is naughty and who is nice-

raylitts — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:45:05 +0000

He knows who is naughty and who is nice-his name is Jesus Christ. Come celebrate his birthday with us.

Christmas Eve Worship Opportunities

Family Friendly Celebration at 4pm. We planned this service with children in mind. It ends with cookies and milk.

Candlelight Communion 7pm. We conclude this worship with singing Silent Night by candlelight around the outdoor Advent Wreath.

Christmas Eve Offering

If you have the needs of others on your mind–please know that the entire Christmas Eve Offering will go towards the Mission Commitments of Highland Park as outlined in our budget. Two new videos are posted on Facebook.

Videos

You can enjoy the Youth on their pathway to Christ and the After School Care Christmas Program. Two new videos are posted on Facebook. You can enjoy the Youth on their pathway to Christ and the After School Care Christmas Program.

Two Women

raylitts — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 18:55:43 +0000

Two women–two pregnant women–one is really nervous and the other is really excited. Together they form the center of this Sunday’s sermon. Our focus is on Mary’s visit to Elizabeth.
     When Mary became pregnant she headed directly to visit Elizabeth’s home. It took 8-9 days to make the trip. Yet, the Message translation of Luke says “Mary did not waste a minute.” Mary was in a hurry to see Elizabeth. The two women were related in some way-cousins or aunt/niece. Whatever the relationship, it is obvious that Mary felt she could talk to Elizabeth. And, Mary had a lot to talk about and sort out.
     Elizabeth was able to help Mary. She listened to the fears Mary had over her pregnancy.   In spite of the justifiable fears, Elizabeth convinced Mary she was a blessed woman. Elizabeth was not saying Mary would have a life of ease and comfort. In fact, these blessings were a paradox. Mary was granted the blessing of being the mother of the Son of God. Yet, this incredible moment would also be the path to a broken heart. Mary would give birth to a child whom she would witness dying on a cross.
     William Barclay, Bible Scholar, says “To be chosen by God so often means at one and the same time a crown of joy and cross of sorrow. The piercing truth is that God does not choose a person for ease and comfort and selfish joy but for a task that will take all that head and heart and hand can bring to it. God chooses us in order to use us. It is the paradox of blessedness that it confers on a person at one and the same time the greatest joy and the greatest task in all the world.”
     Maybe we ought to be careful asking God to bless us. In so doing God might just give a tremendous work to do at a great cost. Pastor Ray

Two women–two pregnant women–one is re

raylitts — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 18:54:08 +0000

Two women–two pregnant women–one is really nervous and the other is really excited. Together they form the center of this Sunday’s sermon. Our focus is on Mary’s visit to Elizabeth.
When Mary became pregnant she headed directly to visit Elizabeth’s home. It took 8-9 days to make the trip. Yet, the Message translation of Luke says “Mary did not waste a minute.” Mary was in a hurry to see Elizabeth. The two women were related in some way-cousins or aunt/niece. Whatever the relationship, it is obvious that Mary felt she could talk to Elizabeth. And, Mary had a lot to talk about and sort out.
Elizabeth was able to help Mary. She listened to the fears Mary had over her pregnancy. In spite of the justifiable fears, Elizabeth convinced Mary she was a blessed woman. Elizabeth was not saying Mary would have a life of ease and comfort. In fact, these blessings were a paradox. Mary was granted the blessing of being the mother of the Son of God. Yet, this incredible moment would also be the path to a broken heart. Mary would give birth to a child whom she would witness dying on a cross.
William Barclay, Bible Scholar, says “To be chosen by God so often means at one and the same time a crown of joy and cross of sorrow. The piercing truth is that God does not choose a person for ease and comfort and selfish joy but for a task that will take all that head and heart and hand can bring to it. God chooses us in order to use us. It is the paradox of blessedness that it confers on a person at one and the same time the greatest joy and the greatest task in all the world.”
Maybe we ought to be careful asking God to bless us. In so doing God might just give a tremendous work to do at a great cost. Pastor Ray

See you Sunday,

Pastor Ray

Blessings for you!

raylitts — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:09:44 +0000

Friday at 11am our Kindergarten will offer their Christmas program. If you attend, you will be blessed with their smiles, their message and their music. It is a wonderful group of 3,4, and 5 year olds. Come and join us.

Sunday at 9am is the Christmas Musical for the children’s choir. It is entitled Follow the Star and is a fun and joyous reminder of why the “wise men” of the Christmas Story sought after Christ and why we still do today! Join the fantastic story of these three companions as they set their sights on a bright star in the heavens that would ultimately lead them to the Christ-child, the King of all kings!

Joseph is the center of Sunday’s 11am sermon. God was orchestrating the birth of the savior and God was inviting Joseph to play a critical part in His plan to save the world. Yet, at this very moment Joseph felt at his lowest, betrayed by the one he was to marry.

Adam Hamilton spoke to me about Joseph’s situation. “Something amazing was about to happen, but Joseph could not see this yet. In my life God has always taken the pain, the disappointment, the heartache and used it in profound ways that I could only see and understand in hindsight. Today when I face moments of profound disappointment, and journeys that I don’t want to take, I turn them over to God and invite Him to, in the words of the Apostle Paul, make all things work together for good for those who love God, and are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).”

Children on December 18, during children’s worship, we will have a birthday party for Jesus. Please bring a gift for Jesus that we can give away to keep someone else warm–=blanket, hat, or gloves.

Christmas Eve Worship begins at 4pm and 7pm. The offering for both services will go in its entirety to the mission commitments listed in the budget of Highland Park.

Looking ahead to January for Jesus. Make your plans to join in the celebration.

January 8-”Sliding into a new year with Jesus”–wear pants this day

January 15-”Cooking up a new love of Jesus”–making waffles this day

January 22-”Learning Godley lessons through theater”–Marionette theater will be here

January 29-”I scream, you scream, we all scream for Jesus” Ice cream truck will come

See you Soon, Pastor Ray

Tonight Methodists from all over the Flo

raylitts — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:24:52 +0000

Tonight Methodists from all over the Florence District will be gathering to celebrate Advent. They will meet right here at Highland Park. Worship begins at 7pm. Our District Superintendent will be the preacher. And, the young people of Highland Park will provide special music.

Sunday morning at 11am our adult choir will bless us with their cantata. A Thrill of Hope is a dynamic retelling of the Christmas story divided into four parts: Hope, Love, Peace and Joy.Their music will inspire us to a new appreciation of the gift we receive in the birth of Christ.

HP Kindergarten has been working hard on their Christmas program. It will warm your heart to see these young children praise our God. The program is scheduled for Friday, December 9 at 11am.

Sunday, December 11 at 9am our children’s choir will present their Christmas program. Follow the Star is a is an amazing story of obedience, faith and worship. Their joy will infect you with joy. Please make your plans to worship with our children.

The After School Care ministry of Highland Park will offer The Real Night Before Christmas on Thursday, December 15. This special program begins at 5pm. This is a great opportunity to witness how your ministry to the community is making a difference in the lives of children.
See you Soon, Pastor Ray

Worship Opportunities with you in mind!

raylitts — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 21:00:54 +0000

A Thrill of Hope, by Joel Raney is a A dynamic retelling of the Christmas story divided into four parts: Hope, Love, Peace and Joy. Each section is a musical medley packed with familiar carols sure to appeal to singers and audiences alike. The major themes of Advent and Christmas are addressed, culminating in an uplifting celebration of the joy of the season. Thoughtful narration and scripture readings appear between each movement.

Our Chancel Choir will inspire us through this musical celebration Sunday, December 4, 11am.

Follow the Star is a fun and joyous reminder of why the “wise men” of the Christmas Story sought after Christ and why we still do today! This is an amazing story of obedience, faith and worship. Join the fantastic story of these three companions as they set their sights on a bright star in the heavens that would ultimately lead them to the Christ-child, the King of all kings!

Our Children’s Choir will shower us with this blessing Sunday, December 11, 9am.

This past Sunday’s choir special and sermon on now available on the websit.

And, you can worship with United Methodist from around the Florence District on Friday, December 2, 7pm. We will gather right here in Highland Park.

See you soon,
Pastor Ray

A Thrill of Hope, by Joel Raney is a A d

raylitts — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:59:33 +0000

A Thrill of Hope, by Joel Raney is a A dynamic retelling of the Christmas story divided into four parts: Hope, Love, Peace and Joy. Each section is a musical medley packed with familiar carols sure to appeal to singers and audiences alike. The major themes of Advent and Christmas are addressed, culminating in an uplifting celebration of the joy of the season. Thoughtful narration and scripture readings appear between each movement.
Our Chancel Choir will inspire us through this musical celebration Sunday, December 4, 11am.

This past Sunday’s choir special and sermon on now available on the websit.

And, you can worship with United Methodist from around the Florence District on Friday, December 2, 7pm. We will gather right here in Highland Park.

See you soon,
Pastor Ray

A Thrill of Hope, by Joel Raney is a A d

raylitts — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:59:12 +0000

This past Sunday’s choir special and sermon on now available on the websit.

And, you can worship with United Methodist from around the Florence District on Friday, December 2, 7pm. We will gather right here in Highland Park.

See you soon,
Pastor Ray