3255 Edgemont Blvd. North Vancouver, BC V7R 2P1

Ph: 604-980-6071 churchoffice@highlandsunited.org www.highlandsunited.org Rev. Will Sparks, Lead Minister

Highlights February 11, 2018

This week, on the North Shore, we actually felt the sun peak

through the rain, and the people around me seemed to chirp

and purr and sigh. No mystery there. The clouds had cleared

for a moment. And today we hear and think about the way the

clouds clear for us and we catch a glimpse of the Great

Mystery at the heart of life. Come join us.

Highlands Upcoming Events and Programs

This list does not include rooms booked for outside rentals (Guides, AA, Alanon etc).

Highlands Event Calendar can be viewed on our web site at: www.highlandsunited.org

Sunday, February 11 9:30 am Coffee/Tea in the Welcoming Space 10:00 am Sunday Worship Service, Sanctuary 11:15 am Coffee & Hospitality, Welcome Space 11:45 am Re:Sound Rehearsal, Choir Room 12:00 pm Music Man Rehearsals, Sanctuary and Room 201 3:30 pm Music Man Orchestra Rehearsals, Choir Room

Monday, February 12 – Family Day (Church Office Closed) 1:00 pm Prayer Shawl Ministry, Choir Room 6:00 pm Music Man Rehearsals, Sanctuary 7:30 pm Badminton, Gym Tuesday, February 13 9:00 am Flea Market Sorting, Lower Hall 9:30 am ESL/ELL Class, Room 201/202 3:00 pm Livestream Testing, Sanctuary

5:00 pm Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner, Gym

6:00 pm Ash Wednesday Service, Sanctuary 7:00 pm Music Man Rehearsals, Sanctuary 7:00 pm Guitar for Fun, Storage Area 7:00 pm The Way of Discernment, Welcome Space Wednesday, February 14 7:30 am Men’s Breakfast, Eighties Restaurant 9:00 am Organ Tuning, Sanctuary 6:00 pm Music Man Rehearsals, Sanctuary and Room 201 Thursday, February 15 9:30 am ESL/ELL Class, Room 201/202 12:30 pm ESL Speakers Group, Room 201 5:30 pm Thursday Dinner, Gym 6:00 pm Leadership Board Meeting, Room 201 6:00 pm Genesis Too Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary 6:30 pm God’s Free Spirits Choir Rehearsal, Choir Room 8:00pm Spirit Singers Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary Friday, February 16 10:00 am Friday Fiddles, Room 202 6:00 pm IGNITE Worship, Sanctuary Saturday, February17 1:00 pm Saturday Lunch at North Shore Neighbourhood House Sunday, February 18 9:30 am Coffee/Tea in the Welcoming Space 10:00 am Sunday Worship Service, Sanctuary 11:15 am Coffee & Hospitality, Welcome Space 11:45 am Re:Sound Rehearsal, Choir Room 12:00 pm Music Man Rehearsals, Sanctuary and Room 201 3:30 pm Music Man Orchestra Rehearsals, Choir Room

Fasting for Lent?

from the Highlands United Growing

Greener Team (HUGG), formerly

the Climate and Environment Action

Group

Traditionally, Christians fast during

Lent as a spiritual practice – giving

something up, making a sacrifice –

a time of reflection. This Lent, you

are invited to reflect on the state of

God’s earth and the climate, and

ask yourself,

“What can I give up this Lent to bless the earth?”

Acting together, we CAN make a difference.

Pick up a package of “Give It Up for the Earth" materials in the Welcome

Space:

Write a pledge card (put on your fridge or take a selfie with it to post)

- Hang your pledge leaf on our tree (a Valentine card to the Earth)

- Send a postcard to our environment minister (encouraging the

government to take strong action).

Lots more information on the Highlands website,

www.highlandsunited.org

“We are going to win this; we are going to solve this crisis.

The key is solving it quickly enough. That’s why it matters

that so many people are organizing to accelerate the solutions.”

-- Al Gore, An Inconvenient Sequel

Uncommon Transformation March 2-4

A Weekend with Peter Rollins

Co-sponsored by Highlands United

Church and Leadershift

of BC Conference

Want to get your Spiritual Fire fed and

fearlessly explore your faith? Join us for a

weekend of great events with Irish

philosopher, story-teller and radical

theologist Peter Rollins.

The weekend begins with Pints and Parables on Friday evening,

continues on Saturday with a full day workshop, and ends with worship

on Sunday morning. This event is open to all ministry staff, lay leaders,

youth, young adults, contragational saints, mustics, poets and the

curious. It combines theology, philospphy and music to take you on a

journey into your faith. Peter’s gift to make you question, re-examine

your assumptions, look at the bible in another way, and engage your

own faith.

Pints and Parables

Friday March 2, 7pm – 10pm

With music by West My Friend

Cross the threshold and be transformed by the dissembling power of

story, music and spirituality. Author, philosopher and verbal magician

Peter Rollins takes us on a journey of story, questioning and alchemical

musings based on the Parables that will transform and challenge you.

At turns funny, poignant, irreverent and shocking, parables cut into us

with surgical precision, reaching deep into the hidden recesses of our

soul, operating on those parts of our being that more direct speech

can’t touch.

West, My Friend’s music is often described as indie-roots to chamber-

folk. A better description might be “just plain beautiful.” West My Friend

has an acoustic blend of instruments and four-part harmonies that

challenges the conventions of popular music.

Expect great live music, good brews from Steamworks Brewery and

great conversation with friends!

Building on Fire: Finding the spiritual way of life

in uncertain times

Saturday March 3, 2018 9:30am-4:30 pm

After you chuck out dogma, certainty, and rigid understandings about

the Christian faith, what emerges next? And can we uncover a faith that

will change the very way we live our lives?

Join writer, philosopher and revolutionary storyteller Peter Rollins as we

strip away old concepts and

reveal a surprising vision of how

Christ-followers and the church

can live out a life-affirming Way

that just might change the world.

Prepare to explore how

Christianity can be an active

practice or “Way” of being in the

world, and what that would mean

for your relationships, work and

your agency in the world.

Working with the very fabric of

our lives, which are full of

uncertainty and change, we will

dive deep into our faith and in our

own brokenness and troubles to

uncover what this wild and

surprising Way might lead us to

do and be.

For more information and to register, send an email to:

churchoffice@highlandsunited.org or will.sparks@highlandsunited.org

Highlands Special Registration for the “Uncommon Transformation” Event w/ Peter Rollins

Now Open

Forms are available in the Welcome Space

Adults $50

Youth and Young Adults (up to 30) Friday Night $25

Bursaries available. Talk to Sandi Parker or Will Sparks

Nomination for Highlands

Leadership Board

You are welcome to nominate yourself or another person for

membership on the Leadership Board of Highlands United Church.

There are three vacancies available.

Term: July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2020, renewable once

The ten members of the Leadership Board are willing to grow in their

faith and in their leadership. They feel a strong connection to Highlands

United Church, and a wish to serve this community.

The Board has an oversight role to ensure that Highlands serves its

mission and reaches the goals laid out in our Ministry and Business

Plans. It reviews and updates these plans. It empowers Highlands'

Ministry (staff, volunteers, and ministry teams) to do the work. In short,

the Board sets the vision and defines what Highlands wants to do;

Ministry defines the process by which Highlands achieves these goals.

The Board meets one evening monthly (usually Thursday evening

between 6 pm and 7:30 pm). Each member is expected to allow time

for preparation for the meeting (reading reports sent in advance;

researching topics that require background knowledge) and may be

assigned (or volunteer for) specific tasks. The time requirement is

about four hours per month.

Nominee: _______________________________________________

Please explain briefly why you want to serve on the Leadership Board.

If you are suggesting someone else for service, please have their

permission, and explain here why you think that person would be a

good member on our Board.

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

Nominator: ______________________________________________

Thank you for your interest in the ongoing work of Highlands United

Church. Please return this form by Sunday February 11.

Highlands United Church

Nominations for Leadership Positions

Two Chair positions become vacant this year, and are required to be

filled for the term July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2020. They are:

1. Finance Committee Chair—see David Boal for information

2. Stewardship Committee Chair—see Bob Brown for information

I, (your name)_____________________________________________

nominate (nominee's name)__________________________________

for the position (Finance Chair or Stewardship Chair)

_____________________________________________

I believe this person is suitable for the position because:

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

Please return completed form to the Church Office in an envelope

marked "Nominating Group" by Sunday February 11, 2018.

Thank you for your interest in the ongoing work of Highlands United

Church.

URGENTLY NEEDED—a message from

our Shelter to Home Team

We have a mother and a one-year old child who need

household items immediately—can you help by

providing the following for this family and others in

need:

Dressers or chests of drawers and bedside tables

Small-medium coffee tables and end tables

Flat screen TVs

Electrical appliances: toasters, coffee makers, kettles and microwaves

Easy chairs

Small kitchen tables and chairs

Lamps and lamp shades

8-12 ounce drinking glasses

A play pen

To donate, please call 778-331-8465

Amica Hosts Needed

Every Sunday the Highlands service is

livestreamed to a lovely gathering of

8-15 people at Amica Seniors Home in

Edgemont Village. We host these

services by simply attending with

bulletins and welcoming the residents.

We have a small cluster of volunteers and need one or two more.

This is a simple outreach opportunity to seniors who can’t make it out

to the services but want to be connected to Highlands.

For more information, talk to Colleen Blair, Will Sparks or call the

Church Office.

To reserve your spot for the

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner—be sure

to sign up at the Action Table

this Sunday!

Would you like to get to know people? Want to help the church but can’t

commit to an ongoing job?

The Spring Plant Fundraiser could be the perfect fit for you.

Lisa Madill and Julie Hunt are ready to pass the golden gardening glove

to someone new and are happy to mentor you through the process. You

would need access to a computer, a few brief order taking sessions after

church, and some time on the weekend before

Mother’s Day to receive and distribute plants.

Please email Julie if you are able to take this on.

Gardening knowledge is not a prerequisite

juliehunt@shaw.ca

Join us for a mid-week matinee performance followed by an Aussie Pie

Guy pie and beverage of choice in the theatre lobby. The fabulous

Saxalamode Sax Quartet will play your favorite jazz tunes to the

sensuous tangos of Astor Piazzolla, from Charlie Parker to Count Basie,

Duke Ellington and big screen movie ballads.

Date & Time: Wed, March 28 noon, doors open at 11, seating: 11:30

Where: Centennial Theatre at 23rd and Lonsdale in North Vancouver.

Access to the parking lot is from 23rd St. Level entrance access is from

the North parking lot, through the doors facing Lonsdale Ave.

Transportation: Participants who are able, should drive directly to

the theatre. If you are willing to pick up someone who needs a ride,

please indicate this when you sign up. If you would like to attend and

cannot arrange transportation, please check with Colleen.

Cost: $22 covers the concert, lunch and your choice of beer, wine or

soft drink.

Payment and Tickets: is due by February 21st and should be labelled to

the attention of Colleen Blair. Cheques can be made out to Highlands

United Church. Space for lunch at the theatre is limited so sign up early

to avoid disappointment! Please collect tickets before Sunday March

25th, either at the church office during office hours or on Sunday after

church from Colleen. Tickets that are not collected in advance will be

available at the box office on the day of the performance, labelled

“Highlands United Seniors”.

More info? Speak to Colleen Blair 604-980-6071 ext 27

Centennial Theatre’s Play, Pie & Pint featuring Saxalamode - The Passionate Sax

HUC Refugee Sponsorship News

Hasna Mohamed, our energetic Ethiopian

newcomer in Canada since May 2015, has a

new job at Canyon Bistro in Edgemont

Village! Hasna has been self-supporting

financially since Highlands' official

sponsorship completed in 2016. She is

working as a dishwasher and hopes to also

develop skills in prep cooking. We

encourage you to stop by Canyon for lunch

or dinner and see Hasna's smiling face in the

open kitchen.

The first anniversary of the arrival of our two Syrian families (shared

sponsorship with the North Shore Sponsor Group) is April 2018. Both

families are living in Burnaby, with children and adults busy learning

English and Canadian culture as they settle into their new

community. The Sept 2017 Celtic Concert Fundraiser (hosted by

Highlands) raised approximately $5,000 to help pay back the

government of Canada for their airfare transportation loans.

Highlands may now be ready to look at sponsoring a new refugee

family to Canada! Our leadership board has confirmed directional

support in principle for the Refugee Committee to explore various

options for a potential sponsorship, possibly in partnership with another

church or group. One huge challenge for settling any new refugee

family on the North Shore or in the Lower Mainland is the high cost of

rental accommodation. Partnering with another church in a more

financially viable geographic area of BC is one option being

considered.

As we take the next steps in hopefully bringing a refugee family to the

safety of Canada, we'd love to hear from any of you who may be

interested in participating in this important work as part of the Refugee

Committee.

Please contact Marilyn MacDonald at 604-908-3747 or

mmacd4753@gmail.com

- Highlands Refugee Committee

Want Your Donation to Highlands to Go Farther?

The Highlands United Church Heritage Fund ended 2017 with a value

of just over $180,000, which represented an annual growth of 7.6%.

The earnings of the fund (and only the earnings) are available as a

durable and long-lasting source of money for long-term projects.

That means your donation can help Highlands for years and years.

Presently, last year’s earnings of $12,564, together with previously

earned amounts, are available to support projects that add significantly

to the longevity of Highlands, its vitality as a congregation,

and its impact on the community.

The Heritage Fund committee will report quarterly to the Highlands

congregation on donations and earnings as we receive updates

from the fund’s professional managers,

Connor, Clark & Lunn Private Capital Ltd.

We encourage you to consider making a lasting gift now, or to include a

clause in your Will leaving a bequest to the

HUC Heritage Fund.

Gift for Highlands

A

COMMUNITY EVENTS

A Message from First United Church in

Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside

COLDEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR 2018

Mark your calendars for Saturday, February 24, 2018 for the 4th Annual

Coldest Night of the Year walk for the homeless, hungry and hurting in

Vancouver. We love to celebrate this event with our partner congregations,

please email cnoy@firstunited.ca for details. We’re thrilled to welcome

walking teams from several United Churches, and also a conglomerate of 4

Presbyterian churches from Burnaby and New Westminster.

PRAYER REQUEST – WORKERS AND VOLUNTEERS ON THE

DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE

A recent article has drawn attention to the strain and trauma being borne by

‘frontline’ workers who respond to overdose calls day and night. Here at First

United our staff responds to ODs daily. Even if the user survives, the

experience can take its toll on first responders, who are often not EMTs, but

rather folk who work or volunteer in the neighbourhood. If the user passes

away despite interventions, the trauma to responders can be significant.

Please pray for these brave, stalwart folk who are giving so much.

https://tinyurl.com/DTESCrisis

Notice of a Public Information Meeting

Domus Homes is hosting a Public Information Meeting to present the

development proposal for a 12 unit townhouse development located at

3288 Brookridge Drive and 1135-1147 Ridgewood Drive.

Meeting Time and Location: Thursday February 15, 2018

7:00 – 8:30pm Highlands United Church (In the Gymnasium)

3255 Edgemont Blvd, North Vancouver, V7R 2P1

Meeting Agenda:

Doors Open: 7:00pm

Open House Discussion: 7:00 – 8:30pm

Presentation: 7:30pm – 7:45pm

For further information please contact:

Yasser Yassin, Domus Homes 604-628-2660

Emel Nordin District of North Van, 604-990-2347 Planning Dept.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

If you are a volunteer, in a paid ministry position, a Sunday School

teacher, a Youth Leader, or Clergy in a congregation we welcome you to

register and take part in The INSPIRE Conference 2018!

Come and gather at our third annual Ecumenical INSPIRE Conference!

"To be inspired is great; to inspire is incredible"

Sponsored by BC Conference, The United Church of Canada

In partnership with: BC Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in

Canada, The Diocese of New Westminster, and The

Contemplative Justice Network

Registration Fee: $230!

YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY BC CONFERENCE - THE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA