Vacation Bible School 2025

Highlands is thrilled to host VBS this summer! All children entering Kindergarten through 5th grade (in fall 2025) are invited to join us July 21-25 from 9:30am to 12:30pm. Our HPGP VPK students who are enrolled in summer camp will also attend with their class.

Knights of North Castle: Quest for the King’s Armor invites children to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of God’s power by exploring how we put on the armor of God. Kids will take on the role of brave Knights and begin their quest each session by opening the King’s Book. Each day, they’ll explore Old and New Testament stories and discover different pieces of protective armor—the Belt of Truth, the Breastplate of Justice, the Shoes of Peace, the Shield of Faith, and the Helmet of Salvation—at work in the lives of familiar Bible characters, and explore how that armor works in their own lives as they follow and serve God. Help kids take up the gauntlet this summer and accept the challenge to “armor up” and be strong by remaining with God and sharing God’s love in a world that needs it more than ever.

During this week, our VBS kids will hear the bible stories of:

1. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego Stand True - Daniel 3

2. David Defeats Goliath - 1 Samuel 17:1-50a

3. Mary’s Journey to Bethlehem - Luke 2:1-20

4. Jesus Walks on Water – Matthew 14:22-33

5. Midnight Praise with Paul and Silas – Acts 16:16-40

Details

Who: rising Kindergarten through 5th graders & HPGP VPK students enrolled in summer

When: July 21 - 25, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm

Where: Highlands United Presbyterian Church, 10900 McCormick Road

Cost: $10 suggested donation per participant

Registration

Click to go to registration form:

• VBS Participants (rising Kindergarten through 5th grade & HPGP VPK students enrolled in summer camp)

• Youth Volunteers (rising 6th grade through graduates)

• Adult Volunteers

Please email Ms. Brooke at FaithFormation@hupcjax.org with any questions.

Fall Work Day

The Building and Grounds Committee would like to send a HUGE thank you to everyone that came out to spruce up the church grounds this morning! We made light work of spreading two truck loads of mulch!

Our Dream Church - Stewardship 2024

Over the past few weeks, our Resources & Management Committee has talked to you about the hopes and dreams we have for Highlands in the coming year. What was discovered is that most of our dreams fall into one of four categories - Capital improvements (technology, new organ, sign, windows), Mission (growing Micah’s, Sarai’s Closet), Fellowship (more fellowship dinners, small groups), and Youth and Children ministries (more youth, hiring a DCE) - with most of these dreams falling into that last category.

When “crunching the numbers,” achieving the goal of a full-time staff person to focus on ministries to children, youth, and families would require an increase of $60,000 from our 2023 budget. In 2023, we had 75 giving units (households). Of those 75 units, 25 households contribute more than $3,500/year making up 70% of our revenue with 50 units contributing the other 30%. In order to reach the dream of increasing our pledges to an additional $60,000, it is suggested that households currently giving more than $3,500 could increase their giving by $100/month and those currently giving less than $3,500 could increase their giving by $50/month. The Resources and Management Committee hopes that you will prayerfully consider your ability to help us reach this goal.

Formal Stewardship letters will be heading your way in the coming days, but as Mark mentioned, we’ll be “flooding” you with pledge cards. So, here is your first opportunity to go ahead and submit your pledge if you’re ready. Simply click on the links here to complete your Pledge Card and Time & Talent Form (more to come on that next week).