Pastor George has invited me to share with you about a Highrock ministry that I’ve been serving now for over five years, called Community Partners. You may have heard about this ministry in our worship service a couple of Sundays ago. Highrock’s Community Partners ministry is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year! Victoria Buckley, a licensed clinical social worker, who attends Highrock Arlington, helped to start this ministry in the basement of Trinity Covenant Church, in Lexington (which was adopted by Highrock). Community Partners serves people with emotional and mental health challenges and addiction issues by hosting a once a month social gathering in the Highrock Arlington Café.

Volunteers from every Highrock campus minister together at these gatherings by either:

 Serving as Hosts – Through socialization, playing games, watching TV, and rooting for our favorite Boston sports teams, and fostering a place where these “partners” can have a sense of belonging, respect, and where they can be heard and encouraged.

 Food Preparation – A sit-down dinner is provided at these monthly gatherings, and volunteers prepare a salad, entree, dessert, or grill outdoors during the warmer months. Some volunteers even help with the grocery shopping before each monthly gathering.

 Drivers – Provide transportation to/from Highrock Arlington at each monthly gathering. Many “partners” live in the MetroNorth area between Waltham and Stoneham.

We are in need of new volunteers to begin serving in these ways, as some of our volunteers have been serving in this ministry for nearly four decades.

Community Partners meets on the third Sunday of every month, from 3:30 to 5:45 pm, and volunteers usually have everything cleaned up by 6:15 pm.

One Sunday, I remember washing the ashtrays after a Community Partners gathering, and I thought, “My new litmus for the quality of a church should be whether they have ashtrays.” So, I’m glad to be part of Highrock Church; a church serving and trying to reach those often marginalized by society with the love and hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

— Pastor Robert (RobertB@Highrock.org)