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October 3, 2024 Newsletter

| Highrock MetroWest, 754 Greendale Ave. Needham MA

Highrock: The Church of the ‘Holy Ashtray, by Pastor Robert Bloodworth

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)

Imago: Relationships That Reflect Our Maker

God created us for relationships, yet so often our relationships mirror the brokenness in the world rather than reflect the love of God. How do we recover God’s loving intent for our relationships with one another? In this series, we will unpack why it matters that we are all created in God’s image, and how putting that profound truth into action can restore and reconcile our fractured relationships.

This Sunday, October 6, Pastor Taylor Burgoyne preaching in person from Matthew 18:15-20: Good Clean Fight.

The sermon study guide, reflection group information, and more about the sermon series can be found here.

NextGen Calendar

Highrock MetroWest: THIS LINK takes you to our church management program. Create a profile, if you don’t have one, and then join the NextGen Family Group. You can see in this group the Calendar Tab which lists all the Middle and High School meetings and events in a calendar format.

 

Coming Up at Highrock Church

Whether you’re looking to connect in person or online, there’s always something happening at Highrock!

Grow in your faith through a small group, broaden your horizons with a class, worship with others, volunteer your time, and more.

Check out the “Coming Up” section for all of Highrock Church.

Ways to Go Deeper!

MetroWest Prays on Monday evenings at 8:30 pm by ZOOMPrayer Requests can be sent to the prayer team via this form or contact Foluke Ajayi. The next in-person prayer time is Monday evening, September 16, at 7 pm at church. On the evenings we have in-person prayer there is no zoom meeting.

For Moms! The MetroWest chapter of Momsrock meets most Friday mornings at 9:30 am in Fellowship Hall. Contact Sandi Norman for more information at sandinorman@gmail.com.

Daily (M -Th) Devotional Group for Anyone with Pastor Ryan Marshall – Click for more info.

New Groups! We have newly formed Highrock MetroWest small groups. Contact Pastor George for more information.

Find Daily Devos, Highrock sermons, Highrock Online, and more on your favorite platform! Search for “Highrock Church.” Examples: Spotify, YouTube.

HRMW Feedback Form

Let your church know how to improve worship and ministry to draw people into a deeper life with Jesus.