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October 16, 2025 Newsletter - BE changed into people through whom God will BRING change

| Highrock MetroWest, 754 Greendale Ave. Needham MA

Navigating the In-Between: Guiding Youth to Life in Full with God

“If you were to ask the young people you know to summarize their experience so far, they’d likely express: I’m trying to find my way between what has been and what’s about to be.”

 – Steve Argue

For many students, middle school and high school is often the time when they start to think about or prioritize a life with God. It’s also a time in their lives where loneliness, anxiety, and the need to measure up escalate. These kinds of things work in opposition to what God most desires…for students to expect and experience full life with God in all aspects of their lives. God desires so deeply for us that he came to give back what was stolen, “life to the full” (John 10:10). 

At Highrock Metrowest, our vision for student ministry is for young people to expect and experience life to the full with God in community and through their lives. 

That’s why our mission at Highrock Metrowest is to walk with students as they…

  • Encounter the Living God: We hope students will encounter Christ’s person and experience the fullness of life with|in the living incarnation of a God who loves and is with them (John 1:14).
  • Grow into Maturity: We hope to surround students with ‘such a great cloud of witnesses’ (Heb 12:1) that they grow toward holistic and spiritual maturity.
  • Respond with Faithful Living: We hope students will discover their talents and passions to participate in God’s work of reconciliation in ‘making all things new’ (Rev 21:5). 

We’re taking steps with students every week as we connect them to God personally, God’s people, and God’s purposes through…

  • Bible studies where we’re learning about the core practices of Jesus by engaging in Practicing the Way. 
  • Community gatherings like future retreats and community dinners, where we worship, pray, connect with one another, play, and engage in deeper conversations that often don’t take place in the regular busyness and hurriedness of our lives. 
  • Sharing our gifts and sacrificing our time by serving in ministries within the church like Kidsrock, middle school, Soulfood, the tech/sound booth, and leading in worship.
  • Exploring as a community how and where we can serve the community locally, regionally, and globally, with a few students already partnering with Justice Health Initiative (JHI) and Mision De Caridad (MdC).

Beautiful, meaningful, and faithful work is happening in Next Gen ministry at Highrock Metrowest. We are blessed to have young people, families, and volunteers who are taking steps in their faith every day to grow, love, and serve so that life will perhaps be fuller for all people.  

In Christ,
Pastor Michael
michael@highrock.org

 

Practicing The Way is Underway!

Discover a deeper walk with Jesus this Fall with Practicing the Way at Highrock MetroWest Church! Each Sunday, Oct 5 – Nov. 23, sermons unpack a new practice, while small groups meet weekly to share, reflect, and grow together. For more information, contact Pastor Robert: RobertB@Highrock.org.

Come on Time at 10 am!

Carlos Alcántara is our guest musician in October. Carlos will start with a creative music prelude at 10 am on Sundays, so come on time! He joins our worship team for the month in lifting our praise to the Lord!

New Sermon Series

This Sunday, Pastor Dave Swaim will preach in our sermon series, “Practicing the Way.” His sermon is on the topic of Fasting and is based on selected Scripture readings.

This sermon series is based on the book and workbook Practicing the Way by Mark Comer.

 

MetroWest Student Ministry This Week!

  • Middle School Community will meet for morning fellowship this Sunday in the youth room from 10am – 11:15am.
  • High School Community has two opportunities this weekend to grow in Christ-centered community and love. The first is a community dinner on Friday night (10/17) at the Kilburn Peterson’s home (24 Rosemary Street, Needham MA) from 6pm – 9pm where we will be making Chili!     The second is our bi-weekly Bible Study on Sunday (10/19, 11:45am – 1:00pm in the Youth Room, church lower level) where we are learning as a community the practices of Jesus through the resources provided by Practicing the Way.

Pastor Michael Taber, Michael@Highrock.org.

SAVE THE DATES!

Parenting Seminar. Highrock Arlington and Highrock MetroWest will present identical seminars by a Christian psychologist on the challenges of parenting in these days. The dates are: January 24, 2026, at the Arlington campus and January 31, 2026 at a MetroWest location to be announced. Watch here for more details!

Highrock MetroWest Family Camp. MetroWest is bringing back the Family Camp experience! It will be held in October 9 – 11, 2026. More on this soon.

New Technology!

Last week, Highrock MetroWest installed new tech equipment. We are thrilled with these upgrades that will enhance our worship experience. We are also experimenting with a camera for broadcasting live MetroWest preaching to Fellowship Hall. This new service is especially helpful to parents with infants who often prefer to be in Fellowship Hall during worship, and it serves to create this space as an overflow room on highly attended Sundays. While we anticipate paying for this new technology through our allotted MetroWest budget, if you find you are in a place to give over and above your regular giving to our new tech abilities, please indicate that by writing MetroWest Tech on your check memo line or email us if you made a digital gift for MW Tech. GeorgeC@Highrock.org. Thank you for supporting Highrock’s expanding ministry!

HIghrock's Mission, Strategy, and Fall Theme

Our HIGHROCK MISSION:

Following Jesus to full life by connecting to God personally, connecting to God’s

People, & connecting to God’s purposes.”

Our STRATEGY:

Creating Christ-Centered communities that inspire curiosity, courage, and

compassion

Our THEME for the FALL:

BE changed into people through whom God will BRING change

Ways to Go Deeper!

MetroWest Prays is held on Monday evenings, 8:30 – 8:50 pm by going on this ZOOM LINK. The next in-person prayer meeting will be at MetroWest at 7 pm on Monday, Oct 20 (There is no zoom prayer meeting on the same Monday we meet in person). All are welcome to our prayer meetings. Prayer Requests can be sent at any time to the prayer team via this form or contact Pastor Robert.

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.

Join a Morning Prayer Call on Zoom (audio only), 5:45-6:15 AM, Monday-Thursday during the school year, starting September 15th, for scripture, contemplation, and prayer, with flexible participation open to all and no pressure to speak. Some breaks are taken for holidays, etc. Email Gina Bradley (ginakbradley@gmail.com) for the Zoom link!
Find Daily Devos, Highrock sermons, Highrock Online, and more on your favorite platform! Search for “Highrock Church.” Examples: Spotify, YouTube.

More resources for engaging deeper in your walk with Jesus and connection to God’s people can be found in the larger Highrock community — see what is Coming Up across Highrock campuses.

THIS LINK takes you to our church management program called MyRock. Create a profile, if you don’t have one, and then join the NextGen Family Group. to view the Middle and High School events on the Calendar Tab. Contact  Pastor George if you need assistance.

NEXTGEN STUDENT MINISTRY HANDBOOK. 

HRMW Feedback Form

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