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The first High Notes of 2020 is now available to download! To subscibe to the newsletter, please click here, and fill out the form. 
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 The following is a letter from our conference Bishop, Gregory V. Palmer, regarding the plan for the proposed separation of the United Methodist Church. We are asked to read and understand this information, directly from the group of individuals that created the plan. Please know that at High Street ALL are welcome, and that will always be the case. We will continue to love and serve as Jesus did!
Friends, By now, many of you have heard or read the headlines regarding the future of The United Methodist Church and a proposed separation plan. Headlines are often deceiving which may increase the number of visitors to their social media channel but often confuse the reader. Depending on the news outlet you frequent, their interpretation of the proposal may affect your immediate response. For that reason, I urge you to refer to the following information. The first link will be found on the West Ohio Conference website. This information comes directly from the group who created the plan. I was a member of that team. After reading the document, please take time to read the links within the story, too. United Methodist News has provided this interpretation: https://www.umnews.org/en/news/diverse-leaders-group-offers-separation-plan As I stated earlier, I was a part of the group that developed and supports this plan. Our process was robust, prayerful, respectful and hopeful. The hope is to offer something to the delegates that will assist in managing well the change that is already afoot. Some of you may be wondering how this may impact you. I offer this: keep loving and serving Jesus. Keep loving and serving your neighbor. Keep loving and serving your church and community. There is no immediate impact. This proposal is currently in a narrative format and legislation is being developed. Only the 2020 General Conference can take decisive action. The General Conference will take place on May 5 – 15 in Minneapolis. If this approach is adopted, it will provide a clear, level field for conferences and local churches to make decisions if they feel they need to make one. It is crucial to understand that no entity is required to vote to stay or go unless they want to do so. There will be opportunities for you to learn more in the days and weeks to come. United Methodist News intends to write a series of articles. A livestream event will take place on Monday, January 13th to provide further clarity and explanations of the plan. Once we receive more details about the livestream event, we will make them available on the conference website and social media channels. In hope and prayer that we will all be indefatigable in pursuit of the mission of “making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world." Your servant through Jesus, +Gregory V. Palmer
To implement this program, we have two pastors assigned to us. Our Senior Pastor is Rev. Cynthia Atwater, who has come from Covenant United Methodist Church. Our Associate Pastor is Heather Husted, who has come from McKinley United Methodist Church as an Associate Pastor, she will serve part-time at High Street and part-time at Covenant.
Cynthia is a graduate of Northwestern University and comes to us with experience in the public sector prior to attending the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Heather is a new seminary graduate, she received her undergraduate degree in Biblical Studies from Eastern New Mexico University and her Master of Divinity degree from United Theological Seminary in May. Heather was commissioned as a provisional elder in the West Ohio Conference this year. She comes to us from McKinley United Methodist Church in Dayton, Ohio but grew up in Elida, New Mexico. Heather has worked as a youth pastor, family life coordinator and as a missionary in Central China for four years. We are thankful to have been blessed with not one but two pastors. This is an opportunity to impact the communities of Springfield in new and unique ways. We are currently planning events for which we will partner with Covenant United Methodist as part of the Global Village Urban Collective. Stay tuned for more info!
Saturday, September 21 at 7pm in the Foundry Theater, 920 Corry St., Yellow Springs
Sunday, September 22 at 3pm at the High Street Methodist Church, 230 East High St., Springfield This year we are honored to be part of the Levitt Pavilion lineup. The concert, Our Planet—Our Lives, coincides with the UN’s Climate Justice for Peace Day (September 21). Paul Winter’s Missa Gaia is a 40-minute contemporary work that is derived from a traditional religious form meant to move listeners to reflect on the interconnectedness and sanctity of all life on earth. It weaves the recorded calls of wolf, whale, and harp seal together with choral voices, soloists and a small ensemble of instrumentalists. Textured throughout in this lyrical environmental liturgy are rhythms from Africa, Brazil and the American gospel tradition. The voices of the animals are more than mere sound as they inspire the meaning and shape the form of each musical movement In addition to our performance of Missa Gaia, we have commissioned two African American composers, Ayanna Woods and Norman Whiteside, to write short original works for us that address climate justice. Not only that, we will be joined by invited guests from the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company for several of the movements of the Missa Gaia. Admission is free, donations are welcome.  To My High Street Family,
I can hardly believe that I have completed my first month here at the church. I have had the pleasure of meeting with members in small groups and that has been most helpful for me to “put names and faces together.” There are two more scheduled, September 4, 2019, and September 15, 2019. If you have not attended one, you still have an opportunity to do so. Sign up sheets are located in the Commons Hallway. Psalm 139:14 tells us that we are, “…fearfully and wonderfully made…” I have met so many gifted and talented persons here at High Street. I am excited for this church and Springfield as we come together and use our time, talents and treasure in ministry. Pastor Heather and I are in prayer as to ways that Covenant and High Street can partner together to form new and lasting relationships. The needs of Springfield are many. I would ask that each of you would join us in prayer how we might work together in this vineyard. I have scheduled a vacation (September 5 thru September 11). Upon my return, I will begin teaching two Bible Study classes. One during the day and one in the evening. It is my hope that as many of you as possible will plan to attend. We stand ever ready to witness God’s great gifts for the Salvation of Springfield and of the World if we just stand together! Your Friend in God’s Glory, Pastor Cynthia Atwater |
Current HappeningsHigh Street United Methodist Church is located in Springfield, OH. Archives
January 2020
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