Growing in Faith

Christian Education

Christian education and development at Highlands Presbyterian Church is an ongoing mission. Sunday school is held concurrent with the Sunday services under the leadership of our Education Director. Separate classes are available for teens. Adult Sunday school occurs before the Sunday service, with focus on how we deal with challenges to our faith and how we can practice this faith in the world around us. Additionally, the Sunday School youth take part in special worship services as well as some of the mission activities. At Highlands, we practice intergenerational events that bring members of all ages together.

Adults are beginning 2023 by studying a book entitled If I Had Lunch with C.S. Lewis by Alister McGrath on Sunday mornings at 9:15 a.m. Dave Miller is leading this effort.

Women’s Book Club

Women’s Book Club is an opportunity for women of the church to enjoy each other’s company every month or two over a shared loved of books.  A book to read and discuss is identified in advance based upon suggestions from participants and have included mysteries/suspense novels, historical fiction, biographies, women’s issues, and a multitude of other literary categories.  While there is always discussion of the book, it is also an opportunity for sharing of the participants’ lives and concerns.  Book Club meetings are held at various restaurants or at a participant’s home.  Participation is regular or irregular as an individual’s schedule allows.

Men’s Business Group

MBG is an opportunity for the men of the church to enjoy each other’s company monthly over a meal at a rotating retinue of restaurants.  Conversations are not limited to church, but revolve about football (Buckeyes, Browns, Bengals, Steelers, but not Lions), baseball (usually Cleveland and Cincinnati), Soccer, and Hockey, work, vacations, and children.  All in all, we have a good time.  Men participate regularly or irregularly as their schedule allows.

Music Program

Highlands Presbyterian Church choir started with a small group of members singing unison anthems Christmas eve, 1981. This has evolved over the years, starting a classical music tradition, eventually fielding a choir of 14-20 members, performing the great masters, including Bach, Beethoven, Vivaldi, Britton, others, supplementing the choir with friends of Highlands and volunteers from the Columbus Symphony chorus in concert, accompanied by organ, piano, other various solo instruments, and string ensemble.

Members and guests continue to be welcome to join the choir.

We are pleased that our new organist/pianist, Suzanne Wilson, has ably accompanied the choir and congregation, while performing solo instrument pieces with great skill.

Handbells

Handbells enhance worship through music. Individuals participate regularly or as their schedule allows. The most recent Sunday bell presentation occurred on Pam Sunday , April 10, 2022. The group is pictured below.

Second Sunday Concerts

Around 2012, Highlands established a tradition of hosting concerts on the second Sunday of each month, and at other times, with classical instrumental soloists and larger groups performing. Highlands has welcomed volunteers from the Columbus Symphony, professional and amateur musicians, and the Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra with 50 members.  These free concerts are a service to the local community.

On October 9, 2022, Dr. Mary Davis (cello) and Hector Garcia Santana (piano) performed the third and final installment of their survey of Beethoven’s complete cello and piano music. The program included the enigmatic Two Sonatas, Op. 102 and the irresistible variations on Handel’s Judas Maccabeus, linking Beethoven’s earliest and latest period to complete the cycle.