With great excitement and gratitude to God, on July 15 Session voted to hire Rev. Judy Hoffhine as our part-time (approx. 20 hours per week) Stated Supply pastor starting September 2.    Judy comes to Highlands with more than 20 years as a pastor, having served in various positions including pastor, associate pastor, interim pastor and stated supply pastor.  She brings years of experience working within the Presbytery, including several years on COM and other committees.   She has led many mission trips overseas, been a commissioner to General Assembly, and is extremely active on the board of Partners for Just Trade.

More importantly, Judy comes with great experience working with Highlands.  Having served as our COM liaison and often as pulpit supply, she has been a steady hand and a source of love and encouragement at some of Highlands’ more difficult moments.  She has encouraged us, soothed us, prayed for and with us, met with us in our homes and at the church, provided us with constructive advice, and has at all times demonstrated God’s love and grace.  She knows Highlands well, knows our strengths and our weaknesses, sees and is excited about our possibilities and potential.  She sees her role at Highlands as a “bridge” between the present and our future, and wants to help us find a good part-time permanent pastor. I am confident that Rev. Hoffhine will bring a ministry of spiritual and administrative leadership, and will support and walk with us in our mission as a faith community.

 

Judy’s responsibilities at Highlands will include worship, occasional teaching, regular visitation, counseling, spiritual development, leadership development, resourcing committees and individuals so that they might do their work, addressing teaching and programs with children and youth, development of and guidance in long-term planning, evaluating current patterns of interaction and developing new ways of communicating and bringing in new leadership, evangelism, and helping to coordinate mission efforts including assessment in the neighborhood.

 

It is not difficult to see God’s hand in Rev. Hoffhine’s offer of leadership and in the opportunity to serve the community with the development of the Highlands Learning Center.  What we must all realize is that what we do with these gifts and opportunities to further God’s work is now up to us.

 

Sunday September 7, was Rev. Judy Hoffhine first official Sunday and she is now available for pastoral care.

 

Office Hours:

Monday       9:00 AM—1:00 PM

Wednesday  1:00 PM—9:00 PM

Thursday   10:00 AM—3:00 PM

 

If these times are not convenient, please contact her by any of the following methods:

614-855-8487 (home)

614-226-6419 (cell-for emergencies)

614-764-2134 (church office)

Email: jhoffhine@hotmail.com