Young Adults of Highland is a group for members and guests in their 20s and 30s. This group features Bible study, book studies, and plenty of fellowship. If you are interested in joining us, please contact Courtney Stevens, or the church office, (336) 724-6303.
We’re excited to welcome summer with fresh energy and meaningful connection in our Young Adult Ministry! Whether you’re back from school, new in town, or just looking for a way to grow in community, this season is for you.
Summer Cookout—August 1, Noon. Join the group for a low country boil. It’s a chance to relax, meet new faces, and enjoy some delicious food together. Bring a friend and an appetite to the home of Grace Chao and Patrick Clarke. Contact Courtney Stevens for more information.
Canoe and Kayak Adventure, Saturday, May 30
The Earth Care team has reserved some kayaks and canoes through The Dan River Company for Saturday, May 30 for a Highland family adventure! The day trip will be their 6.2 mile standard trip, which they say is perfect for beginners and a delight for all skill levels. We will begin with a paddle through the Hammer-Stern Wilderness Preserve and end with a spectacular paddle through a 1 mile section at Hanging Rock State Park along the Dan River Bluffs. Watch for details of cost, timing, and signups in the weekly emails.
Other Highland Things
Summer Documentary: Trevor Project’s Sharing Space project focusing on conversion therapy – Sunday, June 28, at 4:00 p.m.
This summer the Community Service and Christian Education Committees offer opportunities for growth and discussion through documentaries. On Sunday, June 28, at 4:00 p.m. we will watch an episode from The Trevor Project’s Sharing Space project focusing on conversion therapy. Sharing Space is a roundtable series that features conversations with and about LGBTQ+ young people, moderated by supportive adults and allies. This episode features six LGBTQ+ individuals who have been subjected to the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion therapy.
Books Groups
LGBTQ Summer Study, September, 4:00 p.m.
Our group will gather on a date to be determined (in September) at 4:00 p.m. in the Ardmore Room to discuss this beautifully written collection of twelve essays, poems, and stories that follows and fractures the expectations surrounding LGBTQIA+ Appalachians and their religious beliefs. Gathered by Davis Shoulders, the pieces delve into themes of chosen family, loss, congregation, and alternative expressions of faith. Set against the backdrop of Christian cultural mores and a region considered to be deeply pious, these writings offer diverse perspectives on religion, queerness, and growth. Queer Communion explores everything from the joy and excitement of worship to the complexities of navigating one’s queerness and spiritual convictions in oppressive environments. Copies are available through Bookmarks. You will receive 20% off when you tell them at the time of your order you are with the Bookmarks’ Book Club program. Contact Debbie Layman with questions or to sign up.
Listening to Black Voices
While our group is pausing for the summer, participants are encouraged to read Colson Whitehead’s novel Harlem Shuffle in preparation for our first gathering of the Fall. (Many group members are also planning to hear Whitehead speak on Thursday, July 30 at First Baptist on 5th St. for an event coordinated by Bookmarks.) If you are interested in being part of the group, please contact Randy Harris
Spring Poverty Group: Paper Girl: A Memoir of Home and Family in a Fractured America by Beth Macy
Our Poverty Book Group will discuss of Paper Girl, by Beth Macy on September 28. Macy is a journalist who chronicles the forces eroding America’s social fabric by reckoning with the changes that have rocked her own beloved small Ohio hometown. She is the bestselling author of Dopesick. Paper Girl is timely and poignant and will help us engage in often uncomfortable conversations about poverty and American life today. Contact Debbie Layman if you have questions.