MetroWest Highrockers Serving in Mexico
By the Turner Family
Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.
This past weekend we were overjoyed to share a mission trip that has a special place in our hearts, building a home for a deserving family outside of Tijuana, Mexico, through YWAM’s Homes of Hope ministry also located in Mexico. This year’s build team included Pastor George, his brother-in-law Paul, stepson Tyler, and fellow Highrock families the Hong’s (Dae, Maria, Olivia & Leah) and the Choi’s (John & Zachary). Our build team was led by the incredible staff at YWAM, many of whom are Mexican nationals seeking to give back to their communities. In several cases, staff members have their own stories about receiving a home from Homes of Hope as children and now they serve to lead groups like ours.
For two days we labored, prayed, listened, laughed, and reflected, as we worked alongside the family receiving the home, Guadalupe and her children Marco and Alicia – a single mother and her two children. While the home we built immediately benefitted this one family, the impact was even greater thanks to the multiple layers of ongoing support and community development services provided through the Mexico-based YWAM ministries.
When our family first visited this ministry in 2015, our primary motivation was to help our children understand the depth of need in the world. What we learned was that we all needed the connection to God and others that comes through service. After 10+ home builds, one of our greatest takeaways is the degree to which we were designed by God to serve others, and in doing so, to serve Him.
It is a true privilege to share this experience with others and we invite any who are interested to join us on the next Homes of Hope trip in 2023 (tentative dates are April 20-23, 2023). www.homesofhope-turner.org
Blessings,
Brad, Amanda, Cole & Davis Turner
Worship Preview
Worship Songs for Sunday:
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
Place of Freedom
Call Upon the Name of the Lord
'The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. ' -Psalms 19:1
Worship often begins with just acknowledging how small you are, yet at the same time, that you are infinitely loved. Creation is one of the very first "testimonies" of God, bringing us back to a sense of awe and worship. When times are difficult, or life is hard to understand, just looking at Creation and acknowledging that we won't have it all figured out in this life is enough to center ourselves and bring us back to a heart of worship and trust. This week, let's rest in the wonder and peace of not having it all figured out and grow in faith in a God that does.
Family Ministry
Family Ministry Volunteers
Do you feel a tug from God to serve in Highrock's Family Ministry? Highrock is now recruiting for volunteers in Kidsrock, Middle School, and High School ministry. For more information, contact one of Highrock MetroWest's Family Ministry Team or email Brian Dietz at Brian@highrock.org.
Kidsrock Corner!
5th Grade Milestones: The Preparation-
This Sunday: we will have a milestones class for all 5th graders (during Kidsrock/service). Other dates for the Milestones class to markdown: May 8th and May 15th.
Summer Blast:
Mark your calendars for July 18th-22nd (6:00-8:15 pm), and get ready to make waves! We think it’s possible for kids and volunteers to create a ripple effect that can impact the world around them in ways they will never forget. God put you on this planet to do the same thing—to make waves! Be on the lookout for registration in early May.
New Sermon Series and Study Materials
Highrock’s Switch: Easter Changes Everything sermon series is underway. Here is a link to a wonderful set of materials for small groups or individual study.
Ways to Be Involved!
PRAYER REQUESTS
Please send your prayer requests to Foluke Ajayi at mofoluwake09@gmail.com. Please pray for those suffering in the Ukraine!
APRIL 28 (Thursday), 6 PM. Burger Brothers!
Burger Brothers -- the Highrock MetroWest Men's Fellowship Group -- is meeting at 6 pm at Kings Dining & Entertainment (bowling), 600 Legacy Pl, Dedham, MA 02026. We will gather between 6 and 6:30 -- get our bowling shoes, etc -- and then bowl from 6:30 to 7:30 followed by food and refreshments. The bowling is paid for you; food and refreshments by attendees. Are you on our separate Burger Bros mailing list? If not, send your email address to GeorgeC@highrock.org.
MAY 1, 11:15 AM -- Newcomers' Lunch with a Pastor
If you consider yourself new to Highrock MetroWest come spend a little more time getting to know our history and values in a casual setting with Pastor Ryan. After worship on May 1, we’ll grab our SoulFood and then sit down for a conversation in a quieter room of the church. Pastor George will be present as well to talk about the future direction of Highrock MetroWest and our team-based model of ministry. Please let Pastor Ryan know you’re thinking of coming so we can reserve enough space: ryanm@highrock.org
MAY 10, 8 PM - The Christian Story Small Group Starts (7 weeks)
Pastor Ryan and his wife, Andrea, will be hosting a 7-week small group in their home in Natick beginning on May 10th. Gatherings will be from 8-9:30 pm, and the group will walk through The Christian Story. You are welcome whether you are brand new at Highrock or a seasoned member. RSVP to Pastor Ryan, ryanm@highrock.org
MAY 14, 2 pm. Trail Sisters Walk (and Supper Sisters Returns!)
Please join HRMW women for their monthly trail walks and fellowship this Spring! Dogs welcome. The Trail Sisters Leadership Team: Milway katiesmith.milway@gmail.com, Kathryn Dietz dietz.kathryn@gmail.com, Camille Humphries camille.humphries@gmail.com, and Jillian Chen chenjillian@gmail.com.
Upcoming walk
After a stormy trek through Boulderbrook Reservation in April, Trail Sisters is looking forward to a warm, sunny walk through Noanet Woodland in Dover on May 14th at 2 p.m. Mark your calendars!! We'll meet (and park) at Eileen Wong's to enter Noanet's almost-600-acre landscape from her backyard. The woodland has seen many uses: as preserved space, an early industrial site, and Native American hunting ground. Noanet Woodlands is named after a chief of the Natick Indians, who camped, fished, and hunted along Noanet Brook. Please RSVP at this link for meeting point!
June Supper Sisters Patio Meal, Date TBD
MAY 15, 10 AM. Volunteer Appreciation Sunday!
A time to acknowledge the volunteers to serve us and lead our ministries. Catered SoulFood.
MAY 15, 7:30 - 9:00 PM. A World Without Nuclear Weapons: The Humanitarian and Moral Imperative”
A virtual event sponsored by Sacred Heart/Our Lady Help of Christians Collaborative in Newton. The featured speaker is Ira Helfand, MD, a leader of two Nobel Peace Prize-winning organizations, and John C. Wester, Archbishop of Santa Fe, NM. To register for the free Zoom event, go to tinyurl.com/396zh7wp.
JUNE 5, 11:30 AM. Youth Benefit Concert for Ukrainian Children.
Save the date for this wonderful concert held in the Highrock MetroWest worship center to benefit Ukrainian children. More details to come.
JUNE 12, 10 AM. Milestone Sunday/Confirmation Sunday.
A joyous Sunday worship service of welcoming our confirmation youth into the full membership of the church, baptizing new members, and celebrating what God is doing with our children and youth!
JULY 18-22 - Kidsrock Summerblast!
Mark your calendars for Kidsrock's annual Summerblast event. More to come. Contact KidsRock Director Grace Taber at GraceT@highrock.org for more information.
Resources for Growing Deeper!
