Tory Farina

High Point Kids is all New...

High Point Kids has been having record attendance. I remember when 0 or 1 kid would show up and it was such a bummer but we prayed and worked hard at making the program the best we could make it at the time. Terry Peterson our original Kids volunteer has worked selflessly over the last 3 and a half years to make it a worthwhile service for kids. He originally said he would be with the church to help us out for about 3 years. (I'll blog more about Terry, his heart and mission in another post.) Terry has worked really hard and created something that is now ready to hand off to the next generation of Kids leaders.

New and Improved is the best way I can describe what is happening. We are changing a lot while still keeping the core of what Terry Built in tact.

This Sunday High Point Kids begins a new Kids program. We have done our research, explored our options and interviewed the needs and wants of parents of that age children. I am pleased with what we have chosen for our volunteers to work with. It pairs the best of Video, live interaction and small group time making it a great tool for us as parents to utilize every week. 252 Basic is material birthed out of the local church. It is age appropriate in nature and teaches our children 3 basic truths. it is a simple and effective approach to helping our kids grow up and Live Their Potential!

• 1) I need to make the wise choice
• 2) I can trust God
• 3)I should treat others the way I want to be treated

We are moving to a Team approach. No longer will one person carry the weight of this program. They will work together in making each week the best that we can make it. I am so Excited for Jordan and Aimee Robertson, John and Jodi Johnson and Adam and Melissa Delveaux as they take the reigns of our new and improved Kids area ages 6-11. (we could still use 1 or more for this area and another couple people in the other Kids  areas to volunteer as well.)

This is going to be a great shift for our Kids. Every week will be better than the last as we get more comfortable with the curriculum and the team gets more time under their belts. Everyone of the couples involved in this initial team has some background in education and will approach the bible in a way that makes sense for your child.

If you have kids stop down by our Kids area and meet our new team. Also Give Terry Peterson a huge hug on Sunday and let him know how vital he has been to High Point these past few years. He built something we can now stand on and take to the next level. That is an awesome thing to be credited with.

Let someone you know hear about the exciting things we are up to. We want to see the kids of this city Find Their Place- Develop their Faith and Live Their Potential!- Imagine a generation understanding why they exist at a young age! WOW! That is the role of the church.

Welcome Baby Lauren...

Congratulations Pastor Mike and Amy Cross on the new addition to their family!

Lauren Bradley Cross was born Monday weighing in at 9lbs 9.6 oz 21 inches long and Healthy!

James...

Our upcoming series is going to be a lot of good content... We are doing a series on the writings of James the brother of Jesus. You are not going to want to miss this series. Starting in 1 week.

Welcome Black Sheep Coffee...

This Sunday you will see a change in the lobby of High Point. Starbucks who for the past 3 and a half years will no longer be providing your caffeinated needs. Due to the economic times we are living in Starbucks did not renew our contract at the same price so I went shopping. I wanted to find as good if not better coffee for at or below the price I was paying. (It is a core value of mine that we will not have the usually BAD church coffee!) I found the "The Black Sheep". (Sorry, Starbucks You were great but I am confident you will understand.)

Peter Middlecamp the Owner of "The Black Sheep" and I have grown to be friends over the last few years. I have taken a keen eye to his coffee shop because he started it the same time that High Point was started. I am a huge fan of start ups, small companies and visionaries. Pete does a great job at making a warm and inviting place to have a cup of Clover made coffee and some of the best Cinnamon or Carmel rolls this side of the Mississippi. Pete roasts all his coffee their and is working on a blend that will be known as "The High Point Church Blend" so you will be able to purchase what we drink on Sundays. (What church has their own coffee blend? I have never heard of one)

Let me know what you think tomorrow and when you stop by "The Black Sheep" let the workers know you are from High Point as you drop some dough in the tip jar.

705 Southview Boulevard
South Saint Paul, MN 55075
651 554 0155

M-TH 6:00 - 7:00
FRI 6:00 - 9:00
SAT 7:00 - 9:00
SUN 7:00 - 5:00

4 things...

High Point Live is Live...

In an effort to increase communication at High Point we started a church only blog. We want to post the most up to date happenings at High Point. This is your 1 stop place for the very latest and greatest at High Point.

currently it is at... www.highpointlive.blogspot.com but will eventually be apart of our new web site that will launch in a week or two at www.highpointchurch.tv. Set your feed readers and email settings to receive everything from Volunteer rotations, connection group profiles, calendar and events.

The Invitation...

I have been in meetings with pastors the first part of this week. Working on how to reach the state of MN with the message of Jesus Christ and after three days I am still living off of Sunday. We started our new series "The Shack". What a great day.

I reinforced the message that God gave us all out of Isaiah 55 when He says, "come to me all who are thirsty..." I shared the opening story of Paul Young's book "The Shack" and wrapped up with a simple invitation to come and meet God at "Your Shack".

Paul Young, in an interview with Forest Hill Church says, that the Shack is a metaphor for the place that we build in our soul that is crafted of all the guilt, shame and pain of our past. We try and hide it, cover the shack with our efforts and we want no one to see it not even God. When we allow ourselves to meet God at our Shack we realize that not only is God aware of our Shack he was right their all along and comes out of the shack to meet us and transform our ratty rickety Shack to perfection.

The moments after I finished were powerful. One guy said, in the lobby, "I feel like the scales are falling off." Another lady said, "Sunday is why I Love High Point."

I made an introduction and got out of the way as God showed up and meet people where they were at... Isn't that what we are supposed to do as Christ followers? Make introductions? Gods word gives us the invitation... we are the ones who need to deliver that invitation to those who hunger and thirst in spirit.

Sunday was good but... I think Next Sunday has the potential of kicking it up a notch! I'm Stoked!

The Sheepherder...

This weekend we had a special guest drop by. I hope those who were their enjoyed the lamb as much as I did. It was kinda crazy finding a lamb and then even crazier finding a trailer to carry the lamb. It is amazing to me how God works, I feel like it was a providential day for the farmer who brought the lamb. I hope he feels the same. Actually, I feel like it was a providential day for a lot of people who came this past Sunday. One of the Key things we try and achieve every week is... "To give a positive and lasting impression of Christ and His church." I am convinced we did that this week.

• The Hospitality was on the ball... Thanks Joe and Lisa. It looked and tasted great!
• Our Set up team have raised the bar... We are really running like a well oiled machine.
• The Band had Five tunes and nailed them all! I love our Band.
• We had a ton of Kids in the Kids area and the Volunteers back their truly deserve an award in Heaven.
• Dan and Jenny were the sheepherders for the day... For having no experience they did a great Job! no accidents, no escapees and they were on the ball all morning getting the lamb wherever it needed to be.

Thanks to Everyone who made an amazing day even more amazing. We broke our attendance record and saw about a dozen people raise their hand to put their faith in Christ. All of you who helped made a kingdom difference!!!!

Chains be Broken...

I was out for a run tonight. I love to run and pray for MY CITY.

I have been feeling burdened for this weekend. So many people are coming... need to come... must come and respond to the grace and mercy of God. As I was running I began to pray deeply for the needs of those who were coming. I was praying for faces and names and neighbors. I was praying for those who were dealing with...

divorce- separation- depression- sin- hopelessness- addiction- isolation- religion

This song came on the while I was running...

Chains be Broken... Lives be Healed... Eyes be Opened...

Take a moment to pray for your loved ones, neighborhood, co-workers and people you know need God to touch their life.

Who are you bringing?...

Easter is all about Gods love for those who are not in community with him. If you know people who are not in community with God this is the Sunday to bring them. I have a cool surprise as well.

I want to pray for the people who you are bringing to Easter. Shoot me an email or comment with their first name.