Pastor's Report

Dear friends,

I want to extend my deepest gratitude for your warm welcome in my first year of service as your pastor. HPC is truly a spirit-breathed community of love, conviction, and transformation. I want to take this opportunity to highlight some of the accomplishments of our beloved community during 2023. With the assistance of the Session and the Visioning Task Force, we’ve implemented some changes to worship and our use of technology. By popular demand, I have created a YouTube channel where you can find collections of sermons, music, and educational resources for spiritual development. The channel can be viewed at youtube.com/@revmattbeach. This year also witnessed the implementation of a unique worship opportunity, our first annual Día de los Muertos event.

With a commitment to showing forth the love of Christ in the Heights, HPC is now a Matthew 25 Church with a particular focus on eradicating systemic poverty through feeding the hungry. In pursuit of this goal, I traveled to Atlanta in January to participate in the Matthew 25 Summit of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Through various workshops, we explored ways of promoting social righteousness and exhibiting the Kingdom of Heaven to the world, two of the classic Great Ends of the Church. Inspired by the Matthew 25 vision, we have begun reaching out to our community in exciting new ways. Upon request, I delivered an interactive worship service to the residents of the Heights Tower in September, during which we explored the doctrine of God in relation to the war in Ukraine. Looking ahead, we have many projects in the works. I am excited as we continue to expand our mission and reach out to our neighborhood in new and innovative ways.

Finally, I wish to report on some of the ways God has blessed our congregation over the past year. In 2023, we welcomed six new members into our congregation. More importantly, the church is growing in faith and knowledge of God. In October, I began a twelve-week New Members Class, which examined the great doctrines of the Reformed faith. The response was overwhelming, and that class has since morphed into an Adult Sunday School Class, where we engage in weekly bible study and theological reflection. Following Jesus is a lifelong adventure rooted in thoughtful study and committed action. In numerous ways, the Spirit can be felt moving through and reforming this beloved community until all know and enjoy God fully.

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Matt