Each year we have a unique opportunity to unite in heart and mind as we stand together in prayer for the wellbeing of our country and the American way of life we hold so dear.

HCCM is honored to participate each year in the National Day of Prayer observances in Cedar Park and Leander.  Organizers invite Executive Director Sherry McDonnell to pray with pastors and community leaders during this special public observance.

 

      

 

In addition to the Pledge of Allegiance and songs of praise, the observance includes prayers for the seven centers of power:  government, education, family, church, military, business and media.

  

 

If you've never attended one of these memorable events, mark your 2011 calendar for the first Thursday in May and plan to attend the Cedar Park observance at noon or the Leander observance at 6:00 p.m. in Old Town Leander.

For the third year in a row, HCCM has been the blessed recipient of HighPoint Fellowship's annual Faith in Action Sunday.  On the first Sunday in May, this community-minded church coordinates teams of volunteers for about 20 projects to serve the community.

 

Fliers announcing the event  to church members tell them, "Don't go to Church!"  Instead, everyone is encouraged to volunteer for one of the projects, which include everything from city park clean-ups, to helping area ministries with carpentry and building repairs, working at a ministry thrift store, and delivering socks and sandwiches to the homeless on the streets of Austin.

Sunday coordinator 

 

In addition to these outreach activities, the church coordinates more than a dozen other activities on the church grounds, such as writing letters to our troops, a blood drive, book drive, eye glasses collection, free garage sale, kite flying for kids (both little kids and big kids!), planting a victory garden, and a food drive for HCCM Food Pantry.  If you'd like to know more about this annual event, you can check out their Web site at www.myhpf.org.

 

 

As with most old buildings, remodeling and repairs don't always go as planned.  What was originally determined to be a Faith in Action Saturday and Sunday project, turned into a Faith in Action week-long project.  The plan, materials, and methods had to be changed several times, but in the end they achieved a first-class result.

         

Thank you HighPoint Fellowship for your faithful support throughout the year and for putting your "faith in action" at HCCM!  And a special thank you to Marc Wamble for his coordinating efforts and to Tom Brown and Tommy Caldwell, the intrepid flooring team leaders, who worked evenings laying the floor tiles and installing and painting the trim until the work was accomplished the following Friday night at 8:00! 

                                                     Tom Brown laying the

While the flooring project was taking place in the Food Pantry, other HPF volunteers were busy outside making repairs to our fence.  New posts and pickets were installed in areas where they had either fallen down or were in danger of falling down.  Since most of the Austin area sits on solid rock, digging holes for new posts was especailly challenging.  We're grateful to the fence team for their persistence and a great job repairing our fence!

        

Karen and Pastor Randy Fenter, left, visit with the fence team volunteers.

 

Board member and Austin attorney Nick Audino has had to resign his position on HCCM Board of Directors just short of the end of his term.  The good news is that Nick's law practice is flourishing, but it's keeping him so busy he's had to cut back on other commitments.

 

Nick served as president of the 2008/2009 board, and his services were invaluable to HCCM during the sale and closing of our Jonestown property last year.  

 

Thanks, Nick, for your service.  Our prayers and best wishes for your continued success!

Executive Director Sherry McDonnell was the featured guest recently on Chuch Walker's morning radio show on The Word 98.5/99.3.  The pair talked about community need, specifically the critical needs of families in crisis, HCCM services and what people can do to help.  Chuck is a great host and we appreciate the opportunity to share our story with Chuck's radio audience. 

 

           

Chuck Walker in the studio hosting his morning drive-time radio show on The Word 98.5/99.3  

 

In addition to his radio gig, Chuck and his wife Karen own and operate Walker Texas Surveyors, and he performs with his band, The Jesus Country Show.  A man of God with a heart the size of Texas, Chuck has been a long-time supporter of HCCM.

 

Thanks, Chuck, for a fun and blessed morning!

2nd Annual Breakfast for Update & Prayer

 

Our thanks to Bethany and the pastors who took time from their busy schedules to join us.

HCCM will be closed Monday, July 5 in observance of Independence Day.  Have a safe and fun-filled holiday!