About Us
"The people were praying for a United Methodist Church in this area for quite some time." This quote was made by our first Lay Delegate, John Bingaman, representing the newly formed Highland Lakes United Methodist Church to the 1988 Southwest Texas Annual Conference. God answered those prayers.
The Highland Lakes UMC held its first worship service on August 23, 1987 with 82 persons in attendance. Approximately one month later, on September 20, 1987, we constituted our church with a membership of 92. A United Methodists Women Unit was organized within a month following our constituting Sunday. We now have well over 400 members representing families living in the Buchanan Dam, Tow, Bluffton, Llano, Burnet, Granite Shoals, Kingsland, Sunrise Beach, Marble Falls, Sandy Harbor and various subdivisions throughout the Highland Lakes area.
A second congregation, Walnut UMC near Round Mountain, is also part of our parish. Our Pastor preaches there the first, third and fifth Sundays of the month at 9:00 a.m.
Highland Lakes UMC is in the Kerrville District of the Southwest Texas Annual Conference, which includes the Districts of Austin, Corpus Christi, Kerrville, McAllen, San Angelo and Victoria. Our church is governed by the Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church and administered through the Church Administrative Council.
Highland Lakes Mission and Vision Statement
Adopted February 7, 2005
Mission : To worship and serve God with open hearts, open minds and open arms.
Vision : We at Highland Lakes United Methodist Church celebrate God's presence through worship; Communicate God's love through a joyful church family; Educate God's people through ongoing Bible studies and Sunday school; and Demonstrate God's compassion through mission and service.
Highland Lakes United Methodist Church has been recognized by United Methodist Communications (UNCom) as an official “Welcoming Congregation.”
“Welcoming Congregations” are a select group of United Methodist congregations nationwide that meets criteria including embracing newcomers and providing opportunities in discipleship. The recognition program is part of a larger effort launched in late 2000 by UMCom, the denominations communication agency, to use modern technology and the common language of television to spread the Good News of Christ to a world in need.
“Open Hearts, open minds, open doors” is the theme of the denominational effort, the centerpiece of which is a series of national cable TV advertising, supplemented by regional and local church participation. The overall aim of the effort is to invite people, particularly those between 25 and 54 years old, to enter into connection with the Christian community as they seek meaning and purpose in their lives.
Sunday School and Sunday Services
Sunday services are at 10:45 a.m. preceded by three separate Sunday school classes each beginning at 9:00 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. - these are two separate and different Sunday School classes. A Nursery is provided during Sunday services for those with young children.
Sunday morning worship services are available on DVD. If you are unable to attend worship service or are homebound, a DVD can be checked out by calling the church office. Jim will even come by your home and deliver the tapes if you're unable to arrange for their pick-up.
Sunday morning worship services are also held at 8:15 a.m. on the fourth Sunday of each month.
For further information, call or write us:
Telephone: 325-388-4187, Office Hours, except holidays: Monday through Thursday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Fridays, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Write Highland Lakes UMC, P.O. Box 1005 Buchanan Dam, Texas 78609