Happy Wednesday High Places!
I am hoping that everyone is over the covid hump, I knew of several of us who've been out the past two weeks due to the illness, and of course, I was out the first two weeks of the month with it myself. Feels like I haven't seen some of you since before Christmas.... cause... well, I haven't! I am beyond ready to be past this miserable virus!
January Jams
We are moving ahead with our January Jams concert on Saturday knowing that attendance may very well be affected due to covid, but also knowing that there are a lot of people coming out of quarantine and isolation with natural immunities and a great excitement to just be out of house again.
The show begins at 7:00 PM and will run until about 10:00 PM. This is a great opportunity to meet new faces, share some joy, and build a better community together. Our proceeds from this quarter's concert will benefit the Anderson County Family Justice Center. So we hope you will come out and enjoy a great show for a great cause!
No amount of advertising works better than word of mouth and personal invites. So if you know someone who loves good music, would enjoy a night out, and wants to benefit a local non-profit while having a good time, please personally invite them to come to the show. It's also a great segue into inviting them to a High Places main meeting one Sunday and closing the gap between church and community work. Believe it or not, we actually design things this way! We want folks to feel comfortable, to know who were are and what we're about. We see building the community as Kingdom work and when people get to know us, our hope is they realize that underneath it all is a real passion for maximizing the GRACE and PRESENCE of GOD in Oak Ridge and beyond!
A word about alcohol at our events....
I was extremely disappointed to read a comment on the FB page "What's Happening Now in Oak Ridge" that the Grove Theater only hosts events that serve alcohol. The comment was made and quickly taken down after I replied some core facts:
1. On the 23rd, 23 days into 2022, the Grove had hosted 37 events, groups, or activities. Only seven of those were formal High Places Church gatherings. First of all, praise God! Our doors have been open to the community 37 times in 23 days. That is truly amazing and something worth shouting about!
2. Of those 37 events, groups, and activities -- only two had a beer stand, and of those two, one of them, The Knox School of Rock, donated all the proceeds back to the theater. That's a far cry from stating that all the events we host serve alcohol.
3. Our staff is always open to discuss this sensitive issue with any member of our church or our community. We recognize how divisive this issue can be, and want to be especially careful in how we communicate what we do and why we do it. We certainly understand, and even appreciate, when people have reservations about alcohol in a public event. I probably have as many reservations as most people, but habitually take those to prayer.
4. Finally, it's good to remember that Jesus encountered a great deal of criticism in His day for his stances on any number of hot-button issues, including alcohol. We aren't Jesus, but we have been given a measure of His goodness and grace through the Holy Spirit. Our movement in this world will always be subjected to criticism, and our aim is to remain "wise as serpents, but innocent as doves" as Jesus instructed. Jesus was a master tactician when it came to stretching comfort zones for the sake of the Kingdom. He's our General, we take marching orders from Him, and our deepest desire is to be like Him. That requires freedom to be open, and to have an openness in our freedom that always ensures it aligns with God's word.
Like I mentioned, the post was taken down pretty quickly. It still bothered me, and it served as a reminder that some folks are always watching us. Let's be prudent and wise this Saturday, demonstrating grace and integrity in our walk with Christ. In all things, let's be an example for those who don't believe, as Paul stated, while letting no one try to shackle the freedom we have in Christ. Our profile quality states this as being "wise and principled people," which is exactly what we aim to be in Him!
This Sunday
Part two of "Unless a Seed Falls." I would say that I miss you guys, but I think that's how I opened this note. Instead, let me say that things are churning around inside me with this series, and that above all else, I covet your prayers.
If you have some time to arrive early Saturday and help with set-up, or if you can stay later and help with clean up, it is much appreciated. Pray for this weekend, pray for the Holy Spirit to be at work as we work to build bridges and make connections that we pray will impact eternity.
In Him,
David