HBC

Fall Crowd Expectations and Opportunities

Hello Heritage Family!

As many of you know, this is the time of year that college students around Lynchburg move into the Hill City in anticipation of fall classes. At the same time, many of you are wrapping up vacations and summertime activities and preparing to get back into school-time rhythms. Each year, this influx of students and returning families leads to a handful of Sundays when our building is filled with amazing people and amazing opportunities. This coming Sunday will be one of those days, so prepare for a full house and remember that this is not an obstacle to our worship, but an opportunity to worship Christ via godly acts and attitudes of love toward one another.

The next few Sundays provide an incredible opportunity to demonstrate the love of Christ to many people who may not be regular attenders of Heritage.

If our mission is to make followers of Jesus Christ by living the gospel life among the nations, then let us take part in that mission together as we display the gospel in word and action within our church by:

• Intentionally having friendly, gospel conversations with people we don’t know.

   

• Inconveniencing ourselves for the sake of others by doing things like parking farther away so others can have the closer spots, or switching to the 9:00 am service so the 10:30 am service has more available seats.
   
• Offering to serve in kids ministry, hospitality, the parking lot, or other areas that may feel the stress of more people.

   

• Pray for those who will be entering our church doors this fall and that God would transform hearts through His word.

   

• Be gracious with one another as we all navigate a full parking lot, lack of seats in the worship center, and maybe even limited supplies of coffee in our classes. 😉

As we consider practical ways to prepare for the upcoming Sundays, let’s also consider the biblical admonition from Romans 12.

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.                Romans 12:9–13 NLT

Join us in prayer that God would empower His church in the coming weeks to be a beacon of light and hope to all those who will walk through our doors. May our Lord Jesus be made glorious in our midst as we speak His name to one another, sing His name in our services, and proclaim His name among every generation within our church. 

Let’s do this together, Heritage. See you Sunday. 

-Pastor Mike