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Weekly News & Updates
June 5, 2025 | Volume 39, Issue 22
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FROM YOUR PASTOR’S HEART . . . SUMMERTIME!
In 1958, The Jamies sang, “It’s Summertime, Summertime, Sum Sum Summertime!” At Heritage, that usually means renovation and construction time! Thank you for your faithfulness in giving to enable these projects to happen! First, we are completing the flooring in the children’s wing. We will get rid of the last of the tile, put down rubberized laminate floor and recarpet the children’s classrooms. That should be completed by June 13. We are also working on placing AstroTurf in our playground areas. Thank you, Stephan Norris, Jake Simmons, Brian Seewald and others for working on this.
Almost simultaneously, we will be resurfacing, resealing, and restriping our east and west parking lots. Our lots closest to Pointer Trail are way overdue. Please follow the signs or cones during the week on where to park. All lots should be available during Sunday mornings. Hopefully, this will be completed by June 21. We will not be resealing and restriping the far west lot. If we agree to the community center project, the city will be constructing a new parking lot there that will be twice the size and which we can use as needed, especially on Sunday mornings.
Finally, we will be working on the bell tower. For those of you entering through the bell tower, you may have noticed the sheering off of brick pieces and the leaks happening through the louvers in the tower. The leaks have caused water to seep into the bricks which then froze, causing the cracking and chipping. This will not be an inexpensive fix. Please consider helping us save the bell tower for many years ahead as we fix the leaks, replace the damaged bricks, and seal the whole tower. If I am remembering our history correctly, the bell was cast in 1850 by the same company that made the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. It made its way to New Orleans and up the Mississippi and Arkansas Rivers to Van Buren. It is a historical treasure. Ring the bell next time you are in the bell tower! Thank you, again, for your generosity and patience.
And thank you John Symonds and Tim and Scott Weege, our past and present chairs of the Heritage Trustees for your expertise in helping us do these projects. Scott, an engineer for APAC, was able to get the asphalt for us at Arkhola Sand and Gravel’s cost as a donation to the church.
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This week, eight of us are representing Heritage at the Trinity Annual Conference of the Global Methodist Church. Our delegation includes Eddie and Tammy Prince, Bruce and Brenda Vick, Shawnna and Brian Seewald, and Allison and Wes Hilliard. (pictured at Corkscrew Barbecue, one of the first bbq places in the nation to earn a Michelin star!). Brian and Betty Vick (not pictured), who represent the Alma and Kibler churches, are also riding with us on the people mover.
As I sat in the bus on our way to Houston, I was reminded of Vesta Everitt and the Joy Seekers group who got the congregation to buy this. When the women started selling knives to raise money for the bus, I told the men it would probably be safer if they would just “pony up” and give generously for the bus and limit the number of knives sold! 😊 You did! Thanks to Roger Goins who found this amazing deal of a brand new bus at a used price!
This Sunday is Pentecost! Consider fasting and praying this week, like the first disciples, as they “tarried in Jerusalem” until they were “clothed with power from on high,” and received the promised gift of the Holy Spirit! Pray for the manifest presence of the LORD to come upon us at Heritage!
Wes
| | Editor's Note 😊 This month we are celebrating 24 years with Wes and Allison. Each week in June, I'll be featuring different photos from years gone by. This week's photo is from their very first year here in 2001. | | |
PRIDE PARADE in Van Buren – A Message from Pastor Wes
You have probably heard that Van Buren/Crawford County will have a “Pride Parade” celebrating LGBTQIA+ rights on Sunday, June 15 at noon.
What do we do? We pray! We pray that those participating will encounter the manifest presence of Jesus on Main Street Van Buren. We pray that the conviction of the Holy Spirit and the love of Jesus will overwhelm them and lead them to repentance.
Jan Redden, a member of our congregation, shared a prayer with me that she later posted on Facebook. I asked her to share a bit about herself and her prayer:
"I became a Christian at age 33 but did not have a relationship with Jesus until I came to Heritage. This is where I was invited to a small group, to Sunday school, to Bible studies, and to church. Invited by people who knew and accepted me right where I was – living a gay lifestyle. They didn't judge me, condemn me, scorn me, or make me feel ashamed to be there. They just loved me!
"As a result, a relationship with Jesus began to develop. I found Him to be patient and kind and gentle and truthful with me as my desires began to change. I haven’t been delivered from same sex attraction (my thorn in the flesh as Paul would say), but my desire is no longer to live that out. Now I just want to delight in the LORD. He has so much more to offer than a homosexual lifestyle.
"I am very compassionate toward those who struggle in this area. It’s important to love them right where they are … not my job to convict or try to change them. That’s God’s job. My job is to love them – gently, kindly, patiently, and in Truth.
"To those who did this for me – THANK YOU.
"This is my prayer:
"Father, I praise You for Your Word – for the light to my feet and the lamp to my path. I lift up those involved in the upcoming pride parade. In your unfailing love for them, shine Your Light so they may see You. May they see You in the actions and words of Your children. Help us love each other and not hate or condemn. Give Your children the words and actions to reach the lost and confused. Show us how to humbly wash the feet of those who are different from us – those who are far from You. Keep us in our own lane, LORD. May we love others and let You do the convicting and sorting out. Your unfailing love fills the earth. Let ours do the same.
Show us how to stand for our beliefs and at the same time have compassion for those who don't know You....YET!"
Thank you, Jan! Thank you all for praying and speaking the Truth in love. Jesus was filled with “grace and truth” (John 1:14). Holy Spirit, impart to us Your grace and truth and show us how to live this out during this season.
| | Upcoming Opportunities and Announcements | | |
Jesus, Popcorn, and a Movie
Join us for a summer series of movies about Jesus. Each week we will watch part of a movie about Jesus' life and passion, with a short period of time dedicated to discussing the movie and its portrayal of Jesus.
The class is held on Wednesdays at 6:00 pm, and each session is roughly an hour and a half. Several movies will be selected, but included will be The Greatest Story Ever Told and The Passion of the Christ. BYOP (Bring Your Own Popcorn)!
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Children's Camp
Children's Camp Registration is open for children who will be going into 3rd - 6th grade. Camp is July 13-16. Sign up by June 15th!
| | This Week at Heritage and Prayer Concerns | | |
Thursday, June 5
Seniors Growing with Christ, 10 am
Food Pantry/Clothes Closet, 4 pm
Friday, June 6
Office Closed
Saturday, June 7
Outreach at The Current (So. Campus), 8:30 am
Outreach at Midland Heights, 11 am
Sunday, June 8
Prayer Time, 8 am
Traditional Service, 9 am
Growth Groups (Adult SS), 9 am
Children’s Ministry, 9 am
Contemporary Service, 10:30 am
Growth Groups (Adult SS), 10:30 am
Children’s Ministry, 10:30 am
Monday, June 9
Food Pantry/Clothes Closet, 9:30 am
GriefShare, 10 am
Women's Bible Study, 10 am
Tuesday, June 10
Band of Brothers, 6:15 am
Staff Prayer & Meeting, 9:30 am
Adonai Tsuri Cowboy Church, 6:30 pm
Wednesday, June 11
Prayer Team, 10:30 am
Communion/Healing Prayer, 12 pm
Children's Ministry (infant - gr 3), 5:45 pm
FISH (gr 4-5), 5:45 pm
Youth (gr 6-12), 5:45 pm
Inside Out, 5;45 pm
Jesus, Popcorn, & a Movie, 6 pm
Praise Team, 7 pm
Thursday, June 12
Seniors Growing with Christ, 10 am
Simply Care Card Ministry, 10:30 am
Food Pantry/Clothes Closet, 4 pm
| Click here to support the ministry of Heritage Church. | |
You can also give through the Realm app or by texting HERITAGEVB to 73256
or by scanning the QR code.
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In the Hospital
Paul Vinsant (QLI Rehab in NE)
Dan Bandimere (Baptist LR)
Luther Swindell (Mercy Rehab)
At Home
Tammy Burkett
Mary Dempsey
Janis Gipson
Johnie Ruth Hammontree
Jamie Hartley
Sherry House
Billie Hunter
Jerry Hunter
Betty James
Stephanie Jones
Mary Beth Keller
Pam Merchant
David Moore
Rachel Mosher
Michael Pitts
Rodney Roberson
Judy Spencer-Marsicano
Alan Swaim
Bertha Swindell
Randy Teltow
Assisted Living
Richard Childers (Legacy FS)
Mary Coble (Blossoms)
Norma Day (Methodist Village)
Joyce Greig (Alma H&R)
Mary Nash (Legacy Heights Memory Lane)
Vi Pettit (Methodist Village)
Alta Poppe (Methodist Village)
Jeremiah Smith (Legacy FS)
In Sympathy
Christy Reneau and family in the death of her husband Charles Reneau.
Honoraria
In honor of Wannabee Life Group, given by Doris Wortham.
In honor of Jackson Infield's birthday, given by Jack Infield.
In memory of Malcom Medley, given by John and Twyla Wallace (GIdeons).
| Have a prayer request? Email it to: prayerchain@heritage.church | | | | |
