Weekly News & Updates

March 6, 2025 | Volume 39, Issue 9

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S HEART … LIVING FAITHFULLY IN LIGHT OF JESUS RETURN 

As Christians, knowing that Jesus is returning, knowing that we will stand before the Judgement Seat of God should motivate us to live well with Him and for Him now. It should inspire us to make sure those in our sphere of influence know Jesus as their Savior, LORD, and friend. I love the imagery that Pastor J.D. Walt uses in his morning Wake-up Call, “We are all just walking one another home.” This Lent, may we with joy and faith, take as many hands as we can and “walk one another home” to Jesus. It’s a joyful journey. 

As we enter this season, I encourage you to join me in reading, or re-reading, Church on Fire by Fred A. Hartley, III. If you don't already have a copy, there are plenty available in the Great Hall for a suggested donation of $12.

See you Sunday! 

Wes 

whilliard@heritage.church

Upcoming Opportunities and Announcements

PRAY WITHOUT CEASING - March Memory Verse

Our monthly memory Bible verse is from Ephesians 6:18, "Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints."



May we be intentional in walking with the Spirit at all times. We can pray without ceasing as we abide moment by moment with the Lord. Invite Him into every thought, word, and activity. May we be faithful to stay in constant communication with our Lord who is the FAITHFUL ONE!

Encounter Family Worship Night

Join us for a special evening of fellowship and worship on Sunday, April 6th! This is a time for families and individuals to come together, share a meal, and experience the presence of God through worship. Childcare will be available for children 3 years and younger.

The goal behind this worship night is to bring families together to encounter the living God through worship and prayer. We are asking all life groups and Bible studies on Sunday evenings to attend. 

Date: Saturday, April 6th

Dinner: 5:45 pm

Worship: 6:30-7:30 pm

Come enjoy a meal, connect with others in our church family, and prepare your hearts for a powerful time of worship. Whether you come with your family, friends, or on your own, our hope and prayer is you will leave encouraged and in awe of how awesome our God is. 

Jake

jsimmons@heritage.church

Thank You!

Thank you for your generous contributions toward student spring break scholarships! Your support means so much, and all students who needed scholarships have been funded. Sprint Break trips are always an amazing opportunity for students to step back from the crazy life and enjoy community and God's beautiful mountains of Colorado.

I greatly appreciate your kindness and commitment to our youth ministry.

Jake

Serving Foster Parents

We will host The Call Foster Parent Night on March 13, and I am looking for someone to cook or provide a meal for the parents who meet that evening. It would be for about 10 people and the food would need to be ready at 6 pm. If you are interested, please contact me.

Madison

msimmons@heritage.church

Heritage Riders

Well, it is finally riding weather once again, or at least I hope it is. This coming Saturday, March 8, we will be heading to Atkins BBQ and Feed Store in Atkins, OK. We will be leaving the Heritage West Parking Log at 11 am and back roading to the BBQ joint. We'll continue west for some more good Oklahoma back roads before returning to Van Buren. The route is about 110 miles and takes about 2 1/2 hours to ride.

Hope to see you then. Bring a friend, motorcycles, trikes, cars and even mini vans are included.

Max Garrett

Placing Flowers on the Altar

Placing flowers on the altar is a tradition that we have gotten away from over the past several years. We would like to bring it back. The significance of placing flowers is to express the beauty and glory of the Lord. You can place flowers in memory of someone, in honor of someone, or just because you want to minister to His presence. Here is how you can be involved:

• Select a Sunday by calling or emailing the church office (479-474-6424 or office@heritage.church). When scheduling let us know if it is in honor or memory of someone. 
• You can purchase flowers or bring an arrangement from your garden.
• If you order from a florist, please have flowers delivered before 4 pm the Thursday before the Sunday (The church office is closed on Friday and Saturday).
• If you bring flowers the day of, please bring them by 8:45 am on Sunday, so both services can enjoy them.
• Pick up your flowers after the 2nd service or sometime during the week prior to the next Sunday.

Ministry Opportunity with Baby Goats

Join us in spreading joy with baby goats! Our family at Silver Dragon Ranch is blessed to bring our adorable baby goats to nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and senior living facilities, creating heartwarming moments of connection and delight. It’s a beautiful way to brighten the lives of residents—many of whom are holding a baby goat for the very first time! We joyfully share this ministry as a gift, and we’d love for our Heritage Church family to be a part of it. If you have a loved one in one of these facilities or if you’d like to join us in sharing smiles, please reach out.

Feel free to reach out to Eric, Durell, Judy, or Doug at church or give us a call at 850-293-7879 (Eric’s cell) or 479-274-8160 (Durell’s ranch line). Together, we can continue to bring warmth, laughter, and God’s love to those who need it most! 

Kairos Prison Ministry Opportunity

Kairos, “God’s Special Time”, is an international prison ministry whose mission is to share the love of Jesus Christ to incarcerated men, women and youth. Weekend “walks”, similar to Emmaus Walks, are held inside prison involving 24 inmates in a series of talks, discussions, chapel meditations and worship designed to lead each inmate into a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. Prayer and share meetings are held on a regular basis to support and encourage the participants. There will be Kairos weekend #7 at the Grimes Men’s Unit in Newport, AR, beginning Thursday, April 3, 2025, and ending Sunday, April 6. Training sessions will be held on Saturday, March 8, and Thursday-Saturday March 13-15. If you are interested in being involved in Kairos, please contact Eddie Prince at Eprince92@aol.com. 

Thank you so much to Leslie Wagner, Gina Burkert, Lisa Elkins, Roxanne Martin, Pamm Treece, Sonya Lovelace, Marilyn Goins, and Kibler and Alma Methodist churches for providing food for our Sunday night revival service. The food was perfect. The charcuterie boards were beautiful. It blessed so many.  

This Week at Heritage and Prayer Concerns

Mark Your Calendar!

Welcome Baby Shower

Welcome Baby Quinleigh Jones, daughter of Bryson Jones & Laynee Tichenor with a baby shower on Saturday, March 8 at 2 pm in the New Room.

Once Upon a Prom

Saturday, March 15 from 12 to 4 pm. Once Upon a Prom is a nonprofit that collects Prom/Formal dresses and gives them away for FREE to students in need. This giveaway is for students 9th-12th grade at any school or homeschool going to Prom, Military Ball or Freshman Formal.

HERITAGE CHURCH | 479.474.6424

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