|
Weekly News & Updates
April 10, 2025 | Volume 39, Issue 14
| |
FROM YOUR PASTOR’S HEART … PALM / PASSION SUNDAY
Sunday, we remember Jesus’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Bring your children to the fellowship hall a little before each service to join in the Palm Sunday processional in each service. As Jesus road on a donkey, the people welcomed him as a king, but Isaiah 53:7 says, “He was as a lamb led to slaughter.”
Our scripture passage this week, Mark 15:1-34, focuses on The Cost of the Cross. Our emphasis this year is on the passion more than the palms. We’ll look at what it cost Jesus to save or ransom us from our sins. Jesus gave all and paid it all.
What follows is a brief article from the Israel Bible Society on “What is a Ransom?” It helps us understand the Jewish, Old Testament, roots of The Cost of the Cross:
Jesus as a Ransom for Many
In Mark 10:45 and Matthew 20:28, Jesus tells his disciples, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” When Jesus calls himself a “ransom,” he’s referring to a powerful idea from the Torah—the system of atonement. In these verses, Jesus is offering his own life as a payment in place of others.
Sin as Spiritual Debt
In first-century Jewish thinking, sin was seen as a kind of debt owed to God. That’s why, in the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus says, “Forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). He’s not talking about money, but about the moral and spiritual debt created by sin. When Jesus gives his life (Greek: psuchē) as a ransom, he’s paying off that debt on behalf of others.
Ransom in the Torah
The word “ransom” (Greek: lūtron) has roots in the Torah (The books of Genesis through Deuteronomy). In Exodus 30, God commands that every Israelite counted in a census must pay a small amount of money “to make atonement for their lives.” In the Greek version of the Torah (the Septuagint), this payment is called a “ransom for his life” (lūtron tēs psuchēs). It was meant to cover the cost of one’s life symbolically before God.
Jesus Fulfills the Ransom Idea
In Exodus, this ransom was a half-shekel. But in the Gospels, Jesus offers his entire life as the ransom. The similar wording between Exodus and the Gospels suggests that Jesus is doing something much greater: he is giving his life to God as a final and complete atonement for sin—not just for one person, but for many.
This idea ties into what the angel said at Jesus’ birth: “He will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). By giving his life as a ransom, Jesus cancels the spiritual debt of his people, just like the atonement system in the Torah, but in a fuller, deeper way.
Thank you, Jesus, for Your blood applied! Thank you for paying the ransom for our redemption! You paid it all! We are so grateful! We surrender all to YOU!
Can’t wait to worship with you Sunday!
Wes
whilliard@heritage.church
P.S. We’ll be giving out invitations to join us for Good Friday, Resurrection Sunday, and for our new series in Thessalonians, “Awake My Soul!” Grab plenty to share with your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers. Arrows International will be with us again on Easter/Resurrection Sunday. It’s going to be great! We’ll have three identical services at 8, 9:30, and 11.
| | Upcoming Opportunities and Announcements | | |
Spend Holy Week with Our Savior
Pick up a copy of Messiah's Last Words: 7 Easter Reflections on Jesus' Words from the Cross from Our Daily Bread. The Gospels record 7 things that Jesus said on the Cross, His last words before His death. This 7-day devotional walks through each statement spoken by our Savior. It's a great way to prepare our hearts for the glorious celebration of our resurrected LORD. Get yours at the Welcome Centers or in the office.
| |
Missions Update and Message from WE-GO
Members of Heritage,
Marilyn and I want to thank you for your faithful giving to Heritage and its Missionaries. Because of your faithful giving, WE-GO has been able to be fully and comfortably funded for a consecutive six months for the first time in several years. ON TOP OF THAT, we were able to fund a special three day conference outside of Moscow. WE-GO was originally hopeful that this conference would have 50 people attend. Instead, 200 people came for 3 days to hear 5 of our Pastors speak. It was an amazing conference that has ignited the flames of revival in Russia. None of this would have been possible without your faithful giving. So thank you for your continued support of WE-GO Mission Coalition.
Blessings in Christ,
Justin Goins
| |
|
Women's Bible Study
Attention ladies! We are kicking off another Women's Bible Study on April 14. This time we will be studying the book of Philippians and how practical it is for everyday living. Join us Monday mornings at 10 am in the New Room.
Please reply to Roxanne Martin at roxanne.martin0128@gmail.com or office@heritage.church an if you plan to attend or have questions. Childcare will be provided.
| | |
Heritage Riders This Saturday April 12
This month we are going to Soda Steve's (Old Fin & Feather Resort) for a burger and some fellowship. We will leave Heritage at 9 am and return around 2 pm.
Bring your motorcycle, trike, car, muscle car or truck. We accept anyone willing to share the road and have a good time of fellowship in God's Creation. Hope to see you on April 12th.
| | |
Heart to Heart Baby Bottle Campaign
Did you pick up a baby bottle this past Sunday? Don't forget to bring it back this Sunday! It's not too late. If you want to donate, stop by the table in the Great Hall.
| | |
Calling All Bakers!
Everybody loves pie, and Heritage Church has some wonderful pie makers and bakers! We are in need of 6 to 10 volunteers to make pies for our Resurrection Celebration Luncheon for the Arrows International Dance Team. We need the pies brought to Heritage as you come to worship on Resurrection Sunday.
Please contact me if you can help, bkneeland@heritage.church or 479.474.6424.
Becki
| |
|
Heritage Travelers April 15 Trip
There were 32 of us who saw the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter in Kentucky. Join us on our next day trip on April 15 to the Will Rogers Museum and Honor Heights Park. We still have a few seats available. Sign up on Realm or in the church office.
| |
Teacher Appreciation Opportunity
This school year, Heritage has had the honor of adopting Thicksten Learning Center (Alternative Learning Environment for Van Buren Public Schools). We have had folks donate clothes and snacks, and the Heritage staff has keep the faculty taken care with medical supplies for the nurse’s station and meals for special occasions. We would like to end the school year showing our appreciation to the faculty one last time.
May 5-9 is teacher appreciation week, and we need your help. Here are some things we are requesting. We need 23 of each:
- Sonic drink gift cards $5
- Local coffee house gift cards (Perks, Starbucks, 7Brew, etc.) $5
- Chick-fil-A gift cards $10
- Candy bars
- Mini caramel corn popcorn bags from What’s Poppin
You can purchase an item or items from the list and bring it by the office, or make a financial donation to the church. If it is a donation be sure to designate that it is for Thicksten Learning Center. Thank you for being so generous. Many of the students that attend Thicksten also attend Heritage, and the love you show for them and their teachers makes a difference.
| |
The National Day of Prayer is May 1
Every year, on the first Thursday in May, our nation gathers in parks, churches, schools, and statehouses to lift up prayers and petitions to God. The theme this year is "Pour Out to the God of Hope and Be Filled" based on Romans 15:13.
Crawford County will have an event at the courthouse on May 1 at noon, with First Baptist as a backup location in case of rain.
Follow the Crawford County NDP Facebook Page to stay informed.
| | This Week at Heritage and Prayer Concerns | | |
Thursday, April 10
Preschool, 9 am
Seniors Growing with Christ, 10 am
Simply Care Card Ministry, 10:30 am
Keep Moving Exercise Class, 11:30 am
Food Pantry/Clothes Closet, 4 pm
Friday, April 11
Office Closed
Upside Down, 6:30 pm
Saturday, April 12
Outreach at The Current (So. Campus), 8:30 am
Mom & Baby Brunch, 9 am
Sunday, April 13 - PALM SUNDAY
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
Good Friday Practice, 2:30 pm
Timothy Team Teachers, 4:30 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
The Gospel of Mark, 6 pm
Monday, April 14
Food Pantry, 9:30 am
GriefShare, 10 am
Women's Bible Study, 10 am
Cub Scouts, 6:30 pm
Tuesday, April 15
Band of Brothers, 6:15 am
Preschool, 9 am
Staff Prayer/Meeting, 9:30 am
Blanket Team, 9:30 am
Keep Moving Exercise Class, 11:30 am
Girl Scouts, 6 pm
Boy Scouts, 6:30 pm
Adonai Tsuri Cowboy Church, 6:30 pm
Wednesday, April 16
Community Bible Study, 9 am
Prayer Team, 10:30 am
Communion/Healing Prayer, 12 pm
Community Meal, 4:30 pm
Handbells, 5:30 pm
Timothy Team, 5:45 pm
Youth Bible Study, 5:45 pm
Adult Bible Study, 6 pm
Sanctuary Choir, 6:30 pm
Thursday, April 17
Preschool, 9 am
Seniors Growing with Christ, 10 am
Keep Moving Exercise Class, 11:30 am
Food Pantry/Clothes Closet, 4 pm
Good Friday Dress Rehearsal, 5 pm
Friday, April 18 - GOOD FRIDAY
Office Closed
Good Friday Service, 6 pm
| Have a prayer request? Email it to: prayerchain@heritage.church | |  | |
In the Hospital
Paul Vinsant (QLI Rehab in NE)
David Moore (Baptist FS)
Dan Bandimere (Baptist LR)
Rodney Roberson (Covington Court)
Steven Peer (Washington Regional)
George Treadaway (Baptist FS)
At Home
Patti Andrews
Candace Bowen
Tammy Burkett
Earle Craft
Mary Dempsey
Charlene Fite
Janis Gipson
Judy Goodson
Johnie Ruth Hammontree
Jamie Hartley
Buddy Hawkins
Billie Hunter
Jerry Hunter
Betty James
Mary Beth Keller
Wally Lester
Jonathan Mattox
Carly Norris
Michael Pitts
Alan Swaim
Bertha Swindell
Luther Swindell
Randy Teltow
Tracy Vanderbush
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)
Memorials & Honorarium
In memory of John Nishmuta given by Benton and Juanita Cone.
In memory of Scott Neal given by Gayle Neal (Youth).
In memory of Katy Marsh given by John and Margo Symonds (Children's Ministry and Worship Arts).
In memory of Katy Marsh given by Benton and Juanita Cone.
In memory of Katy Marsh given by Bruce and Janet Johnson (Children's Ministry).
In memory of Cindy Price given by Girls Scouts Red Oak Service Unit.
In honor of Debbie Scott given by John and Lisa Moose (Missions/Outreach).
| 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.
| | |
Men of Heritage!
Save the Date: May 31 is our next Men's Prayer Breakfast.
| | | | |
