A Reflection from Pastor Nathan Arledge

Route of Peace

"When the Ground Shifts"

Scripture: Mark 13:1-8 (Jesus Predicts the Fall of the Temple)

Ever feel like the ground under you is shaking, like everything you thought was solid suddenly isn’t? Jesus gets it. In this story, he tells his followers that the massive temple—something they thought would last forever—was going to crumble. Not exactly comforting, right?

But here’s the thing: Jesus isn’t just talking about buildings. He’s talking about life. The things we think are permanent—jobs, relationships, even our beliefs—can fall apart. It’s unsettling, especially if you’ve never been sure about church or the Bible in the first place. 

But Jesus wasn’t pointing to destruction for the sake of it. He was saying, “Get ready for change. Be open to what’s coming next.” Faith isn’t about having all the answers or never doubting. It’s about being willing to stand in the chaos and believe that something better might come from it.

If church has ever felt irrelevant or distant, maybe this is your moment to see it differently. Not as a place with all the answers, but as a space to be real about how unpredictable life is—and how we can still find hope in the mess.

Ponder: 

What in your life feels uncertain right now? How might change open the door to something new?

Prayer: 

God, When everything feels shaky, help me stay open to what comes next. Give me hope, even when I don’t have all the answers. Amen.

Charge Conference - November 24 at 5 PM

Join us in the sanctuary on Sunday, November 24 at 5 PM for our annual Charge Conference. This gathering is a time for our church family to review the past year, make important ministry decisions, and set our vision for the future. All are welcome—come learn, celebrate, and be part of our journey forward!

Angel Tree

We still have 33 Angels waiting to be selected this season! So far, 171 of our 204 Angels have been placed, and we’d love your help to ensure every child feels the joy and care they deserve. All remaining Angels have been added to our Sign-Up Genius site.

Visit the sign-up link today and help us make this season special for a child in our community!

Pajama Pancake Dinner 

Join us on Friday December 6th from 6 to 7:30 pm as we kick off the Advent season with a yummy pancake dinner! Come in your pajamas and enjoy music, crafts, and some fun surprises. This event is for ALL ages and you are encouraged to bring guests. RSVP is required for all attending as space is limited! There is a suggested $3 per person donation to help cover the cost of the event, but this is not required. 

As we prepare to enjoy a delicious meal together, we invite you to help us bless those in our community who experience food insecurity. We will be collecting pancake mix and syrup for our Nourish Up food pantry! Bring your contributions to the pancake dinner and drop them in the shopping basket. Thanks for your support of this amazing ministry.

Unlikely Advent

Join us for a special Advent Study featuring Unlikely Advent by Rachel Billups, paired with this month’s sermon series! This inspiring study invites all ages to explore the unexpected ways God works during Advent.

Through engaging discussions, we’ll journey through the stories of unlikely characters surrounding Christ’s birth, preparing our hearts for Christmas. There are two options for joining this meaningful experience:

Intergenerational Session: Begins Sunday, December 1, and meets weekly at 10 AM. A perfect opportunity for families, individuals, and all generations to connect and grow in faith together.

Monday Night Group: Kicks off on Monday, November 25 and meets weekly at 6:30 PM, offering a time for deeper reflection and community connection.

We encourage all participants to register in advance to help us prepare for this enriching Advent experience. Sign up today and join us in discovering the beauty and surprises of the Advent season together!

Preparing Our Hearts for Advent

Advent is almost here, and we’d love for you to join us on this meaningful journey. Click the graphic below for all the ways to celebrate and connect this season!

Hanging of the Greens, Sunday, November 24 at 10 AM

Get ready to deck the halls! We’re inviting everyone to join us for the Hanging of the Greens this Sunday, November 24. It’s a wonderful time to come together, share in the joy of the season, and transform our church into a beautiful, festive space to celebrate Advent.

Whether you have a knack for decorating or just want to enjoy the fun of being together, there’s a spot for you! Come ready to laugh, serve, and make some special memories. We can’t wait to see you there and kick off this season of hope and anticipation together!

Who Remembers RITI?

What in the world is RITI? It stands for Room in the Inn! A program to house those experiencing homelessness in the Charlotte area sponsored by A Roof Above. Following Covid, Harrison made the decision to not participate in the program at that time.

Our partnership with Pineville’s program, Pineville Neighbors Place, is once again giving us the opportunity to help those in our area experiencing homelessness. With A Roof Above helping to train those at Pineville Neighbors Place, a new program is starting this winter. It will include Harrison UMC! Beginning in January we will house 10 men on Wednesday nights. We will offer them a warm dinner, a place to take a shower, a bed to sleep in, and a warm breakfast the following morning. We are partnering with Pineville UMC and Pineville Church of the Nazarene. Harrison will house the men the first 6 Wednesdays of the New Year followed by Pineville UMC housing them the following 6 weeks. The Church of the Nazarene will fill in to help with meals, spending the night, breakfast, etc.

What can you do? Pray about being on one of the teams to take care of our neighbors. More information to come…including the name of the program for Pineville. Such exciting news…together we can make a difference!

Thanks to your faithful giving and support of Harrison’s mission, our team recently returned from a life-changing mission trip to Reynosa, Mexico. Throughout our time there, we witnessed the transformative power of God’s love as we partnered with Faith Ministry to build a home, share meals, and create lasting relationships.

Lives were truly changed—both in Reynosa and among our mission team members. Your generosity made this possible, helping us bring hope, compassion, and practical support to our neighbors in need. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for investing in this work and being part of a mission that continues to change lives and bring people closer to God’s abundant love!

There’s Still Time to Be Part of the Impact!

Your commitment, no matter the size, helps Harrison UMC continue our mission to serve and share God’s love with our community. If you haven’t yet submitted your intention, we invite you to join us in building a legacy of hope and transformation. Together, we can make a lasting impact!

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As we continue this new week, let us embrace the joy and grace that comes from being part of our loving community. We have much to celebrate and look forward to, and we encourage you to share this e-newsletter with friends and family who might be searching for a safe space of hope and belonging.