No place like home
As we approach our Christmas Eve celebrations and the pinnacle of our Home for Christmas journey, I’m once again reminded of the uniqueness of home.
Any time I am away from my home, I miss it; and every time I return home after being away, I feel good. It always feels good to come home. In that space, we can experience a sense of joy & peace, and we find a greater appreciation for the significance of Dorothy’s statement in The Wizard of Oz: “There’s no place like home.”
I fundamentally agree with her, and I believe there are 3 primary things make our “home spaces” unique:
- Home is where we go deeper with God…where we know we are LOVED. At home, we find our regular places to encounter God and deepen our soul. It’s that cozy chair, the quiet study, a breakfast nook, the special spot on the floor and our church.
- Home is also where we find our significant relationships. These are the relationships that God uses to encourage us and to draw us to Himself. But there are also those relationships we have with others that He uses to draw them to Himself through us as we live LINKED.
- Finally, home is where we have been sent on mission. It is where we are stationed…posted…assigned. It is our place of duty. The place we are called to invest the vast majority of our time, talent and treasure in living SENT.
That is why there is no place like home.
Home with all its ups and downs, joys and trials, success and failures is the place where God, others and mission collide. It is the place we are best positioned to experience relationship as it should be.
What if we saw home as more than the place we live or the location we work? What if we understood the truth that home is our mission field, and there is no place like it?
Because when we understand that reality, we can play a significant part in others coming home…experiencing relationship as it should be.
Launching into Advent
As we step out of our Go.Be.Love journey, we’re stepping into the Advent season as a church family.
And this year our journey toward Christmas connects directly to our recent Go.Be.Love conversations.
You can check those out by clicking the links below:
The Advent season is filled with anticipation and expectation. Its a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of Jesus’ birth; and like many of you, I love this time of year.
This year, we’re calling our sermon series “Home for Christmas.” We have some special things planned, and I’m excited to see how God is going to use this time. I look forward to seeing you there. Here is a bit more about the Christmas series:
We exist in a world that needs home more than ever. Our lives are full of business and busyness; we are rarely able to create real time and real space to experience the peace and strength that only home can bring. We are constantly searching for someone or some thing to bring us peace. What if the God we’ve been searching for was actually searching for us and inviting us home? Join us as we come home for Christmas.
Free To Live
It still brings great joy to my heart to think about the individual stories of life change represented at our last Free to Live Baptism celebration at the river this summer.
Looking forward to more stories of new life in Jesus on November 4 & 5.
If you’ve not yet stepped into baptism, sign up for this one! To take your next step, contact:
Rock Island Campus: Judy [judy.sawkins@heritageqc.com]
Bettendorf Campus: Nicole [nicole.dohm@heritageqc.com]
Vida Nueva: Faith [faith.moncivaiz@heritageqc.com]
New Series: Amen.
Excited for the Heritage family to start our AMEN series this weekend with some powerful moments of prayer and worship.
It’s going to be good!
Here’s a few more details:
Amen. This little word is much more than a punctuation to moments of prayer. For thousands of years, the people of God have used “Amen” as a means of affirming what they have just said or heard—to say, “Let it be so,” and express their commitment, expectation, and participation in the outcome of what has been asked or discussed. Join us as we say, “Amen” to some of the great prayers of Scripture and discover the power and hope of connecting with God through prayer.
Week #5: Family Connection Ideas
Our “Off To The Races” journey was a good one, and if you missed any of it you can find it here. As you continue to MAKE EVERY LAP COUNT, BE FIRST TO THE LINE, GET UNDER THE HOOD and WORK WITH YOUR CREW, here’s the link to this week’s message and the Family Connection Ideas:
Family Connection Ideas:
At Heritage, we want to help our families win! So during the “Off to the Races” sermon series, we’re providing ideas each week for you to make every lap count by being more intentional with your time and with the kids in your life. Here are some initial suggestions:
Morning Time:
Preschoolers and kindergartners at Heritage learned how God helped David protect his sheep this weekend. Give your child a real egg to protect for the day (a basket or plastic container will help). Talk about how God helped David protect his sheep. God helps us too!
Drive Time:
In the age of smartphones and GPS, we rely heavily on technology to give us directions for where to go next. But what happens when we don’t have this technology? Well, that’s when navigation gets tricky. This week, try to find your way somewhere together without using your phone or GPS. Then start a conversation with your child or student about how the Bible gives direction.
Dinner Time:
Help your kids or students rehearse answers for tough questions ahead of time to help them make the right choice in the moment.
Bed Time:
At bedtime, read Psalm 24:1 with your child or teenager. What does this say about our stuff? What about the people we encounter each day? How does this change how we treat our stuff? How does this change how we interact with people? What’s something our family could or should do differently because of this? Then pray together as a family, asking God to help each person remember that everything belongs to God.
Have a great week building strong relationships with your family!
Want more ideas on how to connect with your child?
Download the Parent Cue App for iPhone & Android to gain insights about your child’s age, ideas for connecting & ways to win as a family.
Note: Above ideas adapted from Parent Cue resources by The rethink Group.
Week #3: Family Connection Ideas
As a church, we’re committed to equipping families to thrive, and we never want any of us to just go in circles. So each week, throughout our “Off To The Races” journey, we’re highlighting key resources and ideas to be more intentional as a family and...MAKE EVERY LAP COUNT. and BE FIRST TO THE LINE.
With Week #3o of “Off To The Races” in the books, you can find that message by clicking here. And you can find the Family Connection Ideas from Week #3 below:
Family Connection Ideas:
At Heritage, we want to help our families win! So during the “Off to the Races” sermon series, we’re providing ideas each week for you to make every lap count by being more intentional with your time and with the kids in your life. Here are some initial suggestions:
Morning Time:
One of the most important things a child or student can hear is that they matter to you. As your children start their day, take a moment to look them in the eye and say, “I love you” or another phrase your family uses to communicate value.
Drive Time:
Purposeful questions are the best and easiest tool we have as parents to invest in the lives of our kids. Ask some great questions each day during drive time: What are you excited for today? Are you nervous about anything? Why does that make you nervous (or excited)? Tip: Adding “why” or “why do you think that is?” to any question helps extend the answer from one word to a conversation and more meaningful connection.
Dinner Time:
Model great friendships by inviting several friends over for dinner. The more the merrier! Consider an intergenerational group. Ask each friend to bring something to add to your Friendship Soup. (You can search for a friendship soup recipe online.) Gather around the table, pass some bread and enjoy the “melting pot” of your friendships. Have everyone give an answer to this question: “What’s your favorite thing about friendship?”
Bed Time:
At Bedtime, read John 21:1-17. Talk together about the forgiveness Jesus offered to Peter. Discuss how offering forgiveness isn’t always an easy thing to do and why that is. (i.e. someone hurt us or harmed us.) Ask, if there is anyone you need to forgive? Pray together and ask God to give each of you the courage to forgive & repair a friendship.
Have a great week building strong relationships with your family!
Want more ideas on how to connect with your child?
Download the Parent Cue App for iPhone & Android to gain insights about your child’s age, ideas for connecting & ways to win as a family.
Note: Above ideas adapted from Parent Cue resources by The rethink Group.
Week #2: Family Connection Ideas
As a church, we’re committed to equipping families to thrive, and we never want any of us to just go in circles. So each week, throughout our “Off To The Races” journey, we’re highlighting key resources and ideas to be more intentional as a family and...MAKE EVERY LAP COUNT.
With our “Off To The Races” week #2 in the books, you can find that message by clicking here. And you can find the Family Connection Ideas from Week #2 below:
Family Connection Ideas:
At Heritage, we want to help our families win! So during the “Off to the Races” sermon series, we’re providing ideas each week for you to make every lap count by being more intentional with your time and with the kids in your life. Here are some initial suggestions:
Morning Time:
The morning routine can be stressful and frustrating for families while they work to get everyone out the door on time with the things they need. If you feel yourself losing your patience this week, follow the advice you give your kids/grandkids: Pause, take a deep breath & count to ten before responding.
Drive Time:
During your drive time this week, ask your child: Who in your life needs your friendship? Brainstorm some ways they can be intentional in building greater friendship with that person. Then, together pick one way to intentionally do that this week. Celebrate together when it happens.
Dinner Time:
Take turns answering the following questions as a family:
Child: Who is your most “unlikely” friend? Why do you think you’re friends? Adult: Who was your best friend when you were a kid? What did you like to do together?
Bed Time:
With your child/grandchild, read Acts 9:26-28. Discuss how Barnabas accepted Saul when no one else would. [i.e. he went with him, supported him with the rest of the apostles, he brought Saul into the group] Point out: Friends accept one another. Think of ways that each of you could accept a new friend into your life. Ask God to help you accept others as friends.
Have a great week building strong relationships with your family!
Want more ideas on how to connect with your child?
Download the Parent Cue App for iPhone & Android to gain insights about your child’s age, ideas for connecting & ways to win as a family.
Note: Above ideas adapted from Parent Cue resources by The rethink Group.
Week #1: Family Connection Ideas
Our “Off To The Races” series is off to a great start! We had a great weekend of celebration as a church family; and in case you missed it, you can find the first message by clicking here.
As a church, we’re committed to equipping families to thrive, and we never want to find any of us just going in circles. So each week, throughout our “Off To The Races” journey, we’re highlighting key resources and ideas to be more intentional as a family and...MAKE EVERY LAP COUNT.
Here are the Family Connection Ideas from Week #1.
Family Connection Ideas:
At Heritage, we want to help our families win! So during the “Off to the Races” sermon series, we’re providing ideas each week for you to make every lap count by being more intentional with your time and with the kids in your life. Here are some initial suggestions:
Morning Time:
While getting ready for the day, write a note of encouragement that your kids/grandkids will find in the midst of their day. Consider utilizing our Lunch Box Notes, which are available for free at our Go!Kids Family Resource Center at your campus during the month of September.
Drive Time:
While in the car, ask your child to think of a friend they’re having a hard time getting along with or are concerned about right now. Talk about ways your child can show that friend love. Then encourage them to do it this week! Be sure to follow up so they can share how it went.
Dinner Time:
At dinner, ask: What do you think makes a great friend? Take turns going around the dinner table saying one thing that makes a great friend. Keep going around the table until you’re all completely stumped. Then ask the following & give everyone a chance to share: What did you do today to be a great friend? Why do you think being a great friend is important?
Bed Time:
With your child, read 1 Samuel 20. Talk about how Jonathan showed love for David. [i.e. he stood up for him, protected him from his angry father, etc.] Point out: Love is an action. Then share some ideas with each other of how you can love others like Jesus loves us, and like David and Jonathan loved each other. Ask God to help each of you be a great friend and love others well.
Have a great week building strong relationships with your family!
Want more ideas on how to connect with your child?
Download the Parent Cue App for iPhone & Android to gain insights about your child’s age, ideas for connecting & ways to win as a family.
Note: Above ideas adapted from Parent Cue resources by The rethink Group.
New Series: Off To The Races
I cannot even begin to describe how EXCITED I am for this series!!
We will be exploring invaluable truths and practical ways to win at work, at home and in life overall.
This is one to invite everyone you can to be part of the journey. Join me in praying that God will move mightily in and through it.
Here’s some more detail:
Life is fast and it’s only getting faster. In the increased speed and demand of every day, it can be hard to make every lap count. Join us as we talk about how to make great choices that position us to win at work, at home and with each other.
Sept 2/3 — Make every lap count
Sept 9/10 — Be First to the Line
Sept 16/17 — Get Under The Hood
Sept 23/24 — Work with your crew
Sept 30/Oct 1 — Stepping up, requires stepping out
Walking With Giants
Next Series: Walking with Giants: Portraits of Faith From Hebrews
In Hebrews 11 we see a myriad of portraits that reveal glimpses into a larger story. The stories of those people and the great cloud of witnesses remind us of what it means to walk with God and one another in authentic love, faithful risk, passionate mission, hopeful partnership and intense spirituality. Join us this summer as we walk with the giants of our faith.
June 10/11 – Abel
June 17/18 – Enoch
June 24/25 – Noah
July 1/2 – Abraham
July 8/9 – Isaac
July 15/16 – Jacob
July 22/23 – Joseph
July 29/30 – Moses
Aug 5/6 – Rahab
Aug 12/13 – Unplugged
Aug 19/20 – Too many
Aug 26/27 – Wrap
