Weekly Update
Here’s a video of the service where he was baptized at Edgewood.
Highland,
Carrie and I would like to thank all of you who attended Jude’s baptism. You are such an important part of our lives and it really made us feel special and loved to have you join us! We love you dearly,
Rob
Highland,
As I mentioned this past Sunday, Jude will be getting baptized this upcoming Sunday. Since our family has such deep roots at Edgewood, Jude has requested that we hold his baptism there, at Edgewood.
So, our plan for service this upcoming Sunday will be that we will hold one service at Highland, from 9am-10am. Following our service at Highland, anyone who would like to attend Jude’s baptism at Edgewood (their service begins at 10:30am) would be free to do so. Highland, thank you for being flexible and understanding.
I am overjoyed to know that my son has submitted his life to the Lordship of Jesus! I am excited to be part of his public display of love for Jesus this Sunday. Please feel free to join us at Edgewood during their 10:30am service to share in this momentous occasion with us.
I love you,
Rob
Each Saturday from 10:30am-1:00pm, we serve our streets a meal of Chicken & Rice, along with the Gospel. Volunteers are welcome to join us. Chicken & Rice Ministries is our flagship work. It serves as the invitation to all in our streets to come and know Christ. If you would like to come and serve, please contact us.
This Sunday, I look forward to seeing everyone at the Tent Gathering. As we gather this Sunday for our Tent Gathering, I wanted to go over the schedule with you. This Sunday, our schedule is as follows:
9am-10am: Coffee and Conversation. As you arrive, grab a cup of coffee and a breakfast sandwich. Enjoy having conversation with one another and the chance to be together. Also, if you’re willing, some will be setting up for the 10 am service. We welcome your help, if you’re able.
10am-11am: Tent Gathering Service. *At 10am, bring your camping chairs or blankets to make for yourself a place outside, underneath our tent. We will gather to worship as we set our eyes upon Jesus. Highland, I ask that we would be in prayer for the name of Jesus to be exalted in our corporate gathering; that those who wander, or are deceived throughout our streets, would hear that Jesus saves, and repent! We will conclude and dismiss following this service. So, breakfast will be offered but not lunch.
We are strongly encouraging social distancing and masks will be available for those who would feel most comfortable wearing one. If you have a mask, please bring one for yourself to use. We ask that you stay home when you are sick. We also ask that you cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. Also, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Finally, keeping your hands clean using sanitizer or by washing them with soap is vital. If you have a personal bottle of sanitizer, bring it and keep it on you for your personal use throughout gatherings.
Van route riding requirements: windows down, masks worn and no more than 10 on a van.
Wednesday night studies, Pillow Party and prayer sessions have been canceled.
Children’s Ministries, Life Class & Breakfast will not resume until a later date.
*All proposed plans remain contingent upon medical information available to us throughout the foreseeable future. If you have questions, please feel free to contact us. I rejoice over you, Highland. I love forward to being with you Sunday.
I love you, Highland,
Rob
Highland,
Bring your Bible, come grab a breakfast sandwich and enjoy being warmed by our burn barrels tomorrow morning! We will hold one service: Coffee and Conversation, at 10am, tomorrow morning. Billy will be leading us in worship and Justin will be carrying us through God’s Word together.
I will be unable to attend, as I currently have COVID. Our family is laying low. We are doing well, considering. I speak for all the Strickland family when I say that we will miss you and that we love so you so much, Highland.
We love sharing life with you,
Rob
Highland,
Thank you for your devoted and generous support of the Giles Family during this tough time. Mary’s funeral will be held this Saturday, 1pm, at Hill-Watson Memorial Chapel on Hamilton Rd. The address is: 2919 Hamilton Rd, Columbus, GA 31904.
Mary Giles (on the right)
Highland,
Mary Giles is now at rest in the arms of Jesus. She passed away early Saturday morning, February 13th, 2021. She leaves behind her husband, Fred, and her son, Don, along with other family members. She attended Highland ten years and she will be sorely missed. She dearly loved Highland and longed to be there every chance she could! She loved to host members of our church in her home for dinner or coffee. Her hospitable way and her confident faith will be missed but we rejoice over knowing that her joy is now complete, in Christ.
Highland, the sting of her death is swallowed up in the victory of Christ’s love - for Jesus conquered the grave! Mary, who loved Jesus, now knows His victory in her death! Mary would want us all to evaluate our own relationship with Christ! She would want us to repent, declaring Jesus to be Lord and to turn from our sin if we do not walk with Him as Lord! Let us indeed take an account of our hearts and seek after the Lord while He may be found.
Highland is working with the family to arrange the details of her funeral. Updates will be made available as they come together. We ask that you pray for her family during their time of grief; let us ask that the God of all comfort draw near to them.
Rob
Highland, I take such joy in any chance we can find to gather together these days! As we gathered for Coffee & Conversation this morning, we worked through this passage: 1st Thessalonians 3:11-4:3. It was great seeing you all and I loved having the chance to open God’s Word with you. Here is our devotion from this morning:
“Now, may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you. And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone.”
(1st Thessalonians 3:11-12)
Highland, let us continue to allow the Lord to hold command of our hearts! His commanding grip upon our hearts then produces an increase of His love within us, which eternally secures our hearts, making us feel safe throughout all circumstances! As His love makes our hearts feel safe, we then feel the joy and liberty of His love within us - His presence becomes our refuge! When this is the case, then His love exudes from our hearts, freely overflowing into the lives of those around us! Additionally, this passage directs us to love those within our church family, as well as, everyone we encounter!
“May He make your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. Amen.”
(1st Thessalonians 3:13)
Highland, may the Lord make our hearts blameless in holiness before God our Father. To position our hearts to be made blameless by Jesus, we must hunger for holiness. To hunger for holiness means that we do not find comfort in sin; to be comfortable with sin is to remain in sin. But, when we hunger for holiness, we rejoice as our thoughts and our actions come into agreement with God’s Word and holiness.
“Finally, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received from us how you must walk and please God - as you are doing - do so even more. For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is God’s will, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality so that each of you knows how to control your own body in sanctification and honor.”
(1st Thessalonians 4:1-3)
Highland, let us continue to walk in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. As we are already doing so, let us do so even more. As our hearts overflow with the love of Christ and we continue to maintain a hunger for God’s holiness, then our hearts will find their rest as we live in agreement with God's word. To bring this passage to life, we took the chance to celebrate the wedding anniversary of Chris and Alana Willis! Two years ago, they wanted to stop living in sexual immorality and, instead, wanted to get married to honor the Lord in marriage. Their hunger for God’s holiness resulted in actions that aligned with God’s word. At that time, as they were seeking to walk in manner pleasing to the Lord, they desired to do so even more! That desire resulted in a decision to get married and we, the Highland Tribe, had the chance to celebrate that marriage today. May we follow Chris and Alana’s example and continue to hunger for the holiness of God, as we acknowledge our helpless estate, as sinners, to Jesus, who saves sinners! The outcome is always His glory and our good!
Continue to walk in the light of His presence, Highland.
I love you,
Rob
Highland,
We will hold one service tomorrow from 10am-11am for Coffee and Conversation. We will have breakfast sandwiches, coffee and conversation underneath our pavilion. We will then also hold a devotion, pray and sing together during that hour.
I look forward to seeing you there.
I love sharing life with you,
Rob
Highland.
At this point in time, we are watching the weather. A plan will be released this afternoon, once we can get a better understanding of how to best move forward with tomorrow’s services.
Highland-tribe, following Robert’s sermon, ‘let us not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds, so that we may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God’ (Romans 12:2).
