A Sacred Season: Moving Through Transition

By Jim Netherton

At the conclusion of the worship service on Sunday, January 15, Jim Netherton, Chairman of the Deacons, addressed the congregation. The following is a portion of the words that he shared with the Highland Hills family.

On Sunday evening, the Board of Deacons voted with reluctance to accept Jim Dant’s resignation. None of us want to do that, but we will honor Jim’s commitment.  I want to take just a bit of privilege this morning and share some personal thoughts. Like Jim, I made a commitment 45 years ago to follow God’s lead if He would show me. It has taken me 45 years in that odyssey; we have lived in seven states and Patricia and I have been in several churches. Jim Dant is hands down the best pastor I have had.  

I want to grant Jim permission to get excited about what God’s calling him to do. We understand. We grieve his leaving, but if we stop and reflect at all, we are so grateful that God called him here for 15 years and every one of us has been blessed by the honest way he has led us. Jim’s honesty and openness has helped enrich each of our personal walks with God. I know it has enriched mine. We all recognize that God gave Jim gifts that transcend the feel of this church. When we get over our sense of personal loss, we can’t help but be excited about what God is going to do through Jim to bless His kingdom in the years ahead.

Some have asked me what we are going to do and how we are going to work through things. Fortunately, we have bylaws and committee structures in place. Things will work out fine. Jim has said that February 12 will be his last Sunday with us, but in God’s providence, the next three Sundays are already accounted for, so we have six to seven weeks to plan how we are going to cope on a weekly basis with the loss of Jim. We have lots of good people involved and lots of talent in this church and in this community. We are going to be just fine; this is a strong church.

This is change and none of us like change, but change happens like it or not. We encourage Jim to embrace his changes and we will embrace our changes. We know that God is at work in all things, bringing out good to those who love him and those who are called according to his purpose. We all love God and we all are called by God, so we are going to trust God to bring good out of this circumstance. As God does good things through Jim, we are going to all feel like we have a part in what God is helping him to accomplish. This morning, we are going to honor Jim’s decision and we are going to get about our business so that Jim will be more free to go about what God has called him to do.

The Sacredness of Serving

When we look at the life of Jesus in Scripture, we often find him paying special attention to people on the margins. He walks with people who are frail. He speaks with people who are ignored. He heals people who are hurting. His time and energy are often spent with those whom the rest of the world would choose to ignore.

In our ministry to children at Highland Hills we have the responsibility to respond to all of the children that find their way into our family of faith. Children with special needs are among the members of our family to whom we need to open our minds and hearts. 

In 2006, Highland Hills began a ministry to children with special needs and their families. This ministry has become known as our “Buddy Ministry.” Under the faithful direction of Emily Brumley, this program has become a vital part of our ministry to children at Highland Hills. The Buddy Ministry enables our special needs children to learn about God’s love and to have attentive care while their families are involved in the life of the church.

On Wednesday, February 29, we will celebrate the gift that God has given us in the lives of Kate Curlee and Claxton Spivey. During our Wednesday night Prayer Service we will honor those who are buddies to Kate and Claxton and pray God’s blessings upon their families. You will want to make plans to be present for this special evening and to join in offering your prayers and support for this ministry.



Men's Day at Highland Hills

On Sunday, February 5, we will celebrate Baptist Men’s Day in the morning and have our annual Super Bowl party that evening. The day will begin with breakfast at 8:00 a.m. in the Great Room. Our speaker will be Ed Grisamore, a columnist for The Macon Telegraph and the recipient of the 2010 Will Rogers Humanitarian Award. Ed will be discussing the writing of his newest book, “There Is More Than One Way to Spell Weiner” Each person is asked to contribute $5.00 for breakfast.

At 9:00 a.m., the Men’s Day Choir will rehearse in the choir loft to prepare the anthem that they will present in the morning worship service. All men and youth guys are invited to sing with us. At 11:00 a.m., the men of the church will lead us in worship.  Make plans to be a part of this great day of worship.