In Good Time

Rev. Caitlin Childers Brown, Pastor and Minister of Service

4 hours ago

2 min read

This past Sunday, worship looked a little different than normal. We weren't in the sanctuary with its ordered quiet, but instead had worship around the tables in the Great Room. This different service centered God's faithfulness at Highland Hills Baptist Church. To get the stories of God's work here, we spent a lot more time than usual on things like reflective prayer and filling out cards and swapping stories around the tables. The service was easily the most interactive service we have ever done in the last three years, and certainly the most interactive worship service I have ever coordinated.

Out of this service, together we populated a timeline with our individual experiences of the Holy Spirit here at the church. I've had a chance to walk by and read a few of the stories you all added.

Jesus says, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." Dear church, this timeline and the stories that you all shared live this passage out—your stories of people showing up for you in moments of crisis, or inclusion, or seeking the Spirit together—that is living out our faith.

The colorful squares on the timeline remind us of all the different ways that God was faithful before to our body of believers. If we continue to seek God's calling for us as individuals and for the church, we can believe that God will be faithful again.

The timeline will hang in the hallway on your way into the sanctuary for a while. As you're able, take some time to read the different cards that are hanging up. I'm sure the stories shared will bring a smile to your face, they certainly did mine. If you missed this Sunday, there are some cards sitting on the desk in front of the timeline. Take a few minutes and add yours to our timeline.

Let us continue to share the good stories of God to one another—because it is in little actions like this that we live out Hebrews 3:13: "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called 'Today,' so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness."