Speaking of BIG thanks, thank you all for serve at our two events last Saturday.  The spirit that you all as a church body poured out into service in the Health and Safety event and the Chili Dog Days of Summer event was incredible.  They say that the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.  I say High Places showed up ready for the harvest and God is preparing us for something BIG.  Both events were full of smiles and joy and that is what it is all about.  So, again I say thank you High Places for answering the call and showing up ready to serve in anticipation for God to do something great.

Finally, we look forward to seeing you all this Sunday at 10:30 am as we continue with part 2 of Sufficiency in All Things.  This week, may we all look at everything around us and realize just how blessed we are and just how loved we are by the God of All Things.  We have had lots of visitors on Sundays over the last month so look for someone you don't know and say HELLO!

Tomorrow, Saturday July 9, I could use some help moving Eric Rosenving and his partner Rita. We postponed the move from last Saturday because it was a holiday and so many people were occupied. We believe it will be two hours or so at most, there isn’t much. He has done quite a bit of it already in stages. We are going to begin at 9:00 AM @ 246 Gum Hollow Road. Please shoot me a text if you can help. You may remember Eric and Rita from our adult retreat this year.

Also tomorrow, MegaFunFest 2 will be happening at the Grove from 2:00-5:00 PM, please help us spread the word by sharing the flyer attached to this email. Kady puts so much thought and work into these events, and we want as many kids as possible to have the experience!

Camp begins this week and if you would like to help upload the camp kitchen, check the camp for critters, etc. then please let Chad Oneal know at 865.806.0530. We will meet at Big Ridge State Park around 3:00 PM on Sunday afternoon. Our students will depart for Big Ridge Monday afternoon. The church is invited to join us on Thursday at 6:00 PM at Big Ridge for a meal and a baptism celebration at the lakeside. If you would like to be baptized next week, please contact any member of our staff.

Summer is moving very quickly, and these next seven days are going to be some of the most joyful, impactful, busy, and stressful weeks of our entire year. Our staff, leaders, and volunteers sincerely need your prayers to help push us over the hump. We would also ask that each High Places person pray about how they may be able to lend a hand. We’re in this together.

Finally, I am receiving an overwhelming number of calls for support because for many, these times are financially very stressful. We plan to offer a Financial Peace course in August, which gives families handles on managing their household budgets. We also have a very limited benevolence fund each year that we supplement with donations throughout the year. Over the holiday, I was working with a family with three small children sleeping their car. While that is something we alone cannot fix, our church did provide them two nights relief from the heat in hotel. Small gestures like that can sometimes help people rest long enough to give their affairs in order. If you’d like to assist us in helping to meet these kinds of needs, please let Marilyn know.

Thank you all and please keep our staff in your prayers.

David

#2 Wednesday, May 25th at the Grove, 7:00 PM -- Leadership Meeting. Leaders and interested others please plan to attend as we map out our summer schedule for touching, teaching, training ministries. This planning meeting is designed to carry us through summer and into early fall, and additionally we will be reviewing our basic T/T/T principles and taking a look at Edwin Friedman's "Failure of Nerve." It's alot for one hour, but I am confident we can do it!

#3 Saturday, June 11th -- Our annual High Places Mountain Movers "School's Out" party for kids will be held at the Grove. We love our kid events and the past few have been spectacular. Thank you Kady Marcotte! More details are coming on this event in the next few weeks.

#4 Tuesday, June 21st -- We will be hosting a community-wide remembrance dinner at the Grove for families who lost loved ones during covid (not necessarily from covid) and were unable to do a proper burial or memorial service. We will share a meal and share stories of those we lost, then light candles in the large auditorium in remembrance. If you would like to volunteer to cook, or otherwise help serve, in this event please let me know at the leadership meeting on May 25th. More details coming soon.

#5 Summer Camp is back, July 11-16 at Big Ridge State Park for our "Off the Wall" student ministries. If your teen wants to attend, please let Chad know and he can get you the registration forms. Summer camp is always "church concentrate" as Martin calls it, and while it is primarily for teenagers, we have numerous adults impacted every year. Additionally, baptisms will be scheduled for Thursday July 14th unless someone is eager and wants one right away, in which case -- we will oblige!

#6 Dave Ramsey Financial Peace begins on Thursday, August 4th at the Grove. With inflation at record highs, the stock market uncertain, and household debt skyrocketing all across the land, this class could not come at a better time. Thank you Matt Shifra for arranging this and volunteering to lead. If you have never done a Dave Ramsey class, it can be life-changing and will help you apply biblical principals to your home budgeting and retirement planning. I personally believe everyone, whether newlywed, single, or nearing retirement, has much to gain from these classes. We will have formal enrollment coming soon, along with more information.

#7 Summer Farmer's Market Gleaning, 4th Saturday every month this summer. I could use help gleaning the market and delivering food to needy families, so if you are inclinded to lend a hand, please let me know. I also need help with weekly rounds of food delivery to a few of our High Places shut-ins and other areas of need in Oak Ridge. Since I know where I go, but don't know all the addresses, shadowing me a time or two might be the best way to learn the route. If you can help me in this, please let me know.

Finally, because I heard that our last News and Notes actually went to a few spam folders because it contained a link to our giving page, just a reminder that you can always give online on our website. We appreciate all your support.

Much love and many blessings. Save this email in a folder so you have the dates, and thank you!!

David

This is the greatest weekend of the year as we celebrate the triumph of love, even over death. Eternity secured in a risen Christ, the crippling effects of sin and shame were released from our souls and psyches, and our worth in the eyes of God was demonstrated as He gave us all He had to love us from the cross.

This special weekend contains the single most pivotal event in human history, and even the Universe. We are wonder-filled by God's love for us, amazed, and in awe of His Grace. And we invite you to CELEBRATE with us this Sunday at 10:30 AM.

We will have a special message time for our children, as well as an Easter egg hunt after the main meeting. We will also have a pot luck lunch, so bring your favorite food if you're able and enjoy someone else's favorites. Easter is always a magical, miraculous experience at High Places and we want to share it with you! Bring a friend!

High Places regulars - if you would like to help hide eggs before the service, Kady could use the help. Drop her an email at kady865@gmail.com if you can come a little early.

We can't wait to see you on this joyous Easter Sunday, and we can't wait to reconnect after two long years of Covid. Our theme has been "Beauty Will Save the World," and we believe it!

Many Blessings,

David

• 1st Session, Friday 7:00 PM

• 2nd and 3rd Sessions, Saturday 9:45 AM to noon (with a break)

• 4th and 5th Sessions, Saturday 6:30 PM until 9:00 PM (with a break)

• Last session, Sunday morning 9:45 AM

It's about a one hour drive from Oak Ridge (not 45 minutes as I previously stated), so please plan accordingly if attending in person. And again, if I can figure it out, I will stream these sessions live on our vimeo site through a private link. I hope that even if you cannot attend in person, you will join us online. Please let me know if you would like this link to our sessions!

Those driving up will need to park in the overflow area near the swimming pool.

It's a beautiful time for us to be together on Norris lake! Be in prayer for the things God wants to accomplish this weekend!

I will be back to preach on Sunday morning and I am very much looking forward to that. So if you can't make it this weekend, I hope to see you on Sunday.

Many blessings,

David

As we wind down our current theme, “Unless a Seed Falls” we hope you’ll join us for the concluding messages this Sunday and next. Culture is so often adrift with despair, narcissism, anger, and greed that we need the re-telling of Christ’s call to take up our own cross and follow. While pick-me-up messages do our souls good at times, and all of us need to be reminded of how incredibly beautiful we are in the eyes of God, we also need to be reminded that this life really isn’t about us, nor was it intended to be. We’re here to enjoy the majesty of God, surrender to his calling on our lives, and sacrificially co-create the Kingdom of God in partnership with the Holy Spirit.

As I move in and around our community, I am forever grateful for a church that has been organized around this idea, and one that is bearing real fruit in our community, even if often unnoticed. As we consciously make efforts to “decrease” (as we saw in John’s Gospel), we see the awesome presence of God “increase” in our lives and ministries. I pray for you today, and your ministries, which I know are ongoing well beyond the boundaries of a Sunday morning attendance. And I trust that even within those I miss and haven’t seen, the abundant fruit of all you offer those in your circles day in and day out is bringing glory to God.

News and Notes for Your Prayer and Consideration –

1.  Speaking of beauty, our next message series begins in March, and is based on a quote from Dostoevsky, “beauty will save the world.” I hope you will eagerly anticipate opening God’s word with us in the month of March because this theme, I believe, is not only is a perfect match for Springtime, but will also prepare our hearts for Easter.

2.  Speaking of Springtime, we have a great opportunity to enjoy it for a weekend at our annual adult retreat. (Yes, we are back – covid be gone!). April 1-3 we will retreat to a house on Norris Lake for a weekend of bible study and fellowship. I need a clear count of who is planning to attend in the next couple of weeks. Please see the attached flyer.

3.  On Saturday, March 5 we will host our annual “Friends of the Grove” champagne brunch for our community partners who use the theater. If you are interested in helping with that brunch, or just want to attend and meet some of our friends in Oak Ridge, please let me know by replying to this email.

4.  On Saturday, April 30 we will hold our 2nd Quarter community concert with proceeds going to the “Oak Ridge Fund for Achieving Community Excellence.” There’s some talk about whether we call this a “Blues and BBQ Concert” or a “Bluegrass and BBQ Concert.” I think it will really boil down to who I can find to play for us. If you have any band connections in those two genres, let me know by replying to this email.

5.  We have some benevolence needs that could use a little time and financial resources applied. If you have either, or both, please let me know and I can connect you to those needs.

Easter is on the way as well folks, so be in PRAYER about who God might be leading you to invite to join us on that celebration Sunday. It’s an incredible opportunity for outreach, and may God lead you precisely and His power and timing to those in your circle who are unchurched and in need of the great HOPE we have in Jesus.

Blessing to you all,

David

Like I mentioned, the post was taken down pretty quickly. It still bothered me, and it served as a reminder that some folks are always watching us. Let's be prudent and wise this Saturday, demonstrating grace and integrity in our walk with Christ. In all things, let's be an example for those who don't believe, as Paul stated, while letting no one try to shackle the freedom we have in Christ. Our profile quality states this as being "wise and principled people," which is exactly what we aim to be in Him!

This Sunday

Part two of "Unless a Seed Falls." I would say that I miss you guys, but I think that's how I opened this note. Instead, let me say that things are churning around inside me with this series, and that above all else, I covet your prayers. 

If you have some time to arrive early Saturday and help with set-up, or if you can stay later and help with clean up, it is much appreciated. Pray for this weekend, pray for the Holy Spirit to be at work as we work to build bridges and make connections that we pray will impact eternity.

In Him,

David

I think about one third of everyone I talked to this week has a covid in their home (or they have it themselves). This includes both church and community conversations. We’re in the middle of what I hope will be our last big wave of illness as natural immunities begin to build and take hold in the population. In the meantime, if you are immune compromised or have a pre-existing condition that puts you at greater risk from this virus, please stay home this Sunday and watch us virtually.

If this isn’t you and provided you aren’t currently sick, well –

WE WANT TO SEE YOUR FACES, FEEL YOUR HUGS, AND SHARE A SMILE!

This Sunday we begin our new winter series, “Unless a Seed Falls.” It’s one that I have been wrestling with since before Christmas and kept in prayer about whether to share. As we head into what I trust and believe will be a supernatural year at High Places, it became increasingly clear to me over these past weeks where such things begin.

I can’t know for sure, but I imagine being a seed is a comfortable thing provided you aren’t being gobbled up by crows (more on that in a few weeks). A seed that hasn’t fallen to the ground doesn’t really have to do much, has no real requirements or obligations, and can pretty much just ‘hang around’ (pun intended) for as long as it likes.

A couple of weeks before Christmas, I went over to Orange Hat in Hardin Valley with a pastor friend Brent and we do what always end up doing, which is talking about Christianity in our world, our country, and in the communities we serve. We started talking about the Christmas season and how it is so often misunderstood in our culture, and we discussed our responsibility as faith leaders to communicate the Gospel effectively, and clearly, so it could be better understood.

We ended up hovering around John 12:24 for most of our conversation:

“Truly, truly I say to you, unless a kernel of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains only a seed. But if that seed dies, it bears much fruit.”

We talked about the one thing that maybe burdened us both, not only in 2021, but for most of our journeys as pastors. It was a thing we both struggled to articulate and find language for, but that somehow in this verse, we recognized that burden. Jesus mostly captured it in a verse about seeds. We started applying the verse across a variety of situations we’d experienced and applied it even more broadly to the sphere of our community work, national scene, and global realities.

For me, it was a rich conversation. Like a chain of dominos linking the best possible outcomes our lives backward to this one single event of a seed falling to the ground. The concepts started crystalizing for me and consumed my next several weeks.

Although they all felt good and true, I wasn’t sure about doing a message series on it. Mostly because people don’t want to fall to the ground and die. I know I don’t want that, and yet I also know in my deepest places I need that. And the world needs it.

I hope you’ll join us this Sunday as we begin looking at this core teaching of Jesus revealed most fully in His life, death, and resurrection.

In other news –

We will be moving ahead with our January 29 concert series, JANUARY JAMS, benefiting the Anderson County Family Justice Center which serves victims of domestic violence and elder abuse. Blue Willow is a rock band from Nashville with Oak Ridge roots, serving up some nice beats and killer lead guitar. Silver Trailer are long time friends of High Places, describing themselves as “psychedelic hillbilly rock.” Together they’re going to fire up the big theater with some great sounds.

Volunteers are appreciated for this event and needed in five primary areas:

1.  Food / Kitchen assistance with Regina Wilson leading.

2.  21 & up beverage tent with Chad O’Neal leading.

3.  Ticket table shifts needed, with Kady Marcotte leading.

4.  Clean-up crew, with David Allred leading.

5.  AND… to make things fun…. I am looking for a few folks to make homemade jams to spread on breads for a fun jam contest in which voters can vote for their favorite jam with a dollar donation to the Family Justice Center. If you make jam, or you know someone who makes good jellies and jams, would help me secure a few jars of jam for this?

Really looking forward to this event, and excited for the connections we will make and the good we can do just by coming together and having a good time.

Stay healthy out there, take your Zinc, Vitamin C, and Vitamin D!

Much love to you all

David

PS: If you're bored today, I am being interviewed at 11:00 AM on preaching as part of First United Methodist's podcast. You can watch it on their Facebook page, or on Youtube at https://youtu.be/qX6gcGawSMs 

I don’t know of too many people who are going to miss 2021, or look back on it too fondly given the craziness of the pandemic era, but we certainly can look back with wonderful times worth remembering. High Places grew in spirit and deepened in a whole lot of ways during 2021. We’ve met several new people this past year, bringing new hearts and new hopes into our faith family. God brought healing to many in our midst who had been afflicted with cancer and other health concerns; and He has been restoring us and providing for us in ways that are making us stronger and more devoted to Him.

We begin the New Year as we did last year, by casting an eye (singular – meaning ‘vision’) toward all that God would have us do in 2022. He is leading and our job is to simply follow. I pray that you begin this new year looking and listening eagerly to how God will lead you in practicing His presence and building His kingdom in our community. And I ask that you pray for our staff at High Places as we do the same.

This Sunday – we return to our regularly schedule main-meeting time, 10:30 AM at the Grove, and we will be looking at our God’s incredible power to restore strength to the weary and to give His people the power they need to ‘soar on wings as eagles.’ I believe firmly that this activity of restoring our strength is exactly what God intends to do in our church during 2022.

Whatever bumps or hurdles you may have encountered in 2021, my prayer is that you arrive this Sunday with the humble expectation of God’s restorative power for the coming year!

Thursday, January 6 – We will be hosting our community for a community conversation on student health and wellness. Please help me spread this word as you are able! I am not sure what to expect regarding turn-out because this event has in many ways been lost in the shuffle and bustle of the holidays. You can read more here  https://www.oakridgeperiodictables.com/jan6 and by all means, please share this link with friends and family, and on your social media pages.

We look forward to gathering together again in the New Year, and we look with gracious anticipation to all God will accomplish with us as we seek Him first for the coming year.

Love to you all,

David

“Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better person.” ― Benjamin Franklin

Love to you all,

David

“This is the homely heart of Incarnation, this meeting of God in man with men and women, this simple face of divine graciousness in ordinary life rather than in the hymns of church fathers or in the dry elaborations of theologians.”   ― Eugene Kennedy, Joy of Being Human

We hope everyone’s Thanksgiving was meaningful and that families were able to connect and strengthen relationships over the holiday week. We want to especially lift up the Sloan family as long-time High Places friend Cathy Sloan died on Tuesday last week. Please pray for her husband Don, and for children Jennifer, Amanda, and Adam, and for all the grandkids and the many who lover her and will miss her until the day we are all reunited in heaven.

Cathy’s obituary can be found here: https://www.knoxnews.com/obituaries/kns042179 and her celebration of life service will be held this Saturday at 6:00 PM at Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church in Knoxville. High Places will be donating to the Love Kitchen, where she often volunteered, in memory of Cathy.

On Monday this past week, several ladies gathered for some relaxing, relationship building time at the Grove. Thank you, Anna Childs, for organizing this gathering and we look forward to having more opportunities in the coming year.

Our men will be camping on Friday night at Robbie and Molly Lewis’ place in Dutch Valley. We have picked out a really nice spot in the multiacre valley. Men should dress warmly (even though it isn’t really going to be that cold!), bring your own grub and beverages (a cooler will already be available), and bring a lawn chair. We have no formal agenda other than enjoying nature and each other. I will have a limited number of tarps already set up for those who plan to sleep on the ground near the fire (which is recommended).

The walk to the campsite from where you will park is about 500 yards or more, so plan ahead if you’re packing a whole lot of items. If something is extremely heavy, or you are limited physically, we will use four wheel drive to get you and your stuff down there. If plan to attend, Chad or I need to know so we can text you addresses and such. Carpooling is preferred to limit the number of vehicles in the Lewis driveways / pasture.

Bible Study is back this week (tonight) as we will take 2-3 Wednesdays to look deeper at the Nativity of Jesus. We meet in the movie room at 7:00 PM.  

Our annual Christmas Program is Sunday the 19th and you are still welcome to join the choir. Our theme this year is “You Can’t Always Get What You Want… But You Get What You Need.” We’re excited for this season and encourage all to celebrate the birth of Christ, not only in a manager 2,000  years ago, but also in our hearts today.

A Baptism Service is being discussed with a sister fellowship near the Grove to held before year’s end. More details will follow, but if you have been contemplated following the example of Jesus by being baptized as an expression of your faith, please see me within the next week. We have two children potentially looking at baptism, and being winter, we have to plan ahead since we normally do this outdoors. If you have questions about baptism, or our church’s position on the sacrament, please let me know and we can discuss over coffee.

January 29th we will again be organizing and promoting a concert series as part of our ongoing efforts to support the Oak Ridge Community. Fulton Lee will be headlining the show out of Nashville. His music is available on Spotify and other places. Stay tuned for more on this opportunity to serve in the coming weeks.

Finally, a huge THANK YOU to all who organized, cooked, served, and cleaned after our annual community Thanksgiving meal. We didn’t quite serve as many as last year, but every expression on every face that I witnessed was one of deep gratitude. By the time the day was over, we had given out around 200 meals. Thank you to all, and especially to Trina, for the hard work organizing and making this happen. I feel a little guilty in that I was able to see the people’s joy on their faces when they took a meal, while so many others were working in the assembly line of food prep inside. Trust me though, their faces were illuminated with gratitude and happiness. Thank you all for making this happen.

Enjoy the next few days of sun and warmer temperatures. And fellas, come sleep on the ground Friday. :)

Many Blessings,

David