“THE RESURRECTION TAKES TIME”
Heritage Happenings For Friday, November 21st, 2025
“On the third day He rose again.”
We say it so often that sometimes we forget the obvious:
Jesus didn’t rise on the first day.
He didn’t pop up after an eight-hour nap.
He didn’t “resurrect overnight.”
God—who can create galaxies with a whisper—waited three days.
Why?
Because resurrections take time.
Holy things don’t grow fast.
Weeds grow fast. Mold grows fast. Annoying things grow fast.
But things that matter—faith, character, love, community, the Kingdom of God—these grow slowly, patiently, deliberately… sometimes frustratingly so.
And at Heritage Church, the resurrection is beginning to take shape.
Not overnight, not instantly—but unmistakably.
THE RESURRECTION OF A PARKING LOT
(YES, GOD CARES ABOUT ASPHALT TOO)
Let’s be honest:
Our parking lot was, theologically speaking, “tribulation and peril.”
Scripture talks about the “narrow path.”
Heritage’s lot took that literally.
A young mom with a stroller?
A brave pioneer.
Anyone over 40?
We had you walking “by faith and not by sight” (and often not by balance).
And the pastor’s wife? Let’s just say she deserved hazard pay.
But the Lord moves, the church obeys, and the Session stepped out in faith.
We invested, we upgraded, and now it is smooth, beautiful, professional, and—praise be—slightly bigger.
Is it a megachurch parking lot?
No.
But it’s a resurrected one.
And every resurrection begins with small signs of new life poking out of old ground.
THE DYNAMIC DUO OF HERITAGE
(THE BATMAN STORY)
Now, somewhere in the middle of all this resurrection work, my wife Renee looked around the church, surveyed the new walls, new wiring, new closets, new AV systems, and new-territory-everywhere and said:
“You and Curtis have been Batman and Robin around here.
…But John, Curtis is definitely Batman.”
I’d like to disagree…
But I’ve seen that man with tools, and I know my place.
And Curtis?
Well, Curtis has done so much that at this point we’re not sure if he’s human or some sort of Presbyterian superhero forged from sawdust and DeWalt batteries.
He’s built closets.
He’s moved fences.
He’s built a soundboard and a multimedia fortress of solitude where we’ll broadcast, livestream, and manage everything short of NASA missions.
He’s installed LED walls.
And he’s probably fixed three things I broke while trying to help.
Heritage Batman (Curtis) and Heritage Robin (me)—what a team.
And like Batman, he fights the forces of darkness… primarily by installing better lighting.
A NEW SIGN, A NEW SPACE, A NEW SEASON
The fence has been moved back.
A brand-new LED church sign is on its way, which means people driving by will finally know:
We exist
We love Jesus
And we do more than host squirrels on campus
Visibility matters.
A church hidden is a church that cannot invite.
And the Kingdom grows where the message is seen, heard, and embodied.
THE HEART OF THE RESURRECTION: A NEW WORSHIP SERVICE
But the biggest sign of resurrection at Heritage isn’t asphalt or LED screens.
It’s people.
Enter Chad Perez, our new Worship Pastor—gifted, passionate, called, and ready.
He will lead our brand-new Contemporary Worship Service, launching Christmas Eve at 7 pm and continuing every Sunday at 11:00 am, called simply:
The 11
(Because even Jesus got tired of long church names.)
To make space for this new service, our Choir-led traditional service will shift from 10:30 to 9:00 am beginning December 28th!
Two services.
Two expressions of worship.
One church.
One mission.
More people reached.
More people fed.
More people discipled.
This isn’t a marketing strategy—this is biblical hospitality.
Paul became “all things to all people that by all means he might save some.”
We are offering more doors for more people to meet Jesus.
THE THEOLOGY OF IMPROVEMENT
Let’s be clear:
Facilities don’t change hearts.
But they prepare the way for hearts to be changed.
John the Baptist didn’t save anyone.
But he cleared the path so people could come to the One who does.
Every dollar spent on:
parking lots
LED walls
multimedia stations
new signage
new ministry spaces
…is a capital improvement for Kingdom work.
These are capital dollars we invest now to create ministry environments tomorrow.
And as we reach the end of the year, many in our church family may feel called to contribute toward these capital improvements—not as expenses, but as seeds.
Seeds that take time.
Seeds that grow slow.
Seeds that will eventually bear resurrection fruit.
Renee and I will be giving sacrificially to these needs, will you?
THE BIG TRUTH
Jesus rose in three days.
Our resurrection is taking a little longer.
But make no mistake—
Heritage Church is rising.
The weeds grow overnight.
The Kingdom grows through steady obedience, faithful investment, and courageous steps forward.
We are building, preparing, expanding, improving…
Not because we love projects, but because we love people.
The resurrection is happening.
And we’re just getting started.
The Best Is Yet to Come,
Rev. John Roberts
The 11@Heritage
Join us for our First Service, ironically enough, not at 11, but 7 on Christmas Eve!
After that, every Sunday at 11 beginning December 28th!
THIS ONE MIGHT JUST CHANGE YOU”
What if I told you this Sunday’s message isn’t just another sermon…
but a divine setup?
What if I told you God has something prepared that’s not simply informative, but transformative—the kind of word that doesn’t just tickle your brain, but wakes up your spirit, lifts your chin, and sends you out different than you came in?
Let me put it this way:
If last week’s sermon made you think…
this one might make you change.
I can’t give away too much (where’s the fun in that?),
but let’s just say this message gets into that place where real life meets real faith…
and where God does His best work.
It’s honest.
It’s hopeful.
It’s surprising.
And yes… it might even be a little bit funny.
(You know I can’t help myself.)
All I’ll say is this:
If you’ve been needing a word from God, a lift in your soul, or a holy nudge back into joy — don’t miss this Sunday.
Don’t watch it later.
Don’t catch the recap.
Be in the room.
There’s something about being in God’s house with God’s people that Zoom has never figured out how to bottle.
One service, 10:30 AM — led by our Choir and traditional worship team.
It’s beautiful. It’s powerful. It’s Heritage.
And here’s my challenge for you:
Bring somebody with you.
A friend.
A neighbor.
A coworker.
Bless your barista — bring them too.
Because if God is growing Heritage, He’s going to do it through you and me pulling people into the story He’s writing.
Let’s fill the sanctuary.
Let’s lift the roof with praise.
And let’s grow Heritage’s ministry, one transformed life at a time.
See you Sunday.
You really don’t want to miss this one
“WHEN YOU GIVE, HEAVEN TOUCHES EARTH”
“Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
— Matthew 6:10
When Jesus taught us to pray, He didn’t tell us to escape this world.
He taught us to transform it.
Every time we give to the ministry of Heritage, we are joining Jesus in that prayer — we are helping up there come down here. We’re declaring, “Lord, let Your light break into dark places. Let Your hope fill hurting hearts. Let Your love transform our city, one life at a time.”
Giving is not about money.
It’s about mission.
It’s about the Gospel taking root in someone’s soul.
When you give:
A child hears that Jesus loves them.
A weary adult finds strength in worship.
A family discovers hope again.
A lost heart finds its way home.
Someone who thought they were forgotten realizes God still sees them.
Paul said, “You are enriching others in every way… through your generosity” (2 Cor. 9:11).
In other words:
Your giving becomes someone else’s breakthrough.
At Heritage, every ministry moment — every sermon, every song, every prayer, every act of kindness — is fueled by faithful people saying “yes” to God’s work.
You may never know the names.
You may never meet the faces.
But heaven knows.
Heaven sees.
And heaven moves.
When you give, you’re not just supporting a church…
You’re participating in a miracle.
You are helping create a place where Jesus is welcomed, where the Kingdom shows up, and where lives are changed for eternity.
So today, give with joy.
Give with faith.
Give with expectation.
Because when you give to Heritage —
heaven comes a little closer,
hearts open a little wider,
and Jesus becomes a little more visible in this world.
We’re excited to introduce something we’ve been praying over, dreaming about, and building with purpose…
our brand-new Heritage Church website!
This isn’t just another webpage.
It’s a vibrant, growing snapshot of who we are as a church and what God is doing in our midst. As Heritage continues to move forward, this site will move with us—highlighting new ministries, upcoming events, stories of life change, opportunities to connect, and so much more.
We’d love for you to jump in and explore it today!
Look around, enjoy the new features, and then share it with friends, family, neighbors—anyone who needs hope, community, and Jesus. Every visit, share, and invite helps carry the mission of Heritage even further.
Visit today… and come back often.
Because as Heritage grows, this digital home will grow right along with us—celebrating every story, every step, and every move of God.
Let’s keep building something beautiful together—
one update, one story, and one transformed life at a time.
Heritage Sisterhood Presents: The Ladies Christmas Luncheon
Heritage Sisterhood, this one’s for you.
In the middle of the crazy calendar, the shopping lists, the programs, and the “what dish are you bringing?”—we’re carving out a space just for you to breathe, laugh, and soak in the joy of Jesus together.
Join the Heritage Sisterhood for a beautiful Christmas Luncheon at Mona’s French Café
Saturday, December 6
11:00 AM
It’s going to be a sweet morning of:
Warm fellowship
Delicious food
Festive fun and laughter
And a Christ-centered reminder of what this season is really all about
You’ll enjoy an incredible meal in a cozy, welcoming atmosphere—surrounded by sisters in Christ who will encourage your heart and remind you that you are not walking this journey alone.
How to Save Your Seat at the Table:
Visit monafrenchcafe.com to preview the menu.
Choose your meal selection ahead of time.
Fill out the sign-up form with:
Your name
Your menu choice
Tea or coffee preference
Return your form at church or email your info to Jodie at:
josmith528@gmail.com
Don’t come alone—
Invite a friend, a neighbor, a coworker, or a daughter who needs some joy and Jesus this Christmas.
The table won’t be the same without you. ✨
Let’s celebrate Jesus, friendship, and the joy of Christmas—together as the Heritage Sisterhood.
DINNER & BIBLE STUDY — Where Prayer, Friendship, and Life Change Meet
If you haven’t made it to our Dinner & Bible Study at the La Montagne/Kerr home yet…
you are truly missing something special.
Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday at 6:00 PM, the Heritage family gathers around a table—not just to eat, but to connect, pray, grow, and experience God together.
It’s more than a meal.
It’s more than a study.
It’s community at its best.
Picture this:
A warm home.
A table filled with good food.
Laughter. Conversation.
Prayers whispered… and answered.
Scripture opened… and coming alive.
Hearts encouraged… and strengthened.
This is a place where walls fall, friendships grow, and God moves in quiet but powerful ways.
Lives are being shaped.
Faith is stretching deeper.
And every gathering carries a sense of “God is here.”
Don’t just hear the stories—come be part of them.
Pull up a chair.
Bring your Bible.
Bring your appetite.
Bring your desire to grow.
Because what God is doing in this group is too good to miss.
Dinner & Bible Study
2nd & 4th Tuesdays
6:00 PM
Hosted at the La Montagne/Kerr Home
Come hungry for good food…
Leave filled with faith.
If you’re new to Heritage and need the address, just text Curtis at 281-851-9518 we’d love to have you at the table!
Share the Blessing — Forward the Friday Mini-Newsletter!
Heritage family, God is moving in incredible ways among us — changing lives, building community, and stirring hearts with hope. And one of the simplest, most powerful ways you can be part of that movement is this:
Forward our Friday Mini-Newsletter to someone you know.
It might seem small…
But a simple email in someone’s inbox could be the spark that leads them to Christ, reconnects them to church, or reminds them they’re not alone.
Every week, our newsletter brings encouragement, updates, inspiration, and a snapshot of what God is doing at Heritage.
Why keep that to yourself?
Someone in your circle needs what God is doing here.
A family member.
A coworker.
A neighbor.
A friend who’s been searching for a place to belong.
Forward the email. Add a quick note. Invite them in.
You never know how God might use your click to open a door in someone’s life.
Let’s keep spreading hope, building community, and inviting others to be part of the story God is writing through Heritage Church.
Together, we can reach farther.
Together, we can shine brighter.
Together, we can help more people experience Jesus.
So don’t keep it to yourself — share the good news this Friday!