Philippians 1:3-7
I thank my
God every time I remember you. In all my
prayers for all you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the
gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began
a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ
Jesus.
June 4,
2017
My Dear Highview
Beloveds,
Yes! This!
I
don’t know if it’s something of a pastoral cliché or not. But Paul’s words to the Philippians just rang
too true for me not to include them
in my 20th Anniversary letter
to all of you.
I
DO thank God every time I think of you. Every
time. When I look back over 20 years and
see who we’ve become together, all that we’ve been through, the gains and
losses, blessings and curses, and all the ordinary stuff of living out kingdom
realities together, as we’ve sought to simply Love God, Love People, Go and Grow.
Every bit of it, and I mean that.
Because you have demonstrated grace and generosity and openness and
resilience every step of the way.
And
the partnership we’ve shared in the gospel
DOES bring me huge joy. HUGE.
When I see how you respond with passion and persistence to the needs of
our now-extended family that somehow, by God’s hilarious imagination, actually includes
treasured loved ones from both around the world and just down the street.
And
without question, God continues His good work in us. Any of us who are using our gifts, stepping
out to take risks spiritually, or gaining ground in defeating the chains of the
past. Anyone pushing aside the
compulsion to ask, “What’s in this for
me?”,and instead reaching out to those around you to ask “Can I help you with anything?” Any one
of us who understand better now than we did before how to pursue intimacy with
God, how to steward what He’s given us, and how to be salt and light in the
world around us. Anyone who’s crossed
that line of faith, been baptized and declares to the world that Jesus is the
One we follow. All of this and more is
evidence of the work of God’s Spirit among us.
Work that He’s not completed yet, but which is clearly being
accomplished in us in that magnificent, ongoing way He’s famous for.
Which
makes a 20th Anniversary more of a beginning than anything else.
Because
here we go, into the future. Big changes
are ahead, which means all the more opportunity for God to do His good work
among us. Because change requires
reflection and openness and growth and courage and a love for what we’re doing
that transcends a love for what we’ve been.
So with all my heart I lean forward with you into what God will unfold
for us in these next years; three, five, ten....20.
Thank
you. Thank you for being you. For allowing me this great honour of walking
with you these past 20 years, some of them your pastor, but all of them your
friend.
Thank
you for your faithfulness. Always.
I
love you with all of my heart.
Ruth
Anne
June 2017
Dear
Friends,
Wow!
20 years!
My
family and I are newer members of this community than some of you. Dave and I
first began attending Highview in the summer of 2010, after moving to Waterloo
Region from Hamilton. I had had some interactions with Highview in the past (I
attended Pitch and Praise with Highview’s youth group when I was in high
school!) so when we found ourselves looking for a church community in the
region, this seemed like a good place to start.
I
knew a few of you coming in, and through the same friend that brought me to
“Pitch,” I knew some of your stories too.
From
the beginning, I confess that it was your stories that drew me. I was
intrigued. I was curious. I wanted to know how God could bring such very
different people together and make that work. I wanted to know how a church
could come through some of what you came through, and still be loving one
another and loving God.
Seven
years later, it is your stories that draw me still. They are stories of
courageous grace, powerful and transformative. They are stories of how the
Spirit drew you out of your comfort zone into creative new ideas, like TGIF and
Let it Be Christmas. They are stories about courage, whether that means stepping
outside your walls into Regions Beyond, or simply choosing forgiveness when
holding a grudge seemed like the logical option. And they are stories of
welcome, about how God welcomed you, and now you make it your business to
welcome others in His name.
Your
stories are beautiful, Highview, and if there’s one thing I want to say to you
as we move out beyond the 20-year mark, it’s that God’s not done writing our
story yet!
There
is much to celebrate, and there is much still to come. As we step forward into
Vision 2020, and beyond, I find myself excited! Excited for how God is leading
us deeper into relationships in our immediate neighbourhood. Excited by your
compassion for the poor and displaced, which is breaking through in initiatives
like Friends Without Borders, and excited to watch our young adults run with
the baton of leadership and faith handed to them by Highview’s founders.
I
am so very thankful for how you have welcomed me into your story, Highview, and
I am very excited to see what the next chapter of our story might hold.
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