The Ultimate Homecoming

September 28, 2025

I remember homecomings at Goodpasture (my high school) in Madison, Tennessee. From the elections of the homecoming court to the homecoming parade right up Due West Avenue, and the pageantry and ceremony of the crowning of the homecoming queen, Homecoming was special. There were afternoons and evenings after school spent building homecoming floats. I remember one such evening in a classmate's barn. We had the frame built and the chicken wire in place. The next step was to fill in the holes of the chicken wire with colored paper, which was sort of like putting skin on a skeleton.  About that time, one of my classmates, Jon Shoulders, walked in, took one look at the frame and the chicken wire, and said, “That’s cute.” He paused and then asked, “What is it?” Interestingly enough, that’s all I remember about that evening. I was also in the marching band, and we had to learn a special routine and music for the presentation of the homecoming court. I have since been back to several homecoming football games at both Goodpasture (my alma mater) and Fairview (where we live and where my wife works). Different schools, forty years apart, but the same atmosphere. It is homecoming after all. Today is homecoming at Old New Hope. Some of the elements have changed. We didn’t build a homecoming float, but we are gonna eat fried chicken and fixins after the service, so the fellowship of both is similar. We don’t have a marching band at today’s service, but we do have the Mt. Zion Trio providing special music for us. Ben Dennis won’t be in the press box emceeing the homecoming festivities, but Bro. Tommy Hugins will be our guest preacher today. While there are several similarities between high school homecoming and today’s service, the biggest difference is the fact that all of the high school festivities led up to the crowning of the homecoming queen. Today’s service is all about Jesus! Old New Hope has been celebrating Jesus since 1946. We are celebrating homecoming today in anticipation of another, final homecoming. At this future homecoming, we will be celebrating Jesus in the presence of Jesus and in the presence of all the saved who have passed on to glory. What a homecoming that will be. Until then, my brothers and sisters enjoy the fellowship of today’s homecoming service. Enjoy both the music and the meal afterward. Be uplifted and encouraged by Bro. Tommy’s message. At the same time, keep your eyes on the time we will see Jesus and spend eternity in His presence. Now THAT will be a homecoming! 

Be blessed and go be a blessing . . . Bro. Andy