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This sermon reflects on life after Easter, when celebration fades and quiet returns. In those ordinary, sometimes heavy moments, we often face buried fatigue, doubt, and disappointment. Drawing from the Emmaus story, the message reminds us that Jesus meets us not in perfection or mountaintop experiences, but in everyday life—walking beside us even when we don’t recognize Him. Through personal testimony and scripture, the sermon emphasizes healing, presence, and abiding with Christ through simple, intentional moments. Transformation comes not from changed circumstances, but from recognizing we are not alone. In that awareness, hope is renewed, courage rises, and faith deepens in the midst of daily life. 

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Warrenton United Methodist Church
341 Church St.
Warrenton VA 20186

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Pastor Ashley reflects on the emotional shift after Easter, when the joy of resurrection gives way to everyday life. Drawing from scripture, she reminds the congregation that trials will continue, even in seasons of light, but these challenges refine and strengthen faith. The hope and promise of Easter do not fade; they remain constant, offering assurance of God’s victory and eternal life. She encourages believers to hold onto visible and spiritual reminders of God’s presence, to love and trust despite not seeing Christ, and to carry resurrection hope forward. Communion serves as a weekly anchor, nourishing faith and uniting all in Christ’s enduring grace.

http://www.warrentonumc.org

Warrenton United Methodist Church
341 Church St.
Warrenton VA 20186

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Pastor Ashley’s sermon reminds listeners that while we often believe we can predict life’s outcomes, God is continually writing a greater story. Using examples of predictable endings and surprising twists, she connects this truth to Easter. Like the women at the tomb and disciples on the road, we may assume loss is final. Yet the resurrection reveals God is already present and at work. What seems like an ending may be a beginning. Believers are invited to trust Jesus, look for unexpected hope, and live confident that God brings redemption and new life beyond every circumstance we face each day.

http://www.warrentonumc.org

Warrenton United Methodist Church
341 Church St.
Warrenton VA 20186

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Pastor Ashley’s Palm Sunday message centers on the idea that things are not always as they seem. Drawing from her own experiences, she highlights how assumptions about people and situations can lead to disappointment or unexpected joy. She points to Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea as unlikely disciples who, through curiosity and courage, stepped forward when others withdrew. Their example challenges us to move beyond surface-level judgments and remain open to God’s deeper work. This Palm Sunday invites us to stay curious, reconsider what we think we know, and embrace unexpected people and opportunities as part of God’s unfolding kingdom.

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Warrenton United Methodist Church
341 Church St.
Warrenton VA 20186

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Pastor Ashley’s sermon, Unlikely Courage, focuses on the quiet bravery of those who stayed with Jesus at the cross when others ran. Figures like Mary Magdalene and the beloved disciple didn’t fully understand what was happening, but they showed up anyway, choosing love over fear. Their witness becomes a model for us. Through the story of Clarence Jordan, the message brings that same challenge into today—are we willing to follow Jesus when it costs us something? Often, we already know what we’re called to do; the real struggle is finding the courage to do it. Faith, she reminds us, means showing up, even when it’s hard.

http://www.warrentonumc.org

Warrenton United Methodist Church
341 Church St.
Warrenton VA 20186

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Pastor Ashley reflects on the story of Simon of Cyrene, the man compelled to carry Jesus’ cross. Though he appears briefly in the Easter narrative, Simon becomes an example of unlikely companionship. What began as an unexpected interruption placed him beside Christ on the road to the cross. Through Simon’s experience, the sermon explores how suffering and life’s sudden disruptions can draw people closer to God and to one another. Rather than avoiding hardship, believers are invited to walk faithfully through it with Christ and supportive companions. True discipleship means carrying burdens together, discovering that even painful journeys can deepen faith and lead toward God.

http://www.warrentonumc.org

Warrenton United Methodist Church
341 Church St.
Warrenton VA 20186

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Pastor Ashley explores how shame and blame are deeply rooted in human nature, tracing the impulse to scapegoat others from biblical stories through to today. Drawing on her own personal experiences with perfectionism and unworthiness, she explains how Jesus, by willingly becoming the ultimate scapegoat, frees us from shame's power. His sacrifice gives us three gifts: freedom from scapegoating, freedom from self-preservation, and the freedom to openly admit our mistakes. When our identity is rooted in Christ rather than in our own perfection, we are liberated to pursue reconciliation, live humbly, and break the endless cycle of blame.

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Warrenton United Methodist Church
341 Church St.
Warrenton VA 20186

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In her sermon “Unlikely Opposition,” Pastor Ashley reflects on how God can use opposing voices for our growth. Sharing stories from her own life, she recalls moments when disappointment and hard feedback became unexpected gifts of wisdom and redirection. Drawing on Peter’s denial of Jesus in the Gospel account, she highlights the servant girl as a surprising messenger who exposed Peter’s fear and called him back to truth. Opposition, she explains, is not always meant to harm; sometimes it lovingly challenges, corrects, and refines us. The question is not whether we’ll face opposition, but how we will respond when truth confronts us.

http://www.warrentonumc.org

Warrenton United Methodist Church
341 Church St.
Warrenton VA 20186

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In this Lenten message, Pastor Ashley reflects on Lent as a sacred reset, a season of repentance, sacrifice, and renewed perspective. Preaching on Mary anointing Jesus, she contrasts familiar roles such as Martha serving and Judas criticizing with Mary’s extravagant and unexpected devotion. Mary’s costly offering models surrendered love that catches the world off guard. Lent invites believers to break routines, release barriers, and offer their own “unlikely offering” to Christ. Through generosity, forgiveness, hospitality, and deeper commitment of time, talent, and treasure, disciples are called to pour themselves out in bold and authentic devotion.

http://www.warrentonumc.org

Warrenton United Methodist Church
341 Church St.
Warrenton VA 20186

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In this post–Valentine’s Day sermon, Pastor Ashley reminds the church that love is more than a feeling—it is obedience to Christ. While we grow tired of talking about love, living it is harder. Jesus defines love as keeping his commands and remaining in him. True love is faithful, steady, and often costly, requiring us to die to self in everyday moments—apologizing first, telling the truth, serving when tired. Like the Good Samaritan, love crosses the road. Love is not one item on the Christian list; it is the list. When we abide in Christ, love becomes sufficient and transformative.

http://www.warrentonumc.org

Warrenton United Methodist Church
341 Church St.
Warrenton VA 20186

[email protected]