On the fifth Sunday of the month, our church uses the biblical practice of anointing to bring God’s blessing upon all those who desire to receive it.  Anointing is done through oil, in liquid or balm form, and applied to the object that will be consecrated, made holy.  While objects used in worship are consecrated, […]

The confusion around prophecy creates problems for modern Christians.  It has been used to pervert God’s Word, manipulate people, and perpetuate hatred, but no more.  This Sunday we discover the truth about the biblical concept of prophecy, as divinely inspired instruction.  Join us as we take back the power of prophecy from those who would […]

The word “tithe” usually causes people to look down and away. It sounds more like financial slavery than a gift of liberation. Yet the biblical concept of the tithe is about setting us free from the endless cycle of earning. God meant for the tithe to be a gateway of freedom to open up the […]

We often hear reference to “the Patriarchs,” but who are they?  What do they have to do with us?  While God doesn’t have preference for bloodline, God does honor covenants over generations.  Modern Christians are the spiritual descendants of the Patriarchs of the Old Testament, and the faithfulness of God they encountered is our inheritance.  […]

As we begin our Summer Worship Series on biblical concepts, we will be digging deeper into these terms and phrases that pop up in Christian sermons and teachings​.  We can discover that these concepts are grounded in God’s desire for a deeper relationship with us, and they are means by which we can grow closer […]

As Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the pastor and theologian, wrote, the response to grace is discipleship.  When we take God’s grace for granted, or take it and live as if nothing has changed, then we profane God’s love and forgiveness.  Once we believe in Jesus Christ, we can claim to be Christians, but God then expects us […]

The Bible should be foundational in the life of a Christian.  It complements the accumulation of knowledge gained in the formal educational process, which is not a straight path worldwide.  As much as scholarship in classic school subjects is important, more enduring are the learning and the living of lessons from the Bible.  They prepare one for […]

Social pressure is a powerful force and a potent reality.  Even the prophets and God were not immune to its effects.  The pressure to conform drove the people of Israel to demand a king, so that they could be like the other nations.  While the prophet Samuel was angry at their request, God’s heart was […]

With Pastor Sarah in Belize on mission, our Charlottesville District Superintendent, Danny Kesner leads us in worship and presents our message, “Remembering.” Associated Scripture: Joshua 4: 1-7

Ecclesiastes says there is a time for everything under Heaven (3:1), and that includes talking about sex.  Our final means of grace in our worship series is abstinence.  It’s not just for those who are single, but for all Christians.  Scripture reveals that we are called to seasons of celibacy, but why?  Just as fasting […]