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Unplug to put things in perspective
I was recently in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho where I’d joined my brothers for their mule deer hunt. Being in the mountains and being disconnected from the news – family, church, community and the world alike, as we had no cell service – put things in...
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Groups for men and women to help grow in faith
Faith-growing groups for men and women will begin again in September. Women The weekly women's Bible study begins Tuesday, September 14. The group meets Tuesdays at noon in Showker Hall, and a Zoom option is available. This year, the women will be studying the two...
You can have hope. Really.
We have reasons for hope. It is easy to forget that when we look at what happened in Afghanistan and Haiti this last week. But when I look to Scripture and history, I can find reasons for hope. A text that renewed my hope this last week was Lamentations 3:21-26. This...
3 ways you can help welcome JMU students back to Harrisonburg
Students from James Madison University are returning to Harrisonburg, and we're ready to welcome them. First Pres has two upcoming opportunities to do just that. JMU Freshman Move-in On Saturday, Aug. 21, we will partner with campus ministries CRU and RUF to help...
Do you want to get well?
In John 5:6 Jesus asks a question I think we all need to wrestle with: “Do you want to get well?” Many of us are tempted to dismiss the question because we don’t think of ourselves as sick. Yet for Christians a proper understanding of “well” must include growing in...
We’re back: join us for faith-building this fall
Starting Sunday, August 29, you'll be seeing some of your favorite faith-building opportunities return to First Pres as we get back together to study the Bible, grow in our walk with Jesus and build community. On that day, children's Sunday school, youth discipleship...
Meet the leaders nominated to serve First Pres
First Pres' Nominating Committee has presented a slate of leaders for approval to serve as elders and deacons for a three-year term starting in January. On Sunday, Aug. 22 during a 10:15 a.m. Congregational Meeting, the committee seeks the congregation's approval of...
The One Thing you Need to Do to Keep the Faith in College
The bike ride has become legendary among my wife and children, the kind of story that seems to increase in dramatic effect with each re-telling. Just a day or two into my freshman year at James Madison University, I mounted my bike and navigated to what was then the...
Building wisdom in a fast-info world
I have a love-hate relationship with social media. I love the way it connects me with people and lets me stay in touch with friends and family all over the world. I also love the way it connects me to information at the touch of a finger (or a "Hey Siri!"). I hate,...
Friday soup kitchen to begin in September
Exciting changes are coming with the re-opening of our Soup Kitchen. We will be back inside Showker Hall and tentatively will begin in September. Tuesday Soup Kitchen has been served during the COVID pandemic by preparing 25 bagged-lunch meals and meeting guests...
Worship is the cornerstone of our connection
“WE will sing unto the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with US.” Wow. This last year has been quite a marathon of experiences. In June, we celebrated a full year of being back in worship together physically every Sunday. Over the last few weeks, we have slowly...