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Inspiring biographies to help us persevere in faith
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of...
Blog Archive
Embracing Authenticity: What Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year and the Jesus have in common
Every year, Merriam-Webster chooses a few words that defined the year based on the number of searches the dictionary publisher records in its online dictionary. For instance, in 2020, the word of the year was “pandemic” (of course) and in 2021, it was “vaccine.” The...
2 ways you can be more loving
As I’ve continued to think about what it would look like for my relationship with the Lord to be “renewed,” one obvious attribute would be I’d become more loving. I say this is obvious because the great command is for us to love God with all that we are. So, of...
Helping our neighbors in need
It is that time of year when we want to help our neighbors in need. This year we will have two opportunities. On Friday, Dec. 22, we host our regular Soup Kitchen. We will be preparing a special Christmas meal and would like to give out Christmas gifts. If you would...
Why are people leaving churches in America?
The theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer noted that whenever you're lonely, there's always a church. There's always a church. You can find it just about any place. But not everybody wants to take advantage of that, do they? Why not? I mean, there's so much access. It's so...
How remembering your baptism can help you stay close to God
Do you remember your baptism? It's unlikely that you do if you were baptized as an infant. If, like me, you were baptized as an older child or teenager, you may remember a few details. And even if your baptism was only a few years ago, you probably don't think about...
Photos: First Pres at Harrisonburg’s Skeleton Fest
Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance's annual Skeleton Fest drew thousands to downtown Harrisonburg on Oct. 7, and we were there with seven decorated cars and some friendly faces to hand out candy and other treats. Here are some photos from the event.
A gift of time: Pastor Billy’s reflections on his summer sabbatical
Associate Pastor Billy Craig recently returned from a three-month, summer sabbatical when he could rest and study. We asked him about his time and how it has fueled his ministry going forward. How did you pursue rest and refreshment during your sabbatical? Stepping...
New discipleship opportunities for October and November
We hope by now you have plugged in to one of our Sunday morning discipleship opportunities to fuel your growth in Jesus. If you haven’t don’t worry: you can join up anytime. Starting Oct. 8, we have some new short-term, seasonal options to add to our longer-term...
How to pray for college students
Lia Gonzalez, one of our covenant partners who is in college, wanted to encourage us with some idea for prayers for college students. Here's what she wrote. Christian college students face unique challenges that require unique prayers. Not only do they have to adjust...
Modgnik recap: Relationships & Jesus
A group of 14 middle-schoolers recently attended Modgnik, a retreat that helps students discover how Jesus' kingdom is different than the ways of the world. Kathryn Hendricksen, one of the parents who mentored the 10 girls during the weekend, sent us this reflection...