David Garrison, Author at Northminster Evangelical Presbyterian Church

DECEMBER 2025 PASTOR’S CORNER — ADVENT: THE KING IS COMING

Posted on Dec 2, 2025 by David Garrison in Christian Living, Devotions, General, HomePage, Pastor's Corner, Spiritual Growth | 5

Dec '25

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.” — Luke 1:46-48

There’s a tension lurking underneath the surface of our celebrations of Christmas each year. It’s one of those things that can be easy to overlook, but once you see it, it’s really hard to unsee it. In the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, we celebrate the fulfillment of all of the prophecies in the Bible that speak to the redemption of all of humanity and creation. Over the course of this month, we will sing of joy, while many are filled with sorrow and struggle with depression. We sing of peace, while wars rage around the world and in our hearts. We sing of love, and yet are surrounded by so much hate. We sing of hope, but wonder, deep down, if anything will ever change. Wasn’t Jesus supposed to change all of this?

Consider Mary’s song of joy of what God has already done in The Magnificat: “He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.” (Luke 1:51-53) I look around the world today, and I see a lot of proud and mighty people still boasting. I see those of humble estate still struggling. The hungry are still starving; the rich are still hoarding. We know Jesus accomplished these things, because the Bible is very clear that He did, but why is there still so much suffering and injustice, sin and brokenness? It is the season of Advent that helps provide an answer.

In her magnificent book, Advent: The Once & Future Coming of Jesus Christ, Fleming Rutledge writes,

Karl Barth exclaimed, “What other time or season can or will the Church ever have but that of Advent!” This illuminates the present dimension of the season. It locates us correctly with relation to the first and second comings of Christ. Advent calls for a life lived on the edge, so to speak, all the time, shaped by the cross not only on Good Friday but wherever and whenever we are, proclaiming his death to be the turn of the ages “until he comes” (I Cor. 11:26)… In a very real sense, the Christian community lives in Advent all the time. It can well be called the Time Between, because the people of God live in the time between the first coming of Christ, incognito in the stable in Bethlehem, and his second coming, in glory, to judge the living and the dead. In the Time Between, “our lives are hidden with Christ in God; when Christ who is our life appears, then we also will appear with him in glory” (Col. 3:3–4). Advent contains within itself the crucial balance of the now and the not-yet that our faith requires. (Pg 7)

Everything the Bible says about what Jesus accomplished in His incarnation is absolutely true. God is now with us in Jesus Christ. The power of sin and death has been broken. The proud have been brought down and the humble lifted up. Prisoners freed. The blind given sight. The lost found. The broken soul made whole. And yet. And yet, all of these things are also yet to be completed. As Jesus said, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15) Jesus has absolutely accomplished all of these things, but He has not yet completed all of these things. Advent is the season that reminds us of this tension and invites us into it. It is the season of, as Rutledge said, “the Time Between.”

When Jesus returns, the Kingdom of God will finally be consummated. The work begun with His first coming will be completed. That which has happened now in part will then be completed in full. It is the season of Advent that keeps our focus and our hope on that great and wonderful day. Advent doesn’t merely acknowledge the tension of the already/not yet, it embraces it. Just as in the incarnation our Savior came to earth and met us where we are, the season of Advent reminds us that He is still doing the same today, and that one day He will finish what He started.

This Advent, we’ll take a look at how each of the Gospels tell the story of the birth of our Savior (except for Mark, who doesn’t include a birth narrative), and how each points us to His return. We’ll begin our Advent celebration with a service of prayer, scripture and song, using Mary’s Magnificat as our guide to prepare our hearts and our souls to worship deeply and well this holiday season. As you prepare for and celebrate the birth of our Savior, keep your eyes focused on His return. Joy to the world, the King is coming!

For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. (1 Cor. 13:9-12)

Blessings,

Rev. David Garrison

Nov '25

News & Announcements for Sunday, November 30, 2025

Posted on Nov 25, 2025 by David Garrison in Announcements, General, HomePage, News | 8

Nov '25

CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS – ORDER TODAY

It’s time to order poinsettias to help decorate our sanctuary for the Advent-Christmas season. You are welcome to donate one in memory and in honor of loved ones. The sign up sheet and order forms are available on the bulletin board outside the sanctuary. They are $10.00 each and the deadline is Sunday, Dec. 7. Please contact Linda Lange if you have questions.

WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY – TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 3:30 PM

The Bible Study group will meet on Tuesday, December 2nd at 3:30 p.m. We are using the book, ‘Sermon on the Mount” by Jen Wilkin. Karey Garrison is our facilitator and teacher. Please work on pages 21 -35 before you come to class. Also, if you would like to bring a snack to share that would be great! And, as always, feel free to bring a friend.

WOMEN’S BOOK CLUB – THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 11:30 AM

The Book Club will meet at Depot Grille at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, December 4th. We will not be reading anything special for December but if you have a favorite Christmas short story or poem that you would like to share, please bring them. Also, please bring a wrapped and gently used book that we will give to one another as gifts. This is an Icelandic tradition that we started last year and will continue this year. See you at our Christmas celebration on the 4th!!

HANGING OF THE GREENS – SATURDAY, DEC 6, 9AM-Noon

You are invited to join us on Saturday, December 6 from 9-noon as we prepare our church to celebrate the birth of our Savior. We will decorate beautiful trees with Chrismons, set up Advent candles, wreaths, and banners as we enjoy light brunch refreshments, Christmas music playing in the background, and above all, each other’s company.

HELPING HANDS OFFERING – THIS MORNING

Each 5th Sunday, any undesignated offerings placed in the collection plates go to Helping Hands, a ministry of churches in the Madison Heights-Elon area of Amherst County to help residents in need. It is administered through Madison Heights Baptist Church. Thank you for helping us meet the needs of those in our community!

MISSION FOCUS FOR DECEMBER – CHRISTMAS BASKETS

The December Mission Focus is the Christmas Baskets. Please bring items to help bring a little joy to needy families in our area. Details can be found in the December newsletter.

Nov '25

News & Announcements for Sunday, November 23, 2025

Posted on Nov 20, 2025 by David Garrison in Announcements, General, HomePage, News | 11

Nov '25

CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS – ORDER TODAY

WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY – TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 3:30 PM

WOMEN’S BOOK CLUB – THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 11:30 AM

HANGING OF THE GREENS – SATURDAY, DEC 6, 9AM-Noon

HELPING HANDS OFFERING – NEXT SUNDAY

MISSION FOCUS FOR NOVEMBER – CHRISTMAS BASKETS

The November Mission Focus is the Christmas Baskets. Please bring items to help bring a little joy to needy families in our area. Details can be found in the November newsletter.

Nov '25

News & Announcements for Sunday, November 16, 2025

Posted on Nov 12, 2025 by David Garrison in Announcements, General, HomePage, News | 10

Nov '25

JOIN US FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL

If you’re looking for an opportunity to grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ, we encourage you to join us Sunday mornings for a intergenerational Sunday school class, from 9:30-10:30. We look forward to seeing you!

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING – THIS MORNING

The Session has called a congregational meeting for Sunday, November 16 following the worship service to receive the report from the Nominating Committee. The elder-nominees are: June Hedrick (Class of 2026), and Debra Irvine (2028 & Clerk of Session).

WOMENS BOOK CLUB – THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20 @ 10AM

The Book Club will meet on Thursday, November 20 at 10:00 a.m. The book we are reading for this month is The Storm Sister by Lucinda Riley. Please join us as we discuss this book and bring a snack to share with the group. Come even if you have not read the book. And, as always, bring a friend!!

MISSION FOCUS FOR NOVEMBER – CHRISTMAS BASKETS

The November Mission Focus is the Christmas Baskets. Please bring items to help bring a little joy to needy families in our area. Details can be found in the November newsletter.

CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS – ORDER TODAY

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD SHOEBOXES

This year our church will again be collecting shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. Please see the Operation Christmas Child table in the narthex to pick up a shoebox and learn more. We will be collecting the boxes on Sunday, Nov. 23. What a joy to celebrate Christmas by giving gifts that can change the lives of children throughout the world.

Nov '25

News & Announcements for Sunday, November 9, 2025

Posted on Nov 5, 2025 by David Garrison in Announcements, General, HomePage, News | 9

Nov '25

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING – NEXT SUNDAY

FALL 2025 COLLEGE CARE PACKAGES

Today is the last Sunday we are collecting items to include in care packages for our college students. Please click here for more information.

WOMENS BIBLE STUDY – TUESDAY, NOV. 11 @ 4PM

Join us for the November meeting on Tuesday, November 11 at 4pm. We will be starting our study of The Sermon on the Mount by Jen Wilkins. Copies of the study guide can be picked up in the church office.

CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS – ORDERS BEGIN TODAY

WOMENS BOOK CLUB – THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20 @ 10AM

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD SHOEBOXES

This year our church will again be collecting shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. There are three ways you can help. Boxes are due the week of November 17-24. We will be collecting our boxes on Sunday, November 23. What a joy to celebrate Christmas by giving gifts that can change the lives of children throughout the world. See this announcement for more information.

MISSION FOCUS FOR NOVEMBER – CHRISTMAS BASKETS

The November Mission Focus is the Christmas Baskets. Please bring items to help bring a little joy to needy families in our area. Details can be found in the November newsletter.

Oct '25

News & Announcements for Sunday, November 2, 2025

Posted on Oct 29, 2025 by David Garrison in Announcements, General, HomePage, News | 7

Oct '25

JOIN US FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL

If you’re looking for an opportunity to grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ, we encourage you to join us Sunday mornings for a intergenerational Sunday school class, from 9:00-10:00. We look forward to seeing you!

MIDWEEK PRAYER – WEDNESDAYS @ Noon

Please join us on Wednesdays at noon for a time of prayer in the sanctuary as we bring our needs before our loving God.

FALL 2025 COLLEGE CARE PACKAGES

Over the next two Sundays we are collecting items to include in care packages for our college students. Please click here for more information.

YOUNG LIFE PARENT MEETING – THURS. NOV 6, 6:30pm

Whether you are the parent of a student who currently attends Young Life, or one who would like to know more about what Young Life is, this is for you. Join us for an informational meeting where you’ll have an opportunity to meet the Young Life staff and leaders, learn more about the mission and vision of Young Life, and hear updates on how God is using this ministry in Amherst County. We look forward to seeing you there.

WOMENS BIBLE STUDY – TUESDAY, NOV. 11 @ 4PM

MISSION FOCUS FOR NOVEMBER – CHRISTMAS BASKETS

The November Mission Focus is the Christmas Baskets. Please bring items to help bring a little joy to needy families in our area. Details can be found in the November newsletter.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD SHOEBOXES

CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS – ORDERS BEGIN NEXT SUNDAY

It’s time to order poinsettias to help decorate our sanctuary for the Advent-Christmas season. You are welcome to donate one in memory and in honor of loved ones. The sign up sheet and order forms will be available beginning next Sunday They are $10.00 each and the deadline is Sunday, Dec. 7. Please contact Linda Lange if you have questions.

DOWNLOAD THE CHURCH CENTER APP

Search for “Church Center” in your favorite app store on your phone to download our app! In the app are the church calendar, small group and volunteer opportunities, the online church directory, and more.

Oct '25

November 2025 Pastor’s Corner — DoorDashing Our Faith

Posted on Oct 29, 2025 by David Garrison in Christian Living, Devotions, General, HomePage, Pastor's Corner, Reading the Bible, Spiritual Growth | 10

Oct '25

“Hear this word, you cows of Bashan,

who are on the mountain of Samaria,

who oppress the poor, who crush the needy,

who say to your husbands, ‘Bring, that we may drink!’” — Amos 4:1

This morning I read an article in The Atlantic, “The Innovation That’s Killing Restaurant Culture.” From the article: “In 2024, nearly three out of every four restaurant orders were not eaten in a restaurant, according to data provided to me by the National Restaurant Association, a trade group. The share of customers using delivery specifically, as opposed to picking up takeout or going to a drive-through, more than doubled from 2019 to 2024. In a recently released poll by the association, 41 percent of respondents said that delivery was ‘an essential part of their lifestyle.’”

It’s difficult to understate the impact this is having on the restaurant industry. Restaurants are adapting their menus to be more cost effective and provide food that travels better. Kitchens are getting bigger, seating areas smaller. Some new restaurants aren’t designed for in-person dining at all. Ellie Cushing writes, “In effect, delivery has reversed the flow of eaters to food, and remade a shared experience into a much more individual one. If communities used to clench like a fist around their restaurants, now they look more like an open palm, fingers stretched out as far as possible, or at least to the edge of the delivery radius.”

It’s too easy to blame this shift on the pandemic, although the pandemic certainly accelerated it, as it did many other things. Like so much else, these shifts started long before a virus shut us all up inside our homes. The seismic shift happened back in the early 2000s with the dual supernovas of the development of the internet and smartphones. Twenty or so years later, every facet of our lives has radically changed. Winston Churchill once said, “We shape our buildings and afterward our buildings shape us.” We now have the ability to sit at home and have the world brought to us on a whim, but at what cost? How is that convenience shaping us?

The “cows of Bashan” were the ancient equivalent of Wagyu beef today. They were meticulously doted over and cared for so as to provide the absolute highest quality meat possible. When Amos calls the Israelites the cows of Bashan, he is saying they are lazy, fat, and indolent. As Michael McKelvey writes, Amos is painting a picture of a people who “defiantly and selfishly take advantage of others, using them for their own ends. Their concern is not for what is morally right or socially acceptable. Instead, they live unto themselves; their god is their belly.” Feeding their desires and appetites by any means necessary, they cared not at all about the consequences of their self indulgence. One might argue whether we are more or less self-indulgent than the ancient Israelites, but one thing is true: we have not counted the cost we are paying for our cultural smartphone addiction. It’s been 2,800 years since Amos wrote his prophecy, but it has come true in far more visceral ways than he ever imagined.

What makes dining at a restaurant special isn’t simply that someone else is cooking for you. It’s the entire experience. It’s the sensory experience of the aromas and the ambiance, but more than that it’s the relational experience — from the welcome extended by the host, to the courtesy of the waitress, to the attention given to your meal by the chef, to the shared fellowship of those with whom you dine. None of that can be put in a box and delivered to your door. What is lost without those experiences goes far beyond the scope of these words. This barely scratches the surface; we haven’t talked about the impact on families, jobs, the economy, and much more.

However, Amos wasn’t talking about having food delivered to your door, and neither are we. Have we taken the time to consider what we are losing by doordashing our worship, our discipleship, or our fellowship? We worship by turning on the radio or Spotify. We get our discipleship from TikTok. We find fellowship through social media. All from the comfort of our couches. But true faith is inescapably relational and experiential. True worship happens when we are gathered together with the saints (Hebrews 10:25). Discipleship occurs when “iron sharpens iron” (Prov. 27:17). Fellowship, which at its root means “connection,” requires being physically present with one another (Acts 2:42). Modern technology is reshaping everything, but it can’t change the fundamental paths of our faith.

There’s nothing necessarily wrong with doordashing your dinner when you need to, or using Spotify or TikTok. But be aware of what you are choosing when you do so, and what you are not choosing as well. Be intentional in being wise and discerning when it comes to your worship, discipleship and fellowship. Make the effort to pursue Jesus in the company of other brothers and sisters. In person. Much like dining out, our faith was never meant to be an individual experience, but a communal one.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. — Philippians 4:8-9

Blessings,

Rev. David Garrison

Oct '25

Fall 2025 College Care Packages

Posted on Oct 28, 2025 by David Garrison in Announcements, General, HomePage, News, Spiritual Growth, Youth | 16

Oct '25

The semester is coming to a close and our college students could use some encouragement. For the first two Sundays in November (11/2 and 11/9), we will be collecting items to fill care packages for our nine NEPC college students. Please drop off non-perishable items on the table in the narthex and we will pack them up and ship them. Ideas:

- microwave popcorn
- Little Debbies or other wrapped snack cakes
- candy
- individual bags of chips
- Ramen noodles
- granola bars
- school supplies – pens, pencils, spiral notebooks, etc.

If you’d rather not bring items, we’d also welcome cash donations to cover the cost of shipping (roughly $10 per box for the four out of area students). We’ll also have cards available for you to sign. Let’s remember to lift up our students in prayer and continue to encourage them as they advance their education.

Kayleigh Bennett – U. of Lynchburg

Hunter Brightwell – Virginia Tech

Dani Caplinger – Old Dominion U.

Cole Chapman – Randolph College

Meg Garrison – James Madison U.

Peter Garrison – U. of AL in Huntsville

Brinna Midgley – CVCC

Jackson Moore – East Tennessee State

Mackenzie Seay – CVCC

Oct '25

2025 Operation Christmas Child Care Packages

Posted on Oct 28, 2025 by David Garrison in Announcements, General, HomePage, Missions | 18

Oct '25

Operation Christmas Child (OCC) is a global program facilitated through hundreds of thousands of trained volunteers. Local believers in more than 100 countries deliver Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts, present the Gospel, and facilitate the follow-up discipleship program, The Greatest Journey.

Shoebox gifts are given to children regardless of their gender, ethnicity, or faith. OCC seeks to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way through each shoebox gift. Children do not have to do or say anything to receive the gifts. They work in and through local Christians in each country who understand the context in their area. Simple gifts—packed with love in Jesus’ Name—deliver hope and joy to children all around the world, regardless of their faith or religious background. They aim to give each child one shoebox gift in the course of his or her lifetime.

This year our church will again be collecting shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. There are three ways you can help.

Sign out a box from the table and fill it with gifts.
Bring gifts to church, and we will pack a shoebox for you.
Give a monetary donation to help with the cost of sending the boxes or to buy more gifts. It costs $10 per box this year.

Boxes are due the week of November 17-24. We will be collecting our boxes on Sunday, November 23. What a joy to celebrate Christmas by giving gifts that can change the lives of children throughout the world.

Oct '25

News & Announcements for Sunday, October 26, 2025

Posted on Oct 22, 2025 by David Garrison in Announcements, General, HomePage, News, Spiritual Growth | 5

Oct '25

3 CIRCLES EVANGELISM TRAINING – CONTINUES TODAY

You are encouraged to sign up for the 3 Circles: Turning Everyday Conversations into Gospel Conversations training class. 3 Circles is a simple way to have gospel conversations. This class meets weekly for 6 weeks at 9:30 am. Even if you missed it today, plan to join us next week!

MIDWEEK PRAYER – WEDNESDAYS @ Noon

Please join us on Wednesdays at noon for a time of prayer in the sanctuary as we bring our needs before our loving God.

COVERED DISH LUNCH – NEXT SUNDAY, After Worship

Please join us for a covered dish luncheon immediately after church on November 2. If you are able, please bring a couple of dishes to share such as a meat, vegetable, salad or dessert. It has been way too long since we had lunch together, so we hope everyone will be able to come and join in the fellowship!!

YOUNG LIFE PARENT MEETING – THURS. NOV 6, 6:30pm

WOMENS BIBLE STUDY – TUESDAY, NOV. 11 @ 4PM

MISSION FOCUS FOR OCTOBER – CHRISTMAS BASKETS

The October Mission Focus is the Christmas Baskets. Please bring items to help bring a little joy to needy families in our area. Details can be found in the October newsletter.

DOWNLOAD THE CHURCH CENTER APP