Welcome to Northminster

We are a biblically-based Presbyterian church seeking to experience and share God’s love to transform our homes, community and the world. We hope you will join us.
 

Join us this Sunday!

We have Sunday school for all ages at 9:30, and the worship service is at 11:00am. We look forward to seeing you! 
 
 
 

Upcoming Events

The Latest from our blogs…

News & Announcements for Sunday, May 25, 2025

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!

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.

REFOCUS WORKSHOP – SATURDAY, MAY 31, 10AM-4PM

Join us for a one-day workshop helping us ReFocus on our mission as a church for the Kingdom of God. This event is put on by the New River Presbytery. Members and leaders of Northminster and local EPC churches are invited and encouraged to attend.  The cost is $20/person and covers lunch and materials.  Learn more and sign up in the Church Center app or https://npcmh.churchcenter.com/calendar/.

WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY – MONDAY, JUNE 2, 7PM

The Women’s Bible Study will meet next Monday, June 2 at 7:00 p.m. at Northminster. We are using the book, The Love Stories of the Bible Speak by Shannon Bream. We will be studying the second half of the chapter, “Jesus and John”, and will begin on page 246 at “The Inner Circle”. Read your book, complete your workbook pages and come ready to discuss and ask and answer questions. If you would like to, please bring a snack to share. Looking forward to seeing you on the 2nd!! As always, please feel free to bring a friend!

MISSION FOCUS FOR MAY: HELPING HANDS

Our mission focus for the month of May is Helping Hands of Amherst County which help citizens of Amherst County who need an occasional helping hand with necessities such as food, electric bills, rent and water bills when children or medical needs are present.  It is administered out of Madison Heights Baptist Church. You may make a donation by specifying ‘Helping Hands’ on your check memo line.

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, the online church directory, small group and volunteer opportunities, and more.  You can also go to npcmh.churchcenter.com in any browser.


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News & Announcements for Sunday, May 18, 2025

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!

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.

WOMEN’S BOOK CLUB – THURSDAY, May 22, 11AM

The Women’s Book Club will meet next Thursday, May 22 at 11:00 a.m. at the Depot Grille. This month’s book is Why the Universe Is the Way It Is by Hugh Ross.  Regarding refreshments, we are asking everyone to bring a little something to share.  We look forward to seeing you next Thursday, whether you’ve read the book or not!

REFOCUS WORKSHOP – SATURDAY, MAY 31, 10AM-4PM

Join us for a one-day workshop helping us ReFocus on our mission as a church for the Kingdom of God. This event is put on by the New River Presbytery. Members and leaders of Northminster and local EPC churches are invited and encouraged to attend.  The cost is $20/person and covers lunch and materials.  Learn more and sign up in the Church Center app or by clicking here.

 MISSION FOCUS FOR MAY: HELPING HANDS

Our mission focus for the month of May is Helping Hands of Amherst County which help citizens of Amherst County who need an occasional helping hand with necessities such as food, electric bills, rent and water bills when children or medical needs are present.  It is administered out of Madison Heights Baptist Church. You may make a donation by specifying ‘Helping Hands’ on your check memo line.

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, the online church directory, small group and volunteer opportunities, and more.  You can also go to npcmh.churchcenter.com in any browser.

 

 


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News & Announcements for Sunday, May 11, 2025

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!

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.

WOMEN’S BOOK CLUB – THURSDAY, May 22, 10AM

The Women’s Book Club will meet next Thursday, May 22 at 10:00 a.m. at the church. This month’s book is Why the Universe Is the Way It Is by Hugh Ross.  Regarding refreshments, we are asking everyone to bring a little something to share.  We look forward to seeing you next Thursday, whether you’ve read the book or not!

MISSION FOCUS FOR MAY: HELPING HANDS

Our mission focus for the month of May is Helping Hands of Amherst County which help citizens of Amherst County who need an occasional helping hand with necessities such as food, electric bills, rent and water bills when children or medical needs are present.  It is administered out of Madison Heights Baptist Church. You may make a donation by specifying ‘Helping Hands’ on your check memo line.

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.

Coming Soon…

GET IN SHAPE CLASS

No, not physical shape – spiritual S.H.A.P.E.! God has given every believer gifts and shaped us for ministry and service.  If you’re asking questions like, What are my spiritual gifts? How has God shaped me for service and ministry? Where do I “plug in?” What is God calling me to do in this phase of my life? Then this class is for you!  We encourage every member of Northminster to join us for this, coming this spring.


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News & Announcements for Sunday, May 4, 2025

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!

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.

WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY – MONDAY, MAY 5, 7PM

The Women’s Bible Study will meet on Monday, May 5 at the church at 7:00 p.m in the Tatman Room. We will be studying the chapter entitled, “Jesus and John – Friends for Eternity” in The Love Stories of the Bible Speak by Shannon Bream. Come prepared to share what you got out of the reading and any questions you might have. Please bring a friend and a food item to share with the group.

MISSION FOCUS FOR MAY: HELPING HANDS

Our mission focus for the month of May is Helping Hands of Amherst County which help citizens of Amherst County who need an occasional helping hand with necessities such as food, electric bills, rent and water bills when children or medical needs are present.  It is administered out of Madison Heights Baptist Church. You may make a donation by specifying ‘Helping Hands’ on your check memo line.

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.

Coming Soon…

GET IN SHAPE CLASS

No, not physical shape – spiritual S.H.A.P.E.! God has given every believer gifts and shaped us for ministry and service.  If you’re asking questions like, What are my spiritual gifts? How has God shaped me for service and ministry? Where do I “plug in?” What is God calling me to do in this phase of my life? Then this class is for you!  We encourage every member of Northminster to join us for this, coming this spring.


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May 2025 Mills’ Musings — PROTESTANTS AND THE PAPACY

Some years ago, a Baptist friend was trying to help me understand Baptist theology and practice. “There are three things Baptists don’t recognize,” he summarized: “1) the authority of the pope; 2) the validity of infant baptism; and 3) each other in a liquor store.”
 
The third requires no additional elucidation, while the second could be (and indeed for the past 500 years has been) constructively debated. But I assume that what triggered my recall of that long-ago conversation was the recent death of Pope Francis I. That recollection in turn suggested this reflection on some basic disagreements between Protestants and Catholics in their understandings of the office and authority of the pope.
 
Roman Catholic Church teaching, defined at the First Vatican Council in 1870, declares that Jesus established the office of pope with the apostle Peter. Their support for this belief is Matthew 16:18-19, “18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
 
Volumes have been written about these verses. Most follow one of two main lines of interpretation. The first, endorsed by Catholicism, teaches that Jesus gave this authority to Peter personally. Peter then exercised this authority by serving as the first bishop of Rome. Since his death, the power given to Peter has been handed on through an unbroken line of successors – the popes. This practice, known as apostolic succession, is seen as guaranteeing the unity and doctrinal purity of the Catholic Church.
 
The other main interpretative approach, held with some sectarian variations by Protestants, disagrees with at least three key elements of the Catholic understanding. The first is the question of who, or what, is the rock Jesus mentions. For Catholics, it is Peter himself. Protestants generally understand that the rock to be Peter’s confession, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
 
The second disagreement concerns the extent of the authority Jesus gave. Catholic teaching says it was given to Peter alone and has been passed down to each successive pope. Protestants traditionally believe either that this authority was given only to Peter for his lifetime or that it is now shared among believers. Historically, Presbyterians have held that the presbytery functions as a “corporate bishop.”
 
That raises the third point of disagreement, which concerns the way in which the Church structures itself for its God-given mission. Catholics view these verses as supporting a hierarchical model, one headed by the pope and descending through cardinals, bishops, and priests. Not seeing that structure in this text, Protestants have generally favored either congregational (Baptist) or collegial (Presbyterian) models of church governance.
 
The differences between Protestants and Catholics about things like the role of the pope and the structure of the Church are not inconsequential, but neither are they insurmountable. Recognizing and accurately articulating our differences lays a foundation for open and honest conversation. And I continue to believe that as Western culture becomes increasingly post-Christian, Catholics and Protestants, clear-eyed about our disagreements, will increasingly rally around the beliefs that unite us.

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