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 an appropriately physically distanced worship service at 11am, and the facilities are sanitized regularly. We look forward to seeing you! Click here to find out where we are and get in touch. If you are not able to join us in person, we invite you to follow our livestream, which you can find here.

Upcoming Events

May 2021

Tuesday, May 11

12:00 pm – 12:30 pm: Lynchburg Daily Bread Meal Distribution

Wednesday, May 12

10:30 am – 11:30 am: Pastor's Midweek Bible Study - In Person: Hebrews
10:30 am – 11:30 am: Pastor's Midweek Bible Study - Online: Hebrews
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Choir Practice

Thursday, May 13

6:30 pm – 8:30 pm: Session: Monthly Session Meeting

Friday, May 14

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Bridget Capparuccia & Larisa Nielsen Graduation Open House: Setup
5:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Bridget Capparuccia & Larisa Nielsen Graduation Open House
9:00 pm – 10:00 pm: Bridget Capparuccia & Larisa Nielsen Graduation Open House: Teardown

Sunday, May 16

9:45 am – 10:45 am: Sunday School (all ages) (temporarily cancelled until further notice)
11:00 am – 12:15 pm: Online Worship
11:00 am – 12:15 pm: Sunday Worship
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Youth Group (6th-12th Grades)

Monday, May 17

7:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Christian Education: May CE Meeting

The Latest from our blogs…

Jul '20

July 2020 Pastor’s Corner – Masking Our Freedom?

Posted on Jul 15, 2020 by David Garrison in Christian Living, Coronavirus, General, HomePage, Pastor's Corner | 511

Jul '20

A rather surprisingly enormous debate has erupted over whether the government should or should not mandate the wearing of masks. As Romans 13:1-7 makes clear, we should submit to our governing authorities, and the Commonwealth has instituted a mandatory mask policy. Now, there is some question whether this is an example of government overreach, but I’d like to look at the issue from a different angle. While we are citizens of the United States and the Commonwealth of Virginia, and should therefore abide by its governance, we are first and foremost citizens of the Kingdom of God. How might wearing a mask fit into the values of the Kingdom of God? Conveniently, Paul points us toward an answer in the verses following the passage I just referenced.

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (Rom. 13:8–10)

Some argue that we are obligated to wear a mask, but I think Paul would disagree (“Owe no one anything…”). Rather than obligation, Paul points to the rule of love: “Love does no wrong to a neighbor.” Yes, there is a lot of debate about the efficacy of mask wearing, but there is a lot of agreement that it goes a long way toward protecting others from what germs you may have. And there is even more evidence that we become contagious before we exhibit symptoms, meaning I can make others sick before I am aware that I am sick. I might be doing wrong to my neighbor without even knowing it, so to love my neighbor as myself means I should wear a mask. Not because I owe them or am obligated to do so, but as an act of love and service.

A few verses later, Paul makes an equally important point: “As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions,” (Rom. 14:1) and then a few verses after that: “Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.” (Rom. 14:13) We may disagree over whether masks are truly effective or whether the mandate is an example of government overreach, but it does no harm to the individual to wear a mask and is quite likely to do a lot of good in protecting others from what we might not know we have. Be entitled to your opinion, but let us not make our opinions into a stumbling block or hindrance that might keep someone else from growing in their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessings,

Rev. David Garrison

Jun '20

What to Expect When Northminster Reopens

Posted on Jun 24, 2020 by David Garrison in Announcements, Coronavirus, General, HomePage, News, Worship | 237

Jun '20

This coming Sunday, June 28, we are resuming in-person worship at Northminster. We’ve missed seeing you each and every Sunday and look forward to having you with us. As with most other places, things won’t entirely be normal, so here’s what you can expect when you join us this Sunday:

Social Distancing

Plan to practice appropriate social distancing. Try to limit hand shaking and hugs.
Every other pew will be closed to help facilitate social distancing.
Bulletins will be placed on the table outside the sanctuary. Please pick one up on your way in as we will not be handing them out.
Offering plates will be on a table just inside the sanctuary doors. Please place your offering in the plate on your way in or out of the sanctuary. We will not be passing them during the service.

Masks

Masks are encouraged, but not required.
Whether you wear a mask or not, we will not judge or criticize your decision.

Communion

Instead of passing the elements out, each person will come forward to pick up the elements.
An elder will dismiss each row at the appropriate time.
Please come down the center aisle, and return to your seat by way of the outside aisles, maintaining appropriate social distancing with the person(s) in front of you.
The bread and juice will be served in individual, disposable cups. Please pick up both elements and take them back to your seat. We will partake of them together as is our custom.

Sanitation

The church will be thoroughly cleaned before and after the service.
Most doors will be propped open to minimize contact with surfaces.

If you have symptoms similar to those of COVID-19, we encourage you to err on the side of caution and stay home. If you are anxious about returning to public spaces, please feel free to stay home. We will continue to broadcast the livestream on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/npcmh) for those who are not able to join us in person.

At this time, all other programs and ministries are still postponed. The Session will continue to monitor how things are going and make further decisions at their meeting in July. We appreciate your prayers and support for one another during these highly unusual times, and look forward to seeing you this Sunday, June 28!

Blessings,
Rev. David Garrison

Jun '20

June 2020 Pastor’s Corner – How’s This for Unexpected Irony?

Posted on Jun 1, 2020 by David Garrison in Christian Living, Coronavirus, Devotions, Family in the Bible, General, HomePage, Pastor's Corner, Spiritual Growth | 274

Jun '20

Pentecost brings to a close the first half of the Christian year. The seasons of Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, and Easter trace the grand arc of God’s saving action in Jesus Christ. In addition to that rhythm, we have spent the past 90 days reading through the entire Bible. It’s felt something like a whirlwind. Then add in the chaos we’ve all experienced in our lives and our world with the coronavirus pandemic, and it’s enough to leave you dizzy, confused and probably a little overwhelmed. At this point, most all of us are yearning for just a little bit of ordinary.

The second half of the Christian year is one long season called Ordinary Time. This year, Ordinary Time begins today, June 1. As Philip Reindeers explains, ‘“Ordinary” doesn’t mean boring or second-rate but simply “everyday.” The Christian faith is not an otherworldly faith; it’s about this creation, your life, these days. Ordinary Time gives us the space to consider all the implications of God’s salvation in Jesus Christ for our day by day, week-in, week-out lives.’ As we find ourselves yearning for something of the ordinary in these very extraordinary times, the Christian calendar offers an invitation to consider the implications not just of all that God’s salvation in Christ means for our daily lives, but also how this pandemic is impacting us as well — and perhaps even to ask how does the Gospel inform and affect our understanding of the pandemic’s impact?

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. (Rom. 12:1–2 MESSAGE)

Blessings,

Rev. David Garrison

May '20

Northminster’s Plans for ‘Phase 1’

Posted on May 15, 2020 by David Garrison in Announcements, General, HomePage, News, Worship | 243

May '20

Good afternoon, Folks,

On Tuesday, the Session met to discuss our plans for Phase 1 of Virginia’s ‘Forward Virginia’ reopening plans. Up to this point, we have been limited to no more than 10 people at any gathering and, out of an abundance of caution and a desire to follow the guidance from the VDH and CDC, we have postponed all ministries. Since we have 8-9 people leading worship each Sunday, we’ve asked that no one else attend.

As of today, the 10 person limit has been lifted and so, if you greatly desire to do so and believe it is safe for you, the sanctuary is open for folks to join us on Sunday mornings. However, we believe it best to err on the side of caution at this time and are encouraging folks to join us on Facebook Live for worship, especially if you are in an at-risk category or are experiencing cold symptoms. Sunday school, women’s circles, children’s and youth ministries continue to be suspended at this time.

To summarize:

The sanctuary is open for worship, but we still encourage you to stay home and worship with us online.
All other ministries and programs will remain suspended for the duration of Phase 1.
If you have any symptoms or are at-risk, please remain home.

The Session will continue to monitor the situation and will make plans as we learn more about Phases 2 & 3. As always, we welcome your feedback and invite you to email me or the elders. Particularly if you have need, please let us know how we can be of help and pray for you during this ongoing season.

We miss seeing you very much, but want to be prudent and wise in how we move forward.

Blessings,
Rev. David Garrison, and the Session of NEPC

May '20

May 2020 Pastor’s Corner – What to do about Communion?

Posted on May 1, 2020 by David Garrison in Christian Living, Coronavirus, General, HomePage, Pastor's Corner, Worship | 361

May '20

We are about to begin our second full month under quarantine, and under normal circumstances we would be celebrating the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. As we all know, however, these are not normal circumstances. How do we celebrate the sacrament in these times? Should we celebrate the sacrament during these times? Is it possible to celebrate the sacrament “virtually”? These are questions pastors and elders have been wrestling with over the past month.

As the kids say these days, the “TL;DR” (too long; don’t read) answer that your Session has come to, is that for right now we, once again, will not be celebrating the Sacrament this month.

Now for the (slightly) longer version.

As said, these are unusual times. Someone commented to me the other day how much they appreciated the online worship service, as it provided a sense of ‘normal’ in very abnormal times. That’s one of the key reasons why we are doing our best to keep the order of service as much as normal as possible. But, these are nevertheless unusual times, and there are some things we might normally do that we hold off on until we get back to normal, and the Lord’s Supper is one of those things. Our “virtual worship” is a blessing, but it is not a replacement for the real thing.

The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper is inherently communal and physical. As a visceral, physical experience it is one of the most tactile moments in our worship service. It involves all of our senses – taste, touch, smell, sight, and sound. It is also communal; it is an act of the community. While we are symbolically together through Facebook Live, yet we are not physically together. It’s like when traveling for work. I can still FaceTime my wife and kids, which is better than a phone call, but it’s not the same as being physically present with them.

Much like the spiritual discipline of fasting is meant to remind us of our deeper longing and need for God, it is our hope that as we “fast” from communion, it would remind us of how the sacrament serves as a ‘sign and seal’ of our salvation. As one theologian said regarding this absence, “the practice of the sacrament is an aid to our faith, it’s absence is not a detriment.” It is our hope and prayer that the absence of the sacrament will foster in each of us a longing for that wondrous day when we, once again, gather together as a congregation to worship our Savior and celebrate this sacrament once again.

Blessings,

Rev. David Garrison

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