Matthew 25:31-46
1 John 4:7-21
God’s love for us is the impetus and form of our love for others. “We love because he first loved us” reminds us that it is not our programs and actions that are the perfection of love but God’s provision for us in Christ.
This Sunday is New Members Sunday. We give thanks to God as we welcome in four new members.This Sunday is also the kick-off of A Case For Love. Brian Ide, the movie’s director will be with us, sharing the message of the movie during A Minute For Mission. Brian has worked in the entertainment industry for over 20 years, initially as a paid actor, then producer, and he eventually journeyed into the world of directing. “A Case for Love” is his fifth film, and premier feature-length documentary. After producing and directing the feature film “This Day Forward,” he traveled the U.S. presenting the film in churches, theaters, and community centers while discussing the film’s message and experiencing its impact on audiences. Following that tour, the Lutheran Church of Australia called him to their communities to do the same. Prior to founding Grace-Based Films, he directed “Clear Lake, WI” and the recent faith-based short film, “Reconcile”, which has been viewed and used in 47 different countries. A three-time national judge for the Polly Bond Awards, he has spoken to colleges, faith centers, and film programs nationwide about the intersection of film and faith. Brian is the son of an ELCA Lutheran pastor-father and devout Catholic mother. He is the husband to a lifelong Episcopalian who is drawn to stories that focus on what unites us rather than what divides.
This Sunday is Mission Sunday at New Hanover. We will be taking up a separate collection for the PC/USA Cents-Ability offering, Funds are used to support local hunger ministries, as well as national and international projects through the Presbyterian Hunger Program. |
If these are your questions and your hopes, we think you will find your place with us at New Hanover Presbyterian Church. We are dedicated to finding thoughtful ways to understand and live out the teachings of Jesus. We do not insist on lock-step thinking or litmus-test living. We do believe that Christian faith will eventually lead us to heaven but leads us to others right now, and we seek to be a redemptive and beneficial member of our community now.
Interested?
We hope you will join us for worship on Sundays at 9:30 a.m.
Blessings, Robert Johnson
Our Vision:
To make Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection relevant today.
Our Mission:
As a welcoming community of believers in Jesus Christ, we will unite our Faith and works to share God’s love.
Our Values:
Based on our understanding of the bible, New Hanover Presbyterian Church believes that, Love, Acceptance, Inclusion, Redemption, Mercy And Equity are values Jesus Christ taught and demonstrated. We are convinced that these values that Jesus Christ advocated in Matthew 22: 37-40 when He said:
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
When the Apostle Paul was writing to the church at Rome, he said this: “…you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep, for salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers.”
In other words, there is no Christian option that allows us to be Christian and still stay asleep or to politely doze in a world of hurt and need. We want to be alive to the world as it is now and to engage with that world as those transformed by the love of Jesus. We hope you will come and join us in this quest to live in the present with the wisdom and power of the God of all the ages.
Blessings,
Robert Johnson, Pastor
New Hanover Presbyterian Church
This community has made a decision – we are not following any crowd. We are, instead, committed to take the Scriptures seriously and humanity compassionately. Our goal is to read the Bible in both its ancient context and its modern implications, and have it make a difference in the way we live our daily lives and in how we see people and treat them. We believe the scriptures have something vital and unique to say now – something that no political party or social movement can or will say. At New Hanover, we believe Jesus and the people that follow him should not be conformed to the conventional wisdom and path of the world, but transformed by God’s grace.
When the Apostle Paul was writing to the church at Rome, he said this: “…you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep, for salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers.” In other words, there is no Christian option that allows us to be Christian and still stay asleep or to politely doze in a world of hurt and need. We want to be alive to the world as it is now and to engage with that world as those transformed by the love of Jesus. We hope you will come and join us in this quest to live in the present with the wisdom and power of the God of all the ages.
Blessings,
Robert Johnson, Pastor
New Hanover Presbyterian Church
Our 9:30am service is designed to reinforce our core values of love, acceptance, inclusion, redemption, mercy and equity. These values, exhibited and preached upon by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, are reflected in our music, sermon and church news and updates. We aim to connect and build relationships before, during and after our service.
Upon arrival to our church you will be greeted will smile and receive our worship bulletin. You’ll be directed to sanctuary. We aim to create a welcoming and inclusive worship space!
Each service features a sermon, based on scripture, designed to better understand these passages and to reach forward to today’s times to give us guidance, hope and a challenge. Music is both contemporary and traditional, with our choir and church musicians playing live and meaningful music. We also occasionally feature solo voice and instrumental works. A children’s time is a regular service feature where we share God’s good news through stories and examples. After this, young children can go to our education wing if desired, with adult supervision. Our news and updates allow us to hear of ongoing missions and ways to support those less fortunate in our community.
Following the service we offer coffee and treats, in a designated time to build relationships with one another. Our Faith in Life educational series is offered in Fall, Spring and Summer and features interesting and important topics of discussion and learning. Occasionally we have a special class and/or luncheon available.
We think you’ll enjoy our intentional and inclusive approach to worship!
September 16 @ 6:15pm
New Hanover will host a special preview screening at the historic Byrd Theatre (2908 W. Cary Street, Richmond, VA) on Monday, September 16. The evening will feature director Brian Ide (EE-dee) who will introduce the film. Bob Gulledge, Byrd Theatre organist, will be playing on the Byrd’s mighty Wurlitzer starting at 6:15. To register for the screening, click here. Tickets will be emailed to you once you get registered. Pre-registration and tickets are not mandatory, they just give us an idea of how many folks to anticipate. (in other words…tickets are NOT needed to get in the door!!).
A Case For Love is a documentary wholly-produced by Grace-Based Films, and explores the idea that the personal practice of unselfish love has the power to positively transform each of us, those around us, and by extension, the world. Although inspired by faith traditions, given the highly divided nature of our current society, this message appeals to not only religious communities but to secular audiences as well.
We hope you can join us. For more information, click here.
September 23 @ 5:30 pm
In September, Presbytery of the James welcomes from Palestine PC(USA) International Peacemaker Zoughbi Zoughbi. New Hanover will host Zoughbi Zoughbi on Monday, September 23, starting with a FREE catered dinner at 5:30pm, followed by a program, at 7pm, Life in Bethlehem.
Founder and Director of Wi’am: The Palestinian Conflict Transformation Centre in Bethlehem, Zoughbi Zoughbi is a world-renowned speaker, trainer, counselor, activist, and writer. He has written and edited extensive articles and books on interdisciplinary topics of justice, peace and reconciliation.
Founded in 1994 and known by the name “Wi’am”, the Arabic word meaning “cordial relationships”, the center has received some notable awards, including the 2023 Carnall Peace Award and the 2010 Peacebuilding Award in the World Vision International Peace Prize competition. The center offers mediation, training, and psycho-social counseling to help resolve community disputes and alleviate the suffering of people. It includes a trauma-coping program for children, leadership training for women, and nonviolence education programs.
We hope you can join us. For more information, click here.
Join us here at New Hanover, at 6:30pm, for bible study and fellowship. We continue our study of 1 Timothy. Following our meeting, we will head over to Marty’s for dinner and more fellowship.
Psalm 146
Mark 7:24-37
What an interesting text for what is typically a Christian Education Rally Day in our denomination! This difficult story of Jesus turning away a desperate mother causes us to slow down and pay attention to what is happening in the story. This isn’t the loving Jesus who we know and who we count on. Maybe this is just what we need to do…slow down…pay attention…and maybe even argue with Jesus about what we need.
We welcome The Rev. Leigh Anne Ring this Sunday as she shares the Word of God with our congregation. Leigh Anne provides pastoral support and oversight of presbytery ministers, educators, chaplains, and commissioned pastors. She also serves as staff liaison to the Commission on Ministry.
In 2022, Leigh Anne earned a Master of Divinity from Union Presbyterian Seminary and was ordained to the ministry of Word and Sacrament. She also holds a Master of Arts in Christian education and was certified as a Christian educator in 2001.
If you have a specific prayer request or praise to share with the congregation, information to include in congregational communications, would like to get involved at NHPC, or have a question please feel free to contact us:
