New Life Presbyterian Church

05/31/2026

Genesis 17:1-2
Matthew 5:43-48
James 1:1-4
Be Perfect
Sermon #1-8

05/24/2026

Exodus 19:1-20
Acts 2:1-21
Pentecost Fulfilled

05/17/2026

Rev. Marina Gopadze

05/10/2026

Proverbs 31:10-31
Mothers of the Heart

03/09/2026

Some additional thoughts on the Lord's Supper...
"Thinking of “the injunction to ‘do this in remembrance of me’… Remembrance belongs among the chief virtues of Judaism. The bread of presentation, called ‘bread of remembrance,’ that was placed on the golden table in the tabernacle Sabbath by Sabbath institutionalized the command to ‘remember and never forget’ God’s saving deeds and covenant. The Passover meal was the quintessential feast of remembrance in which the family head recounted the story, ‘A wandering Aramean was my father.’ The purpose of remembrance was not simply to recall the past, but to represent the past in order to participate in it and extend its effects into the present. Passover thus contemporized the exodus for Jews. ‘In every generation,’ taught the rabbis, ‘a man must so regard himself as if he came forth himself out of Egypt, for so it is written, And you shall tell your son in that day, saying, ‘It is because of that which the Lord did for me when I came forth out of Egypt.’ In representing the Passover, the Last Supper becomes the new covenant. Jesus’ disciples are now not to remember the exodus, but Jesus himself… That the meal now recalls Jesus rather than the exodus is powerfully illustrated in the Emmaus story, where ‘Jesus was made known to Cleopas and his companion in the breaking of bread.’ The second-person plural present tense verb ‘do’ signifies that the Last Supper, like Passover, is both a communal and a continual remembrance: ‘all of you, continue doing this.’” (James R. Edwards, The Gospel According to Luke, Pillar NT Commentary [Apollos, 2015] p.629)

Road to Emmaus Painting by Diane Fairfield

02/20/2026

A thoughtful interview worth a listen with the former Senator from Nebraska, and President of the University of Florida. He was diagnosed with metastasized, stage-four pancreatic cancer.

Before entering public office, Ben Sasse served as executive director of White Horse Inn and Modern Reformation at Sola Media. On February 7, 2026, he joined...

02/17/2026

What do third century men and women have in common with twenty-first century men and women? A chaotic, noise filled, peace draining world and life where even the church experiences ridicule, compromise, and persecution. These ancient Christians began leaving sophisticated cities in North Africa and elsewhere in order to find silence, solitude, spiritual breakthroughs, and peace in God. Where did they go? To the desert in Egypt, Syria, and Arabia. These people had passion for Jesus and it was in the silence and solitude of the desert that they found they could hear from God. They left the deafening noise of their busy lives and the compromised state of the church which was looking less and less like the church that Jesus established. They became the voice of radical discipleship helping others enter into the life of peace in Christ. In the solitude and silence of the desert where they began to dwell, they became counter cultural to the self-focused life, to adherence to material things and places, and knew that no matter where they were that Jesus was with them.

Stepping away from the noise isn't about escaping your life; it’s about reclaiming your depth of relationship with Jesus. While the Desert Mothers and Fathers fled the literal sands of Egypt, we often find ourselves lost in a digital and social wilderness that is just as draining. Their lives were plagued by the chaos of religious persecution and societal upheaval; ours are fractured by the "urgent" pings of notifications, the mental load of care-giving, and a culture that equates busyness with worth. Seeking silence is a radical act of self-preservation to seek the Lord Jesus where we stop performing for the world and simply exist in the presence of God. In that stillness, the "sediment" of our daily anxieties finally settles, allowing us to hear the "still, small voice" that is usually drowned out by the roar of our to-do lists. Solitude is the oxygen tank for the soul; it’s where we are reminded that we are loved for who we are, not for how much we do. Solitude removes the “middleman” of social expectations letting us speak to God without the filter of our roles.

May you pray about joining the ladies in this time during the 40 days of Lent for 7 sessions of Sunday School beginning this Sunday, February 22, from 9:45 until 10:30 where we’ll travel with the Desert Mothers and Fathers watching a short video, read a portion of their writings, discuss and share what was read, and afterwards practice silence reflecting what God may be saying to you. We will study a different Desert Mother and Father each Sunday. Please bring your Bible and a note book to journal. You’ll never be asked to read or participate in any way that you’re uncomfortable.
For further information please contact Shannon Smith 540-598-6245, or Marina Gopadze 540-580-6810.

(You can download the app Lectio365 where you’ll find free resources for Desert Mothers and Fathers.)

"Solitude is the furnace of transformation. Without solitude we remain victims of our society and continue to be entangled in the illusions of the self." — Henri Nouwen

11/03/2025

Day One of Confirmation. The Word was IXTHUS. The Fish. Before Christians were identified by the Cross, there was the Fish swimming against the flow: This is the Way to life! I- Jesus; X- Christ; TH- God; U- Son; S- Savior.