Sacred Assembly Church VA Beach

Sacred Assembly Church VA Beach Sacred Assembly Church is a community of evangelical believers who worship liturgically through sacraments, prayer, and song.

Ultimately, Sacred Assembly is about evangelical Christians worshiping within a liturgical environment in Spirit and Truth (John 4:23-24). An
environment that welcomes beautiful rich tradition in the ascetic's of church tradition and practice - i.e., candle lighting, clerical dress, etc. These traditions are meant to encourage and help the worshiper focus vertically as we gather togeth

er and express ourselves in the fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness (Galatians 5:23).

02/12/2024

Good morning Church. I'm enjoying my last "free" day at the local java stop close to the house. I start a new job tomorrow so please pray the transition will go well and the Lord will use me in a new environment and amongst new people.

I haven't made it much of a priority in keeping in touch with those who follow Sacred Assembly Church, so please forgive me. Getting caught-up in this world can be somewhat overwhelming at times and yet it's all about our first love.

First love. What a thought. It's cliche to say that you never forget your "first love," but is it true? Does this statement correctly identify past desires and passions? Love had, but love lost. For many of us, that first love was an experience from our youth that has come and gone over the years and for me in my fifties, decades ago.

The Apostle John is writing about the Revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, and early on in his letter he uses the term "first love" to call out the Ephesian Church, one of the Seven Churches in Asia.

On the outside, comparing to today's Church, they were rock-solid. The Apostle is writing to the Angel, which can literally be the Angel in charge to help support the individual parish or congregation, or some scholars suggest the Apostle is using the term to those in leadership, the Pastor or Priest.

What is without question, is the Churches rich history in the birth of the Church just decades earlier. The Apostle Paul ministered there three years (Acts 19:1, Acts 19:10, Acts 20:31). Aquilla and Priscilla, with Apollos served there (Acts 18:24-28). Paul’s close associate Timothy (1 Timothy 1:3) worked in Ephesus. According to strong and consistent historic tradition, the Apostle John also ministered there.

Reminds me what it may have been like, and still is, in worshiping at a Church where Martin Luther may have served in Wittenburg, or Charles Spurgeon. in NYC. But then again, many Christians tote their denomination with as much zeal as they would have a century ago, or today. Being a Christian doesn't always dismiss us from carnal pride and entitlement. And the Apostle John, being lead by the Holy Spirit, is making his point in this Holy Letter.

The Apostle writes for the Lord, and has a wonderful list we today would put in the "PRO" list...
- Good deeds - Toil & Perseverance - No tolerance for evil (men)
- Testing peoples character - Perseverance through tribulation

And yet....2:4 "they have left your first love." The ONE thing listed in the "CON" list.

This is key, they have LEFT their first love, they didn't LOSE their first love. As many of us have gone through, early on in maturing into adults and experiencing new feelings outside our selves, we thought we found our one true love, only to "lose it" because of a lack of maturity and wisdom. Someone said this, did that, and with such new experiences comes a flood of emotions and thoughts sometimes we're not capable of handling and so it ends many times prematurely.

But the Ephesian Church didn't lose their fist love, they LEFT it (!). This is much more damaging and severe. They had so much going for them as a fellowship: good works, no obvious doctrinal issues, great perseverance, and yet they left their first love. Truly sad. And yet, this narrative has remained constant throughout the centuries in so many Churches over the millenia. Regardless of their religious traditions.

This problem is so reminiscent of the Jewish people in the OT. The Lord rightly uses the metaphor of the marriage between the groom and the bride. Whenever the Jews would find themselves NOT having a Godly leader, they would fall into following idols, and committing "adultery." The Apostle John given the chance to speak to those early on could of used this same term he's using for the Ephesian Church. They left their first love. Again, and again, and again!

But what about us? Or me? I guess I can feel somewhat excused because I'm reflecting on the Ephesian Church and yet I think about the story of Abraham and Isaac. The great test of any person, and harder yet, as a parent. The Lord doesn't stand for being second to anyone or anything. Your son or daughter, your precious spouse, that beautiful '69 Camaro you restored in the garage...

But as the Lord ALWAYS does, the Father willingly holds out His hand to bring us to repentance and restoration. Back to our First Love. Back to our sweet Savior. Back to fellowship with the Holy Trinity in ALL aspects of our lives, especially our heart. Our first love.

And in that stream of thought, we may have had many first loves, and with it many broken hearts, but when it comes to truly being illuminated to the truth of the Gospel and the Cross our Savior endured, it's that realization that all other first love's pail in comparison to the Love of the Father, experienced through the sacrifice of His Son, and by the Power of the Holy Spirit.

The Cross and the Resurrection is the Ultimate act of Love to gain and be our First Love.

Lord, forgive us for losing our first love amongst the noise of our lives but even more so, forgive us for replacing our first love with earthly treasures and relationships that rust and corrode and don't last. And doesn't reflect your mercy, grace, and love. Now and forever more, be our First Love! Amen.

God bless you Church!

08/31/2021

Buon Giorno Church. I'm sitting at Stabucks in Va Beach working on an Adult Sunday school class lesson. It's called, "Investing in Eternity." To say it's humbling is a misnomer.

Reading over the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5 ,the Lord Jesus Christ teaching on anxiety/worry and the way in which God provides for all our needs (Matt. 6:25-34), and reading some of the many parables (Matt. 24, 25) on the value of our faith and being stewards of that in which the Father has entrusted us. It is helping me focus more in ways I can invest in Heaven than here on earth - for myself. And that's the kicker! Not to lay-up for ourselves treasures on earth but Heaven.

It's not a sin to have treasures, but the aim, the motivation in which we hoard our resources, can be! Our Lord Jesus Christ, in Matt. 6:17-19 makes it very clear. God has given you talents and gifts that should (1) Glorify God, and (2) Build the church - the body of Christ/people!

It's not really that hard. Or is it? If you look at Church history you'd know that the box, the Church as we know it, a place where we gather to worship, wasn't a thing until the 4th century! When after centuries of the Church being persecuted and still very blessed by God and growing all over Europe and Asia, everything changed when Constantine came and made it THE religion of the Roman Empire.

The Church was no longer some splinter sect from Judaism, it was now a legitimate player among the Pagan gods and myths. For centuries the Church invested in Heaven through incredible self-less charity and generosity...Christians were known for literally giving the shirts off their backs to help others. The Christian life was to live a life of peace and humility (1 Thess. 4:11) as the Lord Jesus did.

Something we still try to imitate two thousand years later. Yet we forgot something. Morals and ethics are great, but living them out in humility and charity ....ouch....that's really hard! For over three centuries the Church not only took upon themselves Christian ideology, but they lived it out by willingly giving up their position and wealth as a way of faith as our Lord Jesus did for us. If Jesus was poor, and He was materially, then they did as well. Again, everything changed after Constantine. Good, bad, or ugly, that is now the world in which the West has lived for 1600 years.

The question that I'm addressing in the lesson, how do we invest in treasures in Heaven? How much is our Savior worth to us? Our redemption? Answer that and look at ways in which each of us are blessed and use that to invest in our Eternity...for God's glory.

If you don't attend a Church now or have taken off because of the pandemic, come out and sit in on the class. Hope Lutheran Church, Va Beach. Starts Sept. 12th.

I hope you're doing well Church! Now to take a page out of the Apostle Paul's letter to the Romans...

"May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." God bless you all!

P.s. If you're in the Hampton Roads area and would love to chat over coffee or lunch, please let me know!

05/28/2021

Good evening Church. Even though Sacred Assembly Church stopped gathering years ago I'm encouraged that visitors pop in now and then to see what Sacred Assembly is all about - out of curiosity or possibly looking for a home to worship in.

Unfortunately, as its pastor and church planter, I was not ready back then to accomplish all that I believed the church was capable of...because of the lack of experience in starting a church from the ground-up and having the business sense in helping her grow (marketing, social media exposure, $$$, etc.). But regardless, God was and is always FAITHFUL.

Since closing the doors on Sacred Assembly I kept this FB page open...partly because it fosters some unfinished work that I've been patiently waiting to come to fruition, and secondly, because I believe God is grooming me to continue the ideals that I wanted Sacred Assembly to be known for: a fellowship of believer's that truly love their Savior Jesus Christ and through that love could accomplish some amazing acts of kindness done in mercy, grace, and charity.

I've learned quite a bit since Sacred Assembly but I'm eager to learn so much more with God's Church! Theologians and Church Fathers continue to teach me so much about the Christian faith without, this is the really hard part, Western philosophies clouding my understanding of what the Apostle was writing to his "true son in the faith (Timothy)," in 1 Timothy 2:1-7 "that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness."

What that "looks like" is foreign to us especially in America. I'm finishing up a book about St. Athanasius - The Father of Orthodoxy (F.A. Forbes). It has truly opened my eyes to the challenges the early church had endured holding onto orthodoxy and also the vision of humble men of God who even through great persecution, physically and emotionally, stood strong and were more than conqueror's in Christ until the end of their lives. The decades and centuries that lead until Constantine were violent and cruel times for the faithful church of God and yet through God's grace they prevailed.

Standing up to the world wasn't easy then and as we move ever closer to our Lord's return today, the world still persists of ruling without the Father so we must remain steadfast and in His love. To His Holy Church and those in our community that need the Hope that only Jesus Christ can bring. May God bless you Church!

11/21/2020

Good morning church. I'm sitting outside Starbucks because they've had to temporarily close indoor seating as a result of the rising Covid cases and instead of complaining to myself (in which I was a little bummed) I thought I'd take one for the team and endure the crisp cool air on their patio. And to be honest, even in those moments where our "plans" need to change, the Spirit speaks to us like a Good parent and helps us realize that we really don't have it that bad after all!

A little news flash for some of you, I've been doing some online Bible classes the last six months (Google my name) and I'm being challenged recently with the next new series; The Holy Spirit in the OT.

I'm convicted of the magnitude of such an undertaking and yet I've truly been blessed by reading OT stories of how the Lord used "ordinary" people in what seems like "ordinary" tasks. Case in point, read Exodus 28:3 or Numbers 11:17 where God's "Spirit" helps endow people with artistic skill and administration. That's powerful!
Run of the mill vocations and yet gifted them to excel in those roles. That says a lot! And should speak to you and I regardless in our current job or lot in life - God has a plan for us and it's another reason to give Him all the glory!

You thought you were so special (and you are in your own ways) but if anyone is in a place of honor, then it's God who should be getting all the glory. St. Paul says this to the Thessalonica church who did a great job at loving each other but... "But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need."

Did you catch it? "...make it your AMBITION to lead a quiet life life and attend to your own business and work [not someone else's!]...so that you will BEHAVE properly toward outsiders and not be in any need."

If we understand God's provision in our lives, in our gifting in whatever that may be, it will help us have a proper attitude toward those outside the Church. If they see us taking care of ourselves (and our own) it is a great testimony and praise to our God. Not us!

God is good! I hope this little rambling I just went on blesses you today and this weekend! God bless you Church!

02/01/2020

Good morning Church. I'm sitting at my favorite java place and pondering public grievances and yet coveting God's grace. As King David's son Solomon said it best, "...there is nothing new under the sun." (Eccl. 1:9 NASB) As a middle-aged man, now in my 50's, I would rightly agree with Solomon.

Solomon goes on in that same chapter to add, "Is there anything of which one might say, "See this, it is new"? Already it has existed for ages...there is no remembrance of earlier things..." (vv.10, 11)

Ecclesiastes was written roughly 3,000 years ago...and yet his wisdom still stands true today. And yes technology has increased dramatically (Daniel 12?) but one thing still stands the test of time....there is a God and we are not Him.

Relationships between individuals have been strained ever since the fall at the Garden and regardless of studying about Solomon's dysfunctional family/nation or our very own...there is nothing new under the sun. And yet we still have hope.

The Apostle Paul writing to the Thessalonian Church, "But since we are of the day, let us be self-controlled, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us to wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." (I Thess. 5:8-9 NASB)

Jesus is our Hope. Our salvation. Now that's time-honored wisdom! So what should we do brothers and sisters? Amongst the storms of life, PRAY! And consider it all joy when we face various trials! (James 1:2) And never stop encouraging and building up one one another! (I thess. 5:11) God bless you!

12/11/2019

Good evening Church. I hope everyone is doing well this Advent season and if you haven't had a chance to go to an evening service, what are you waiting for? No excuses! 😁Here in the VA Beach area there's Catholic, Lutheran, and Orthodox churches that would gladly celebrate with you. So gather-up the family, your better half, invite someone, or go it alone, but join with the family of God and celebrate the coming birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And afterwards, go to your favorite java hangout for a latte or hot chocolate and discuss, and pray, how blessed we are and maybe...just maybe...you'll be able to share the gospel with someone who really needs some hope which only comes from knowing Him who redeemed us but also wants to grant grace to those who believe in our blessed Savior as well. God speed Church! God bless you all!

06/15/2019

Good morning church. It's a beautiful morning here at Va Beach, and I'm more than encouraged that after more than two years, Sacred Assembly's FB page is still getting likes almost every week.
I remember starting the fellowship that met up at Hope Lutheran Church Sunday nights, and though I never had the finances to help grow our little church, I am honored and blessed to hopefully have helped a few of the ladies that were faithful in supporting our time together to grow in the Lord.
I look back and see how naive I was to the politics involved with forming a new church. I shared my thoughts to other established denominations and evangelicals of worshiping liturgically but remaining faithful to Christ's example of not letting "religion" get in the way of the personal relationships that should be a major incentive for all of God's children to gather together - unfortunately, for reasons beyond me, those churches decided not to partner and yet we still went forward. And it still brings a smile to my face.
As time has moved-on I still continue in my personal Bible studies and am devoted to yet someday bringing back Sacred Assembly to a tangible fellowship beyond the internet and back into VA Beach.
And that's where you the readers and those who have liked the Sacred Assembly page come in...if there's anyone feeling God's calling to fellowship, please let me know and I'll find a Starbucks or some other place to start building a community of like-minded believers and see what God does to make it grow...but first pray about it and ask God as the Apostle John says, "And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son."
If starting Sacred Assembly doesn't glorify our Lord and Savior, may it pass and we continue to be diligent in the scriptures to fellowship with the Holy Trinity and each other in other places of worship. Have a blessed day!

02/16/2019

Good morning church, at least for the next five minutes 🙂 at least. I'm sitting at my one of my favorite 'Bucks and reflecting on a finished study I did for the HS kids tomorrow - An heir of God.

What keeps coming to the forefront in thought, going through scripture after scripture of our inheritance in Christ, is what the Apostle John said, "But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!" (NLT)

You see, what's truly beautiful and wondrous, is that our inheritance has already happened and God is sharing blessings and grace before we have gone to be with Him. In Christ, in His righteousness, God sees us already seated with Him in the heavenlies (Ephesians 2:6).
Our inheritance, on Christs' behalf, is something we can have great faith and trust in right now, today! As His children we can commune with our Father and ask Him for whatever we want....and that's the hard part!

As you read and study and pray for His wisdom and guidance in your quiet time, maybe after meditating on Holy Scripture, God promises to give us whatever we want and that's where the carnal and spiritual battle takes shape...God is not a Genie in a bottle...what He wishes to impart in all of his children is peace and comfort and rest.

What the world suggests is more material items, more publicity, more attention to ourselves...but as Solomon teaches us, "Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher,
“Vanity of vanities! All is vanity,” (Eccl. 1:2) and "I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and striving after wind." (Eccl. 1:14 NASB)

God wishes to bestill in His Church only that which really has value: time with Him and those we share life with - family, friends, and our community. Time to share God's mercy, grace, and love which can only be found in His Son. How is it seen?

In lending an ear, and maybe shoulder, to someone who is in need of someone to just listen. To be open to a strangers angry outburst or reddened eyes and ask, "Can I help? Can I pray for you?" I think we would be pleasantly surprised to see that what we ask for in our prayer time is made complete in making a difference to those around us and God is so ready to pour out His blessings - are you?

"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." (Eph. 3:20-21) Go in peace, and serve the Lord! God bless you all!

11/27/2018

Good morning church! For those who have "liked" the Sacred Assembly page, a heartfelt thank you! I pray that everyone's Thanksgiving was just that, a huge expression of thanks to our Lord and those who we share life with; family, friends, colleagues, etc.!

As we get ready to enter the Advent Season I'd like to offer an opportunity for those in the area to come and meet me, but more importantly, to worship together as I lead the Advent Services through December at Hope Lutheran Church - starting December 5th, at 6:30pm. An added bonus, Hope Lutheran is providing dinner at 5:45 for all who come!

This is a wonderful time of the season for those of faith to come together and celebrate the birth of our Savior but also a chance to give real HOPE to those who are hurting and in need of a sense of value and calling...and that's where we, God's Holy Church, must step-in!

Reminds me of our Lord in the Gospel of St. Mark, "On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.'"

We all have experiences, trials and tribulations, that God used to strengthen our faith, and it's those experiences and circumstances where we gained more wisdom - to now help those in need of healing. As a friend. As someone who can lend an ear over a cup of coffee or lunch. To offer a hug and a sincere prayer in fellowship that for many, could be the 1st time in their lives to speak with the Father!

I'd love to see those from the original Sacred Assembly fellowship and those who have liked this page since it's inception to come-out December 5th - but if you can't, regardless, please pray for the moving of the Holy Spirit in His church and in the hearts of those who don't know Him yet! God Bless you!

09/04/2018

Good afternoon church. I wanted to take a quick moment to say thank you to everyone who "likes" our page! Though the church was officially put on sabbatical well over a year ago (has it been two?) my heart still goes out to the handful of ladies who took the time to attend and participate. And now to you our internet family!

I have been faithful in my studies and continue to search and learn the immeasurable depths of God's mercy, grace, and wisdom - in His Word, and by those writers who are called to bring forth and share topics of theology that remain faithful to Orthodoxy and our Christian service.

Recently, reading St. Ignatius, he says of a true believer, "The unbelieving are of this world; but the believing have, in love, the character of God the Father by Jesus Christ, by whom, if we are not in readiness to die into His passion, His life is not in us."

These are strong and challenging words as I sit and enjoy a $6 coffee. And yet as I read from St. Ignatius, words that speak to the Spirit, I'm reminded that our calling in Christ, His passion, should be mine...and I'm reminded of St. John, "Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (I John 2:15 NASB).

Thankfully, St. John is not talking about hating what God has created, but the 'world' that is in rebellion to His Glory and Grace. A world that is moving forward with a worldview that continues to embrace our own autonomy and to reject our Creator. A world that ultimately rejects the Living Word, our Savior Jesus Christ.

Sadly, amongst a secular humanist agenda, those with eyes to see, His Church, we see broken homes, families, and a culture that runs to hide within the darkness and vocally speaks as nothing is wrong...God's words could be written two weeks ago...

Proverbs 1:29-31

"Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD. "They would not accept my counsel, They spurned all my reproof. "So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way And be satiated with their own devices."

One thing I ask of myself, and of you...today, be His Church, be people of mercy, be people of Grace. Be imitators of His passion!

09/03/2017

It's Saturday night and I'm reading through the epistle of Matthew. paying close attention to the "red letters" identifying when our Savior spoke. I felt driven a couple of weeks ago to focus on Jesus' words and articulate the setting, the audience, the instruction given (and sometimes rebuke), and organize them (all four gospels) into a teaching aide for myself, church, and possible preaching applications.
With that said, some of you may have noticed that the church website is temporarily unavailable and that's because Sacred Assembly has been on a hiatus. God knows I haven't lost the desire to lead and minister and yet life has a way of getting in the way sometimes of our hearts ambitions. It reminds me of St. Paul's called mission to speak to the Gentiles - all within the context of being imprisoned, beaten with rods,whipped, stoned, ship-wrecked, etc. (II Cor. 11:23-26) - a love to share the gospel with whatever the world/Satan tried to throw at him. Makes my life seem rather dull and yet I am thankful to sit here and find myself in a manner of speaking, being schooled, as i transcend two millennia and find myself within the inner circle and walking with our Lord.
For those who have "liked" our FB site, a hearty thank you! And for those who miss our Sacred Assembly fellowship on Sunday nights, we will be back...God willing! God bless you all and please keep praying for me and the future of Sacred Assembly.

11/06/2016

Hello church! I'm sitting around drinking some Wawa coffee and really enjoying the cooler temps tonight. I was thinking about the last get together we had at my house and was wondering if you'd all like to have another fire pit assembly...say December 10th? Not so much for dinner but I'm thinking hot drinks and warm finger foods? Stuff we can enjoy around a hot fire!:) And now that I'm thinking about it...we could throw in a cookie exchange? Christmas cookies and the like etc. Let me know what you all think. Miss you all! God Bless!

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Virginia Beach, VA
23464

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6pm - 7:30pm

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+17572143123

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