Christmas is a time of many traditions. From family to gifts to eating to decorating, it is a time where many people work very hard and get great joy.  For those of us who follow Jesus, it is a time in which we reflect on the greatest miracle in the history of the world.  We reflect on the miracle of God the Son becoming human to redeem mankind from sin.

Scripture reveals that the eternal God humbled Himself and took on flesh that we might be reconciled to God, as He would live in order to die as a sacrifice.  This sacrifice was no accident or mistake.  It was planned before the world was ever created, in order that God would receive ultimate glory, and we would receive eternal joy.  He who knew no sin, was made to be sin so that we might become the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21).

Last night, Village Church at Midlothian, along with a many other friends, gathered for a night of joy in worship and the fun of enjoying holiday traditions.  The evening was marked with a realization that the birth of Christ reveals that not only do our lives matter to God, but also He desires for us to bring Him glory through those lives, and has done everything for that to happen.

Tomorrow as you gather for gifts and food and family traditions, enjoy them.  Take heart that Jesus has freed us from the curse of the law and we are free to find joy in every part of life.  Above all though, reflect on the birth of our Savior, Christ the Lord.  Realize that the freedom that you have been given is a freedom that reconciles you to God in order that you may live as you were designed to, for the glory of God.  Give Him glory as you give gifts and gather with family.  Live His mission of redemption by forgiving those who have wronged you and engaging them with the reason for reconciliation, Jesus.

We will not gather corporately as a local church tomorrow.  Instead, we will be scattered throughout Virginia, with some of you in other states.  Remember the mission that you were redeemed for, and take joy that this is not all that there is.  The greatest gift is that of reconciliation with God. We may live life in relationship with Him through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  That is an occasion to be celebrated with no restraint.

We were designed to live in relationship. We were created to live in connected community with one another. We live in an era though, where we seem to become more disconnected from one another by the day. We now seek community in online environments where we attempt to form relationships with many people that we have never, and may never come into physical contact with. As people are further isolated from one another depression reaches new heights every single year.

Is there something that we are missing? Is there something that is driving us away from the relationships that could bring healing and life change? What role does the church play in a world that needs the beauty of community? What if we have attempted to form community with others, even in the church and have been left disappointed or even hurt?

The truth is that God has created us to live in relationship with one another and even redeemed us through the work of the Gospel so that we could experience the community that He has eternally had in the Trinity. What is it then that we are missing? God’s role of community in our lives is to propel His mission of redemption further and further.

This Sunday at Village Church, we will take a look at what it looks like to enter into missional community with other Christians and the purpose it plays in God’s purpose of redemption for the world.

Due to the ongoing power outage at the Grove Avenue Baptist Church Campus, all services have been cancelled.  I (Pastor Steve) was scheduled to preach, and will not be doing so due to the power outages.

All Village Church services this morning have been cancelled due to the Hurricane’s aftermath.  Please stay safe this morning, and pray for all those affected throughout the East Coast. Check on your neighbors, and family members.  Be the church in your neighborhood this morning to those who have needs that you can meet.

We will meet next Sunday at Tomahawk Creek Middle School at 10 am.  See you then!

Pastor Steve

As Hurricane Irene makes her way through the Richmond area, power is out throughout much of the city.  This has also affected Grove Avenue Baptist Church.  Due to power outage, the 9:15 am service for tomorrow, August 28, has been cancelled.

If power has been restored at the Grove Avenue Campus by the morning, the 11 am service will be held as planned.  We will keep you updated here.

Please pray for the people who are being affected by this storm all over the east coast, and stay safe!

Pastor Steve

Villagers,

Unfortunately, due to the forecast for hurricane force winds in the Metro area on Sunday morning, Chesterfield County has chosen to close all school buildings for the weekend. This means that all churches that meet in school buildings will be unable to do so this Sunday, August 28, 2011.

We had a guest speaker, Dr. Don Fowler, scheduled to speak at our 10 am service at Tomahawk Creek Middle School, but due to the closure that service has been cancelled. Hopefully we can have Dr. Fowler back to share with us before too long.  The good news is that I (Pastor Steve) was already scheduled to speak at Grove Avenue Baptist Church (8701 Ridge Road, Richmond, VA 23229) at 9:15 am and 11:00 am this Sunday.  Grove has been friends and supporters of the Village since the beginning and I would like to invite every one of you to join us there this Sunday to worship Jesus with us! If there is a change due to weather, we will let you know right here.

Please continue to pray as we continue to look for a permanent space for the campus of Village Church. We believe that this is God’s desire for us in the near future, and we also believe that you are integral in Him opening doors of opportunity for that to happen. Dream big for what God could do on our behalf and keep your eyes open! Also, be sure to pray this weekend for all those impacted by the hurricane. Though our area isn’t likely to receive much damage, that won’t be true for people not too far away.

If anything else changes due to Hurricane Irene, we will keep you posted.

Live the Mission,

Pastor Steve

This past Sunday we started our series on James: The Gospel of Works, It was a great time of worship through teaching and lifting our voices to God. We learned that trials reveal what our joy is truly in, they give purpose to hope and they demand that we trust God through them. God is faithful, he never changes and we can trust him with our lives. Here are the songs we sang:

The Solid Rock- Charlie Hall

Marvelous Light- Charlie Hall

Before The Throne Of God Above- Sojourn

I Boast No More- Caedmon’s Call

In Christ Alone- Matt Papa

Yes and Amen- Matt Redman

“For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” – Romans 8:22-25

We had a great time of worship this past Sunday as we finished out the Habakkuk series. Together as a church we learned that God’s vision for our lives creates repentance, faithful worship, and ultimately complete satisfaction in God. Here are the songs:

Freedom Is Here- Hillsong United

You Never Let Go- Matt Redman

Stronger- Hillsong

Great Is Thy Faithfulness- (Lincoln Brewster version)

Let Our Faith Be Note Alone- Robbie Seay Band

We Are Changed- Sojourn

“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the    flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places”

-Habakkuk 3:17-19

Merry Christmas Villagers! Unfortunately, Sunday’s Worship Experience is cancelled for tomorrow, 12/26. Chesterfield County has closed all facility rentals due to the anticipated snow tonight and tomorrow.  Please stay safe and warm as there is forecasted to be quite a bit of snow coming down throughout tomorrow and into the evening.

The snow is beautiful, and is brought to us by our sovereign God.  Even though we cannot gather as a corporate community tomorrow to worship Him, redeem the time to spend in worship of our King. As we have reflected on last week, God has revealed Himself to us through His Son to redeem us to live lives of worship and enjoyment of Him while we live His mission.

Maybe tomorrow can be a time of family worship to reflect on the blessings and challenges of the past year and how God has worked redemption into your lives, while also casting a vision for the mission that God has brought us through His Son in 2 Corinthians 5.  It can also be a time of connecting with neighbors through servanthood or by having some neighborhood fun in the snow. Possibly, God may also be giving you a day of Sabbath to rest to the glory of God. The point is to be sensitive to the leading of the Spirit and redeem your time to bring glory to our great God and King.

Please be sure to join us next Sunday at 10 am at Tomahawk Creek Middle School, as we will reflect on an amazing year of movement and growth where God has expanded our influence and enlarged our territory. We will be casting vision for the coming year as God has so much more to come for Village Church at Midlothian through the Vision of Jesus.  It will be a time of great vision of great faith in a great God as we see how God made the Sun Stand Still to bring about His Purpose for His People. Be there!