Thomas McConnell talks about his experiences serving with the Virginia National Guard and offers insight into how it feels when God’s plans for us are different from those we have for ourselves.

We want to help parents in the pew talk about the message of each sermon series with their children. Just as you may ask your child what they learned in Children’s Worship, we want them to ask you what you learned during the sermon! We also want to equip parents to have meaningful discussions with their kids who remain in the service for the sermon each week.

“…over the last 15 years of pastoral ministry I’ve come to see that much of my job is listening to, and listening for, stories. Not fictional stories of Keillor’s Lake Wobegone, but the real stories of men and women within City Church—the pain and poignancy, the laughter and loss, the silly and sublime. ”

“The heart of hospitality is about creating space for someone to feel seen and heard and loved. It's about declaring your table a safe zone, a place of warmth and nourishment.” 

“In the course of reading your letters I realized something: your work on this devotional series is itself a great example of bringing cosmos to chaos…That’s why I decided that you—faithful writer of letters that you are—deserved a letter of your own.”

Meg shares some thoughts and resources from this year’s Women’s Retreat that are sure to be helpful for all of us.

Lose 10 pounds. Exercise three times a week. Read 20 books. Stare at my phone less. The start of each new year sees many of us make resolutions like these in an effort to improve our diets, our health, our minds, ourselves. After conversations with some people who have far loftier ambitions for the coming year than I do, I’ve been thinking about resolutions. 

“Chances are you’ll never see discarded Advent decorations littering the street. You won’t see Advent recipes hyped on glossy covers […] But because my job includes preparing church services and programming during Advent, I’ve been thinking about what the season means.”

City Church member Anne Stewart Freeman shares some thoughts on our upcoming Women’s Retreat (January 26th and 27th).

Towards the end of Galatians, Paul writes to his friends, “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ…For each will have to bear his own load.” These verses are simple and profound and immediately practical for any stage and circumstance of life. 

“This fall I’ve been reading the reflections of Lesslie Newbigin, a British pastor and missionary who served as bishop in India 50 years ago […] Newbigin meditates on the nature and importance of Christian leadership. Spurred on by this book lately I’ve been thinking about leadership.”

Ross Catrow shares how his work as an advocate with RVA Rapid Transit contributes to making Richmond look more and more like God’s kingdom.