Pastor Ashley invites the congregation to reflect on the power of “what if” questions and how they open space for deeper faith, especially during Advent. She centers the message on Mary’s story and asks, “What if Mary said no?” While Mary’s rol...

Pastor Ashley reflects on the theme of preparations during Advent, linking our Christmas preparations with Zechariah’s sacred duty in the temple. Chosen by lot to offer prayers for Israel’s redemption, Zechariah also brings his long-held person...

Lori Bakewell shares her personal journey of losing and rediscovering joy after a season of profound loss, family responsibilities, and emotional exhaustion. Though she continued “showing up” in life, she realized she had mistaken being “happy ...

Pastor Ashley teaches that God is always speaking, just as God spoke to Samuel throughout his life. Samuel’s story shows the power of listening—not just hearing—with attention, obedience, and trust. Though Samuel never saw the fulfil...

Pastor Ashley teaches that “trusting in the waiting” is essential to spiritual growth. In a world used to instant answers and constant updates, waiting feels uncomfortable, even anxiety-inducing—but God uses waiting to shape our character, deep...

Pastor Ashley’s sermon reflected on Elijah’s story as a reminder of the power and purpose of pausing. She began by noting the simple wisdom of rest—sometimes all we need is “a nap and a snack.” Through Elijah’s exhaustion and despair, God met h...

Pastor Ashley’s sermon reflected on Jesus raising Lazarus and the deep lessons it offers about grief, faith, and hope. She reminded us that even Jesus experienced profound sorrow, showing the depth of His love and His reliance on prayer. Throug...

Pastor Ashley’s sermon, “Wounded Healer,” reminds us that while pain and grief are unavoidable parts of life, God’s faithfulness sustains us through them. Using examples from scripture and personal stories, she emphasizes that God comfor...

This sermon opens a new series, “A Time to Heal,” focusing on grief as both a personal and communal experience. Pastor Ashley invites prayer that God be glorified through reflection and healing. Grief, they note, takes many forms—loss of...

Father David Lucey reflects on faith, hope, and God’s enduring presence amid loss and exile. Drawing from Jeremiah’s letter to the exiled Jews, Father David emphasizes that God’s plans are for restoration and hope, even when life feels disorien...

Pastor Ashley explores the meaning and purpose of the Sabbath as a divine invitation to rest, resist busyness, and restore balance. Rooted in obedience, which C.S. Lewis called “the key to all doors,” Sabbath opens the way to God’s intended goo...

Pastor Ashley’s sermon continues exploring the Ten Commandments, highlighting their depth beyond a list of “don’ts.” Last week focused on honoring God; this week turns to six commandments guiding relationships with others. These rules—honoring ...

Pastor Ashley began a new sermon series on the Ten Commandments, focusing this week on the first three that call us to honor God. She reminded us that these commandments, given to Moses during Israel’s uncertain journey, were not rules to restr...

Peri Bever’s sermon focused on the theme of worth—not as defined by money, status, appearance, or the opinions of others, but by God’s love and design. Using examples like a Tiffany lamp at a yard sale, a violin in an auctioneer’s hand...

Reverend Doctor Michelle Holmes Chaney reflects on Psalm 139 and the assurance that God is always present with us—past, present, and future. Using both scripture and personal stories, Dr. Holmes Chaney reminds us that although we often let dist...

Pastor Ashley reflects on the meaning of “Amen,” reminding us it is not just a word of agreement or punctuation in worship, but a way of life. Rooted in the Hebrew for “truly” and “let it be,” Amen is both affirmation and action. Hebrews 13 cal...

Pastor Ashley reflects on how easily people can lose direction in life, using technology, GPS, and personal stories as metaphors for spiritual guidance. She emphasizes that faith often requires a “reset” to realign with God’s will, drawing from...

Pastor Ashley’s sermon explores the importance of living with God’s purpose. Using the film Cast Away, she illustrates how a sense of purpose sustains us through challenges. She shares Pastor Junius Dotson’s story of burnout, reminding...

 Pastor Ashley reflects on how the Holy Spirit often redirects our lives, sometimes through sudden course corrections and other times through prolonged discomfort or restlessness. These moments of redirection call us to wrestle with God’s ...

Pastor Ashley reflects on the power of names and nicknames, noting that while many labels are given by others and don’t fully define us, Scripture reminds us of the most important name: Beloved. Drawing from Isaiah 43 and Jesus’ baptis...

Pastor Ashley reflects on Paul’s letter to the Philippians, written during his imprisonment. Despite his chains, Paul continued to proclaim Christ with joy, inspiring guards, believers, and even skeptics. His suffering became a platform for the...

From Pentecost to Warrenton UMC today, the story of the church is one of resilience, faith, and Spirit-led community. Just as the first believers faced fear, waiting, and opposition, our church has endured wars, pandemics, and change—yet contin...

Stories shape who we are, connect us to one another, and reveal God’s work in our lives. When we share our experiences, others recognize pieces of their own journey, building empathy, deepening relationships, and breaking down barriers. Testimo...

In the opening message of the Your Story series, Pastor Ashley shares her own journey of faith, weaving together moments of clarity, struggle, surrender, and God’s surprising direction. Through seasons of uncertainty and loss, she disc...