the Rev. John Frederick
The Rev. Sam Ferguson
The Rev. John Frederick
the Rev. Sam Ferguson
the Rev. John Frederick
the Rev. John Frederick
the Rev. John Frederick
the Rev. Sam Ferguson
the Rev. John Frederick
On Sunday, January 29th, we return to the book of Genesis for our new sermon series, The Life of Abraham: Genesis 12-22. Last winter we considered our beginnings in Genesis 1-11, finding that though life originates in glory, things descend swiftly into sin and chaos. This winter we turn to God’s mission to reclaim his corrupted creation. It’s a project that takes form through the family of a man from Mesopotamia, Abraham.
Themes of calling, mission, and faith emerge in Abraham’s life and become the fabric of the rest of Scripture. In Abraham’s calling, we can hear God’s call to us. By Abraham’s example, we meet the way of faith. Most importantly, through Abraham we are pointed to Jesus. Abraham’s seed, through whom God’s blessings pour forth to all the world, is Jesus Christ (Gal 3:16; Rom 4:17). Therefore, through Abraham God begins applying the balm of salvation to a wicked and weary world: by faith, not perfection, we can be reconciled to God.
Calling, mission, faith—and promises that come true only in Jesus— these are the themes of Abraham’s life. And they must become the fabric of ours.
January 29, 2023: Abraham and The Call of God
February 5, 2023: Abraham and The Mission of God
February 12, 2023: Abraham and The Steps of Faith
February 26, 2023: Abraham and The Reassurance of Faith
March 5, 2023: A Good and Hard Covenant
March 12, 2023: The Cost of Compromise
March 19, 2023: God Gets the Last Laugh
March 26, 2023: God Tests Abraham to Prove He Provides
February 19, 2023: Giving Up Ourselves for Lent
The Rev. Sam Ferguson
the Rev. John Frederick
the Rev. Sam Ferguson
the Rev. Sam Ferguson
the Rev. Sam Ferguson
the Rev. Sam Ferguson
the Rev. Sam Ferguson
the Rev. Sam Ferguson
At a deep level the Gospel of Mark is all about seeing—seeing who we are, seeing who Jesus is, seeing what God’s kingdom is really like. This persistent theme of seeing but not perceiving highlights a daunting fact about our human condition: spiritual blindness.
To the spiritually blind, Mark seems to be suggesting the following posture to his readers, which I commend to you:
First, learn from Blind Bartimaeus. To Jesus’ question, “What do you want me to do for you,” he replies, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight” (10:51). Not insignificantly, this is the last miracle Jesus performs in Mark. It screams to the reader, “Pray that you too may recover your sight!”
Second, note well the theme of childlikeness in the middle of Mark: “Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it” (10:15; 9:36-37; 42; 10:13-16). With the wide and innocent eyes of a child, look to Jesus with humility.
Finally, there is the crucial lesson from the centurion at the cross. “Seeing that in this way Jesus breathed his last, he said, ‘Truly this man was the Son of God!’” (15:39). Other than the opening line of Mark, this is the only time a human uses this divine title for Jesus. It’s no accident. You cannot truly see Jesus unless you are looking at him from the foot of the cross. The Cross of Christ brings all things into proper focus.
As you read the following passages from Mark’s Gospel and follow along in this series, do so from beneath the cross. Lay your expectations, assumptions and ambitions at the Lord’s feet. Humbly acknowledge that you need a Savior whose way is different and deeper than your own—a King whose rule over your life begins with service, even laying down his life for yours (10:45).
We hope you’ll use the guide alongside a friend, with your family, or in your small group, to grow as a disciple of Jesus this fall—or perhaps to answer His call for the first time!
the Rev. Sam Ferguson
the Rev. Steve Cannizzaro
the Rev. John Frederick
the Rev. Sam Ferguson
the Rev. Sam Ferguson
the Rev. Sam Ferguson
the Rev. Sam Ferguson
the Rev. John Frederick
Rev. Isaiah Brooms
Rev. Sam Ferguson
Rev. Sam Ferguson
Rev. Sam Ferguson
Rev. Sam Ferguson
Rev. Sam Ferguson
John Frederick
John Frederick
Isaiah Brooms
Graedon Zorzi
John Frederick
From the grandeur of our creation to the tragedy of our fall, Genesis 1-11 reveals our beginnings for the sake of explaining our present—who we are, why we exist, why life is the way it is—, not merely to satisfy curiosity, but to awaken us to the voice of our Maker, who from time immemorial calls us His own. The events of the garden, Cain’s slaying of Abel, the flood, and Babel’s tower, are true in the deepest sense. They not only happened, but are patterns that reply every day and in every heart; God’s people take rather than trust, turn inward rather than upward. Mercifully, these early chapters of the Bible also introduce us to the antidote to our sin, which is the grace of God. As he relied on God for his beginning, so too does man rely on God for his redeeming—Genesis 1-11, therefore, ultimately points us to the Last Adam, Jesus Christ.
We’ve designed a guidebook to help us go deeper during the series. It follows the sermon each week and includes questions, guides for prayer, ways to respond, and resources to go deeper. Hardcopies of the guidebook will be available at all of our services beginning on Sunday, 1/30, so be sure to pick one up while supplies last.
We hope you’ll use the guide alongside a friend, with your family, or in your small group, to grow as a disciple of Jesus this fall—or perhaps to answer His call for the first time!
The Rev. Sam Ferguson | Genesis 11:1-9
The Rev. Sam Ferguson | Genesis 6:1-8:22
The Rev. Sam Ferguson | Genesis 4:8-16
The Rev. Sam Ferguson | Genesis 4:1-7
The Rev. Sam Ferguson | Genesis 3:8-24
The Rev. Sam Ferguson | Genesis 2:25-3:8
The Rev. Sam Ferguson | Genesis 2:1-3, 7-9
The Rev. Sam Ferguson | Genesis 2:18-25
The Rev. Sam Fegurson | Genesis 1:26-28; 2:4-17
The Rev. Sam Ferguson | Gen 1:1-31
Dec. 26th - Christmas Sunday Service
Dec. 24th - 10pm Christmas Eve Service
Dec. 24th - 8pm Christmas Eve Service
Dec. 24th - 6pm Chrismtas Eve Service
Dec. 24th - 4pm Christmas Eve Family Service
Dec. 19th - 11am Lessons & Carols
Dec. 19th - 9am Lessons and Carols
Dec. 12th - The Peaceful Presence of God Soothes the Anxieties of Man
Dec. 5th - The Lord is Coming. Are you Getting Ready?
Dec. 5th - 9am Service (Handel’s Messiah)
Dec. 5th - Messiah Meditation
What are the marks of a disciple of Jesus? This fall we’ll consider ten marks essential to discipleship in our sermon series, The Everyday Disciple: Following Jesus One Step at a Time. By studying Jesus’ first followers, a vision of discipleship emerges that is both alluring and daunting. But our goal isn’t overnight perfection. Rather, we’ll encourage each other to take just one more step each day towards the call of our Lord, “Follow me.”
We’ve designed a guidebook to help us go deeper during the series. It follows the sermon each week and includes questions, guides for prayer, ways to respond, and resources to go deeper. Hardcopies of the guidebook will be available at all of our services beginning on Sunday, 9/12, so be sure to pick one up while supplies last.
You may also download a printable PDF of the guidebook here.
We hope you’ll use the guide alongside a friend, with your family, or in your small group, to grow as a disciple of Jesus this fall—or perhaps to answer His call for the first time!
Three-Part Mini Sermon Series: July 11-25
Our walk through 1 Peter arrives at the topic of men and women in 1 Peter 3:1-7. The Apostle’s teaching there is built upon God’s Word not just about marriage, but also God’s deep and eternal design for sexuality, human fulfillment, and gender. Church leadership feels these topics are so important that we’ll pause our current sermon series for a three part mini-series this July, Mere Sexuality: God’s Design for Marriage, Fulfillment, & Gender, devoting sermons to the biblical view of marriage (7/11), sex and human fulfillment (7/18), and gender (7/25). These messages touch on the sensitive topics of same sex attraction, gay marriage, singleness, transgenderism and gender dysphoria. We want parishioners to be aware of this as some material may be sensitive for younger children or friends you may invite to church. As always, we aim on Sunday mornings to open the Word of God in faithfulness. And we also follow our Lord’s example, desiring not only clarity in truth, but a spirit of compassion in how we love.
CLICK HERE for the audio message “The Glory of Sharing in Christ’s Sufferings.”
CLICK HERE for the audio message “Shepherding God’s Flock.”
CLICK HERE for the audio message “The City of God in Exile.”
CLICK HERE for the audio message “Keeping the End in Mind.”
Reading: John 12:12-15
Pastor: The Rev. Graedon Zorzi
9 a.m. Traditional Service
11 a.m. Contemporary Service
January 24, 2021
Pastor: Steve Cannizzaro
January 17, 2021
Pastor: Skip Ryan
Reading: Luke 9:28-37 and Exodus 3:1-6
January 10, 2021
Pastor: Steve Cannizzaro
Reading: 1 Thess. 1:1-10
January 3, 2021
Pastor: Steve Cannizzaro
Readings: Luke 2:22-38
December 27, 2020
Pastor: Dean Miller
Readings: James 5:7-20
December 24, 2020
Pastor: Sam Ferguson
Readings: Luke 2:8-20
December 20, 2020
Pastor: Skip Ryan
Readings: Luke 1:26-38
December 13, 2020
Pastor: Sam Ferguson
Readings: John 3:22-30 and Isaiah 9:1-7
November 29, 2020
Pastor: Steve Cannizzaro
Readings: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 and Mark 13:24-37
See also:
The Reign of Christ the King (click here)
November 22, 2020, Christ the King Sunday
Pastor: Skip Ryan
Text: 1 Corinthians 15:20-28
Together in Christ amid Divisive Times
Eph. 4:1–6; John 17:1–23
Here we introduce the tensions and divisiveness of this moment, consider how it impacts the church, and ask what unity looks like and why it is important at a time such as this. Click here to read the sermon.
Part I. The Nature of the Christ-Community
What is Christian community and how is it different from other communities we may be part of?
A Deeper Community
Eph. 1:1–23; Acts 2:36–37
What community finally determines who you are, what you’re here for, and where you are headed? Which web of relationships exacts the greatest influence upon you? Click here to read the sermon.
A Diverse Community
Eph. 2:11–22; Gen. 12:1–9
Our world is desperately trying to create an inclusive community; how does the Christian Community make possible a richer and real diversity?
Part II. The Habits of the Christ Community
How does the Christian community think and engage uniquely? What are its habits of understanding and acting with the world around it?
A Thinking Community
Eph 4:17–24; Prov. 1:1–5; 4:7; 15:22; 18:13; 20:5; 21:2; 23:12; 25:2; 27:27
Our culture does not teach us to think and understand issues well. Christians know that even our “minds are darkened,” so how do we as a community in Christ think and understand important matters with the mind of Christ?
A Doing Community
Eph. 2:1–10; 2 Cor. 5:16–21
As we understand issues around us in the light of Christ, when and how do we engage them?
Part III. The Love of the Christ-Community
How does our community uniquely love, both each other and the world around us?
A Praying Community
Ezek. 3, Zech. 7, Isa. 50, Luke 9 & 19, 1 Sam. 12
We are called to be people of truth and love. How do we live well during polarized times? In what ways do we seek what is ‘easy’ over what God calls us to?
A Loving Community Part 1: A Humble Love
Matt. 11:25-30; Eph. 4:1-7
Our witness loses integrity if we don’t love one another, so what is the unique energy and manner of how the community loves one another?
A Loving Community Part 2: A Building Up Love
Eph. 4:7-16; John 13:31-35
Our witness loses integrity if we don’t love one another, so what is the unique energy and manner of how the community loves one another?
An Outwardly Loving Community
Eph. 5:1–21; Matt. 5:13–16
Our posture toward the world is bittersweet in that we lament and warn, while also laying down our lives in service; what does this Christ-like love of the world look like?
Dear Church Family,
2020 has been a tough year! A pandemic, race and justice issues, upended social norms, protests and riots, and virtual everything, have made the past six months unexpected to say the least. Thrown into the mix will soon be a presidential election. In the Washington Metro region, the mood can feel tense, tired and a bit divisive.
How should Christians understand and engage a moment like this? We must renew our vision and commitment to the church, the heart of God’s mission for us and the world, for two reasons.
First, when a spirit of division moves about in a nation, it tends to sow seeds of division within the church. The vibrancy and witness of the church, however, issues from her members’ unity and bonds of love. The quality of our life together is part of the witness of the Gospel of Hope that we hold out to a weary world. This fall, for the sake of the world, let’s ponder Paul’s admonition to the Ephesians: “be eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3).
Second, you and I need the church. We are not ourselves by ourselves. Webs of relationships shape how we see and understand the world and our role in it. As Christians we are called to be shaped and to understand the world through Christ. In God’s economy of salvation, this shaping and transforming happens within a community of believers nourished by the Holy Spirit. Let’s live into, therefore, this truth: “though many, we are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another” (Rom. 12:5).
Our fall sermon series, Together in Christ amid Divisive Times, aims at renewing our vision and commitment to this community created by Christ. Drawing heavily from the Letter to the Ephesians, we will consider these three aspects of the church: its nature, habits, and love. My prayer for us in these months is not only for a deepened unity around our life in Christ (Eph. 4:3), but a fulfillment of Ephesians 3:10, “that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.”
In Christ's Love,
Sam Ferguson, Rector
Some associate The Lord’s Prayer with rote religious tradition. How far from its original intent! Jesus taught this prayer as the path into the burning center of God’s Kingdom. Coming in the middle of Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5–7), The Lord’s Prayer (Matt 6:9–13) is how disciples engage and enjoy their new life in God and live into His missional purposes here on earth. In praying these words, doctrine becomes life, teaching flows into kingdom.
Over the next five weeks, in our series The Lord and His Prayer: Realizing the Kingdom through Prayer, we will study this prayer, what it means, how we pray and live it, and why it matters for us today.
Three goals excite me as we launch this series. The first has to do with experience: I want God and the realities of God’s Kingdom to become more real to our hearts through this prayer. Through Jesus we become God’s children (John 1:12–13), but it is through prayer, by the working of the Holy Spirit, that we experience our sonship.
The second is about reorientation and engagement: I want us to become reoriented to what God is doing in the world, and increasingly to be His instruments in accomplishing it. Praying “Thy will be done” thrust us into the inbreaking of God’s Kingdom here on earth, reorienting us to see events, happenings, and spiritual things from God’s perspective.
The third is all about rest: Jesus words just prior to The Lord’s Prayer are, “your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matt 6:8). And His words soon after read, “Do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For … your heavenly Father knows that you need them all” (Matt 6:31–32). Praying this prayer is our rest.
Our Father, Hallowed Be Thy Name (April 26)
Let His Kingdom Come (May 3)
Give Us This Day Our Bread (May 10)
Forgive Us, as We Forgive (May 17)
Deliver Us from Evil (May 24)
