Letters from the Pastor

Church seating is a fascinating thing. Over time, most of us gravitate to “our spot,” whether that’s on the aisle, near a friend, or close to the back. I’ve even joked that if someone sits in your seat, it can throw your whole morning off. And of course we kid about...

This past Sunday was a special day of prayer and blessing at HRBC. We began with our Blessing of the Backpacks, where students of all ages brought their school bags forward and we prayed together for a year filled with curiosity, kindness, and courage. As a...

This past Sunday we began our new sermon series, Gifted and Called, by exploring what it means to be One Body with Many Gifts (1 Corinthians 12; Romans 12). We learned that every believer is uniquely designed by God – on purpose for a purpose. God has given each of us...

This week's letter has been written by Gabrielle "Gabby" Maes. We hope you are blessed by her thoughts this week. An organist buddy of mine told me about a great church music workshop held for two weeks at the height of summer, at Shenandoah University—a regal,...

Five years ago today, on July 30, 2020, my father died of COVID-19. Sometimes it feels like it just happened, and sometimes it feels like a lifetime ago. Time does strange things with grief. It bends and blurs our memories. But what has remained constant for me is how...

This past weekend, I traveled to Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina to visit my mom, Carol, and my stepdad, Richard. It was a meaningful trip—especially since both have experienced some health concerns this year. Like many of you, they join our worship service each week via...

Humans are creatures of habit. Have you ever wondered why?  Think about your morning routine. Most of us repeat the same steps each day without much thought. Here’s mine:  5:55 a.m. – Wake up and pour a cup of Sumatra, straight up, ground from whole beans...

This past Sunday, we reflected on the incredible encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman in John 4. We saw how one simple, grace-filled conversation led to transformation—not just for her, but for her whole community.  She didn’t preach a sermon or quote...

I’ve always loved sunflowers. They make me smile! Their golden blooms stand tall and bright—never failing to bring warmth to any corner of a yard or garden. Over the years, I’ve planted sunflowers in spots that get plenty of sun, often experimenting with different...

In last Sunday’s message from Numbers 22:21–35, we encountered one of the Bible’s most surprising messengers: a talking donkey. As strange as that sounds, the lesson was clear—God can speak truth to us through the most unexpected means. The real question is whether...