WELCOMING

Once past the bricks and columns of our buildings, you are likely to find an extended hand, a smiling face, and a warm embrace. In fact, that may happen in the parking lot as our Hosts greet you. Sound great? Yes, but it's not enough.

 On a deeper level, we are beginning to understand that true “welcoming” goes beyond being friendly; it means truly accepting others… their pains, problems, sins and sorrows… along with their hopes and dreams. “Come as you are” must become more than a slogan. Can we truly welcome someone if we think our job is to change them?  Not really. Welcoming does not mean “Come, be one of us.” Rather, welcoming means “Come, be loved as you are; love us as we are; and perhaps, in the grace of God, we can become better together.”

JESUS CHRIST

Our “statements of belief” about Jesus would differ little from those of most evangelical Christian churches. We are comfortable with a classic understanding of Jesus Christ as both divine and human. He was and is the unique, sinless Son of God. His birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection accomplished what no other could: Eternal redemption for whosoever will. Keep reading.

Beyond mental gymnastics and religious phrases, following Jesus Christ sets us on a journey of lifelong transformation through the work of God’s Spirit. We are seeking to go beyond formulas such as "repeat/accept certain ideas about Jesus and/or say some version of a ‘sinner’s prayer’ and you will be saved.” Eternity begins in the present. "Eternal life" means living in relationship with Jesus. “Salvation” means following Jesus Christ wherever He leads… discovering and living God’s purposes for life here and now. This, of course, has implications that never end (eternity). For us, Jesus is the Savior of the world, forever!

WORSHIP

It’s not easy to explain the “value” of worship because, in so many ways, worship has been misunderstood. By “valuing” worship, we often mean that we value what worship does for us… it makes us feel good, lifts our spirits, gives us a sense that we have done our duty, the music was enjoyable, the sermon was to our liking, or not.

In our church, we are trying to move beyond “what worship does for us/what we get out of it.” Worship is about God; God is the focus. Praise, reflection, listening, sharing, and praying brings honor to our Creator. Worship is not confined to an hour or two in the “Sanctuary.” Honestly, like many of our values, we are still growing toward this one.

PERSONAL FAITH and CHOICE

We believe that each person on earth has the privilege and responsibility to choose in all matters concerning faith and worship. Again, people choose what to believe or not… and even whether or not to believe. It is impossible to coerce true belief, faith, trust, acceptance, etc. These are matters between individuals and God, who gives each of us all that we need to make competent choices. Often, these choices are made as part of a process and are better understood in hindsight. We often invite people to declare their choices publicly.

CHRISTIAN FRIENDSHIP

Learning to love others and live in harmony is essential to following Jesus. We are discovering that "personal faith" is flat when removed from the context of Christian friends and fellowship. We encourage all members and attendees of our church to become part of a smaller group and to embrace “The Hatcher Promise.”

SHARING the GOOD NEWS

Someone has said that "sharing the Good News of God’s love is like one beggar telling another where to find bread." It's the right thing to do... and it feels good. We are all sinners who equally need the grace of a good God, day by day, moment by moment. Each of us needs all of God's grace, no matter what we have or have not done. The Good (GREAT) News is that God longs to enter our lives and give us a new start. From that time forward, we are not alone. The more we share with others, the more we realize God’s presence is near to us. God’s love is often best shared in practical ways... in acts of kindness... just because God is love.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Long ago, a group in our church called “The Unusual We” began collecting furniture and household furnishings for community folks whose circumstances left them without such things. The church would find a place to rent and then furnish it top to bottom. Many such stories could be shared, but let it confidently be said that God intends our church to reach out to hurting people. This value is truly being embraced by Hatcher as we reach out to those who are disadvantaged or struggling in Lakeside and Metro Richmond.

INSPIRED SCRIPTURES

Written Scripture means the Old and New Testaments. We hold both to be inspired by God in a special way. They have unique authority for our faith and lives. In the narrative of the Bible, we learn how our story fits into God’s larger story of creation. The Bible helps us make sense of how we got here (God "made" us); how others have understood and interacted with God (the history of our faith); why we were created (to bring companionship and glory to God); where we are going (we were created to live forever with God and each other); and how we should live (sharing the Good News of God’s Kingdom in word and deed.)

More to come... please register on the site and add comments here.