Melissa and Ben Yosua-Davis, Co- Pastors of The Vine Community
Worship style - Non-traditional Methodist
Worship with The Vine Community currently happens twice a month at 4:04P.M. on Sundays. It meets at a local cafe, The Artist Cafe at 22 Washington Street in Haverhill, MA. It is a recent church plant, the vision of a dynamic couple, Melissa and Ben Yosua-Davis. We had heard about this faith community from friends and were very intrigued by the unique gathering. So, with our daughter, Melissa, in tow we traveled to Haverhill, MA, which is about an hour away from our house in MA. Friends of Melissa, who live close by, met us there as well. We surprised our friends by showing up and met the co-pastors as well as regular members of the community. This is a warm, loving, welcoming group of people. As their website states, "We imagined a different kind of church - one that was not bound by four walls or by a time on Sunday mornings but that gathered throughout the city whenever two or three were together. Wherever life happened, church happened too."
There were approximately 30 people in attendance.
Pastor Ben based his sermon on the Scripture Reading - Luke 2:25-35. This is the scripture that talks about Simeon, the righteous and devout man who walked with the Holy Spirit and who had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. One of the questions that comes to mind when reading the Scripture is, How did Simeon know, that out of all the babies brought to the temple, this was the ONE? Pastor Ben answers this question by referring to a book by Jack Levison on the Holy Spirit. In this book, Levison suggests that Simeon knew because of his constant, long-term devotion. His regular devotion was done with his eye fixed on the significant moment. Pastor Ben concluded that following Jesus is not about the big moment but all the daily "routine maintenance." Small habits lead to big changes.
We were honored to share in communion with this faith community where we each offered communion one-to-another followed by a word of blessing or encouragement. For the first time in our 31 year marriage, Denise offered communion to David. This was very special! The service was concluded with a simple, lovingly-prepared soup dinner for all. Breaking bread together - CHURCH!
Worship style - Non-traditional Methodist
Worship with The Vine Community currently happens twice a month at 4:04P.M. on Sundays. It meets at a local cafe, The Artist Cafe at 22 Washington Street in Haverhill, MA. It is a recent church plant, the vision of a dynamic couple, Melissa and Ben Yosua-Davis. We had heard about this faith community from friends and were very intrigued by the unique gathering. So, with our daughter, Melissa, in tow we traveled to Haverhill, MA, which is about an hour away from our house in MA. Friends of Melissa, who live close by, met us there as well. We surprised our friends by showing up and met the co-pastors as well as regular members of the community. This is a warm, loving, welcoming group of people. As their website states, "We imagined a different kind of church - one that was not bound by four walls or by a time on Sunday mornings but that gathered throughout the city whenever two or three were together. Wherever life happened, church happened too."
There were approximately 30 people in attendance.
Pastor Ben based his sermon on the Scripture Reading - Luke 2:25-35. This is the scripture that talks about Simeon, the righteous and devout man who walked with the Holy Spirit and who had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. One of the questions that comes to mind when reading the Scripture is, How did Simeon know, that out of all the babies brought to the temple, this was the ONE? Pastor Ben answers this question by referring to a book by Jack Levison on the Holy Spirit. In this book, Levison suggests that Simeon knew because of his constant, long-term devotion. His regular devotion was done with his eye fixed on the significant moment. Pastor Ben concluded that following Jesus is not about the big moment but all the daily "routine maintenance." Small habits lead to big changes.
We were honored to share in communion with this faith community where we each offered communion one-to-another followed by a word of blessing or encouragement. For the first time in our 31 year marriage, Denise offered communion to David. This was very special! The service was concluded with a simple, lovingly-prepared soup dinner for all. Breaking bread together - CHURCH!