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New to smoky row?

We’re people from all sorts of seasons in life, doing our best to live up to our motto:
“…becoming more like Jesus all the time…”

Who is Jesus and why does it matter?

Around 2,000 years ago, the God who made everything came down to live among people as one of us. God took on flesh, born to a virgin in a little town called Bethlehem in the person of Jesus (at least that's how we say the name in English). Jesus performed miracles, taught many things, and - most importantly - gave us the fullest picture we have of God's character and love.

Being in very nature God, Jesus did not demand power and glory but emptied himself to take the place of a servant - even humbling himself to the point of death on a Roman execution stake (Php 2:5-11). But he didn't stay dead! Three days later he rose again, showing that death had been defeated through perfect love. In Jesus, we are freed from the hold that our brokenness has over our lives so that we can discover a life that is truly life.

What does that mean for Smoky Row Brethren?

Because we are captivated by Jesus, we strive to look like him and obey his teachings. We love others the same way Jesus loved us - freely. We have found that this journey of faith is so much more precious and joyful when shared with others, so we meet regularly in both large and smaller settings.

We’re a small group overall, but growing, and big enough to get done what God’s asking of us right now—whether that’s caring for ourselves through spiritual formation and sharing life together, serving our neighbors through the efforts of the Sawmill Interfaith Community Care group and the Smoky Row Food Pantry, or simply being a gathering place for local community groups.

We’re also taking seriously the vision of what worship will be like on the other side of Jesus’ return, when “all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues” worship God together (Rev 5:9, 7:9). We want to overcome the things that divide us as people, and strive to live up to the great truth “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:29).

If that sounds like something you'd like to be a part of, we'd love for you to come visit sometime!
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What to Expect

If you happen to walk through the doors of our church, you won't be met with shame, guilt, or condemnation. We don't care how you're dressed or what candidate you voted for. Our church is made up of real people who are trying to practice the Way of Jesus together.
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Expect to be greeted warmly, but given space to experience your time with us. Expect to see people talking with each other, and glad to catch up. Expect to discover a congregation where everyone matters, and the pastor isn’t the final authority or the most important person in the room. Expect to hear a kid or two laugh during the morning, and see people of all ages connecting. Expect to not be catered to: the services that we put together take into account a range of preferences, styles, and the gifts we have as a congregation. We just sort of believe that the Church is at its best when it considers everybody.

Expect to be blessed, though, no matter what.

common Questions

What's going on for my kids?
That depends on how old they are, really. We have a great nursery program, which is (literally and figuratively) growing all the time. We currently invite kids (ages 4 and up) to stay in the service and get a sense of what it means to be a part of the Body of Christ as we come together for worship.

​We are convicted that we should welcome children as Jesus does, so we intentionally design our services to help kids participate and grow a love for church. Most Sundays, we will have some sort of children's message incorporated into our time together. Kids can also grab a bulletin and activity bag designed just for them.
What should I wear?
​Whatever you’re comfortable in. If you come prepared to go swimming, you might get some looks, but people would still say hello. (They might be wearing flip-flops, too, actually.) We’re not that formal, and think clothes don’t prove anyone’s character.
What's brethren?
“Brethren” is an old way of saying “brothers and sisters,” and The Brethren Church, headquartered in Ashland, Ohio, is the denomination that we’re a part of. Some of the things that are more “brethren” about us might be the way we emphasize how everyone has an equally important part to play in the Church, how following Jesus in our daily lives matters, and the importance of recognizing that we are, in fact, brothers and sisters in Christ and ought to love each other like it.

We Would Love to Have You Visit Soon!


Telephone

614.889.5224

Email

office@smokyrow.org

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  • Home
  • I'm New
    • Start Here
    • About Us
    • What We Believe
    • What Jesus Commands
    • Food Pantry
    • Community Garden
    • Our Partners
  • Plan Your Visit
  • Calendar
  • Sermons
  • Daily