This church is a come as you are type congregation. For the broken and the weary where we can all…read moregrow, fellowship and be a community. As a regular to the services I have come to appreciate the unorthodox services and community Rise provides. I do not always agree with what the leadership may say but I use that as w way to learn from other perspectives and to humble myself. I consider the leadership and congregation to be my family and as any family operates with in itself there is always going to be differences. Bottom line if you are looking for a community to connect with that you can receive from and give back as well this place is for you. From sermons and messages to grow from to the activities the church does to give to the community. You are a gift and you are welcome here no matter what.

RISE faith community is a place of acceptance and love for all of God's creation. That is an…read moreexample true Christian values. One of the sayings there is that God's Love is for everyone. This is not a liberal agenda, it's a Jesus agenda. RISE is a loving and caring community.

This church is beautiful. My family has a rich history in New Market. The pastoral staff are…read morewelcoming and nice. The building is on the campus of Shenandoah Valley Academy. You couldn't ask for a more pleasant country setting or nice group of people. There is ample parking and the seating is soft and comfortable.

Amazing place to be a part of! Extremely active campus church with two schools (an elementary and…read morea boarding academy) that help keep the energy level strong. We enjoy worshipping there, as the music is of high quality, the preaching is consistently engaging and inspiring, and the commitment to ministering to the community is high. Family-friendly in the extreme, with lots of programming for kids of all ages. The congregation is large, and the volume of guests each week can be high (particularly on weekends with special programming). Greeters and members alike do a good job of striking that balance between welcoming new people and at the same time respecting their right to stay in the background as they check things out. You'll be glad you came to their campus! Highly recommended church to be a part of.

The beautiful drive to the countryside location sets the scene while the warm and inviting sisters…read moreinside welcome you in for a glimpse into their lives. The cheese is an entire experience. It is creamy and just acidic enough. I was worried my family of 4 wouldn't be able to work through the wheel, but it turns out to be the most amazing grilled cheese-making cheese you could ever imagine and had my kids begging for more! We made a special trip to Crozet while in D.C. for this cheese (and maybe some wine!). Please visit if you are in the area!

This cheese is second to nun! So worth the beautiful, scenic drive to the foothills of the Blue…read moreRidge Mountains to Crozet, VA where the sisters of this cloistered monastery have been making Gouda Country Cheese for decades. The 2 lb. cheese wheel comes in a red wax coated protective seal that keeps this semi-soft cheese delicious and mild. We purchased two wheels of cheese at $32 each. They also ship for a slightly higher charge. But it's definitely worth taking a trip to see the monastery grounds and visit the sweet nuns. The cheese shop is open daily (except Sunday) between 2-4 pm, but hours may vary so check their website for times. The cheese here is made from grass-fed cow's milk which gives this cheese its incredible velvety texture. The cheese curds are shipped in from Wisconsin, the cheese capital of the states! The Dutch recipe is a well kept secret and makes this cheese unique and flavorful! It's so Gouda, you may develop a "habit" for it! It's truly heaven sent!

I attended the church while visiting Bryce's Mountain resort. The congregation was incredibly warm…read moreand inviting. The minister gave an excellent sermon that was both valuable but in some portions actually very funny. After the service, people met in the fellowship hall and they shared an amazing feast. I've included pictures. People came up and wanted to meet me and we had great conversations. All in all it's a very loving congregation and I could feel the Holy Spirit very much at work.

cute church in the mountainsread more

It's a wonder and a testament to the Diocese that they've kept Shrine Mont so authentic, right down…read moreto the slamming screen doors. Even though they must maintain a bottom line they never turned into heartless businessmen, much like the physical plant never turned into a sterile code-pleaser. The same families have been running the place for a hundred years in some form and there really is a family atmosphere, from the personalities you get to know and respect very quickly to the homestyle (delicious) food and trademark apple butter. Good on them for realizing you don't need Hilton amenities to come and be away - in fact, I think if you come here, that's what you're trying to get away from. A time capsule in an organic way that must be protected and loved.

Part spiritual retreat, part resort, part…read more life-declutterer. Unlike other Episcopal Diocese's, The cathedral for the Diocese of Virginia is an outdoor space: "The Cathedral Shrine of the Transfiguration". You can book a room individually at Shrine Mont, but the way most people come here is through spiritual workshops, or camps, or Parish retreats. You will get a room with electric heat and a window fan but no a/c. You may get a private bath or a two bedroom shared bath. Included with the room is breakfast, lunch and dinner, served, depending on the dining room, buffet style or family style. There are basketball courts, tennis courts, shuffleboard, swimming pool and hiking trails. One trail goes to the Shrine at the top of the mountain, and you may do the Stations of the Cross while you hike it. There is also a spiritual labyrinth. The Virginia House, the largest building on the property, has slow WiFi and a library with many comfortable old chairs and sofas, to sit and read. It also has a nice gift shop. I will say that some parishes come to Shrine Mont with a very active agenda, and have many workshops throughout their stay; not my church. We come up here to deee-comm-presss, and do a whole lot of nothin' while we do it. We also have been known to share a bottle or two. We do end the weekend with a Eucharist service in the Cathedral Shrine, though.