Greensboro Daily Photo

Shiloh Baptist Church

Here we see a view of Shiloh Baptist Church located at 1210 South Eugene Street, near where the street turns into Elm-Eugene.  According to the News and Record's archives, Shiloh Baptist has been experiencing internal strife for the last fifteen years as evidenced by their frequent turnover in leadership. However, Shiloh Baptist, located in the Warnersville community, has a rich history and held a legendary place in the civil right struggles of the 1960's (reference and here). It would be great if the church would develop a website and post their history and share photos from their archives.

Shiloh Baptist has such an interesting roofline and adds to this view of a sunny Greensboro sky full of fluffy clouds. Have a great Sunday everyone. 

Eller Memorial Baptist Church

We took this photo of Eller Memorial Baptist Church late Tuesday afternoon as we were leaving the parking lot of McDonald's Restaurant on Summit Avenue. However, when we came home and began researching the church, we're thinking that the church-looking building behind this one, on 4th Street, is actually Eller Memorial Baptist and this is simply an office building. This flat-roofed structure circa 1960, we're guessing, was formerly an office building. We cannot find a website for Eller Memorial Baptist; however, the name Eller  is connected to the church history of Greensboro in the late 1800's and early 1900's.

William Hamilton Eller was born in Wilkes County, North Carolina in 1842. His parents moved their family, by covered wagon, to Iowa in 1852 to be with relatives and to distance themselves from slavery. William was quite precocious and had the good fortune of being surrounded by people who saw to it that he received a formal education. William served in the military, became a minister, teacher, editor, lawyer and judge. He objected strongly to drinking alcohol and at one time was part owner in Keeley Institute, a national organization, based in North carolina that treated alcoholics and drug addicts. In 1896, he entered the baptist ministry in Greensboro. Eller loved establishing churches and was instrumental in starting eleven churches. In 1923, the year after Eller's death, Cherry Street Baptist Church was renamed "The Eller Memorial Baptist Church"  In 1925, the new building was built on the corner of Walnut and Fourth Streets with 24 of the 25 thousand dollars for Eller Memorial Baptist being donated by Cone Mills. Herman Cone, while Jewish, was an ardent supporter of religious freedom and wanted to fund a church that served his mill community. Read more about the Ellers published by Lynn Eller in 1990 (reference).

Now, we're anxious to return and photograph what we're guessing is the main church building. In the meantime, enjoy today's photo, and, if you have any information, please post it in the comment section.

The Y Bus

Happy Sunday, the day we like to post something spiritual, religious, or reflective-- essentially, living a life that is meaningful beyond ourselves. Today, we've chosen a photo of children riding the YMCA bus during the 2012 Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade. 

YMCA stands for Young Men's Christian Association. According to their website, the YMCA was founded in London in 1844 by George Williams and 11 of his friends. Initially, they provided a Bible-study/refuge to get young men off of the streets. The unique aspect of the early YMCA was that it the crossed rigid social lines of English society. In 1851, ten years before the Civil War, Thomas Valentine Sullivan, a retired Boston sea captain, formed a YMCA in Boston, the first in the USA. 

In 2010, the Chicago-based, non-profit organization changed its name to "Y" in an effort to clarify their mission of strengthening communities by "focusing on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility" (reference), regardless of gender (M/men's) or religious background (C/christian). They have grown to serve 10,000 neighborhoods. Today, the Y  programs enhance the health and well-being of people from all walks of life; from cradle to grave. From the looks on the faces of these young members, the Y accomplishing its mission is a positive, nurturing place. 

 

A is for AIDS

In this week's parade, the Challenged by HIV/AIDS Ministry marched along Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive making people aware of the fact that people who are HIV positive in Greensboro can find a warm and inviting community to not only help them work through issues related to the disease, but also to live a full and productive life once diagnosed. The ministry educates, trains, supports, loves, and ministers to people affected and/or infected by the disease. Additionally, they offer over a dozen opportunities for service and community involvement. In an nutshell, they teach people HOW 2 LIVE POSITIVE. The group meets in Greensboro and in Kernersville (info here). Higher Ground, the Triad Health Project and Winter Walk for Aids (info here) are other interfaith ways to get involved and to find support. 

As for GDP, we're starting another ABC Wednesday Round. Previously, we've featured A-Z streets of Greensboro. For the last series, we shared A-Z people of Greensboro. This round, we're not so sure we can commit to a theme. Themes require EXTENSIVE preplanning, as opposed to random photos one stumbles upon while walking through life. Having said that, if we can loosely translate "causes" to mean anything worthy of caring about, we might try A-Z causes. For A, we could have featured adoption, (public) art, animals, alumni associations. A-Z Causes?......!

At any rate, Aids awareness, support, community involvement, and quality of life are causes worthy of featuring. So, drumroll, for ABC Wednesday, Round Ten, Week #1, A is for AIDS. (Go here for GDP's previous posts and HERE to see what others around the blogosphere are posting). This week, there are some FABULOUS entries for the letter "A" from angels to aviation; however, at least for the first 65 entries, we are the only blog to pick "AIDS" (or to commit to a theme)-- all the more reason to do so. 

St. Phillip AME Zion Church on Ashe Street

Saint Phillips African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church is located at 1330 South Ashe Street, in the heart of the historic Warnersville community. The church was organized in 1908 and rebuilt in 1966. Pastor James Robertson, Jr. has his name carved on the cornerstone. Likely, he was pastor in 1966, at the time the above church was built. The Warnersville community itself was established in 1867, about the time the AMEZ movement was taking hold in the USA and about a half of a century before the above church was organized.

According to AME's website, the religion began in 1796 and the Black denomination being chartered in 1801. Zion was added in 1848 to distinguish the group from the Philadelphia Black Methodist movement. Since its beginning, the AMEZ church has worked to nurture the whole person-- mind, body, spirit. The crux of the ministry is spirituality, sharing the gospel, racial justice, peace and harmony. Also, the denomination emphasizes education of its members. An early member is quoted as saying "In order to succeed in American society as productive citizens, we [the newly freed slaves] need to become an educated citizenry" (reference).

We wish this church had its history available online as it has been in the heart of a community that was the first to allow people of color to own their own homes, build their own churches, run their own businesses and educate children. The community attracted many African American professionals. Today, many of the businesses are gone, but St. Phillips  Church is here in all of its glory. Look at those stained glass windows that make you feel as if you are sitting in heavenly clouds when you are inside. If you are local, Rev. .J. Shuford, Jr. delivers his message Sundays at 11:00.

The Al-Ummil Ummat Islamic Center of Greensboro

Allah.Prayer.Charity.Fasting. Pilgrimage... reads the sign beside the door.

The Al-Ummil Ummat Islamic Center above is located on Martin Luther King Drive. It was established in Greensboro in 1987. Its mission is to serve and propagate the teachings in the Holy Qur'an. From Saturday school for children to worship services on Friday, meetings and study groups for men and for women, and more, the Islamic Center is a dynamic place that attracts Muslims from around Greensboro.

The above building, at one time, must have been a business and appears to be of the same vintage as this Greensboro building.The goal of this congregation is to build new community center on site. Since they own two acres on the above site, they have the room as soon as they have the resources.

Visit Greensboro Daily Photo each Sunday if you want to see our religious/spiritual posts.

St. James Methodist Church

St. James Methodist Church is located at the corner of Burlington and Church Roads in Sedalia, just east of Greensboro. When built, this church, beautiful in its simplicity, would have been quite rural. While the road in the front is still dirt, in the back are busy strip malls and highways. People and cars are everywhere. Regardless of the demographic change, we're betting that on Sunday morning when Reverend Ron Cooper preaches, it is like old times to the people in the pews of Saint James.

Religion is very important in Greensboro. Officially, we are part of the Bible Belt.  If the data we found online are correct, 43.56 percent of people in Greensboro are religious and almost 12 percent report being Baptist, 11% Methodist, and .52 percent Jewish ( more data here). 

Generally, on Greensboro Daily Photo, we post something religious on Sunday; however, for the City Daily Photo community, January 1st is reserved for reposting the "best photo of the year". Since the first is a Sunday this year, we're posting our year of religion in review today (here). We're not sure if we'll keep this feature in 2012; however, for sure there are at least 52 more faith communities out there that we have not yet featured!

Be safe tonight, dear readers so that you can have a Happy New Year!

Joy to World!

Merry Christmas and joy to the world!  The hymn, Joy to the World, was written by English hymn writer Isaac Watts in 1719, is based on Psalm 98 in the Bible (reference). He actually wrote it for Christ's return to earth, not for his birth (more here). In 1839, Lowell Mason adapted and arranged the music and, as of the late 20th century, Joy to the World was North America's most-published Christmas hymn. It may still be! We hope that, for you and your loved ones, today shapes up to be a day of beauty, joy, and peace. Christmas on a Sunday is especially spiritual..........

For the photo today, we're sharing this metallic globe housed at Bin 33 Restaurant downtown on Elm Street as it reminds us of the carol, Joy to the World. The sculpture weighs about 200 pounds and is approximately 4 1/2 feet in diameter with lights on the inside. According to sculptor Jeff Taylor, he and Eric Beerbower took on this project for New Year's Eve 2010.  Once they constructed "The Ball", they used a boom crane to get it in place above Bin 33. At midnight, they lowered it down a cable, from an I-beam, above the balcony on the fifth floor. While they don't have plans (permission) to repeat this feat for New Year's Eve 2011, the glowing artifact remains perched prominently on the patio of Bin 33 for all to enjoy. Once he gets relocated to a new studio, we plan to feature the talented Jeff Taylor*, an artist who can make just about anything.

From our little spot in Greensboro (and on the metal globe) we say "joy to the world" and we encourage you to visit this website to see how to say that phrase in 24 different languages! Perhaps if we say it enough, there will be peace on earth!

 If you are interested, contact Jeff through his girlfriend's website.

Feliz Navidad

Credited with the first nativity scene is St. Francis of Assisi in 1223. His hope is said to have been getting people to emphasize the birth of Christ over secular materialism. In exactly one week, Christians will be balancing the delight of gift giving with deciding whether or not to attend church as Christmas is on Sunday this year.

The above Peruvian crèche is one of many offered for sale at 10,000 Villages. Since we didn't make out to Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church to see their Living Nativity, we're having to settle for these little hand-crafted scenes of wonder. Manger scenes are especially popular in Catholicism and many people don't actually take them down until February 2nd. 

If you celebrate Christmas, try to find time to catch your breath today as this time next week you will be in holiday frenzy. If you own a crèche, be sure to talk to it in the language of its country of origin. The above clay, baby Jesus is precious with his little cap and, to him, we whisper, "Feliz navidad." If you talk to Santa, tell him we'd love to find this crèche under the tree.

O Little Town of Bethlehem

Creche season is upon us and the one above is located at the intersection of Friendly and Ridgeway Avenues at Centenary United Methodist Church.*  From pumpkin patches to membership drives to Christmas festivities, the Friendly Avenue side of Centenary is a year-round tableau of church events for all to see. This nativity scene is one such example.

This time of year, many people travel to and from work in the dark. The gloomy hours of darkness punctuate the beauty of December's holiday decorations.  Darkness...darkness...darkness.... WOW... color and light appear out of nowhere. Thoughts are briefly redirected from rush hour and looming chores to the sights before you:

And the Angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people (Luke 2:10).

Soon, a car pulls up, time for the next driver's moment of solitude at the little town of Bethlehem. You push on-- towards Greensboro. Behold, a few blocks away, appears a nativity scene on the hill at Greensboro College......... a happy Sunday to all (and to all a good night).

*Centenary was the church that lost its steeple to high winds in February 2010 (see here).

Bethel Presbyterian in McLeansville

Bethel Presbyterian Church is located on Knox Road in McLeansville* (Guilford County), NC. It was established in 1812, in the time of the Napoleonic Wars and around the time Greensboro was being established. Bethel Presbyterian has lived through much of our county's early history. The above photo only reveals a tiny portion of this church which, over the years, has been expanded and expanded. Also on the sprawling acreage is a cemetery filled with some of the early names of the area: Forbis, Dick, McLean, Clapp, Rankin, Wharton. The earliest grave dates to 1821 (more names and dates here); however, many stones can no longer be read. The property includes a session house, built in 1875 and behind the session house is an open air amphitheater. Typical of southern churches, a majestic oak marks a corner of the property.

We have cannot find a church history or website online. It is our hope to learn more about Bethel Presbyterian. The church contrasts sharply with the ornateness of downtown Greensboro's First Presbyterian; however, it is equally beautiful in its simplicity and equally important to its members. We can only imagine the warm glow during the evening darkness of the Advent season. 

*This small community east of Greensboro was in the spotlight a few years ago as rock star Chris Daughtry is from McLeansville.

Moravian Star

If you are in Greensboro, head to the First Moravian Church, 304 South Elam Avenue, for the annual Candle Tea-- today and tomorrow. They will treat you to Moravian sugar cake and coffee or lemonade, provide you with music, show you how to make beeswax candles, let you admire the putz (Nativity), and MORE for free! They will have a bake and craft sale and allow you to make donations; however, the goal is to showcase the Moravian religion and celebrate Advent. We're planning to pick up a chicken pie or two, yummy. Today, the tea extends from 2-9 pm and Saturday, the hours are 10-3 pm. Tonight they will have a brass band and living nativity. Why not start your afternoon at First Moravian (Facebook page here) and then head to Elm Street for First Friday. So much to do tonight..........

The first Moravian star*, ancestor of the star in the silhouette above, is said to have originated in Germany in the 1830's. The iconic star usually has 26 points and is the Moravian rendition of the Star of Bethlehem. Old Salem, a Moravian enclave in the United States, is located about 35-40 miles west of us at the southern end of Winston-Salem.

We're sharing this with Skywatch Friday.

*See a Moravian star from the tea at the church two years ago (here). 

Triad Hindu Families

The above photo was taken at Eastern High School at a recent recital of traditional dancing of India. Most of the Indian community in attendance worships at the nearby Triad Hindu Temple, located at 2424 Huffine Mill Road. The temple's mission is to serve the Hindu community and to promote culture through religious, social and educational programs. Members of the temple celebrate holidays together. The temple offer children's programs so that the youngest generation, likely born in the USA, are socialized into the traditions of their ancestors. Puja, bhajans, and holiday celebrations are just a few of the events taking place regularly at the temple.

Above, Ganesha (elephant), known as the remover of obstacles, is honored at the beginning of rituals and ceremonies-- in today's instance, the dance recital.  Natarajah, the Lord of Dance seen above, is an incarnation of Shiva dancing around an aureole of flames. For the young ladies dancing last week, their pantheon of gods must have been watching over them, for the recital was outstanding.

Happy Sacred Sunday where we at GDP endeavor to share the religious diversity of the Greensboro community.

Sanctuary, Serenity and Thanksgiving

Today, we're cheating somewhat as we're a few miles west in Kernersville, NC, at the Paul J. Ceiner Botanical Garden. It is billed as a place of beauty designed to inspire, enlighten, and connect people of all ages to the world of plants. The above photo was taken last summer when this dynamic, public place was preparing for the grand opening. This large room resembles a sanctuary, especially a Friends (Quaker) Meeting House, well, that is if the colorful banners were removed.

At any rate, since we feature something religious or at least spiritual every week, we thought a place where one could commune with nature-- reflect, meditate, pray-- would be appropriate. The woman in the photo was pretty speechless upon entering and seeing the beauty of the facility. The natural light is so soft and delicate here. We are reminded of the Thanksgiving psalms.

    Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving sing praises to our god on the lyre.  

If you are living in the USA, click through and enjoy that lyre music as you make your final plans for Thanksgiving this Thursday.

R is for Redhead, Dr. John A. Redhead, Jr.

Dr. John Agrippa Redhead, Jr. was minister of the First Presbyterian Church of Greensboro for twenty-five years, from 1945- 1970. He was not only well known locally, but also nationally and internationally through his radio broadcasts via the Protestant Radio Network and the Armed Forces Radio. Dr. Redhead carefully crafted every sermon that he preached. His detailed preparation consisted of: reading, organizing, writing, and 'absorbing the ceremony for delivery.'* He learned his sermons to the extent that he did not need to carry manuscripts or notes to the pulpit. He felt those papers would distance him from his congregation and diminish the impact of his delivery. He is quoted as saying, "paper is said to be a poor conductor of heat."** His sermons were broadcast live on the radio and he was highly sought after for his powerful and impeccable locution.

Also, Dr. Redhead's sermons were historically timely. After Greensboro's 1960 sit-ins, he preached a powerful lesson during these tense times, entitled, "On Turning the World Upside Down."  Another famous sermon, A faith for today, was delivered on June 7, 1968 following the death of Robert F. Kennedy.  Several of his books and sermons are still available today. Ever personable and connected to his congregation, Dr. Redhead was known for his amazing ability to call all 3,000 of his church members' names with ease. He was the 1975 recipient of the NCCJ Brotherhood/Sisterhood Citation Award for his efforts to promote understanding of people of all cultures.  The above portrait, painted in 1954, hangs in a meeting/fellowship room of the First Persbyterian Church of Greensboro (see inside here; outside here)

Today is ABC Wednesday and, for Round Nine, we've been featuring People of Greensboro. See previous entries here.

* Greensboro 27, Abe Jones, Jr., p. 265.

**Fundamentals of Preaching,John Killinger, p. 167.

Day of Rest

And the Lord spoke unto Moses saying, "Verily ye shall keep my sabbaths for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that ye may know that I am the Lord who sanctify you....."

In Abrahamic religions, the shabbat/sabbath is a day of rest and worship. For Jews, the commandment for keeping shabbat a day of rest is repeated many times in the Tanakh. For Christians, it is stressed in Exodus 31:12-17. Christians interpret it as a general day of rest-- free from work. Jewish law is much more prescriptive, identifying 39 activities prohibited on Shabbat: planting, reaping, writing, tearing, igniting a fire, and applying the finishing touch-- to name a few (more here).

Wherever we find ourselves on the continuum of orthodoxy and fundamentalism to non-believing, for sure we all need time to nurture the soul-- that nebulous, incorporeal realm of the self. In the western world, gone is the common day of rest. However, consider scheduling a day of rest, when you don't leave your house, don't create or make anything; when you reflect, appreciate, express gratitude, and goal set... even if the day of rest is not a Saturday or Sunday. Today, we are resting-- sitting and admiring the above view of fall foliage in Greensboro-- and expressing gratitude for your visiting our blog.

Lake Townsend Baptist Church

Lake Townsend is the largest of Greensboro's municipal reservoirs. The 1,542 acre lake, northeast of Greensoro, was opened in 1969 and named in honor of James R. Townsend who served as Greensboro's City Manager for fourteen years-- from 1947-1961. Lake Townsend Baptist Church is located at 214 Denny Road, just off of North Elm Street near Pisgah Church Road. We found this church the day we were exploring Zola Drive. The church is located near, but not on, Lake Townsend. We loved the looks of this little white structure, along the road of what used to be a very rural part of Greensboro.

Not much is written about this specific church online. However, as Baptists, they believe that baptisms should be performed on consenting adults only, as opposed to infants. Also, baptism is immersion in water, not a few drops on the head. If you want to learn about the Baptist faith in general, Wikipedia is a great place to start. We do know that the Annual Meeting of the Baptist State Convention starts tomorrow and you can read more at the North Carolina Baptists' website here. Here is another great website about the history of Baptists in NC (here too). So much to learn and a little complicated about differences in doctrine for people not of the religion.

Ai Church: Preservation in Process

Ai Church, at the corner of Alcorn Road and Highway 68 in Oak Ridge, appears to be on the road to full restoration. Spring 2009, when this church was featured on Greensboro Daily Photo (see here), there was little indication that someone was making an effort to save it. Today, Preservation Oak Ridge is renovating the 1,400 foot structure that was built in the 1800's. Through fundraisers and donations from the local community, the church will be transformed into the gateway to Oak Ridge. Local lore indicates that the cemetery, on the eastern side of the property, came into being at the time of the Revolutionary War.

Estimates indicate that the cost of renovating this church and adding outdoor facilities, including a picnic area and restrooms, will cost at least 200,000. The price tag is hefty for this community, in the northwest quadrant of Guilford County. However, given its proximity to the Old Mill of Guilford, the combined effect of two historic properties will make one's entrance into Oak Ridge from the south truly grand.

Thank you for visiting us on Sacred Sunday when we feature something of a spiritual nature from one of the many religions of Greensboro and the surrounding area. Stop back tomorrow and see a pre-Civil War grave located in the Ai Cemetery. 

Praying Hands

If you leave Burlington headed west, Alamance Memorial Park is the gateway to Guilford County. If you are headed east, it is the first thing you see when you leave. This 80-acre landmark cemetery was founded in 1948 and has been steadily increasing in population ever since. Located on Highway 70, or Burlington Road, the memorial cemetery is about 18 miles from downtown Greensboro. When we drive the back way to Burlington, these larger-than-life praying hands serve as quite a memorable landmark. We have always wanted to stop and see them up close and were able to do so last week. They are as bright and eye catching up close as they are from the road.

The praying hands are a 3-dimensional replica of pen and ink drawing by German artist and theorist Albrecht Dürer, made at the beginning of the 16th century. Duplicating Dürer's drawing, in two- as well as three-dimensions, is still popular almost five hundred years later. We are lucky to have this nice piece so close. We hope you enjoy today's Sacred Sunday post.

New Millennium & Temple Emanuel

Today, we bring you not one but TWO religious offerings. Originally, we stopped to read Temple Emanuel's banner advertising today's Jewish Festival. However, while standing on the Fisher Park property of Temple Emanuel, near the First Presbyterian Church, we noticed a service concluding at the church across the street. The New Millennium Christian Center, located at 424 Fisher Park Circle, has recently opened in this neighborhood. The New Millennium congregation seems very involved in helping the local community. They are having a caregiver workshop today. Also, they are also very generous with providing clothing and help for the needy. From the photo, you can tell the church has a intergenerational congregation.

Temple Emanuel is having a Jewish Festival today from 11-5 pm at their 1129 Jefferson Road facility. The festival will offer a wide array of food, music, singing, and dancing. They will even have Jewish Folk and Bluegrass. Biblical characters will come to life, recreating Biblical life from 5000 years ago. There is a replica of the Kotel (Western Wall). Prayers that are written and left at this makeshift wall will be collected and taken to the real wall in Israel. Don't be shocked if you see Moses, Joseph, or King David walking along Jefferson Road. 

R.I.P. Steve Jobs

This Sunday, in remembrance of Steve Jobs, let us all pause for a few moments of silence ...........

The above photo was taken outside the Apple Store in Friendly Center last night, at closing time. The store provided post it notes and Sharpies; employees and customers wrote messages. A few people brought bouquets. Several people brought fresh apples; many stopped by to take pictures. The notes were touching. One was a heart with a bite out of it. Also memorable is the Apple logo with the bite transformed into a silhouette of Jobs. The genius behind that logo is a 19 year old guy from Hong Kong.

From the aesthetic to the functionality to the transformative nature of the Apple products, Jobs helped transform the way we interact with technology. He taught us that computers are bicycles for the mind. Jobs learned at a very early age that life is short and precious. We're glad to have an Apple Store in Greensboro and equally glad that Jobs is being remembered by patrons. Have a great Sunday dear readers.

Interfaith Altar

We stumbled upon this Interfaith Altar at the Art & Sole Walking Tour of Westerwood yesterday, at the home of local artist Kathy Clark. The lovely prints on the wall are a small sample of Kathy's art and her black and white pieces frame the colorful, candlelit display nicely. Kathy assembled the altar in remembrance of souls departed. The photo in the center is of her grandparents. The poster under the star was from the memorial service of local friend Timothy LaFollette who died with ALS about a month ago. The box at the feet of the Statue of Mary are the cremains of her beloved cat. From Hindu's Shiva to the Virgin Mary to the Day of the Dead skeletons, there is something for everyone at this altar. Kathy is keeping the Virgin Mary until its owner gets settled in her home in Los Angeles, at which time, the statue will get wrapped up and sent west to be reunited with its owner. 

Hearing the stories of the artists of Westerwood and seeing their stunning artwork was a great way to spend the day yesterday. Today, we take pause to quietly nurture the spiritual self. We offer this view, serendipitously stumbled upon yesterday, for our Sacred Sunday series. Among other things, we are thankful for the wonderful interaction with the 17 artists, especially Kathy, on yesterday's art tour. Do you have a special corner in your house, a place to remember loved ones, a place to reflect on your belief system? If so, what does it look like? What would it look like?

 

Vespers at Christ United

"Vespers" comes from Latin, meaning "evening." While Christ United Methodist Church might not actually call their evening services "vespers," the term evokes a warmth and coming together of believers to celebrate their religion. In addition to prayers, vespers often include song.

Christ United on Holden Road is one of those large, Greensboro churches that seems to extend for a city block.  The above photo captures the new youth center in the back of the building. At dusk, the golden glow of the light and the translucent, blue glass cross are inviting. Imagine a tired, weary traveler happening upon this beautiful site..... Divine.....  Have yourself a great Sunday, and if you are religious, have yourself a Sacred Sunday. We've got about three years worth of religious Sundays  here. For a nice North Carolina vespers service, we've linked to this one at Duke University Chapel. We need to warn you, while fabulous, it is 35 minutes long. Time permitting, you are invited to "attend."

Iconostasis at Dormition of the Theotokos

As seen on Greensboro Daily Photo yesterday, The Greek Festival is still going strong at the Dormition of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church. We wanted to take you inside and show where church services are held. This is a partial view of the iconostasis. The iconostasis is a wall of religious paintings that separates the sancuary from the nave (the place where worshipers stand). To the non-orthodox, this iconostasis looks very elaborate. However, it is really somewhat humble when one considers some of the elaborate, multiple-tiered iconostases in Europe (see here).

Icons date back to the early years of Christianity. The placement of the paintings and their subjects tell the story of Christianity and reveal saints and events important to the given church. This visual storytelling was especially important in earlier centuries when many people could not read. Above, the icon to the right of the holy doors is Christ the Pantokrator and represents his second coming. The icon on the left is Theotokos, or the Virgin Mary, symbolizing Christ's entrance into the world. Therefore, the Holy Doors in between, leading into the sanctuary, represent everything that is taking place between Christ's first and second coming.

This small photo, combined with our previous "Sacred Sunday" entries is an example of the religious diversity in Greensboro.

Remembering September 11: The First Ten Years

Today is the ten year anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks or "9/11" as people quickly began calling it-- equating the date to our emergency response three-digit code. The above commemorative plaque, at the base of a flagpole, is on site at the Hanes Lineberry Funeral Home. The funeral home is located on the corner of Vanstory and High Point Roads-- directly across the road from the Hebrew Cemetery. Hanes-Lineberry Funeral Home makes a real effort to bring dignity to the end of the lives of loved ones especially people who were public servants. Today, their website will link to videos related to 9/11. 

Many Greensboro residents have direct ties to 9/11; one of the most direct ones was the loss of Sandra Bradshaw. There is a 9/11 plaque in Greensboro, dedicated to Sandra W. Bradshaw, a flight attendant from Greensboro who died on the United Airlines flight 93. Previously, we featured her memorial plaque here. May we all find time today to reflect on this tragic event and imagine what we can do to ensure something like 9/11 doesn't happen again-- anywhere in the world. 

Rolling Roads Baptist Church

Rolling Roads Baptist Church is located at 2800 Vanstory Street not too far from the Four Seasons Mall and Ben L. Smith High School. Rolling Roads Baptist is very involved in the community around the churh, as evidenced by their programs  with Archer Elementary. At Archer, Rolling Roads sponsors a Bible program. Members prepare a meal for teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week. On September 11th, they are hosting a pot luck dinner for the staff at Archer. This tradition of providing (optional) programs for the school harkens back to earlier decades in Greensboro, and the South, when people wore a triangular path from home to school to church (or temple) and back again.

Additionally, Rolling Roads provides food items for Urban Ministry. In these financially challenging times, the religious groups of Greensboro play a very important role in keeping people fed, clothed, and spiritually nurtured. Rolling Hills is no exception. Rolling Roads is very excited about the new floor for their fellowship hall. As you can see from the photo, the church is not one of those giant mega-churches; so a $7,000 dollar replacement floor requires individual members to be extra generous in their financial support of this modest church. 

Today's series is part of our Sacred Sunday religious series. While this feature of GDP doesn't usually generate many comments, it is amazing how many people find our website for the first time during their search for these religious institutions. We try to cast the net widely to show the religious diversity of our community.

G is for Guttman, Rabbi Fred Guttman

Rabbi Fred Guttman has served as rabbi of Temple Emanuel since 1995, helping the congregation transition from the Fisher Park building to the new building on Jefferson Road in 2002. He has his Rabbinical Ordination and Doctorate of Divinity from Hebrew Union College. Locally, Rabbi Guttman is known for his interfaith activities and efforts to enhance human relations-- interacting with groups from diverse backgrounds. As examples, he has served on the board of the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) and he co-chaired the 40th anniversary celebration of Greensboro's Sit-In Movement, an important event in the history of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) is a phrase often used to describe much of Rabbi Guttman's work. In 2009, he was awarded the prestigious NCCJ Brotherhood/Sisterhood Citation Award (reference).

In addition to all of the significant good work he does locally, nationally, and internationally, Rabbi Guttman stays busy, diligently performing his rabbinical duties at Temple Emanuel. He has conducted Bar and Bat Mitzvah services for over a generation of 13 year olds. The above photo of Rabbi Guttman was taken at Temple Emanuel last month. Today is ABC Wednesday and "G" is for "Guttman." To see GDP's previous entries, click here. To see the ABC Wednesday contributions of other bloggers, go here.

Summer Bounty of Figs

Sundays, we usually post something related to religion. Often the photo is one of a church building, but not always. We didn't start out with this photo of common figs from our yard as a "Sacred Sunday" post; however, the more we read about figs, the more we realized that many religions make references to figs (see here).

Fig trees were one of the first plants cultivated by humans with their fossils dating to 9,000 B.C.  The book of Genesis (Adam and Eve are wearing fig leaves) has one of several references to figs in the Bible-- Old & New Testament. Did you know, the fig is the third tree mentioned in the Bible, after the Tree of Life and Tree of Knowledge?  Buddha achieved enlightenment underneath a fig tree. The Qur'an also references the fig as one of the fruits that descended from paradise. Figs were an important fruit to the Ancient Greeks and Romans.

Figs are a great summer harvest with an extended season for producing fruit. They are high in calcium, fiber, minerals, & antioxidants.  The Middle East and Mediterranean Region are known for fig production, with Turkey and Egypt being the top producers. However, we've had great luck growing figs in Greensboro. Above you see a small part of yesterday's bounty from our two fig trees and yes, they do taste heavenly!

 

Greensboro Atheist Organization on Yanceyville Street

The Adopt-A-Highway Program  (AAH) was established in 1988 as a way for the North Carolina Department of Transportation and community volunteers to work together to keep highways litter free. According to their website, the twenty-three year program currently has 6,000 AAH groups. Those with twenty consecutive years of service were awarded two metal stars to add to their signs. The two Guilford County groups recognized for twenty years are Vulcan Materials Company Northeast McLeansville 4-H Club (we're betting Ms. Ivey is involved with the latter).

The Greensboro Atheist Organization (GAO) maintains Yanceyville Street. While the organization does not fall into the 10, 15, or 20 year longevity range for maintaining their street, they have been diligent about picking up trash along this long road in Greensboro that toggles between the rural, old-time world of Guilford County and the 21st century expanding of the suburbs. Yanceyville begins near NC A&T just east of downtown Greensboro and continues all the way to Highway 150 getting close to Brown Summit. We're not sure how much of this long road is maintained by GAO; however, we imagine that the GAO is kept quite busy keeping this road litter-free. We decided to use this photo today because yesterday, The News & Record had an article about the North Carolina atheists announcing their convention in North Carolina scheduled November 11-13, along with the South Carolina atheists, at Carolina Beach. 

Grace Temple COGIC

Grace Temple COGIC is located on the corner of Oxford and Britton Streets near MLK Drive. The spicy orange building with white trim and surrounding greenery looks as much like a building on a Caribbean island nation as it does one near downtown Greensboro. However, it is, indeed, a house of worship thriving right here in Greensboro. 

Sunday services are at 11 am with Pastor/Founder Elder Gene A. Taylor officiating. The quote on the temple's sign reads, "I'll let Hell have no Peace while I live." Do you know what COGIC stands for? Church of God in Christ......... it is a Pentecostal Holiness Christian Denomination. The religion has approximately 12,000 congregations and approximately 5,000,000 members. The religion was formed in 1897 and has its roots in the Baptist faith. Learn more about the COGIC religion here. See another Greensboro's Wells Memorial COGIC, with its dramatically different architecture,  here. Finally, if you are interested, see more of our religious-themed posts here. 

The Muslim Community of Greensboro

Greensboro has a diverse population of Muslims who balance living and working in an integrated community with having places to worship, socialize, and educate their children into their belief system. Yesterday's story hour at the International Civil Rights Museum featured the reading of A Party in Ramadan a book about Leena, a Muslim girl, who is so excited to be at a birthday party. However, Leena has to decide whether or not she will eat birthday cake since it is Ramadan and she is expected to fast. If you missed the reading, perhaps you can find a copy of Asma Mobin-Uddin's book at the museum or a local library. The Muslim children of Greensboro confront dilemmas like Leena's on a daily basis. 

The local Muslim community is more pervasive than many realize. According to the Islamic Center's website, in Greensboro, Muslims outnumber Methodists (reference). The Islamic Center of Greensboro is open every day for five daily prayers and, according to their website, is happy to speak to groups about Islam. Also offering prayers is the Islamic Center on Martin Luther King Drive. There is an Islamic Academy on 16th Street and an Islamic daycare on East Market Street. As a final resting place, there is a 30-acre Muslim cemetery affiliated with the Islamic Center of High Point.

The woman in the photo above, self-identifying as a Muslim by her attire, was eager to take photos at Greensboro's Fourth of July parade. Follow the link to learn the rich meaning behind these articles of clothing that veil her body from view. If you are new to GDP, see our other posts related to religion and spirituality here.

Placing Stones.......Greensboro Hebrew Cemetery

Taf, nun, tsadi, bet, hey.......may his soul be bound up in the bounds of eternal life.

Today's Sunday post for pause and reflection takes us to the Greensboro Hebrew Cemetery, located at the corner of Vanstory and High Point Road. Temple Emanuel owns and manages the cemetery which originated in the 1920's. Many prominent members of Greensboro's Jewish community are buried here...Sternbergers, Schiffmans, and Isaacsons-- to name a few.

Bereavement in Judiasm combines minhag (traditional custom) and mitzvah (religious obligation). Flowers are not traditionally part of a Jewish funeral. When visiting a grave site, it is a custom to place a stone on the grave. Rocks are much more enduring than flowers and, to the Jewish community, they have great historical significance. The gesture is one of love and memory. The practice of placing a stone acknowledges that someone has visited the grave and, if there is no headstone, serves to mark the location of the grave. There is symbolism in the word pebble itself and God is referred to as the Rock. The tradition has so many facets, all leading to a connection between the departed, the visitor, and God.  Some of the stones are brought great distances; some are local; others are pottery stars of David or little glass hearts. If you stop by and place one, be sure to use your left hand. Read more about the symbolism here. 

We hope you enjoy your Sunday. See our other religious posts here.

Twin Oaks Ministry

Twin Oaks Ministry, located at 5935 Burlington Road, has a Greensboro water tower in yard; however, technically, the address is McLeansville-- home of American Idol musician Chris Daughtry. Twin Oaks is a Christian-based church, but their denomination isn't immediately clear from their website. They place emphasis on missions for people of all ages and have a Wycliffe Mission. Wycliffe is a group founded in 1942 for the purpose of translating the Bible and making it accessible to speakers of languages that don't yet have translations.

Twin Oaks looks like so many of the white, metal peaked-roof churches along the country roads. This building is across the street from a tobacco field which looks like it is getting ready to be harvested. Every Sunday, we make an effort to post something spiritual and we are always excited when the billowy white clouds float along to be used as a backdrop for our photographs.

Z is for Zion-- Mt. Zion Baptist Church

En route to Zorbrook Drive last Monday, we spotted Mt. Zion Baptist Church (MZBC) on Alamance Church Road; so, "Z" is for "Mt. Zion" too. Zion in Hebrew means landmark or fortress. This church campus is both. When you round the bend and see the above church, you have found a landmark. Made with the salt of our local earth-- clay-- the brick church takes on a fortress-like quality. Historically, the original Mt. Zion refers to an area around Jerusalem. Our Mt. Zion refers to an area southeast of Greensboro.

According to MZBC's website, its Greensboro ministry is over 100 years old. It has grown from a little, white, wooden church to the brick mega-church above with over 5,400 members. It has acquired over 43 acres (read the church history, archived online, here). If you cannot get out to church, you can watch MZBC streamed live through HolyConnection.TV on the internet (here). If you are able to get out, this dynamic and active worship center has many events for its friends and congregants. For example, this Friday, they'll have drive-in movie night. They are really gearing up for their No Greater Love Festival that will be held on August 19th and 20th and it is free and open to the public.

Labyrinth Walking in Center City

The children walking the labyrinth were just precious. The little child in the forecround was as diligent and determined as the older children. The young boy in the orange shirt, near the center, walked the labyrinth many times and ran through it a few. Previously, we featured the labyrinth at Holy Trinity Church (here). Labyrinth facilitator, Vicki Longhofer Copeland was instrumental in getting the above temporary labyrinth installed in Center City Park. The paper stars were completed by children and were tied to the labyrinth, vesting more people in the project.

A labyrinth has a single, non-branching path to the center. Enter. Walk. Pause. Stop. Reflect. Walk. Arrive at the center. Turn around. Repeat the process. Return to the beginning. A labyrinth is a microcosm of life's path, reminding walkers that some facets of walking through life are shared with others although, ultimately, each life is a unique journey. Labyrinths are starting to be more common in the Greensboro area. The cancer centers at High Point Regional Hospital and the one at Wesley Long Hospital in Greensboro have labyrinths on their outdoor grounds. In addition to Holy Trinity Episcopal in Greensboro and St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Winston-Salem have a labyrinth. If you have never seen/walked a labyrinth before, the one at Holy Trinity, located at 607 North Greene Street, on the street-side of the church and pretty much always available. Or, as we see from Vicki's example, you could make one yourself!

Plainview Baptist Church

Plainview Baptist Church is located at 1820 Ms. Hope Church Road, east of Greensboro in McCleansville, south of I-40/I-85 near Replacements, LTD. Unfortunately, the church doesn't appear to have a website so we can't tell you much more than what we saw on location. Plainview is very typical of our Southern Baptist churches: simple white, wooden building; large trees on the lot; cemetery out back, and gravel parking lot on the side. Plainview has both a Sunday morning and evening service as well as a Wednesday service. 

Before I-40 was constructed, Plainview was a rural church on a curvy road serving the farming community and upon approaching the church it must have seemed like it was in "plain view." Today, it is located next to a gas station, convenience store, car wash complex as well as large offices. However, from the view above, Plainview likely looks very similar to when it was built. We bet it has a great history, just waiting to be written.

See more of our Sacred Sunday posts here.

Judaism 101

If you want to learn about Judaism in general, Judaism in Greensboro & North Carolina, and contributions to the local community by Jewish residents, visit the Greensboro Historical Museum and view this free exhibit. It starts with the above display of items important to a religious service, along with an 8 minute overview of the names and significance of the parts of a sabbath service. You can also see how a kosher kitchen is maintained. You can watch a video of a family seated to begin the sabbath meal and hear of its significance in linking the family members to each other as well as helping them connect to the the Jewish community at large. The Greensboro Historical Museum is open on Sundays from 2-5 in case you are looking for something to do today. Go see a yad, tefillin, tallit, Havdalah spice box and more!

Although for Jews, Sunday is not the sabbath, it is the day on GDP when we share something spiritual and significant to the Greensboro community. In 2 1/2 years of Sundays, we are nowhere near short of running out of things to feature. See previous posts here.

Fellowship Presbyterian on New Garden Road

Today is Sunday, time to reflect on the week, on our spirituality, on the summer before us. For our Sunday selection, we're sharing Fellowship Presbybterian on New Garden Road just behind Brassfield Cinema. This church boasts a friendly and open atmosphere. According to their website, the congregation first decided that Northwest Greensboro needed a Presbyterian church in the late 1950's and first held worship services in 1964 at Claxton Elementary School. They have been in the current building since 1984. Service to others is a key component of to the members of Fellowship Presbyterian. Recently, the building facility has expanded, as has the neighborhood. New Garden Road, itself, has gone from being a twisty, country road to a multi-lane highway.

While they still appear to be in search of a pastor, Fellowship Presbyterian is a dynamic facility with people of all ages using it from Monday to Sunday. We want to get inside to see if the church has windows.

Jesus Loves the Little Children

This house on Randleman Road (just south of downtown Greensboro) has several religious statues on the property. The statue of Jesus, clothed in purple and white, is positioned near the front porch. These three children were exploring the porch and yard. Somehow summer adventures, like exploring the neighbor's house, seem more fun when you are with a group. Do you remember those lazy days of summer when you had adventures with siblings, cousins, and friends? 

This is our Sacred Sunday shot. Each Sunday, we show something of a spiritual nature (see here). This one evokes the song "Jesus Loves the Little Children."

Skenes Chapel Holiness Church

Skenes Chapel Holiness Church, located at 350 Martin Luther King Drive, has a special history. According to a News & Record article, from December 2010, "(t)he church was built in 1907 and was one of the first in the nation to have an ordained female pastor, Bishop A. J. Lewis Richmond (established 1913)." According to the article, the church was purchased from the Quakers in 1958. While the building is still structurally sound, the last century has taken its toll on this majestic building.

A poigniant story of Skenes Chapel begins in August, 2010, when Chad McMurray was violently murdered in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Chad was raised in Greensboro and attended Skenes Chapel. He was passionate about helping his church raise the money for a new roof, paint, and other, much needed, repairs. Chad's friends have continued his fundraising effort. Leo Reitzel, owner of Reitzel Custom Builders, has generously agreed to take on the roofing job in memory of Chad, his high school classmate. Bank of America maintains the memorial fund for accepting donations. Chad's mother, June McMurray, plans to establish a chapter of Parents of Murdered Children at Skenes Chapel. 

While the church doesn't appear to have a website, you can listen to the choir sing, The Lord is my Light, here, on YouTube.