Greensboro Daily Photo

Happy Mother's Day 2013

Happy Mother's Day! Today's photo takes us inside Our Lady of Grace (OLG)  Catholic Church on West Market Street. This photo, while blurry, evokes the spirit of family, love, and relationships. We don't need to see the faces to get a feel for the love and hope of the people celebrating this marriage.

According to the parrish history on their website, Our Lady of Grace was erected in 1952, through funds provided by Julian Price. Mr. Price, chairman of the board of Jefferson Life Insurance Company, build this Catholic church "as a tribute to the faith and love of his good wife, Ethel Clay Price" (reference). Both Mr. and Mrs. Price died before the church could be built and it was through the efforts of their dear children, Mrs. Joseph M. Bryan and Mr. Ralph Clay Price, that OLG became a reality. While most of us can't afford to build a marble and handcrafted wooden church with over 30,000 pieces of stained glass imported from Belgium, for our parents, we can honor them by ensuring that their grandchildren and great grandchildren are raised in a loving and nurturing environment. And, if you are at a wedding, participating in or watching the ceremony, remember to say a little thank you to your own mother. If you have children, renew your personal committment to being the best mother you can be. Happy Mother's Day, ladies. Finally, may the love of the above couple grow as strong as the love Mr. Price had for his lovely wife- the mother of his children.

Shabbat

The Jewish Sabbath, Shabbat, begins just before sundown on Friday and continues until the appearance of three stars on Saturday. Depending on which  stream of Judiasm you follow, you have different observations and different restrictions on the day of rest. However, Shabbat for all offers the opportunity to have family time, to eat meals together, to rest and to contemplate the spiritual aspects of life. We think this man at Center City Park was observing Shabbat. It was a peaceful time and we decided to take a little time off too, to enjoy family, and to appreciate Shabbat.

Greensboro has a long history of mutual respect between Christians and Jews. Some of our most prominent early citizens were Jewish. To learn more, start with the website of the Greensboro Jewish Federation. And if you want to see & hear a really cute children's choir singing Shalom Chaverim to kick off your Sunday, go here. And if you want to see more spiritual photos from Greensboro, go here. Happy Sunday and, if you didn't just have one yesterday,  may it be a day of rest for you.

YWCA, Gone but not forgotten...

This photo, taken in downtown Greensboro, looks like it could have been taken 100 years ago. Actually, it was taken on Friday evening. It features the back of the original First Presbyterian Church, now the Greensboro Historical Museum. The lot in front, recently seeded with grass, is the site of the now-gone YWCA.  

The Young Women's Christian Association still has a facility in Greensboro, located on Spring Garden Street. The YWCA has quite a rich history in Greensboro, dating from 1903. Nationally, the organization got its start in New York City in 1858 (read history here). It is the oldest and largest women's organization in the United States.

As for the open field, left behind from the razing of the YWCA, we're not quite sure what is planned for the lot. While we wait to find out, Greensboro is taking advantage of the extra green space downtown. The lot is located between  Festival Park and the Greensboro Public Library. Vacant, the lot provides a stunning, old-timey view of a church is even older than the YWCA. It has been in Greensboro since 1824.  As we share our Sunday-day-of-reflection post, let's be thankful that the YWCA still has a local presence and that it continues to empower local women. Let's also be thankful that the First Presbyterian Church continues to thrive. They do their share of good deeds, too! Regardless of what you believe, happy Sunday. Take a Sunday drive and enjoy this view with your own eyes (in color).

Friendly Avenue Baptist Church

Churches look so different at night. Above, we see a photo of Friendly Avenue Baptist Church on West Friendly Avenue at Hamilton Lakes. Here is the same scene by day. Friendly Avenue Baptist Church got its start in 1899 with seven people meeting in a store on South Elm Street. Today, after many moved, the church is in its current location and it has grow into a large and active congregation. We try to feature something spiritual every Sunday (see here).  Some Sundays, we talk a lot about the church we feature. After crazy weeks like this one with the situation in Boston, you just want to keep it simple:

                                                Eat, pray, love.............

Biscuitville Bowl 2013 a Blast

A HUGE thank you to all of the sponsors of the 2013 Greensboro Collegiate Biscuitville Bowl. The event is billed as, "a week-long celebration of Greensboro, North Carolina's thriving entrepreneurial community, its seven colleges and universities, and its 50,000 college students. Biscuitville, a locally-grown and scratch-made business is the title sponsor."  Good clean fun was had by all, especially Greensboro's seven higher education institutions: Bennett College, Elon University School of Law, Greensboro College, Guilford College, Guilford Technical Community College, North Carolina A & T State University, and The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Above, you see the Syngenta obstacle in front of the Cultural Arts Center and on the southern edge of Center City Park. As runners finished the other obstacles and the 5K race, they were sprayed with water, just before being hit with a blast of biscuit flour. What a great way to de-stress before gearing up for the end of the semester. The only thing that could possibly make the event better would be if Biscuitville could convince Garrison Keillor to MC and sing his Powdermilk Biscuit song from Prairie Home Companion ( http://youtu.be/RHz91b74QbY  ). To the right, greeted by Syngenta employees and their green balloons, an unidentified co-ed emerges from the biscuit flour and sails across the finish line.

Eller Memorial Baptist

This is a photo of Eller Memorial Baptist Church, located at the corner of Fourth and Walnut Streets (between Summit and Yanceyville)  in Greensboro.  It is a classic white-steepled, brick church. The church doesn't have much of a presence on the Internet. However, it does have a great presence in East Greensboro in the part of town that was once dominated by the textill mill communities.

Previously, we featured a low, mod-brick  buliding that belongs to the church. Here is a link to an article about the Eller family and their association with North Carolina starting back in the 1800's

Church, Not Just on Sunday

In the above photo, we see a youth group at Daystar Church on Westover Terrace playing a good game of cornhole. Two wooden, angled planks are set across from each other. They have holes on the surace and teams toss bean bags hoping to score points. The Daystar youth group was playing the more wholesome version without alcohol last Wednesday afternoon. In Greensboro, as well as throughout the South, Wednesday youth-group time is extremely popular. Many people go to church, not just on Sunday and have great memories from their church youth group time. Wednesday youth group and Bible study are times to nuture the soul and spirit.

Daystar Church, located across from Grimsley High School, is the old Westover Church which has grown to a megachurch on Muirs Chapel Road with a very interesting history (read here). Likely, Daystar is hoping to make an equally memorable history.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter is one of the holiest days in the Christian calendar. Our spiritual Sunday photo takes us to Alamance Memorial Park on the Alamance/Guilford County lines- 15 miles due east of Greensboro. Easter weekend, has been extremely busy there. Families are out cleaning the graves of loved ones and replacing the flowers. In the photo above, if you look closely to the right of the small, white, flowering tree, two women are seated and working at a grave site.

The Easter/Passover season is a time of great reflection and a time to remember what our loved ones have experienced and sacrificed. As we heard one person say in the cemetery, "we pray to Jesus for the living and give thanks to Him for those who came before us." 

As Lent draws to a close, Christians are entering into a fifty day period called Eastertide. Do you or your friends observe Eastertide? To many, Easter is over on Sunday and, by Easter Monday, they have started counting down until Memorial Day. To others, there are seven more Sundays of observance. By then, even this tree in the cemetery will be green and teeming with life.

Reflecting on Emerson & Transcendentalism

The above photo, taken in the theater inside the Weatherspoon Art Museum, is a picture of Ralph Waldo Emerson. At the Al-Hadid talk at the Weatherspoon, guest lecturer Gregory Volk  made  connections between Al-Hadid's art and the world view of Ralph Waldo Emerson. Volk mentioned transcendentalism, a philosophical movement that was developed in the 1830's. At the core of the philosphy is the belief that man and nature are both inherently good.  Emerson and his fellow transcendentalists were of the conviction that people were at their best and most spiritual when "self-reliant". Organized religion, institutions and politics could detract from the purity of individuals. Emmerson believed that nature was the most direct path to experiencing the presence of God and that to appreciate nature one must be able to feel it in one's senses.* As the above photo aludes, the audience was captivated.

As we enter Holy Week and Passover, with spring knocking on our door, nature in Greensboro is about to reach peak beauty. Regardless of what religion you practice, or even if you do not, we encourage you to find some green space and experience the spiruality of being one with the earth. It is a precious resource.

* references here & here. 

Knights of Columbus on St. Patrick's Day.......

For today's Sunday-religious post, we're featuring The Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal service organization that was founded in Connecticut in 1882. Worldwide, there are nearly two million members of this men's club. The clubs, from local to international, are very involved in philanthrophy; however, at their core is support for the church and its members. When someone dies, the men don full regalia and are there from death to grave to pray for the soul of their departed brother and to assist and console the family*

The Knights of Columbus were founded by an Irish-American Catholic priest, Father Michael J. McGivney. In addition to their rituals, oaths, and prayers, they form a great support system for each other and value their fellowship together. Their motto, "In service to One, in service to all." Social events provide the earthly bonds that stay with members until their transition to the other world.

The above building is the Knights of Columbus branch at 2780 Horse Pen Creek, near St. Paul's Catholic Church. We're betting since today is St. Patrick's Day, there will be a few Irish Catholics hanging around there sporting green outfits. Maybe they'll even find something green to drink. Perhaps, they'll make Horse Pen Creek flow as emerald green as the Chicago River. Today, we'll leave you at the Knights of Columbus and with the following quote by Adrienne Cook, "St. Patrick's Day is an enchanted time- a day to begin transforming winter's dreams into summer's magic. Happy transforming .......

*reference and more informaiton here &  here.

 

 

First Friends: A Greensboro, NC Quaker Church

The above church is the First Friends Meeting House at 2100 West Friendly Avenue. The view is the Whittier Drive Side. It looks about five times bigger than the Friendly Avenue side. All people are welcome to attend a Quaker meeting. The Quaker religion is a faith of personal experiences and beliefs, as opposed to doctrinal creeds. The religion dates back to the English Civil War in the 1640's. Checking First Friends' website, we couldn't find a timeline of church history so, if you want to learn more, consider attending a service at First Friends. We did learn form the website that the current administration is a bit of a matriarch. That would be a great thing to see anytime, but it would be especially meaningful in March, Women's History Month. 

First Friends seems to be very busy and dynamic. Last evening when we were on site taking pictures, (what appeared to be) a large youth group was standing behind the church in the parking lot.It is Sunday and this, we share, as our Sacred Sunday post. See our previous religious posts here. Here's to welcoming daylight savings time. 

Christ Church Greensboro

Today's photo takes us to another repurposed, industrial, brick building. This is Christ Church, located on Smith Street, in the back yard of the baseball stadium and in view of the JP building. It is in the downtown area that used to have car lots and dealerships, directly across the street from the all-new Greenway Apartments at Fisher Park.

According to the Christ Church website, they are congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America. The Christ Church community is a diverse group of people, from university students to young parents with toddlers to seniors and everything in between. We'll have to try to visit someday and see what it looks like when it is brimming with people. Between services,  it as quiet and haunting as an abandoned textile mill.

WMSUMC Sanctuary

            Methodists have been holding meetings in Greensboro since the 1820's, but it wasn't until 1851 that a church referred to as the "West Market Street Methodist" was completed. In 1892, at the 300 block of West Market Street, the groundbreaking took place for the above sanctuary. Much history has transpired since these early years; churches have come and gone and merged. It was not until 1968 that the name West Market Street United Methodist Church was adopted. This name was adopted after the Methodist and the Evangelical United Bretheren Church merged. Greensboro's own Gayle Fripp is on the History Committee of WMUMC. If you are interested in a little more history, read the church's website here.

            The church is a downtown icon. The above photo is a view from the second floor looking down on the pews.  Three and a half years ago, we shared this view of the organ and pulpit (see here). This is a  church that has interesting history and architecture at just about every turn. They have a very moving collection of the Stations of the Cross and a very moving chapel. Finally, here is a view of the building itself. From the people to the childcare center to the community outreach to the services to the art and architecture, everything about this church is just beautiful.

Bethel Presbyterian...the Sanctuary

Today, we take you inside Bethel Presbyterian Church. The church is located in McCleansville in Eastern Guilford County, just down the street from Eastern High School. It was established in 1812 a few miles away and first called Cedar Creek. In 1815, the congregation moved the church to the current location and the name was changed to Bethel. Bethel means 'House of God' in Hebrew. We have featured this church on Greensboro Daily Photo several times before (here, here, and here); however, never the sanctuary. Without people, the Bethel sanctuary is such a quiet and peaceful space. With people, it is warm, vibrant and inviting. Either way, sitting in the pews, one cannot help but ponder the people, events, and good deeds that have happened on this property over the last two centuries. 

If you are interested in religious history, not only the history of Bethel Church but also of Presbyterianism in North Carolina, you will want to read this online history by Jerry S. Nix.  Bethel Church is lucky to have members who care about documenting and sharing church history. 

If you want to see GDP's archives of religious posts from Sunday's past, start here.  Even after four years of Sundays, featuring Greensboro's religious communities, we still have plenty of options..... Happy Sunday, folks.

Fairview Baptist Church

Here we see Fairview Baptist Church at 2319 Yanceville Street on the East Side of Greensboro. It is located in the Cone Mills community, not too far from Billy "Crash" Craddock Brigde and 16th Street. There doesn't appear to be anything about this church on the Internet. It is hard to believe, in this day and age, that a church can survive/thrive without visibility on the Internet. Perhaps a young student could take this on as a service learning project. The church and its grounds are always well groomed, and obviously well loved. The white façade pops, seeming out of nowhere, as you drive past it. 

In the early 1900's, Cone Mills built five self contained villages. These villages contained houses, schools, churches, recreation facilities, parks, company stores and so much more.  At their peak, the villages covered 450 acres with about 1,500 houses and over 2,600 people. (reference, here). If Fairview Baptist were built back at the beginning of the 20th century, it would have been part of the mill villages. For now, until we can learn more about the church's history, we'll have to settle for watching it remain majestically unchanged as the trees around it adapt to each season. With Catholics gearing up for Ash Wednesday this week, Fairview Baptist will be content to usher in the Lenten season with a little less fanfare.

Whatever you celebrate, happy Sunday, dear readers.

Daystar Church

Daystar Church, founded in 1997, is located at 908 Westover Terrace, directly across from Grimsley High School. The building is much larger than it appears when you walk around the perimeter. It has a huge children's area as well as a Sunday School rooms, offices, even a little detached community building behind the parking lot. Inside, the sanctuary looks more like a stage set than a pulpit. We featured this non-denominational church preveiously (here). However, it looks so different in the dead of winter. You can see from the playground on the left- a relatively new addition- that the church has a lot to offer children. It was so quiet yesterday afternoon when we took this photo; however, when services are in session, the building and parking lot come alive with people. We wish their website actually told who owned this contemporary, non-denominational facility or where their beliefs stem from; however, we do know that they offer a lot of meetings for members. 

Happy Sunday, dear readers.

On Suffering....

This photo of  a church marquee was taken last fall at The Grove Church on Jessup Grove Road. Sometimes these signs are quite thought provoking. This take on suffering, that it makes your religious faith stronger, is quite a different way of interpretping one's emotional pain.

Last June, Ralph Davison, contributing writer to The Business Journal, a local, Triad newspaper, wrote "I've always wanted my children to suffer. Not a lot; just the right amount. I'm not talking about the gut-wrenching, crushing suffering that comes with the poverty that too many of our citizens experience. I'm talking about the suffering that makes us heroes." If you want to have a little bit of a "sermon" today and you can't get out, consider finishing Mr. Davison's editorial, here.  Neitzsche said "That which does not kill you makes you stronger." Finally, the Bible makes several references to suffering from multiple perspectives.

We're with Mr. Davison. May you have "just enough" suffering to get stronger without getting broken. Life is a delicate balance. Here's to leading balanced lives in Greensboro, North Carolina (and beyond).  See GDP's four years of Sundays, here.

Singing Bowl Meditation

Singing bowl meditation bring about relaxation and  well-being. For some, the soothing sounds of the bowls are attached to religious beliefs- especially those who practice Buddhist sadhana; for others, the playing of the bowls is simply a way to relax and center oneself. The bowls can be heard at many houses of worship. Two well known practitioners in Greensboro are Leigh Rouser and Brad Vaughn. Locally, they can be heard at Unity Church, often at the Wednesday services. The above photo was taken at the Summer Solstice event last June. It is not our goal to proselytize here on GDP, however, we do like to make you aware of things that relate to our community. 

In Greensboro, we have a Buddhist Center on Liberty Road. We have Unity Center on Opal Drive and the Unitarian Universalist Church on Hilltop Road. So, there are at least three places one can go to hear this soothing sound. The bowls are sold at 10,000 Villages, and, if your curiosity is peaked, you can watch this four minute video by bowl-expert, Rain Gray, in Kathmandu where the best singing bowls are acquired. Here is a nice sample, if you just want to meditate with bronze bowls. Crystal bowls can be here. With recent tragedies, it seems seeking out this soothing sound of the singing bowl, just might help us relax.  

 

Happy Sunday, folks. See you at the MLK Parade tomorrow.

Pleasant Ridge Christian Church

Looking at the front entrance of Pleasant Ridge Christian Church, on Pleasant Ridge Road, down the road from the Northwest schools, we pause for a moment of silent reflection....

So much has been happening to the youth of our community lately. In the Piedmont area alone, we've had students hurt in bus accidents and one child killed at a bus stop in Forsyth County. In Greensboro, a Northwest Middle School student was shot and killed by his mother this past week. The family lived fairly close to the church in the photo above. Teachers and classmates are shaken by this tragedy.  Others local students are coping with loved ones who are sick and, in some cases, have died recently. Let's hold all of these grieving children in our hearts and do what we can to help them find joy in life, in spite of their heavy hearts. The children in our community represent many different faith and belief systems; however, all are beautiful little miracles who deserve the community's unconditional love and support. It is the job of adults to help children feel safe and to shield them from our adult peccability and worry; no easy task in these troubled times.

The above church, Pleasant Ridge Christian , was established on July 28th, 1867. We bet the church has seen a lot in its one hundred and forty five year history.

Happy Old Christmas

For our first Sacred Sunday photo of 2013, we are sharing this sunset, in northeast Greensboro, from a few days ago. Nature is a beautiful thing. In the long hours of darkness in the winter months, a beautiful sunset becomes a cherished gift. Today is not only Sunday, it is the Epiphany, the Biblical Visitation of the Magi to the Baby Jesus. Some cultures are celebrating Kings' Day and children will be receiving gifts. So, regardless of what you celebrate today, take a look at the sky and be thankful for its eternal beauty. Even on overcast days, we can find something that makes us feel gratitude.

If you get a chance, head to a bakery and purchase rosca de reyes, which looks rather like something between bread and fruitcake. If your piece has the little plastic baby Jesus in it, know that the next party will be at your house! Well, dear readers, Happy Epiphany. May you have a day of rest and a day where nature reaches down and embraces you in its glory. 

Irving Park United Methodist Church

Above, we see a photo of Irving Park United Methodist Church, located at 1510 West Cone Boulevard. Hopefully, God shines down on Irving Park United Methodist Church every day. For sure, yesterday, the church was bathed in His divine beauty. The clouds and leafless branches were just the backdrop to make the red brick, white columns and steeple pop. This church, located in on the edge of New Irving Park, offers everything from traditional worship, to alternative worship, youth groups, fall festivals, preschool, and scouts. Unfortunately, they do not have a history of the church published on their website, so we cannot tell you the age of the church or any of its milestones. Publishing a history online is a way to share the significant events of a religious community. (HINT, HINT). R.J. Reynolds graduate, Reverend Brian Allen has been ministering at IPUMC since 2005. Not only is Pastor Allen a man of the cloth, he is also a credentialed counselor. At IPUMC, you hear the word of God, PLUS have the preacher counsel you if you are having trouble coping with the stresses of everyday life. What an asset he is to the community.

This is GDP's last "Sacred Sunday" post for 2012. We hope you have enjoyed our 2012 religious themed Sundays. If you are interested, we will keep up this tradition as we enter our fifth year on Greensboro Daily Photo. Even after four years, we are nowhere near running out of religious institutions to feature. Happy Sunday, dear readers! 

Centenary United Methodist Church

        Centenary United Methodist Church on Friendly Avenue is located on the northern edge of the Sunset Hills neighborhood, where the light balls are hoisted into the trees for all to enjoy. In the foreground, you see members of Centenary Church out caroling last Sunday evening. The voices were lovely and the carolers were as pleasant as could be. They thanked us for taking their photo and invited us to come to church. Tonight will be very different from the quiet streets with just the carolers and cars as thousands of people will descend on this part of town for the 5K run under the lighted Christmas balls. The streets will be closed to vehicles and the run is sold out. Fun will be had by all. The neighborhood's Christmas balls even have their own website.

        With Duke Energy's recent trimming of the trees in nearby Westerwood, Sunset Hills residents are running a little bit scared. The power company says that they need to trim trees to keep neighborhoods safe during inclement weather; however, we can't imagine Sunset Hills without their giant trees, with or without decorations. Let's hope that the trees of Sunset Hills don't suffer the same fate as the ones in Westerwood.

        Oh and to the youth group at Centenary Methodist, we bet that if you sell hot chocolate tonight, you will make LOTS of money to fill all of those empty stockings of the people you work so tirelessly to help. Here's to a great evening for the church AND for a great evening for Sunset Hills' giant, family-friendly fundraiser. Also, since Sunday is the day we reserve for something spiritual, we'd like to send condolences out to Billy Jones and his family. Billy Jones, East Greensboro's most vocal advocate on the blogosphere and frequent commenter on GDP, lost his son last week. Losing a child is never easy. Billy, our heart goes out to you and your family. Let's all pause for a few minutes of silent meditation and run a few steps for Jason Alan Jones....

                                                                          

Happy Chanukah

Yesterday was a busy day of Chanukah festivities in downtown Greensboro. Above, a children's group from B'nai Shalom Day School was singing Chanukah songs at Center City Park. Chanukah began Saturday evening and will end the evening of Sunday, December 16th. Between now and then, families will be busy lighting another branch of the Menorah each night and remembering their religious history with a mixture of communal and family-based activities. Fried foods are eaten to show the importance of oil. Some people play dreidel games and exchange small gifts; however, Chanukah is not a "Sabbath-like" holiday and most people continue to go to school and work.

Yesterday's event in Center City Park followed one at the Heirloom Chanukah Menoras Lighting at the Greensboro Historical Museum, an event sponsored in partnership with the Greensboro Jewish Federation. Families scrambled to finish up the festitivies in the museum to make it to the park in time to continue the festivities.

Since the arrival of Jewish families in the late 1800's, Greensboro's Jewish community has played a prominent and significant role is making our community the great place it is today. Greensboro seems to aspire to respect the inherent worth and dignity of all citizens. If you were to listen to a family lighting the Menorah during Chanukah, likely, you would hear the following: 

1. Blessed are You, L‑rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the Chanukah light.

1. Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai Eh-lo-hei-noo Meh-lech Ha-olam A-sher Ki-deh-sha-noo Beh-mitz-vo-tav Veh-tzi-va-noo Leh-had-lik Ner Cha-noo-kah.

2. Blessed are You, L‑rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who performed miracles for our forefathers in those days, at this time.

2. Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai Eh-lo-hei-nu Meh-lech Ha-olam Sheh-a-sa Nee-sim La-avo-tei-noo Ba-ya-mim Ha-hem Bee-z’man Ha-zeh*

Let's hope the light continues to shine for a very long time.

* http://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/article_cdo/aid/603798/jewish/Chanukah-Guide.htm

 

Silent Meditation and Repose at St. Paul's

The Advent season is upon us. Neighborhoods are aglow with Christmas lights, inflatables, music, and garland. Traffic in Greensboro was bumper to bumper on Ridgeway and Madison Avenues in Sunset Hills last night as people drove around looking at the chicken wire light balls hanging from the trees. The fundraising run through Sunset Hills next Sunday is sold out with about 1,500 runners. People are busy. Busy. Busy. 'Tis the season.

Battleground and Wendover Avenues are choked with traffic. Greensboro has entered the period of manic holiday shopping. Wagoner's Christmas tree lots seem to be selling North Carolina Christmas trees at breakneck pace. Christmas pagents, Secret Santas, deep discounts at department stores, holiday gift exchanges and office parties keep those who celebrate Christmas scheduled from morning to night. Perhaps we should all look for a quiet, sacred space to sit, meditate, and catch our breath as we enter the last two weeks before Christmas.

This triangular ceiling at St. Paul's Catholic Church on Horse Pen Creek Road seems to be a place for great repose.

Methodists at the Christmas Parade

Yesterday, the Jaycee's 35th Annual Christmas Parade was held in downtown Greensboro. The weather was shockingly warm, probably almost seventy degrees. The above photo is the parade entry by Christ United Methodist Church. Church members surrounded the vehicle, interacting with the crowd along the way. Behind the vehicle was a small trailer with a living nativity scene. Also behind were church members carrying  an inflatable candy cane balloon. In the background, a few parade entries back, peeking out from the Statue of Liberty inflatable, is the steeple of the West Market United Methodist Church. Methodists have been holding services in Greensboro since the 1820's and, West Market Street, the church in the background was built in 1851.*Compared to West Market Street, Christ United Methodist Church, organized in 1956 is young.

Both church maintain quite a visible, positive presence in Greensboro. Here's to almost 200 years of methodism in our city. Here's to three and a half decades of Christmas parades and to a community that has something for everybody. We hope you are enjoying your weekend in Greensboro as much as we are!

 

*If you are interested in more of the history of West Market United Methodist Church, read this historical timeline written by Greensboro historian Gayle Fripp, here. See a close up of West Market Street Church here.

Piedmont Interfaith Council

Last Sunday, we attended the 30th Annual Ecumenical Thanksgiving Celebration of the Piedmont Interfaith Council. Initially, we attended because the council asked permission to use our photos for their visual display of the blessings of Greensboro. The event was so meaningful and heartwarming; it was an honor to play a small part in this large celebration. On the stage above, you see leaders from five different faith groups all coming together to encourage Greensboro to dwell in unity. The leaders and their affiliations are, from left to right: Tangela Stanley, Bahá'i Faith; Rev. David Bills, Society of Friends; Monsignor Anthony J. Marcaccio, Catholic; Imam Shaher Sayed, Muslim; and Rabbi Eliezer Havivi, Jewish. These leaders represent only five of the over twenty religions in Greensboro.

Every Sunday, for nearly four years now, we've been featuring something religious or spiritual on Greensboro Daily Photo. From the contacts we've made through the Piedmont Interfaith Council, it appears that we'll have plenty to share each week-- for years to come. A good thing Dr. James E. Hull did for Greensboro thirty years ago, founding an organization dedicated to building bridges of understanding between cultural and faith groups. 

Triad Tapestry Children's Chorus

Yesterday afternoon, the Piedmont Interfaith Council held their 30th annual Ecumenical Thanksgivng Celebration, "Giving Thanks for the Borough of Green." How fabulous to have the Abrahamic religions, and MORE, all on the stage at the same time. The event was even more special thanks to the involvement of the Triad Tapestry Children's Chorus, under the direction of Melissa Burris. The children, representing an array of Greensboro's 20+ religions, twirled ribbons and wove their way to the stage of Dana Auditorium to delight us with songs.

The Triad Tapestry Children's Chorus, with members of diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds, has been in existence for 20 years now. They meet at First Baptist Church each Tuesday. If you have a child age 7-11, we're not sure if they are still taking members this year, but you can learn more here. As for us, we've added this November gathering to our "must attend" list and will consider it our kick-off event for the end-of-year, holiday season.

Look at the above photo (under the stars and stripes of Old Glory) long and hard. These are Greensboro's future leaders! And to be fair to the chorus, this photo caught them between songs, when they were not in full concert position.

Remembering Little Marissa Nicole Shelton

Thanksgiving week, Americans log more road miles, traveling to be with loved ones, than any other week of the year. If you are among those traveling, please remember to drive defensively and responsibly. The above photo is a reminder of the grief one suffers with the unexpected traffic death of a loved one.*

The pink floral cross is located on Highway 29 north between Cone Boulevard and Hicone Road. Marissa Nicole Shelton, an eight year old girl who lived nearby, was struck and killed on her bicycle in a hit and run accident an July 21st, 2011. Her grieving family maintains the memorial. The little sign of Santa says "Santa, please stop here." We hope that the family's Christian faith community has been helping them get through these very difficult first few holidays without Marissa. Since today is Sunday, we like to share something religious, spiritual, or a message that helps us reflect on the beauty of life before us. Here's to a safe, happy and healthy Thanksgiving for us all. As we say in the South, "Have a blessed day."

*As of this week, the roadside memorial was still standing. If you are interested, read more about roadside memorials here. Some people say the markers are a remembrance and remind us all to be safe. Others say they are unsafe and distracting. What is your perspective on this tradition?

State Street Church of God

    Today's photo takes us to the State Street Church of God, located at 200 State Street, on the end near Mark Holder's jewelry store and Irving Park. Church of God is a title used by many denominations of Christians, most of which are part of the Pentecostal, Holiness, or Adventist traditions (see here). Five values that dominate the Pentecostal faith are (according to Russell P. Spittler): Spirituality, orality, spontaneity, asceticism (other-worldliness), and biblical authority. Unfortunately, the above church appears to be one of those without a website, so we can't really tell you about its history. They do have a Facebook page; however, if you are interrested in learning more about the congregation.

    

    Recently, we featured State Street and this house around the corner from the Church of God. We're not so sure this church has always been a Church of God. We do, however, bet that the building was around back in the days when State Street and McAdoo Heights were one of the more "spirited" sides of Greensboro. Thinking of the bawdy, Saturday night adventures that were reported to have taken place on State Street of yesteryear, likely, the churches were full on Sunday morning where people could sing, pray and reflect on their past actions. If you like church music, here's a nice hymn recorded in Salem, Virginia; sung a'capella and from the heart. Greensboro churches, temples, synagogues, and other places of worship, get your music on You Tube and we'll start linking to YOU! Happy Sunday folks.

Remember to do something for Veteran's Day tomorrow.

Pleasant Garden Baptist

Pleasant Garden Baptist Church is one of the giant churches flanking Pleasant Garden Elementary School- highly visible from the school's parking lot. Located at Neelley Road, Pleasant Garden Baptist is one of the anchor churches in the community.  It is a place where many locals have all of their life celebrations from cradle to grave.

The angled main entrance adds visual interest to the architecture from the outside. On the inside, the stained glass windows are fabulous. The church extends with additional wings and buildings for a good country block. We wish it had a history published on its website so we could tell you more about PGBC's history.

If you are a regular reader of GDP, you will know that we feature a religious post every Sunday. Knowing of our collection four years of Sunday posts, the Piedmont Interfaith Council is using out photos for their presentation on Sunday, November 18th, 2012, to be held at Dana Auditorium on the Campus of Guilford College. It is their 30th annual community-wide "Ecumenical Celebration of Thanksgiving" from 4-5 pm. We hope to see you there. In the meantime, happy Sunday, regardless of where you are and what you are doing.

Martin Avenue Baptist Church

Today's Sacred Sunday church is Martin Avenue Baptist Church in northeast Greensboro. It is a typical country church alongside a windy country road. The bright white wooden exterior just glistens on a sunny day. These Baptist churches have a common architectural style; the steeple, the cross, the triangular roofline, the building that extends to the back and has been added on-to at the side. Sometimes they are wooden and sometimes brick. Always, they are no-frills and take their worshiping seriously.

The country scene extends along the perimeter of Martin Avenue Baptist. Nearby, there are small, country homes, one of which has a 1950's Ford pickup truck parked in the church parking lot. It seems like the type of neighborhood where people come together in time of need. Likely, many neighbors belong to the church. Martin Avenue continues to the west until it intersects with Rankin Road. Martin itself continues down to McKnight Mill Road. To the east, it extends almost all the way to North O. Henry Blvd. As for the church, unfortunately, it doesn't have a website so we can't tell you about the history. We did learn from the marquee that Dr. James Talbert is the pastor of this beautiful church.

View from Revolution Cotton Mill Hill

A couple of weeks ago, we featured Palm Street Christian Church in McAdoo Heights and mentioned that it overlooked Revolution Mill. Here we see a view of Palm Street Christian from Yanceville Street. The photo was taken with a telephoto lens zooming from Revolution Mill, across Church Street and up on Palm near State Street. With the two, modest mill houses to the left of the church, you have an idea of just how compact one's path was early in the 20th century. From home, to church, to shops, to work, to recreation all on foot, if necessary. There is a lot to be said for that type of lifestyle.

Revolution Cotton Mills, a 2-million-square-foot complex, was built in 1899. At one time, it was the world's largest flannel production facility. This whole part of town played an important role in Greensboro's early history. We hate that Revolution is no longer a mill; however, we are happy that the structure is there for us to explore, photograph, and share. The brick shell is proof positive that Greensboro played a role in the Industrial Revolution.

 

Fish... and the Bible

Fish is referenced in the King James version of the Bible 35 times. The first place it appears is Genesis 1:26 from which point on it is found numerous times in the Old and New Testaments alike.  We could not help but think of all the Biblical references to fish, last night, while dining at Greensboro's newest Egyptian restaurant, Samir. The fresh fish, grilled by Chef Samir himself was, indeed, heavenly. As seen above, it arrives at your table the old fashioned way, head and all. Not to worry, Chef Samir will help if you are unsure of how to eat it. Samir's Egyptian restaurant is filled with not only authentic cuisine but also artwork and images from Ancient Egypt.

The meal  brought to mind the following Bible verse: We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic (Num 11:5). The fish was an early symbol of Christianity and several of Jesus' Apostles were fishermen. It seems that the closer to the earth and sea one eats, the more spiritual the eating event becomes. Somehow we don't think these Biblical thoughts would have come to mind while driving through the window of a fast food restaurant.

Happy Sunday to all and may Chef Samir's restaurant, a mere 4 1/2 months old, be around to inspire us for years to come!

Palm Street Christian

We close out the week with a church, located in McAdoo Heights. Palm Street Christian Church was first organized in 1905. Since Moses Cone built Proximity Cotton Mills in Greensboro in 1895*, Palm Street would have served residents of the surrounding mill community. The original building is no longer there and the current, red-brick structure was built in 1950. Palm Street doesn't appear to have a website or Facebook page so church history is not readily available.

If you stand in the church parking lot across the street, you can look to the east and get a great view of Revolution Mills. Three years ago we took this photo from Palm Street's parking lot. In this photo, we are actually at Revolution Mills, and, if you stood at the top of the red water tower, you could see Palm Street. Many of these neighborhood churches struggle for membership. We hope Palm Street will be around for years to come and that someone will make its history readily available digitally. For sure the church has provenance.

* reference.

Session House of Bethel Presbyterian

Today, we take you to the session house at Bethel Presbyterian, way out in the eastern end of the county. Above, we see the small facility that dates back to 1875. On the outside, the white wooden structure resembles a one room school house. As you can see, on the inside, it looks a lot like a one room schoolhouse, too.

Here is where the church archives documents relevant to the history of the church. For example, there are receipts showing where people had paid for the priviledge of sitting in the same pew for the year.  There are many photos of church leaders and members over the years housed here. The white, hanging lights at the back wall came from the sanctuary of Bethel. Archiving documents and maintaining a history is particularly important to a church like Bethel that not only has a 200-year history; it also has church members whose families date back to about the founding of the church. To these members, documenting the history is priceless. The little building that houses these memories is priceless, too.

Does your church (or other religious institution) have its history in order? If not, no better time than the present. Happy Sunday, everyone!

200th Anniversary Honoring of Bethel Veterans

Yesterday, Bethel Presbyterian Church*  held a special ceremony to honor all veterans and members of the Armed Forces affiliated with their church. The program started with a welcome and invocation by the church's pastor, Rev. Paul L. Rhodes. Several veterans and service organizations participated in the service. The event was organized partly to honor the 200 year history of the church and its members.

A rifle salute and cannon salute were conducted by people in uniforms of previous wars. The people in the above photo were dressed in period attire to represent the US Civil War. The woman on the left belongs to the Society of the Black Rose. This organization was established in 1998 to help with memorial services. Wearing a complete period mourning outfit, she is present to remind people of the loss of life during the Civil War.  The Black Rose was named in honor of Rose O'Neal Greenhow, who lost her life trying to help the Confederate Cause.  

The Bethel event also included a flag retirement ceremony and the presentation and raising of a new flag. This fine ceremony was educational to many and meaningful to all who attended.

*Read our earlier post on Bethel Presbyterian here.

Emmanuel Church of Christ

Emmanuel Church of Christ is located at 2909 Phillips Avenue, in the Kings Forest neighborhood very near Huffine Mill Road. Churches of Christ are known for their independence and autonomy. They are New Testament and Bible-based; however, other beliefs, such as type of music played in the church, are not uniform.

Like so many of the churches we feature for "Sacred Sunday," no webpage exists to tell of the history of the church or the building. You can see the bell to the right, embedded within the nameplate. As with so many churches, the structure features an A-line roof and a large stained glass window. Next time we're out that way, we'll stop in and see if we can learn more about the history of the church. In the meantime, we cannot emphasize enough the importances of religious institutions archiving their history online.

We do know that the church sure looked beautiful when this photo was taken on almost the last day of summer. We bet it will be pretty as the leaves around it take on their fall color. By the way, happy Sunday, happy autumn..........

Wendover Hills Wesleyan Church

Wendover Hills Wesleyan Church is located near the airport at 205 South Swing Road. The stark white, industrial building catches the eye by surprise as you approach the area. The Trinity and Bible-based church puts a lot of emphasis on worship and fellowship through music. They appear to be an active congregation and very inviting to visitors and new members.  If you are interested in this church, their small group sessions start today and run through December 9th. 

We love Greensboro's religious diversity and try to feature something to reflect the spirituality of Greensboro every Sunday. We only know what their website says about this church; it seems to be a happy and inviting place. For some reason, seeking spirituality in a warehouse seems intriguing. The non-conventional church building looks so clean, uncluttered and contemporary. We'll have to try to go inside for a visit sometime. 

Christ Community Church

Christ Community Church, also known as an Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, is located at 811 Jefferson Road at the Friendly Avenue end. According to their website, Christ Community Church was originally organized as a mission (church plant) of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Chruch in March 1980. Their purpose has always been to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. Tthe Rev. John Kimmons was their founding pastor. 

The photo is a somewhat deceptive as the church doesn't appear to have any windows. While windows are not featured prominently in this building, they do exist around the side and back. Christ Community is a Christ-based religion; hoewver, crosses do not appear to be featured prominently either. Without visiting, it is hard to know the significance of the unadorned nature of the façade. We'll have to stop by for a visit. The people coming and going to the service seem really friendly.

It sure seems like there are a lot of churches in the segment of Friendly Avenue from Holden Road to Guilford College Road. Then again, there are many houses of worship in Greensboro, period. Most Sundays, we feature one and in almost four years of doing this, we don't think we'll run out of places to photograph anytime soon!

 

True Deliverance Apostolic Church

Right at the 315-degree angle where Liberty Road bends back on itself, intersecting with Alamance Church Road, you will find True Deliverance Apostolic Church. Led by Pastor Esther Richardson, on Sunday mornings, the congregation has a morning of great sermons and fellowship. This red brick and cinder block building is transformed into a house of salvation. The main entrance to the modest structure has a candy-striped awning. To the left of the main entrance is a white cross made out of fence pickets: No frills, but lots of deliverance for those who enter in.

True Deliverance is located in what we call the "religious deversity" corridor of Guilford County. Just about every religion imaginable- from Buddhism to Jehovah Witness to Baptist to everything in between- is concentrated in a few square miles southeast of downtown. Last Sunday, we enjoyed sitting in the parking lot of True Deliverance listening to the service. At some point, we'd like to step through the door to see what awaits on the other side.

If you are out for a Sunday drive today, head to the Alamance Church/Liberty Road part of town and start counting houses of worship. You will have enough faith-based conversation to fill all the waking hours in a week.