Greensboro Daily Photo

Grace UMC Church, 438 W. Friendly Avenue

This Sunday's spiritual place is Grace UMC, located at 438 W. Friendly Avenue. Grace bills itself as a Lighthouse Congregation, meaning that they welcome all who are seeking a new church, even those who do so due to disaffiliation. According to their website, Grace was chartered in 1891. The Urban Ministries of Greensboro was also founded in this church. They have also hosted Habitat for Humanity and are partnered with Guilford Child Development, offering free childcare to immigrant and refugee families. Located downtown, Grace endeavors to be everything an urban church needs to be.  

A link to their rich history is the cornerstone in from of the church which reads, "GRACE METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH. " The architect of the church, in its current iteration, was Hobart Upjohn. He was a New York architect whose work is attributed to 50 churches and educational buildings. He also designed Temple Emanuel and Holy Trinity in downtown Greensboro and the First Presbyterian Church of High Point. It is so fun to explore the history of our community and those early people who left their mark on the footprint of downtown Greensboro.

Happy Sunday!

West Market Street United Methodist Church

This is the facade of the West Market Street United Methodist Church. This year at the NC Folk Festival, there isn't a stage in front of this church; however, we still ended up walking past it. It is so beautiful by day and by night. With the curve of the roofline on the 0arch and the lighting, it makes us feel as if we are in Europe. The architect was S.W. Foulk and the style is Romanesque. It was constructed in 1893.

The sanctuary beautiful, making the church quite a place to experience, from the exterior to the interior to the members. The 68, yes 68, stained glass windows can only be fully appreciated from the interior on a sunny day. They were recycled from the German Pavilion at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. According to the church website, the church is "(a) vibrant urban church creatively worshipping, full of great programs for families, youth and ALL ages, in mission to serve the Lord!" 

Happy Sunday! 

Kallam Grove Christian Church

Since it is a three day weekend, we ventured into Rockingham County, about 20 miles from Greensboro to spend the afternoon on a friend's farm. The winding country roads are beautiful between Greensboro and Madison. Our friend lives at the end of a road that is not paved into her property.  There are still roads like that in Guilford County, but they are getting harder to find.  On the way back, we drove past Kallam Grove Christian Church. It was established in 1865, right in the middle of the Civil War era. The original meeting area was under a brush arbor.Eventually, a small, white, wooden church was built. Since the beginning, they have been a Christian church, operating on a congregational model. All church business is presented to the church and voted on by members.

The church building shown above is the 1992 iteration of the church.  Off to the right is a sanctuary. In the background, you can see the cemetery with graves dating back to the 1800s. Driving on those winding, back country roads in this part of North Carolina, and stumbling upon a country church is such a special treat. They are everywhere with most likely struggling to maintain membership. But knowing all of the history of these churches, and the families that have donated land and supported them over the years, is a special part of the history of North Carolina. We drive around on these weekend jaunts, we are reminded of the second line from J.R.R. Tolkien's poem, "The Riddle of Strider".  "Not all those who wander are lost." Indeed, when we are out wandering, we are not lost. And, we always know that we are only an online search away from getting exactly where we want to go. So, be adventurous and hear out and explore the roads within a 20 mile radius of Greensboro.

Happy Sunday!

Raleigh's Crossroads UMC

Raleigh's Crossroads UMC is located at 715 Guilford College Road, near I-40 and Wendover Avenue and just off Hornaday Road. It is really easy to spot when driving by. We've checked our archives and it doesn't appear that we've featured it in 16 years of Sundays. We guess, in a way, it has been hidden in plain sight. As you can see from the above photo, the building is right at the road. According to the UMC website, the lead pastor is Tamara Ingram, attendance is 77, the primary language spoken in English, and the primary ethnicity is African American/Black. Their Facebook page reveals a men's choir and you can also see sermons by the preacher from a few years ago. An interior view of the church, the sanctuary with an A-line ceiling, can also be seen. The building was built in 1974.

The Northern Piedmont District, United Women in Faith, will hold a Social Action Workshop there on October 5th. The church appears to be an active congregation and willing to open their space to others. We're wondering if, in the church's 50 year history, if it has always been Raleigh's Crossroads UMC; however, we can't find evidence of any other name. Next time we drive by, we'll look for a cornerstone. In the meantime, enjoy the view and see if you can find it next time you are on Guilford College Road headed towards I-40.

Happy Sunday!

 

The Corner Farmers Market at St Andrew's Episcopal on West Market Street

We caught the tail end of the Farmers Market on West Market Street yesterday. We were struck by the community venture it has become. Located in St. Andrew's parking lot at 2105 West Market Street, the Corner Market is truly a community venture. They invite vendors in to sell their bread, vegetables, soups, and arts and crafts. There is a children's art corner, an Australian farmer on Elam Street, who grows produce on not much more than acre of land, a young couple bringing their bread from Virginia. All of these vendors are such an integral part of the market. And then there are the customers, like the people in the above photo, who come to support local farmers and to show their children the source of their food. All of this magic happens on Saturday morning, thanks to the generosity of St. Andrew's.

Today, on Sunday morning,  the 13th Sunday after Pentecost, at St. Andrews Church, people will gather to celebrate Christ, their spirituality, and each other. St. Andres traces it's history in Greensboro back to 1891. The Episcopal has a rich history, over 130 years,  in Greensboro.* The Episcopal church, and especially St. Andrew's, values their relationship with people. As they say on their website, "not artifacts, not architecture, or even such actions as kneeling, singing, or making the sign of the cross."  They are about people in communion with God and each other. As we look at this fine relationship between St. Andrew's and the Corner Market, we realize, this is community at its best and at the core of why Greensboro is such a great place to live. Regardless of what you believe, we hope that you have a spiritual home (even if it is your own home) that nurtures your soul, literally and spiritually. We hope your spiritual home if one like St. Andrew's that allows all people in and believes building community is a big part of their mission.

Happy Sunday!

 

*read more HERE.

Retiring Centenary UMC

Earlier this summer, Centenary United Methodist Church, located at 2300 West Friendly Avenue, send a letter to the residents of the Sunset Hills neighborhood that the church was closing. They no longer had the membership to be self-sustaining.  We featured them six years ago and referenced an article by local journalist Jim Schlosser. He wrote that the church had been selling pumpkins as a fundraiser, around Halloween,  since 1975.  They would have been about a quarter of a century. We were suspicious this past October when we went to purchase a pumpkin and the youth group was not selling them. 

The building and property was sold to Cone Health. They aren't quite sure what they will do with the property and invited the neighbors to a meeting to provide input. One of the ideas was to turn it into an affordable daycare. The church also didn't say where the congregation would be transferring. Christ United to the west and West Market Street, down the road to the east, are logical options. Perhaps members of the congregation will simply go to the place that is nearest their house. A lot is up in the air. A meeting with the Greensboro Planning and Zoning Commission will be held on August 19th at 5:30 p.m. If you have ideas, want a say in the matter, or just plain curious, that would be a good meeting to attend. Greensboro is known for being #3 in the nation with respect to cities with the most churches per capita. Many religious institutions have been struggling, especially post-Covid. Let's hope that the people who attended Centenary find a spiritual home a that Cone does with the property what is best for the community. It sure is a beautify building in a prime location. If your house of worship is thriving, do what it takes to keep it strong.

Happy Sunday!

Summer Sunset on Lake Brandt

Happy first Sunday of August. This is a recent sunset on Lake Brandt. By the time August is over, all schools will be back in session and summer will be effectively over.  Next time we are at Lake Brandt, we hope to head to nearby Lake Brandt Baptist Church at 1901 Trosper Road. Another church close to the lake is Covenant Church at 4600 Lake Brandt Road.  If you don't make it to an organized house of worship for service today, it is pretty spiritual to walk around the road in silent meditation. See the 10.9 mile Lake Brandt Loop trail HERE. August is supposed to be one of the driest months in North Carolina, so you'd think it would be a good time to plan outdoor activities. However, in Greensboro, August is off to a pretty rainy start. As a farmer would remind us, we need the rain.

Happy Sunday!

New Light Missionary Baptist Church

New Light Missionary Baptist Church has a rich history, dating back to 1891.  In the earliest years, it was in a different location. The above building, that also has a family life center behind is located at 1105 Willow Road, across from Dudley High School. The pastor, loved by the community, is the Rev. Dr. Cardes Brown Jr. who has served New Light since 1975. While originally from Rocky Mount, the son of a preacher, he first came to Greensboro to attend North Carolina A&T State University, and decided to make Greensboro his home.  He is so loved by the community that the City of Greensboro has named the portion of Willow Road where the church is located, Rev. Dr. Cardes Brown Jr.  Rev. Dr. Brown serves community not only in a spiritual way, but also by serving many groups committed to social justice. Read more about him HERE.  His wife, Diane Piece Brown, serves alongside him.

Service times are 7:30 am and 10:45 am on Sunday mornings, with Sunday School at 9:30 am. They also have mid-week opportunities to worship on Wednesday with lunch served at 12 noon and a service at 7:00 pm. And, for those who can't get out, or in need of another opportunity for prayer, there is an 8:00pm prayer line on Thursdays. This is one of those churches committed to helping the community in any way it can. As a missionary Baptist church, they evangelize both locally and globally. In a world where everything is changing so quickly, it is refreshing to learn of a community like New Light that has had decades of stability.

Happy Sunday!

Summer Camps at UNCG

Last week, we featured the Governor's School Program, hosted on the Greensboro College campus. Today's photo features the soccer camps at UNCG. UNCG holds camps for K-12 students all summer long. Topics range from sports and e-sports to camps for children with autism to STEM to academic camps. Last week was a big week for soccer camps. It looked like students os all ages were participating. The above photo was taken on the soccer field at the corner of Spring Garden Street and Josephine Boyd. The baseball stadium was also full of soccer players.

These camps are wonderful on so many levels. First, young athletes, some of whom will be first generation college students, get to learn first-hand about life on college campuses. They even get to eat in the cafeteria- making food choices that their parents may or may not approve of. They have a structured routine and deepen their skills and knowledge of the theme of the camp.  We are lucky to be in a city with so many universities, colleges, and community colleges. If you have pre-collegiate children in your life, you should simply pick a topic they are interested in and see which institution of higher education offers summer programs. The time to plan for next year is now.  The first day for high school students is August 26th. The fall semester for UNCG begins August 12th. So, camps will be winding down... summer, too.

Happy Tuesday!

The Giving Tree

This past week, the above red oak tree at the southeast corner of Fernwood and Fairfield Avenue was removed. It carried with it a tremendous amount of church history for Guilford Park Presbyterian Church.  It was the location where the church first began. Members worshiped under the oak tree until McGinnis Hall was completed on the property in 1947. The oak tree has long been a symbol of Guilford Park Presbyterian,  appearing on church stationery and other church documents. Arborists determined  it couldn't be saved and it was not safe. The tree has meant so much to not only church members, but also community members. It carried with it church history and provided great shade for the park and the neighborhood.

The stump reminds us of the brevity, yet generative nature of life, nothing living lasts forever. But one living thing dies and another comes along. It also evokes the message of Shel Silverstein's, "The Giving Tree", reminding us of the gift of giving and loving. The old oak gave and gave for years and was there for the milestones of many people. When we were visiting it, just yesterday, an elderly woman who had lived in the neighborhood her whole life, stopped to tell us of how many memories the tree held for  her. She lives a few houses away on the same street and, a while back, had to have an even larger white oak removed from her yard.  Perhaps a new tree can be planted in its place and future generations can build memories around the new tree.

Have a lovely Sunday!

 

Brokenness Ministry in Summerfield- just North of Greensboro

According to their website, the Brokenness Ministry is a non-profit based in Greensboro. The above branch is located in Summerfield, in the same plaza where Golden Antiques and Treasures is located, on the Summerfield Road side of the plaza. Brokenness Ministry was established in 2010 with the mission of evangelizing in different cities and countries. They even  have a prison ministry, and are committed to helping children and veterans who are experiencing homelessness. Their website explains that Brokenness Ministries works hard to help heal those who have been broken by life's circumstances. Their main studio is located in Revolution Mill.

You know the old saying about not spending money to look all fancy when the money can be channeled to doing good.  This ministry is committed to working hard to help others get back on their feet. Members work together to meet their goals. Members even travel together. Sometimes we get to know and trust each other by building memories, not just by work, but also by play. We hope to learn more about them and to meet some members. Here is another website to get more information about Brokenness Ministry.

Happy Sunday!

Temple of Prayer and Worship

Temple of Prayer and Worship is located at 2319 Randleman Road at the corner of Concord Street. It is a church in an old strip mall. They have Sunday services from 10:00 a.m. until 12 noon and Thursday Bible studies from 7:00 p.m.- 8:30 p.m. On the door a phone number and contact email are listed. However, that is about all we could find out about this church as we couldn't find an online presence. Often, churches start out in empty store fronts and when the congregation gets adequate funds, they transition to a stand alone building.  Let's hope this church is successful and that members are happy with their spiritual home.

They say Greensboro is #3 in the nation per capita for number of churches. Plus, we have many houses of worship of other religions. May we all find our spiritual home.

Happy Sunday!

Community Garden at St. Phillips AME Zion Church

Today's photo features the greenway side of St. Phillips AME Zion Church on 1330 Ashe Street in the Warnersville neighborhood of Greensboro. In the back of the church, they have a community garden. The garden is called the St. Phillips Garden of Peace and it was first started on 2/27/21. This is Year 3 of the garden, and it appears to be thriving. This garden is an example of the "un-lawning" initiative to replace manicured lawns with raised beds and edibles. It is also shows how churches work with community organizations to make great things happen. Read this article to learn more about the early beginnings of the garden. This YES! Weekly article talks more about the urban farm initiative to cultivate underutilized land. We also learned from YES! Weekly that the UNCG Communication Studies Department made this initiative possible. Read more here. If you can think of somewhere that would be a good site for a community garden, there are plenty of organizations willing to help. Thanks you St. Phillips for continuing this project!

Happy Sunday!

Donna Barrier: Member/ Historian, Guilford Park Presbyterian Church

A couple of weeks ago, we had the opportunity to spend the afternoon with Donna Barrier who is a second-generation member of Guilford Park Presbyterian Church. Donna, a Page High School graduate, was a lifelong educator in Greensboro. Now, in retirement, she dedicates much of her time serving her church. Donna is the archivist/historian, documenting all the major events of the church each year.*

Above, Donna is standing beside one of the carvings made by her dad, Harold A. Barrier. Her dad made more carvings because every pew has a different wooden carving at the end. There is documentation for each carving, the symbolism, and carved did it. According to Donna, woodcarving provided many hours of fellowship for the men involved in that project. This carving by Mr. Barrier is extra special because it is the descending dove. It is the symbol of the Holy Spirit's presence, and the story of the descending dove and Jesus' Baptism is found in all four Gospels. The carving is actually the seal of the Presbyterian Church of the United States. The four symbolic elements are a dove, the cross, a book symbolizing scripture, and flames. When we find a person who values documenting history and archiving, we know we have found a kindred spirit. It is the people that make Greensboro a special place to live and people like Donna who make Guilford Park Presbyterian a special place to worship. May we all have a "Donna" in our life.

Happy Sunday, this the first Sunday of Summer!

* See the yearly history HERE.

Stained Glass Windows at Guilford Park Presbyterian

In early May, we published an exterior photo of Guilford Park Presbyterian Church (see post HERE), commenting that we'd love to get inside to see those beautiful stained glass windows. Well, Guilford Park has a fabulous historian and archivist, Donna Barrier, and she reached out and invited us to come see the sanctuary.  Not only did we receive a personal tour and a couple hours of questions and answers, Donna shared with us the original 1955 contract from The Willet Stained Glass Company for the agreement to make and install the twelve windows. Collectively, it is a twelve panel chancel window, depicting the symbols of eleven disciples and Paul. (Judas is noticeably absent). The technique used was one perfected by medieval glass artists.  

From a distance, the overall impact of the windows is spectacular. However, the close-ups are breathtaking. See below the panel honoring St. Paul the Apostle to appreciate more fully the vibrancy of the painted and kiln fused slabs. As we sat there in awe of the windows the and acoustics of the sanctuary, we were even more impressed with church members giving so freely of their time. In addition to Donna Barrier, Linda Fitts, wife of  Brian Fitts, Director of YES Music for Casual Worship, and Church Administrator Jane Sharpe were there. It was a special treat when Director of Music Ministries Dr. Bill Allred came in to practice the organ. We left with enough information for at least a month of Sundays!

If you are looking for a church that will be a spiritual home, this inviting, social-justice-minded gem of a church in the Kirkwood neighborhood is a good one to consider.

Happy Sunday!

Sears Demolition Is Well Under Way- 2024

2024 has been a year of change in Greensboro. We already showed you a photo of the razing of the News & Record building downtown. Today's photo is of demolition in progress Sears in Friendly Center at 3200 West Friendly Avenue. This is the east side with the main entrance. When it closed in 2023, the Friendly Center store was the last remaining Sears store in North Carolina. Nationally, Sears has roots dating back to 1892 (see history HERE). The year 1928 was a banner year for Sears in North Carolina when the first Sears opened in North Carolina. In that year, Sears stores opened in Greensboro, High Point, Asheville, Wilmington, and Winston-Salem- a year before the stock market crashed. In Greensboro, Sears relocated in 1934, 1940, 1948, and 1973.*

Sears remained in Friendly Center for fifty years, from 1973- 2023. In 2012, Whole Foods took over part of the Sears building in Friendly. At one point, there was discussion of renovation of the above building, but as it stands now, it looks like it may be headed for total demolition. D.H. Griffin has the contract. We are wondering how they will address the common wall, shared by Whole Foods and Sears. While we are sad to see this business close, it is always refreshing when a lot gets rebuilt, as opposed to destroying unimproved, rural land.

What Sears memories do you have? Likely it will date us, but yes, we have great memories of looking through the Sears catalog to pick out school clothes and Christmas toys. We remember going to the catalog department and picking up (and returning) items for our grandparents and parents. For many, there is some real nostalgia associated with Sears. Here's to new beginnings.

Happy Tuesday!

 

*read the timeline for Sears stores in North Carolina HERE.

Union Memorial United Methodist Church

The above photo features Union Memorial United Methodist Church located at 1012 East Gate City Boulevard at the corner of Bennett Street.. The church resembles  a two-story apartment complex. The church lawn is expansive. The cornerstone dates the church to 1951, with W.E. Hairston listed as pastor. Timmothy Fitzgerald is the current pastor. The cornerstone above it says High Street M.E. Church, Organized December 2, 1902.

Union Memorial offers a free breakfast every 3rd Saturday, which will be next weekend at 8:30 am. If you are interested in the church, that would be a good time to attend.

Happy Saturday!

Knights of Columbus

Knights of Columbus is a fraternal benefit society. It is a  Catholic men's group with the purpose of serving and doing charitable deeds. The organization dates back to 1882 and today,  boasts nearly 2 million men worldwide. There are different councils in Greensboro. St. Mary's council is located at 1414 Gorrell Street.  There is a council at St. Pius X. There are more Knight of Columbus groups in Greensboro, dating back to 1904. There used to be a clubhouse on Horse Pen Creek. It is no longer there.

The above omit if the Piedmont Council stone was taken in 2018, over six years ago. Traditionally, the Knights of Columbus have held a wreath laying ceremony at Forest Lawn Cemetery on Memorial Day.

Happy Sunday!

 

Greensboro History Museum, Former First Presbyterian Church

Yesterday, the Greensboro Bound Literary Festival held sessions at the Greensboro History Museum. Formerly, the History Museum was the First Presbyterian Church. Seeing this view of the entrance of the museum, filled with people, reminded us of what it must have looked like when the building was a church. It was built in 1892, 84 years after Greensboro was established. First Presbyterian relocated to 617 North Elm Street in 1929.

One of the sessions held in the history museum was, "Calling on Ancestors: Writing the Past into the Present." Tyree Daye, Zelda Lockhart, and David Nicholson shared stories of ancestors across generations. The presentation seemed perfect for the history museum where past meets present on a daily basis. The audience listening to  the session in the intimate auditorium is not unlike what it must have felt like to attend a church sermon in the building. The space is a Greensboro treasure.

Happy Sunday!

Chestnut Grove Church

Chestnut Grove Church is located in King, North Carolina, which is located north of Winston Salem, off of Highway 52. A few weeks ago, they were in Greensboro and their activity bus was parked down near the train depot. We loved the fact that the Lincoln Financial Group building was in the background, firmly anchoring the photo in Greensboro. 

Chestnut Grove Church was founded in 1974. This is their 50 year anniversary year so maybe the congregation is doing something really special. Congratulations on hitting that milestone year, and come back and visit Greensboro often. This is a part of town that is really starting to grow. The train depot area may have a completely different look, next time you are in town. Read more about the initiative for the depot HERE.

Happy Sunday!

Chestnut Grove

Chestnut Grove

Max Carter and Ivan Saul Cutler

Max Carter and Ivan Cutler are an example of everything that is RIGHT about the world today. Above, they were both at the Jewish Festival at Temple Emanuel a couple of weeks ago. Max is the Retired Director of Friends Center and Quaker Studies at Guilford College. He is very involved in the Quaker community. Ivan, dressed at Moses and carrying the 10 Commandmentsl, is a member of Temple Emanuel. When he is not in character at temple, Ivan is out taking photos at Greensboro events. He is a freelance journalist and his work can be found in the Carolina Peacemaker and the Greensboro News & Record. While Mex and Ivan have different religious beliefs, they are both committed to being good humans and model examples of their respective religions.

The Greensboro News & Record describe Ivan as being "engaged, energetic, gregarious, and ubitiquous"* He is joyful and likes to help others succeed. Max has a vision of peace, justice, integrity, and equity for the world.** Individually, the two men are very inspiring. Together, the mood becomes magical. To be sure, they are experts on religious history.   If religion were a Jeopardy category, you would want them on your team. Be it Max's Memorial Day tour of New Garden Friends Cemetery or Ivan's volunteering at Temple Emanuel, you can be sure you will leave an event having learned a lot from these two. If you stumble upon them together, you  have to be prepared for a little playfulness. 

Happy Sunday!

 

 *Ed Williams, August 21, 2022, see article HERE.

** read about Max in an old edition of Our State Magazine HERE.

Hillel in Greensboro

Hillel, established in 1923, is an inclusive Jewish organization found on university campuses. The first Hillel to open in North Carolina was at UNCG in 1936.  Hillel serves eight different campuses in North Carolina, one of which is UNCG.The Jewish student population at UNCG is small, but Hillel has an office on campus to meet the needs of Jewish students and to help them strengthen their Jewish identity. According to Hillel.org, there are only 200 Jewish students at UNCG (1.2 percent). 

The above photo was taken at Temple Emanuel on Jefferson Road at their recent Jewish festival. The campus Hillel representatives were at the event to interact with students and to raise awareness of their presence on campus. The Hillel corn hole game was a clever way to raise awareness. The organization gets its name from the Babylonian, Hillel the Elder, who was a Jewish religious leader, scholar, and founder of  the House of Hillel School of tannaim. The name is the symbol of a quest for higher learning. According to the tank, blue is the color of heaven and divine revelation and white is associated with purity and cleanliness; hence, the blue and white corn hole board and decorations at Hanukkah.  Saturday is the Jewish Sabbath, so, Shabbat Shalom to all of our Jewish readers.

Happy Shabbat!

Lutheran Church of Our Father

Lutheran Church of our Father is located at 3304 Groomtown Road. This yellow brick church is so lovely by day and by night. The above photo was taken last night when friends of ours were having a party in the neighborhood. The people in this neighborhood are so nice and it seems like they have a nice relationship with the church. We absolutely loved the stained glass windows, especially the one that is lighted at night.

Lutheran Church of Our Father is located on almost 5 acres of land, and when it was converted as a church, they converted a warehouse, garage, iron works and a sandwich company into a house of worship.  The church has so much history and share it online (see here). They try to do a lot for the community and have a Benevolence program, helping people in financial need. They have a Pre-K program, and they work hard to adjust as demographics shift and as the congregation grows and shrinks. One tradition that interest us is the live nativity. We'll have to stop back in December to see it. 

Happy Sunday!

Eid Mubarak!

Today, Muslims around the world are celebrating the completion of Ramadan, the end of the 9th month of the Islamic calendar. It has been a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community. Muslims in Greensboro will be at the Greensboro Coliseum on Gate City Boulevard as well as at mosques praying and enjoying the fellowship with family and friends. Everyone will be wearing new outfits. Men will be sporting new haircuts and everyone's favorite foods and desserts will be shared. Eid-al-Fitr celebrates Allah's providing strength and endurance, and is a time of great charity.

The above photo features the hands of a group of Muslim students at the Middle College at UNCG. They have had henna applied to their hands, in most cases having done it themselves. Applying henna is a communal tradition that builds a sense of sisterhood and community. According to the US Religion Census (updated March 26, 2024), there are 130,661 Muslims in North Carolina, 11th in number by state. Guilford County Schools has a diverse student population and the district makes every effort to ensure all students have a positive experience. The Middle College at UNCG has a diverse student population. It is a high school that focuses on health and life sciences. These very hands will someday be our doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals. May they enjoy this special day.

Eid Mubarak, Blessed Feast!

Power for Living Tabernacle Church

Power for Living Tabernacle Church  was founded in 1987 and  is located at 544 South Mendenhall Street. It is such a lovely little non-denominal, white church in College Hill. On the website, it bills itself as a church in the "Universal Spiritual Realm by Prayer and Fasting" (see here). The pastor is T.J. Patterson is a graduate of Dudley High School. He has been in the Coast Guard and went on to attend Barber-Scotia College in Concord, NC, where he studied Psychology and Religion. He and his wife serve together in the church and in life in general. They have been married for nearly five decades and have raised a family together.

As you can see in the above photo, Tabernacle Church is simple, clean, and inviting space. In this era of mega-churches, it is nice to see there is still room for the small congregations. We're wondering is this church is affiliated with "Power for Living," which is a Christian evangelistic book distributed by the Arthur S. DeMoss Foundation.* We should stop by after services today to learn more about Tabernacle Church.

Have a great Sunday!

*see reference here.

Guilford Park Presbyterian Church on Easter

The above photo is of the center courtyard of Guilford Park Presbyterian Church. It leads to the Columbarium. It reminded us so much of the Easter season: The three arches evoke the idea of trinity and of the three who died on the cross. The columbarium, is filled with sealed niches with stored funeral urns. Even in death, for Christians, there is the belief of an afterlife. The trees are starting to leaf out, another sign of the circle of life.

Guilford Park Presbyterian Church's first building was completed in 1947, and is an off-shoot of Buffalo Presbyterian Church. It is located in Kirkwood, on Fairfield, just off of Lawndale Drive. Guilford Park Presbyterian has a very robust history documented online. We are archivists at heart and cannot recommend the importance of documenting history of families, institutions, towns, etc. It is hard to retrieve information once the people with the stories and information are gone.  We hope the folks at Guilford Park Presbyterian have a Happy Easter. We're wondering if they will hold a service under the tree across the street, the one where the early members of the church first gathered to worship even before they were formally a congregation.

Happy Easter!

College Park Baptist Church

A few days ago, we were walking along Josephine Boyd Street at Walker Avenue and noticed how beautiful this redbud tree looked in front of the College Park Baptist Church. This sanctuary was built and dedicated in 1952. The church has a rich history, holding its first organizational meeting in 1906. Given their close proximity to UNCG (then the State Normal School for Women) there has been great appeal to college students.

College Park is a LGBTQ-friendly church and, since 1999, has not been a member of the Southern Baptist Convention. They are now affiliated  with American Baptist Churches, USA. College Park was the first church in Greensboro to have an ordained woman minister, further evidence of the liberal leanings of this congregation.*  It is a beautiful church and if you are looking for a liberal, welcoming congregation, this just may be the spiritual home for you.

Happy Palm Sunday!

* reference and more information HERE.

Freedom Fridges

Usually, we post something religious or spiritual on Sundays. Yesterday, we had a chance to attend the installation of the Freedom Fridge at White Oak Community Center on 10th Street. While people do have church services here, its primary function is not a house of worship. It is a community center where people come together to help each other, giving what they can, is pretty spiritual. The Freedom Fridge was stocked to the gills with staples. The pantry to the right is stocked with items not needing refrigeration. The food items are open to the public and is open 24 hours. It is not under lock and key. 

A free market was held in conjunction with the unveiling of the refrigerator and pantry. The front lawn and community center were filled with items- mostly clothing- for people to take for free. There were many beautiful items coming in and out of the center, with plenty left at 3:00 pm when the event closed. 10th street, just down the street from Channel 2, WFMY News, was hopping all day yesterday.  If you want to see a thriving piece of Greensboro history, head to the White Oak Community Center. It dates back to 1916, when this area was a thriving textile mill village, built for African-American employees of Cone Mills. Today, it is community owned and operates as a 501 (c)3 non profit. Revenue is generated through grants and rentals for community events.  We love what is said about the community center on their website, "(p)eople come here to be part of a community." 

Happy Sunday!

Friendly Avenue Church of Christ

The Friendly Avenue Church of Christ at 5101 West Friendly Avenue has a new light up sign where the message changes after about a minute. Indeed, it draws attention, making you fix your eyes on the church. It is a large lot located between Lipscomb Road and Westland Drive and across the street from Trinity Church. Friendly Avenue Church of Christ is a dynamic congregation that hosts many events and has local and international ministries. They have a community kitchen partnership with Greensboro Urban Ministries.  One of their upcoming mission trips is to the Dominican Republic. They also offer a Spanish service at the church. On Thursday, March 28th at 6:00 pm, they will hold a Messianic Passover Seder.

Dr. Jason Noble is the Preaching Minister. We couldn't find a church history online, so we're not sure when it was built. If you know, let us know and we'll share. 

Happy Sunday!

"Souper" Bowl Sunday at St. Andrew's

Today is Super Bowl Sunday, which means it is the last day to order soup from Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church. Church members will cook to bring you four different soup options. For $13 per quart, you can order corn chowder with bacon, Italian turkey sausage with white beans and spinach, West African sweet potato peanut, and hearty tomato bisque.  You must order ahead of time- specifically by today. Soup pick up will take place on March 16th and 23rd at the Corner Market from 8:00 am- 12:00 noon, and at the St. Andrew's Parrish Hall on March 17th and 24th from 11:15 am- 12:15 pm.  See details and order HERE at the Good Soup for Good link. This is the official name for the fundraiser. St. Andrew's does so much good for the community, including feeding the hungry. The congregation sponsored an Afghani family and they continue to help the family get established in Greensboro. 

If you follow the link, you will also see details for the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner held at St. Andrew's on Tuesday, February 13th. Tickets are $7 for individuals and $15 for a family ticket. The above photo features Fran (left) and Virginia, members of the congregation who were at the Corner Market yesterday taking orders for the soup fundraiser. How wonderful that the Corner Market is able to use the parking lot of St. Andrew's for their Saturday Market (weekly), and St. Andrew's can set up there, when needed. If you buy soup regularly from the Corner Market, likely it is from John Drees. John is a well-respected local chef in Greensboro, and he volunteered to help the church prepare the soup batches for this fundraiser, in their certified kitchen. What a heartwarming story. Thank you John. Which soup will you be ordering? They all sound so delicious.

Happy Sunday! Happy Souper Bowl.

Eclectic by Nature

Today's photo features a mural on the back of the Eclectic by Nature shop. The business is located in a stand-alone house on State Street, right beside Vida-Pour-Tea. Owned by Pavane Taylor, it is a shop that specializes in spirituality products. The mural in the above photo sets the tone for the kinds of items you will see when entering the shop. There are prayer flags in the background; the sun, moon, a candle, crystals, and nature in the foreground. For many, these are alternative religions, very different from the God and Christ based religions. However, there are many different types of spirituality present int eh Greensboro community. For those seeking spirituality more related to the elements and nature, this is one of the few go-to places in the area. They should be open today from 11:00 am- 6:00 pm.

Here is a photo we took of the front of the building nine years ago, back in March 2015 when we had snow in Greensboro. The building is so nicely curated inside and out.

Happy Sunday!

Temple Emanuel

Temple Emanuel is such a beautiful place and a vibrant and diverse Reform congregation. This view, at the corner of Jefferson and Hobbs, is absolutely glowing in the early hours of night. According to their website, they strive to be a place of Keruv, which means that it is a place that fosters a closeness to God and also to Jewish culture. This location has been open since 2002, opening during High Holy Days with Rabbi Guttman leading services. There are approximately 600 families affiliated with Temple Emanuel. The Jewish community has community has contributed significantly to the Greensboro community since th 1800s. 

In addition to Temple Emanuel, the Chabad Jewish Center in an orthodox synagogue. Beth David Synagogue is an inclusive synagog of the Conservative Movement. B'nai Shalom Day School is a pre-school- 8th grade independent day school. Greensboro is a community with great religious diversity between and within religions. Hopefully, there is something for everybody. 

Happy Sunday!

Living Hope Church

Living Hope Church is a missionary Baptist Church just up the hill from the former Hampton Elementary School. It is a church that fits perfectly with the neighborhood- not too big. It is a well-maintained property at the edge of the Cottage Grove neighborhood in east Greensboro. If you will recall, this neighborhood was ravaged by a tornado in 2018 that ripped through, severely damaging Hampton Elementary School, the above church, and many houses in the vicinity. At the time, Lester Woodard was pastor of this church he founded in about 1998. Here is a video that provides insight into the destruction the tornado caused and the heartwarming video of Pastor Woodard finding a wedding dress and searching for the owner. Just like the CBS Sunday Morning Show that shows the good in people, this CBS segment does the same.

Pastor Woodard, who lead a full life filled with family, a career, a congregation, a family business and more,  died at the age of 84 on June 4th 2021 (see obituary here). Indeed, his was a life well lived. At the helm of Living Hope today is Reverend Thomas Wilson. Likely, many of the children and grandchildren who attend this church will enjoy the future iteration of whatever gets built on the Hampton Elementary School property. We hope there is someone in the church and neighborhood is documenting all of this goodness. We are wondering if the owner of the wedding dress was found.

Happy Sunday!

Service for Sergeant Nix at Westover Church

The above photo is of the Muir's Chapel side of Westover Church. Today, it will be open for a very sad reason, for the funeral of Sergeant Phillip Dale Nix. He was killed on December 30th, while off duty, when he saw a crime in progress. He was a career policeman who leaves behind a wife, son, parents, extended family, colleagues, and  grieving community.  A vigil was held last night downtown outside at McDonald Plaza and the funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m. today.

The funeral for this fallen hero is open to the public and people are encouraged to arrive early. The funeral route is published online (here) in case people want to stand along the way out of respect for the officer and his family. The community has really rallied around the Nix family and this loss of a first responder has attracted a national outpouring of care.  At 2:00 p.m. today, let us all pause for a moment of silence and reflect on what we can do for the public good, just as Sergeant Nix always did.

First Friends Meeting: A Quaker Church

Today's post is the First Friends Quaker Church on West Friendly Avenue. In addition to the church's wooden sign that makes it clear "all are welcome", there is an additional sign stating, "THESE QUAKERS LOVE YOU", surrounded by a rainbow of colors dabbed around the border of the sign. As we walked the campus this past week, we were pleased to note the cornerstones around the church. From them, we learned that the congregation was organized May 6, 1891; the above church (or meeting house) was erected in 1957; and there is a cornerstone from an earlier building, dated 1909.

If you notice, there are solar panels on the northeast side of the building Quakers were advocates of earth-friendly practices before reduce-reuse-recycle became everyday household words. If you drive to the church and want to attend today, there is ample parking. A large magnolia tree somewhat obscures the building from view.It is located at 2100 West Friendly Avenue.

Happy Sunday!

Epiphany 2024

For many, Christmas is long gone. For some, today is a big holiday, Epiphany or Three Kings Day, the day the Magi arrived in Bethlehem to visit Jesus. For children, it is the day the Wise Men also arrive to deliver gifts to those who have been good all year. Last night, children put out shoe boxes or shoes filled with hay for the camels. This morning, children awaken to gifts and merriment. According to Data USA, 24,900 people in Greensboro are Hispanic, which is almost 10% of the population. Many people in this demographic will be celebrating Three Kings Day. 

The above photo features the Nativity display at Centenary United Methodist Church, located at 2300 West Friendly Avenue. The vibrant colors really stand out on a sunny day late afternoon. Greensboro College also puts up a Nativity scene.

We hope you are safe and warm!

Happy Saturday!

Episcopal Church of the Redeemer

Yesterday, we featured Bailey Village and affordable housing complex in East Greensboro. The above photo is of the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, right across the street from Bailey Village,  at 901 East Friendly Avenue. We took this photo last week and the weather was so lovely. While the church, built in 1956,  is beautiful on the outside, it is especially beautiful inside with all of the white doves of peace in the stained glass windows. That angled A-frame roof also enhances the interior view. If you are interested in attending this morning, Sunday School is at 9:00 am and Sunday Services are at 10:00 am.

As we close out 2023, we encourage you to search back under "religion" if you like these Sunday, more spiritual posts. We think we've written one for all 52 Sundays. If you want to get a review of our posts for the year, we invite you to check back tomorrow when we will share the "photo of the year" which is a January 1st tradition on the City Daily Photo sites. On January 2nd, we always feature a Mr. and Mrs. GDP photo, our one of the year. We hope you will continue to read our daily posts on into 2024.

Happy Sunday! Happy New Year's Eve!!

Bailey Village in Downtown East

Bailey Village is an apartment complex off of East Market Street, between NC A&T, the United House of Prayer for All People, and Bennett College. This area that is quickly becoming known as Downtown East. Bailey's Village, a 172-unit apartment complex, was constructed on a 13 acre lot owned by the United House of Prayer for all People. In addition to housing, there are plans to develop more amenities, like retail stores in the village. There is also a dog park, green space, streets within the community, and more. This new housing option is not student housing and there is an effort to keep it affordable. Here is a link if you want to see floor plans and amenities.

Formerly, this southeast Greensboro lot housed a building of the US Postal Service.  This is definitely a a part of Greensboro growing before our eyes. If you are out and about this weekend, drive over and see Bailey's Village for yourself. It is named for a former pastor of the United House of Prayer for all People. One of the main streets off of Market, is named Bishop Charles Grace Lane. Bishop Grace, born in 1881 in Brava Cape Verde Islands, was the founder and  respected leader in the church. You will know you have arrived when you see these three crosses on the church on the corner.

Happy Saturday!