Greensboro Daily Photo

Shalom! Jewish Festival at Temple Emanuel- Today

The above photo was taken at Temple Emanuel during Friday evening services. Temple Emanuel is a Reform Jewish Temple, located at 1129 Jefferson Road. Today, from 11:00am-5:00 pm, they will hold their annual Jewish Festival, now in the spring, instead of the fall. This community-wide event, celebrating Jewish life and culture, will be held rain or shine. There will be Jewish and Israeli food, temple tours, exhibits, music, dance, arts and crafts and more. There will be a kids zone as well as characters from Tanakh (what Christians refer to as the Old Testament). So, if you attend the festival, don't be surprised if you see Moses, Abraham, Rachel, and Noah walking around.  It is a good chance for the community to learn about Judaism and to celebrate a community that has done so much for Greensboro. 

Word has it that one of our favorite jewelry artists, Anette, will be there with jewelry  inspired by the people and symbols in Judaism. We are also looking forward to the Rabbi telling us about the symbolism in the 12 stained glass windows, as well as the meaning of the gold letters at the top of the sanctuary. The tents are in place, the food is ready, and Moses will be there to tell you just how he felt when God delivered the 10 commandments to him.

Happy Sunday!

Ramadan Mubarak at Nazareth Bread

Ramadan is the holiest holiday for Muslims. Ramadan literally means "the hot month", a month of worship, prayer, studying the Quran, and fasting. Practicing Musilims get up before sunrise, eat breakfast, pray, and abstain from from food and liquids all day until after a final prayer at sunset. Once the sun sets, they break the fast and eat a meal. The above photo is the evening buffet at Nazareth Bread, located at 4507 West Market Street.  Due to demand, this Middle Eastern eatery offers this buffet during Ramadan. after a day of praying, reflecting and abstaining, people are ready to enjoy a meal together. This delicious buffet, which appears to extend forever, is $21.00.

Based on the People Groups website, There are over 10,000 people in Greensboro whose religion is Islam, and this number continues to grow. If you have Muslim friends you can help them by being mindful that they aren't able to eat or drink during the day. They may not want to be around while you are eating a meal or having your coffee break. If you want a great meal, stop by Nazareth Bread tonight and partake in this buffet. People of all faith groups are are welcome.

Happy Saturday!

A Bit of A Nonconventional Church

A church is a public place made available for worship. Today's "church" is a display set up in the middle of the Antique Marketplace on Burnt Poplar Road. Master interior decorator and room stager, Lori Gray, often stages the displays at the entrance of Antique Marketplace. Sometimes she brings in items to use. Other times, she just walks around the antique mall and takes items for sale at the different vendors' booths and assembles them in the middle of the store. The above photo is a scene, a church, she staged recently. The more you look at the display, the more references you will see. A fan on the altar for hot days, before there was air conditioning, shine brightly reflecting the light from the lamps. There are crosses on the doors- probably 20 feet tall.  The trumpets represent the music in church. Ladies Sunday-go-to-church hats are on the chairs beside purses, and a collection plate. In the middle is a painting of the Last Supper. 

This display is so creative. Have you ever seen one quite like it in an antique mall. As we walked the aisles, passing by the display a few times, by the end, we really did want to sit, rest, and have a little silent meditation. A church is a public place made available for worship. So, technically, last Tuesday night, we went to church. However, we need to get back and drop a few dollars in the collection plate. Remember church, synagogue, temple, or mosque is not about the physical space as much as what we do there.

Happy Sunday!

St Marys Catholic

St. Mary's Catholic Church takes up almost a whole city block at the corner of Gorrell Street and Duke Street. The above photo is of the Parrish Center. It was built in 2003 and is located beside main sanctuary. The church sign on Gorrell Street is written in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese, representative of the diversity within. St. Mary's has a very informative history posted online. Thanks to this digital history, we learned that St. Mary's Parish traces its origin in St. Benedict's Parish.  An outgrowth of St. Benedict's, St. Mary's was established in 1928 to serve the black residents of southeast Greensboro who had converted to Catholicism.  

Starting in the 1970s St. Mary's began serving refugees and immigrants from Africa and Southeast Asia. In the 1990s, many of the Latino immigrants  began worshiping there. Today, the congregation is comprised of people from twenty-one countries and, according to their website, from every continent except Australia and Antartica. St. Mary's is committed to helping those in need, many fleeing civil wars in their respective countries. While not a financially wealthy parish, St. Mary's is rich in love and doing God's work. 

Happy Sunday!

Original Methodist Church

As you can read on this sign, the original Methodist church was built here on South Elm Street in 1831, 33 years after Greensboro became a city. Today, it is located on West Market Street and known as West Market Street United Methodist Church. This monochrome, black and white photo, taken yesterday, emphasizes the lines and the fact that the trees still don't have leaves. If you look to the right of the trees and streetlamp on the right, at the end of the awning. you can see a pear tree that has already bloomed. Spring is a little early this year in Greensboro.

The other side of this historic marker is entitled, Former Methodist Cemetery, and reads: The original Methodist cemetery, west of Elm and south of Bragg streets, was used for public burials also. In 1916 the city purchased the land to extend Ashe Street, so the graves were moved. The church purchased plots in Green Hill Cemetery for 106 bodies unclaimed by family members. We're off to Green Hill to see if we can find the section with the unclaimed bodies. Do any of you know what part of the cemetery they are buried in? There is always something new to learn about Greensboro.

Happy Sunday!

College Park Baptist: Astro Dog Food Truck

College Park Baptist Church is located at the southwest corner of Walker Avenue and Josephine Boyd. This photo is of the food truck Astro Dog that is set up there Thursday-Sunday afternoons and evenings.. The photo was taken last night. This high visibility corner, right across the street from the westernmost side of UNCG, is the perfect spot to attract students, as well as people who just happen to be driving by. College Park Baptist has many outreach initiatives;while the food truck doesn't appear to be related to outreach, who knows. If people start walking or driving to the church to nourish their bodies, they just may head there to nourish the soul. College Park Baptist describes itself as progressive, diverse, ecumenical, and welcoming to everyone.

We interviewed people in line waiting for food and they said they really liked it and were return customers. There appears to be one menu item, Korean style corn dogs. You can get them sweet or savory; mild or spicy; or, with toppings like hot Cheetos, nacho cheese Doritos, and cool ranch Doritos. If you want something to drink, Mexican sodas (Jarritos & Mundet) and water are available. On nicer nights, people often sit in the parking lot and enjoy their dogs.

Church services at College Park Baptist are at 8:30 in the chapel; 9:45 Sunday school; and 10:45 in the chapel. Astro Dogs is open from 3:00 pm- 10:00 pm. You could start and end your day right here. Happy Sunday! 

Christ Is the Way

The "Christ is the Way" or "Jesucristo es el camino" bus belongs to Mr. Sinai Church/"Iglesia Monte Sinai." It is located at 4711-A  West Gate City Boulevard, just south of Groometown Road. It ia a Pentecostal Church. The brick building is a strip mall with another church beside it and some empty store fronts. The bus looks freshly painted with clear lettering.

On the front, the signage above the windshield just says JESUCRISTO. Likely, the bus brings to church for services. They meet on Saturday at 7:00 pm and Sunday at 10:00 am. They also have Tuesday and Thursday services at 7:00 pm. These start up churches often start out in humble spaces and grow into nice, stand-alone buildings. It was a lovely day full of sunshine yesterday and we only noticed the church because of the beautiful, freshly painted church. If you are driving past, it is impossible not to notice it.

Happy Sunday!

Mt. Tabor United Methodist Church

Mt. Tabor United Methodist Church is located at 3100 Creek Ridge Road, at the intersection with Four Seasons Boulevard. It is between Four Seasons Mall and Sedgefield, on the eastern edge of the Lamrocton neighborhood in Greensboro. Did you even know of this neighborhood? We didn't! It is amazing what one can learn from a good map.* If our source is correct, Lamrocton  is a diverse neighborhood of Danish, Sub-Saharan African, and Vietnamese residents. It also reports having many college students and same-sex couples. 

We drove past Mt. Tabor UMC serendipitously when we took exit 218A instead of B in south Greensboro. While the church doesn't appear to have a website, they do have a Facebook page. According to the cornerstone, the church was rebuilt by Rev. P.I. Wells in 1953, but is doesn't say when the original church was built. There is a fellowship building attached to the side of the church. It was added on in 1965. The church participates in community events like Crop Hunger Walk, and they also host their own events, like fish fries.  Behind the church is a cemetery. In Christian tradition, Mt. Tabor is the site of the transfiguration of Jesus. 

We hope Rev. Carson and his congregation have a great service today and that your Sunday is everything you hoped it would be.

 

*read more about Lamrocton, here. 

Friedens Tiny Chapel

If you read Greensboro Daily Photo last Sunday, you saw the post on Frieden Lutheran Church, located on Frieden Church Road in the eastern end of Guilford County. The congregation has owned the property and has had a church there since 1775. The church started out as one made out of hand-hewn logs and then built a brick church in 1879. The church burned in 1939, and another was built in its place. In the background, you can see the latest iteration of Frieden Lutheran (see also, HERE). 

The Wagoners, church members, used the logs from the original church for a smokehouse. When they dismantled the smokehouse, they gave the logs from the original church back to the church. In 1961, church member Roland Summers recruited the young adult Sunday school members to use the timbers to help build a tiny chapel that was a replica of the original church from the 1700s. You can see the tiny hand-hewn log chapel in the foreground. Inside are pews and an altar from the past. This is a church that takes its documentation seriously. You can learn more by going to the article we referenced. Also, we highly recommend your keeping records of any organizations with which you are affiliated.

Happy Sunday!

 

*Reference and more  history of the church can be found HERE.

Fridens Evangelical Lutheran Church

Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church, located at 6001 NC 61 in Gibsonville,  was organized in 1745, thirty one years before America was a country. The church was rebuilt in 1939 after a fire destroyed the original building. However, this church community is 278 years old this year. To put this into perspective, Luther began the Protestant movement in 1517 and Frieden Church was built in 1745, 228 years after the Protestant movement began. So, it is closer in years to the beginning of the Protestant movement than it is to the year 2023. This historic church is recorded as one of the oldest of its denomination in the south. The church, founded by German Lutheran immigrants heading west, even maintained church records in German until 1830.*

We stumbled on Friedens Lutheran while riding around the urban loop I-840 this weekend, getting off on Huffine Mill Road, and driving the backroads through Guilford County to Gibsonville. The  church is at the crossroads of NC-61 and Frieden Church Road. Frieden is derived from a German word that means peace and tranquility. Walking around the property of the church, the cemetery, and the small replica of the original church located across the street, indeed, brings a sense of peace and tranquility. While the eastern end of Guilford is changing,  this little slice of county make it feel like time is standing still. 

You can tell from the photo that the white columns at the entrance are a dominant feature. However, the stained glass windows are also very special. Have a great Sunday!

 

*reference and more information HERE.

Ebenezer Baptist in the Yarn Bombed Yard

The Glenwood neighborhood of Greensboro is so full of creative people. If you live in Glenwood, likely, you have seen the Ebenezer Baptist Church bus parked in the yard that is yarn bombed in memory of Joseph. Joseph died on December 12, 2012 and thirteen years later, the yarn bombing continues to grow. This tree trunk in the photo is one of many trees in the yard filled with color. The day we were there, birds and squirrels were romping around on the yarn- probably helping keep it bug free. 

Ebenezer Baptist is located at 2700 West Vandalia Road. In 14 years of Sundays with spiritual posts on Greensboro Daily Photo (which would be over 700) , it appears we haven't featured Ebenezer Baptist yet! Oh well, that is the kind of carrot dangling that keeps us traipsing Greensboro, ever in search of new people and places. According to their website, the church is committed to helping people experience a life connected to Christ. They believe in evangelism, fellowship, and Christian family relationships. If you are interested, they have 8:45 am and 10:45 am in-person services. Their 10:00 am service is online. 

The next time we are at the corner of Hertford and Lexington in Glenwood, especially if we see someone in the yard, we're going to stop by and learn about Joseph and his relationship to the people in the house. We will also ask if the driver of the Ebenezer bus is the person yarn bombing. Well, we hope you have a happy Sunday and that you have people in your life who love you as much as this resident loved Joseph. The whole scene reminded us of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat"-  Glenwood style.

Cornerstone Baptist Whitsett

Cornerstone Baptist Church is located at 1005 North Highway 61, between the fire department and the TA Greensboro Travel Center just north of I-40. It is at the eastern end of Guilford County. According to online records, the church was built in 1908.As you can see above, the church is narrow, but what you can't see is how far back it extends. Here is an aerial view of the property that helps you see the configuration of the buildings. So many churches have additions and extensions as more space is needed, and this church is no exception.

 We're used to Baptist churches being purposefully plain, so we were interested to find the statue with the Sacred Heart of Jesus- a crown of thorns encircling his heart. This symbolism is definitely part of the Catholic Church. We're wondering if this church were formerly a Catholic Church. It looked so beautiful as we drove by yesterday when the sun was shining on it. We drove back to capture this photo and help to learn more about the history of the church. In the end, it doesn't matter who put the statue there. We like the idea of provenance and keeping things in place to record the history of a place.

There is a Cornerstone Baptist Church in Greensboro on Inman Road. We're wondering if they are related. So many questions, which keeps this GDP journey so fun. If you have information, please share.

Happy Sunday!

 

Mercy Hill Church, Clifton Road Campus

Mercy Hill Church has one of its campuses at 3815 Clifton Road; a part of town between Spring Garden Street, Wendover Avenue, and Merritt Drive. Mercy Hill also has church campuses  in northeast Greensboro; a campus between Pleasant Ridge Road and Highway 68; and a campus in High Point. The above Mercy Hill campus offers services in English and Spanish. Mercy Hill dates to 2012. The pastor is Andrew Hopper who hails from North Florida. He and his wife have four beautiful children together.

This is a church that offers ministries for children, students, college students, and adults. They offer local and global missions. Like most churches, they offer many programs to help lift people up. If you are interested in learning more about Mercy Hill, all campus are hosting open houses today. Also, if you want to learn more about the church, you can visit their Facebook page. The Clifton Road campus looked so beautiful yesterday with the sun shining on it.

Happy Sunday!

*From this 2020 photo, you can see the older church that is attached to the above building.

Merry Christmas 2022

Merry Christmas! This is the Nativity scene/creche at Greensboro College on West Market Street. Last week, we shared Mary and Joseph walking to Bethlehem. Today, we share the part of the scene where they are in Bethlehem and Christ is born.It is a fitting photo for Christmas and one that is fitting for Greensboro College, whose roots are in the United Methodist Church. The college was chartered in 1835 by the Methodist Church. Originally, it was Greensboro Female College, the first chartered for women in North Carolina and the the third in the United States (NCpedia, visited 23 Dec, 2022). 

Today, Greensboro College seeks a diverse campus of people and welcomes students from all faith groups and even those who do not belong to a faith group. For those who celebrate, we wish you a Merry Christmas. Today is a doubly religious day, a Sunday and Christmas. We hope you are staying warm and that you are celebrating in a way that is just perfect for you.

Happy Sunday! Merry Christmas! Happy Winter!

Advent 3rd Sunday

Today is the third Sunday of Advent, Mary and Joseph are on their journey, looking for lodging. Themes for church services this week will likely revolve around John the Baptist, angels, joy, and Mary. Above is part of the scene of The Nativity Scene on the front lawn of Greensboro College. The first figures were created in 1936. In 2007, they were vandalized. In 2011, the shepherd was stolen. Fortunately, in 2022, the figures have been  replaced and the display is intact. It is special to see the whole display during the day, and also the lighted scene at night. If it snows this December, that will be the best view of all. The scene will be up at least through December. This tradition that started 86 years ago is pretty special.

If you notice in the back top left corner, the JP/LFG building anchors the photo in Greensboro.

One more week until Christmas. For those celebrating Chanukah (the Feast of Dedication), it starts tomorrow!

Happy Sunday!

JOY... at Mt. Pisgah UMC

This night photo was taken at Mt. Pisgah UMC, at the corner of Pisgah Church Road and Battleground Avenue, on the northeast corner of the intersection. Now that we are in the advent season, it is fun to drive around and see how churches are celebrating. The "JOY" sign is highly visible in its prominent position and with the lighting at the church. Not the lighting, but also the services reflect the advent season. Sunday services at Mt. Pisgah are at 8:45 am for outdoor worship, 10:45 for contemporary worship; and 11:00 am for traditional worship. The original congregation and building date back to 1845. The building photographed above was constructed in 1968. At the time this building was constructed 54 years ago, this area north of Greensboro seemed really far from town. While the distance remains the same (4 miles), with so much retail constructed between Mt. Pisgah and downtown, it now feels like an extension of the city. 

From this view, it is hard to believe that Country Park, Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, Forest Lawn Cemetery, and Love Recreation Center are right in the backyard of Mt. Pisgah. If you get a chance, walk the greenway and you will get a different perspective on this part of town. 

We hope your Sunday is filled with JOY!

Beta Delta December Brunch at Hinshaw United Methodist Church

'Tis the season for organizations to get together and hold brunches and other holiday events. Such is the case of the above group, the Beta Delta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma (DKG). DKG is a society of key women educators, established in 1929. Beta Delta is one of four chapters of DKG in Greensboro. Yesterday, Beta Delta met for their annual December brunch. In the photo, featured are 37 members and their guests. 

The brunch was held at Hinshaw United Methodist Church. Hinshaw UMC, founded in 1915, is located at 4501 West Gate City Boulevard, just west of Merritt Drive. When organized, it was Midway Church. According to their cornerstone, in 1949, the church was rebuilt and the name changed to Hinshaw. Yesterday, members of Hinshaw Methodist prepared the food on site for the DKG members. Reaction to the food and venue was favorable. Additionally, the fellowship hall (photographed above) is right at street level, making it easy to navigate. How wonderful that the church offers these opportunities to the public at very reasonable rates. If you are interested in seeing the fellowship hall and learning more about the church, you could attend a Sunday service, or attend their hot dog lunch on Tuesdays form 11:30- 1:30pm. Thank you to the church and thank you to the Beta Delta members, who work very hard to foster excellence in education.

Happy Sunday!

Our Lady of Grace

Our Lady of Grace (OLG), located at the corner of West Market Street and Chapman Street, is such a dynamic place. Every day, something is going on there. From the Monday through Friday K-8 school to Saturday weddings, Sunday services, and multiple meetings throughout the week, you really feel a sense of community at OLG. There are 11 masses during the week (Monday-Saturday). On Sunday, there is a 7am Quiet Mass, 9am and 11 am English Masses, a 1pm Tridentine Latin Mass, and a 5pm Spanish Mass. Truly, if you are Catholic, they offer something for everyone.

The other day, when we happened to be driving by, we saw a bucket lift extending up to the top window of the westside tower. We're guessing they were washing windows. After all, advent starts four Sundays before Christmas and, this year (2022) Advent starts today. Can you believe it? We have four Sundays before Christmas! Unfortunately, the statue of Our Lady, the one on the front lawn, was vandalized in October. They are hoping to get it repainted, restored, and back in place in time for Advent- today! We love this photo, showing some of what goes on, behind the scenes, of church upkeep. The real photo was behind us. A priest is a black robe cloak was talking to parishioners. The moment looked too special to interrupt.

Happy Sunday! Happy Advent!

Day of Rest and Thanksgiving

So sorry this published late, but thankfully, it is on the same day! ...  Sunday, according to Christian calendars, is the first day of the week, and deemed a day of rest. The above photo shows a restful scene, recently, on Lake Higgins, as the sun was setting in the direction of Lewiston Road. It is as if the lake was honoring the day of rest. In Greensboro, the lows today and this week will be in the 20s, with the highs in the low 50s. Considering it is late November, we can't complain. On Thursday, the weather should be overcast, but not rain; a good day for Thanksgiving and travel. For Thanksgiving, we have pre-ordered a full meal for six, turkey, ham, sides, and dessert for six from Spring Garden Bakery. There are so many places that are providing pre-cooked meals. We'll take pictures of what we ordered and show you once it is served, in case you want to plan ahead and order from them for Christmas. 

While many of the opportunities for a Thanksgiving meal this year have already passed, there are still places to get free food and to volunteer to help others. For example, on Nov. 22, Lawndale Baptist will give a free turkey and $25 gift card to the first 1,000 families. The parking lot opens at 6am. On November 23, 2022, the Church on 68 could use help with their Thanksgiving initiative and will have food for those in need (see HERE). The GCS public schools are open Monday and Tuesday, perhaps you could help someone at a school. Gift cards are always appreciated. Be creative in your approach to helping. Perhaps a neighbor could use some cheer- and a plate of food. Perhaps you don't want to be alone. Serve and have your soul nurtured at the same time. Helping others can help us feel as calm as Lake Higgins on a still, late-fall afternoon at sunset.

Happy Sunday!

Iglesia De Dios NC

This simple, humble, cinder-block church is located at 4624 Highway 220 North, just past Highway 150. The sign says "BIENVENIDO a casa" or "Welcome Home". Above the door, the sign reads, "All Christian Denominations Ever Circling, Ever Intertwined, All Encompassed in the Cross of Jesus Christ." We can't find the church online, but the website for the denomination, "Iglesia de Dios" indicates it is Pentecostal. The back of the sign still shows the lettering for when the building belonged do the Revelation Church with Pastor Darin Bray.

It looks like the church may hold services on Saturday. They do have a Facebook page and they do stream live. Also, according to their Facebook photos, they do baptisms live and it looks like one of Greensboro's lakes. It is always fun to drive around Greensboro and discover a new church. We like the simplicity of this one.

Happy Sunday!

Irving Park UMC

Irving Park United Methodist Church (featured in the background and located at 1510 West Cone Boulevard) was the site of Boy Scout Troop 230's annual BBQ Chicken fundraiser. They have been holding this fundraiser the first weekend in November for 36 years now. It has been so long that they aren't even sure who built the cooking system. In the above photo, you can see the 1,200 chicken halves being prepared for their chicken dinner sales. At about 4 pounds a half, the end result is nearly two tons of chicken being sold yesterday. The troop has been meeting at IPUMC since 1966. How wonderful that this 56 year partnership between the church and the scout troop exists.

On the property of the church are two storage buildings, likely where all of the equipment is kept for this big fundraiser and where the troop meets. If you are interested in attending the church, services are at 11:00. Rev. Patrick Snow will be there to welcome you with open arms. We're betting a lot of the troop 230 scout families will be there to welcome you also. Who knows, they may even have a leftover chicken dinner or two. 

Have a happy Sunday! Let's all mark our calendars and be on the lookout for this great chicken dinner next year.

Vandalia Presbyterian

(Typepad is doing maintenance and we're having trouble getting our photos to publish. Thank you for your patience).

Vandalia Presbyterian, located at 101 West Vandalia Road, has a very interesting façade. The Arched wooden construction is unique in Greensboro. Sunday school is at 10:00 am and worship is at 11:00 am. Rev. Paul Ridolfi is the pastor. This church, located south of Greensboro is in a neighborhood that has seen a lot of growth since the 1990s. They are good Samaritans in their community, hosting a food and clothing pantry twice a month. The area around the church is still rich with fall color. Next time you are headed to the Wal-Mart or Lowe's Home Improvement on Elmsley, drive by and have a look.

Happy Sunday!

Ai Church: Groom Anticipates the Arrival of the Bride

Yesterday was such a lovely fall day in Greensboro. Heading to the Old Mill of Guilford, we stopped by Ai Church to check on any updates since we last featured it in 2016. As serendipity would have it, doors were open and wedding planners were inside preparing for a wedding. The gentleman above approached us and we asked if he was the preacher. As it turns out, he was the groom, Jack Hoskins, waiting for his bride, Hannah Messick, to arrive. The ceremony would begin in about an hour and a half. Ai Church, in its simplicity, is the perfect venue for a wedding. It is small and intimate and very plain inside. The white walls are tongue and groove and appear to be original. The church is located at the corner of Alcorn Road and Highway 68. Here is a photo from 2016 , one from 2014,  a photo from 2011 . Here is a photo from 2009. 

Both the bride and groom are from High Point. We have a mutual friend of the bride and hope to have the chance to meet the couple. In the meantime, Congratulations, Jack and Hannah. Also, congratulations to the people of Oak Ridge and Colfax who worked over the years to restore Ai Church.

Happy Sunday!

 

October Full Moon

Today's  full moon in October is named for the pre-winter hunting season. It is often known as the Hunter's Full Moon. Travel, Dying Grass, and Sanguine Moon are other names. The term Hunter's Moon is so named because it coincides with hunting season for some wild game. Even the animals being hunted seem to know it is about to get cold. The above photo was taken in Northwest Greensboro. On this day of rest, Sabbath for Christians, what can be more spiritual than a full moon on a clear night, so bright, no flashlight is needed. Last night was clear, so the the moon reflected sunlight to the extent that a shadow was cast.

Last night, even the owls were howling, the air was crisp, and the sky was so clear, the stars were visible. Night skies like what we saw in Greensboro last night are so special. If you get a chance, peek out tonight and let us know what you see.

Happy Sunday!

Percy Street: Prayers Answered

Percy Street, located in the Dunleath Historic District (formerly, Aycock). It is the kind of neighborhood where everybody knows your name; neighbors look out for each other; and, people do things for the community at large- not expecting anything in return. Examples of this community mindedness include Porchfest, a tiny-library-like box for free puzzles and one for free art. As we were driving to the Greensboro Farmers Market on Yanceyville, we detoured through Dunleath and saw the above tree at the corner of Percy and Brandon had split in half. The owner of the house with the split tree was called over to the porch of a neighbor who wanted to make sure they were OK. Fortunately, the tree didn't hit the house and a removal service was on its way.  There didn't appear to be any damage to houses on Percy Street. Trees are so important to the eco-system; however, the mature ones in these older neighborhoods can do great damage. If you are one who prays, to be sure, this is a prayer answered.

From the remnants of Hurricane Ian, Greensboro had whipping winds and heavy rain. Many people were without power. As far as we could see, it was mostly branches dropping and not whole trees. We hope you were spared and that if there is a lot of debris in your yard, some Good Samaritan neighbor stops by to help you get things cleaned up. After all, Greensboro is known for greenery and, in a way, the trees belong to everyone.

Happy Sunday!

College Park Church

The Greensboro Pride Festival drew record crowds last weekend. According to organizers, Alternative Resources of the Triad" attendance was between 35,000 and 40,000 people, double the record set in 2019. * It was also a great place for members of the LBGTQ+ community to see which churches are welcoming. One such church is College Park on the southwest corner of Josephine Boyd and Walker Avenue. As the sign above reads, "College Park where all are welcomed and affirmed." The above photo features representatives of the College Park Baptist Church at the Pride Festival in Downtown Greensboro last Sunday. 

The Southern Baptists have cut ties with the church over the issue. Baptist congregations are self governing and, College Park identifies with more progressive Baptist ideology. Actually, College Park voted in 1999 to separate from the Southern Baptists. College Park works so hard to build an inclusive community. In addition to church ceremonies, the congregation offers Zumba, Ultimate Frisbee, Wednesday coffee breaks, Thai Chi, Theology at SouthEnd Brewery, a Mostly Men's Occasional Book Club,  a Women of Valor Book Club, a College Park Walkers group, and more. At the Sunday festival, Kari Baumann, Pastor to Children and Families, was on hand to talk to all who were interested. If you are looking for an open and welcoming congregation, College may be the perfect place for you.

Happy Sunday.

 

*reference and more information, here.

West Market Street UMC

Please allow us to post one more photo of the North Carolina Folk Festival from last weekend. The above photo features the West Market Street UMC, located at the corner of West Market Street and John Wesley Way. This church is over 175 years old and has about 2,000 members. When many congregants of various church are opting for suburban mega-sites, West Market Street is holding steady as a dynamic, well-attended church downtown. The Old Courthouse Stage is placed in front of the church and the Lawn Stage is just down the street. We're wondering if the church has considered doing something like a Sunday sing on the stage outside their front door. They do sell parking spaces for the day at the festival, as a fundraiser. However, it seems like they would be ripe to be involved in other ways. The building is just so beautiful and the congregation is so inviting. Maybe we'll try to attend next year during the festival. It looks so beautiful at night. This would be a perfect opportunity to turn on some of the lights to let those stained glass windows glow with all of their glory. 

If you are interested in West Market UMC, HERE is a link to their website. They offer something for everybody from young to old and for those who like traditional services to those who like something more contemporary. Have a great Sunday and please stop back by tomorrow... and every day!

Book of Common Prayer

This book of Common Prayer from The Church of England is on display at The Battlefield Visitors Center at the Guilford Courthouse National Military Park. The park and center are dedicated to the history surrounding the Battle of Guilford Courthouse during the Revolutionary War on March 15, 1781. The facility and park are located at 2332 New Garden Road. The center is open 9:00 am- 5:00 pm seven days a week. The rangers there are so helpful and seem to love it when people stop in to ask them questions. During this battle, even though soldiers represented different countries, wore different uniforms, and represented different religions, they were all praying to the same God. There isn't much related to religion at the Battle Visitors Center, but the rangers have stories of interest. They told us that the Quakers took in the wounded of all religions and made every effort to nurse them back. That is a memorable story. 

We hope you have a happy Sunday and that you get out to the Battlefield Visitors Center. We especially love the big picture window that takes on a different character with every season. It is such a special place that is makes one prayerful, regardless of religion.

Starmount Presbyterian Church, Admiring the Furniture

Today's view is of the interior of Starmount Presbyterian Church on West Market Street. The pulpit and the table are two of the three pieces made by local Presby member The Reverend Dr. Erich Thompson.* The furniture is special, given that it is made locally and that Rev. Thompson made it from the wood from pews- removed from the church after being replaced during a renovation. Another special feature of the pulpit is that the wiring for the sound system runs through the front left leg.

Before taking up woodworking, Rev. Thompson served as a preacher in Virginia and North Carolina. At first, woodworking was a hobby, but now, he no longer actively preaches and, instead focuses on creating furnishing for sacred spaces. His furniture-making business was founded in 2003, making it almost 20 years of designing furniture to fit the exact needs of given sacred spaces. This is almost the same amount of time he served as a congregational and worship leader.**

If you get a chance, attend a service at Starmount Presbyterian and you will be able to admire Rev. Thompson's beautiful furniture. We wish we'd captured more of the stained glass window in the background, as it is also beautiful. The window is comprised of rough, thick glass chunks and it complements Rev. Thompson's furniture quite well. Both exude great craftsmanship, are sturdy, and are more modern than traditional. If you are interested in attending a service, the church is located at 3501 West Market Street. Sunday morning service is at 10 am and available in person and live-streamed (see Facebook). You might even get a chance to meet Rev. Thompson!

Happy Sunday!

 

*The third piece in the church is a baptismal font.

** Reference and Rev. Thompson's website: HERE.

Deep River Church of Christ

Deep River Church of Christ is located at 2066 Deep River Road. The location is technically High Point, but it is very close to Eastchester Drive and Greensboro. Deep River is a Church of Christ with a congregation of diverse ethnicities and backgrounds. On their website, there is been the option to read it in Spanish. They have special groups for singles, seniors, Spanish, women, and youth. You can attend church in person or also through live streaming. As with most churches these days, many options are offered to connect with the church. Sunday and Wednesdays are the two main days for attending the Deep River Church of Christ services and functions.

As you can see in the above photo, the building looks fairly new with modern architecture. The location is popular for churches; there are several churches on Deep River Road. Unfortunately, nothing about the history of the church is found on their website. So, we can't definitively when it was built. We did find a News and Record article from 2004 entitled, "Church Plans Physical and Spiritual Expansions Deep River Church of Christ to Expand its Building As Well As Develop Three New Ministries (article). This makes us think that it is about 18 years old.

Happy Sunday!

Evangel Fellowship Church of God

Yesterday, we went on an adventure, in search of a church we haven't yet featured on Greensboro Daily Photo. We found a church,  at the end of East Cone Boulevard, past McKnight Mill Road, past Sportsplex, almost at the point where Cone Boulevard intersects with White Elder Road. The church is Evangel Fellowship Church of God in Church (2207 East Cone Boulevard). Evangel Fellowship is on the north side of Cone, across the street from Guilford Preparatory Academy. The pastor is Otis Lockett, Jr. who,  on Saturday, August 20, will marry Andrea Shelby. Pastor  Lockett's parents were the founders of the church. His mother is still alive and actively involved in church leadership. Pastor Lockett, Senior passed.

The church is a giant church that offers so many services for members of all ages. There is a youth facility at the property and one wing appears to be an extension of Guilford Preparatory Academy. to give you the scope of this church, almost 8,000 people follow their Facebook page. If you are in Greensboro and interested in a dynamic and active Pentecostal Church, Evangel Church may be perfect for you. You can follow them on Facebook and see if the sermons resonate with you.

Happy Sunday!

Happy Birthday, Nathanael Greene

Greensboro became a city in 1808 and it was named after Nathanael Greene, who was a general in the Continental Army in the Revolutional War. He was born in 1742 in Potowomut Rhode Island and died in 1786 in Mulberry Grove Georgia, at the age of 43. While he was neither born nor died in Greensboro, he did fight in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse on the very spot where the visitor center is located, just off of New Garden Road. The above portrait of General Greene is located in the visitor center. Yesterday was such a busy day in celebration of General Greene's birthday. The events started at 10:00 am with the dedication and firing of a cannon that is so big that they will have to adjust the size of the door of the visitors center to fit it in here!  The birthday celebration ended with a ranger-lead tour at 3:00 pm. 

Since on Sundays, we like to post something spiritual, we asked the ranger if there was anything religious to fit with General Greene and the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. The ranger thought about it for a while and said, well, the Quakers, who were pacifists and didn't want anything to do with war, helped the wounded from the battle. It didn't matter who the wounded soldiers fought for, many were left behind and the Quakers cared for them. We are left wondering how many of the surviving soldiers decided to make Greensboro their home. We also learned that New Garden Road, that connects the Battlefield to the Friends Meeting, has been called New Garden Road since at least the 1700s. The rangers at the park are so helpful and interested in discussing the history of the area. If you know of anyone who ever has to do a report on the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, send them to the visitors center. The rangers will answer questions or, if they don't know, point you in the direction of the answer. Happy birthday, General Greene. You are gone but not forgotten.

Happy Sunday, everyone! 

New Goshen UMC

New Goshen UMC was erected in 1970. It is located at the corner of Randleman Road and Shoffner Court, just down the road from the Wal-Mart on Elmsley Street. The church is located on the site of the original home of the Greensboro Red Wings, a community Negro baseball team that was organized in the 1930s. Goshen School was also located on this site. The school was built in 1930, and closed in 1950 when Rena Bullock School opened and replaced it.

Thomas E. Alston, who played for the Redwings, became the first Black man to play with the St. Louis Cardinals. Mr. Alston is buried in the cemetery on this site. If you explore the cemetery, you will find the name of many prominent Greensboro African American families (Alston, Herbin, Shoffner, and Alexander to name a few). Goshen Church is large and sprawling, as you can see from the above photo. Between the ball team, the ball field, and the school, all predating the church, we're betting there is quite a lot of history on this property. While there is an active Facebook page, where you can listen to sermons, we couldn't find a page linking to the history of the ball field or the school. If you have information we would love to share it. If you drive by, there is a very nice historic marker on site, 3300 Randleman Road.

Have a happy Sunday, on this last day of July!

St. Francis Episcopal Church: Pop Up Paperback Book Sale

As you are planning out your weekend, on Saturday, consider heading over to St. Francis Episcopal Church on Lawndale Drive for a pop up book event. The event will be much smaller than their traditional shows. They are making a real effort to be COVID safe. Also, only paperbacks will be offered- two dollars for the larger paperbacks and one dollar for smaller format books. Book sales are a key way for St. Francis to raise funds and, the money they earn, goes right back into the community. As an example, after the last sale, they were able to help Urban Ministries restock their food pantry. Hopefully, this small-in-scale, pop up format will be a success.

 The above photo features the book depository. If you are a regular to the St. Francis book sales, you know when that garage door goes up, you will see floor to ceiling books. It appears that tomorrow's book sale, from 9:00 am- 3:00 pm, will actually be held in the Parish Hall. To be sure, when you drive around back to park, there will be people to guide you to the books. St. Francis, an outgrowth of the Holy Trinity Parish, has been providing people with a spiritual home since 1954. For the last six decades, they've been bringing us great books.

Can you believe this is the last weekend in July. The books you buy tomorrow will be a great addition to your August reading list! Happy Friday! What authors can you recommend for us?

Covenant Grace Church

Covenant Grace Church is located at 4747 Lake Brandt Road, at the confluence of Lake Brandt Road, Beaconwood Drive and Lawndale Drive- near the Greensboro Day School. Previously, it was Westminster Presbyterian. We first featured the church (here) it in 2009, thirteen years ago, when Greensboro Daily Photo first began. While the name has changed, according to their website, the church still identifies as Presbyterian and are members of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). They also identify as "doctrinally reformed, warmly confessional, and fervently evangelistic.

The campus is large, with plenty of room for parking. There are picnic tables on the lot, a place to play basketball, and a tire swing in a mature, acorn-producing oak tree. While the steeple is on the street side of the building, the actual entrance in in the rear (photographed above). Sunday morning services are at 10:30 and there is youth group on Sunday afternoons from 4:00- 6:30pm. They also have live-streaming options and an active Facebook page in case you are interested in learning more.

Happy Sunday!

 

Buffalo Academy at Buffalo Presbyterian

Buffalo Presbyterian Church, organized in 1756, is accepting applications for their elementary school. The school will open August 29th and is located in the church building at 803 16th Street. The school will start this fall, initially as an elementary school. Ultimately, they plan to have a fully-articulated K-12 program. The curriculum will be a tradition one, echoing the program established by David Caldwell back in 1767. The school will follow Dr. Caldwell's model. He was the first pastor of Buffalo Presbyterian. In addition to academic subjects, there will also be Biblical instruction. If you want your child to have a traditional, conservative, Christian education, this may be just the school for your child.

The photo was taken from Church Street, across the street from Page High School. Here is the link for the school, if you are interested. The church will be having a picnic on July 16th at 5:00 pm. That would be a great way to meet the people of this church community. As for today, there is Sunday school at 9:45 and church at 11:00. It is pretty impressive to know there is a church in Greensboro whose roots predate our city and also the United States of America! They have values education since the beginning. This church will prove a new venture, for sure!

Kingdom Life Christian Center

Kingdom Life Christian Center is a church that meets in an executive park at 207 South Westgate Drive. West Market Street splits Westgate Drive and the two sections don't connect. Once you get to the south side of Westgate, you can find the above ministry with no difficulty.  It was founded by Apostle Dr. Fellicia Williams Redmon. She has been licensed to preach since 1999 and she founded her own ministry in 2005. She also has a faith based developmental center for children ages six weeks to five years. They meet for Sunday school at 10:30 am, have a worship service at 11:30, and a Bible study on Thursdays at 7:30 pm. They also offer a virtual church, targeting people who do not live in the Greensboro area. They have so many ministries above and beyond the ones related to the Sunday service. For example, they offer the following ministries: singles, music, writers, youth for Christ, prison, healing, hospitality and more. From the looks of their website, there is a group to help everyone feel included and providing an opportunity to participate.

The above photo shows the entrance. At the time of services, many of the surrounding offices are closed, so there are plenty of opportunities for parking. Happy Sunday to our readers from Greensboro and elsewhere!

Change the Nations Church- CTNC

This who read Greensboro Daily Photo regularly know that we try to do something religious/spiritual on Sundays. Sometimes, it is a reflective nature shot; other times it is a church or religious event. You can imagine after 13 1/2 years of Sundays- about 700- it is a challenge to think of something new. We had to chuckle because we googled "churches Greensboro" and up popped YELP with a list of Top 10 Churches of Greensboro. Now, how did they decide that? Some churches on the list, we have already featured. However, we were off in pursuit of #3, Elevation Church at 409 Friendway, which we discovered is the address for Western High School. We figured that the church meets at the school, but didn't see any signs of a church. So, next, off to #5, Church Alive, at 204 South Westgate. If you know Greensboro well, you know Westgate crosses over West Market Street, but South Westgate does not connect to Westgate. As a matter of fact, South Westgate is a dead end on both ends! En route to Church Alive, we found the above church, "Change the Nations Church" (CTNC) at 4619 Mercury Drive. So, we decided to feature a church not on the YELP list.

An internet search reveals that CTNC is "an international group of virtuous women dedicated to making positive impacts in families around the world through the proclamation of the word of God, social work, and by being living testimonies. [They] are made up of Christian women of all ages and walks of life. [They] believe that as Christian women [they] do play an important role in reflecting Christ in [their] homes, workplaces, & marketplace." They are a congregation of at least 25 nationalities of various ethnic backgrounds. If you want to be part of a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, Evangelical congregation, CTNC may well be the church for you. 

And so, you see, serendipity has so much to do with making Greensboro Daily Photo what it is. Just when we begin to wonder what on earth we would photograph and write about for today, doors opened and a new (to us) church appeared. By the way, we found four churches, never-before-heard-of-by-us,  tucked along the South Westgate area all thanks to an out-of-date YELP list!  Happy Sunday!

Morehead UMC Block Party

Church isn't just on Sunday, at least that is the case at Morehead United Methodist Church on Horse Pen Creek Road. Every Monday in the month of May, Morehead UMC had a block party with music, fellowship, and food trucks. What a great idea for a church to have these outdoor events. All were invited and the event was easily accessible and highly visible from the road. This was a happy little gathering and celebration on a road that has been torn up and riddled with orange barrels and cones for what seems like a lifetime now. It does appear that construction on Horse Pen Creek Road is nearing completion. And we are sure that Morehead will offer more events to include the community.

In addition to regular church services today, they will provide lunch after church. So, if you are looking for a church that makes a real effort to build community, you might want to attend something at Morehead. It is right beside the Spears Y. The Morehead UMC building of today was constructed in 1970. However, the congregation dates to 1888 and the property where the church is built was the site of the Piney Grove School, which Morehead UMC used as a sanctuary for 45 years.

We drive by this church a lot en route to the YMCA and it is nice to see so many events happening here! Happy Sunday! May you enjoy every minute of this glorious day- whether you are in Greensboro or elsewhere.

Mt. Pisgah Choir Sings at Memorial Day Service at Friendly Center

It is always nice when churches perform community service. Today's photo features the Mt. Pisgah Choir singing at the Memorial Day Service at Friendly Center. Music always adds such a nice touch to any ceremony. Their Department of Music offers opportunities for people of all ages to be involved in music, starting as young as 4 years old. The church has a praise team band, a handbell choir, and more. Amberly Johnston is their director of music.* The music program at Mt. Pisgah UMC is very strong, if you are looking for an opportunity to share your special talent, or just have a desire to participate. We're not sure where else the choir will perform out in the community, but to be sure, they will be singing at the 8:30 and 11:00 am services today. Mt. Pisgah is located at 2600 Pisgah Church Road. It is the church you can see from the Lowe's parking lot on Battleground Avenue.

After church, if you are looking for something to do, head to the Parisian Promenade in Bicentennial Gardens on Hobbs Road from 12:00 - 5:00 pm today.  The event is free and open to the public. It is a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. A promenade is a paved public walk; to promenade is to take a leisurely public walk so as to see or be seen by others. Remember, as you stroll along the path that YOU TOO are an important part of the event- and plan your outfit accordingly!

Happy, glorious Sunday!

 

* more information here.