Greensboro Daily Photo

Former Methodist Cemetery

Good morning, Greensboro!  A reader suggested we feature this sign explaining about a former Methodist cemetery. The sign is located at the 300 block of South Elm Street. The above photo shows a recent version of the sign. If the letters towards the center appear mottled, it looks someone took some red spray paint to them. That is so sad to vandalize a historic marker. When we featured it a few years ago, it had googlie eyes over the "O" on the word "original" resembling a German umlaut. Those googlie eyes are long gone.

This sign tells of a Methodist cemetery formerly located downtown and used for public burials. The unclaimed bodies were moved to Green Hill Cemetery, north of town. It is interesting that this sign would be placed so many blocks north of the location of the cemetery. Over ten percent of Christians in Greensboro are Methodist and Christians comprise the largest faith group in Greensboro. Historic markers are nice, because they help document events and help us remember our past, well into the future. Happy Sunday! It is a great day to drive around and read historic markers and HERE is a map, showing you where they are located.

Center United Methodist Church

Center United Methodist Church is located at 6142 Lake Brandt Road at the corner of  James Doak Parkway north of Greensboro. The above photo was taken about 6:00 pm last night. While the sun was setting, teens were shooting basket ball on the side of the church and on the other end, young teens were sitting and talking. The church seemed to be a hub of activity, exactly what a church needs to be to remain vibrant and attract and retain members. The wooden cross in front is draped in purple as the Lenten season has started.

According to their Facebook page, Center UMC has been serving Greensboro and Summerfield since 1823. They are an active church that holds online services at 10:00 am today. You can tune in and watch live on Facebook. Their pastor is the Rev. Cecil Donahue. This church has Back Buddies, a program feeding the homeless and those in need of food. They have traditional and contemporary services. .  If you live near Lake Brandt Road in North Greensboro and are looking for a Methodist church, this may be the one for you (see here).

Happy Sunday and Happy Birthday to one of our faithful readers in Madison, WI: Ginny S!!!!!

Community Garden at First Baptist Church on Friendly Avenue

Yesterday, at First Baptist Church, a group gathered to repair and refresh the raised beds to their community garden. With the church as a backdrop, the volunteers worked for several hours. Due to water runoff, the south side of the wooden frames rots first and they need to be replaced before the first seeds are planted. From Associate Pastor and Music Director Doug Vancil to other church members, volunteers had frames reinforced after a day of manual labor. The beds are planted and cared for by church and community members. The adjacent neighborhood is Westerwood. Soon, it will be time to plant and, before you know it, the watering, feeding, weeding, harvesting, and sharing of produce will begin to unfold. The plots are ready! Winds were strong and temperatures cool yesterday, but the glorious sunshine made working and being outside absolutely glorious.

If you want to hear a sermon from First Baptist, they are available on the website (see HERE). You can also log on to the Facebook page of  First Baptist Church of Greensboro and the service starts at 10:30. First Baptist is a liberal church. If you are looking for an active congregation that has something for everybody, at all ages and stages of life, First Baptist is a great church to consider. From what we hear from members, it is a great religious home. We learned firsthand, yesterday that the music director is kind and inviting. May their congregation and community garden thrive.

Happy Sunday!

Ice All Around Us on a Valentine's Day Sunday

For Winter 2021, this has been the weekend for ice in Greensboro! Temperatures have hovered near 32 degrees with rain turning to ice and freezing on tree branches and twigs. Many trees are down in and around Greensboro. People have lost power and many stores are closed. Seeing Wal-Mart on North Battleground Avenue pitch dark at 8:30 pm last night was a strange site. Not even parking lot lights were on.

Weather events help us realize that as hard as we humans try to control all situations, some things in life remain out of our hands. The above photo was taken on a small bush in northwest Greensboro with sweet gum trees looming in the background. Water is frozen in time and space and beautiful in a way that only nature can produce.  We hope everyone is OK Finally, Happy Valentines Day. May you be safe at home with someone you love. Life is beautiful.

Iglesia Redención y Salvación

Happy Sunday, the day we try to post something spiritual or reflective on Greensboro Daily Photo. We try to find places that reflect the diversity of Greensboro. There are almost 26,000 Hispanic people in Greensboro, or 8.7 percent of the population. It is only natural for churches, businesses and services that cater to the Spanish speaking community.  The Iglesia Redención y Salvación is a Pentecostal church located at 3312 Spring Garden Street, between Gay Terrace and Crazy Tires Tire Shop, just west of Holden Road. All along Spring Garden Street, from Lindley Park to West Market Street, there are several businesses that cater to the Spanish speaking members of the community.

The building housing the "Iglesia Redención y Salvación" looks like it used to house a commercial business. But if you drive by on a Sunday, Tuesday, or Saturday, you will see that it is indeed a church with people attending services and participating in fellowship with each other. This church doesn't seem to maintain a website, but they do have a Facebook page, if you want to try to learn more about them. Have a great day, whether you are in church, watching The Super Bowl, working, or just relaxing with family.

National House of Prayer for All People

The United House of Prayer for All People  is a dynamic, Apostolic  church, located at the south end of the campus of North Carolina A&T University, at the corner of Dudley and Market Streets.  The Greensboro branch of the United House of Prayer of  is one of 149 houses of worship in the Unites States. Some of the biggest news at the Greensboro church is that it is  building 172 apartments and retail on the 13.7 acre vacant lot across the street from the church. In 2005, the church purchased the lot from the Greensboro post office, which formerly had a facility on the now-vacant lot. This "Downtown East" venture is timed perfectly to provide new housing at a time when NC A&T is building a state-of-the-art engineering facility.

The  United House of Prayer for All People is known, not only for its powerful services and sense of community, but also for its fine restaurant that serves delicious comfort food, fish,  fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, and other delicious sides. The first church was founded in Massachusetts in 1919.  Entering its second century, the religion seems to be thriving and as community oriented as ever. Sunday hours are 11:30 am- 4:00 pm. Stop by if you get a chance and learn about all that is going on with this church. Happy Sunday!

"Project Warmth" Clothing Available Under the Eugene Street Bridge

 

Today's photo takes us underneath the Eugene Street Bridge at 300 Spring Garden Street. This is where the 16 Cents Ministry holds their services and where they serve meals. At the moment, since it is winter and cold, the ministry has set up an outdoor,  cold-weather garmet closet. Associated Scaffolding donated the fencing and anyone who has a clean warm coat to donate can hang it on the fence. Those in need can find something to wear at no cost. Their motto is "Take one if you need one, leave one if you can." 

On the day we visited, it was cold and people were taking advantage of this great community resource dubbed "Project Warmth." It is nice to know that there is a place to go for someone in need of a coat or scarf. You don't even need to ask permission. In addition to clothing under the bridge, food distribution, fellowship, and worship happen every Saturday at 6:00 p.m. That would be a good time to drop off an article of clothing and to see the ministry in action. Every day is a good day to think about what we can do for others. If you are a homeless person in Greensboro or person in need, you probably already know about all that happens under the bridge. If you are in a position to help, be prepared to feel really uplifted the first time you witness all the good the 16 cents ministry does. 

Rev Mark Sandlin

This week, we had the very special opportunity to meet Reverend Mark Sandlin, minister at the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant (PCoC) on South Mendenhall in Greensboro. Rev. Sandlin, hails from Asheboro, NC. He attended Appalachian State University, obtaining two undergraduate degrees and working in the business world for 25 years before being able to realize his dream of attending divinity school (at Wake Forest University) and becoming a minister. Rev. Sandlin is an ordained Presbyterian Church minister and  has been at PCoC for 7 years now. He has built a national reputation and quite a following as a liberal Christian leader. He is deeply involved in issues related to social justice. Rev. Sandlin sees the Bible as a text of hope and love. He sees the Bible not so much a book to be interpreted literally, but, as a document that is more allegorical,- a document still relevant today. He is a progressive Christian who co-founded "The Christian Left" and is currently serving as President of Progress Christianity. 

If you are looking for a liberal Christian church. Presbyterian Church of the Covenant may be the perfect place for you. It would be well worth your time to attend a service, which you can do virtually through Facebook. If you want a small church where people will get to know you quickly, reach out and get more information about PCoC.. As you can see, the sanctuary is quite lovely. Here is another photo of the sanctuary, taken during the one of the Tuesday, Silent Meditation, times. We actually featured the church 12 years ago. Please see this link if you want to learn more.

Last week's sermon, called Proud Boys, Wise Men, and the Allegory of Epiphany, can be heard here. It has been listened to by over 35,000 people. The sermon will give you a good overview of Rev. Sandlin's style of preaching, especially he ties in current events with scripture. Thank you Rev. Sandlin for taking time out of your busy schedule to take with us. Thank you Kate Baird for arranging it all.

Westover Church

 

Some of you may remember when Westover Church was smaller and located on Westover Terrace, across from Grimsley High School. The congregation actually dates back to 1948 with about 200 attending services at the Masonic temple, and the Westover Terrace church was built in 1950. Westover Church relocated to Muir's Chapel Road in 1994 and in 2006, the church was expanded with a worship center that seats 3,000. The above photo features one side of this expanded, mega-church. 

Pastor Don Miller has been there since 1991 and can be credited for helping make the church the success it is today. This non-denominational, mega-church is both local and international.  Westover Church is Evangelical and Christ-centered and, while they do a lot in Greensboro, they also have global ministries and international programs and outreach.They work intentionally to ensure staff and worship teams are diverse. The community pastor is a native speaker of Spanish. They have programs to feed the homeless, to help battle racial disparity, and to help everyone who attends the church feel like they are part of the church community, and not just one of thousands. They have programs serving families in the apartment complexes surrounding the church. Many of these families are immigrants, struggling to begin their lives in a new country and learning to speak a new language, and Westover Church feels like their lifeline. 

When we stopped by yesterday, all was silent, except for people out for daily walks who cut through the empty parking lot. Today, will be busier as there will be in-person worship at 10:30, with an option to attend services remotely through You Tube and Facebook.

In 2010, we featured Westover Church on Greensboro Daily Photo.

See The Good

Are you ever driving along and see something so inspiring that you have to pull off the road and photograph it? Such was the case for us last week when we were driving along Spring Garden Street at Pomona Drive when we saw this billboard. See the good. If you search that phrase, you will actually find an initiative started by a person named Kathy. Her goal is for people to see the good in each day. It doesn't say where Kathy is from, but surely, there is a Greensboro connection as the billboard is in our city. Her blog encourages people to contribute a paragraph about something good. 

As we look ahead to 2021, the notion of seeing the good, in our local community and the people around us sounds like a meaningful way to approach life. Perhaps this could be a New Year's resolution. It is easy to see the good in Greensboro as the weather is not too extreme, there is a good greenway system for walking and bicycling; there are many parks; good schools and several universities, colleges, and community colleges- to name just a few of the good things. If you are looking for a religious community, there are multiple churches of just about every faith.

Our motto has always been to see the good in Greensboro and to feature as much as we can. We thank you for starting your year out with Greensboro Daily Photo and hope you will stay with us for this new year of exploring the people and places of our city. Happy Sunday!

Update: Thanks to a reader, we've learned that the #seethegood initiative recently started in High Point. Bob Buckley at Fox 8 reported on it, here.

No Hate!

Imagine driving in the Friendswood neighborhood of Greensboro along Meadowview Street and seeing this bright flag. It reads, "Hate has no home here." This flag emphasizing the worth and dignity of all people seems appropriate for our Sunday post, a day when we try to post something more spiritual. This three bedroom, two bath,  suburban ranch home built in the 1960s is quite representative of many homes in the area. When it was built, the house would have really felt like it was out in the country, far from town. Sixty years ago, nationally, the Civil Rights Act of 1968 had not yet passed and locally, nearby Wendover Avenue would not be completed until 1972.

As we close out 2020 and look to 2021, we need to talk to the people who live in this home and learn the story of how it is they are so far along on the diversity continuum. Their neutral, beige house is filled with people who have taken a colorful stance against discrimination. Maybe all of Friendswood is filled with friends and allies. If you put a sign in your yard or a flag on a tree, what would it say. Ours would say, "Have a great day and THANK YOU for reading Greensboro Daily Photo" (and No Hate)! 

JOY at Mount Pisgah UMC

Approaching the winter solstice it seems appropriate to share a night scene for our Sunday church shot today. This is Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church. We have featured it a lot, but is is so visible and centrally located at the corner of Pisgah Church Road and Battleground Avenue. This view is from the CVS pharmacy across the street. The JOY sign, lighting, and the electric marquee command attention. The ray of green light shining down must be from the street light.

Today is the last Sunday before Christmas. However, many churches, including Mt. Pisgah. On December 21st on Facebook Live, they will have a Longest Night Service. At 4:30 and 7:00 pm on Christmas Eve, they will have services. The early one will be outside and on Facebook Live and the later one outdoors. This year there are so many options to enjoy church services remotely for Christmas, from Greensboro to Vatican City and beyond.

Pomona Baptist Church

Today, we continue our journey through what was once the Pomona area of Greensboro. According to its cornerstone, the above church on Clifton Road was organized in 1906 and rebuilt in 1950. We can't find a history of the church online; the best available comes from obituaries. A News & Record obituary for the Rev. Clinton M. Oates, 86, states that he had been a minister at Pomona Baptist. Rev. Oates died in 1990. More recently, September 17, 2020, Mildred Cook Worsham passed away at the age of 94. When she was a young girl, her family moved from Mooresville to Greensboro where her father, Rev. Walter B. Cook, accepted the position of minister at Pomona Baptist.  

So, in the mid-20th century, Pomona was a viable church community. It would be really nice to have a church history as this church would have served workers at the Pomona Cotton Mill on Merritt Drive and the Pomona Terra Cotta Manufacturing Company on West Market Street.  Somewhere, along the way, the the church changed hands. Gone is the Baptist affiliation and the pews;  today, it is the Clifton Road campus of Mercy Hill Church with round tables and chairs in the sanctuary. Mercy Hill's website will tell you how to affiliate with the non-demonational church. 

Nativity on Chapman Street

Today's photo is of the nativity, the manger scene at the house of Santa of Chapman Street. While he left us in 2003, his little house, near the corner of Walker Avenue shines gloriously with both the religious and secular symbols of Christmas. The center of the photo is actually a scene, just to the left of the house. On the right, you see Frosty the Snowman peeking out on the edge of the porch. Jack True Sr., was a man of modest means, but he lived for bringing joy to others during the holiday season. For thirty years, he served as Santa on Chapma. He can rest assured that his family has continued the tradition.

As you drive through Sunset Hills and see all of the trees filled with the glorious chickenwire balls wrapped with strings of lights, consider heading over to the part of Chapman Street just off Spring Garden Street and pay homage to the man who really brought Christmas to life for so many families of Greensboro. Here is a detailed article from the News and Record, back in 2003, the year Mr. True died.

Church Fundraisers

Many churches are selling Christmas trees, wreathes, and greenery as an end-of-year fundraiser. Morehead United Methodist Church has opted to set up a Dewey's Holiday Store. The church, located at 3214Horse Pen Creek Road, has the store open M-F from 10-6 and Saturdays from 10-5pm. The last day for the store is December 21st. It has been a difficult year for religious institutions. If you like to purchase baked goods this time of year, consider purchasing from a non-profit like a church or school group. The Dewey's sale at Morehead UMC will help the church a lot.

The fundraiser is not held on Sundays, but church is. Informal worship takes place at 9am; small groups 10am; traditional worship is at 11am. At one point, services were being held outside on the edge of the church property. If you elect to go today, take your mask and be flexible. Have a great day today, whether you are in Greensboro or reading from elsewhere!

 

Good Samaritan's Mitzvah

Sunday's, on GDP, we post something spiritual, religious, or heartwarming; often a church. Today, we post the good samaritan's mitzvah. What could be more spiritual than to take the time to do a good deed for someone? The above photo was taken on the Atlantic & Yadkin Greenway Trail near Strawberry Road, just north of Bur-Mil Park. Somebody lost their car and office cabinet keys on the greenway. An unidentified person took the time to craft a tripod out of a stick and balance the keys on top- in plain view. Hopefully, when the person realizes they lost their keys, they will retrace their steps and find them waiting.

If you know of someone who lost their keys yesterday, as of about 4pm Saturday, the keys were waiting for them. This gesture speaks volumes about the character of the people of Greensboro. Taking time to do something for someone else, is second nature around here. ! If the weather is nice, you might want to get out and enjoy the greenway. It is a special feeling to be out there with nature and seeing others enjoying themselves. Happy Sunday

Interior View of Greek Orthodox Church: Stained Glass Windows

Today's post is a view of one of the stunning stained glass windows inside the Greek Orthodox Church in Greensboro. Dormition of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church had the windows installed in 1988. They were made in Mentor, Ohio by Mosack's, a company that specializes in church related items. The windows are a sight to behold when the sun is shining through them. They cast a glow on the whole sanctuary. As you look around inside, so many scenes from Christ's life and the Virgin Mary's life are told in the windows.

If you ever attend an event at the church, it is usually possible to find someone who will show you the inside. The iconostasis is also breathtaking. The church is located at 800 Westridge Road, at the corner of Friendly Avenue. Services have resumed at the church, however, they are making every effort to be COVID safe, including checking temperatures on the way in. Happy Sunday!

Trunk or Treat 2020 at the Dormition of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church

For the last three years, the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church, at the corner of  West Friendly Avenue and Westridge, has been holding Trunk or Treat,  where children of all walks of life are invited to celebrate Halloween. From 4-6pm yesterday, candy was distributed- with visitors and church members alike making every effort to social distance. Father Presbyter Loulakis was on site overseeing the event. If you look closely, he is the person in the long black vestment between the red and black SUVs.

This view from the Westridge side of the building showcases the simple, yet impressive, architecture of the building. Walter Blue was the architect. The building was completed in 1975. Geometric shapes, especially the square and the half-circle, are evident inside as well as outside the church. It is nice to see people outside on a sunny day and to hear the joyful voices of children making memories with their families.The Trunk-or-Treat memories felt more community oriented, than commercial.

Happy Sunday, and, if you are a member of Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church, enjoy Divine Liturgy this morning.

 

It's Pumpkin Patch Time at Guilford College UMC

Yesterday, the Pumpkin Patch at the Guilford College United Methodist Church attracted people all day long. The weather was lovely and the selection was plentiful. The Pumpkin Patch is a fundraiser for the youth groups at the church. It was nice to see teens helping at the event and gaining an appreciation for how much work goes into raising money for their group. 

At the Guilford College UMC, the selection is plentiful. The tiny white pumpkins were running out as we were there yesterday, as were the ones with "character"' in other words, the non-traditional pumpkins. However, the traditional orange variety were plentiful- in all sizes. Almost every family with small children took lots of photos. Some families even dressed up so that baby's first, fall pumpkin patch photos would be just perfect.  To be sure, many memories are being made in this pumpkin patch and the youth group is making money. The church is located at the corner of Fleming and Guilford College Road. They are open Monday - Saturday from 10am-7pm and on Sundays from 1-7pm. Stop by if you want to get in the spirit of  the season. Happy Sunday!

Opening Day of The Summit, on Highway 68

The Summit has been a portable church meeting at Oak Ridge Elementary School. With a membership of about 1,000, the Summit has long been ready for its own building. Well, today is opening day for this glorious facility on Highway 68. When we were on site yesterday, Pastor Andy and his family drove into the parking lot to introduce themselves (and probably to figure out who was in the lone car in the parking lot on a Saturday. He informed us that, locally,  this is actually the third Summit, with one in Jamestown and one in Kernersville. If you want to attend tomorrow, on opening day, be fore to go online and get an event ticket. They have services at 9:00 and 11:00 am, and likely, both services will be at COVID capacity. You can also watch online. Here is a link to their website. Surely, this homecoming or incoming, will be a glorious event for all involved. All the best to the congregation and staff. "New" is a most exciting and hopeful of times.

First Moravian Church

Greensboro has so much religious diversity. On Greensboro Daily Photo, we post something religious or spiritual every Sunday which equates to almost 12 years of Sundays or, over 600. Every week, just when we start to wonder what we can post for Sunday, something pops into mind, or in front of the lens. A couple of weeks ago, we were out getting masks from the tree in Beverly Ramsey's front yard. We noticed a Sunday morning cyclist pedaling into view with the First Moravian Church serving as a lovely backdrop.

The First Moravian Church of Greensboro is located at 304 South Elam Avenue.  This above church building dates to the 1950s; however, the religion dates to the 1,400s. If you are local, you know Old Salem is a Moravian community. In spite of meeting remotely through Zoom during the pandemic, the congregation remains active, especially with food drives and with getting a new organ. They have removed the carpet and refinished the original hardwood floors. Both Old Salem and the First Moravian are approaching the busiest season of the year, the Christmas season. Here is a photo we took in 2009  (see here). 

Our Lady of Grace

Slowly, churches have started reopening. The above photo shows a couple of members going in to attend a service at Our Lady of Grace Roman Catholic Church in the Sunset Hills neighborhood of Greensboro. At OLG, there are many options for mass: Saturday at 5pm; Sunday at 7am; 9am; 11 am; 1pm; and 5pm. This church is so beautiful, inside and out. We need to get back inside to get a photo of the West German, Kleuker organ that was installed in the 1970s at the Silver Anniversary of the OLG parish and the Golden Anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Bryan. It has 2,226 pipes and a lovely sound, especially when the sanctuary is filled with people.

The church itself was founded in 1946 and built in 1952; erected with money donated by Julian Price as a memorial to Ethel Clay Price. Located at the corner of West Market Street and Chapman Street, OLG actually takes up the entire block on the West Market Street side with multiple buildings, a school, and playground. The architecture is described as French Gothic with refined simplicity. The walls are granite. This 2016 article in the Catholic News Herald provides additional information about this beautiful church. Happy Sunday!

It is not entirely clear who thought up the concept of the church marquee. They are often pun-laden and always clever. "Fall Closer To Jesus", with its double use of the word "fall" is so clever. Hopewell Weslyean Church is located at 2825 Pleasant Ridge Road, at the corner of Lewiston Road. Technically, it is located in Summerfield, as opposed to Greensboro. Somewhere along the way, a member told us that the church was over 100 years old. However, our efforts to uncover a church history online failed to yield results.

Regardless, the church is on a well-maintained lot, with a cemetery on the property. It is surrounded by cornfields. The gravel parking lot is lined with crepe myrtle and rose of share. The front entrance to the sanctuary has white mums about ready to open. Sunday services are at 11:00. Perhaps we could attend a service and learn more about the church history. As always, we encourage churches to document their history and, if possible, share it online. The connections people make when reading the history are often happy and unanticipated moments. Once the older members pass, a lot of history goes with them. Happy Sunday, happy archiving! And remember, it is fall; and for Christians, it is time to fall closer to Jesus.

Glenwood Presbyterian

Glenwood Presbyterian Church is located in the heart of the Glenwood neighborhood at 1205 Glenwood Avenue. The church is due south of Gate City Boulevard and UNCG.  According to the cornerstone, the church was established in 1916, and rebuilt in 1943. The education building on the left was erected in 1960. The lawn is beautifully maintained and the lot is ample, the church is right across the street from Morris Farlow Park, adding to the open feel of the property.

We're sure the church has a lot of interesting history, and one curious thing is that on the northwest corner of the property is a tombstone of an E. Gray, son of W.G. & Tracy Smith who died just before his third birthday on January 23rd, 1923. It appears to be the only grave on the property. Another curious aspect of the property is that there is a set of stone stairs that don't appear to lead anywhere. We're betting they were part of the property that was once the Glenwood Park Sanitarium. The Greater Glenwood Neighborhood Association has done a nice job of maintaining and sharing some of the neighborhood's history (see here). If Glenwood Presbyterian has maintained written down any of its 104 year history, it would be wonderful if they would share it online. Happy Sunday and enjoy this cool, fall-like weather.

Newlyn Street UMC

This is Newlyn Street United Methodist Church, as seen from the Community Gardens on Golden Gate Drive- a block off of State Street. The Community Gardens is such an amazing resource for the community and the UMC looks so lovely from this view. Newlyn St. UMC has beautiful stained glass windows in the sanctuary and a very generous parking lot and mowed lot behind it. They also have a cornerstone which makes dating the church easy. The church was organized in 1921 and rebuilt in 1954. Summer 2006, a west wing was added to the building.

Nathan A. Harris is the minister. In reading the church website (here) you will learn that Rev. Harris has a Doctorate of Jurisprudence and a B.S. in business from Howard University, and a Master of Divinity from Duke University. He has worked at several federal agencies and has even worked in The White House! Greensboro is lucky that he decided to return to Greensboro. But then, if you read a little more, you will learn that his best friend is his father, John H. Harris III. How wonderful to have such a strong bond with family.

We didn't realize until publishing the photo that a young man stepped into the photo at just the right time to be seen between the raised okra beds! As we pause and reflect on the week ahead, let's all make it a goal to continue to build community in Greensboro, whether it is through a house or worship, a community garden, or both! 

CHURCH FOR SALE

This church, at the corner of Summerfield and Parsonage Roads, is for sale. It is almost 6 acres and includes a church, youth center, and great yard. It used to be the Cathedral of Faith Christian Center. It must be hard for small churches to remain viable during these COVID times. The mega churches offer to much to their congregations, it can be hard for the smaller churches to retain membership, even in the best of times. This church began with a congregation of three in 1990. Hopefully, current members have found a place where they can continue to worship together.  If your own house of worship has not started back yet, check on the others who attend. This is a time to make every effort to help sustain and lift each other up. 

Thank you for being with us for the last 11 1/2 years. At least Greensboro Daily Photo has always been virtual and we haven't monetized the site; so the only pressure we have is figuring out what to feature daily- and, as we like to say, every day comes around pretty often. Happy Sunday! 

 

Church Cornerstones

Cornerstones are a permanent, convenient way to know when a church was established. The above cornerstones are on the Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church on Huffine Mill Road. We featured the church, here, earlier in the summer. Cornerstones make it possible to begin to research church history. The cornerstone to the right dates Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church back to Aug. 29, 1909, and explains that it was rebuilt in 1924, and it was led by Rev. Timberlake. The stone on the left says, Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church, built April 30, 1954. with J.R. Cheek, Pastor.

In the pre-internet era, it was a lot harder to trace information, and cornerstones were so helpful. They provide the provenance, the earliest known history of the congregation. It appears that Mt. Zion on Huffine Mill has been meeting and praying together for over 111 years.

Happy Sunday, and if you ever have a chance to influence a new congregation, encourage them to install a cornerstone. Happy Sunday!

St. John's Anglican Church

St. John's Anglican Church is located at 6722 West Friendly Avenue, very near where the I-73 interstate crosses over Friendly and at Forsythia Drive. Like Catholic and Orthodox services, the Anglican Church has a set worship service. They are Christian and Bible based; however, they also use the 1928 Book of Common Prayer. In 2013, the small congregation of about 30 purchased the former Lutheran Church of the Resurrection on Friendly Avenue, above. Previously, the Anglicans and the Lutherans shared this 100-seat sanctuary. The story is a special one with the Lutherans accepting the offer of the Anglican congregation, even though theirs wasn't the highest bid.  (Reference and News and Record article from 2013, here).

The building is small but the lot is very nicely appointed. There is a playset and a place to picnic in the front. Around back, are very mature trees, including a hickory tree that has been very prolific this year. If you are looking for a small church with a big heart, make contact St. John's through their website or their Facebook page.

St. John's is one of about a dozen Anglican churches in North Carolina. The religion dates to 1534, when King Henry VIII of England split from the Roman Catholic Church. Even though the word "Anglican" means "of England", St. John's is proof that the religion extends beyond the British Isles. Look for the red doors.  Happy Sunday!

Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church is located on Cedrow Drive in High Point. However, Ethiopian Orthodox Christians throughout Guilford County attend services here. According to the African Services Coalition, there are between 250-300 Ethiopians in the Guilford County.

Christianity became established in Ethiopia in the 4th century. The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo  Christian Church is one of the few pre-Colonial Cristian churches in sub-sarahan Africa. Worldwide, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church has a membership of about 36 million. We're not sure how members the church has in Guilford County, but this little white house of Worship looks well cared for in its sparkly white fence and building.

You can see something you have never seen before and learn something new every day; all it takes is getting out and exploring. Happy Sunday!

Church Under the Bridge

The above photo is of the praise band that played last night at the meeting of the Church Under the Bridge at 300 Spring Garden Street. The 16 Cents Ministry sees to it that every week at 6pm, Under the Bridge, there is worship through music and prayer. Additionally, a hot meal is served, and other items are distributed. Everyone is welcome and it is not uncommon for 250 people to attend. Last night, the weather was nice, the music was inspirational, and the meal was very hearty, colorful, and perfect for summer. It seemed like everyone was enjoying this time together with food, music, and prayer. Perhaps the homeless in attendance could put in the back of their mind, for this one hour, the stress of being in an insecure living situation. Perhaps, if the recent rains flooded out their tents, someone helped find some dry clothes or higher ground. 

Here is the wish list of the 16 Cents Ministry.  If you belong to a group that is able to help, or if you can yourself, Church Under the Bridge is money and effort well spent. The resources, financial and otherwise, are put to use directly in Greensboro. We encourage you on a Saturday, at 6:00 pm (or a little earlier) to head downtown and see for yourself, just how beneficial this mission is to the community. You will see, firsthand, just how much work there is to be done and how much help is needed, right here in our own community. If you know the name of the band, let us know. We didn't want to interrupt them to ask and didn't see a sign or information about the group on the website.

Church Under the Bridge

The above photo is of the praise band that played last night at the meeting of the Church Under the Bridge at 300 Spring Garden Street. The 16 Cents Ministry sees to it that every week at 6pm, Under the Bridge, there is worship through music and prayer. Additionally, a hot meal is served, and other items are distributed. Everyone is welcome and it is not uncommon for 250 people to attend. Last night, the weather was nice, the music was inspirational, and the meal looked delicious. It seemed like everyone was enjoying this time together with food and music. Perhaps the homeless in attendance could put in the back of their mind, for this one hour, the stress of being in an insecure living situation. Perhaps, if the recent rains flooded out their tents, someone helped find some dry clothes. 

It is really nice to know that those religious organizations that are in a position to do so are helping with this initiative. Here is the wish list of the 16 Cents Ministry.  If you belong to a group that is able to help, or if you can yourself, Church Under the Bridge is money and effort well spent. The money, time, effort, and other resources are put to use directly in our community. We encourage you on a Saturday, at 6:00 pm (or a little earlier) to head downtown and see for yourself, just how beneficial this mission is to the community. You event is well organized and will help you see, firsthand, just how much work there is to be done, right here in our own community.

Mt. Zion AME Church on Huffine Mill Road

Mt. Zion AME Church is located at 1422 Huffine Mill Road. According to their Facebook page, "Mt. Zion AMEC is a Christ-centered, Bible-based, Justice-seeking, and Holy Spirit led global faith community, committed to bring all persons into a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ." We wish they had church history available online, and even more importantly, that they have as much history archived as possible. It is so important for religious communities to document their history and to gather oral histories from their oldest living members. Mt. Zion has very nice cornerstones that provide very important information. The oldest cornerstone is dated August 29th 1909 and states the church was rebuilt in 1924 with Reverend Timberlake, Pastor. The second cornerstone, inlaid beside the first, says "built April 30, 1954 J.R. Cheek, Pastor. Just from the cornerstones, we learned that they have had three buildings and that the congregation dates back 111 years. While nobody will remember all 111 years, we're betting there are members whose memories of their church community go way back!

The day we were doing a photo shoot on Huffine Mill Road was a Saturday and someone was on site mowing the lawn at Mt. Zion and removing weeds that had snuck their way into the parking lot. As you can see from the above photo, the grounds were in tip top shape for Sunday service. Typical of so many churches, short of a drone photo, it is impossible to capture the size of the building and complete details of the property from one street-view photo. If you are looking for an AME church to attend, here is a great one to consider.

Happy Sunday!

Laughlin Memorial Methodist Church

We stumbled upon Laughlin Memorial Methodist Church while taking the back way home from the farmers market at Providence Farm. The triangular roof and cross on the brick church really stand out as you are driving past the property at 1417 Huffine Mill Road. According to the cornerstone at the church, Laughlin Memorial was organized in 1911 and rebuilt in 1949 and then again in 1967. According to UMC data, there are only 87 members, with an average attendance of 45. Regardless of size, the building is beautiful and the property is very well maintained. If you are looking for a church home in the eastern end of Guilford County, this would be a great option to consider. If you are out for a Sunday drive, Huffine Mill is a step back in time, but still close to everything. 

Have a great Sunday!

 

Kernersville Wesleyan Church

Kernersville Wesleyan Church is just over the county line on Highway 150 in Forsyth County. Many people go from Greensboro to Kernersville for church and many from Kernersville come to Greensboro for church. The first photo shows the street view of Wesleyan. As you can see, it is quite large and the architecture is impressive. Unfortunately, on their website, we can find nothing about the history or the year the church was built; however,  from the looks of the building, it appears to be relatively new. In searching the Internet, we found a farewell video to Pastor Phil who left in 2016 after 26 years of pastoring at Kernersville Wesleyan, which means, the church is at least 30 years old. Currently Scott Simmons is lead pastor.

The second photo shows the BIG TENT installed in the parking lot behind the church, where the congregation will be meeting at 10am today. Summer services are being held there for the entire month of July. With the current health concerns of large gatherings in enclosed speces, the decision to worship outside makes sense. The contrast between photo one and two is stark; however, they are proof positive that where there is a will, there is a way and you can still worship and celebrate God, even in the most humble of ways. If you are interested in attending, they will make room for you under the BIG TENT! If you go, see if the crows are still on the roof of the church. It seems the birds are convinced they have found a giant perch.

If anyone has a link to the history of the church, please share it with us and we'll link it to this post. Thank you and happy Sunday!

Virgin of Guadalupe Right Here in Greensboro

The Virgin of Guadalupe is the patron saint of Mexican Catholics. She is tied with Mexican identity and is seen frequently around Greensboro. You may have noticed her picture on truck windows, on candles, and as paintings and wall hangings in Mexican restaurants. The above photo is of a front yard in a neighborhood near Pinecroft Road and the Four Seasons Mall. For a Mexican family, having a shrine to the Virgin of Guadalupe is an expression gratitude for life's successes and joys, and a way to cope with infirmities and sorrows. See this list of prayers, if you are interested in learning more.

The Virgin of Guadalupe appeared to an Aztec peasant, Juan Diego in 1531. The Basilica to the Virgin, located in a suburb north of Mexico City, has as many as 20 million visitors a year. The feast is celebrated every December and the local Catholic Churches with Mexican members hold ceremonies and celebrations. Here is an article in the News & Record about one such event in Greensboro. As for the family who built the above shrine, they must feel tremendous comfort returning from work every day and seeing the shrine. Likely, the family believes they have been helped by the Virgin and want to show their gratitude. In this yard, she sits at the top of a hill, as if watching over the whole neighborhood!

Happy Sunday!

 

 

Sanctuary Deliverance Church Of The Living Word

Sanctuary Deliverance Church Of The Living Word is located at 3631 Summit Avenue in Greensboro. That location is really getting pretty far north of the city. The church sign above has a very powerful message, "Appreciate today because tomorrow is not a promise"! As we learned from their website, the church was formed in 1982. Vander D. Purcell Sr., and Vander D. Purcell, Jr. are the pastors. They meet at 9am on Sunday and are taking every precaution to keep COVID at bay. If you are interested in becoming d disciple through the word of Sanctuary Deliverance Church may be the spiritual home for you.

If you look at how nicely the lawn is maintained, you know that a lot of love goes into keeping this church looking nice- inside and outside! Happy day after the Fourth of July. If you are out on north Summit Avenue, stop by to see this church.

Bethel Baptist Church on Lees Chapel Road

Today's photo is of Bethel Baptist Church at 2230  Lees Chapel Road. Lee's Chapel is located on the eastern side of Greensboro and actually turns into Pisgah Church Road as it gets closer to Elm Street. Bethel Baptist has the architecture of so many churches. Brick veneer, A-line roof in the front, and white steeple with a cross on top. It was built in 1953 on almost an acre of land. It is possible the congregation pre-dates the building of the church. Unfortunately, they don't have a history on their website. If you have more information the church, please share with us and we'll provide the additional information through Greensboro Daily Photo.

If you are looking for a traditional, independent Baptist Church, contact the pastor, Reverend Gunter, read more about them on their website, here, or consider attending a service.

Happy Sunday!

Lee's Chapel UMC

Lee's Chapel United Methodist Church is located on Lee's Chapel. The church was established in 1824 and is quickly approaching its 200th birthday! This church has so much history and has done so much for their church community. The building is a simple rectangular structure, but the stained glass windows absolutely make the sanctuary glow. There is also a large fellowship hall and several Sunday school classrooms. 

Outside, the property itself it so beautiful. As seen in the above photo, the lot has several mature oak trees. Beyond the church is a large cemetery. There is also an area for children to play. a covered pavilion, and a large parking lot. If you are a Methodist looking for a church, Lee's Chapel will welcome you with open arms. As a matter of fact, even if you aren't Methodist, they will welcome you! However, they are still not holding services in the sanctuary, but online. Happy Sunday!

Burnett's Chapel United Methodist Church

Burnett's Chapel United Methodist Church is one of the southernmost churches in the Greensboro/Guilford County area. It is located on Burnett's Chapel Road at Old Randelman Road. The building has the traditional look of a southern church. As seen in the photo, it is brick, with stained glass windows and a white steeple. What is not obvious form this photo is that they are getting a new pastor; and, the pastor is a woman! Today, from 2-4 pm will be a drive through meet and greet. Her service to Burdett's will begin on July 1st.

It is always an exciting time when a congregation gets a new pastor. Let's wish her the best and hope that the congregation will embrace her and that she will lead them through the trials and tribulations we are facing today. We encourage her to have someone post the church's history online. It is so important to not only get the dates and facts about a church, but to hear the stories and memories of the faith community from members. Happy Sunday. 

We have been posting house of worship (almost) every Sunday for over 11 years, which is nearly 600. While we have been known to feature the same house of worship more than once, we are still finding places that we have not featured before. Burnett's Chapel UMC is one such place. Maybe when the Covid times wane, we can get inside to see those beautiful stained glass windows!

Happy Sunday!

Eller Memorial Baptist Church

Eller Memorial Baptist Church is located on 4th Street, behind the McDonald's on Summit Avenue. The architecture  is a traditional, one-storey,  brick building with a white steeple. Eller Memorial has resumed worshiping live and Sunday service is at 11:00 am. The history of the church is inextricably intertwined with the textile mill history of Greensboro. In May 1896, plans were underway to organize a church for the community in the Proximity Mill area. One of the founders was Brother W.H. Eller. Mill owner, Ceasar Cone provided first a log cabin, and later a lot on Cherry Street for a church to be built. In 1901, the congregation moved to the 4th/Walnut Street area, where they have remained for the last 119 years.*

East Greensboro has a rich church history. If you are looking for Baptist church family, Eller Memorial will welcome you with open arms. Or, call Pastor Bruce Vaughn who has been the minister there since 2007. If you are out on a Sunday drive, stop by and have a look at this church with a rich history that can actually be traced back to the First Baptist Church of Greensboro.

 

* see more about the church history, online, here.