As I have journeyed through Lent 2017, I have been reminded of the numerous steps of faith I have taken in my life. In 1973 at the age of sixteen, I became a member of First Baptist, Richmond; three year later in the same sanctuary, I expressed publicly my call Read more…
True confession; I enjoy being in control. Perhaps the most difficult experience for choral directors is sitting in a rehearsal…and you’re not in charge! You sit there thinking, “why is she doing this, or why doesn’t he spend more time on this section?” Being in charge brings both joy and Read more…
In Ashes and the Phoenix, writer Glenice Robinson-Como, describes the function of the heliotrope, or form of sunflower. The flower’s name comes from the Greek words helios (sun), and tropos (turn) and describes its process for growth. Robinson-Cano’s analogy of the heliotrope;” Just as the sunflowers and their plant relatives Read more…
Lent has become a special time in my spiritual journey. For many years, my Lenten focus was on something to refrain from during the forty days. My final semester at BTSR, it was staying away from pasta, which had become my “comfort food” in times of crisis and celebration. In Read more…
A reflection by Wendy Bowen: Ginter Park is family. Being a member of Ginter Park since my birth in 1959, has been such a privilege both in how the church has ministered to me during times of sadness and joy in my life and how I have been able to Read more…
As ashes were smeared on my forehead, I felt humbled that indeed one day I will return to dust. But almost immediately I felt a bit foolish, kind of the same feeling of having spinach stuck in my teeth. The ash may be an outward symbol of sorrow and repentance, but there is that part of me that just wants to rub it off, to hide the smudge and pretend that my outward appearance is always exactly what I want to express and nothing more. Teach me, Oh God, to set my face for your purposes instead. Read More
These days, there is an abundance of junk-food for our souls. Information is coming at us so quickly that we are disoriented. It is like we are drinking water from a fire hose. There are a lot of harsh words in the atmosphere and the way conversations are being had Read more…
#GoodGrief I announced three weeks ago that I would soon be leaving Richmond and Ginter Park. I had been in good conversation with Emmanuel Baptist Fellowship in Lexington, SC since Halloween and felt called since the beginning of the process to serve with that congregation as their Pastor. January 20, Read more…
December was a busy month in the life of our church! We traveled to some of our members’ homes and sang carols. We celebrated during our final Wednesday evening programming of the year with a Christmas party. We welcomed Christ during the Christmas Eve candlelight service!