Christians have been obsessed with sex… but not in a good way. It’s time for a new sexual ethic, one that helps us understand how to be healthy and whole sexual beings, not just one that gives us a list of things to avoid. Listen in as Meg Lacy and Art Wright discuss Nadia Bolz-Weber’s newest book, Shameless, the first in our Sizzling Summer Reads series!
BTW: Here’s a link to the series Dr. Art Wright mentions in the promo podcast.
At 7am on a Saturday morning, a drowsy group of five drove together, willing to spend their day working at Camp Alkulana. As we arrived, Beth Wright greeted us with a warm smile and big plans for our day. As she spoke about the ideas she had for our work that day, our minds were filled with creative plans for how we would complete our tasks. A small group of us began creating new outdoor seating using wooden planks, created by other church groups, made out of trees found on the property. Another small group built a new staircase using rocks that were dug up during the installation of the new retaining wall. As we asked for help, communicated our ideas, and worked side-by-side, the daunting tasks we had been assigned were efficiently completed by newly-formed friends. Tabernacle’s hard work this past Saturday is only a small section of the work many churches are contributing to Camp Alkulana. Church groups had come before us, preparing the property for the work we completed that day. From creating the wooden planks to digging up the rocks, our tasks would never have been possible without the community of churches who had come before us. This community of churches, whose tasks helped to prepare for the tasks of others, is one of many communities that will be created on the property of Camp Alkulana this summer.
During our worship service this Sunday (June 9th), we invite you to choose an envelope from the display in the back of the sanctuary. You may choose more than one envelope, but everyone is encouraged to choose at least one. With these envelopes, we ask that you write a letter of encouragement to the young people going on different trips and camps this summer. Inside the envelope, you will find a short note with some instructions on what we hope you will include in the letter you write.
There is a group of Tabernacle members going to Hungary next Friday, June 14, to help with a baseball camp. In the back of the sanctuary, you will find envelopes with the names of those going on this trip. We ask that if you pick up an envelope for someone going on the Hungary trip that you bring the envelope containing your letter to the church by this Wednesday, June 12th. This will ensure that these letters are sent with the group to be opened during their time in Hungary.
The other envelopes contain the names of students going to camps such as Passport, Animate, Music Camp, and Clue Camp. Each envelope is labeled with the name of a student and the camp they are attending this summer. If you pick up an envelope for any of these camps, please return the envelope with your letter by next Sunday. This will ensure that each student receives the letter you write for them during their camp experience.
These letters are meant to bring words of encouragement as our children, youth, and adults spend their summers worshiping and experiencing the love of God. Thank you for your love and support for our young people as we enter a summer filled with excitement, possibilities, and spiritual opportunities.
Join us this morning for worship!
This morning our scripture passage is Romans 6:1-14.
Future of Christianity: Faith, Family, and Access
Moderator: Dan Herman
Panelists: Art Wright, Kaeo Burgess, SaraAnne Burgess, Kayte Snipes, Jerusha Joshua, and Hogan Brock
Blair Dunlap Edwards, Tabernacle Child Care Center Parent
May 20, 2019
This week, the students of Tabernacle Child Care Center’s Junior Kindergarten will become the first graduating class of the new program; I am both proud and confident as a parent in the ways that TCCC’s latest advancements have prepared my rising Kindergartener to thrive in her next school. This past year at TCCC has marked the beginning of an era in the new ways that our Director Kristen O’Sullivan has helped the program to evolve and continue to enable our children to flourish—all positive advancements while preserving the integrity of the same preschool foundation that former Director Frances Thrift established to help this village thrive for decades.
Our TCCC journey officially began in May of 2016 when I received a call that I had eagerly been awaiting—two openings had just become available at TCCC to accommodate enrolling my then 2-year-old and 1-year-old. Having just relocated back to my native Richmond, VA in the fall of 2015, my two daughters had been fulltime students at a nationally-accredited preschool/daycare program here in the area that has an excellent curriculum; however, for me personally, the well-respected program still left a void in the community feel for the “it-takes-a-village” experience that I’d been seeking. I had received numerous positive recommendations about TCCC, from current and former alumni families—emphasizing how their children still remember their times at TCCC and that the friendships made continued on, even after matriculating to different schools. I was elated for my daughters to start down this path of God’s plan for them in this crazy journey we call life.
Last May, when I learned that my oldest daughter would be a part of the new JK class as she aged up, I candidly was naïve and thought it was merely the addition of a new classroom. The first year of this program is just one example of the ways that TCCC continues to make progressive changes to accommodate the world that we live in today.
Preschool programs were initially established in the 1960s to meet the needs of dual-working parents and to familiarize children with the concept of a classroom environment through partial-day offerings. Having researched and observed the kindergarten programs in today’s era, I believe a child will only feel frustrated and left behind if he/she isn’t well-equipped for the curriculum in advance.
TCCC’s new JK program, led by JK teacher Courtney Durrett, provides well-organized developmental objectives, regular performance updates, and daily guides for parents to leverage as they support the growth of their child’s development at home. Areas of focus include science, math, reading/verbal comprehension, and cognitive/social learning subject matters. The lesson plans are intentional and systematically focused to align with Virginia’s standards for kindergarten (and even first grade!) curriculum.
For me and my JK graduate, this program has transformed the unresponsive shoulder shrug after asking ‘what did you do today?’, into anticipation of the JK daily report to help guide my discussion and reinforce the learnings at home. In fact, my daughter now excitedly asks me to read the updates, which are conveniently delivered to my phone via the Tadpoles app. She also enjoys the discussion that it prompts, and it is pure joy to witness her confidently update me on her weekly learnings.
As my oldest daughter graduates to begin her Kindergarten experience in the Fall, I’m excited to watch her grow and to put the new tools in her toolbox to good use, in large thanks to the TCCC JK program. At the same time, as the parent of a rising JKer in the second year of the program, I’m excited to watch how this program transforms my second, and a bit more spirited, child by next May.
Join us!
Join us for a discussion about the intersection of science and faith.
Our panelists are Dr. Bill Welstead, Marshall Powell, and Dr. Nate Kinsey.
– Rev. Sterling W. Severns, Pastor
Happy Birthday, TBC. Today is our 132nd year of life and ministry as a congregation! We encourage you to take 10 minutes to get update on important things happening in the life of our congregation. Please feel free to share with fellow church members and reach out if you have any questions, concerns, or constructive thoughts. This week’s update includes:
