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Worship, Jesus in Temple, 1.19.14

Our Worship focuses on John 2:13-25, Jesus cleansing the Temple. Worship Leaders include: William Strollo, Hlei Iang, Way Ku, Way Thaw, Tim and Naomi Reddish, Megan Strollo, and Paul Honaker. Worship audio from Sunday, January 19, 2014

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Cecil Gholston Memorial Service, 1.11.14

Rev. Cecil E. Gholston died peacefully, on December 27, 2013, from complications of a spinal cord injury received in a car crash last year.   He was 84.  He is survived by Jeanette, his wife of 61 years; his son Barry and daughter Susan (Chris Cochrane).  He was preceded in death by daughter, Sheryl Ann and parents, Hugh Mayes and Mary Chrystine Gholston.

Rev. Gholston began his ministry as a teenager singing gospel music.  With a beautiful, booming bass voice, he sang professionally with the Blue Ridge Quartet as a young man and as part of his ministry throughout his life.  During the Korean Conflict, he enlisted in the recently formed US Air Force.  While stationed at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming, he met and married Jeanette, an Airman in the Women’s Air Force.  After discharge, he completed college, seminary and was ordained as a minister.

His first pastorate was the church field of Central and Smyrna Baptist Churches in Dinwiddie County, where he was pleased to have shepherded the field to become two independent churches.   He also was active in the Masons and Ruritan Club, serving as president.  In 1967 he re-entered the Air Force, serving as a chaplain, until his retirement from the Reserves as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1989.  He was awarded a Bronze Star for Meritorious Service in Viet Nam, which included work with an orphanage, a leper colony, a baptism in a Viet Cong-held lake, and the most beautiful, yet simple, Christmas candlelight service he ever experienced.  Other assignments of note included serving as chaplain to the USAF Thunderbirds and the Aerospace School of Medicine.

 

He was the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Dillwyn from 1978 until his retirement in 1992, when he moved to Richmond.  In 1997 he began a six week term as interim pastor at Tabernacle Baptist Church. Eleven years later he retired as Pastor Emeritus, having been reinvigorated by serving as Associate Pastor, caring for seniors, mentoring seminary students and helping the church weather the challenges of an urban ministry. Whether singing in gospel quartets or church choirs, music always was part of his life.  When a San Antonio dinner theater cast member dropped out shortly before the show’s opening, he even spent a season as a very convincing “Joe,” singing “Ol’ Man River” in Kern & Hammerstein’s musical Show Boat.

There were few things he enjoyed more than good fellowship and good food.  He read the newspaper daily, always doing the crossword puzzle.  He watched the evening news on TV; then solved almost every puzzle on Wheel of Fortune.  When Jeanette no longer could manage the grocery shopping, he became the most joyful bargain shopper ever. In recent years, he has inspired us by caring for his wife and family.  This year his optimism and determination, despite quadriplegia and numerous setbacks, has amazed us.  Even when his body was failing, his humor and impish grin have shone through.

A celebration of his life will be held at 1:00 on Saturday, January 11, Tabernacle Baptist Church, 1925 Grove Avenue (at Meadow Street), Richmond, VA 23220.   In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a gift to:  the Tabernacle Baptist Church Endowment Fund (Richmond), First Baptist Church (Dillwyn), Central Baptist Church (Church Road, VA), Smyrna Baptist Church (Dinwiddie), Paralyzed Veterans of America, or the charity of your choice.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the many people who provided care and comfort to Cecil over the past year.   We especially wish to acknowledge: Sterling Severns, and the staff and members of the Tabernacle Baptist Church and First Baptist Church of Dillwyn, who have been so wonderful to pray, visit and send cards.  It is so easy to take family members for granted.  But your love and devotion helped us to see Cecil through your eyes and reminded us how special he is and how fortunate we have been to share his life. Pamela Owusu-Poku and Laverne Slater, the extraordinary caregivers who made it possible for Cecil to return home.  Your love and caring for him, and playful teasing, brought him great joy.  We received so many positive comments from hospital staff about the quality of care you gave. The McGuire Veterans Administration Medical Center Spinal Cord Injury Unit & Home Team, who provided treatment to Cecil and training to Chris, Susan and our caregivers.  The medical and ICU teams who provided care and comfort to Cecil, and were so thoughtful to family and friends, especially in his last days. The talented therapists, physicians and other care providers at Sheltering Arms and Health South Rehabilitation Hospitals, who helped Cecil to regain some functionality in the months after his surgery. Staff of the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission, who allowed Susan to have an alternative work schedule so she could continue working, graciously filled in when she was absent—often on short notice, and offered concern and support throughout a very challenging year.

 

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I’d Rather Have Jesus, Rev. Cecil Gholston

Rev. Cecil E. Gholston died peacefully, on December 27, 2013, from complications of a spinal cord injury received in a car crash last year.   He was 84.  He is survived by Jeanette, his wife of 61 years; his son Barry and daughter Susan (Chris Cochrane).  He was preceded in death by daughter, Sheryl Ann and parents, Hugh Mayes and Mary Chrystine Gholston.

Rev. Gholston began his ministry as a teenager singing gospel music.  With a beautiful, booming bass voice, he sang professionally with the Blue Ridge Quartet as a young man and as part of his ministry throughout his life.

During the Korean Conflict, he enlisted in the recently formed US Air Force.  While stationed at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming, he met and married Jeanette, an Airman in the Women’s Air Force.  After discharge, he completed college, seminary and was ordained as a minister.

His first pastorate was the church field of Central and Smyrna Baptist Churches in Dinwiddie County, where he was pleased to have shepherded the field to become two independent churches.   He also was active in the Masons and Ruritan Club, serving as president.

In 1967 he re-entered the Air Force, serving as a chaplain, until his retirement from the Reserves as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1989.  He was awarded a Bronze Star for Meritorious Service in Viet Nam, which included work with an orphanage, a leper colony, a baptism in a Viet Cong-held lake, and the most beautiful, yet simple, Christmas candlelight service he ever experienced.  Other assignments of note included serving as chaplain to the USAF Thunderbirds and the Aerospace School of Medicine.

He was the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Dillwyn from 1978 until his retirement in 1992, when he moved to Richmond.  In 1997 he began a six week term as interim pastor at Tabernacle Baptist Church. Eleven years later he retired as Pastor Emeritus, having been reinvigorated by serving as Associate Pastor, caring for seniors, mentoring seminary students and helping the church weather the challenges of an urban ministry.

Whether singing in gospel quartets or church choirs, music always was part of his life.  When a San Antonio dinner theater cast member dropped out shortly before the show’s opening, he even spent a season as a very convincing “Joe,” singing “Ol’ Man River” in Kern & Hammerstein’s musical Show Boat.

There were few things he enjoyed more than good fellowship and good food.  He read the newspaper daily, always doing the crossword puzzle.  He watched the evening news on TV; then solved almost every puzzle on Wheel of Fortune.  When Jeanette no longer could manage the grocery shopping, he became the most joyful bargain shopper ever.

In recent years, he has inspired us by caring for his wife and family.  This year his optimism and determination, despite quadriplegia and numerous setbacks, has amazed us.  Even when his body was failing, his humor and impish grin have shone through.

A celebration of his life will be held at 1:00 on Saturday, January 11, Tabernacle Baptist Church, 1925 Grove Avenue (at Meadow Street), Richmond, VA 23220.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a gift to:  the Tabernacle Baptist Church Endowment Fund (Richmond), First Baptist Church (Dillwyn), Central Baptist Church (Church Road, VA), Smyrna Baptist Church (Dinwiddie), Paralyzed Veterans of America, or the charity of your choice.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the many people who provided care and comfort to Cecil over the past year.   We especially wish to acknowledge:

Sterling Severns, and the staff and members of the Tabernacle Baptist Church and First Baptist Church of Dillwyn, who have been so wonderful to pray, visit and send cards.  It is so easy to take family members for granted.  But your love and devotion helped us to see Cecil through your eyes and reminded us how special he is and how fortunate we have been to share his life.

 

Pamela Owusu-Poku and Laverne Slater, the extraordinary caregivers who made it possible for Cecil to return home.  Your love and caring for him, and playful teasing, brought him great joy.  We received so many positive comments from hospital staff about the quality of care you gave.

 

The McGuire Veterans Administration Medical Center Spinal Cord Injury Unit & Home Team, who provided treatment to Cecil and training to Chris, Susan and our caregivers.  The medical and ICU teams who provided care and comfort to Cecil, and were so thoughtful to family and friends, especially in his last days.

 

The talented therapists, physicians and other care providers at Sheltering Arms and Health South Rehabilitation Hospitals, who helped Cecil to regain some functionality in the months after his surgery.

 

Staff of the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission, who allowed Susan to have an alternative work schedule so she could continue working, graciously filled in when she was absent—often on short notice, and offered concern and support throughout a very challenging year.

 

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Baptism Testimonies (2013)

This Sunday, January 12, we will gather for worship to celebrate the Baptism of Jesus and remember our own baptisms. The 20 minute .mp3 is a compilation of testimonies shared in 2013. Allison, Paula, and Wade’s baptisms continue to inspire and draw others to Christ. Hope to see you on Sunday at 11:00 a.m.

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What does hope look like?

A WORD FROM OUR PASTORAL INTERN, JULIE GAINES:

I’ve been asking myself this question for the last month as we’ve journeyed through the season of Advent together.  Each week in worship, we learned a new way of speaking and expressing hope through the different languages of our brothers and sisters from Burma.  We watched as our sanctuary gradually grew brighter with each candle that we lit in the Advent wreath.  We sang hymns and read scripture passages that spoke to hope’s presence in the midst of a fiery furnace and a valley of dry, brittle bones.  We watched as our children led us in discovering that hope “is like a candle burning bright…a love song…a flower in the snow.”  We listened yesterday as our choirs shared songs about the hope that Christ’s coming to earth will bring.  We have spent the entire season focused on hope…

…but do you know what hope looks like?

I found myself wondering if I could answer that question with a resounding “Yes!” and at the beginning of the season, I couldn’t.  Hope is a word we hear daily.  We say we hope for a lot of things: for our team to win the big game, for nice weather, for good news to be true, for freedom from frustrating and difficult tasks, for our loved ones to be safe, for order in chaotic situations.  We can hope as a defense, as a form of prevention, born out of fear, mistrust, and anxiety.  We can use the word “hope” interchangeably with the words “want” or “would like.”

Is this the “hope” that we refer to when we speak of God’s coming to dwell among us? Over the last four weeks, we have spent time together decorating, cooking, preparing, feeding, making music, giving gifts, and celebrating the coming of Christ into our chaotic and difficult lives.  We filled the fellowship hall and sanctuary with dancing, laughter, smiles, food, and worship.  Our youth and Northside small group met last Wednesday night to fellowship and share in the joy Christ is bringing to our lives.  Our sanctuary choir shared the good news through singing and the gift of music last week in Williamsburg and in our sanctuary with instrumentalists, the Meadow Street Band, and the Richmond Concert Band.  Yesterday, choirs from our church sang, played, and led us in worship using the universal language of music, a language that crosses all barriers like Christ’s love.  We have met in homes to share meals and stories with one another.  Saturday, we gathered for our food basket ministry and shared love through the gift of meals with our neighbors.  Whether we realized it at the time or not, our actions were pointing to a greater story than our difficulties and our shortcomings.  God has been actively at work through all of these acts of worship and many more during our Advent season, creating and providing the space for us to experience the love, peace, joy, and-yes-hope that God desires for us to experience daily throughout our journeys.

I know this to be true because I experienced hope through these holy moments with you.  I experienced God’s presence and hope through a conversation with one of our youth about his strong desire to serve God and to thank God for the many gifts in his life, a conversation that reminded me of my own calling and the calling that God has given each of us.  My passion was renewed for listening for God’s still, small voice through listening to his.  I experienced hope while dancing with people from all over the world in the fellowship hall during our Christmas celebration as I looked around and realized that I was seeing God’s kingdom come to earth as it is in heaven.  I experienced hope in listening to the laughter and delight of our neighbors in the sanctuary while it housed our Christmas in the Fan concert.  I experienced hope in the giggles of some of our youth as I attempted to say “How are you?” and “Thank you!” in Jingpaw, the Kachin language, and in their grace as they corrected my pronunciation and asked me to try again.

God is actively creating something renewed and good among us as we gather, share, pray, give, and love one another in Christ’s name.  My hope (see what I did there?) is that each of us will enter the final days of this season of preparation and waiting with eyes wide open and ears perked for the ways God is at work among us, and the ways God desires for each of us to experience hope in a deep, powerful, life-changing way, and that we’d carry what we’ve learned into Christmas, Epiphany, and the new year.  I’d love to hear what you’ve learned hope looks like during this season.  Come share a story with me sometime.

Peace (and joy, love, and hope!),

Julie