Bob and Anita R., two of our most gifted organizers, will determine….
WORK ROOM + STORAGE CLOSET
Which items need to be placed into which storage containers and which shelf/cabinet those containers should be placed upon.
Doesn’t sound like much fun to most of us. However, for some of us…..and you know who you are…..it’s like Christmas all over again.
If you’re the type of person that loves to bring some order out of the mess of this world (aka organizing and labeling) AND you’ve got any amount of time on Monday, Feb 7 to join Bob and Anita, come on down for the “Christmas Party”. The more the merrier
Seriously, anyone that enjoys this type of thing and has some time to spare, they’d love to have some help. Contact Pastor@tbcrichmond.org if you’re interested.
Calling forth the sorters and organizers among us.
Calling forth those wishing to pretend they are sorters and organizers.
Looking for a productive way to release some stress? Feeling the need to bring a little order in the chaos? Have we got an opportunity for you!
1. THIS SUNDAY, FEB 6, a handful of folks are going to spend about 1/2 hour pulling 100% of the stuff out of the TBC work room and supply closet.
2. The “stuff” will be sorted onto tables in the hallway.
Categories include:
needs to go back “home” to work room
wants to move a smaller place on the end of the block (aka storage closet)
don’t know where it goes but it definitely ain’t here
and then there’s the stuff that needs to roam free (aka off the premesis).
This is a really easy/brief opportunity for folks to help us get the building ready for company and make space for more deliberate walking into Abundant Community. No skilled labor required. 30 minutes max.
Please set a reminder on your calendars and meet us in the hallway after worship if you’re available.
My heart is full these days- feelings of gratitude and hope for the future. I have been so very grateful for the opportunity to bring ExCELL to Tabernacle to build a new home base for our non-profit. I thought it might be a good time to share what we have been able to do since arriving in July for our Richmond children and their families, and their teachers. Tabernacle’s willingness to open her doors has allowed ExCELL to use precious funds to provide monthly and quarterly services and supports to over 1300 children and their families and over 200 teachers in the Richmond Public School system. We like to share that a recent financial review revealed that $.91 of every dollar we are awarded goes directly to programmatic costs – there is very little “fluff” in our program. That makes me so very happy and proud!
Our work takes place in Title 1 schools where needs are great and challenges for family engagement abound. Meeting families where they are requires a responsive heart, great flexibility and a commitment to find a way. Using scheduled school-based drive-by distributions, ExCELL is providing carefully selected high-quality children’s books with aligned parent-child learning games and activities for families in preschool through first grade. These are critical years for a child’s future success in school and vital for partnering with families in their child’s learning.
Preschool families receive books and learning materials that help build early language and literacy development and awareness for kindergarten readiness. We’re increasing our focus for social and emotional development in response to the impacts from the pandemic. Families with kindergarten and first grade children receive books and learning materials for emergent and beginning readers. Prior to the onset of COVID-19, everything was in-person. For the past two years now, we have continued our services and supports through virtual means. All families are provided with pre-recorded videos that offer information relevant to their grade level. Interactive family read alouds of the books received are included in every virtual family event. We are also quite busy beyond Richmond City providing similar services and supports in Petersburg, Hopewell, Campbell County, and Northern Virginia programs.
New ideas are emerging for how we might increase our family partnerships here in Richmond with virtual parent camps where conversations are facilitated by volunteers trained to help parents feel safe to share their ideas and build relationships within the groups. We are also exploring the idea of regional family learning centers. I have such hope and belief that we can build that abundant community with Tabernacle. My belief that God is present and active in this work has never been stronger than in the past six months since arriving back home at 1925 Grove Ave.
As I mentioned in the invitation time at the close of worship on Jan. 23, I see worship as a time where Christians gather to rejoice, remember and recharge. Each day brings new challenges to life and new difficulties that make it a bit more difficult to see where God is working all around and within us in life. My challenge as a worship leader is to provide you with an opportunity to be deliberate and pay attention to where God is working in life around you. Being physically in church is a small part of our lives as Christians. We are in worship for a little over an hour of our very busy and full lives. There are 168 hours in a week. Most of us are in the church building for 2-3 of those hours at the most. Which means that the majority of our Christian living takes place “out there” in the “world.” How we pay attention to the work of God that going on around us in the 166 hours each week that we are not in church is crucial to our development as Christians. I would like to challenge each of you to bring in a rock on Sundays in Epiphany to add to the road. That rock could have a name or event or place written on it or it can simply be a rock you found in a parking lot or in your back yard. The importance of the rock is that it will represent a time during the week when you noticed and acknowledged that the power of God was at work in a situation or place where you found yourself. It can also represent an event, place or person that you are praying for will begin to acknowledge and work with the power of God in this life. Rocks can be any size, from tiny to large, but if you bring in a BIG rock please plan to place it on the section of the road that is on the stage or simply at the foot of the Christ Candle. Remember that being in worship each Sunday is a time to rejoice in what God has done over the past week, to remember the large story of redemption that brings us the hope in life and to recharge our connection to God and other Christians so that we can be ready to partner with God in God’s good work in the world each week. My prayer is that you leave worship each week with your vision a bit more tuned to seeing and responding to God’s redemptive work in the world. Remember to bring a rock with you this Sunday to add to the road.
We’re anticipating a wonderful season of re-connection and welcome. Now is the time to get ready for company.
TECHIES
Reset a wifi enable deadbolt and connect to TBC wifi.Deadline – February 15
PEOPLE THAT LOVE SORTING AND MATCHING OFFICE SUPPLIES AND/OR ORGANIZING CABINETS
It’s well past time for us to pull everything out of the cabinets in our copy machine room and the supply closet just around the corner. We need 2-3 folks to tackle this. Probably would take a day of working together or two half days? Deadline – February 15
SPREADSHEET PEOPLE…..
* Enter data related to worship attendance over multiple years into a spreadsheet AND create some charts that help us track trends. * Gather some specific content from annual Book of Reports, enter said content into a spreadsheet. Deadline – FEBRUARY 28
PEOPLE THAT LOVE SANDING, PAINTING, and REFINISHING*
We’ve got a small handful of wooden tables and desks that need to get freshened up. No presumptions as to how many you’d knock out. Just let us know what you’re up for and we’ll assume others will do the same. Deadline – FEBRUARY 28
KEY MASTERS…..*
We’re looking for a curious sleuth to go through random keys, attempt to identify matching locks AND/OR label and re-organize our current keys. Deadline – MARCH 1
Interested parties…..please contact pastor@tbcrichmond.org. Sterling will connect you to the appropriate coordinator and we’ll take it from there.
Stay posted as lots of other opportunities will be posted in the week(s) ahead.
Step #1. Put our trust in Christ and recommitment to Discipleship as active walking with Jesus.
We must trust that Jesus is present in the biggest messes in our individual lives, in our workplaces, and in the unravelling disaster of public discourse. It’s time for the Church to get serious about equipping people to engage with the whole world. That’s only going to happen when we re-commit to our central purpose.
The central purpose of the church is to bear witness to Jesus at work in the world, as we walk with Jesus into the world.
Discipleship = active walking with Jesus in the world.
The moment we find ourselves standing upright again, we must shake the atrophy off of our feet, and learn to walk again. Assume that any program or ministry in the local church is an active form of Discipleship. Assume that our hangups with the word “Discipleship” are probably justified and assume that intentional walking is the only way we’re going to learn about it’s deeper meaning.
How in the world do we begin to tell the story of 2021, one of the most disorienting years any of us have ever experienced. What a strange and painful year. What a strangely beautiful year. In this word of introduction, I want focus our attention specially on a historical structure that couldn’t withstand the pressure of crisis and praise a God that brings order out of chaos.
The chaos of these last couple of years, has pushed us to relinquish: historical precedent, established process, and structure. Sadly, the necessary relinquishment of so much structural “stuff” in the pandemic has also led to the predictable relinquishment of deep connection and diluted trust. All humans long for stability. Throughout time, Societies have built structures to protect stability. Call it covid, call it chaos, there’s a whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on. Rigid structures don’t tend to fare well when the ground starts shaking.
We all know that no structure is meant to last forever and yet when history circles back around we’re surprised by it’s arrival. Anything we carve or build out of rock, bricks, steel, or glass, be it literal or figurative, eventually falls. Travel to Greece, Rome, the site of the former World Trade Center in NYC, or, (dare I say it) down a long stretch of Monument Avenue in Richmond, Va, historical structures eventually and always buckle under the pressure of the passage of time. Most any group of people that find themselves finally tasting the “good life” naturally want to build a structure that can maintain, expand, and protect that way of life (aka stability). Think about the destructive cycles that spin chaos into the world from there.
If building, maintaining, expanding, and protecting our “good life” requires the diminishing, disqualifying or destruction of the lives of others, expect chaos and prepare to choke on the dust of fallen idols, fortresses, and structures.
There’s a moment in the Bible when the disciples of Jesus find themselves awestruck by the Temple structure,“Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what a wonderful structure!” Jesus responds, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” The temple is supposed to be the most stable place on earth, the one place where God’s finger touches the world, therefore the one place chaos can’t possibly exist.
Later in the story, those that arrested Jesus justify their actions based on the audacity of Jesus bringing chaos, the equivalent of kryptonite, into the temple. He doesn’t help his case when he predicts the temple’s destruction or in claiming he will rebuild the temple in three days. To add insult to injury, he claims the new Temple won’t be confined by geography or any other lines we might draw in the sand.
No-one-corner of the world will be able to claim this One as their own. This One, is meant to travel. This One is a throwback to the original design. Anyone with institutional memory might call him “Tabernacle”, but most of his followers call him Savior.
Church, I know we’re all longing for stability, it’s natural to do so, especially in our grieving. I want you to know that I join you in deep grieving. So much more, I want you to know that we worship a God that brings order out of Chaos. YHWH didn’t fashion us out of metaphorical dust, breathe air into our lungs, and put us on our feet, only so that we might create our own version of the “good life”. Any version of life that is built upon a structure that diminishes the potential for thriving in the lives of others cannot be attributed to the goodness of God. Any version of the “good life” that leads someone into isolation, separation, or even relational annihilation is a cheap counterfeit.
God is good…all of the time. The good life Christ offers is the real deal….the Way, the Truth, and The Life. Walk in the knowledge that we follow a Savior that can take all of the fallenness, brokenness, and complexities of the stories of the past and present, all of the unintentional chaos we’ve unleashed into the world, and somehow bring profound goodness through it. Know healing comes through the brokenness.
Know that he can, and will, make ALL things for good. In the next chapter of life together, it will be critical for us to understand that it’s not our job to rebuild our temples. God already did that, three days after his son was crucified. The news gets even better. The resurrected Savior is inviting us to tabernacle with him right smack into the middle of the chaos. He’s inviting us to join the search party for those who have stumbled into, or were pushed into, lostness and loneliness. He’s inviting us to join him in the reclamation of the abandoned, to participate in the healing of the brokenhearted, and even in the resuscitation of the hearts of the presumed “righteous”.
In this very moment, I believe God is refashioning us not only out of the dust of our fallen idols, fortresses, and structures but also out of the dust being stirred up by the beautiful feet of those walking beside him.
God is continuing to light our path one step at a time. Please pray for Braxton as he joins the Tabernacle community as a member of the pastoral staff. Braxton will be participating in worship this Sunday, Jan. 16, for the first time as a member of the pastoral staff. Invite him to join you for coffee, lunch or just a chat so that he can get to know you and you him. God is working at Tabernacle.
Over the next couple of weeks, the congregation will receive two ballots and 2-3 specific presentations:
BALLOTS = votes on leadership for 2022 and budget for the first half of 2022.
PRESENTATIONS = exploration of the role of Deacon Ministry, exploration of staff structure and possibly a third presentation from building and grounds.
This video provides a helpful primer for discernment.
These days, so many of us find ourselves looking into the mirror with questions about about our identify, our allegiances, and our belief systems. We’re trying to figure out where we fit into the world and, how we’re supposed to guide the next generation in doing the same. Most of us are challenging the assumptions we’ve previously made of ourselves, the institutions we have called “home,” and oversimplified presumptions about the stories of those that have come before us.
A couple of Sundays ago, Braxton Kemp joined Sterling at the “pulpit,” to share a conversational sermon about blind spots and a mutual longing to see more clearly.
What a gift it has been to discover something in the world that feels life-giving, as opposed to the familiar weariness and loneliness that so many of us have grown accustomed to in the pandemic.
Here is the recording from the first Come And See on October 20.
Here is the recording from the second Come And See on October 27.
Here is the recording from the third Come And See on November 3.
Here is the recording from the fourth and final Come And See on November 10.
Seeing (again) is life abundant (again).
In October 2021, a small handful of us began a holy conversation, some us physically present in sanctuary at Tabernacle Baptist Church in RVA and others by way of zoom. As we’ve continued the conversation, some others have joined in and others have stepped out. Each week, those who make a conscious decision to show up continue the conversation and whoever shows up the following week does the same.
The conversation begins at at 7 p.m. sharp (EST) and concludes no later than 9 p.m. (EST).
This is an engaged space where sharing will be the norm. We don’t intend on asking for deep levels of vulnerable sharing in this space. Anyone looking for a more vulnerable space is encouraged to invite some folks to join you, informally, in the hours or days that follow. We’ll be more than happy to provide some helpful questions to go deeper together.
In turn, this isn’t a space for multi-tasking.
Virtual and “In Person” participants are expected to be fully present from the moment they step into the space until the moment we say “amen” and step out of the space. If you don’t feel you can commit to full presence, we ask that you wait to join us until you can do so. The only devices that should be “on” during the conversation are those you are using to participate in the conversation. If you can’t make the commitment to fully engage, on any given Wednesday, it’s ok. Work and school deadlines happen. Stress at home happens. Surprises happen. Rest and retreat should happen. Whatever the reason for needing to step out of the conversation, do so with full blessing. Watch the recordings and jump back in when you are ready to be fully present in the space again.
******One caveat here: Some of us struggle with attention issues. If crocheting, knitting, or any form of quiet fidgeting helps you to focus…..by all means fidget away 🙂
This isn’t a space where weekly attendance is expected.
It’s ok if you join us one week and miss the next three. The recordings will be invaluable in preparing you to step back into the space the next go around.
FYI: There are other spaces where smaller groups of 5-12 people, each with unique covenants, lean into vulnerable sharing and invited accountability. Weekly commitment is an expectation in these spaces as it’s critical in the building and keeping of trust. Should you find yourself looking for that kind of space, reach out to one of the leaders and we’ll go from there.
The conversation isn’t livestreamed but the recording is shared on the internet.
The invitation to be fully present doesn’t presume full disclosure. This is a public space by design. Please be mindful that anything you share in the conversation is shared on the internet. It’s really important for us to make this space hospitable and accessible to anyone that longs for connection. If you’re seeking to go deeper, share more vulnerably, or share more of the story, we will be more than happy to create a safe space for you to do so.
This as a space where simple answers to complex questions will be rejected.
You should expect to leave the space with some conviction. If we’re going to expect God to receive our honest questions, we should expect God to have some questions for us to consider. This is a space where all questions will be welcomed.
We’re going to lean into exploration of words that most of the western world have little or no use for.
Examples of these words might include: discipleship, mission, sin, evangelism, heaven, hell, etc. If you aren’t familiar with the host church, you might assume that you already know how we’re going define those words. We encourage you to join us in placing aside the assumptions about any one person or group represented in the room.
We will also explore phrases and words that tend to shut conversations down (e.g. white privilege, idolatry, pretty much any word that ends with “…..ism, etc.” If this is going to be an honest conversation, one that leans in holy wonder and expresses a deep longing for transformation, we need to be open to complexity and honest about our blind spots. In Christ, seeing (again) is life abundant (again). Limiting our vocabulary and arriving with preconceived assumptions, will only limit the potential for seeing differently.
This is a space hosted by a local church but created for the Universal Church.
Whereas, Tabernacle Baptist Church is hosting the space, the conversation is so much bigger than the small congregation that has made a home at the corner Grove and Meadow in Richmond, Virginia. God is guiding all of us to make a road by walking together. Conversational leaders, and conversational partners (FYI – that’s you), will come from multiple contexts, all with unique world views and life experiences. Long story short, the invitation to participate in the conversation goes well beyond any one local church and we’re going to prioritize the inclusion of diverse voices and perspectives in this space.
This space is designated as “Sanctuary” for all.
Sanctuary is a space where all are made welcome, where each and every one of God’s children come to understand that we are loved as we were made, in all of our beautiful messy complexity. Sanctuary is an active space of hospitality AND transformation alike. Transformation means, “come as you are with the assumption that Christ loves us too much to leave us as we are.”
Expect to be welcomed fully. Expect to be challenged fully.
This isn’t a space for children.
While all adults and youth are invited to join us, it doesn’t mean that everyone should join us.This is a space set aside for honest/messy story sharing, full expression of doubts, wide open questioning, and the testifying to revealed wonder along the way. We’re going to lean into the tension that surfaces and we’re going to encourage the embracing of holy mystery. Each of us will need to determine our level of comfort in stepping into this space and each parent needs to determine if their teenager is ready for a conversation with limited boundaries.
Like us, you’re probably wondering about what needs to be made available for children and youth not-yet-ready for this kind of conversation. A group of leaders are actively engaged in discernment about the next right step in the spiritual and emotional formation of our children and youth. Expect news soon. Remember, the first critical step in the formation of children and youth begins with the formation of the adults that will lead them.
So there you have it. You’ve been invited and warned 🙂
We really would love for any teenagers and/or adults to join us. It is really important that any and all conversational partners honor the intent of the space.
Our first weekly gathering will take place on Wednesday, October 20, 2021. We will start at 7 p.m. sharp and wrap up no later than 9 p.m.
God is continuing to light our path one step at a time. Please pray for Braxton as he joins the Tabernacle community as a member of the pastoral staff. Braxton will be participating in worship this Sunday, Jan. 16, for the first time as a member of the pastoral staff. Invite him to join you for coffee, lunch or just a chat so that he can get to know you and you him. God is working at Tabernacle.
