We are beyond grateful to the generous donors that made it possible purchase our new sound system! The upgrades have been completed. These upgrades include a new digital mixer, new speakers for the main floor and balcony, new choir monitors for even controlled coverage in the choir loft, and new microphone for the special music, and stage podium. Additionally, new audio and video cabling was installed for future video feeds from the stage, choir loft, and sound both. 

Improvements include remote sound control with mobile devices, simplified digital audio recording for the podcast by removing the requirement for secondary sound mixer and laptop, improved sound under the balcony, and ample future expansion for inputs and output of the system. Volunteers have given over 150 combined hours to install the 3500 feet providing approximately $12,000 in installation savings.

We are currently building an audio/visual team to take turns running the soundboard and podcast/Livestream camera. Please let us know if you’d like to receive training and join the rotation. 

This blog entry is the first in a sequence of communications that you, as part of the TCCC and TBC families, will receive to keep you updated regarding actions being taken to help make Frances Thrift’s transition to retirement as smooth as possible.  Your support and trust during this time of change are greatly appreciated. . We want to share current information routinely to help answer any questions that you might have.  Below are some questions that we believe you may have and the most current answers to those questions. 

1. What progress is being made in creating a Search Committee for the Director position?
   We have identified essential roles that we are filling for the Search Committee in order to provide the expertise and balance that we believe will be most helpful in finding the person who is the right fit for the TCCC Director position. Because of the important church-TCCC partnership, our goal is for the Search Committee to include an appropriate balance of church members, teachers, and TCCC parents, with access to key experts/consultants to draw upon as needed.  All seven individuals have confirmed their willingness to fill the specific roles, and we expect the Tabernacle Baptist Church Board of Deacons to quickly approve the candidates so that Committee members can officially launch their work.  When the Search Committee members have been confirmed and their orientation has been completed, we will send another communication to you that provides an update on their work as it begins.
2. What qualifications do you expect the new TCCC Director to have?
   The specifics of qualifications will be outlined in the finalized job description for this position. A job description draft—developed with the input of the TCCC Ministry and Administrative Committees, comprised of church members and TCCC parents—will be given to the Search Committee as they begin their efforts, understanding that additional input from parents, staff, and church will be considered prior to publishing a completed job description and job opening statement.  The intent is to have the Search Committee use a survey or other method of choice to gather the perspectives of key stakeholders regarding qualifications, the future of TCCC , and other key topics as Pastor Sterling Severns referenced in the June parent Question & Answer session.  [ http://teebark.link/tbc/news/2017/06/20/tccc-qa-session/ ]
3. When will you fill the Assistant Director position?
   We expect to fill the TCCC Director position first and then fill the TCCC Assistant Director position, hoping to give the new Center Director an opportunity to have input in the selection of the Assistant Director. Therefore, efforts are focused on initiating the search for the TCCC Director at this point in time.  We will keep you posted on all efforts towards filling both positions.  Frances feels comfortable at this time that she has the support of individuals on her staff who are managing tasks that an assistant would usually complete.    

Donna Soyars, lead of the TCCC Ministry Committee, and Kathy Allen, lead for the TCCC Administrative Committee, are managing the preparatory steps in creating the Search Committee and completing other initial tasks in this process.  They will not be voting members of the Search Committee, yet will serve as ex officio members to be available to assist as needed in this transition.  Please email them at any time with your questions or input.  We are fully committed to continuous communication and coordination between TCCC and the church throughout this process.

Again, we value your trust and support as we look to the future of TCCC.  We sincerely hope that you and your families are enjoying a blessed summer! 

Greetings,

I’m writing to you from Camp Alkulana (in Bath County, VA) where my family is spending the summer. Many of you know that my wife Beth directs the camp, and it has been a wonderful summer of ministry so far. Thank you all for your prayers and support from afar! 

Since Kristen Koger has left for First Baptist Church, Decatur, GA, I’ve taken the lead on recruiting leadership for worship each week this summer. Many of you have received emails and phone calls from me asking if you would read the call to worship, pray, or read scripture on Sunday mornings. Thank you for those who have helped to lead us in worship in this way so far! If you haven’t heard from me and would like to help lead sometime soon, please send me an email—I’d love to find a way for you to help lead us in worship.

Earlier this summer I developed and sent out a survey to the congregation to assess our current status regarding spiritual formation and discipleship, and to ponder our next steps and needs. We had more than 30 folks respond, and your feedback has been very helpful! Thank you! I’ll try to find a way to share some of the results with you all in the very near future.

As the summer is typically a slower season in the life of the church, I have spent a lot of time preparing for the coming year. As we approach the fall season of ministry, I have a number of needs on my radar for this area of the life of the church. Can you help serve our church family in any of these ways?:

1. Leaders for a “What does it mean to be Baptist?” class: We’d love to offer a short series (4–6 weeks?) on what makes Baptists distinct. I have some good resources and can help plan. We need one or two folks who could help plan with me and then lead the class sessions and discussion.

2. Leadership for the Fall Church-Wide Retreat (September 22–24th, 2017): We need help planning and leading the retreat. Each year, we need help with worship planning, transportation coordination, meal planning and cooking, and various other small items. We’d especially love to hear from you if you’d like to help cook for the weekend. If you are interested in helping with one or more of these aspects, let me know!

3. A Tabernacle 101 Organizer: We try to offer one or two “TBC 101” series each year to help people who are new to our congregation better understand who we are as a church. This doesn’t require a lot of work, and we have a pretty decent template that we use, but I would love it if someone could help me coordinate these.

4. A couple of leaders for a Sunday Lunch Group: I would love if we could have a regular plan for a few folks to go out for lunch on Sundays after worship to get to know one another better and possibly to discuss the sermon.  I imagine that each week we’d have different participants—it wouldn’t exactly be a small group with a regular membership. It would be great to invite visitors to come along, too! We just need a couple of folks that can help plan and coordinate this!

If you can help us fill any of these needs, please give me a call or email me at wright@tbcrichmond.org.

I’m grateful the ways in which we are growing together as a community of faith!

Grace and Peace,

Art Wright

Minister of Spiritual Formation

My dear Church Family,

Many of you have heard this story, but I’ll share it again. Who knew that when I was first introduced to Tabernacle in 2009 when they came to Passport, and I had three Karen students in my group that I would have the chance to be reunited with them years later in a line at a business meeting lunch. Who knew that a miscommunication about a pastoral care rotation 5 years ago would have led me to find a home at Tabernacle. Who knew that when I wandered in on that Sunday during the Epiphany season that God was already working in my life and yours and this place that would help me become a Pastor. As I look back over the last five years, I am continually shocked and amazed and grateful for the ways God has nudged me and guided us together. It has been a wonderful journey. 

I have had the incredible opportunity to care for your youngest children in the nursery on Sunday mornings; to guide parents as they are leaving their precious gifts for a few hours. I have sat on the floor and wondered about the stories of our faith with the children of God. I have talked with parents and married couples about the struggles that married life and parenting brings and grown in deeper relationship with these folks. I have sat around tables on Tuesdays and discussed sermons and scripture passages with folks twice or three times my age, and been inspired and changed by their faith stories. I have stood at bedsides, wedding altars, and gravesides, treading on the most holiest of grounds in some of life’s most challenging and meaningful moments. I have learned to claim and own the identity of Pastor that was given to me by God, but allowed to grow and bloom in me through you, the Church.  

Two and a half years ago when I was asked if I would consider being Tabernacle’s pastoral resident, there was no doubt in my mind that I should say “Yes!” to this opportunity. Of course I wanted to spend more time with you! Of course I wanted to continue to be shaped and taught by this congregation! I will be forever grateful to you, Tabernacle, for the ways you have continued to embrace and challenge me.

Just as I knew two and a half years ago that a residency was what God was calling me to, I knew in the depths of my heart last summer that when my residency came to a close that I would be sent from this place, ready for whatever lies ahead. And although the thought of leaving this place that has been home is painful and difficult, I still know that it was and is the right decision to move on to the next place. It’s the next natural step. The residency is meant to equip and to send; I have been equipped better than I could have ever asked. And now it’s both our turns to follow through with the next part of the task- to send.

I have accepted the call to serve as Minister to Families with Children at First Baptist Church, Decatur, GA. My position as pastoral resident will conclude on May 31, and I will be in worship one last time as we gather to celebrate Pentecost- the day that we acknowledge as the Church’s birthday, when the followers of Christ were empowered and filled with the Spirit and sent out into the world. What a fitting day to be sent out into the world! 

I am confident that this is not the end of our journey together. The bridge to Decatur has already been built, and I look forward to seeing how our journeys and paths continue to intersect. This is not the end.

With all my love,

Rev. Kristen Koger

• Join the Rones for a meal in their furlough season, before they return to Myanmar. 

• Read Will Campbell’s Brother to a Dragonfly, an engaging memoir about family, faith, the south, race, addiction, love and death. The dinner group will meet together towards the end of the Lenten Season, after everyone has read the book. 

• What is the essence of the Gospel and how do we convey our understanding of the Gospel in light of Jesus’ Great Commission mandate? Join a lively conversation around the table. 

• Participate in a family friendly game night. 

• Participate in an youth and adult friendly game night.

• Visit one of our Burma rooted families, alongside a couple of others, for an evening of introduction to food, culture, and friendship. 

My friends, here we are again. Didn’t we just meet to talk about how 2015 went? How are we already in 2017? I guess time does fly when you are having fun. And I have had lots of fun over the course of the past year working with you fine folks. It has been a year full of continued learning, growing, challenges, and affirmations. It’s the first time I’ve been back at working full time since moving to Richmond. And one thing is for sure- that takes some adjusting after being in school for four years. But, you all know how to help a resident out as she is adjusting to full-time ministry again. In fact, today (January 29) is the 5-year anniversary of my showing up at Tabernacle. Praise the Lord! 

2016 was filled with many things for me! One of the things that was not surprising to me at all was that I sure do love this job that I have been called to. As 2016 finished, I found myself reflecting on the past year and the year to come, and while there may be a lot of things up in the air as I begin to look for jobs, I am confident that working in congregational ministry is where I am meant to be. Thank you for helping affirm that over the last two years (and really, five years since I first showed up here).  

One of the things that was surprising to me was how much I enjoyed preaching this past year. In 2016, I was lucky enough to be able to preach a total of eight times in 2016- some planned and some not. But I found that with each sermon, I began to get more and more comfortable in the pulpit. Because of this, I know that as I begin to look for jobs, one of the main questions I will be asking is, “How often can I expect to preach?” Thank you for allowing this young pastor to have a space where she can learn and grow more confident in her “preaching voice.” The Church universal needs more churches like you to empower and affirm young ministers as they learn and grow. I will be forever thankful to you, Tabernacle, for helping me realize that I am not just a minister, I am a pastor. 

Now that we have entered into 2017, I have turned a corner mentally. I will begin looking for jobs on a more regular basis as I prepare for the end of my residency in May 2017. However, my intent is to remain engaged as long as possible with you all. I’ll remind you of my 4 requests from my letter of gratitude to you from our October business meeting. 1- Help me end strong; 2- Do not make the months ahead a long good-bye; 3- Begin to pray now for whoever is called to this place next; and 4- Remember who you are as a church. This are big requests for each of us, but I am confident that we can complete them together. 

Thank you, Tabernacle, for being you. To quote a couple of phrases from one of my favorite musicals:

 “But I know I’m who I am today, because I knew you.”

 “So let me say before we part, so much of me is made from what I learned from you; you’ll be with me like a handprint on my heart.” 

“ Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better? I do believe I have been changed for the better.”
“And because I knew you, I have been changed for good.” 

Much love,

Kristen Koger

Pastoral Resident, May 2015-2017

Tabernacle has worked in partnership with Metro Baptist Church, 410 West 40^th St. New York New York for more than 25 years.  We have provided leadership for their summer camps, sent them interns and staff members, cooked Thanksgiving and Christmas meals with them, hosted their youth retreat and assisted in the 9^th Ave Food Festival to help their youth raise funds for Passport Camp.  In 2016 we partnered with Eric Hasha of First Baptist Church of  Jefferson City, Tennessee to provide leadership for the first week of Clue Camp July 5-9, 2016.  This year our youth Intern,  Lindsey Fulcher  joined youth Monica Iang, Wayshanh Htoo and Kanoa Burgess to help the adults, Sarah Anne Burgess, Emily Witt, Jerry Jones and Nathan Hatfield lead camp.

Again this year two of our members served on staff at Metro Baptist.  Bridget Fulks is currently their Children/Youth Service Coordinator.  In that position she is responsible for an after-school tutoring program known as Page Turners, the Winter Clothes Closet and for a Teen Center program that includes retreats and summer camp experiences.  Rev. Joseph Perdue finished his term as an Associate Pastor Intern in December of 2016.  He worked in the area of food justice.  In that position he coordinated work on the Hell’s Kitchen Farm Project, meals for a veteran’s counseling program and a large food pantry.   For the first time in this 25 year partnership Tabernacle participated in helping to fund his position at Metro through the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

The week of November 21-25 a group from Tabernacle worked with Joe, Bridget and other volunteers from Metro, the Metro community and the First Baptist Church of Elkin, NC to cook a Thanksgiving meal for over 250 people.  We cooked  mounds of root vegetables, apple cobbler, pumpkin cobbler, green beans, gravy and dressing.  The team consisted of Judy Fiske, Nathan Hatfield, Emily Witt, Terry Witt, Kristen Koger, Bonnie Bailey, Teresa Bailey and Betty Robertson.  A team returned December 19-21 to help cook the turkeys for the Christmas Day meal.  Judy and Nathan were joined this time by Hope Nycum, Kathryn Hall, Courtney Jackson and Ben Brown.   

Judy Fiske and Sarah Ann Burgess assisted Bridget with the 9^th Ave Food Festival May 14 and 15.  We traveled to NYC on May 12 to cook with the teens before the food festival.  The Teen Center attends Passport Camp in the summer and makes a large amount of their camp money at this event.

This year we will again travel in May to assist with Food Festival, lead the first week of Clue Camp and perhaps cook at Thanksgiving and Christmas again.  Plan to join in on one of these trips or make a donation to help someone else attend.  

Judy

9^th Ave Food Festival: May 20-21—-leave on May 18, return on May 20 or 21.

Clue Camp:   July 1-9

Thanksgiving:  November 20-24

Christmas:  December 19-21

This ministry provides groceries and clothing to our neighbors in need. The food pantry and clothes closet are open every Thursday from 1:30-3:00pm. The ministry continues to be staffed primarily by dedicated church volunteers and every Thursday we look forward to opening our doors to our neighbors to share in fellowship and conversation. Many neighbors even share prayer requests with us that we can follow up with them on as the year goes by. 

In 2016 we distributed 1853 bags of groceries to 479 families in our neighborhood, including 47 individuals who are homeless. We strive to distribute full bags of groceries that will make a difference in the need of those receiving bags. This year we distributed 29,189 pounds of food and had 186 families visit our pantry for the first time. We had 20 volunteers give their time in the pantry and worked a combined 2000 hours towards serving our neighbors. 

This year I took over the administrative work of the Food Pantry from Dick Denzler, who along with his wife Jane still faithfully volunteer their time on Thursdays in the food pantry and clothes closet. Our food pantry continues to run smoothly every week thanks to the dedicated help from Dick Denzler, Jack White, Jerry Spiller, Priscilla Kinchen, Joey Kinchen, Bill and Jean Finley, and Linda Southworth. During breaks from school Jacob and John White helped stock shelves in the food pantry as well. Others have stepped in when regular volunteers need to be away like Jerry Jones and Kristen Koger.

The clothes closet continues to be full and active for our neighbors thanks to Jane Denzler along with Connie Jones, Brenda Cox and Linda White. We could not serve as many of our neighbors as we do without the help from so many wonderful volunteers.

We had many generous donations from church members, friends of the church, and the general public. We were so thankful for the canned food drive by the Richmond Concert Band and the coat drive by High Point Barbershop that filled our shelves and clothing racks during one of the most active times of the year for our ministry. 

This past fall I wrote a letter to the church about a new ministry in hunger relief which puts us in a deeper partnership with our neighbors and gives them more of a voice and responsibility in the food they receive. We envision this new ministry existing alongside our current food pantry, and not replacing it. At the end of 2016 we had productive meetings with the BGAV, Food Security for America from Atlanta, GA, Feedmore here in Richmond and interested church members about hosting this type of ministry at Tabernacle. As of the time of this writing Feedmore is looking through the documents we and Food Security for America have provided to make sure all the pieces are in place for them to support us in starting the ministry. It would be the first of its kind in the State of Virginia. We are awaiting their go ahead to begin the final conversation about starting the ministry as a church. I am encouraged by the conversations we had in December and look forward to hearing from Feedmore soon.

I am so thankful for the support provided by all of you through your donations, volunteering, and prayers for this ministry. We are only able to truly make a difference in our community and love our neighbors as we love ourselves because of the work and support of our congregation. Thanks be to God for the continued opportunity to serve.

-Rev Joel Ingram

Interim Pastor for Hunger Ministry