Category: Worship & Fellowship

Summer usually brings a change of pace to Tabernacle and this one certainly did!  Sterling was on sabbatical so Dan, Kristen, the congregation and I were in charge.  We had a great summer.

Several of the Sanctuary Choir members started the “We Sing What We Want” Choir and we spent the summer singing favorite anthems that reminded us of our spiritual home.  Sharing the stories of how we came to love the anthems we chose to share allowed the choir members to get to know one another on a deeper level.  Many thanks are due to Ron Simmons and Terry Witt for encouraging this choir—all I had to do was play!

Ron, Terry and Susan Braden were also responsible for the highly successful  “Open Mike” night events.  We shared original songs, magic tricks, stories, poems, piano solos and lots of Broadway songs.  It was great fun to discover people’s talents.  Do you know we have a member who is a dulcimer player????

July 14-18 Kristen Koger and I took Waysnah, Monica, Christina, Ja Sang Mai, Sang Lung, Doi Bu, Way Doh, K’Paw, Kekoa and Kanoa to Music and Worship Arts Camp at Eagle Eryie.  The Virginia Baptist Mission Board sponsors this camp.  Activities at Camp include singing, drama, art, orchestra and a lot of swimming!  We all had a great time and are looking forward to next summer!

September brought Sterling’s return and the return of regular church activities.  Sanctuary Choir is back and the Wednesday evening children’s activities include choir.  We are busy preparing for the weekly worship services and for Christmas concerts and programs.  The Sanctuary Choir is working on “Gloria” by Antonio Vivaldi and several other anthems that are based on the “Gloria” text.   We will be singing with a string quartet again this Christmas!  The children have been working on songs based around the Narrative Lectionary passages and are now beginning to work on their Christmas Pageant.  This year Marty Watkin has written the pageant.  If you are interested in participating in either of these activities it is time to join the group for rehearsals!

The Music and Worship Ministry is looking forward to the last quarter of the year.  Advent and Christmas is always the time when music really gets to shine!

Judy

The Construction & Renovation Committee is currently sponsoring three information and comment exchange sessions in key ministry areas of our Church.  These sessions give everyone a chance to understand how specific spaces will be affected in the future, to have questions answered about planned renovation changes, as well as to offer comments to be considered as we begin working with the architects for detailed drawings.

Nelson Melton led the first session after church services on Sunday, October 12^th, discussing the changes to be made in and around the Meadow Street entrance and in the current Church offices near the Sanctuary.  Members of the Church agreed several years ago to create a Standing/Greeting area to reduce the congestion in the immediate area of the Meadow Street entrance.   Planned changes will create a glassed-in space to help support interaction among our congregation in a more open area.

In addition to our Stand-up/Greeting ministry, changes in this area will also result in improvements for Adult Sunday School classes and conference rooms.  Participants in this session suggested that we consider naming one of the new Sunday School classrooms for Cecil Gholston.  They also recommended that the construction committee review the size of the new classrooms and conference rooms in the current drawings to be sure that the size meets the need.

This walking tour included discussion about changes planned for the area of the current Church offices.   There is a possibility that this area will provide space for a climate-controlled history room and a new library.  The group agreed that there is a need for a conference room that can be used at the time of Sunday School, so the additional conference room space would be beneficial.  Elevation changes around the offices and work room are also to be addressed.

One of the general questions asked was related to parking during construction.  The Construction Management Team will create specific plans to minimize impact on parking for our congregation and Fan neighbors in all stages of construction.  For example, when the row houses are taken down, some alley and parking lot space will be needed.  After the houses are completed removed, construction parking will be created in that space.  Also, a dumpster will be placed on Grove Avenue until the houses are down.   Communication about any parking impact will be a priority of the Construction & Renovation Committee.

Thanks to all of those who attended our recent session for their open participation.  Exchanging ideas is key to our long-term success.  Please plan to attend our next two sessions:  October 19^th—Childcare & Youth Ministries and November 2^nd—Summer Program/ Mission Ministries (including parsonage space).

This summer was a wonderful whirlwind of experiences! I still find myself looking back on my time this past summer and wondering where the time went and how I crammed so much into such a short period of time. Between two weeks of camp, Vacation Bible School, weekly worship planning, and all the details that happen from week to week, I was awarded the wonderful gift of being able to stretch myself and try new things.

My summer started off with a trip to Camp Akulana for a work day. Several of us spent time weeding flower beds, mowing grass, and getting cabins ready for hundreds of children and teens to use for the summer. It was wonderful to be able to help Beth and Art Wright as they prepared for a full summer of camp ministry. Then came decorating the sanctuary for Pentecost- what a colorful, balloon filled evening that was! And who knew that I would be able to take that experience and have it come full-circle at the end of the summer as we prepared to fill Sterling’s office with 800 balloons to welcome him home! That’s Church, my friends.

July was filled with camp- two , to be exact. I had the opportunity to travel with Judy to Music and Worship Arts camp at Eagle Eyrie. There, I had the opportunity to watch our children and youth share their gifts and talents with others from around the state. And, I was officially welcomed into the Music Camp group by being ooga-booga’d on the last night of camp. Want to know what that is? Join us next year for camp! Upon our return from Music Camp, I left with the youth for UniDiversity Youth Camp in Tennessee. We spent the week together talking about how everyone is welcome at the communion table, and wrestling with and discussing ways we can welcome those we come in contact with. The journey home took a little longer than expected due to some transportation issues, but that is not what I remember from that part of the journey. What I remember is the fact that the youth with us on the trip never once complained about the situation. In fact, they found ways to continue to grow together as a group. That’s Church, my friends.

In addition to these events, I also had the opportunity to participate and lead in some of the more “normal routine” things at Tabernacle. I helped recruit for worship, and attend staff meetings; I spent at least an hour each week with the wonderful Brown Bag Bible Study group learning more from them than they did from me; I made Coke explode with Mentos in Vacation Bible School; and I got to be a part of something much bigger than myself, and bigger than this building and the people in it. This “big thing” was Church as it is supposed to look like. This summer was everything I expected, and nothing I expected all at the same time. I learned things this summer that I hope to take with me wherever I go from here. Be proud of who you are and what you are, my friends. Because this church is a unique one that does it’s best to be Church in many ways. I am so grateful and honored to have been a small part of it’s story.

Grace and peace,

Kristen Koger

Summer Pastoral Intern, 2014

When a pastor as beloved as Sterling Severns takes off for 3 months on a sabbatical, it’s hard for the congregation not to wonder if the summer pace will be a little slower, the program offerings a bit leaner, as if the church is simply biding its time until the senior pastor returns.

Not so at Tabernacle Baptist Church.  This Sabbatical Summer has turned out to be a beautiful beehive of programs, meaningful worship, and new activities.  We found ourselves challenged by sermons.  We were inspired by the variety of musical performances, and we were encouraged to know each other better through joyful and informal sabbatical activities like arts and craft sessions, soccer games, baseball games, ESL classes, an ice cream/book discussion night, and a family movie night. New this summer was a monthly series of open-mike nights (stand-up comedy, magic shows, musical performances, storytelling) — popular enough that they may just become a permanent offering. Some church members took to the road to visit former TBC parishioners.

All this was planned, organized, and executed by Dan, Judy, and Kristen, a team of three talented staffers who seemed to be everywhere at once, all summer long. It is impossible to overestimate the amount of work it took for Dan to craft thoughtful sermons and organize the liturgical themes with musical support from our multi-talented Judy (music that Ron, Terri, and a nimble-fingered Ryan helped to execute). Kristen, serving as our pastoral intern this summer, and who is virtually unflappable, stepped up to enlist and guide all of the summer’s volunteer readers, prayers, and presenters.

These three staffers wore multiple hats all summer. Kristen drove vans and entertained children. Dan set up A/V equipment and borrowed popcorn machines, led book talks, and kept the food pantry stocked. Judy baked snacks to feed participants in evening programs and went on the road with our youth to camps and to visit RBC former parishioners.

Under Dan, Judy, and Kristen’s capable leadership, never once did summer worship and programs falter or suffer from a lack of planning. In fact, some first-time visitors were unaware that they were visiting a church whose senior pastor was on sabbatical. Worship was vibrant. Attendance was strong. The church felt whole, and full of the Holy Spirit.

Dan, Judy, and Kristen — we, your congregation, are grateful to you for using your gifts to minister to us all summer long. You are powerful leaders, and we cannot imagine this Sabbatical summer without you.   Thank you.

What a wonderful whirlwind of experiences! This summer has been full of both chaotic and peaceful moments, days filled with emails and filled with relationship-building, times of overwhelming busyness and of unexpected relaxation, experiences filled with challenging questions with even more challenging answers (and several easy questions with easy answers)- and I have enjoyed every moment of it. I have spent my time chaperoning camp trips, visiting members in care facilities, facilitating Bible study, wearing crazy costumes for VBS, and getting to know the people that make Tabernacle a wonderful “home” for me.

The one thing that surprised me the most about this summer was something I learned about myself. For the past 3 years, my answer to the question, “What do you want to do after seminary?” has been, “Children’s ministry.” And while that is still very much a part of my ministerial identity, throughout the last three months, I also had the opportunity to do a lot of things that an Associate Pastor would do, because I was helping Dan and Judy find their balance in a world without Sterling.  So while Dan was focusing on senior pastor roles, and Judy on music ministry and the unexpected details of church life, I found myself embarking on an internship more focused on the tasks of an Associate Pastor- and I loved it! This was an unexpected turn in my journey, but one for which I am grateful. I am grateful for a church that believed in gifts and talents I didn’t even know were a part of me. I am grateful for a church that allowed me to explore a new part of my ministerial identity and affirmed me over the course of the past three months. I am grateful that this summer I was able to witness “church” happening all throughout the week, not just on Sunday mornings at 11. And I am grateful for a God who is constantly reminding me (and us) to be ready for the unexpected.

As my summer internship comes to a close, I find myself wondering, “What’s next?” While I will still be serving on the pastoral staff as an intern, my job responsibilities will be changing. I will be a part-time intern instead of serving full-time; many of my jobs this summer will shift back to their original owners, while new jobs are assigned; and I will have to find a new balance between work and school as I enter into my last year of seminary. Even though the class assignments are starting to find their place in my planner and books are arriving for the upcoming year, I cannot wait to continue to minister alongside you and continue to explore the unexpected things when it comes to church ministry. This summer has opened up so many doors of ministry that I never considered. I may not know where the path is leading, but I know that it is going to be fun along the way. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for the opportunity to learn about myself and to learn what “church” should look like and live like.

Grace and peace,

Kristen Koger

New God-Sized Vision Construction & Renovation Committee: On Sunday, July 27, 2014, the church met for a quarterly business meeting after morning services.  Nelson Melton presented the new committee structure and answered some questions relevant to the proposed construction. After his presentation the majority voted to proceed with the new Construction & Renovation Committee, charged with managing and planning the upcoming construction and renovation work.  Meetings for the new committee are starting, and updates will be regularly provided in the TAB and other church communication tools.

 

Background Information

The original Renovation Committee was formed in 2008 and was charged with recommending what the church should do with the two houses adjacent to the church and not used by the church in over 10 years.  Later the objective was broadened to include a ministry-based study of all the space needs of the church.

The original committee recommended that the two houses be demolished and a new addition erected in their place.  The new space would house the new church offices and new Child Care Center offices.  Also recommended was the addition of an elevator in the Williams building which would serve the three floors of the Williams building, plus two floors of the church.  The Child Care Center space would also be updated to receive a new kitchen and dining room area.   Other related renovations would be carried out in the Sunday school areas, office areas, as well in the basement in and around the Fellowship Hall and Community Room.  As funds and plans permit, the third floor area of the Williams building could house a new summer intern bunk room area and two apartments which might be used by visiting missionaries or church interns.

The congregation voted in 2011 to proceed with planning to accomplish the proposed construction, with estimated costs that would require the raising of an estimated $2,000,000.

Tabernacle contracted with Don Campbell of the Virginia Baptist Mission Board to act as our consultant for the fundraising campaign.  Several new teams were formed, including the Campaign Leadership Team who would manage the fund raising program.   The Campaign Leadership Team began work in February 2014 and completed its primary mission in June 2014, when $1,401,784 was committed to the construction program by our congregation.

 

Purpose of the Construction & Renovation Committee

This new committee is charged with the complete oversight of the construction and renovation project, including the management and expenditure of all current and future committed funds required for the project.

Reporting to the Construction & Renovation Committee will be three teams.

Construction Management Team – will be responsible for the decision-making and supervision of the architect, engineers and contractor who have been hired for the construction and renovation work.

Follow Up Team (carry-over from fund raising campaign) – will continue to raise additional funds to meet construction costs

Communications Team – will develop and maintain a high level of communication with the congregation, with particular focus on reporting of the spending of donated funds and how the work is progressing.

 

 

 Members of the Construction & Renovation Committee and Supporting Teams

 Construction & Renovation Committee Construction Management Team: Sterling Severns, Nelson Melton, Kathy McGraw, John Gass, Jim McMurray, Jim Soyars, Bill Welstead, Nelson Melton

Fund Raising Follow-Up: Bill Welstead, Linda Southworth, Jim McMurray, Donna Soyars

Team Communications Team: Donna Soyars, Eleanor Brown

Note:  Additional committee/team members are under consideration at this time, and more information will be available regarding those resources in the near future.

 

Physical Handling of the Committed and Received Funds: Evanne Benson, the church’s Financial Assistant, has the responsibility to receive all commitment cards and actual funds.  A detail accounting will be maintained by Ms. Benson in order to control the cash funds received, as well as to match each person’s commitment to recorded received funds.

Received funds will be deposited in a separate account with Sun Trust Bank.  Tabernacle has a long running relationship with this bank

Disbursement of funds from the account will be only by check.  Each check will require the signature of two people.  Currently Jim McMurray, Bill Welstead and Nelson Melton are authorized to sign checks.

 

Next Steps

The Committee will be meeting over the next two months to further define project scope, create a committee implementation plan and initiate a potential schedule for preliminary tasks in conjunction with the selected architect.  The Fund Raising Follow-Up Team will also be working to continue fund-raising efforts.

We sincerely appreciate your interest and involvement in this important part of Tabernacle’s history.  Please use the “Embracing a God-Sized Vision” mailbox near the church Meadow entrance to deliver any questions you might have to our Construction & Renovation Committee.  We will respond to you in a timely manner.

Dear Church Family:

Two years ago we began a dialogue about the possibility of a sabbatical for 2014. The twenty four month gap between those initial conversations and the reality of this week’s departure is nothing short of amazing for my family. Your willingness to send us so openly is an act of authentic grace and unconditional love. The generosity of the church, and Lilly Endowment, has opened a door that we soon walk through. I have no idea what awaits, none of us do. However, I am beyond excited to step into it and believe that God will give us what is needed to absorb the experience in anticipation of returning home to tell the story.

I have complete confidence in the Pastoral Staff, Support Staff, and Lay Leaders as they guide Tabernacle through the summer. God has blessed us with an abundance of servant leaders and I thank each of them for their willingness to carry the additional responsibilities that will be required over the next three months. I leave this week with a heart full of gratitude and tremendous hope for our future together. I also look forward to returning home again, on the other side of sabbatical, with renewed energy and passion for what will inevitably be a continued season of spiritual and numerical growth.

Mary Oliver, the Pulitzer Prize winning poet, in “Six Recognitions of our Lord” articulates the return home in this way, “‘I go back to … my own house, my own life, which has now become brighter and simpler, somewhere I have never been before.” The Light that is guiding my family out into the world isn’t waiting for us….out “there”. Rather it is here at home and it has guided us as we’ve walked with you over these last ten years. The light will go with us into the world and it will also remain with you. It will bring us home again and I believe that all us will see everything more brightly when we come back together.

Thank you for receiving us. Thank you for sending us. Thank you for receiving us again on the other side. We love you.
Yours in Christ,

Sterling Severns
Pastor