Telling Our Stories

Stories of faith by members of the Ginter Park Presbyterian Church Family.

Dec 24, 20151 min read

With the Angels Let Us Sing

A simple story of telling the most amazing story: To conclude our Lovefeast, the choir joins the congregation, the congregation becomes...

Dec 10, 20153 min read

Feasting in Love and Color

Does anything say “white male” more perfectly and ironically than a choral setting of the Magnificat? This question popped into my head...

Dec 5, 20154 min read

Discovering Youth

I have loved being an intern with this congregation! I have learned more already than I ever expected and have been a part of several...

Nov 21, 20154 min read

New York, Paris, Taize

When I was asked if there might be some reflections I could share with you after my recent race, the New York City Marathon, I had some...

Nov 7, 20153 min read

Making It Better

Somewhere in the depths of my computer storage I have a picture of my daughter at 5 or 6 years old walking by herself down our street and...

Oct 24, 20153 min read

Digging Deeper

Have you ever tried to dig a hole to China? When I was a kid, I spent a lot of time at the beach and every now and again I’d try to dig...

Oct 9, 20155 min read

My Story

Melinda Mottley was well into the draft of “her story” when Margaret Sydnor’s account of teaching in the city’s public schools appeared...

Sep 19, 20158 min read

Venturing into Desegregation

Longtime GPPC member Margaret Sydnor (shown with husband Jim in the mid-1980s) recently shared a rich and unblinking ten-page memoir of...

Aug 29, 20152 min read

Come As You Are

“Well, my story makes me feel rather small” was one of the first things I blurted out in response to Carla’s request for us each to...

Aug 22, 20154 min read

A Scout's Lament

I was talking with a fellow Eagle Scout last night. We were both feeling saddened by what should have been a heart-warming image we saw...

Aug 15, 20153 min read

A Willingness to Not Know

As I was considering the call to return to being a ruling Elder at GPPC, my first response was reluctance and I started stressing out...

Aug 1, 20153 min read

I'm "In Transition" Too

On a fishing trip with my uncle and cousin in California several years ago, we met Dave. The story of Dave and that fishing trip probably...

Jul 25, 20152 min read

Speaking (of) Spanish

I sometimes swim with the conservatives. Because of this I get mail from time to time on the subject of Spanish speakers in our society....

Jul 18, 20153 min read

A Call in the Dark

“Church elder? Are you kidding me?” This was my response to my pastor’s phone call asking me to serve on the Ginter Park Presbyterian...

Jul 4, 20154 min read

A Pilgrim's Welcome

As I’ve worked with our youth group over the last couple years, one of the most memorable and lively conversations we’ve had was around...

Jun 13, 20153 min read

Logging the Blog

“Keeper of the blog”. If you’d told me when I joined this church as a youth nearly 50 years ago I would one day serve as “keeper of the...

May 30, 20153 min read

I've Got Your Back

Before an improv show, there’s a moment when the group of improvisers is huddled together as they wait for the emcee to introduce them to...

May 16, 20155 min read

How Can She Call Herself a Christian?

“If she is a [insert political label], how can she call herself a Christian?!?” That question was asked in bewilderment about me during...

May 2, 20154 min read

Who is My Neighbor?

Editor’s Note: Growing up white in 20th century Richmond, Ginter Park Presbyterian Church’s involvement with race relations continues to...

Apr 11, 20154 min read

Quilts and Stories

In my family, there are two types of people: storytellers and quilters. Every room in my parents’ home is full of both. We decorate with...