EMBRACING A GOD-SIZED DREAM:

ANNA TUCKWILLER

Tabernacle was the third place that I visited when I start-ed looking for a church home. I liked the Wednesday night lectures and visiting with BTSR and Camp Alkulana friends. I appreciated that Tabernacle was a ministry sim-ulator for seminary students. I was charmed by the way it honored the coming and going of its members with bread for the journey. I loved that the leadership of Sunday ser-vices reflected the diversity in the pews. And, as I get distracted as easily as I get tearful during worship, I was glad that I could sit by myself on Sundays. You know those people at the pool, the ones that go from dry to underwater with one cannon ball or dive? I’m not one of them. I’m one of those “toe test people.” It takes me a while unless there’s an audience, in which case it takes an eternity. That’s just me in part but also my church experience. Like most people with ministry experience, I know about going through the wring-er. Every minister I know has been disappointed or burnt at some point in the course of their ministerial service. Every church goer I know has stories of being both loved and wounded by the community entrusted with Christ’s message.

I’ve lived long enough to learn that risk and love are trav-eling buddies. I knew it was time to put my shoes on and walk the aisle one Sunday morning to join Tabernac-le. It’s that aisle walking bit that I don’t like. Apparently, there’s no backdoor membership plan void of that front-and-center-while-the-pastor-talks-about-you part. Believe me, I asked. So I stood there embracing the awkward as Sterling welcomed me. As he did so, hand on my shoulder, he said, “we thank you for your trust.”

Trust. Love. They are always risks. They are the coura-geous vehicles that open us up to the deep joys and sor-rows of ourselves and of life together with God. And here’s the kicker: we’re gonna mess up. From the pulpit to the taco casserole I’ve heard us share our stories of following and flailing as disciples of Christ. This is one of the brightest lights that I find in this place: people striv-ing to show up, just as they are, daring to be blessed and broken together. I’m thankful. I’m grateful for the solidarity in this crazy story of a God who puts skin on, loves, dies, and lives again, to make all things new. Our efforts to love and understand things in light of that story will be fraught with: failure and success, joy and sorrow, rest and strug-gle, frustration and calm, annoyance and laughter… But Christ’s were too. That gives me hope that we are bum-bling in the right direction and gladness to be doing so together.

It wasn’t long before Sterling and Judy were on to me. He did his recon with my church friends and asked if I’d like to go for “coffee.” Naturally, I braced myself for the “how are you going to plug in deeper here?” bit. Judy, I knew from our BTSR days, where I sang in the school choir. Be-tween those two the jig was up, dashing my plans of hiding out barefoot in the balcony.

ANNA’S PRAYER FOR TABERNACLE

• God, please help us find the courage to receive and accept love, affirmation, and gifts from you and from our neighbors. It can be scary. In that receiving, may we risk being known, being givers and friends, when it’s tempting to hide as benefactors.

• God, may your grace inspire us to courageously “show up” with you and with one another. Please be our strength when we find ourselves being changed, blessed, challenged, or grieved from doing so.

• God, please lend your wisdom and bless us with a vi-sion that serves you and your children. Show us how to listen and how to speak up in the visioning process.

• And gracious God, thank you for loving us and letting us share in this kingdom of yours, toes, cannon balls, bumbling, and all. Amen.

VISION EVENT THANK-YOU

This past Sunday’s Vision Event was a special time for Tabernacle! Members, guests, friends of the church and staff all shared a delightful meal and inspiring testimonies about the solid foundation of our past and the light of our future. The children fifth grade and under discovered ways that they too can contribute to our vision going forward while enjoying their own lunch menu. What a delightful time for our congregation as we place our faith in achieving God’s Vision for our spiritual mission in the years ahead. We express our sincere gratitude for everyone who con-tributed to making this Vision Event such a success. We can’t name every person who helped along the way, but we hope you know how much we appreciate your time and effort. We thank: • All of those who attended for making the time to share

in this important part of our church life. • All of those who prayed for blessings on this event,

including those who could not attend in person. • Those who presented their testimonies, either in per-

son or by video. • John Burgess and his team of cooks for their hard

work in preparing almost all of the food by hand (except the fried chicken)!

• The team of planners for thinking through what would make this event meaningful to all of our attendees.

• The event set-up team for all of their efforts on Sun-day morning.

• Our hosts and hostesses for their welcoming kindness and assistance at each table.

• Those who helped finish clearing the tables, wash the

serving dishes, and take out the trash.

Highlights of our Vision Event ∗ Approximately 140 – 150 youth, adults and children

attended, meeting the challenge of blocked traffic be-cause of the collegiate cycling championship

∗ Four inspiring testimonies were presented--you can view the video of Brenda and Bill Gradwell on Face-book or in “Media” at www.tbcrichmond.org. Cung Thawng’s testimony can be read on Facebook or at “testimonies” on the church website.

∗ Our children’s activities included creation of their own “bank”, where they can store their pennies for contri-butions to the Vision Campaign. They are also creat-ing a poster about their role in Tabernacle’s future.

∗ Bill Welstead explained the Vision Event packets dis-tributed to all in attendance. It is important to remem-ber that only our Financial Secretary will have any knowledge of how much an individual decides to con-tribute to this campaign. It is a very personal commit-ment decision.

∗ Bill announced that the Advanced Commitment total to date from our Endowment Fund, Campaign Lead-ership Team, Senior Staff, and Administrative Board Chair is $257,380 (over a 3-year period).

∗ Comments were by far very positive about this event and about our future.

Next Steps

• Pray about your individual role in this campaign be-tween now and Celebration Sunday on May 18th.

• Plan to join us on Celebration Sunday!

• If you are unable to join us on May 18th, forward our campaign commitment card in the addressed enve-lope provided in your Vision Event packet.

• If you were unable to attend the Vision Event, look for your Commitment Packet in your mailbox very soon! If your address has recently changed, please call the church office and let us know.

• Questions written down and placed in the mailbox at the event will be answered by personal phone call and/or publication in the TAB. Remember to use the cards and Vision Campaign Questions mailbox locat-ed just outside of the sanctuary to ask any questions that you have in the next couple of weeks, and we will be certain that your questions are answered.

Again, we are sincerely appreciative of everyone’s prayers as we move forward in realizing our God-Sized Vision. Our faith in God is our guide in all that we do, and his presence is evident in every step we take. We are truly blessed!

CELEBRATION SUNDAY, MAY 18

• May 18: Celebration Sunday. Please make plans to join us during worship as the church family comes together to celebrate our 127th Anniversary. We will look back to remember what God has done and then commit ourselves to the vision cast before us. We will bring Vision Commitment Cards and submit them to the Lord as an act of worship. We will celebrate what God is doing and will do among us as we move for-ward. To God be the Glory!

SABBATICAL 2014

The information below is the first of a three part series designed to answer frequently asked questions about this summer's sabbatical. Please pray for Severns' Family and church leadership as they make plans.

What is a sabbatical?

The word sabbatical has its roots in the biblical concept of Sabbath (“to rest” or “to cease”). Sabbath keeping is set-ting aside time that God consecrates and makes ho-ly. Sabbatical leave is a time for our pastor to shift gears in order to rest, disengage, study, reflect, play, and travel in order to return to minister among us refreshed and re-newed in body, mind, and spirit. (It is not a time for routine work, mid-career assessment, job searching, retirement planning, or terminal leave.) Sabbatical is more than a vacation from meetings, budgets, sermons, and people in need. It is a time for Sterling to receive spiritual nourish-ment and a change in perspective, to deepen his relation-ship with God and his family. It is a season of both rest and growth. The sabbatical time will also be a season of growth and rest for the entire congregation.

Do other clergy go on sabbatical?

Yes! A growing number of congregations are realizing the lasting benefits of providing their clergy with sabbatical leave. Ministers return refreshed and revitalized and the church often moves into new phases of ministry following a sabbatical leave. Many churches now have regular sabbatical times written into their covenants/job descrip-tions with their ministers.

How long will Sterling be gone?

Sterling will leave after worship on Sunday June 1, 2014 and return to work the first week of September. The Severns first Sunday back in worship will be September 7th.

What will Sterling be doing on his sabbatical?

Sterling has planned a balanced combination of travel and rest for his sabbatical. Utilizing our sabbatical theme of “coming home,” Sterling will:

A. Come home to the roots of our faith with a trip to the Holy Land (This experience will enrich his preaching and teaching when he returns.)

B. Come home to his family with two vacation trips.

C. Come home to the land of our Burmese families with a trip to Burma. (This trip will enrich Sterling’s under-standing of Burmese history and culture and better equip him to lead this ministry.

D. Come home to rest. Travel will be interspersed with down time at home to read, rest, and observe Sabbath.

Who will cover Sterling’s responsibilities while he is away?

The church voted to invite Dan Schumacher to cover most of the Sunday morning preaching opportunities while Sterling is gone. We have also hired Kristen Koger to be our summer Pastoral Intern and Judy Fiske will continue to serve faithfully. The support staff will contin-ue to function in their roles, assisted by the deacons and other volunteers.

Who should I call to plan a special service?

The church office will be open during its usual hours. Betty and the church staff are available to help you arrange for weddings, funerals, and other special services over the summer.

Who do I call if I have a family or personal crisis ?

As always, we will have a pastor on call throughout the week. This person’s name and contact information is listed in the bulletin every Sunday.

Who will pay for the sabbatical?

Tabernacle received a very generous grant from the Lily Endowment that is fully funding Sterling’s sabbatical pro-gram as well as additional staff coverage and sabbatical activities for the church. TBC will continue to pay Ster-ling’s salary while he is away.

What if a question/concern arises while Sterling is away?

Church staff members will be available to answer ques-tions, just as they always are. They will consult the dea-cons for advice and discernment if a matter of particular concern arises.

(Part Two will be featured in the next edition of The TAB)

www.tbcrichmond.org

1925 Grove Avenue | Richmond, VA 23220 | 804.355.0134

IN OUR PRAYERS

Recent Addions

Khan Naw’s family as they seek visa approval to travel to the U.S. for his graduation

We celebrate with Karen Coppage as she prepares for her transition to William & Mary this fall.

Martha Williams, Jane Denzler’s mother in physical rehabilitation

The family of Lynn, one of Mac’s extended family members, as they mourn her death

We welcome Paul and Lugene Fernald and Jim and Ginny Meisner , our newest members into the fold and look forward to worshipping and serving beside them in the years ahead.

Kristen Koger , as she prepares for her mission immersion trip to Kenya

Our students and teachers as they enter into the final stretch of the school year

The Bailey and McGraw families in the death of Bob Anderson, husband of Bonnie’s niece and Kathy’s cousin, Cherrie

Susan, Foster, Trey, and Jordan as they prepare for their return to Richmond

The Giemza Family as they prepare for their transition to Raleigh/Durham

Jim and Ginny Meisner in the adoption process with their daughter

Megan Strollo as she prepares for her Middle East Travel Seminar

Jack and Linda White and family in the death of Jack’s brother, Larry

Tammy Denton at HealthSouth

Judson Class

Helen and Bob Dav idson in the death of her cousin, Jeff Hard, in Angier, NC

Continued Care

Michael Booth, Val Andrist, Chris Hines, Nell Broach, Baby Caybrie, Dick Spain, Brenda Gradwell, Bobby Goin, Roger Printz, Lay Htoo, Joe Bolos, Loretta Hancock, Rod Dupler, Coppage family