Glimpses of Faith
Glimpses of Faith (GOF) is a collection of stories by River Road Church, Baptist members. These stories focus on moments when God’s presence suddenly shines through the lace which surrounds our reality.
The Glimpses of Faith Committee is Page Highfill, Chair; Daniel Bagby; Janet Bagby; Gene Damon; Julia Nixon; and Bill Stanton.
An Invitation from Dan Bagby
Our life stories are both secular and sacred. One of the serendipities in our otherwise ordinary day occurs when a holy moment redefines what appeared at first to be a secular event. We know the power of an “epiphany,” when a divine manifestation breaks into the routine of a day. God often uses very humble tools to deliver sacred chapters in our stories, and sometimes those moments are only recognized as faith-full after they take place. (Moses, surprised by God in a lonely place; Jacob, stunned by a Presence while half asleep; Elijah hearing a Voice, while hiding in a cave; Jonah, almost drowning, confronted by a Truth; Cleopas breaking bread with a Man after witnessing His execution; Paul going blind, before he can see).
In every human journey the sacred still surprises. What sacred moment crossed your path, and joined your story? Your story will be a gift to us all—please take a moment, and share it with us.
Submitting Your Written Stories
The purpose of this committee’s work, taken in part from the motion approved by the church on January 25, 2012, is to invite and document stories from church members and staff of their own “Glimpses of Faith” through Christian life experiences. These stories are shared to help encourage, empower, unify, and nurture church members, families, staff, and prospective members.
Most glimpses of faith are never forgotten, but often filed deep in one’s memory, waiting to reveal themselves again and make someone’s day brighter and more meaningful. Start now by jotting down some of your thoughts.
All members and staff are invited to submit 300- to 500-word stories of life experiences and sacred surprises which nurtured or questioned their faith. Stories are preferred to be typed and in digital format in MS Word. Digital photos of some aspect of your story are encouraged. The photo(s) will be included with your story.
Submit your stories by e-mail attachments to glimpses@riverroad.church.
Stories may be edited by one of the committee’s two editors for clarity, brevity, and content. All suitable stories will be published on the River Road Church, Baptist website. Website visitors will be able to find these stories organized alphabetically by the authors’ names. Stories can be read online or printed.
If you have questions or would like more information you may email glimpses@riverroad.church.
Glimpses of Faith FAQ
1. Can I interview elderly friends and family for their Glimpses of Faith stories, then write it for them and submit it?
Yes.
2. Do you have any hints to help me rattle my memory?
Try a few of the following:
- Remember visiting a place for the first time and you sensed you had been there before?
- How does God communicate with you?
- Considering the three most valued aspects in your life, how many of them were not your idea? Tell us how one of those “not yours” developed.
- If you are a parent, tell us about your feelings after seeing your first-born.
- If you are a labyrinth walker, what happens to you during the walk?
- Thinking back to a crisis in your life, do you see any influences now that you didn’t see before that helped get you through it? Tell us about it.
3. How do I come up with a photo for my Glimpses of Faith?
The photo could be of any one aspect of your story. For example, if your story is about a sunrise at the beach, include a photo of a sunrise. Or, if your story is about how God spoke to you during a very sad time in your life, ask a young child to draw a picture of your face being sad.
4. Who owns the stories I submit?
The authors retain authorship and ownership of their stories. By submitting your Glimpses of Faith stories, you give River Road Church, Baptist your approval to publish them on the website.
5. Can I submit more than one story?
Yes.
6. Suppose the author of a story does not have a computer and also does not type?
Typed, digital format is preferred and will expedite the committee’s work, however, a handwritten story may be submitted by mailing or delivering it to the Church Office. Address the story as follows:
River Road Church, Baptist
ATTN: Glimpses of Faith Committee
8000 River Road
Richmond, VA 23229
Non-digital photos can also be submitted by mailing or delivering them to the Church Office, addressed as above.
Glimpses of Faith Submissions
Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal
The Glimpses of Faith story here is Alice Parker's arrangement of "Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal" recorded during our worship service on February 16. Our Chancel Choir is under the direction of Dr. Robert Gallagher, Minister of Music. Click arrow above to listen to...
What New Year’s Resolutions Are You Making?
There’s nothing like the beginning of a year to inspire me to make some needed changes in my life. One of the most popular New Year’s resolutions is a commitment to become physically fit. There’s nothing wrong with this aspiration, but in 1 Timothy 4:8, Paul points us...
See You in the Morning
Twenty-nine years ago this month, a woman I barely knew became my mother-in-law. What I did know about her was that from the limited time I had spent with her, obviously, she was the warmest, kindest, most loving person and devoted mother I had ever met. What I didn’t...
Lord, I Want to be a Christian
The Glimpses of Faith story here is the superb music recorded by our RRCB Choir under the direction of Bob Gallagher, Minister of Music. Click arrow above to listen to Lord, I Want to be a Christian.
Third Grade Bible Echoes
River Road members may recall the four young neighbors who came to church with us over 10 years ago. We would keep them when their parents were out of town or just needed a break, and on weekends they would come to Sunday School with us. Then they asked if they could...
Lighthouses
What is it about you, and your cousins alike, that we all so revere? Is it your proud gantry, and your curved masonry, encircling, course by course, stepping up and inclining, honing that soaring slant, which braces your feet, to lean against the sea winds? Or, is it...
There's a Wideness in God's Mercy
Music composition by Seth Roberts Lyrics by Frederick William Faber Seth Roberts has been a member of RRCB since 1986. He minored in music at the College of William and Mary, graduating in 1994. Seth has sung with the RRCB choir since the late 1990s and also has been...
Calm Waters for the Swim
For four years on a late July Saturday, our son Frank has swum in the Long Island Sound. He has participated in “Swim Across America,” which is a fundraiser for cancer research. He does it because it is a worthy cause, he likes to swim, he likes the discipline of...
A Special Green Sanctuary
Each summer, and often in spring and fall as well, for about twenty years, my family and I turned to the mountains of Virginia for rest, relaxation, and learning about nature with the wonderful forest rangers and guides in Shenandoah National Park. We stayed in a...
Sharing Our Faith
A blog post by C. Page Highfill.
The CALL
A Glimpse of Faith by Chester Phelps
His Presence
While reading The Friendship Class lesson on Luke’s account of the Resurrection for this Easter Sunday morning, it called to mind an epiphany moment that happened to me Saturday, 26 May 2007. That Saturday evening our weekly Adult Bible Study Group was finishing up a...
Layers
It was early morning in 2005 on the beach. I was fishing for sunrise photo-subjects at Nags Head, NC. Just after daybreak, some expert fishermen appeared overhead. As they began their daily commute and trawling routines for substance, I was captured by the stunning...
Michael's Tune
I have commented in previous articles how the event of polio in history has entered my life when I least expected it. Last October 30, 1998, the Rochester Cathedral Choir from Rochester England performed a concert at my church. An information sheet was provided...
The Problem with Sermons
I have a problem with sermons. They don’t just sit there. They want to ambush me. And as such, they just aren’t safe. They burrow into my heart and mind. And, then the Holy Spirit begins to do unanticipated stuff. In short, sermons get out of control. Oh, it starts...
Yellow Butterflies
This past September I began an internship on the Oncology service at a local hospital, as part of my Master of Social Work program at VCU. Although I enjoyed my work, it was difficult, especially at the beginning, to see patients losing their battles with cancer. As...
Will the Real Good Samaritan Please Stand Up?
The story begins with a trip to Atlanta. All my life I had heard of the Varsity Restaurant in Atlanta. The Varsity is an institution in its own right and its reputation is wider-than-wide. For those who don’t know it, it’s open 12 – 13 hours a day, seven days-a-week,...
Angry Birds
About three months ago one of my grandchildren brought me a tiny soft toy. I said, “How cute. What is it?” “It’s an Angry Bird.” I looked at it and said, “Let’s spend our time today trying to make the angry bird happy.” It made a very fun day. I looked up "Angry Bird"...
Christmas Cards
It came today. Frankly I was worried. When we first spoke, he was hesitant. It seemed time was short and his life was busy. Later, relief came in an email: “We were first in line today at Walmart.” So now we have the smiling photo of our out-of-state grandchildren and...
Imagine If You Can
Try to imagine if you can: twenty-five, late-adolescent boys - all offenders being processed at the Reception and Diagnostic Center in Bon Air for entry into the Department of Juvenile Justice. They sit on molded plastic chairs in a stark, cinderblock room, hair...