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
Love Lifted Me
I am one of those members who enjoy talking with the pastor about his sermon after the service. I know Mike has had a breath of release as I have not been able to walk out; so I don't hold up others in line to speak to him. One Sunday in the late fall of 2010 he had...
Miracles
Sunday, June 1, 1997, was not a typical day in the life of the Joneses. It began differently from most Sundays in our lives and most certainly ended differently. Tennis at 7:00 am is not on my normal agenda for a Sunday morning but I agreed to substitute for Ed Pruden...
A Glimpse of Faith
I retired as Director Physical Plant, Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD, in June 1997. I often dealt with some of the men in the Motor Pool and got to know a few of them a little better than others. Once of these men was named John Stockman, who worked as a bus...
Deliberate Compassion
I wrote this reflection in July, a month after returning to the east coast from California, and only a few weeks before moving to Johannesburg, South Africa. It’s hard to be home. Not physically in Virginia, or driving down Richmond streets, or sitting in my kitchen....
A Sign of Faith
Found Photo by Peggy Stevens
In Bright Mansions Above
Last Sunday Kara Harman sang an emotionally moving solo of “In Bright Mansions Above,” a spiritual arranged by K Lee Scott.. The words and melody are uplifting for anyone who has experienced a personal loss or has lived with adversity over a period of time. The words...
Faces of a Changing World
[easyrotator]erc_9_1348018885[/easyrotator] “The paintings in my exhibition 'Faces of a Changing World' are Chinese characters with integrated portraits of people I have met during my travels. The characters are about peace, hope, love, joy, pain and other emotions...
A Glimpse of Faith at a Contemporary Moment
May 20th was Youth Sunday. University of Pittsburg (where Jonas Salk developed the Salk polio vaccine) graduate Dexter Gulick preached a thought provoking sermon on “The Light Within You” and the Youth Choir sang two anthems, one being “Amazing Grace” and the other...
Thin Places – Nurturing Spiritual Glimpses
A Celtic definition of “Thin Places” has been passed down over time. They are places where the veil, which separates the physical world from the spiritual world, becomes very thin. Thin Places somehow help us sense spiritual presence. This veil definition may have...
Quiet Experiences with God
I can recall several experiences which have been deeply spiritual for me. One of these came when I was a young man camping in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. I remember one night sitting by my camp fire on that mountaintop where I had spent the weekend seeking...
George
Although George grew up in Appalachia and attended church there, he never used God talk. He never really discussed what his beliefs were nor did he try to influence what others believed. He simply lived his religion as a husband, as a father, as a neighbor, and as a...
Talking to God
I am currently earning my Master’s Degree in Social Work. This past year was spent studying hard, writing papers, and interning a few days each week at the Fan Free Clinic. My patients were all HIV positive and they had unique perspectives on their lives and their...
Praises
It is my nature to be quite emotional and perhaps overly sentimental. Many events, such as baby dedications, joyful memories of my wife, etc., cause me to choke up and tears form and frequently roll down my cheeks. Even now as I attempt to put these thoughts on paper,...
One Small Step
Dr. Clingenpeel’s Palm Sunday sermon “A Sunday Stroll” relates that “Faith starts small.” I mentally multitasked by listening yet not losing my then swirling thoughts. I heard a strain from a hymn favored since childhood, “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us,” and the...
Eighty-Six Days in the Wilderness
“Son, you have polio” expressed Dr. Robert Morton on Saturday morning, September 23, 1950. These words were terrifying to me at age 11 and they still convey a haunting anxiety when I think of them today. I remember every detail of that awful Saturday and what a...
A Boy and His Kite
When I was about 12 years old, I loved to fly kites with neighborhood kids. One day as we were piloting our kites on a vacant lot, a well dressed young boy walked up to me and asked if he could join us. He had a brand new kite and a ball of clean white string. I had...