Tabernacle Baptist Church in Richmond's Historic Fan District

at 1925 Grove Ave, Richmond , 23220 United States

1. Baptist Church
2. Religious Center
3. Religious Organization

Denominational and local ecumenical leaders have described us as a re-emerging downtown church brimming with creative energy and a heart for those in need. Join us on Sunday to meet God in unexpected ways.

Description

Welcome to Tabernacle Baptist Church! We're excited that you would like to join us for worship. We know how daunting visiting a new church can be, so we would like to make your visit as welcoming as possible. Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions. If you have anymore questions please contact pastor@tbcrichmond.org. Podcasts of worship services are available on this web site (create a link out of “this web site” to podcasts). Where should I park? There are several places to park. Please feel free to park on Grove Avenue just in front of the Sanctuary. These spots are reserved for you, our guests. The main parking lot is on Meadow Street between Grove and Floyd Avenues, directly across the street from the main church building . There is a smaller parking lot behind the church that can be accessed from the alley way between Grove and Floyd Avenues on Granby Street. If all else fails, there is plenty of street parking in the Fan on Sunday mornings. Where are the church entrances? There are three main entrances into the church on Sunday mornings. The wooden doors on the left side of the portico on Grove Avenue open into the sanctuary. We recommend the glass doors on Meadow Street because they open into the main hallway. (Make this Number 1) We have an entrance with an elevator in the Meadow Street Alley Door (look for the glass atrium). This is the best door for you to use if you visit during weekday office hours or require an elevator to enter the sanctuary. Feel free to us our loading zone in the alley to unload passengers before parking. What should I wear? Wear whatever makes you feel comfortable, we will accept you for who you are no matter what you're wearing. On any given Sunday you will find people wearing anything from jeans to suits and everything in between. We gather together to worship and fellowship, and we can do that no matter what type of clothes you’re in. When do you gather for worship and Bible study? On Sunday mornings we have coffee in the fellowship hall (downstairs) from 9:15 until 9:30. Sunday School is from 9:30 to 10:30 throughout the building, and worship begins in the sanctuary at 11:00. The service is usually finished no later than 12:15. On Sunday evenings small groups meet throughout the city for fellowship and study. Click here for more information on small groups. On Tuesdays at noon some of us gather for a Bible study in the fellowship hall (downstairs) with our pastor. Bring your own lunch and come ready for a great discussion. On Wednesday evenings we meet in the fellowship hall (downstairs) at 5:45 for dinner. The suggested cost is $4 for adults and $1.50 for students over 12, including college and graduate students. Kids under 12 are free. This is only the suggested cost. Please never allow inability to pay to prevent you from joining us for dinner. At 6:30 our children and youth leave the fellowship hall for their classes while adults stay downstairs for Bible study. This is over in time for choir practice to begin at 7:30. We offer free tutoring for children in the community from 5:00-5:45. For more information on tutoring or volunteering to be a tutor contact Julie Gaines. What can I expect worship at Tabernacle to be like? The best way to describe our worship here is traditionally creative or creatively traditional. We sing hymns and the doxology, we pray the Lord's prayer together, and the sermons we hear are based on the revised common lectionary. However we are always looking for ways to be creative with art and music. We strongly believe that the congregation is actively involved in worship, not a passive participant. It’s not uncommon for our congregation to take part in responsive readings and we are often led in worship by members of the congregation. It's also not uncommon for our children and teenagers to pray and read scripture, and whenever someone reads scripture or prays, we fully expect that they’ll do so in the language they use in their own home. What do you have for my children? Tabernacle was founded 125 years ago as a Sunday school for children in the country who didn't have a church. (Back then, the Fan was the country). Today we remain true to that identity by being a congregation deeply committed to loving and serving children. We offer nursery from infant through pre-k on Sunday and Wednesday. On Sundays we offer Sunday School for children. Before service starts, feel free to pick up one of the worship bags located under the nametags in the hall. Several bags are marked "guest." These bags contain a Children's Bible and bookmarks to mark [deleted stuff] that day's readings and the hymns for the day. It also contains crayons and an activity sheet. It's perfectly okay for your kids to color during the service. Shorty before the sermon, our children in grades K-5 leave the sanctuary for Worship Explorers. They play games and learn an age appropriate lesson based on the passage our pastor is preaching on, and will return during the final hymn. On Wednesday nights we offer tutoring, Godly play, and children's choir. We also have youth activities for our teenagers. What are the people like? In a word, diverse. We are a city church, and we represent our urban location. The entire economic spectrum is represented here, you may sit next to one of our homeless family members or next to someone who is financially secure. We are blessed to be an interracial and multi-cultural congregation. 1/5 of us are refugees from Southeast Asia. People of all ages attend Tabernacle. We have a large group of young adults, and have many young families with children. Our youngest member is a few weeks old, and our oldest is over one hundred. What if I'm not a Baptist? Should I still come to Tabernacle? Absolutely! People from various denominational backgrounds including Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist, Episcopalian, the United Church of Christ, and non-denominational have chosen to make Tabernacle their spiritual home. If you'd like more information on what it means to be Baptist click here, but keep in mind that we welcome everyone to attend and join our church. We don't believe you have to agree about everything in order to worship God together. What if I'm liberal/conservative/etc? Should I come to Tabernacle? Yes. People at Tabernacle span the spectrum from theologically liberal and moderate to conservative. Those who are affiliated with the Democratic and Republican parties worship together on a weekly basis. We don't always agree about everything, and we don't want to. That would be boring and inconsistent with how we interpret the Jesus of the Gospels. We believe every Christian is a priest and is able to interpret scripture with God's help, and that everyone's opinion and contribution is essential and valid. Diversity makes us stronger because we have the opportunity to learn from each other. You don't have to think like everyone else does to be welcome here. That's not even possible. Tabernacle is a safe place to wrestle with important issues and express doubt.

General Info

Tabernacle Baptist Church cherishes her past, is working hard in the present, and is dreaming new dreams for the future. The congregation and staff are working together to make a difference in the neighborhood and city where God has placed us. Denominational and local ecumenical leaders have described us as a re-emerging downtown church brimming with creative energy and a heart for those in need. We tend to view ourselves as, “the little church that could.” Tabernacle has a rich history that spans three centuries. Its history includes large numerical growth in the early part of the twentieth century, followed by a period of decline as people left the city for the suburbs. Nearly thirty-five years ago, Tabernacle made a conscious decision to remain in the city. It was a decision that some questioned, particularly since the Fan District, where the church is located, was in a period of decline. However, the church stayed and remained actively engaged in ministry in the heart of the city. Today, we are experiencing a renaissance. There is a feeling of optimism in the community and among our church family as many people are moving back into our neighborhood. God has blessed us immeasurably through each chapter of our existence and the revival we are experiencing is nothing short of miraculous. A vital component of our recent history dates back to October of 2007 when two Burmese Refugee families came in through our doors. Today, almost one third of us are Chin, Karen, Kachin, Lasu, and Karenni Refugees. Words cannot begin to express the transformation that has taken place in the last two and a half years of life and ministry at Tabernacle. We are a diverse lot. Almost half of us have walked with the church through decades of ministry in Richmond. Others have only been here for a few years while almost a quarter of us have only come in the last year and a half. As a teaching and equipping congregation, we are conscious in our efforts to embrace those that come into the doors of the church and every bit as conscious to send them out, affirming God’s call to share Christ’s love in the world. We celebrate in having multiple family members serving in ministerial positions in churches and non-profits all over the United States and around the world. The common thread that binds us is one of calling. We would welcome you to join us in ministry and mission in our neighborhood, city, and world.Come, join us at Tabernacle Baptist Church. See what a difference committed Christians can make.

Reviews for Tabernacle Baptist Church

Company Rating

1377 Facebook users were in Tabernacle Baptist Church in Richmond's Historic Fan District. It's a 3 position in Popularity Rating for companies in Religious Center category in Richmond, Virginia

831 FB users likes Tabernacle Baptist Church in Richmond's Historic Fan District, set it to 2 position in Likes Rating for Richmond, Virginia in Religious Center category

Summary

Tabernacle Baptist Church in Richmond's Historic Fan District is Richmond based place and this enity listed in Baptist Church category. Located at 1925 Grove Ave VA 23220. Contact phone number of Tabernacle Baptist Church in Richmond's Historic Fan District: (804) 355-0134