The Rev. Wallace Adams-Riley of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Reflecting the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War, this year's Lenten Preaching Series at St. Paul's Episcopal Church downtown follows the theme of "Truth and Reconciliation." The theme is pulled from the ongoing work of University of Richmond President Ed Ayers and others involved in The Future of Richmond's Past, a local committee that has been exploring how to mark the sesquicentennial.
Among the speakers are Brian McLaren, the author of A Generous Orthodoxy and other books; the Rev. Tyrone Nelson of Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church; and Lance Watson, pastor of Saint Paul's Baptist Church.
The Rev. Wallace Adams-Riley of St. Paul's Episcopal reflects on this theme, saying, "If we Christians are about anything, we are about reconciliation, and as we look back onto the historic 150-year mark of the Civil War and Emancipation, how can we not consider truth and reconciliation? ... That in a time where unity through reconciliation is the dream of humanity, how can we not attempt to get beyond the good-guy, bad-guy stereotypes and try to get to trust?"
He adds, "The way we talk and view our forbears has everything to do with how we live and speak with each other, and hopefully this Lenten season will bring a freshness that is needed to the Richmond and Christian communities."
The Lenten series begins Ash Wednesday (March 9) and continues till the Wednesday of Holy Week (April 20). Each program includes preaching and lunch, with the services lasting 30 minutes long and beginning at 12:30 p.m. Lunch is served in two seatings in the Parish Hall (11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1 to 1:30 p.m.). Free child care is available from 11:15 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Lunch is $7, and desserts are an extra $2. All proceeds will support a variety of charitable organizations. Call 643-3589 or visit stpauls-episcopal.org for more information.
