An ice cream social—and more

The Rev. Richard T. Woodall
Published: June 6, 2008

Editor’s note: Downtown Lynchburg has an unusual Sunday school class. Its participants come from seven downtown churches, although membership is open to all. They reflect some of the mix of beliefs and backgrounds that is Lynchburg itself, rather than the single credo and single race membership that make up most churches in this city and country. The class meets on a rotating basis at each of the churches: Court Street Baptist, Court Street United Methodist, Diamond Hill Baptist, Holy Cross Catholic, Jackson Street United Methodist, Jericho Baptist Mission and St. Paul’s Episcopal.

That sentiment sparked an interest in the churches around his own, St. Paul’s, where he is a member of the Vestry Committee. He said he thought why not have “a traveling Sunday school class?”
And so it began in September and has met some 30 times since. One of the pastors of the seven churches, the Rev. Richard T. Woodall, wrote the following about a recent churches-wide social gathering, one of a number of ideas spawned by the Sunday school class.

Was it a Pentecostal moment?

On the afternoon of Sunday, June 1, on the lovely lawn of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in historic downtown Lynchburg, an uncommon gathering occurred. Participants from a rotating ecumenical Sunday School class, led by laypeople, invited the downtown church communities to an ice cream social and hymn sing.

At first, there were about 25 chairs circling a big magnolia tree. They filled quickly. Another 25 or so chairs were brought out; they, too, filled quickly. Additional chairs were gathered, but soon that effort was lost; There was a large delegation standing.

We began with an opening prayer and words of welcome and a strange announcement. Anyone who wanted to say anything or sing could; to get everyone’s attention, we were to ring a small bell. To my surprise, it worked! We sang some familiar hymns. There were some solos and a duet; a couple of groups sang. We ate ice cream and sang some more. Someone read the Lord’s prayer from his obviously well-used Bible. There were a keyboard and a harmonica. We were unrehearsed, unordered and sharing completely from the heart. It was delightful!

Young, old and in-between attended. Several passers-by stopped on the sidewalk to listen and observe; some added their “amens.” We were African-American and white, Baptist, Catholic, Episcopal, United Methodist, others, denominational and independent. We represented grand ’ole historic structures and smaller newer places of worship. We were liberal, conservative, staid, free, reserved, expressionistic, equal. This may have been the only place some could have had such an audience. Everyone was supportive and encouraging. There was the sweet feel of unity and a common dedication to God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

As we sat under or stood near the magnolia tree, “together,” with a gentle breeze blowing, two thoughts came to mind: “many gifts — one Spirit” and “was this a Pentecostal moment?”