The Kilworth Memorial Chapel at the University of Puget Sound was dedicated March 9, 1967. The bell at Kilworth Chapel was cast in 1718 in Sheffield, England and had been a signal bell on the steamship Frontier.
Today I drove past the future site of the Grace Baptist Church Community Garden at 2507 N Vassault St, Tacoma WA 98406. The church’s website says “Our Community Garden is longing for gardeners! Contact the church office by phone (253.752.6643) or by email, gracebaptist@harbornet.com”.
There are several community gardens in Tacoma. The go to website for more info is http://www.growlocaltacoma.com/
Today I made a quick stop at this interesting neighborhood church. The Lincoln District has an international flair, with an emphasis on Asian Countries. The informational sign is in both English and Vietnamese.
While there does not seem to be a dedicated web presence for this particular church, the Tacoma Vietnamese Alliance Church, there is a website for the Alliance Church in general. I enjoyed reading their quote “The Alliance is a unique missionary denomination—a maverick movement into whose soul the Head of the Church breathed “Go!” from the very start. —L.L. King, C&MA President (1978-1987)”
There are three other Alliance Churches in Tacoma.
I’ve often admired the golden dome of the Slavic Christian Center at 2014 South 15th, Tacoma. Today I caught the dome in the morning light and then later in the day I went back for some more photos. The first service was held on Christmas Day 2001 and the building has a capacity of 1,160 people.
The church has an extensive website
http://slaviccenter.com/
Their website says “We are a non-denominational church that’s committed to loving Christ. Our congregation is ethnically diverse and committed to the unity of all the saints of God.”
I thought it was interesting that their website has audio sermons. This week’s sermon is “Sexual Immorality is Killing the Church”.
http://www.hilltopchristiancenter.org/
We were fortunate this evening to attend a performance at Urban Grace Church in downtown Tacoma. While I’ve often admired the Gothic Revival style church, I’d not been previously been inside. This imposing four story building, which is on the historic register, was constructed in 1925 with F.H. Heath acting as the architect. From 1884 to 1923, the site was occupied by the original First Baptist Church. Until 2005 the church had been know as First Baptist Church.
F. H. Heath was also the architect for Stadium High School, Lincoln High School, Pythian Temple (all in Tacoma) and Paradise Inn at Mt. Rainier.
To see a photograph of the current building when it was under construction, go to: http://search.tpl.lib.wa.us/buildings/bldgdetails.asp?id=BU-11471&vhash=M&i=3
In the Fall of 2010, Tacoma Arts Commission’s presented the 2010 “Arts Patron” award AMOCAT Art Awards to the Urban Grace Church for their support of the arts in Tacoma. The Arts Commission stated “Urban Grace’s commitment is exemplified in their establishment of the Poet Laureate position for Tacoma in 2008, their partnership with Fab-5 to create a mural for the Rialto Theater in 2010 and in providing ongoing opportunities for exhibition and performance in all artistic disciplines.”
902 Market Street
Tacoma, WA 98402-3605
(253) 272-2184
Urban Grace’s website is at http://urbangracetacoma.org/
And a Facebook Page devoted to the building being added to the Tacoma Register of Historic Places is here. http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=194822323896
Today dear daughter and I went to the Fair Trade Christmas Market at Bethany Presbyterian Church. The church has done this every year for a long time. The subtitle the event “a different way to Christmas shop”.
The Fair Trade Christmas Market Vendor List includes:
Church World Service – shares, miscellaneous goods
Dough for Doe [funds fight local domestic violence] – cookie dough
El Guetzal [Guatemala] – shirts, scarves, hats, bags
Fish Food Bank [help feed the local hungry] – (shares)
Grass Roots Uganda – inexpensive beaded jewelry & bags
Heifer [world wide] – give a hand up through living gifts
Hfj Community Services
Jubilee Traders [Nepal & India] – jewelry, tablecloths & runners, purses
Kilimanjaro [Kenya] – baskets, jewelry, pictures, musical rhythm instruments
L’arche Farm and Gardens [local community for developmentally disabled adults]– wreaths & cards from handmade paper
Nativity House [local homeless] – (shares)
Rwanda baskets
Serrv – fair trade products from 36 countries
Suradi Imports [Indonesia] – toys
Un Solo Pueblo – [Ecuador] – woolen caps, sweaters, scarves & purses
Zimbabwe Artists Project – art
If you are interested on being on their mailing list for next year, go to their website and email them your information.
http://bethanytacoma.org/default.aspx
I was going to use the Mandoline Cafe today as my new place, but found I had already checked in there. http://www.themandolincafe.com/
So, instead I thought I’d stop at the old Galaxy Theater at Tacoma Central Shopping Center. I’d heard that it was going to be another movie theater. The Galaxy Theater moved to the old location of the AMC Narrows at 2208 Mildred St. W. in early 2009. The website of the Galaxy Theater is http://www.galaxytheatres.com/loc_tacomanarrows.asp
But obviously the building isn’t being renovated for another theater because it has a big sign that says Destiny City Church! The church is currently at 409 N. Tacoma Avenue. Information about the renovation can be found here. http://www.destinycitychurch.org/page.php?id=98
The photos aren’t be best because it’s just not easy to take photos in the dark. I’ll work on that.
Originally uploaded by Gexydaf
Ok, I really didn’t need to go to the polls because I had already voted by mail. But I wanted to take a photo of a polling place and the one at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church at 3315 S. 19th Street in Tacoma was handy. I watched many voters coming and going and it made me happy to see so many taking this seriously.
As far as the church itself, it has very little internet presence, so I still don’t know much about it. I can say that it has a lovely building and a well tended yard!
The website for the Pierce County Auditor’s Office is http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/pc/abtus/ourorg/aud/elections/main.htm
I also received another FourSquare badge for voting! http://foursquare.com/
She was married at 12 (yes, 12!) to an awful man who was eventually killed.
Her two sons planned to avenge their father’s murder, but Rita knew that murder was wrong, so she prayed for her sons to die instead. They did.
While praying to suffer like Jesus, a thorn from a crucifixion figure fell from the crown of thorns and left a deep wound in her forehead. This wound never healed.
Originally she was wanted to enter the monastery, but she was denied because of her husband’s deserved reputation. She was transported into the convent (though locked doors) by her three patron saints, including John the Baptist. At that point she was allowed to stay.
The church itself is simple and lovely. I was particularly impressed with the steeple and the mural over the entry door. The address is 1403 South Ainsworth, Tacoma. The building was constructed in 1922 and is on the historic register.
The website Places of Worship states “A number of Jesuit parishes began as ministries to distinct ethnic communities. A good example is St. Rita of Cascia in Tacoma, Washington. Founded in 1922 to serve specifically the area’s Italian immigrants, it became a geographical parish in 1979. While the congregation is still predominantly Italian-American, it has welcomed a number of Vietnamese families. With 283 registered households, affording a real chance for members of the community to get to know one another, St. Rita has a genuine sense of a family.” http://www.companymagazine.org/v222/placesofworship.htm
The website includes more information about services and mission. http://www.stritatacoma.org/index.php
Note: The picture of Rita is not from the church.
