N.C. pastors seek to build bonds between churches

APEX, N.C. — On the day of 2015’s racially motivated attack on nine black worshipers in Charleston, S.C., Pastor Kyle Meier of Peak United Methodist Church picked up the phone to call Rev. James Taylor at nearby St. Mary AME Church.

Meier, who is white, asked if there was anything he and his predominantly white church on North Salem Street could offer Taylor, who is black, and his South Salem Street congregation during a time of grief for black churches around the country.

“I told them, ‘I don’t know you, and you don’t know me, and I’m sorry I waited for an event like this to reach out, but it’s apparent that we need to do a better job building bridges between the churches in our communities,’” Meier recalled.

Meier, 28, describes that first contact as “awkward, stumbling and bumbling.”

But Taylor, 59, was patient with him, Meier said. Taylor agreed to work with Meier and his congregation, on the condition that the resulting partnership go beyond a surface-level photo opportunity.

“We were explicit that this could not be a spectacle — ‘Look at us, we’re not racist because we had dinner one time together,’ “Meier said.

The two church leaders, concerned by Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous observation that 11 o’clock on Sunday morning is “one of the most segregated hours in Christian America,” have spent the past year working to bring their congregations together. They sought to reckon with the issues that have kept spiritual spaces racially separated into the 21st century.

Those efforts began with dinners and shared services, but Taylor and Meier decided a book study would be the substance of the partnership. The title they selected, Jim Wallis’ “America’s Original Sin: Racism, White Privilege, and the Bridge to a New America,” made their intentions clear.

Between both churches, about 60 people showed interest when the book study began in September, but not all of them were immediately comfortable with the text or what would be asked of them during the next nine weeks.

“The first night that we met, everybody was a little tense,” Taylor said. “You could tell. But what I’ve learned is that if you can see that everybody’s tense, you address that. Let’s deal with the elephant in the room. And once we did that, the tension just went away.”

Apex is a relatively white and affluent town. Its median family income of $91,000 per year is roughly twice the state’s median, according to 2015 estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau. About 80 percent of the town’s residents are white, and 7.5 percent are black, compared to 71 and 22 percent, respectively, according to 2015’s statewide Census figures.

“The most visible places in Apex tend to be white,” said Meier, who came to Apex about two and a half years ago after graduating from Duke Divinity School. “I could have done ministry here for 10, 20 years and not broached the subject of race. It’s not an issue we’re talking about in Apex.”

Financial Peace University at Lifeline Community Church in Lodi

LODI — Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University is coming to Lifeline Community Church on Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 6:30 p.m. The nine-week course provides families and individuals with practical tools to gain control of their finances and set themselves up for long-term financial success. The course meets once a week. A different lesson is taught by Ramsey on DVD followed by a small-group discussion. Lessons include budgeting, relationships and money, getting out of debt, saving for emergencies and investing. To register call 209-369-3004. The church is located at 500 Park St.

Faith Bible Institute at The Home Church

LODI — The Home Church will be offering Faith Bible Institute, a course that takes you through the Bible, on Wednesdays beginning Jan. 18 at 6:15 p.m. Students study chronologically through every Bible book and doctrine in classes that meet one evening each week. FBI combines verse-by-verse Bible teaching, student workbooks, and group classes. To register online, visit For more information, call 209-339-7333 or visit

The church is located at 11451 N. West Lane.

Free retreat offered to caregivers

LODI — First United Methodist Church of Lodi is sponsoring a free retreat, The Essence of Care on Saturday, Feb. 4, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The retreat is designed to provide family caregivers with respite, rejuvenation and renewal.

This is a day of celebrating you, for your love and dedication as a family caregiver. Learn strategies for self-care through understanding our experiences, knowing our limits and creating meaningful support.

Anchored in the powerful practice of listening to ourselves, learn how to renew connections with those you love and care for. This retreat is specifically for family caregivers, not providers.

Featured speakers are Julie Interrante, Ginger McMurchie, and Gail Arno. For information, and to register, please contact First United Methodist Church at 209-368-5357 or by email at

Refreshments and lunch are included. Space is limited. The deadline to register is Jan. 27. The church is located at 200 W. Oak St. in Lodi.

MLK Day Celebration of Unity to be held at First Methodist Church

LODI — The Breakthrough Project for Social Justice will be sponsoring it’s 19th annual Celebration of Unity on Monday, Jan. 16 from noon to 1:30 p.m., honoring the peacemaking legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It will be held at First United Methodist Church’s Fellowship Hall on 200 W. Oak St.

Assemblyman Jim Cooper will be the keynote speaker. There will also be the announcement of the Art Raab Memorial Essay Contest winners and a recognition of peacemakers in the community.

Founded 18 years ago in response to hate crimes in Lodi, the Breakthrough Project for Social Justice reaches out with compassion and sympathy to victims of hate crimes. The project also promotes greater understanding and tolerance of the diverse ethnic, religious and cultural groups in the community.

New Covenant Tabernacle celebrating pastor’s nine years of service

LODI — New Covenant Tabernacle will be honoring Pastor Patrice McCular in the third annual Pastor’s Appreciation Service on Jan. 29 at 4 p.m. McCular has served as pastor for the past nine years. Guest speaking at the event will be Apostle Don T. Jones. New Covenant Tabernacle is located at 942 E. Pine St. in the Pregnancy Resource Center building. For more information call 209-677-7628.

FBC University at First Baptist Church

LODI — First Baptist Church launches FBC University with two new opportunities:

• Understanding the Old Testament — taught by Pastor Steve from Jan. 8 to March 19 (Sundays) at 9:45 a.m. or Jan. 11 to March 22 (Wednesdays) at 6:15 p.m.

• The Intersection of Faith & Science as seen in Genesis 1-8 taught by John Teravskis at his business location, WGR Southwest, Inc., 11780 N. Highway 99, Lodi from Jan. 12 to March 2 (Thursdays) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

All classes are free of charge. Call the church office at 209-334-1332 for further information.

Beth Hallel service cancelled this Saturday

LODI — Beth Hallel will not be holding services this Saturday due to a funeral which will be held that day in Vinewood Church. For more information call 209-981-1478.