A Visit to Portland Avenue

Greetings friends,

Here are some reflections on my visit to Portland Avenue Church of Christ in Louisville last evening.

I spent the day at Kirkpatrick Lectures held in conjunction with the North American Christian Convention. I decided late in the afternoon to forego the evening session at NA to find the Portland Avenue building and visit for Wednesday services. My time was limited and I had to be back in Nashville that night. Not knowing when I would have time to visit PA for services, I set out. I knew the general area of town in which to look, and after several turns and stopping once for directions I was pulling in just as services were starting.

The area of town, to the west of downtown Lousiville, along the river, is a working class neighborhood of row houses, city lots, brick and stone factories, schools and small businesses. I suspect an exodus to the suburbs is partly responsible for its decline. The area has seen better days.

After some helpful directions I soon found a simple, white clapboard church, the Portland Avenue Church of Christ. Immediately my eye was drawn to the vintage black-and-gold-lettered sign on the front of the building: "All are welcome here, especially the stranger and ther poor." The white building is surrounded by a lush green lawn. Adjoining the back of the building is the facility for the Portland Christian School. This school is among the oldest primary and secondary schools still in operation by members of Churches of Christ. If memory serves me correctly it is the second-oldest, behind what is now called David Lipscomb Campus School in Nashville.

A nice young man took me down a hallway lined with colorful art projects and posters, past classrooms with children to the prayer-meeting, assembled in the Boll Memorial Library.

I found four elderly members, three ladies and one gentleman, discussing the needs of those on their sick-list. They warmly welcomed me and we exchanged introductions. That I was in town and stopped by to visit pleased them (you do have to want to find Portland Avenue, it is out of the way a bit); that I knew of Brother Boll and Brother Olmstead (whose portraits hung on the wall above the high bookcases containg Boll's library) especially surprised them. I am from Hendersonville, not very far at all from Gallatin, where Olmstead preached. I knew a few people from the Gallatin church, although we haven't had contact in several years.

We prayed for the sick, mentinoning their families, loved ones, caregivers and doctors in earnest hope for healing and peace. Following the Amen they discussed the needs of their missionaries, in detail and each by name. I recognized most of the names from my reading the Word and Work. Yet the people I knew only by name they knew as people, as family, and as ones sent and supported by the church. Many times someone would say "They really need our prayers, we must not forget them." We prayed for the missionaries, in detail and by name. We then discussed the affairs of the world, especially Israel and the Palestinians and the war in Iraq. We prayed for the leaders and decision-makers in our land and in other lands in earnest hope for peace. Discussion afterward turned to their beloved minister, Alex Wilson, and how much they appreciated him. We then prayed a final time, for Alex and the congregation. Again, in earnest and with hope that God would work through them for good in their community.

One of the ladies attended Central in the early 30's when she was completing a Master's degree at Peabody. One of the ladies and her husband (Mr. and Mrs. Robert Heid) were entertained for an evening meal in the home of J. W. Shepherd. She vividly recalled the hospitality and graciousness of both J. W. and Julia. Robert would later edit and publish the Word and Work; he also would later preach for a time at Portland Avenue. It has been 20 years since he passed from this life to eternity; she, and Heid printing, still print the paper and mail it out each month from a little wooden-frame building adjacent to the Portland Avenue property.

They showed me the auditorium where for over 40 years R.H. Boll preached. New flooring and air-conditioning notwithstanding, it is essentially the same as it was back then. These ladies grew up in the community, attended Portland Christian School, and regaled me with stories about how the building was often packed to overflowing. They told me about how Boll was a studious, meek, and humble man. They told me how he urged them to study the scriptures for themselves, and not believe anything because he or anyone else said to, but because it is what the scriptures teach. Somewhere online is a sermon or two by Boll. I forget the site; but I must listen to them again.

They took me to the Word and Work Bookstore where I bought a few tracts and booklets by Don Carlos Janes, J. R. Clark, Stanford Chambers and Boll. My great-grandfather admired Boll, and subscribed to WW. His son, Dr. McGarvey C. Ice, did as well. He read it faithfully each month. My own personal memories of seeing and reading the WW, and hearing my grandfather speak highly of Boll and his attitude toward scripture and prophecy made the visit to this little shop all the more meaningful.

The prayer-meeting, with just the five of us, will stand out in my memory, I hope, for a long time to come. Seeing the Boll library, and knowing that the study of these books played a deeply significant role in the life of the Portland Avenue church and in the readership of the WW, was particularly meaningful. One book story: I pulled from the shelf Boll's Lessons on Hebrews, (McQuiddy 1910). Penned inside is a notation, to the effect of: "First Copy, to my dear wife, love Robert, 1910." In a moment, as I stood in the library holding that book, Boll's scholarship, ministerial and pastoral presence in the PA congregation, and his humanity came together in a profound way.

More could be said, but this is enough to convey the essence of a wonderful visit to the Portland Avenue church. Someday I hope to return for worship and research.

Who else has been to Portland Avenue? Please share your memory.

Grace and peace,
Mac

A Christian word for someone who is grieving

I have two suggestions to help people think through suffering and grief. Look at the online presence of Mike Cope and John Mark Hicks. Both have lost children to disease and illness. Both are trained and competent theologians and ministers. Both reject pat answers and shallow theology. Both offer instead a word which is at once biblically grounded and theologically substantive, something at once useful and hopeful. Specifically, look on Mike's blog under the category for "Megan." John Mark has two sites: a blog and an online publication page. Scroll through the blog; on the Faithsite page look especially under books and articles. I've given away several copies of "Yet Will I Trust Him" and "Anchors for the Soul." Quite honestly, it is the best material on suffering to come from Churches of Christ. I pray it has wide reception and that it helps sufferers.

Grace and peace.

This and That

Look for a series of reflections on my story in the American Restoration Movement. I have worked up drafts of three posts and am editing them in fits and starts. Also, look for some publishing on the DCHS website in a few months. I've got some things simmering. For that matter, be looking in our site period, as we want to maintain a useful web presence for all persons interested in the Stone-Campbell Movement.

I have created a post post (chronologically it is the earliest post in the archives) and moved all links to it. I have also salvaged most of the Biblical studies links from my page on the Ezell-Harding site and pasted it in the same post. It needs some cleaning up, but its a start. My goal is to clean out my bookmarks and put everything of that sort on the blog. I want a cleaner and simpler look. (If you want to know my links you can find them easily enough without a mile-long list.)

One blog of note: if you have not yet seen Bobby Valentine's blog, you need to bookmark it, link to it, whatever, and read it often. Bobby and I have corresponded over several years in several forums and shared research with each other. I commend him to you as a thoughtful and capable scholar-minister.

This summer semester has me crossing the 60-hour mark at DLU with a course in Ministry, Seminar in Ministry: Small Church Ministry. There seems to be a faint light at the end of the tunnel. It may be that I could finish by August or December 2007. If the offered courses and schedules make, that is. I've had this graduate degree longer than the ages of both my children put together. (What gets me everytime is that I am in class with guys who started and finished their BA's since I've been working on these masters degrees).

Who will be at the North American Christian Convention? Be sure to attend the Kirkpatrick Lectures Wednesday and Thursday. I'll be the one with the bow-tie.

Who will be at the Lipscomb Lectures? I will try to make as much of the evening programs as I can. The line-up this year is better and wider and richer than it has been in a long time. Kudos to whomever is responsible for a great line-up.

Stone-Campbell Dialogue

This from my friend Clint Holloway:

Area Worship Service for Churches of Stone-Campbell Traditions

At 5 pm on June 11 there will be an area worship service for congregations of the Stone-Campbell/Restoration Movement and as part of the 2006 Stone-Campbell Dialogue hosted by Lipscomb University. Participants in the worship service will include Churches of Christ - Christian Churches - Disciples of Christ. The highlight of the service will be a celebration of the Lord's Supper, which Thomas Campbell called "that great sacrament of Unity and Love." The Lord's Supper will be led by Jeff Weston Australian-born director of the World Convention. The service will also include worship in song, responsive readings, Scripture and prayer (no preaching). The service is being hosted by several local congregations, World Convention, the Disciples of Christ Historical Society and others. It will be held in the Great Hall of the Family of God at Woodmont Hills (Church of Christ), 3710 Franklin Road, Nashville, TN 37204.

All churches and their members are invited to be a part of this unique and historic worship celebration among the three historic bodies of believers that trace their roots to the 19th century Reformation movement led by Thomas and Alexander Campbell and Barton W. Stone.

The Stone-Campbell Dialogue is an annual gathering of Scholars and Ministers from throughout the United States and across the three historic streams of the Stone-Campbell Movement who meet to share and discuss the unity we have as brothers and sisters in Christ and to heal decades of sinful division. It is not, however, a movement to seek merger of the three distinct bodies but a recognition of our heritage.

For more information on the worship service please contact Clinton J. Holloway at milligan95@yahoo.com
For more information on the Dialogue please contact Robert Welsh at rwelsh@ccu.disciples.org

Clinton J. Holloway
Minister of Involvement, First Christian Church, Nashville, TN
Stone-Campbell Movement Historian
"It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness."

Laura, the girls, and I hope to see you there. Look for me at or around the DCHS table.

Long time no blog

May came and went without comment from the Ice's. I don't think I could tell you much about it either. Most all of May is a blur in my memory.

Here's the rough sketch: I tied up loose ends at Ezell and put another semester in the books. I finished well if I do say so myself. I finished the semester on time, ahead of schedule actually, and covered the material sufficiently. I graded papers and had grades turned in. I cleaned out my office and classroom (that was surreal). I have a decaying bookshelf, three filing cabiniets and their contents left to bring home. I managed to get most everything else home a bit at a time over the course of the last sx-weeks. The big delay on the remaining files is that our garage is full: waist deep full with stuff already.

The Monday after graduation we headed south for two days in Disney World. We loved it: left Nashville on a 7am flight and we were in the park for lunch with Cinderella (in the castle I might add). We got a package deal that inlcuded everything, and for a reasonable price. Since I am losing summers (still trying to get used to that) we thought getting away for a few days at Disney World would be time well spent. And it was. Darby loved every minute and was a dream child. I will shamelessly brag on her: no crying fits, no tantrums, no difficulties. Laura and I thought that she would love it, but we were surprised at how well she did. (No I don't have a "My child is an honor student..." bumper sticker; but I am a proud dad and this is my blog, so I can brag if I want to).

After that we spent a few days in St. Louis visiting Laura's parents and then home again for about 2 days getting our breath in time for me to start at DCHS June 1. Things have started smoothly, and I am already busy researching and corresponding, touring and studying. I'm slowly learning how the collection is arranged and how to make sense of it all. I jumped right in and I'll learn as I go. I've met some genuinely interesting and fine people in the last week. Verily verily, you never know who will walk in, or what the day's mail will bring. Just today I spoke with a man who has one of Alexander Campbell's Bibles (not the Living Oracles that Campbell printed and translated, but a copy of the Bible with AC's signature in it). Put that in your pipe and smoke it! The commute has been a pleasant surprise: only about 30 minutes in and 45 minutes home. Some days it took longer getting to and from Ezell-Harding.

Ella now has three teeth, waves hello and goodbye, and claps her hands and holds her ear (?) when we say "peek-a-boo." Darby positively loves her swimming lessons. Laura's summer piano lessons started back up again this week.

Grace and peace, friends. Let us hear from you.