A Bird's Eye View

I couldn't possibly name them all. But I wonder if I can, from memory, list the ones that all of us see as we travel about this fair city of ours, this lovely community that we call Manassas. There's Grace United Methodist, Trinity Episcopal, All Saints Catholic, First Baptist, Manassas St. Thomas United Methodist, and Manassas Baptist. I don't think I missed any of the churches within the city limits that can boast a highly visible, primary road presence. But there are more, many more, both visible and hidden to the naked eye. Bing, Microsoft's answer to Google, lists seventy-one churches with a Manassas address. That number of course includes churches located outside of the city limits. But it doesn't include churches in places like Bristow or Nokesville, or Gainesville, or Centreville -  communities close enough for a short trip on a Sunday morning.

Yes, our little slice of Northern Virginia provides a smörgåsbord of places to hear the gospel message, to engage in Christian fellowship, to offer oneself in Christian service, and, if one is willing to make the investment, to experience the bounty that is the Christian life, right here in our community.

Even in the days before Manassas became a bustling, bedroom, anti-hamlet to our nation's capital, when we were just a sleepy little southern country town, old timers enjoyed enough places of worship that they named one of our byways Church Street. Today, Church Street cuts a one way, southbound-only path right through the heart of our historic district. From the Firehouse at Quarry Road, to just past the Courthouse across from the Confederate Cemetery, Church Street is just a smidge more than a half of a mile in length, but it represents a rich history of faith in our community.

About a week ago, I was approached by Erin Gibson, our local Patch.com editor, about writing a religious blog for our community. After a few days to work out some details, and a bit of prayer and thought on my part, I decided to jump in. I told Erin that I would like to be a tour guide of sorts, taking my readers on a week-to-week jaunt through the religious goings on in our town, and to drop in a bit of my own editorial commentary here and there. That is why I began my first blog outing with a bird's eye view of sorts. I wanted to convey the big picture, the idea that Manassas is church-rich.

Having lived in Manassas for over twenty-five years, I have built friendships with a number of folks in the community. In fact, at one time or another, I have maintained relationships with one or more people from each of the high profile churches named above. And today, I can count many friends from a variety of churches about town. I even know several pastors. So, while I may not be the most qualified religious tour guide in Manassas, I do know my way around a bit.

Well ... I don't want to wear out my welcome on my first try, so I'll close here. Thanks for stopping by. I hope you will return and join me as we begin to explore the blessing of what I call Christian Pluralism, right here in our own back yard.