David Camon
Loved his music.
He loved his family.
He loved his church.
Above all,
He loved his God.
He loved with a fierce love,
A protective love,
An obedient love.
Category Archives: News
August preachers at Beloved: Sunday nights at 6 pm
As we search for a new pastor, we will continue to welcome guest preachers each week. Join us to hear the message, music and welcome of Beloved, Sunday nights at 6 pm.
Sunday, August 7th: Rev. Sonya Gravlee is 
a new Beloved. Originally a Baptist from Birmingham, Sonya moved to Texas. Soon after finishing seminary she was ordained a UCC pastor. For 9 years, she pastored a small cathedral in a West Texas cornfield, in a town of 238 souls, where she was also the campus minister at Angelo State University. She spent some time in a PhD program in Claremont, CA, where she taught at the University of La Verne and served as campus minister. By 2009, Sonya was homesick for her 3 nephews, and moved back to Birmingham. Currently, she serves as Weekend Chaplain at St. Vincent’s East Hospital.
Rev. Robyn Arnold – August 14th
Rev. Arnold is pastor at Grace Episcopal Church in Woodlawn. This church hosts community kitchens, a food pantry, and numerous outreach ministries in the Woodlawn community.
Rev. Tommy Morgan – August 21st
Rev. Morgan is a Disciples of Christ minister from Helena. He serves on the Greater Birmingham Ministries board and works with their “Winning Our Wages” campaign.
Hope Hamilton Schumacher – August 28th
Hope was a co-founder of The Birmigham Voice, a newspaper for and by people living in homelessness. She recently graduated from Boston University School of Theology.
5th Sunday Potluck June 31st – after our evening service
Join us Sunday, June 31st after our 6 pm service for our 5th Sunday potluck! We will grill hotdogs and hamburgers. Bring the sides or fixings of your choice and we’ll have all the rest.
July preachers at Beloved, Sunday nights at 6 pm
As we continue our search for a new pastor, Beloved will welcome guest preachers each week from a variety of different traditions. Come join us and be a part of our diverse, open community!
July 3rd at 6 pm: Rev Sally Allocca, Pastor at East Lake UMC. Rev. Allocca is the founder and director of Promoting Empowerment and Enrichment Resources (P.E.E.R.) in East Lake, working to transform her community through the church and through East Lake Farmer’s Market, Community Kitchen and Mobile Market. Rev. Allocca was named a White House Champion for Change in 2012.
July 10th at 6 pm: Rev. Dr. Richard Stryker, pastor of River of Living Water UMC in Jasper. In 1992, he co-founded a multiethnic congregation in Memphis. He has served for many years of ministry in North Alabama through the UMC conference. Having lived through part of Liberia’s civil war, Rev. Stryker has the passion of a social activist and a prophetic call to reach all people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
July 17th at 6 pm: Rev. Sarah Shelton, Pastor of Baptist Church of the Covenant on University Blvd. A Birmingham native and longtime pastor at Baptist Church of the Covenant and, earlier, Brookwood Baptist Church. Sarah’s congregation has partnered with Beloved on the Family Promise ministry for homeless families, as well as our recent prayer vigil for Orlando, and, in previous years, on hosting the Cuba Caravan.
July 24th at 6 pm: Rev. Moneka A. Thompson was born in Montgomery, received her BS in Criminal Justice from Alabama State University, her MS in Justice and Public Safety from Auburn University at Montgomery, and her Master of Divinity from Hood Theological Seminary, in Salisbury, NC. She is an Ordained Elder in the AME Zion denomination and has also served as an AME Zion pastor. Moneka is the Staff Chaplain for The Kirklin Clinic.
July 31st at 6 pm: Rev. Dr. Cecelia Walker is an associate pastor at Trinity Baptist Church in Birmingham. Walker serves as director of pastoral care and director of clinical pastoral education for Baptist Health Systems. A Birmingham native, she earned a bachelor’s from Birmingham-Southern College, a Master of Divinity from Beeson, and a doctorate from the Interdenominational Theological Center Morehouse School of Religion.
Join us also on Wednesday nights at 7 for our weekly Bible study. At Beloved, you are always welcome to come as you are, be who you are, and help us grow into the community of people we were created to be!
Father’s Day cookout Sunday, June 19th, 5 pm
Join us Sunday, June 19th, before our 6 pm service, to celebrate Father’s Day and Juneteenth with a cookout at Beloved! Food will be served from 4:45-5:45 pm.
Then, hang out for our 6 pm service with special guest Rev. J.R. Finney from Covenant Community Church!
(ps- if you miss the food before the service, we are sure to have food left to eat after worship!)
June preachers at Beloved, Sunday nights at 6
As Beloved continues our search for a pastor, we will welcome incredible guest preachers from our community to share wisdom, guidance, and encouragement for our lives.
Join us Sunday evenings at 6 pm for the message, the company of Beloveds, and the music of our own Beloved Community Orchestra!
Sunday, June 5th, 2016: Rev. June Boutwell, Southeast Conference Minister of the United Church of Christ
June began her ministry with Southeast Conference in March 2014 bringing experience in local church ministry in Maine, Oregon, and California. Her hope is to listen to as many stories as she can about individuals and churches in the Conference and to explore where the Spirit is leading us in our mutual ministry. She will join us to celebrate our 16th anniversary!
Sunday, June 12th: Rev. Bud Precise
Bud is an ordained UMC minister with dual Standing in the UCC as the former Pastor of Pilgrim Church UCC. He currently serves as their director of Christian Education. Bud will share the Lord’s Supper. All are welcome!
Sunday, June 19th: Father’s Day Cookout + Rev. J.R. Finney
Rev. J.R. Finney is pastor of Covenant Community Church UCC in Center Point, AL, our sister congregation. CCC and Pastor J.R. have been the subject of an award-winning documentary entitled “The Congregation.” His ministry philosophy is “To lead our LGBT and progressive community in a faith that builds healthy, wholesome relationships with God through Jesus Christ that makes a practical difference in the daily living of their lives, proclaiming loudly ‘the inclusive love of God without the guilt of religion.'”
Sunday, June 26th: Rev. Carolyn Foster
Rev. Foster is a deacon in St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Birmingham, and also serves as the Faith in Community Coordinator with Greater Birmingham Ministries. She coordinates the interfaith Alabama Faith Council and also organized the recent Moral Revival in Birmingham. Her favorite quote is from Archbishop Desmond Tutu: “In God’s family, there are no outsiders, no enemies.”
Join us Sunday nights at 6 pm or Wednesday nights at 7 pm – all people are welcome and all people are celebrated as Beloveds.
99 Films presents Bastards of the Party, Thursday, June 28th, 7 pm
Bastards of the Party is a 2005 documentary film produced by Alex Demyanenko and directed by former Bloods gang-member Cle Sloan.
The film explores the creation of two of Los Angeles’s most notorious gangs, the Crips and the Bloods, from the perspective of the Los Angeles community. The film also denounces gang violence and presents meaningful solutions from former gang-members to stop this problem.
99 Films are presented by Birmingham Institute for Social Change and Magic City Agriculture Project. These films are chosen to inspire, critique and educate the public about racial justice and community development.
Beloved’s 16th Anniversary Celebration Sunday, June 5th
A celebration of our Beloved Community in our 16th year. Featuring fantastic gospel, R&B, and sacred music. With special guest preacher Rev. June Boutwell, conference minister for the Southeast Conference of the United Church of Christ.
All Beloveds new and old are welcomed to join us for a celebration of word, music and song, followed by a potluck supper.
Featuring musical guests David Sea of the Temptations Review, Gold record artist Roscoe Robinson, Christ Will Enter In, LeNard Brown of the Controllers, Leah Clements and the Beloved Community Orchestra. (Below: photos from last year’s anniversary!)
See you there, Beloved!
Guest preachers this month at Beloved: Sunday nights at 6
As Beloved continues our search for a pastor, we will welcome incredible guest preachers from our community to share wisdom, guidance, and encouragement for our lives.
Join us Sunday evenings at 6 pm for the message, the company of Beloveds, and the music of our own Beloved Community Orchestra!
Sunday, May 1st, 2016: Rev. Brandon Harris
Rev. Dr. Brandon Harris serves as Senior Pastor for our neighboring Avondale UMC. A Birmingham native and an Auburn grad, Rev. Harris helped our church when we needed a home after the tornado destroyed our roof in 2014. Rev. Harris will soon be moving to Rainbow City FUMC, and we are glad to have one last chance to hear his message for us.Sunday, May 8th: Jennifer Sanders
This Mother’s Day, join us to celebrate women who impact our lives: mothers, godmothers, aunties, stepmothers, leaders, teachers, mentors, nurturers and friends. Join us to celebrate the amazing women in our lives! We hope you will join us with an important woman in your life.Sunday, May 15th, 6 pm: Rev. Kelley Hudlow
An Episcopal deacon and Director of Community Relations with our neighbor The Abbey, Rev. Kelley also serves as chaplain of the Alabama Iona Ministry School for bi-vocational priests, lay leaders and deacons.
Sunday, May 22nd, 6 pm: Hector Black
An activist against the death penalty, Hector will share his powerful story about his daughter’s murder, a story of hope, anger, acceptance, pain, forgiveness and friendship.Read more about Hector here.
June 29th: Rev. Rodney Franklin
Rev. Dr. Rodney Franklin is pastor at First Congregational UCC in Birmingham, which is Birmingham’s oldest congregational church, founded in 1882! He will preach on the “Faith of an Outsider” found in Luke 7:1-10.
Progressive Christian Alliance PEACE Talk Thursday, April 28th
Birmingham Progressive Christian Alliance and International House of Peace present PEACE Talk! PEACE Talk is a monthly talk given by renowned speakers on the topics of social justice, radical inclusion and peace. PEACE Talk will take place at various locations around the state and will be streamed live via Webinar. Join us at Beloved Community Church for PEACE Talk featuring Dr. N.S. Xavier on April 28, 2016 at 6:00 pm.
Continue reading Progressive Christian Alliance PEACE Talk Thursday, April 28th
