“A Place of Spirit Grace Memorial” Eugene Oregon

 

There is a small church, “Grace Memorial”, that heralds the title of being the second oldest church in Eugene. It was built in 1898 and is on 2^nd Avenue just around the corner from the Eugene Mission, off of Chambers in the Whittaker neighborhood. I first came to Grace Memorial seven years ago when I was returning from a night of debauchery and seeking some form of solace. As I walked down 2^nd avenue I heard a voice like an Angel emanating from the little white church across the street. I am a person who always follows spiritual messages, quickly changed my path and walked across the street and asked the deacon who happened to be standing outside if services were in session. He replied, “Yes. Come on in.”   I entered into a church with a high vaulted ceiling and two rows of white pews with a grand red carpet that led down the center of the church. Sister Bolden was in full form singing a powerful spiritual. Her voice lifted to the heavens like the doves portrayed in Icons and in full color like the stain glass window that bathe the rear of the church in multicolored majesty.

The congregation is made up of a devout Afro-American family, the Boldens, with Bishop Norman Bolden as their great Patriarch and great grandfather to the littlest Boldens who can be seen doing a special march on Christmas day. On Easter bonnets of all colors and zeal can be seen adorning the ladies of this church. The whole family, of four generations of Boldens attends Grace Memorial with an amazing devotion and reverence.

 The talent in this family can be herd as gospel spirituals that reverberate and resound from the voices of each generation from Bishop Bolden in his early 70’s singing, “This little light of mine” to his great grand daughter, a four year old, singing, “Victory is mine”. American Idol would be hard pressed to find this much talent in a large metropolis much less than in one place, one church, one family.

There is one thing that Grace Memorial has that over shadows the talent held by the attendees; it is the “Spirit” which permeates every corner, heart, and smile of this congregation. I am often amazed by the “message” given by pastor Simian or one of the other Bolden men and how it often speaks directly to someone who needs it. This I have witnessed many times and even been graced with during my many years of attending this wonderful church. I invite you to come and feel the spirit yourselves and worship within the blessed walls and gifted voices of Grace Memorial, and maybe you too can find the joy I have found in this small spirit-filled church.

 Chef John Ernst aka Thor