Faith is central to the Virginia Baptist Homes (VBH) Foundation. In 1949, the pastor of Culpeper Baptist Church founded what eventually became Virginia Baptist Homes and then LifeSpire of Virginia, and while our roots are in the Baptist tradition, today each community welcomes and celebrates the people of our community from every faith and background.
SPIRITUAL SUPPORT
Chaplains are available at each community, serving as resources for residents, families and their fellow team members. Chaplains support the spiritual journey of everyone, offering blessings in times of joy and celebration, and encouragement in times of crisis, need and bereavement.
In 2020, the Virginia Baptist Homes (VBH) Foundation created the Spiritual Life Fund to support and expand the faith-based programs and the people providing those services within our communities.
Your gifts to the Spiritual Life Fund support the chaplains and the spiritual enrichment programs in each LifeSpire community. Spiritual Life Fund grants are made available annually to pay for resources which each community can use for that spiritual enrichment.
Some grants from the Spiritual Life Fund include:
- songbooks and supplies for Taizé worship and prayer
- grief and bereavement support resources
- new sets of chimes to be used in worship services and other musical offerings
- faith-based lecture series
- appreciation luncheons for volunteer clergy
THE LAKEWOOD RINGERS
Each week, a group of nine residents fills The Simms Center up to its high ceiling with the unique sound of hand chimes.
Hand chimes are similar to brass English hand bells, but have some practical differences. “The chimes are lightweight, easily portable, and you can play them sitting down,” explains Deb Loftis, the group’s director. She notes that there is a certain esprit de corps about the ringers as they share their music during church services, community programs, and combined music recitals. Ringers love the chance to learn new skills, stay physically active and develop their eye-hand coordination during weekly rehearsals.
Everyone in The Lakewood Ringers, experienced or not, says that it’s the joy of creating music together that keeps them coming back. “It’s a great group and we have fun,” adds one member. “It’s also an important ministry that contributes to the spiritual life of our community.”
The hand chimes were made possible through a grant from the Spiritual Life Fund.
To learn more about the Spiritual Life Fund, please visit www.lifespireliving.org/give/spiritual-life/ or call 804-521-9213 for more information.