One is 130 years old. The other is turning 100. A tale of two Miami churches

For more than a century, the Historic Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Coconut Grove has stood the test of time. While weathering the storms of life, the church has served as a beacon of faith, hope and community service.

Founded in 1895 by Bahamian pioneer the Rev. Samuel A. Sampson and 56 other members, who left the integrated Union Chapel to worship in the tradition of their African ancestors, Macedonia is the first church organized by Blacks in Miami-Dade County.

The church was organized in the living room of Edith Albury, who lived on William Avenue in the Grove, it was first named the Fifty-Six Baptist Church in honor of the 56 original members. The name stuck until 1922, when it was changed to Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church.

Carolyn Donaldson, who grew up across the street from Macedonia, remembers as a small child attending services there with her parents. When her family moved out of town while she was still a child, the memories of the church stayed with her. And when she moved back to Coconut Grove as an adult in 1991, she came back home to Macedonia. It is where she wants to be.

The Rev. Lance B. Bailey Sr. has been the pastor of Macedonia for seven years.

“With all that’s going on with gentrification and housing in the city of Miami’s Coconut Grove area, I pray that God will let Macedonia stay where it is and continue to be that cornerstone and beacon of light in the community,’’ he said.

“Our church’s roots are like those of a redwood tree – deep, strong, and intertwined with the history of our community. We celebrate 130 years not just looking back but looking forward to what God will continue to do through Macedonia.”

The month-long celebration honoring its legacy of leadership and service will kick off at 11 a.m. on Sept. 14 at the church, 3515 S. Douglas Road in Coconut Grove. There will be a morning worship service that will feature former NASA Astronaut Winston E. Scott as the guest speaker.

The anniversary celebration will continue with a 130th Anniversary brunch on Oct. 11 at Christ Episcopal Church’s Gibson Hall, 3481 Hibiscus St., in the Grove.

The anniversary closing service will be at 11 a.m. Oct. 26, and will feature the Rev. Dr. Walter T. Richardson, author, civic leader and pastor emeritus of Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church in Perrine as the guest preacher.

If you go, tickets to the 130^th Anniversary Brunch on Oct. 11 are $50 each. Call Carolyn Donaldson for tickets and information at 305-519-7100.

Trinity Cathedral to celebrate 100 years

Speaking of church anniversaries, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral will celebrate its 100^th birthday October 10-12 with events that will include a Centennial Weekend to celebrate “A Century of Faith, Community and Service,” said the Very Rev. Jason Roberson, Cathedral Provost.

To kick off the centennial celebration, Roberson said the Cathedral, , 464 NE 16^th St., will introduce “a new kind of sacred worship experience,” at 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 7.

Called “Vox Dei: One Voice, One Spirit”, Roberson said the evening worship service is “unlike any other in the city – one that stirs the senses and opens the heart through the timeless beauty of the Anglican liturgy infused with live world music.”

Central in the service will be the liturgy, which will include newly arranged hymns – ancient and modern - performed live by musicians from The Frost School of Music at the University of Miami.

A special highlight of the evening service will occur when worshipers will be invited into a “sensory-rich walking meditation,” Roberson said. “Stations set up throughout the cathedral will engage sight, sound, scent and touch, encouraging participants to move thoughtfully through the sacred space.

“Miami is a city of many cultures, rhythm and spiritual seekers,” Roberson said, “and we look forward to offering this rich tapestry of ancient Christian practice with a modern texture of sound and artistic visual content. The service is our way of opening the Cathedral’s doors to the community in a new way – welcoming people to experience the mystery of God through music, prayer, and embodied reflection.”

The 100^th anniversary weekend celebration will begin at 6 p.m. Oct. 10 with the Centennial Gala Dinner in the Cathedral building. Tickets for the gala are $250 per person, or $2,50 for a table of 10. A VIP table of 20 is $5,000.

The Centennial Concert will be at 7 p.m. Oct. 11 and will be held in the Cathedral. The concert, “A Symphonic Celebration,” will celebrate 100 years of sacred tradition and will feature masterworks from the world of classical music.

Concert tickets are $30 each and $100 each for preferred seating.

The celebration will conclude at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 12 with the Centennial Solemn Evensong, a centuries-old tradition that continues to transform hearts and minds through scripture, music and prayer.

All proceeds from the centennial events will benefit the Centennial Preservation Fund for the historic Cathedral building.

For more information, go to www.trinitymiami.org