Tearing down an old house and building a new one is the most wasteful thing we do as humans. – Grace Potter

In 2012-13, when Rebekah and I understood that God was calling us to leave Brandon and spend a season with one more church, I crafted a customized list describing what I would like our next location to look like.

But I did not want to muddy the waters, especially if Rebekah was in conversation with a congregation where the community did not match my desires, so I kept the list to myself. Wake Forest, it turned out, scored 100%, hitting every bullet point square on.

One of my biggest asks was “a pedestrian-friendly community with sidewalks,” along with “a real downtown that owns a sense of character and identity.”

I was thinking about that Friday afternoon, when I was walking across the Tarboro Town Common and along Main Street for my hair appointment at my friend Ginger’s salon. So I grabbed a couple of photographs, showing just how lovely and walkable it is here, and I almost forgave the broken sidewalks for tripping me twice.

Typically, I walk Saint Andrew, Park Avenue, Baker, Wilson, Saint Patrick, Saint David, Saint John, Pitt and Saint James. So I’m not sure if I have shared many photographs featuring the fine historic houses on Main.

But, as the images reveal, these homes are picture perfect, dignified and classic examples of period architecture.

The beating heart of Old Tarboro

I’d like to mention another pristine example of stunning period architecture, it is one you are all welcome to visit this morning – and that is the 1909 sanctuary at Howard Memorial Presbyterian Church, on the corner of Saint Patrick and Saint James.

The congregation at Howard is vibrantly alive and actively engaged with this community. Attending worship at HMPC provides a unique opportunity – like living in the historic district – to be in the beating heart of Old Tarboro. And, not only to preserve something critically important but to be a part of making it even more so.

I hope to see you in church at 11:00 – DEREK