Hollywood Cemetery. A beloved member of the tribe goes to ground.
The Winter Solstice in 2025 occurs on
Sunday, December 21, at 10:03 AM EST (15:03 UTC), marking the shortest day and longest night in the Northern Hemisphere, signaling the start of astronomical winter and the gradual return of more daylight. This event happens when the Earth’s North Pole is tilted farthest from the Sun, and it’s simultaneously the Summer Solstice for the Southern Hemisphere.
But there is a sadness at the the still point. Pack members gone. Life changing. Loss of familiar voices. Old ones going going. Dance and sing. Pause, remember, mourn.
At the still point of the turning world. Neither flesh nor fleshless;
Neither from nor towards; at the still point, there the dance is,
But neither arrest nor movement. And do not call it fixity,
Where past and future are gathered. Neither movement from nor towards,
Neither ascent nor decline. Except for the point, the still point,
There would be no dance, and there is only the dance.–T.S.Eliot
Based on the prevalence of biblical names and the size of the U.S. church population (approximately 500,000 churches), a conservative estimate suggests there could be several hundred to a few thousand churches with “Shiloh” in their names.
The term “Shiloh” has multiple layers of meaning in scripture, which contribute to its appeal:
•Geographical Place: Shiloh was an ancient city in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Jerusalem, where the Israelites set up the Tabernacle after entering the Promised Land (Joshua 18:1). It was the central place of worship during the period of the Judges, where figures like Hannah prayed and Samuel received his prophetic calling (1 Samuel 1:3, 3:1-10). Its role as a sacred space makes it a symbol of God’s presence among His people.
•Prophetic Figure: In Genesis 49:10, “Shiloh” is widely interpreted by Christians as a Messianic title. The verse suggests that a ruler from Judah will hold authority until “Shiloh comes,” to whom the nations will gather. Early Jewish and Christian scholars, including the Targum Onkelos and Church Fathers, saw this as a prophecy of the Messiah. The term may derive from Hebrew roots meaning “peace-giver,” “he to whom it belongs,” or “messenger,” all of which Christians apply to Jesus.
•Symbol of Peace and God’s Presence: Shiloh’s association with rest and tranquility reflects God’s promise of peace. In the New Testament, this is fulfilled in Jesus, who offers spiritual rest (Matthew 11:28-30) and is the ultimate dwelling place of God’s presence (John 1:14; Colossians 2:9). The fall of Shiloh due to Israel’s disobedience (1 Samuel 4; Jeremiah 7:12-14) also serves as a warning against spiritual complacency, a theme Baptists often emphasize in preaching repentance and faithfulness.
Relation to Jesus
The connection between Shiloh and Jesus is primarily rooted in the Messianic interpretation of Genesis 49:10, which is significant for Baptist theology:
•Fulfillment of Prophecy: Christians, including Baptists, believe Jesus fulfills the prophecy of Shiloh as the descendant of Judah who holds eternal kingship. He is the “Lion of the tribe of Judah” (Revelation 5:5) and the ruler to whom the nations are gathered (Philippians 2:9-11). The scepter (symbolizing authority) remains with Judah until the Messiah, Jesus, establishes His eternal kingdom.
•Bringer of Peace: Shiloh’s meaning as “peace-giver” aligns with Jesus as the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6) and the one who brings reconciliation between God and humanity (Ephesians 2:14). Baptist churches often emphasize salvation through Jesus, who offers rest for the soul, mirroring Shiloh’s connotation of tranquility.
•Spiritual Temple: In the Old Testament, Shiloh housed the Tabernacle, where God’s presence dwelt. In the New Testament, Jesus is seen as the ultimate temple (John 2:19-21), and His Spirit dwells in believers, making the church the new “temple” (1 Corinthians 3:16). For Baptists, naming a church “Shiloh” may symbolize the church as a place where believers encounter Jesus, the true source of God’s presence.
•New Covenant: The fall of Shiloh and the departure of the Ark of the Covenant (1 Samuel 4:22) foreshadowed the rejection of the old system and the establishment of a new covenant through Jesus. Baptists, who emphasize salvation by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), see Jesus as the fulfillment of Shiloh’s promise—a new, eternal place of rest.-Mr. Grok
7722 Lewis B. (S.R. 33),, General Puller Hwy, Topping, VA 23169. Middlesex County
This area was long settled by indigenous peoples; those encountered by Europeans were of the Algonquian-speaking peoples, part of loose alliance of tribes known as the Powhatan Confederacy. The Nimcock had a village on the river where Urbanna was later developed. English settlement of the area began around 1640, with the county being officially formed in 1668 from a part of Lancaster County.[3] This settlement pushed the Nimcock upriver. The county’s only incorporated town, Urbanna, was established by the colonial Assembly in 1680 as one of 20 50-acre port towns designated for trade. It served initially as a port on the Rappahannock River for shipping agricultural products, especially the tobacco commodity crop. As the county developed, it became its commercial and governmental center.–Wikipedia
Antioch is the oldest African-American church in Middlesex County and has been a beacon of leadership in the county for 158 years. It is also a part of the Saluda Historic District.–House and Home
