Faith

As I write this, the nation is focused on Washington, D.C., and the inauguration of Barack Obama. However, my attention is eight or so miles away in Alexandria, Va.

My granddaughter, Caroline, turns 7 on Jan. 21.

While her festivities aren't on the scale of an inaugural gala, on Sunday, Jan. 25, she and six of her friends are having a snowflake party. My daughter, Alison, has been planning it for months.

Lewis & Lewis, a singing, songwriting husband and wife duo from Nashville, Tenn., will present a special musical event Saturday at Fairview Baptist Church in Mannsville.

The event begins at 6 p.m.

Ray and Laura Lewis have written songs for numerous southern gospel groups. Their music has been recorded by artists as diverse as the Happy Goodman Family, The Kingsmen Quartet, Doug Oldham and Grand Ole Opry star Connie Smith.

Their song, "I'm A Winner Either Way," recorded by The Inspirations, was one of last year's most popular gospel songs.

The Rev. Dr. Bradley Warren Pace was ordained as an Episcopal priest on Dec. 6 at St. James Cathedral in Chicago, Ill.

Pace graduated from Seabury Theological Seminary in Evanston, Ill., where he earned his master's degree. He earned his doctorate from the University of Chicago and another master's at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. His undergraduate studies were completed at Berea College.

What is the common thread among Abraham Lincoln, Al Gore, Johnny Cash, Chuck Norris, Jessica Simpson, John Grisham, Ernie Fletcher and the author of this story?

They are all Baptists. And the group is celebrating its 400th anniversary this year.

According to baptisthistory.org, Baptists came into existence in England in the early 17th century. In 1609, a Puritan-Separatist group led by John Smyth encouraged believers to be immersed as a profession of faith in Christ. The name "Baptist" originally was coined by their opponents, but the name still stands.