By Claire Cozad

Anyone would find great benefit in simply walking through the doors of Edgewood Presbyterian. Whether it be through its wide and diverse pool of members, its intentionally inclusive community, the variety of service options available, the worship experience itself, or even just the beauty and warmth of the church building, there is something for everyone. Edgewood Presbyterian has thoughtfully developed an open, welcoming, and affirming community that ensures all individuals, whether they are longtime members or first-time visitors, immediately feel a deep sense of belonging and comfort.

History

Edgewood Presbyterian’s roots extend back before the founding of the City of Homewood in 1926, to the dairy farms in the area around the turn of the nineteenth century. It also incorporates Second Presbyterian Church, which was founded on Birmingham’s Southside in 1884. It belongs to the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley within the Presbyterian Church (USA) and is a proud More Light Congregation. The church places a strong emphasis on inclusion, welcome, and openness to all, seeking to create a community where every person is valued, celebrated, and encouraged in their faith journey.

From its beginning, this congregation has been devoted to faithful worship, teaching, and learning, all centered around its mission of proclaiming God’s love. Their guiding statement declares,

We joyfully proclaim the gospel of God’s love. As a diverse and inclusive community of believers, we celebrate our unity in Christ. We believe we are called to compassionate service in our congregation, in our community, and in the world. We invite all who want to explore the great mystery of faith and paths of discipleship to join us.

This mission continues to shape the identity and purpose of the congregation today.

The origin of the Edgewood Presbyterian Church can be dated back to 1912, when the Rosedale Cumberland Presbyterian Church and part of the Oak Grove Cumberland Presbyterian Church merged to form a congregation within the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Edgewood Presbyterian Church enjoyed a prominent status for some years as the first and only White-majority church within the geographical area we now recognize as the city of Homewood. It played a central role in the religious life of the growing community.

Its current pastor, the Reverend Joe Genau, was installed in 2014. A decade later, on October 6, 2024, Second Presbyterian Church, which had moved from Birmingham to Homewood in 1963 joined hands in mission and ministry. This union gave birth to the unified Edgewood Presbyterian Church, as it is known today.

Experiencing God’s Presence through Practice

Edgewood Presbyterian Church has a strong focus on sensing the presence of God in its worship services. Throughout the three services that I attended, I was able to see this idea in so many different ways. There’s a whole lot of call and response, which calls the congregation into the Scriptures, so that the presence of God can be sensed more personally. There is a strong focus given to active participation in services, so that every member and each member may personally feel the presence of the Lord—a most important element in the Christian faith. The sacrament of eucharist is held weekly, so that every member receives an equal chance to participate in this holy tradition.

Prior to the presentation of the bread and wine to the congregation, the pastor invokes a blessing over the meal in prayer. He also offers an invitation, that could almost be considered a sermon, as he welcomes the congregation to the table. Finally, the illumination of the altar candles welcomes the Lord into the service from its inception.

The eucharist is celebrated weekly at Edgewood Presbyterian Church so that all the members of the congregation receive an equal chance to participate in this religious tradition. Prior to the distribution of wine and bread among the congregation, the pastor approaches the table and blesses the food symbolically and reverently in prayer. It’s like he’s delivering a mini-sermon, underscoring the profound importance of the act to come. His own prayer is contemplative and deliberate, calling the congregation to a space of reflection and expectation. It is in this type of prayerful preaching that God is intentionally incorporated into the practice of the eucharist and thereby established as a primary and important aspect of the worship experience on a weekly basis.

One thing that greatly impressed me was the lighting of the altar candles. This is a practice that invites the Lord into the service from the beginning. This ritual stands out not just for its ritual beauty but for its deep theological significance. A child lights the altar candles following the chiming of the Trinity, symbolizing the light of Christ entering the sanctuary and our lives. It serves as a visible sign of an invisible grace, beautifully inviting the congregation into a tangible encounter with God’s presence. The quietness that envelops the sanctuary during this act creates a sacred space for reflection, awe, and personal communion with God. It isn’t simply tradition for tradition’s sake; rather, it is a rich, living symbol of God’s nearness among His people. The stillness allows everyone present to focus their hearts and minds beyond the distractions of daily life, offering a powerful reminder that worship is about entering into the mystery and reality of God’s abiding presence.

In short, Edgewood Presbyterian Church provides a rich and contemplative worship experience. From call and response to weekly eucharist, every practice guides the congregation into a more intimate relationship with God’s presence. The pastor’s prayer for the eucharist draws out the importance of the act, and the lighting of the altar candles provides visual notice of Christ’s light entering the sanctuary. Together, these rituals create a setting for active participation, reflection, and communion, in which each member can feel personally connected to the Lord. This thoughtful strategy offers a worship setting that is reverent and rich in spirituality.

Edgewood Presbyterian Church
Address: 850 Oxmoor Road, Birmingham, Alabama 35209
Services Observed: Sunday Worship March 9, 2025 (online), March 23 (in person), April 6,(online).
Website: https://www.edgewoodpc.org/
Video Archives: https://www.youtube.com/@edgewoodPCUSA/videos
Affiliation:
Congregation established: 1912

References

“Our Mission.” Edgewood Presbyterian Church (USA), www.edgewoodpc.org/our-mission.html. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.

“Our Staff.” Edgewood Presbyterian Church (USA), www.edgewoodpc.org/staff.html. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.

Claire Cozad ’27 was a student in Christian Worship: History & Theology in Samford University’s Department of Biblical and Religious Studies in spring 2025.

Published June 13, 2025.