Valley View Baptist Church in Reno will be celebrating its 150th year of ministry in the Mid-Ohio Valley on Sunday, May 17, with a day of reflecting on the past and looking forward to the future.
The celebration will be facilitated by the Rev. Paul Morton and Associate Pastor James Hall.
The morning worship service at 10:30 a.m. will include special music, scenes from the church's history and a declaration of "Jubilee." Lunch will follow in the church's fellowship hall.
An afternoon program will feature music by a special Anniversary Choir, made up of members young and old; the unveiling of an Anniversary Quilt; and the sharing of pictures and favorite Bible verses from members of the congregation. A time capsule will also be buried to mark the anniversary.
The church ministers to the community with several events and activities, including a Faith Walk Challenge Course that was built in May 2003.
The Challenge Course has offered an experience at no cost to more than 3,390 people since it was built. Located on eight acres in Reno, Faith Walk consists of 13 low elements less than 10 feet high, and seven high elements ranging from 20 feet to 40 feet high, a 52-foot-tall climbing tower, and a 300-foot zip line. Through the years, 38 adults have been trained to lead participants through the course.
The church also sponsors a Tuesday evening worship service at The Inn at Marietta with Gale Lauderman, pastor of Lawrence Baptist Church, leading the service. Also, each Sunday a group of men and woman take turns leading Bible study for young people at the Juvenile Detention Center.
The church has something for everyone, from nursery age to "Keenagers."
Deacon will be ordained a priest
Deacon Bradley Greer will be ordained a priest for the Catholic Diocese of Steubenville on Saturday, May 30, at Holy Name Cathedral in Steubenville.
He will celebrate his first Mass on Sunday, May 31, at St. Mary Church in Marietta. A dinner will follow at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Lowell.
Greer, a native of Lenoir, N.C., has made his home at Our Lady of Mercy in Lowell during his time in the seminary.
Responses to radio broadcast welcome
Christ United Methodist Church in Marietta has designated May as "Listener Response Month" and is inviting listeners to its weekly radio program to respond with postcards or notes.
"Good News from Christ," a weekly half-hour radio broadcast of music and worship from Christ United Methodist Church, is broadcast every Sunday morning at 10:06 a.m. on local station WMOA, 1490 AM.
The radio program was begun by the church in 1991 as an outreach to the community and especially to people who can't attend church.
During the month of May, the church is inviting listeners to the program to help improve it by sending in a postcard or note telling how often they listen, what they appreciate about the program, and how they think the program can be improved. Those writing do not need to include their name or address unless they choose to.
Responses should be sent to Good News from Christ, 301 Wooster St., Marietta, Ohio 45750.
Send church news to Janet Gossett in care of The Marietta Times, P.O. Box 635, Marietta, Ohio 45750. Information can also be e-mailed to jgossett@mariettatimes.com, faxed to (740) 376-5475 or submitted through the Virtual Newsroom on the Times' Web site, www.MariettaTimes.-com. Deadline for information for the Focus on Faith page is noon Tuesday each week for that Saturday's edition.
