CHURCH NEWS
• New Bridge Church, Sandston, broke ground for an addition to its fellowship hall on Nov. 23. The addition will include a music suite, prayer room, additional space for meetings and classrooms. When the project was proposed, an anonymous donor pledged to match the $550,000 goal, if it was reached by June 2009. Early pledges have exceeded $411,000.
• Thaxton Church, Thaxton, will have a worship celebration and dedication of its new Worship Center on Dec. 7 at 10 a.m. The 17,000-square foot building will include a large multi-purpose room with stage, a lobby, restrooms, café/meeting room, kitchen, elevator, media room and five classrooms.
DEATHS
• Karen Denise Croston died Nov. 18 in Suffolk. For the past 19 years she had served as minister of music at East End Church, Suffolk, where her husband, Mark A. Croston Sr. serves as senior pastor. She was the first African American consultant for church music and worship for the BGAV. She was a staff writer for The Church Musician, a publication of the Baptist Sunday School Board (now LifeWay Christian Resources). In addition to her husband, she is survived by two children, Candace Kamille and Mark Andrew Jr.; her father, William A. Johnson Sr.; three sisters; and two brothers. A celebration of life was held Nov. 22 at East End Church, Suffolk.
• Retired Virginia Baptist pastor Robert “Bob” Glazebrook died in Richmond on Nov. 14. He had served as pastor of Spring Hill Church, Ruckersville; Oakland Church, Gum Spring; Morattico Church, Kilmarnock; and Falmouth Church, Fredericksburg. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; a daughter, Deborah Dandridge; a son, Glenn Glazebrook; five grandchildren; and two great-grandsons. A memorial service was held Nov. 19 at Second Church, Richmond.
• Retired Virginia Baptist pastor Ernest E. Ozmore Jr. died Nov. 14. He was retired from the ministry after 41 years and a member of Bermuda Church, Chester. He is survived by his wife, Katie; three children, David W. Ozmore, Becky O. Liggitt and Cindy O. Mayes; and five grandchildren. A funeral service was held Nov. 17 at E. Alvin Small Funeral Homes, Colonial Heights.
• Earl A. Scott died in Richmond on Nov. 18. He was active in Baptist life having served as president of the BGAV. He served as a trustee of the Religious Herald. Surviving are his wife, Catherine; a brother, Russell; five nieces and three nephews. A funeral service was held Nov. 20 at Woody Funeral Home in Richmond. (See Fred Anderson's column, pg. 4).
CHRISTMAS MUSIC & DRAMA
• Azalea Church, Norfolk; “More Than a Manger,” Dec. 14 at 11 a.m.
• Bethesda Church, Boydton; “And It Came to Pass,” Dec. 14 at 11:45 a.m.
• Bethel Church, Midlothian; “Celebrate the Gift,” Dec. 7 at 6 p.m.
• Bethlehem Church, Midlothian Tpk., Richmond; “Bethlehem's Light,” Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 14 at 11 a.m.
• Black Creek Church, Franklin; “Joyful and Triumphant,” Dec. 7 at 6 p.m.
• Branch's Church, Richmond; “Festival of Carols,” Dec. 14 at 11 a.m.
• Broadus Memorial Church, Mechanicsville; “Tonight, Heaven Touches Earth,” Dec. 21 at 6 p.m.
• Calvary Church,Lynchburg; “The Heart of Christmas,” Dec. 14 at 6:30 p.m.
• Chesterfield Church, Chesterfield; “Let Heaven and Nature Sing,” Dec. 21 at 11 a.m.
• Clarksville Church, Clarksville; “City of Light,” Dec. 14 at 11 a.m.
• Cool Spring Church, Mechanicsville; “Starry Night: The Angels' Story,” Dec. 4, 5 and 6 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. Free tickets at www.coolspring.org.
• Cradock Church, Portsmouth; “Night of Wonder,” Dec. 14 at 11 a.m.
• Dan River Church, Halifax; “The Night the Animals Sang,” Dec. 14 at 7 p.m.
• Derbyshire Church, Richmond; “And the Angels Sang … Gloria!,” Dec. 12 and 13 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 14 at 4 and 7 p.m. Admission by complimentary ticket only, call 804-740-7238.
• Elk Creek Church, Mineral; “Hope Has Hands,” Dec. 14 at 6 p.m.
• Elkhardt Church, Richmond; “Hope Has Hands,” Dec. 14 at 6 p.m.
• Emmaus Church, Quinton; “Born In My Heart,” Dec. 21 at 11 a.m.
• Fairlawn Church, Fairlawn, “Harold The King,” Dec. 14 at 11 a.m.
• Fellowship Church, Chester, “When Hope Has Hands,” Dec. 14 at 11 a.m.
• First Church, Galax; “Messiah,” Dec. 14 at 6 p.m.
• First Church, Hopewell; “Christmas is a Birthday,” Dec. 14 at 6:30 p.m.
• First Church, Martinsburg, WV; “It All Happened in the Country,” Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 14 at 9 and 11 a.m.
• First Church, Newport News; “Singing Christmas Tree,” Dec. 11, 12 and 13 at 7 p.m.
• First Church, Waynesboro; “The Word Became Flesh,” Dec. 14 at 4 p.m.
• First Church, Woodbridge; “The Greatest Gift,” Dec. 14 at 6:30 p.m.
• Floyd Church, Floyd; “Joyful and Triumphant,” Dec. 14 at 4 p.m.
• Freemason Street Church, Norfolk; “Noel!,” Dec. 14 at 3 p.m.
• Friendship Church, Chesterfield; “Hope Has Hands,” Dec. 14 at 10:30 a.m.
• Furnace Creek Church, Rocky Mount; “Joy, Joy, Joy,” Dec. 13 and 14 at 6:30 p.m.
• Green Ridge Church, Roanoke; “The Name … Jesus,” Dec. 14 at 8:15 and 10:55 a.m.
• Hampton Church, Hampton; Service of Lessons and Carols, Dec. 14 at 8:30 and 11 a.m.
• Heritage Church, Farmville; “The Christmas Light,” Dec. 14 at 11 a.m.
• Hillcrest Church, Mechanicsville; “I Have Seen the Light,” Dec. 14 at 7 p.m.
• Indian River Church, Chesapeake; “Hope Has Hands,” Dec. 21 at 6 p.m.
• Ironbridge Church, Chesterfield; “It's a Wonder-Full Life,” Dec. 7 at 6 p.m.
• James Square Church, Lawrenceville; “Christmas is a Birthday,” Dec. 21 at 11 a.m.
• Keystone Church, Lynchburg; “Unspeakable Joy,” Dec. 13 and 14 at 6 p.m.
• Lyndale Church, Richmond, “Tonight, Heaven Touches Earth!,” Dec. 14 at 7 p.m.
• Main Street Church, Emporia; “Jesus is His Name,” Dec. 14 at 7 p.m.
• Memorial Church, Hampton; “Welcome to Our World,” Dec. 14 at 11 a.m.
• Monument Heights Church, Richmond; “Once Upon a Night,” Dec. 14 at 7 p.m.
• Mount Hermon Church, Danville; “A Concert of Carols,” Dec. 13 at 7 p.m and Dec. 14 at 6 p.m.
• Mount Hermon Church, Moseley; “A Family Christmas,” Dec. 14 at 11 a.m.
• Mount Vernon Church, Glen Allen; “The Splendor of Christmas,” Dec. 4 and 5 at 7 p.m.
• New Bethesda Church, Mechanicsville; “Come, Let Us Worship the King,” Dec. 21 at 6 p.m.
• New Bridge Church, Sandston; “A Night in Bethlehem,” Dec. 11, 12 and 13 at 7 p.m.
• Newington Church, Gloucester; “Born to You this Day,” Dec. 14 at 6 p.m.
• North Run Church, Richmond; 23rd Living Christmas Tree, “His Light Shining,” Dec. 13 and 14 at 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. Tickets can be ordered online at www.northrunbaptist.org.
• Oak Forest Church, Chesterfield; “Piano Reflections of the Christmas Season,” Dec. 13 at 7 p.m.
• Old Powhatan Church, Powhatan; “Jesus, Messiah,” Dec. 14 at 6:30 p.m.
• Parham Road Church, Richmond; “The Babe at Bethlehem,” Dec. 14 at 5:30 p.m.
• Pioneer Church, Richmond; “The Gift Goes On,” Dec. 14 at 3 p.m. and Dec. 14 at 7 p.m.
• Plymouth Haven Church, Alexandria; “Tonight, Heaven Touches Earth,” Dec. 14 at 7 p.m.
• Powers Memorial Church, Hopewell; “Seasons Greetings,” Dec. 14 at 11 a.m.
• Ridgewood Church, Roanoke; “Hope Has Hands,” Dec. 21 at 11 a.m.
• Ringgold Church, Ringgold; “On This Very Night,” Dec. 21 at 11 a.m.
• River Road Church, Richmond; “Messiah,” Dec. 14 at 7 p.m.
• Round Oak Church, Corbin; “Miracle on Main Street,” Dec. 11 and 12 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 13 at 2 p.m.
• Salem Church, Salem; “Noel, Night of Everlasting Love,” Dec. 21 at 6 p.m.
• Sandston Church, Sandston; “Come, Let Us Worship the King,” Dec. 6 and 7 at 7 p.m.
• Second Church, Richmond; “The Marvel of this Night,” Dec. 14 at 7 p.m.
• Second Branch Church, Chesterfield; “In the First Light,” Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 14 at 6 p.m.
• Shalom Church, Mechanicsville; “and Glory Shone Around,” Dec. 21 at 5 p.m.
• Tomahawk Church, Midlothian; “Christmas on Main Street,” Dec. 21 at 6:30 p.m.
• Upper Essex Church, Caret; “The Christmas Story in Song,” Dec. 21 at 7 p.m.
• Walnut Hills Church, Williamsburg; “Emmanuel–God With Us,” Dec. 14 at 10:30 a.m. and Dec. 15 at 7 p.m.
• Warrenton Church, Warrenton; “Xtreme Christmas: Not a Silent Night,” Dec. 14 at 7 p.m.
• Webber Memorial Church, Richmond; “Once Upon a Holy Night,” Dec. 14 at 8:30 and 11 a.m.
• Westhaven Church, Portsmouh; “Night of Wonder, Night of Joy,” Dec. 14 at 5:30 p.m.
• West End Church, Suffolk; “The Christmas Light,” Dec. 21 at 11 a.m.
• West Hampton Church, Hampton; “Joy, Joy, Joy,” Dec. 21 at 5 p.m.
• West Lynchburg Church, Lynchburg; “Joy, Joy, Joy,” Dec. 14 at 6:30 p.m.
LIVE NATIVITIES
• Bedford Church, Bedford; live nativity Dec. 13 from 6 to 8 p.m.
• Bethlehem Church, Midlothian Pike, Richmond; live nativity Dec. 19 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
• Chester Church, Chester; live nativity Dec. 21 from 2:30 to 5 p.m.
• First Church, Hopewell; “Walk Through Bethlehem,” Dec. 5 from 6 to 8 p.m. and Dec. 6 from 4 to 8 p.m.
• Fredericksburg Church, Fredericksburg; “Angels Over Fredericksburg,” indoor/outdoor nativity; Dec. 20 from 5 to 8 p.m. and Dec. 21 from 8 to 10 a.m.
• James Square Church, Lawrenceville; drive- or walk-through nativity; Dec. 21 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
• Mount Olivet Church, Beaverdam; living nativity Dec. 20 and 21 from 6 to 7 p.m.