STAFF CHANGES
• Todd Blake, to Madison Heights Church, Madison Heights, as pastor.
• Christopher D. “Chris” Fowler, to Orcutt Church, Newport News, as senior pastor.
• Dorothy Kingston Troup, to Middleburg Church, Middleburg, as music director.
• Noell Rathbun, to Grace Church, Richmond, as minister of youth and children.
• Andy Farmer, to Bon Air Church, Richmond, as student ministry intern.
• Drew Collier, to Tomahawk Church, Midlothian, as part-time interim youth minister.
• David Bailey, to Bon Air Church, Richmond, as worship leader in its Gathering Service.
• James Stevenson, to Amelia Community Church, Amelia, as student ministry leader.
• Ken Archer, resigning as choir director at Glen Allen Church, Glen Allen, effective Dec. 31.
ORDINATION
• Katherine Ramsey was ordained to the gospel ministry by Powhatan Community Church, Powhatan, on Oct. 24.
CHURCH NEWS
• Courtland Church, Courtland, will celebrate its 165th anniversary on Dec. 5 at 10:30 a.m. with homecoming. A covered-dish lunch will follow the service.
• The Church Choir, One Accord Ensemble and Orchestra of First Church, Richmond, will present a concert of Christmas music Sun., Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. The program includes many favorites of the season, including the Hallelujah chorus and “And the Glory” from Handel’s Messiah. It will air on WRIC-TV8 on Sun., Dec. 26 at 11 a.m.
• The chancel and children’s choirs of Ridge Church, Richmond, will present “Christmas Canticles” by Benjamin Harlan on Sun., Dec. 12 at 7 p.m.
• River Road Church, Richmond, will host Youth Choir Jam, featuring music workshops and fellowship for students from youth choirs from around the state, on Nov. 19-20.
• Sandston Church, Sandston, will present its Christmas musical, “Hope Has Hands,” on Sun., Dec. 5 starting at 7 p.m.
• First Church, Richmond, will host a Christkindl Markt, a European-style Christmas Market, on Dec. 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Local vendors, craftsmen and artisans will send handmade craft and food items, Christmas trees and ornaments. There will be live music and activities for children.
OTHER
• Stephen Brachlow will lead discussions on Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Life Together sponsored by the Virginia Baptist Ministers Discussion Group on Feb. 21-22 at the Roslyn Retreat Center, 8727 River Road, Richmond. Drexel Rayford and Suzanne Vinson will lead worship. For more information, see www. vabaptistdiscuss.org.
• The 2011 National Conference for Ministry Assistants will be held April 27-30 at First Church, Seiverville, Tennessee. Special guest speaker will be Jill Baughan, author of Born to be Wild-Rediscover the Freedom of Fun. Lloyd Sweatt from Meadowood Church, Amory, Mississippi, will be conference pastor. Worship leaders will be “Pure Joy” from Georgia. For additional information and to register, go to www.nasbs.net.