STAFF CHANGES
• Steven R. Gupton, to First Church, Virginia Beach, as pastor. He had served as pastor of Ivor Church, Ivor.
• Joel Jenkins, resigning as pastor of First Church, Charlottesville, to continue active duty service in military chaplaincy.
• Tom Lynch, to First Church, Clarendon, Arlington, as associate pastor of community outreach.
• John Fontanella, to Gateway Community Church, Herndon, as youth minister.
• Keith Floyd, to Hollins Road Church, Roanoke, as full-time minister of music and youth.
• Terry Goodnight, to Vinton Church, Vinton, as minister to students.
• Leah Gilbert, to First Church, Bluefield, W. Va., as youth minister.
• Josh Beeler, to Port Norfolk Church, Portsmouth, as youth and outreach minister.
ORDINATION
• Brad Bowman, youth minister at Mayo Mountain Church, Claudville, was recently ordained to the gospel ministry by the church.
DEATH
• Raymond Lloyd Howell Sr. died on Nov. 25 in Newport News. A native of the city, he served as youth pastor at Temple and Ivy Farm churches in Newport News, and as associate pastor at York River Church in Williamsburg. He is survived by his wife, Betty LaRue Howell; a son, Raymond Lloyd Howell Jr.; a daughter, Rendy Howell Dickinson; four grandchildren; and a sister. A memorial service was held at Hilton Church, Newport News, on Nov. 28.
CHRISTMAS MUSIC & DRAMA
• Airlee Court Church, Roanoke; “The Love of God at Christmas,” Dec. 16 at 11 a.m.
• Antioch Church, Sandston; “The Gift Goes On,” Dec. 16 at 11 a.m.
• Bethany Church, Woodford; “Nativity Suites,” Dec. 23 at 11 a.m.
• Bethel Church, Midlothian; “Mary, Did You Know?” Dec. 16 at 6 p.m.
• Black Creek Church, Franklin; “Joyful, Sing Alleluia,” Dec. 9 at 6 p.m.
• Bonsack Church, Roanoke; “A Christmas Tapestry,” Dec. 9 at 3:00 and 6:30 p.m.
• Braddock Church,Annandale; “The Christmas Offering,” Dec. 9 at 10:30 a.m.
• Broadus Memorial Church, Mechanicsville; “Come! Celebrate Christmas!” Dec. 16 at 6 p.m.
• Calvary Church, Roanoke; “A Festival of Carols,” Dec. 9 at 11 a.m.
• Chestnut Hill Church, Lynchburg; “Together for Christmas,” Dec. 9 at 6:30 p.m.
• Coan Church, Heathsville; “The Living Tree of Praise,” Dec. 15 and 16 at 7 p.m.
• Colonial Avenue Church, Roanoke; “The Splendor of Christmas,” Dec. 16 at 7 p.m.
• Cool Spring Church, Mechanicsville; “Finding the Christmas Star,” Dec. 9 at 6 p.m.
• County Line Church, Ruther Glen; “The Living Christmas Tree,” Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 8 at 5 and 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 9 at 5 p.m.
• Dan River Church, Halifax; “I'll Be Home for Christmas,” Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 16 at 11 a.m.
• East End Church, Suffolk; “He's a Wonder-FULL Christ,” Dec. 15 at 630 p.m. and Dec. 16 at 5:30 p.m.
• Elizabeth River Church, Chesapeake; “The Love of God at Christmas,” Dec. 9 at 5 p.m.
• First Church, Martinsville; “Name Above All Names,” Dec. 9 at 5 p.m.
• First Church, Woodbridge; “The Joy of Christmas,” Dec. 9 at 6:30 p.m.
• Glen Allen Church, Glen Allen; “There is Peace in the World Tonight,” Dec. 16 at 8:30 and 11 a.m.
• Gordonsville Church, Gordonsville; “On This Very Night,” Dec. 16 at 11 a.m.
• Hampton Church, Hampton; “Once Upon a Starry Night,” Dec. 19 at 7 p.m.
• Hatcher Memorial Church, Richmond; “Lessons and Carols,” Dec. 16 at 11 a.m.
• Huguenot Road Church, Richmond; “Christmas by Candlelight,” Dec. 16 at 7 p.m.
• Hull's Memorial Church, Fredericksburg; “One Small Child,” Dec. 16 at 11 a.m.
• Ingleside Church, Norfolk; “The Joy of Christmas,” Dec. 9 at 7 p.m.
• Jackson Memorial Church, Chesapeake; “Homeless for Christmas,” Dec. 15 and 16 at 7 p.m.
• Keen Street Church, Danville; “Worship the King,” Dec. 16 at 11 a.m.
• Kentuck Church, Ringgold; “On This Very Night,” Dec. 16 at 6 p.m.
• King's Grant Church, Virginia Beach; “Season of Wonders,” Dec. 16 at 4 p.m.
• Lake Ridge Church, Woodbridge; “Come, Ye Faithful,” Dec. 16 at 9 and 11:15 a.m.
• Lyndale Church, Richmond; “There is Peace in the World Tonight,” Dec. 9 at 7 p.m.
• Main Street Church, Emporia; “The Wonder and Glory of His Love,” Dec. 9 at 7 p.m.
• Massaponax Church, Fredericksburg; “Once Upon a Miracle,” Dec. 16 at 5 p.m.
• Meadows of Dan Church, Meadows of Dan; “A Moravian Love Feast,” Dec. 16.
• Mill Creek Church, Fincastle; “On This Very Night,” Dec. 16 at 7 p.m.
• Mount Hermon Church, Moseley; “Be Not Afraid,” Dec. 16 at 11 a.m.
• Mount Vernon Church, Glen Allen; “The Glory of Christmas,” Dec. 5, 6 and 7 at 7 p.m.
• Newington Church, Gloucester; “This Very Night,” Dec. 17 at 7 p.m.
• North Riverside Church, Newport News; “The Voices of Christmas,” Dec. 9 at 11 a.m.
• North Run Church, Richmond; “The Living Christmas Tree,” Dec. 15 and 16 at 2:30 and 5:30 p.m.
• Northside Church, Mechanicsville; “The Gift of Christmas,” Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 16 at 10:45 a.m.
• Oakland Church, King George; “The Music of Christmas,” Dec. 9 at 7 p.m.
• Plymouth Haven Church, Alexandria; “A Christmas Prayer,” Dec. 16 at 5 p.m.
• Powers Memorial Church, Hopewell; “Bethlehem Story,” Dec. 13 and 14 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 16 at 11 a.m.
• Raleigh Heights Church, Chesapeake; “The Last Mailing Day before Christmas,” Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 9 at 6 p.m.
• Reed Island Springs Church, Ararat; “A Cozy Christmas,” Dec. 15 at 6:30 p.m.
• Ringgold Church, Ringgold; “The Glory of the Lord,” Dec. 16 at 11 a.m.
• Rivermont Church, Danville; “The Love of God at Christmas,” Dec. 9 at 6 p.m.
• Salem Church, Salem; “The Christmas Present,” Dec. 16 at 6 p.m.
• Second Branch Church, Chesterfield; “A Family Christmas,” Dec. 9 at 7 p.m.
• Schoolfield Church, Danville; “The Love of God at Christmas,” Dec. 9 at 5:30 p.m.
• Shalom Church, Mechanicsville; “Touched by a Child, Touched by a King,” Dec. 16 at 5 p.m.
• Skipwith Church, Richmond; “The Christmas Offering,” Dec. 16 at 11 a.m.
• Smyrna Church, Goochland; “Unto You Is Born,” Dec. 16 at 7 p.m.
• Sycamore Church, Franklin; “Christmas in Egypt,” Dec. 16 at 5:30 p.m.
• Talbot Park Church, Norfolk; “Agnus Dei,” Dec. 9 at 5 p.m.
• Temple Church, Norfolk; “On This Very Night,” Dec. 16 at 6 p.m.
• Upper Essex Church, Caret; “One Quiet Night,” Dec. 16 at 6 p.m.
• Walnut Grove Church, Mechanicsville; “Finding the Christmas Star,” Dec. 9 at 6 p.m.
• Waverly Place Church, Roanoke; “Let Us Adore Him,” Dec. 16 at 10:45 a.m.
• Webber Memorial Church, Richmond; “On This Very Night,” Dec. 16 at 8:30 and 11 a.m.
• Westhaven Church, Portsmouth; “Holy Night of Miracles,” Dec. 16 at 6 p.m.
• West End Church, Suffolk; “Carol of Christmas,” Dec. 16 at 4 p.m.
• West Hampton Church, Hampton; “The Music of Christmas,” Dec. 16 at 11 a.m.
• West Lynchburg Church, Lynchburg; “There Is Peace in the World Tonight,” Dec. 8 and 9 at 6:30 p.m.
• Woodland Heights Church, Richmond; “Lessons & Carols,” Dec. 16 at 11 a.m.
LIVE NATIVITY
• Bedford Church, Bedford; Live Nativity; Dec. 16 from 6 -8:30 p.m.
• First Church, Woodstock; Living Nativity Dec. 15; 7 to 9 p.m.
• Flat Creek Church, Lynchburg; Drive Through Nativity Dec. 15 and 16; 5 to 7 p.m.
• Hollins Road Church, Roanoke; Live Nativity, Dec. 16-18, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
• Ingleside Church, Norfolk; Live Nativity Walking Tours; Dec 13 and 14 at 7 and 8 p.m.
• Laurel Hill Church, Verona; A Live Nativity (drive through) Dec. 7, 8 and 9 from 7 to 9 p.m.
• Melrose Church, Roanoke; Live Nativity Dec. 14, 15 and 16; 6:30-8:30 p.m.
• Penuel Church, Altavista; Live Drive Through Nativity; Dec. 21 and 22 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
• Western Branch Church, Suffolk; Live Nativity Dec. 12-13, 6:30-8 p.m. and Dec. 14, 6:30-8:30 p.m.