The Shadow
CLIFTON FORGE — The Virginia Conference of Advent Christian Churches will hold its 124th Annual Session Friday, March 8, through Sunday, March 10, at Central Advent Christian Church, located at 3515 Longdale Furnace Rd., Clifton Forge.
The Virginia Conference was organized Nov. 12, 1896, at Hamilton Chapel located in Highland County. The first church building was dedicated in October of 1894 in Highland County.
There are many Advent Christian churches currently serving the Highlands. Union View Advent Christian Church was founded in 1903; Oak Grove Advent Christian Church in 1908; Iron Gate Advent Christian Church in 1909; and Lone Star Advent Christian Church in 1910.
Central Advent Christian Church was founded in 1938 and was initially intended as the Virginia Conference meeting site but now serves a local congregation.
The 2019 informal activities will begin on Thursday night, March 7, with a dessert contest to be held in the fellowship hall of Central AC church with cakes, pies, and miscellaneous categories being judged with first, second and third place awards presented.
The formal conference begins Friday, March 8, at 1:30 p.m., with a Camp ACCOVAC board meeting followed by the VA Conference Executive meeting at 3 p.m. Evening worship will begin with a Praise and Worship Service at 6:30 p.m. in the sanctuary of the church.
The Annual Virginia Conference Business meeting will be held on Saturday, March 9, at 9:30 a.m. in the church sanctuary, with delegate registration beginning at 8:30. A round table discussion dealing with Advent Christian beliefs will be held at 2 p.m., followed by a showing of the Sight and Sound Theatre Production of Noah at 3 p.m.
The presentation of Noah is free and is open to the public and all are invited to attend. Evening worship services begin again at 6:30 p.m.
A memorial service will be conducted at 10 a.m. on Sunday, March 10, followed by morning worship. The speaker for all worship services will be the Rev. Steve Lawson, executive director of Advent Christian General Conference.
The Memorial Service will be led by the Virginia Conference Women’s Home and Foreign Mission Society with the Rev. Gene Ayers, pastor of Central Advent Christian Church and conference president, delivering the message.
The 124th Virginia Conference will conclude Sunday afternoon with a hymn sing held in the sanctuary of Central AC Church.
The public is invited to attend all worship services, the showing of Noah and the concluding hymn sing.
The theme song for this year’s conference is entitled “The Rock” and was written by Kathleen Rumpf of Clifton Forge, a long-time member of Central AC Church.
For further information regarding the Virginia Conference annual business meeting, contact Ayers at Central Advent Christian Church. He can be reached at (540) 354-4727.
