Organ Dedication Gretna Christian Church October 6, 1991

Gretna Christian Church 100th Anniversary

Minister:  Dwight Mays

111 Leftwich Street
Gretna, Virginia
Mailing Address: Post Office Box 644 Gretna, Virginia 24557

Come to the Church by the Wildwood

Oh, come to the Church in the Dell

No Spot is so dear to my childhood

As the Little Brown Church in the dell

By Dr. Wm. S. Pitts

On October 6, 1991 Gretna Christian Church held their dedication ceremony for their new organ which was obtained by contributions and yard sales.  Music holds a special place in this church's memory from the Sunbeam Choir that helped build the church in 1911 to the lovely organ that sits in the church today.

  

On this special day the Reverend Clifton C. McCoy was the minister and Mrs. Linda G. Dalton was the director of music and pianist.

Their theme song  that Sunday was O God, Our help in ages past, Our Hope for years to come, Our Shelter from the Stormy blast and Our Eternal Home!

The Call to Worship was held by Reverend McCoy and the Invocation was by Harold Bailey.  Pete Shelton welcomed guests for the ceremony and service.

Shirley Owen introduced their special guests.  Harold Wright was in charge of the organ selections and the special music was performed by Gretna Christian Church's Choir.  They performed a song which was written by a past member of the Church Mrs. Lillian Love. She had written lyrics to the tune of  "Church In the Wildwood" just a few years before her death in 1956.   The previous organ had been dedicated to her by her family.

The Deacons serving on that Sunday were L. B. Abbott, Clark Hedrick, Dalton Harris and Oscar Kennedy. 

Prayers and Meditation were by Jeff Abbott, Kenneth Dalton, Harold Bailey and L. B. Abbott.

A wonderful lunch was held in the education building after the service.

Special Thanks to:

Mark E. Poole  photos

Disciples of Christ Historical Society 

Gretna Christian Church

Atha Bailey

Special Note:

I am looking for the lyrics which were written by Mrs. Lillian Love.  If anyone has these available, please contact me.