January 20, 1972 The Altavista Journal Shirley Kinsley Reporter

Gretna Christian Church 100th Anniversary

Minister:  Dwight Mays

111 Leftwich Street
Gretna, Virginia

Mailing Address: Post Office Box 644 Gretna, Virginia 24557

Back in the 70's Shirley Kinsley was the social page reporter for the Gretna News for the Altavista Journal.  Shirley Kinsley is a long standing member of the Gretna Christian Church.  On January 20, 1972, she reported that one of our members Harold Bailey was installed as the new Noble Grand of Friendship Lodge No. 30 Oddfellows. At the time he was serving at the church as an assistant superintendent of the Sunday School and also a teacher.  He was also a member of the choir and a deacon.

She also reported that the CWF met on Monday of that week at the educational building.  Martha Crawley, president, presided and plans were made to send sunshine boxes to two elderly ladies, to invite the Palestine Quartet from Huddleston for a song service in February, to observe Women's Day at the Church on February 20, 1972.  Nancy Allgood was in charge of finding a speaker for that occasion.

A welcoming committee headed by Joan Shelton and Nancy Allgood was set up to visit new families in the Gretna area.  Plans were made to purchase a movie projector for the church.  Jean Wells was asked to be in charge of the purchase.

Jean Wells and Martha Crawley served refreshments.

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As always the members were active in the community and at the church.

As I was looking through the paper I noticed some of the prices at the grocery store which I thought was pretty interesting considering how high everything is now.  You could buy a pound of bacon for 39 cents and a can of chicken noodle soup for 15 cents.  I saw the green stamp emblem on the King's Supermarket advertisements.  It's been a long time since I've seen any of those.

Announcements:

The ice cream social is scheduled for August 21st.  You will not want to miss this.  This is some of the best  homemade ice cream in the world.

If you are interested in purchasing a Gretna Christian Church 100th Anniversary plate ($20.00)  see Kenneth Dalton.

Mark E. Poole  photos
Disciples of Christ Historical Society 

Gretna Christian Church

Atha Bailey

Linda Dalton

Cross Roads

Gretna Christian Church 100th Anniversary

Minister:  Dwight Mays

111 Leftwich Street
Gretna, Virginia

Mailing Address: Post Office Box 644 Gretna, Virginia 24557

While sorting through some odds and ends I found a copy of a Newsletter that Reverend Charles Ellis published for Gretna Christian Church.  It was called Cross Roads.  This particular Newsletter was dated March, 2001.   The following items were in the newsletter.
A Disciples Men's Dinner was scheduled for March 1st.  It would take place at Boones Mill Christian and was sponsored by the Disciples Men of Franklin County  The winter dinner was held at Gretna Christian.
Announcement for the new Church Directory commemorating the 90th anniversary of Gretna Christian was underway with Lisa Parker as the Chair of the Directory Committee.
The Christian Women's Fellowship meeting was scheduled for March 19th with Jenny Dellis presenting the program and Vonnie Custer serving as hostess.
Ms. Juanita Wilkes transferred her membership to Gretna Christian on February 18th.
The pre-school and elementary children decorated a Jesus tree for Christmas which they left up to celebrate Snowflakes for December, hearts for February and Shamrock for March.  Each decoration was a reminder of God's love.
The Men's Sunday School Class started using a new resource called "The Present Word".
Gretna Christian Church's Family Fun Night on March 25 featured the Euclid Men's Quartet of Euclid Christian Church of Lynchburg, Virginia.
Those that celebrated their birthdays in March of 2001 were
11- Mary Shelhorse
13-Cliff McCoy
18-Agnes Abbott
19-Bill Dillard (Kathy Ellis's father)
22-Dick Lassiter
25-Garland Bennett and Shirley Owen
26-Robert Delano Adams and Pete Crawley
31-Andrew Parker

Mark E. Poole  photos
Disciples of Christ Historical Society 

Gretna Christian Church

Atha Bailey

Linda Dalton

Communion Plates

Gretna Christian Church 100th Anniversary

Minister:  Dwight Mays

111 Leftwich Street
Gretna, Virginia

Mailing Address: Post Office Box 644 Gretna, Virginia 24557

Last week while searching for more anniversary information on Gretna Christian Church I located a site for the Virginia Christian Quarterly.  In the Spring of 2009, they published an article about one of the parishioners.

In 1917 the Church was destroyed by a tornado and the members of the church rebuilt the church in a day once again. In 2008 a new roof was built.  Mr. S. H. Crawley took some of the wood from the poplar timbers of the original roof and made offering plates for the church.   As it happens, Mr. Crawley's father Sam Henry Crawley helped rebuild the church in 1917.

If you would like to see the picture and the article, please see the link below. Also the picture above has the offering plates setting on the lower shelf of the communion table.
http://www.ccinva.org/2009_spring%20Virginia%20Christian.pdf

Reverend Charles Ellis

Gretna Christian Church 100th Anniversary

Minister:  Dwight Mays

111 Leftwich Street
Gretna, Virginia

Mailing Address: Post Office Box 644 Gretna, Virginia 24557

Picture of  2001 Charlie Ellis Installation as pastor of Gretna Christian Church

Reverend Ed Parrish, Jenny Dellis, Reverend Jesse Kearns, Reverend Charles Ellis and Kenneth Dalton

Gideon Representative at Church and Announcements.

Gretna Christian Church 100th Anniversary

Minister:  Dwight Mays

111 Leftwich Street
Gretna, Virginia

Mailing Address: Post Office Box 644 Gretna, Virginia 24557

Ronnie Simpson was the Gideon Representative at the Church on July 24, 2011.  There was an offering plate for donations for their organization.  He also delivered the sermon "Does God Hear Me When I Cry?"

The Scripture for that day was Mark 10:46-52

46.And they came to Jerico: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Barimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.

47.And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.

48.And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, thou son of David, have mercy on me.

49.And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called.  And they called the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.

50.And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.

51.And Jesus answered and said unto him, What will thou that I should do unto thee:  The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.

52.And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole.  And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

Choir Practice is on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. with Bible Study starting at 6:30 p.m.

August 2 - There will be a 6:30 p.m. Alzheimer's & Dementia Support Group Meeting in the Fellowship Hall.

August 14  Official Church Board Meeting after Worship

August 21  Ice Cream Social at 7:00 p.m.

If you are interested in purchasing a Gretna Christian church 100th anniversary plate ($20), see Kenneth Dalton.

Mark E. Poole  photos
Disciples of Christ Historical Society 

Gretna Christian Church

Atha Bailey

Linda Dalton