membership orientation4 cherryvale u m c 2010

The United Methodist Church

Welcome to Session 4 Membership Orientation

ClassOf

Cherryvale UMCThe small church with the Big Heart!

Membership Orientation

This session focuses on Cherryvale UMC,

Staunton, VA.

The cross & flame is the official logo of The United Methodist Church worldwide.

Cherryvale United Methodist Church

was established nearly half a century ago by the Mission Board of the Evangelical United Brethren Church, which had seen a need for another church in Staunton.


The start of this new mission came less than a decade after the successful union on November 26, 1946, of the United Brethren in Christ and the Evangelical Church as the Evangelical United Brethren Church.


The Mission Board purchased a two-acre tract of land on Cherry Hill Drive in 1955, on which the new church would be built. A house at 1113 Skymont Road was purchased by the Board in 1956 to be used as a parsonage for the church.

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At the Virginia Annual Conference held at St. Paul’s Church in Staunton in September 1956, the Rev. Wilton B. Thomas, a recently-ordained minister from Rockingham County, was assigned as pastor of the new mission.


Cherryvale’s first worship service was held on December 2, 1956, in the basement of the parsonage, with 25 in attendance.* Rev. Thomas continued to hold services in the parsonage basement every Sunday, with Donna (Ashby) Harris serving as pianist, over the next several years.

* Source: Pictorial History of The Virginia Conference by the Rev. James F. Glovier. © 1965


Cherryvale’s Sunday School was established in the following month, on January 6, 1957, with Rev. and Mrs. Thomas, Mrs. Forrest Peters, Jr. and Mrs. George L. (Reba) Weiss as teachers for the four Sunday School classes. This same Sunday, 21 people were received into church membership at the 10:30 a.m. worship service.


It was decided then that new members would be received on the first Sunday of each month and that all those who joined the congregation by Easter Sunday on April 21, 1957, would become Charter Members. The fledgling congregation decided on the name Cherryvale Evangelical United Brethren Church.


The initial organizational meeting of the Cherryvale congregation was held on Sunday, February 3, 1957, with another organizational meeting held three weeks later on Sunday, February 24, 1957.


Cherryvale’s first ushers were Carroll Fauber, James Harris, Sam Mitchell and Jack Weis.The young congregation held its first church social on March 20, 1957, in the basement of the parsonage. The first church picnic was held on July 31, 1957.


A ground-breaking ceremony for a new chapel and education building on Cherry Hill Drive was held on Sunday, August 18, 1957, led by Pastor Thomas, assisted by then-retired E.U.B. Minister David F. Glovier.


Construction began the following Wednesday, on August 21, 1957. The Cornerstone Laying Service was held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, February 2, 1958, led by Bishop J. Gordon Howard of Pittsburgh.By the time construction began in the summer of 1957, Cherryvale had 43 members, with 50 in attendance at the worship service on the Sunday preceding the groundbreaking ceremony.


The Pastors of Cherryvale:1. Rev. Wilton B. Thomas Sept. 1956 - Sept.19582. Rev. Carroll E. Jay Sept. 1958 - Dec. 19593. Rev. David F. Glovier Jan. 1960 - Aug. 19614. Dr. J. Paul Gruver Aug. 1961 - Aug. 19635. Rev. Arthur E. Grant Aug. 1963 - June 19766. Rev. John E. Davis, Jr. June 1976 - June 19777. Rev. A. Spencer Turnipseed, Jr. June 1977 - May 19798. Rev. Gene C. Gee June 1979 - Aug. 19829. Rev. James A. Hewitt, IIIAug. 1982 - June 199110.Rev. J. Jeffrey Butcher June 1991 - July 199811.Rev. Elizabeth W. Taylor July 1998 - Dec. 200312.Rev. Sandra A. McMillen Jan. 2004 - June 2006 13.Rev. Donald M. Warrick, Jr. July 2006 - June 201014.Rev. DeBorah F. Barnwell July 2010 - present


The first service in the new building was held in the basement (what is now the church social hall) on Easter Sunday 1958. The congregation moved upstairs into the chapel for the Sunday morning service on May 11, 1958.


The total cost of building and furnishing the new church was $68,500. The General Board of Missions gave $10,000 toward the construction costs and made a loan to Cherryvale of $15,000. Another $10,000 was given to the new church by the Virginia Conference Board of Missions.The debt incurred for the church construction was paid in full 13 years later, with a note-burning service held on Sunday, November 28, 1971.


…the Virginia Conference of the E.U.B. Church gave Cherryvale $1,000 toward the purchase of a lot at 2606 Eston Drive for a new parsonage.

A ground-breaking ceremony was held on the last Sunday of March 1972 following the morning worship service and construction of a new parsonage, valued at $60,000, was completed before the end of the year.


Our congregation gathered on Sunday June 18, 1989, for the ground-breaking for a new education wing, which was named for The Rev. Lee H. Richcreek to commemorate his “generous bequest” to the church. This addition, was dedicated in September 1990.


Five of the trustees who had signed this note were present for the burning of the mortgage. They were Leola Bartley, Raymond Cox, Gayland Davis, Charlene Harris and John Perkins.


In 2010 we enjoy a number of ministries including vocal and hand bell choirs, age-level ministry for children, youth and young adults. Sunday school - 4 adults classes, teens and children. Our annual Vacation Bible school is an excellent witnessing opportunity that brings in neighborhood children. There are many opportunities for fellowship meals and mutual sharing.


On Sunday, September 26, 2010 following worship, the congregation enjoyed a Parsonage Open House and Re-dedication. This was the new pastor’s response to express appreciation for extensive renovations, making the parsonage a home. Many dedicated members and friends made this effort an overwhelming success, proving that Cherryvale indeed has a big heart.

Q & A

Sunday, October 24th is Membership Sunday. If you

would like to join this congregation, then please let us know as soon as possible.

Thank you all.

membership orientation4 cherryvale u m c 2010

Documents

new church

evangelical church

church membership

small church

pauls church

church picnic

cherryvale congregation

church social hall