ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, June 22, 1996 TAG: 9606240021
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-6 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: in religion
PEOPLE
* Bobby E. Fuller, minister of Community Church in McCoy, has retired amid praises and reminiscences from family and friends.
Fuller served two stints as minister at the church totaling 28 years, from 1965 to 1973 and from 1976 to 1996. He graduated from Atlanta Christian College in East Point, Ga., in 1957, and received a master of ministries degree from Kentucky Christian College in 1985.
The June 9 celebration featured a videotape of memories, audio tapes of college and childhood friends, and recollections from colleagues, other friends and family members. Church members reminded him of the weddings, funerals and other ministries he performed. As one person on the video said, "Bobby has been a great inspiration to family, community and church. You could always count on him. He has given us years of support. He is the backbone of our community, and he has been a rock in my life."
Fuller and his wife, Judy, a teacher at Blacksburg High School, will remain in McCoy.
* A social Sunday at 4 p.m. at Nellie's Cave Park will honor the Rev. Roderick Sinclair who is retiring as Episcopal chaplain at Virginia Tech. Sinclair and his wife, Louise, will remain in Blacksburg.
SERVICES
* Christiansburg's Holy Spirit Catholic Church will have Mass at its summer hours at 6 p.m. today at Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Christiansburg. 382-8028.
* Blacksburg's St. Mary's Catholic Church on Harding Avenue will celebrate Mass at 5 p.m. today, and at 8:45 and 11:15 a.m. Sunday. The readings will be: Jeremiah 20:10-13; Psalms 69:8-10, 17, 33-35; Romans 5:12-15; and Matthew 10:26-33. 552-1091.
* "The Nature of Prejudice" will be the topic of a talk by Danny Axsom, a social psychologist, Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the New River Valley on Gladewood Drive in Blacksburg. 552-2717.
* St. Paul United Methodist Church in Christiansburg has begun a fund-raising project to equip the building on Main Street for people in wheel chairs. Building access and rest rooms are included in the plans.
* New Hope United Methodist Church will have homecoming Sunday with New Directions, a choir from New Hope Baptist Church in Charlottesville. Services are at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. with a covered-dish meal after the morning service.
* Auburn United Methodist Church in Riner will have a homecoming to mark its 111th anniversary Sunday beginning at 10 a.m. 382-4478 or 382-3876.
* Members of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Christiansburg will travel to Ferrum College's United Methodist Women's Day celebration June 29. The celebration will feature a dinner theater performance of "The General and His Lady," about the life of Mrs. Robert E. Lee, and a talk on "Teaching the Civil War to Students of the '90s," by a Ferrum College professor. Registration for individuals or groups is due by Tuesday at the church. The cost is $12 per person. 382-6171.
* First Christian Church on Fort Branch Road in Pearisburg will celebrate its 50th anniversary June 30 with a special service with past and present family and friends at 11 a.m. 921-3417.
* The missionaries from First Missionary Baptist in New River will present a special program June 30 at 3:30 p.m. with guest speaker Rebecca Drew of Central Baptist Church. 639-6947.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOLS
* Cambria Baptist Church, Sunday through Thursday, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. 382-2490.
* Oak Grove Church on Craigs Mountain Road in Christiansburg, Monday through Friday from 7 to 9 p.m.
* Sunnyside Pentecostal Holiness Church on Lick Run Road in Blacksburg, Monday through Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. 951-9373.
* Grace Assembly of God on Redwood Street in Christiansburg, Monday through Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. for ages 12 and under. 381-0055.
* Christiansburg Church of the Brethren on South Franklin Street, Monday through Friday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. 381-2221.
* Zion Hill Baptist Church on West Rock Road in Radford, Monday through Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. 639-6183.
* Abundant Life Fellowship, Monday through Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. for ages 2 through 12. An adult class on "The History and Future of the New Age Movement" also is scheduled. 382-4443.
* Blacksburg Baptist Church on North Main Street, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon for ages 3 through grade 5. 552-3869.
* First Christian Church on Tyler Avenue in Radford, Sunday through Thursday. 639-3696.
* The Presbyterian Church of Radford, St. Jude's Catholic Church, Grace Episcopal Church and Christ Lutheran Church will have an ecumenical vacation church school Sunday through Wednesday at the Presbyterian Church of Radford. Classes will be for children and adults. 639-2585.
* Park and Asbury United Methodist Churches in Christiansburg and Radford will have a joint vacation Bible school Sunday through Friday, at 6 p.m. Sunday and 6:30 until 8 p.m. the remaining days. 639-3354 or 382-1548.
* At Christ Episcopal Church in Blacksburg three family night programs on Wednesday, July 24 and Aug. 24 will replace the usual ecumenical vacation Bible school this summer. A potluck meal at 5:30 p.m. will begin the events with the programs beginning at 6:15 p.m. and ending by 8:30.
JOYFUL NOISES
The Singing Echoes from Cleveland, Tenn., will perform at Merrimac Pentecostal Holiness Church Friday at 7:30 p.m. 552-5070.
* Adult and Youth choirs from the Radford Church of God in Christ will perform Sunday at the church on Russell Avenue. 639-5948.
* Mildred Heimlich of Salem will perform an organ concert to benefit the museum and restoration fund of the Giles County Historical Society Sunday at 3 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Pearisburg. Heimlich is a retired 38-year associate professor of music at Radford University and a former resident of Pearisburg. A free-will donation will be taken. 726-7428.
* The Martin Family of Christiansburg will perform June 30 at 7 p.m. at Ellett Pentecostal Holiness Church. 633-1347.
In Religion is a regular Saturday feature of the New River Current. Please send news of your church or religious organization, along with photos, to Kenneth Singletary, New River Current, Roanoke Times, P.O. Box 540, Christiansburg 24073. Fax: 381-1656. E-mail: Currentbev.net. Clear, sharp photographs accompanying news items are welcome. Items must be received by noon Wednesday for use in that week's column.
LENGTH: Long : 119 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Fuller.by CNB