ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, November 9, 1996 TAG: 9611110104
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-8 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: In Religion
SOURCE: MARY LOU BRUTON
The practice of dedicating church buildings to the worship of God goes back to King Solomon's consecration of the temple in Jerusalem almost 3,000 years ago. In Christiansburg, a ceremony in this long tradition took place at St. Peter's Anglican Catholic Church on Thursday night.
About 70 members of the church and community attended.
Though St. Peter's has been at its present location since 1980, the building had not been consecrated because it was not debt-free.
It is the practice in the Anglican Catholic Church to consecrate church buildings only after mortgages have been paid off. At the ceremony, the deed was read aloud and a copy of the mortgage was symbolically burned.
The building was consecrated by Bishop John T. Cahoon Jr. of the Diocese of the Middle Atlantic States.
In the traditional manner, the bishop began the ceremony outside the church and made a circuit of the building to bless the walls. Then, using his crosier, or bishop's staff, he knocked three times on the closed church door. The rector and the wardens then welcomed the bishop for the continuation of the ceremony of consecration. A reception followed in the parish house.
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The breakup of the Soviet Union has presented unique opportunities but also dangers for American missionaries who have sought to carry their faith into former Soviet republics.
Retired Army Chaplain Edwards Lundwall Jr. recently worked as a missionary in Kiev, Ukraine, and will talk about both the blessings and the risks he and others face in the breakaway Soviet republics. Lundwall will speak at Dublin Baptist Church's 6 p.m. Sunday service.
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This week our area is going to be full of mission-related activities. Think of your definition of "missions," no matter what your background, and there will be something going on to inspire your interest or pique your curiosity.
Missions at home? We have plenty of those. Members of Belmont Christian Church are welcoming home five men to speak at their revival. The five got started in their ministries there and now have churches and congregations scattered around the country.
The New Hope Church of God will have a different minister every night of their Sunday-to-Sunday revival. That's eight ministers representing that many congregations. The numbers involved spread and grow - that's certainly an aspect of missions.
The Rev. Mark Briehl's news release explains that Our Saviour Lutheran Church is a "mission congregation," and that is true in at least two ways. Holy Spirit Catholic Church holds its services at Our Saviour Lutheran, and together the two congregations successfully have helped the needy residents in our community.
Musical programs, freedom celebrations, commemorations and consecrations are listed below. Look for missions at work in all of these.
Special events
* Bishop F. Neff Powell will make his first visit to Grace Episcopal Church, Fourth and Harvey streets, Radford, on Sunday. He will celebrate Holy Eucharist and confirmation at the 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. services. Bishop Powell was recently consecrated fifth Bishop of Southwestern Virginia on Oct. 26.
* Holy Spirit Catholic Church will celebrate Mass and conduct a special healing service today at 5 p.m. All Christians are invited to attend. The church holds services each week at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, 1845 Cambria St., Christiansburg. Call 381-0299 for more information.
* Revival services continue tonight at 7 p.m. at Midway Community Church, 485 Virginian Drive, Christiansburg. The Rev. Darion Glission is the guest speaker. The revival concludes with a 6 p.m. service on Sunday.
* Foreign missions will be emphasized in two services Sunday at Dublin Baptist Church, Hawkins Street and Virginia 100. Freddie Neel, a Christian dramatist from North Augusta, S.C., will present a portrayal of the life and ministry of missionary Lottie Moon at the 11 a.m. service. The public also is invited to attend the 6 p.m. service and hear retired Army Chaplain Edward F. Lundwall, Jr. report on his ministry in Kiev, Ukraine.
* A musical celebration of liberty, "With Freedom's Holy Light," will be presented Sunday at 10:45 a.m. at Slussers Chapel Church of God , Mount Tabor Road, Blacksburg.
* "Revival Time," with guest evangelist Rick Via, begins at the 11 a.m. Sunday service at Pentecostal Holiness Church, Phlegar Street, Christiansburg. The revival continues Sunday at 6 p.m. and Monday through Wednesday at 7 p.m. each evening.
* A full week of revival services begins Sunday at 7 p.m. at New Hope Church of God, Mud Pike Road, Christiansburg. Monday through Sunday, Nov. 17, services will be at 7:30 p.m., and each will be led by a different speaker.
* Belmont Christian Church, 2149 Dominion Drive, Christiansburg will hold revival services Sunday through Wednesday nights at 7 p.m. as part of their 50th anniversary celebration during November. Speakers for the services will be five men from the church who have gone into the ministry.
* Dublin Church of God, 632 E. Main St., will be in revival Sunday through Wednesday to commemorate the Rev. Michael Collins' five years as pastor. Sunday's service will begin at 6 p.m. and Monday through Wednesday at 7 p.m.
* Mountain Mission Church, Virginia 778, Blacksburg, will begin a singing revival featuring the Kipps Family on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 17 at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.
* Foursquare Gospel Church at Life Bible College, 940 Life Drive, Christiansburg will be the site of the traditional community Thanksgiving Eve service on Nov. 27. It will begin at 7 p.m. and will include special music, prayers and an offering to benefit the ministries of the sponsoring Christiansburg Ministerial Association.
From our congregations
* Our Saviour Lutheran Church and Holy Spirit Catholic Church report that the final tally of their Potato Harvest Festival, with its matching funds, has exceeded $3,500, which is double last year's amount. The two congregations teamed up to plant and harvest a half acre of potatoes for neighbors in need.
The festival, held on Sept. 14, featured a yard sale, auction, live music and refreshments. Proceeds went to Montgomery County Emergency Assistance Programs, which helps qualified residents with immediate and temporary needs when existing agencies cannot do so.
LENGTH: Long : 114 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Bishop John T. Cahoon knocks on the door of St. Peter'sby CNBAnglican Catholic Church in Christiansburg as part of the ceremony
of church consecration on Thursday.