DATE: Friday, May 2, 1997                   TAG: 9704300149

SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER      PAGE: 10   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY SCOTT MCCASKEY, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   72 lines

GREEN ACRES PRESBYTERIAN MARKS 40 YEARS IN THE 'BURBS

PATRICIA D. SYKES remembers having to help clean up the Women's Club of Portsmouth in order to hold services at a then-fledgling church.

``There was sometimes quite a mess on Sunday morning after a Saturday night gathering,'' said Sykes, 66, a Chesapeake resident. ``We had to get in early so we could have it clean before the service.''

The year was 1955, and the services at the Women's Club site were the beginnings of what would become Green Acres Presbyterian Church. On May 5, 1957 the church was officially organized, followed by a ground-breaking ceremony a month later at 3135 Hanley Ave. in Portsmouth. On Sunday, Green Acres will celebrate its 40th birthday.

Sykes and her husband Jefferson are among about 35 of the original charter members who still belong to the church. The congregation, approximately 400, is made up of mostly Chesapeake and Portsmouth residents. John and Ercell Jackson are charter members from Portsmouth who will be on hand for the anniversary.

``There was a lot of work to do in the beginning,'' said John T. Jackson, 84, who was an elder of the church during the first years of operation. ``My wife and I had to do all the records and set up the registry until we finally got a secretary.''

Remembering the good old days will be much of the theme for the celebration. A video display of church history will augment bulletin boards tacked with past photos and newspaper articles. John Lamotte, a now-retired pastor who as a seminary student conducted services at the church in its forming years, will deliver the message at the 11 a.m. worship service. A reception with the cutting of the anniversary cake will follow the service.

Portsmouth resident Otis B. Gregg is a Green Acres charter member and was one of the first deacons. He also was the first treasurer, a post he holds today.

``I've always been active in the church,'' said Gregg, 76. ``Some of the old faces have come and gone, but there's always been a nice congenial group. Always someone there to help.''

Green Acres was started in 1955 as a mission unit from First Presbyterian Church in downtown Portsmouth when many members of that congregation began moving to the suburbs. The church began with 151 charter members. The Rev. Samuel McCammon Jr. became the first minister in February of 1958.

Since that time, the congregation has grown and the building expanded. In the early 1960s, a second wing was added. Today the structure houses a sanctuary, Sunday school, kitchen and fellowship hall on nearly seven acres of land. The Rev. Walter C. Hunting is the present minister.

``This is exciting, not only the anniversary, but we're continuing to get new members as the area grows,'' said Hunting, 54, who has been at the church for 18 years.

The charter members say that the church remains a big part of their lives.

``A lot of our social life is centered around the church,'' says Ercell C. Jackson, 75, of Portsmouth. ``Two bridge clubs started here. There are game nights, and we do a progressive dinner circuit.''

Green Acres also acts as a kind of farm for the community. In addition to the garden plots it rents out to local citizens, the church grows a variety of fruits and vegetables. Much of the food is distributed to local nursing homes and organizations that serve people in need. Outside of the community, Green Acres sponsors programs of fellowship and service in Asia, Africa, and North and South America.

``We've been fortunate to have several bequeaths given to us,'' he said. ``The church is very healthy. I won't be around, but I expect it will go at least another 40 years. But I think we might need another organ by then.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by STEVE EARLEY

Longtime church members Patricia Sykes, front row left, and Ercell

Jackson, with Jefferson V. Sykes, left, back row, Pastor Walter C.

Hunting, Otis B. Gregg, Jerry Gregg and John T. Jackson on Sunday

will celebrate with some 400 members the building's 40th birthday

with a worship service, video, pictures and a cake.

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