Giving thanks

Sponsored by the Culpeper Ministerial Association, the community was invited to come together and unite with other Christians during the annual Thanksgiving service at Culpeper Baptist Church, pray and encourage each other and share in His presence.

During the prelude, sang by the Culpeper Middle School choir, town and county public officials proceeded down the side aisle and took seats in the front center pews.  Following the call to worship, led by Pastor Mark Jenkins, from Mountain View Community Church and a warm welcome by Dr. Ted Fuson, pastor at Culpeper Baptist Church, Immersed led the congregation in a Thanksgiving hymn.

From the pulpit, Honorary Roger Morton read the Thanksgiving Proclamation wherein Lincoln once called for a day of Thanksgiving asking us to be grateful for His benefits.  Many church leaders participated in the service including the Rev. Jeffrey Light, pastor of Novum Baptist Church, the Rev. Habacuc Diaz, pastor of Primera Iglesia Bautista Maranatha, the Rev. Randy Orndorff, pastor of Culpeper Methodist Church and Pastor Jacob Phillips, of White Oak Run Baptist Church.

During a moment of thankfulness, Rev. Michael Gray of St. Stephens Episcopal Church shared his appreciation for all the support that the food closet has received from the community. He highlighted the importance of the church ministry program that is providing shelter to the homeless throughout the winter months.

Soloist Janette Smith moved the congregation to their feet before the message. With hands lifted giving Him glory and praise, the group of over 250 people exuded passion and enthusiasm for a giving God.

This is the second annual Thanksgiving service where the Ministerial Association has invited a speaker from outside the local area to share the message.

In prior years, a member of the association had been asked to provide the message. This year Dr. John W. Kinney, Dean of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University, delivered the keynote address. Kinney spoke fervently to a full house. He focused on Philippians 4: 4 which reads, “rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

The room shook with enthusiasm for the duration.

Canned food was collected for the Culpeper food closet as people approached the church and a love offering was collected, inside, once the service got underway.  Phillips noted, as the service came to a close, that $2,227.95 was collected during the service and over 5,000 pounds of food was weighed and will be delivered, along with the offering, to the Community Food Closet.

As Kinney returned to his seat, following his message, he received an overwhelming standing ovation. He returned to the pulpit during the final piece of the service to offer a closing prayer and remind everyone to rejoice. He stressed, “during the holidays and every day, no matter when or where and regardless of the situation and circumstance, make a choice to rejoice.”

Amy Wagner covers church news for the Star-Exponent. Have a story idea? E-mail her at