From Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church

FAIRFIELD — The fall meeting of the Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church was held Oct. 23 at 11 a.m. with 19 people in attendance.

Trustee Chairman J.P. Bush was unable to attend so church clerk R.S. Spencer Jr. conducted the meeting. Trustees present were Spencer, Dewey Sawyer, Mary Florence Moore, Peggy Rascoe Hare and new trustee Cathy Ireland.

Elder Johnny Ray Gardner, of Raleigh, who was the speaker for the occasion, led the group in singing several old Primitive Baptist hymns out of the church’s hymnbooks. On the wall, a picture of the church and one of Elder Albert Cartwright were hung for the occasion. The group was told that Lucille Jones, a longtime faithful of the church, had passed away recently.

The church had its new front doors, built recently by Jason Cutrell, in place, which greatly improved the appearance of the church. The church clerk noted that a few shingles had been blown off by the recent storm and would be replaced.

Gardner noted that this was the 27^th-straight year that he had spoken at the church and recalled many saints who had departed over that length of time. After a morning prayer, Gardner used his first text with verses from Romans 11, instructing Christians to be wise in their thoughts and actions. He said, “Grace has brought us safe this far, and grace will lead us home.”

He reminded his audience that going back to Adam and Eve, man had chosen sin over serving God and that man’s sins are not forgiven until he is reborn in the spirit.

The meeting was closed with prayer and a blessing for the bountiful meal, which was sitting on a long table in the rear of the church. The church will meet again on the first Sunday in June 2017. For information about the church, or for support of the church and graveyard, contact the church clerk R.S. Spencer Jr. at 252-542-0000.