The annual fall meeting of the historic Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church, located near Fairfield, was held Oct. 8.

Twenty-nine people attended, coming from various places in eastern North Carolina and Virginia. J. P. Bush of Yorktown, Virginia, served as moderator, while R.S. Spencer Jr. of Engelhard was the church clerk, as he has been for the last 40 years.

The moderator opened the meeting with prayer, and then the group sang an opening hymn.

The church clerk made some brief comments on the financial situation of the church.

The meeting was then turned over to Elder Johnny Ray Gardner of Raleigh who climbed the steps to the pulpit proclaiming, “Brethren, we have met to worship.” He spoke of the beauty of God’s love, and how our meeting can be a haven of rest from the ways of the world.

Gardner also said the amazing grace that God has for each of us enables us to cut off those branches of sin we all possess because the spiritual branches will be the ones to carry us home to glory. A testimony was given concerning a miraculous healing, and then the group sang “Amazing Grace,” followed by a closing prayer with blessing for the abundant food that awaited the group.

The next church meeting will be June 3, 2018.

Submitted by church clerk, R. S. Spencer Jr.