A Day of Celebration at Silverbrook United Methodist Church

We began our worship with words from Psalm 150 which says: “Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary”; and surely that is what we did all day as Silverbrook United Methodist Church celebrated our first 100 years of ministry on September 16, 2007.
Since our Bible stories often portray Jesus eating with people we followed his example and began our day at 10am with coffee and goodies and lots of hugs and fellowship. Many a “I haven’t seen you in years!” was heard throughout the day as previous member, current members, and friends renewed friendships and caught up on the news.
Our worship was filled with joy and laughter as Trish David, former member, and Rev. Carl Moravitz, former pastor from the 70’s, shared their reminiscences. Our choir treated us to two special songs: “Touch Your People” by Pelle Karlsson and a happy upbeat hymn “Rejoice in His Love” by Tom Fettke which had the feel of an old time gospel hymn. For the past nine months church members have been busy creating squares for a centennial quilt and also made a new Centennial banner. Both these beautiful tapestries were dedicated as well as a new cedar cross for the front of the sanctuary created by Doug Spalding. Even though former members have gone on many different paths over the years they celebrated the beginning of their faith journey here and still consider Silverbrook UMC their church home. We had people come from as far away as Georgia and Michigan. Several local politicians were in attendance Senator Jay O’Brien, Delegate Dave Albo, and Gerry Hyland, Mt. Vernon Supervisor to celebrate this momentous occasion. Pastor Kim and Doug Spalding of the current congregation helped us envision Silverbrook’s future from the foundations laid down over the last 100 years.
A huge potluck lunch was followed by a slide show and history put together by John Wilson and Kevin Brugman. This was a great hit. The New Day Singers led by choir director Carolyn Eng, of Silverbrook, got toes tapping and the audience singing along to tunes of days past such as: ‘In the Good Old Summertime’, ‘Tea for Two’, and ‘I am a Yankee Doodle Dandy’ and many others. Our day was completed by our own Kathy Brown who wrote an original song to cover our 100 years of history and was sung to the tune of ‘Rock Around the Clock’.
Please see our website for the slide show and for pictures of the centennial www.silverbrook-umc.org. It was a glorious day.

The Streetlight Ministeries

By, Mary L. Chisholm, Special to Lorton Valley Star

We tend to move through life so quickly that we seldom see the things that are going on around us. In Prince William County alone there are over 500 homeless people. There are also thousands of individuals in need of help, i.e, food, clothes, or financial assistance. Most of us fail to realize the enormity of these problems. There is a woman who did, her name is Rose Powers. Rose saw the need in our community and took steps to help. She is the founder and Executive Director of The Streetlight Community Outreach Ministries.
The Streetlight Ministries is a non-profit organization that helps the people of our community in need. Streetlight helps in many areas. Streetlight assists people in need of crisis assistance such as financial aid for deposits for housing, utility cutoffs and rent evictions. It also has a food pantry that operates on Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30 am ‘til 11:30am to help people in need of food. It hosts a community outreach dinner every Wednesday night at 7:30pm. You get to enjoy a great dinner, a live band and an inspirational message along with Christian fellowship. They also host two annual holiday banquets. One is on Thanksgiving and the other Christmas. At the Christmas dinner Streetlight provides toys and clothes through Toys-for-Tots to children in our community. Streetlight helps our homeless population by providing overnight hotel rooms, rental deposits, tents, sleeping-bags, and kerosene. The short-term goal is to have transitional housing for the homeless.
The services this ministry provides helps so many, but the ministry also needs help from others in the community so that it can grow and reach more people. On November 18, 2006 The Fannie Mae Foundation sponsored The Streetlight Ministries as a beneficiary organization in “The Walk for the Homeless” which takes place every year in DC. Streetlight earned $10,300.00 for their participation in this walk. The Streetlight Ministry is still in need of financial contributions and volunteers. The work of this organization is awesome. With the help of all of the community it could be so much greater. If you would like to help this ministry in anyway please contact Rose Powers at Streetlight Community Outreach Ministries located at 13550 Jefferon Davis Highway, Woodbridge, at Vinyard Christian Fellowship, 703-491-2288 ext. 224.

“The First Church 1869 and Shiloh Today”

This quilt was hand-made by some of the senior ladies of Shiloh Baptist Church, a group known as the Primetimers which includes the oldest active member 97 year-old Gladys Bushrod. Their motto scripture is “Even in old age they will still produce fruit, they will remain vital and green” Psalm 92:14 Indeed the quilt was finished and laid out at the Annual Family Day celebration where it was auctioned for $500. It has the theme “Four Seasons” and contains a square of “The First Church 1869 and Shiloh Today” which was computer printed from photos by Chuck (Carlos) Jones. It is a monument to the church, the quality expertise handed down from generation to generation as well as the techniques of today and the commitment to attain a goal. “Quilts can be compared to jewels because there are many kinds, and colors.” says member evangelist Carmen M. Duarte, “Quilts, like jewels have many facets, so that what one sees in a quilt depends on the angle from which that quilt is being viewed.”

New Jerusalem Temple of Worship Answers God’s Call

The New Jerusalem Temple of Worship is a non-denominational Church which has as it’s nucleus ministry Daughters of Destiny to intervene in the personal lives of teenagers breaking the epidemic intergenerational cycle of teen pregnancy and the slavery of poverty.

“There is no other problem in the community today more threatening to future generations of families than teen pregnancy.” says Pastor Florine Murphy. “The Church should not depend on others to solve the teenage pregnancies and parenthood crisis we face. The Church shall rise up and take charge of our own children’s destinies.”

The effort is to offer Family Life programs that encourage, inspire, and empower teenagers to have responsible relationships which begin with agape love and self-esteem, moving the adolescents from their deficient situations to a state of strength and determination. 

 New Jerusalem Temple of Worship meets each Sunday at 10:00 a.m. in the multi purpose room at William Halley Elementary School, 8850 Cross Chase Circle.

Senior Executive Director, Florine Murphy of Daughters of Destiny welcomes each of you to the Mending and Deliverance Service on 15 September 2006 at 7:00 p.m. at Halley Elementary School.

FlorineSMurphy@aol.com