The November, 2022, Community Meal at Main Street United Methodist Church will be held a week early so that Thanksgiving Meal Kits may be given away.

The Meal Kits will contain everything you need for a basic Thanksgiving dinner except the turkey and will be given to guests at the November Community Meal on Sunday, November 20, 2022 at 5:30 pm. Members of the Church will be preparing 50 bags for the giveaway at 500 South Main Street in Emporia.

Minestrone soup, bread and dessert will also be served to guests at the Community meal.

"During this time of Thanksgiving we are grateful for the opportunity and privilege to bless our neighbors with anything that make their holiday season less stressful," said Rev. Penny Rasnake, Pastor at Main Street UMC.

The Community Meal Mission has been running at Main Street UMC since 2018 (with time off during the COVID pandemic), and was started to help feed those who found themselves with "more month than paycheck," or just in need of fellowship while they ate a fresh homemade meal. While the Meal Kits are intended for those in need, the Community Meal itself is for anyone, regardless of income. The Membership at Main Street understood, from the outset, that it was not only those in need who needed fed, but those who were lonely, too. Meals are also delivered to the homebound.

Each gift bag cost $17 and contains Yams, Green Beans, Chicken Stock, Gravy, Stuffing Mix, Rolls, Instant Mashed Potatoes and a Pie. If you would like to donate to this Mission, you may mail your donation to Main Street UMC, 105 Church Street, Emporia, VA 23847.

Members of the Church will be performing a similar outreach for Christmas with similar Meal Kits that will also include Christmas Gifts for members of the family picking up the bags.

175^th Anniversary Celebration!

Our celebration is nearly a week-old memory but what a wonderful memory!  The morning started off with coffee and doughnuts in the fellowship hall. During the Sunday School hour there was a video presentation of many of the past saintly members, present members, and events throughout the life of the church and our community directed by John Burnette, member of the 175^th Anniversary Committee.  Also on display was memorabilia from the annals of the church.  Members brought old hymnals, photographs, documents, and other items of historic importance to the life of Main Street United Methodist Church.  The displays will remain up for much of the rest of October for viewing. 

Our morning worship commenced at eleven o’clock with our Living Waters District Superintendent, the Rev. James H. “Jay” Carey bringing the morning message on Perseverance.  Several hymns were offered during the service including “How Firm a Foundation” and “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee”.  The Choir, under the direction of Linda Rawlings and accompanied on the Church’s Steinway piano was Randy Hudson, presented a moving rendition of “In the Garden” by Charles Austin Miles.  George Morrison, Chairman of the 175^th Committee presented a framed letter and photo of Sharma D. Lewis, Resident Bishop, the Virginia Conference.  The letter and photo were sent by Bishop Lewis in recognition of our church’s anniversary milestone.  The letter and photo will be placed in a position of prominence in the church. 

At the conclusion of the service and the offering of the blessing, all in attendance were asked to gather on the front steps of the church to take a group picture to record their attendance for this special service.  After the official photo was taken folks then moved to the church grounds to partake of the delicious meal provided.  There was so much food that our wonderful cooks brought to accompany the delicious fried chicken additional tables had to be added to accommodate the entire fare!  Tents, tables and chairs dotted the grounds and great fellowship was enjoyed by all!

This was an exciting and encouraging day in the life of our church!  We enjoyed seeing members as well as welcoming new faces as we prepare for our next 175 years!  We are already making plans for our Bicentennial! It will be here before you know it!!!

On a personal note, as Chairman, I wish to thank my Anniversary Committee for their hard work and many volunteer hours making our celebration a huge success!  Also, I want to thank The Independent Messenger and EmporiaNews.com for their support in spreading the word of our history and celebration as well as our commitment to spreading the word and works of Christ in this community. 

  “AND ARE WE YET ALIVE?” – Charles Wesley

There is more to come – we are open – “Open Hearts, Open Minds and Open Doors - The People of the United Methodist Church!” Please come and visit soon – we’ve missed you!   

This is the fifth and final installment in recognition of the 175^th Anniversary Celebration of Main Street United Methodist Church, 500 South Main Street, Emporia. 

Grace and Peace!

Missions, Ministry and Fellowship

Women’s Missionary Society/United Methodist Women

The Women’s Missionary Society, the forerunner to United Methodist Women, was organized at Main Street United Methodist Church in 1912 with forty-six charter members.  The Reverend J. Sidney Peters (1911-1913) was the Pastor of Main Street at that time.  Mrs. E. M. Parker was elected the first president of this organization.  “In twenty-five years, Mrs. Parker and Mrs. C. S. Powell were the only presidents.”  1940 saw the remaining of this group, as they became the Women’s Society of Christian Service.  Mrs. E. E. Eanes was the first president under the new name.  Members were organized into eight circles, each named for a missionary except for the Margaret Parker Circle, which was still active until recently.  1973 saw this group renamed again as it became the United Methodist Women.  This took place following yet another church merger that took place in 1968, at the Uniting Conference when the Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Church merged and became the United Methodist Church.  While still successfully active, these ladies have reorganized to call themselves United Women of Faith.  They continue to be recognized for their stellar support for missions.

Methodist Men/United Methodist Men

The Methodist Men organized formally in 1954 und the clergy leadership of the Reverend Harris Kessler (1956-1957).  This group became the United Methodist Men following the aforementioned Uniting Conference in 1968.  The United Methodist Men, after a brief hiatus, were re-chartered in 2004 under the leadership of Reverend David A. Holbert (2000-2005).  The men’s group remains strong and active meeting once a month throughout the year and conducting an annual pancake supper to aid in funding mission projects in the community, state, nation and around the world.

United Methodist Youth Fellowship (UMYF)

The Reverend James John, appointed to Main Street, (1961-1966). Worked extensively with the youth, not only from the church membership but also with youth in the community at large.  He helped to organize a Youth Council.  The youth group was formally named the United Methodist Church Youth Fellowship or UMYF as it was frequently referred to.  In a renewal effort to minister to and with our youth, Gloria and Will Robinson, have become youth leaders, are working diligently with our youth, rekindling the UMYF spirit.  As a group, they have conducted several mission trips and assist in coordinating Backpack Buddies to provide after school meals and snacks to the children within the school system.

Main Street’s Mission to the World

During the one hundred seventy-five years of continuous ministry by the many who have worshipped and served here, there have been two missionaries and three pastors sent forth into full time Christian service.  Ella Yarrell, a native of Greensville County, served as a missionary to Brazil in 1899.  Margaret Light, daughter of the Reverend and Mrs. J. H. Light, (1916-1918), became a missionary to Cuba.  Those that became pastors are Donald O. Collins, George M. Pearson, Jr., and Meadie A. Taylor, III.

A former pastor and his wife retired and made their home here in Emporia.  The Reverend Carl and Caroline Manear, (1981-1984), both now deceased, blessed this church and community with their presence and participation.

The Reverend Stephen Butler (1991-1997) helped to guide the church into mission work by helping the church to become more directly involved with Habitat for Humanity and with the Russian Initiative Mission Project, with the church becoming the host church for Russian Children.

Member, C. Jay Osburn, Jr,. under the pastorate of Reverend Tom Durrance (2016-2022), started the Community Meal program to offer food and fellowship to those in need.  Every fourth Sunday of the month volunteers from the congregation gather to prepare a hot fresh meal to feed those who desire to come.  During COVID pandemic, the meals were provided through drive-thru means.   “AND ARE WE YET ALIVE?” – Charles Wesley

There is more to come! This is the fourth installment of several in recognition of the 175^th Anniversary Celebration of Main Street United Methodist Church, 500 South Main Street, Emporia.  The celebration will culminate with an exciting worship service on Sunday, October 9, 2022 with special music and historic displays and presentations.  A potluck lunch will be served on the lawn.  Please make plans to join in the celebration, catch up with old friends and greet new ones!  If you should have items of history related to Main Street United Methodist Church (wedding pictures, Sunday School or Bible Zone memories, hymnals, Bibles, articles, or other memorabilia and would like to share those please contact the church at 434.634.3724).  Grace and Peace!

Parts of the above history are based on the history compiled by Jane Prince for the Sesquicentennial Celebration.

“Where words fail, music speaks.” – Hans Christian Andersen

Music has always played an important role in the life of the Methodist church.  This year marks the 315^th Anniversary of the birth of Charles Wesley, who was born but a mere one-hundred forty years prior to the founding of what is now Main Street United Methodist Church and he is credited with writing more than six thousand hymns, a sampling of which are still in our hymnals today.  Some familiars include Christ the Lord Is Risen Today, O For A Thousand Tongues, Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus and Hark the Herald Angels Sing to highlight a few.

A Mr. Jesse Lee, who joined the church in 1887, told someone involved with the compilation of the history of Main Street United Methodist Church that he recalled that a Mr. Lunn was the organist for the church when he, Mr. Lee became a member.  That organ was a pump organ that had to be hand pumped.  Records reveal that two boys, James Robert Cato and William Wyche (Billy Buck) Cato, had the chore of pumping the organ for the organist.

Miss Sally Bailey became organist in about 1910 when the organ was electrified and moved into the new brick building.  She served continuously as organist for over thirty years.  Mrs. R. L. (Virginia Vincent) Saffelle served until her retirement in 1997.  Our current Choir Director, Linda Rawlings and our current Organist/Pianist, Randy Hudson succeeded her.  Previously, Betsy Kirkland served as the Pianist until her relocation.  From time to time, other members of the church assisted with the children’s and youth’s choirs as well as giving leadership to music in the early contemporary worship service.  These included Angela Kirkland, Kim Gregory and Virginia Kelly who worked in past years with children’s music.  In past years, Johnny Morgan and Walter Robinson were faithful in leading music and worship in the early worship service in its inception in 1998.  “AND ARE WE YET ALIVE?” – Charles Wesley

There is more to come! This is the third installment of several in recognition of the 175^th Anniversary Celebration of Main Street United Methodist Church, 500 South Main Street, Emporia.  The celebration will culminate with an exciting worship service on Sunday, October 9, 2022 with special music and historic displays and presentations.  A potluck lunch will be served on the lawn.  Please make plans to join in the celebration, catch up with old friends and greet new ones!  If you should have items of history related to Main Street United Methodist Church (wedding pictures, Sunday School or Bible Zone memories, hymnals, Bibles, articles, or other memorabilia and would like to share those please contact the church at 434.634.3724).  Grace and Peace!

Parts of the above history are based on the history compiled by Jane Prince for the Sesquicentennial Celebration.

A House of Worship

In 1847, with Rev. Thomas Jones as their minister, the Methodists constructed on their recently acquired lot, a small wooden church.  Regrettably, no images exist of this building today.  1894 brought destruction when the first house of worship for the former Hicksford Methodists was destroyed by fire after forty-seven years of continued worship.  Being defeated or out done was not in the psyche of these early Christians.  A new, larger building with classrooms separated from the sanctuary by folding doors was erected on the same site. 

By 1887, the communities of Hicksford and Belfield had become the town of Emporia.  County native Benjamin Tillar and member of the Virginia House of Delegates sought to name the town Emporia (in Latin meaning ‘place of plenty where business is transacted’) recognizing one of his Atlantic and Danville Railroad associate’s hometown of Emporia, Kansas.

Main Street Methodist Church, formerly known as Hicksford Methodist, along with the North Emporia Methodist Church (Monumental Methodist Church) were consolidated into one charge with the pastor for the two congregations residing in what was known as the Main Street Parsonage (located adjacent on the southern side of the newly constructed church).  Morning and evening services were alternated between the two congregations until 1928.  At that time each church became a station church with separate pastors being appointed to each congregation.  The Rev. W. R. Reed (1928-1929) was the first minister appointed to serve the Main Street congregation.  Between 1938 and 1951 the churches once again became a charge with one pastor serving the two congregations.

In 1910, the present brick structure was erected during the tenure of the Rev.  Fred G. Davis (1906-1910).  Having previously been in the contracting business before entering into the ministry he assisted greatly with the building project by drawing the plans and assisting with the construction work.  His recommendation to the Board of Stewards resulted in the purchase and incorporation of the beautiful stain glass windows that adorn the building with one exception, the memorial rose window depicting Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane.  This window was installed and dedicated in the memory of later members of the church in 1971.  Miss Georgie (Dortie) Lee and Mr. Alpheus G. Slate were to have been the first couple to be married in the new church building, however, the building was not completed in time for their wedding.  Thus, they were the last couple to be married in the old frame building that had been moved to the southern side of the church lot to make room for the new construction.

As Emporia grew so did the church.  Very capable lay leadership was provided to the people who became members of the church and who served on the Board of Steward of the church.  Among those is E. E. Eanes.  Mr. E. E. Eanes came to Emporia from Petersburg, Virginia to set up his law practice here.  He became an active member of Main Street, organizing and teaching the Men’s Bible Class that at one time had more than three hundred members, a class which has since disbanded.  In 1939, Mr. Eanes was a delegate from the Virginia Annual Conference to the Kansas City Reuniting Conference.  During this conference three branches of the Methodism in the United States, namely, the Methodist Episcopal Church South, the Methodist Protestant Church and the Northern Methodist Church, were reunited into one denomination, forming the Methodist Church.

Additional evidence of growth would follow the move into the new sanctuary. Some alterations to that building were made as to provide more space. The original wooden frame parsonage and two adjacent houses on Main Street as well as two other houses on Church Street were acquired. Those structures were tom down greatly increasing the church's property. Plans for the current parsonage were approved on April 8, 1959. The contract to build the parsonage was awarded to Newsome Brothers and the house was constructed. The Reverend and Mrs. Lee Roy Brown (1957-1961) moved into the parsonage in October of the same year.

1961 saw the much-welcomed arrival of air conditioning for the church. That same year, with A. Richardson as architect for the next building project and with Newsome Brothers as builder, construction began on the Education Building. A Service of Dedication and a note burning for both buildings was held in 1969. During the tenure of the Reverend James M. John (1961-1966) a new electric organ was purchased and installed to replace the pipe organ.

Extensive renovation of the sanctuary began in 1977 during the Reverend L. P. Foley's ministry in Emporia (1973-1977). Due to the yet to be completed renovation, the newly appointed pastor, the Reverend W. Siegfried Volskis (1977-1981) preached his first sermon in the church's Fellowship Hall. In 1982, new woodwork for the sanctuary was crafted and installed by the master craftsman, James Norwood. Cushions were placed on the pews and the chancel area renovated through the gift of funds by the Reverend George Puster. The Pastor's study also received new wood paneling and furniture.

‘The Fellowship Hall was renovated and dedicated to the memory of Mary B. Pierce. The kitchen and nursery have undergone improvements. In 1997 a parking lot on the south side of the building was paved providing additional space for vehicles and better access for the physically challenged to enter the building via a small ramp.  “AND ARE WE YET ALIVE?” – Charles Wesley

There is more to come! This is the second installment of several in recognition of the 175th Anniversary Celebration of Main Street United Methodist Church, 500 South Main Street, Emporia.  The celebration will culminate with an exciting worship service on Sunday, October 9, 2022 with special music and a surprise visitor as well as historic displays and presentations.  A potluck lunch will be served on the lawn.  Please make plans to join in the celebration, catch up with old friends and greet new ones!  If you should have items of history related to Main Street United Methodist Church (wedding pictures, Sunday School or Bible Zone memories, hymnals, Bibles, articles, or other memorabilia and would like to share those please contact the church at 434.634.3724).  Grace and Peace!

Parts of the above history are based on the history compiled by Jane Prince for the Sesquicentennial Celebration. 

From Humble Beginnings

The year is 1847, the fledgling, yet successfully thriving, experiment in democracy called the United States of America is a mere 71 years old. On the world stage, Queen Victoria, granddaughter of King George, III from whom America won its independence, has been on the British throne for a decade at the ripe old age of 28. The territory of Iowa has just become a state adding a 29^th star to the flag of our country.  Its President is James K. Polk, the twenty-ninth Congress is ending and its thirtieth will convene in March of the same year.  The Commonwealth of Virginia, still encompassing the future state of West Virginia, is administrated by Governor William “Extra Billy” Smith. Disputes over slavery placed the American Methodist church in difficulty in the first half of the 19^th century, with the northern church leaders fearful of a split with the South, and reluctant to take a stand.  Finally, in a much larger split, in 1845 at Louisville, the churches of the slaveholding states left the Methodist Episcopal Church and formed The Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

In the town of Hicksford in Greensville County, Virginia in 1847, Alexander T.B. Merrit and his wife Jane S. Merritt, conveyed for the sum of one dollar to the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, a piece of property.  The property was conveyed “in trust that they [the trustees] shall build a house of worship thereon for the use of the members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.”  From this humble beginning, people who lived where we now live, believed in God.  Desiring to grow in their faith and to pass that faith on to their children and others they did what was necessary to make this vision a reality.  Upon doing so, thus has been created the oldest community of faith in present day Emporia.

The Methodists, with Rev. Thomas Jones as their minister, proceeded to build, on their newly acquired lot, a small wooden church building.  The church was known as Hicksford Methodist Church and was part of the Greensville Circuit in the Randolph Macon District.  The total membership of the Greensville Circuit in 1847 was 251 whites, and 38 blacks, a total of 289 souls.  The congregation worshiped in that building until it was destroyed forty-seven years later by a fire in 1894.

In 1887 the communities of Hicksford and Belfield became the town of Emporia.  The church in Hicksford was then renamed, Main Street Methodist Church.  By then it was part of the Petersburg District, along with Round Hill, Forest Chapel, Independence, Corinth, and Saint Andrews Methodist churches.  “AND ARE WE YET Alive?” – Charles Wesley

There is more to come! This is the first installment of several in recognition of the 175^th Anniversary Celebration of Main Street United Methodist Church, 500 South Main Street, Emporia.  The celebration will culminate with an exciting worship service on Sunday, October 9, 2022 with special music and a surprise visitor as well as historic displays and presentations.  A potluck lunch will be served on the lawn.  Please make plans to join in the celebration, catch up with old friends and greet new ones!  If you should have items of history related to Main Street United Methodist Church (wedding pictures, Sunday School or Bible Zone memories, hymnals, Bibles, articles, or other memorabilia and would like to share those please contact the church at 434.634.3724).  Grace and Peace!

Parts of the above history are based on the history compiled by Jane Prince for the Sesquicentennial Celebration. 

Post Card of Bishop Francis Asbury having known to travel the Circuits throughout Southern Virginia and northern North Carolina.