Congregation comes together
By Drew Anthony Smith Rappahannock News Staff Writer
There's a congregation in Huntly that needs help.
"When something like this happens, there are two ways to see it- in a negative way and a positive way...and the community has been great about being positive," said Willis Chapel United Methodist pastor Leah DeLong Saturday afternoon in the basement of her church. DeLong is referring to the major malfunction in the church's furnace around March 28 that resulted in an explosion of soot that managed to settle all over the church's interior.
DeLong hadn't visited the church's basement, the location of said furnace, since the incident almost two months ago and was surprised to see the progress of the clean-up effort, specifically the paint job. "I can't believe how it [the basement] looks," she said.
In addition to a new coat of paint (or two), items in the church needing replacement include an Allen Organ, hymnals, bibles, carpet, robes, etc. Unfortunately, despite having insurance, the expenses outweigh what the church will receive in the settlement.
The Willis Chapel, named after Civil War hero Albert G. Willis, has been standing outside Flint Hill since 1914. Coupled with the Reager School house to the south, which is where the congregation currently meets on Sundays while clean-up is underway, the establishment serves as a cornerstone for the community. "We have a strong congregation with about 85 percent of it being families, " said lifelong church member Judi Burke of Huntly.
To combat the growing debts, Burke, has organized a fund raiser this weekend. "It's an old fashioned Sunday afternoon covered dish dinner...with music and a hymn sing-along," explained Burke. The festivities begin at 3 p.m. with the music starting an hour later.
"Churches serve the community, but now the church is relying on their help," added DeLong later that Saturday. Help one another they will. Leah DeLong hasn't stopped her services nor will the community stop their efforts. Coming to a head this Sunday with the fund raiser, the congregation will be back in their hall from the school house in no time.
"One gentleman actually said to me that first Sunday in the school, 'Hey, we sound pretty good in here'," DeLong added before my departure on Saturday, which proves she is right- you can be negative or positive, and the community chose the latter.
Box
Please come!
Old Fashioned Sunday afternoon Covered Dish Drive – May 18
3 p.m. at Reager School (Next to Willis Chapel)
Music and hymn sing-along 4 p.m.
Donations going toward the Willis Chapel restoration