(we are grateful to Joyce Beales who is now in her 7th year of writing ministry recaps!)
May
May is such a beautiful month—the first blush of Spring is past and the pastel hues of jonquils along with hyacinths and phlox have long since faded like fog evaporating in the sunshine! Early summer is shyly beginning to peek around the corner with fat lily buds promising to reveal a vibrant kaleidoscope of pinks, reds and oranges! Who can resist the enchanting allure of Star Gazer lilies, lilacs, and roses—their fragrance a whispered spell, a parfum woven from the dreams of moonlight and memory?
Adding to the beauty and charm of May’s ‘not quite summer yet’ ambiance, the Culpeper Downtown Farmers Market returned to our lower parking lot on May 3rd complete with live music provided by Joshua Luongo. A mainstay of Saturday morning commerce and community gatherings, the market originally debuted at the Agricultural Enterprise in the 1950s. I hope you will stop by often and support our local economy while enjoying the best of what local farmers and vendors provide!
While our region has been fortunate with clear skies and minimal rainfall, Hans and his team—Geary Parkinson, Skip Price, and Paul Hvidding—traveled to Damascus, Virginia, to assist with cleanup efforts following the catastrophic impact of Tropical Storm Helene in 2024. The storm left hundreds of homes damaged and caused widespread devastation. Hans and crew were busily tearing out drywall, insulation, and the like. Thanks, guys, for taking time from busy schedules to help in what can only be described as an overwhelming task!
Not quite as all consuming—was the recent addition of the rock garden to our courtyard. What a difference some rocks and succulents have made! THANK YOU! to the PlayDate Children’s Museum, A & B Kearns for the river rock, and all those who helped bring the garden from a sketch on the drawing board to reality—just in time for the VSUC concert the next day!
Saturday, May 4th, it was our immense pleasure to partner with The Carver 4-County Museum to host the celebrated 50-voice Virginia State University Choir in a benefit concert under the direction of Dr. Craig Robertson. Three hundred folks, including enthusiastic alumni of VSUC, enjoyed this wonderful worship event, “A Joyful Noise,” comprised of rousing gospel songs and soul-stirring spirituals. Well done!
The Child Development Center held their annual graduation, and I’m told the church was packed [even in the balcony!] with proud parents and grandparents as well as other family and friends! And speaking of the Child Development Center, the Leadership Council has finalized the agreement with Brynmor Early Education and Preschool for the operation of our 75-year-old program. You can read more about this transition here.
We welcomed Jason and Sklar Ferris, professional coaches from Nashville, TN, at the end of the month for an evening workshop and training. This was such a good opportunity for our seasoned musicians as well as newbies to strengthen their skills and learn more about the worship team. And while I’m thinking about worship, the Thursday night worship is a very relaxed gathering that features contemporary music and homegrown speakers/testimonies designed to help us think about putting feet to our faith in practical ways within our community. You might want to check it out one Thursday night.
Congratulations to Paul Bates on his upcoming induction into the Piedmont Area Soap Box Derby Hall of Fame this spring. He will be formally honored during the awards ceremony following the 87th FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby World Championships on July 19. This recognition honors his outstanding contributions to the Soap Box Derby program and celebrates the lasting impact Paul has had on the lives of countless young people through his participation in this annual, local event.
We wrapped up the month with an incredible Saturday full of community spirit and connection! The day began with the Culpeper Farmers Market, followed by a vibrant Family Community Event generously sponsored by Culpeper Human Services—highlighting Culpeper’s Foster Care Program and showcasing a range of family services available to our residents.
Meanwhile, PlayDate—our on-site children’s museum—hosted its ever-popular Science Saturday, delighting kids and parents with hands-on learning and fun. We ended the day on a high note with the Law Enforcement Annual Torch Run, raising funds and awareness for our inspiring Special Olympics athletes.
These are just a few of the meaningful ways we connect with our community. There’s a place here for everyone—find your passion and get involved! See you next month!
April
April closed with a weary sigh, offering an early taste of summer as temperatures climbed into the 80s, accompanied by stifling humidity and scarce rainfall—worsening conditions in an already moderate drought area.
As well, the month brought an unforgettable burst of excitement and community spirit with the incredible Great 2,800 Egg Giveaway, a joyful collaboration between CBC, Antioch Baptist Church, and Wayland Blue Ridge. One of our facebook buddies inquired if ‘they all found good homes?’ You bet they did—every single one, and in record time! We are better together when we engage with our partners to help our community.
By mid-month, we had fully entered into the rhythm of our Easter season. On Palm Sunday, our children’s ministry, joined by their parents, strode into the sanctuary waving palm fronds to the uplifting sounds of Shout Hosanna! During worship, Melody and Lindsay led us in a moving rendition of Were You There, a powerful spiritual likely rooted in the faith and suffering of African Americans during the 19th century. The recitation of Scripture woven into the song made the moment especially poignant.
On Monday evening of Holy Week, we gathered in the courtyard for an evening of ‘Worship in the Round,’ singing contemporary praise songs, along with some throwback melodies, for a great night of encouragement, worship and fellowship.
Later in the week—Maundy Thursday—our church family came together in the sanctuary to remember Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples before his crucifixion. After a time of reflection, communion was served, and we left recommitted to love and serve one another just as Jesus did during his ministry here on earth.
On Friday, we gathered in the courtyard for a time of worship—a commemoration of the crucifixion—punctuated by music, Scripture reading and prayer. Passages included readings from the Old Testament relating to prophecies about the Messiah as well as New Testament verses describing the crucifixion.
Despite the cool temperatures and overcast sky, Resurrection Sunday was joyfully celebrated at sunrise on the rolling hills of The Culpeper Retirement Community’s campus. Afterwards, we celebrated in our sanctuary at 10:00 a.m. for our traditional Easter service with livestream provided to the residents at The Culpeper.
THANK YOU to all of our musicians as well as all those who helped plan and execute our Easter worship for their dedication and artistry. Through their gifts, they helped make Holy Week not only a time of reverence and worship but an opportunity to experience its meaning with renewed depth and clarity.
Other activities included the child development center’s school picture day and PlayDate’s exciting Science Saturday near the end of the month. Our senior adults continue to enjoy The Chosen as well as the lively discussion following.
You may have noticed our summer worship schedule on our updated website, but here’s a recap. From now until August 31st, our schedule will include: a ‘Get Up & Go Service! At 8:00 a.m. on Sundays, with the regular service at 10:00 a.m.; 9:00 a.m. at The Culpeper in Memory Care; 10:30 a.m. in the J. T. Edwards Chapel and a mid-week encouragement service Thursday Evening at 6:30 p.m. in Courtyard/Courtyard Commons. Until next month, stay well!
March
As we moved into the beauty of spring, March brought with it a renewed sense of hope and opportunity. Here at CBC we’re embracing this time of growth with open arms, eager to share the many events and activities designed to strengthen our surrounding community and deepen our faith. Come join me for some lite reflection on the month just past.
We launched the 2025 Culpeper Concert Series at the beginning of the month with a captivating performance by the dynamic duo, Davin-Levin. The pair, consisting of Emily Levin, Principal Harpist of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and Colin Davin, Associate Professor of Guitar and Director of Guitar Studies at Shenandoah Conservatory, delivered an unforgettable musical experience. This performance marked the first of five exciting shows in this year’s series.
March was packed with some fun events! We had our first PlayDate Sunday, March 23, with breakfast, playtime then Worship. It was great to have our families discover PlayDate – our newest building partner. Mid-month, we welcomed our own Will Rogers along with the King’s Players from Lynchburg to perform “Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe” on Saturday and sing at our Sunday service. Thank you to our host families for taking care of these students!
On March 9, we came together as a community to pack over 20,000 meals in just 2.5 hours! The event brought together representatives from the churches in our building, along with the three non-profits we host and the many community groups we support. We were proud to partner with Rise Against Hunger, an organization committed to creating a global movement to end hunger. A huge thank you to everyone who participated.
We are partnering again with Generations Central Adult Care to host a new group of Stronger Memory that focuses on healthy eating and best practices for nourishing the body and the mind. For more information, speak with Hans Murdock.
And speaking of worship, our worship band is not only growing in numbers but also in skill and versatility. The devotional time they share prior to the service is a time for everyone to pinpoint their focus upon Christ as we move into corporate worship. And let’s give a huge shout-out to our amazing audio-visual team—their unwavering dedication each Sunday ensures everything runs smoothly behind the scenes.
The March church business meeting convened on the 26th and the following motions were approved:
* Authorization of the Leadership Council to negotiate and finalize a lease with Brynmor Early Education and Preschool to occupy and operate the Child Development Center spaces at CBC for early childhood education.
* Redirection, as needed, of the $200,000 of Endowment funds approved as Action Item 2 at the December 2024 business meeting, to emergency building repairs.
* Approval of Melanie Edwards to fill the existing vacancy on the Personnel Committee.
* Reappointment of Skip Price as Trustee.
Our old third Friday favorites, Acoustic Café, brought another night of great music! We welcomed young artist, Claire Reina to open the show followed by our Virginia Stilwell and Geary Parkinson performing several lively Irish tunes. Steve Pugh and friends closed the evening with several country music oldies. Thanks to one and all!
Near the end of the month, we hosted contemporary Christian singer-songwriter/record producer, David Leonard and his special guest, Cade Thompson in concert. Hits for Leonard include Just Jesus and God of This Place. Thompson is the composer of the hit single Good God.
So, the month ends with Spring popping out all over! The flowering cherry trees and Bradford pears are in full bloom as are Easter Jonquils, Pansies and Alpine flowers. April beckons us to prepare our hearts for Easter—what a lovely season to contemplate the mercy and grace of our wonderful God!
February
February was quite the rollercoaster of weather, with a bit of everything! The warm and cold shifts, even including snow, definitely kept things interesting. Dare I mention the “holiday” at the beginning of the month?! Even in our age of cutting-edge technology and sophistication, there's something charming about relying on a ground hog’s "prediction" for the coming of Spring. Phil’s annual forecast has become a beloved ritual, and—it’s refreshing that we haven’t let go of it. THANK YOU, Phil! We’re nearly there!
Like all the preceding months, February was exciting here at CBC. For instance, February’s Acoustic Café featured a young, up-and-coming artist and performer, Isaac Clark, playing a wide variety of songs from country to pop. Carol Young, Keith Walters, and Terry Sullivan also performed everything from original compositions to country hits and the trio, Acoustic Creed, rounded out the evening playing Americano favorite covers mixed with their own original music.
Speaking of music, the children’s choir has gotten a great start and will be meeting at 6:00 p.m. the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays in the third-floor choir suite. If you have a little person in your family that loves to sing, join Rebecca Schwier, director, on Wednesday evenings. Your children will enjoy Rebecca’s contagious enthusiasm as well as Jeanine’s and Maria’s gentle encouragement. It’s a win-win for everyone!
A second option for children ages K through grade 5 is our children’s group, UNITE, which meets at 6:00 p.m. on 1st and 3rd Wednesday evenings beginning next month. This is a fun group that includes Bible stories and games as well as crafts.
Another popular gathering during the month was the well-attended Ladies’ Brunch, a brainchild of our Church Ministries Team. Following a delicious brunch, the ladies enjoyed meeting new friends, making crafts and singing together. Look for CMT to continue providing opportunities for us to gather for fellowship during the coming spring and summer months.
Financial Peace is looking to finish strong around mid-March. They have hosted a family of several members—each at different places in their financial journey. Some subjects discussed brought a realization that poor money decisions can have long term consequences and opened eyes to a better way of managing personal finances. It's been rewarding to see young people realize they are in charge of their money, not the culture, not the internet.
Speaking of money, Frugal February was another fun adventure for eleven CBC’ers as they met with Donna Bates early in the month to bounce around potential money-saving ideas for their personal budgets—things like canceling subscriptions, blocking tempting spam emails featuring impulse buys as well as how to avoid financial traps with credit cards, etc. Great ideas, folks!
It sounds like the teens in Converge had an exciting and enriching month as well! The snow tubing trip at Bryce Resort must have been a blast, especially with such a large group (25). It's great that they had the chance to partner with Chancellor Baptist for a winter retreat later in the month, too. Focusing on connecting to God while having fun is such a powerful combination—definitely a memorable experience for the teens!
Thus, February has morphed into March. The grass is getting green, and I can see day lilies and Iris peeking through my garden mulch. Spring can’t be far off, now! Until next month stay well and check our website often to learn what’s going on and how you can plug in at CBC!
January
January was a month of fresh starts and new opportunities, setting the tone for the year ahead. The beginning of the month was filled with energy and promise along with the first significant snow and frigid temperatures in single digits. Now, as we head into February, temperatures are inching up and 40-something is beginning to feel like a heat wave! Despite the cold, here at CBC there’s always a warm welcome to the many activities. As we wrap up the month, it's a great moment to reflect on what was accomplished and how we can carry that momentum into the months ahead.
Small groups are up and running again with an assortment from which to choose. For individuals who want to get a handle on their finances, Financial Peace, led by Skip and Lou Price, was a good choice. FP is a common-sense approach that helps participants learn to budget, pay off debt and make your money work for you. In addition, Donna Bates also introduced us to Frugal February near the end of the month. It’s a fun and creative way to become more aware of how you spend your money, become more fiscally responsible, and share information on financial stewardship as it relates to Kingdom work.
Before We Worship is another new group centered around preparing our hearts for worship and is led by Lindsay Dean. This is a time to focus attention on the Lord and pray together over the Sunday morning ministries before worship begins. If this appeals to you, feel free to contact Lindsay for additional information.
Want to get to know your church family better? Spring dinner groups are returning, and you can still sign up through February 2. What an informal way to make new friends! The groups meet once per month for three to four months and usually have 10-12 participants per group. For more information, contact Ann Lucas or send an email to office@culpeperbaptist.org to get your name in the hat!
Our worship team held their winter kickoff near the end of the month for folks who serve or are interested in serving with one of our music ensembles, serving with the audio-visual team, or leading in prayer/responsive readings, etc. It was a very relaxed evening of fellowship, music, and dinner.
The Culpeper Winter Heat Shelter opened its doors in November to provide safe, warm overnight sleeping accommodations and hot meals for homeless individuals and families in need. CBC’s week to serve rolled around in mid-January, and we had volunteers of all ages to help with meals and visit with our friends at the shelter. A BIG Thank You to everyone for taking time to help!
Near the end of the month, we partnered with Emerald Hill Elementary School to collect travel-size personal hygiene products for 4th and 5th graders to support the hygiene education effort and promote awareness. It's so important to teach young students about personal care and hygiene, and providing the necessary products is a big step toward that goal.
It sounds as if February is shaping up to be a vibrant month full of exciting opportunities! The Bible study on the Gospel of John, led by Pastor Dan, sounds like a great opportunity for spiritual growth, and the women’s brunch on February 8th will surely be a wonderful time to connect with others. It’s also exciting to hear about the new children's choir—such a great initiative for young ones! And of course, the Culpeper Concert Series launch in March with the Davin-Levin Duo promises to be a captivating performance. Visit our website often for further details as well as all the ‘family’ news! Until next month, stay well.