Providence Celebrates 50th Anniversary

On Sunday, September 7, 2003, Providence Friends celebrated their 50th Anniversary as a local congregation. Providence Friends Church was a church plant of the Portsmouth, Va., First Friends Church. It was started in September of 1953 as Colonial Place Friends Church in Norfolk, Va. In the 1960's the church moved to Providence Road in Virginia Beach and changed its name to Providence Evangelical Friends Church.

The celebration included letters from previous members who have moved to other areas along with letters, powerpoint presentations, and a video from previous pastors and staff members. These were all read during the morning service or during the celebration outside after the service.

Previous pastor and current Area Superintendent, Duane Rice, delivered the morning message. The morning service was a blessed time of worship, remembering, and prayer. After the morning service the church provided dinner for everyone outside in the picnic area. A special singing group, "His Elect", was asked to provide background music during the time outside. Pony rides and a petting zoo were brought in for the children. They were busy riding the ponies up to the time they left.

We had a great attendance of about 162 people. All in attendance called the day "perfect." The atmosphere, attitude, and the weather were all made to order. The feeling was that God is smiling on us. Our motto for the celebration was, "Looking back with Thanksgiving - Looking forward with Expectation."

Submitted by Pastor Dave Householder