First Presbyterian Church of Annandale Its Past – Its Future
			We celebrate our 50th anniversary! What a big event. Let’s celebrate with the charter members who still live in our area: Bill and Emily Helm, Aggie Jo Millard and Margerie Taylor. They were there when our church was founded in 1956, when the new congregation of 103 members was worshiping the Lord in the auditorium of Annandale High School with Organizing Pastor Rev, Kirk Hammond. We can imagine the eager congregation planning for the future. In the same year Rev. James Payne was ordained and installed as first pastor, a church school was started with 152 students and 27 teachers; an adult choir and a youth choir were accompanied on a little field organ.       FPCA grew quickly. Two years later plans for a church building were approved and in 1960 the church was dedicated. In 1963 the building was expanded to house offices, school rooms, a library. And the membership grew from year to year, till it reached its climax in 1972 with 833 active members! No wonder the church building had to be enlarged. In 1974 the present Sanctuary and the Activities Building were dedicated. Of course, the Church School also grew. In the year 1970, 575 students attended classes.       Music has always been an important part of our worship. We had an adult choir from the very beginning, accompanied by the small field organ. Besides the Adult Choir, we had several youth choirs for different age groups. The dedication of current, enlarged church building in 1974 included our wonderful organ. At Thanksgiving 1977, a hand bell choir added to the beauty of the worship service for the first time. Let us be grateful to our organists and choir directors for demonstrating their wonderful skills and leadership.       Let us not forget our secretaries, each of them contributing their own skills to enhance the work of FPCA. And think of the many volunteers serving this church – from church school teachers bringing the love of God to our youngsters, to people decorating the sanctuary, singing in the choir, playing bells, maintaining our wonderful library, leading Bible studies, taking care of the proper maintenance of the buildings and its surroundings, and much more.       None of the above could have happened without the guidance of our pastors. Let us imagine them walking down the Sanctuary, one by one. They are being lead by our first pastor, Rev. James A. Payne, Jr. Rev. John R. Hornick follows, then come Rev. Cecil M. Jividen with Co-Pastor John R.Wilcox, Rev. Sherwood C. McKay as Associate Pastor, and Rev. W. Paul White. Last, but not least, comes Rev. Dr. Chris Looker, our current pastor, who is leading us into the future. And don’t forget the many interim pastors and supply pastors who brought the word of the Lord to FPCA, with Rev. Bob Curry preparing us for the future before the Lord sent us Dr. Looker. They all brought their dedication, their skills, their faith and their love to the congregation, every one of them in their own way. We can only be grateful for their leadership.       Today our church family is much smaller. But its spirit is just as eager, its fellowship is just as active. All of us are looking forward to a successful future. The Korean sister congregation has used our buildings since 1985, but, unfortunately, we saw in them only tenants. Now we are planning to work with them, particularly in offering combined church school programs for the youngsters of both congregations, in encouraging our young people to attend the contemporary worship service presented by the Koreans. Its style offers more to the younger generation. God understands us all.       Yes, we are looking towards a new beginning with confidence. We count on God’s promise to be with us now and in the future. May the Lord bless FPCA.