Boy Scout Troop 211

Boy Scout Troop 211 in Daleville invites the Botetourt community to their celebration of the 100th anniversary of Boy Scouting on Sunday, Feb. 7, at St. Mark's United Methodist Church. To celebrate this important milestone in Scouting, Troop 211 will participate in the 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. worship services and then host an open house in the fellowship hall from 12:30-2:30 p.m. Scouting displays with past and present memorabilia, pictures of the troop's activities, and scout skill demonstrations will be presented by the troop. Refreshments will be served. Following the open house, Troop 211 will hold a Court of Honor for their presentations of rank advancements and merit badge awards along with several other special centennial awards.

Troop 211, which was chartered a little over five years ago, has 29 scouts under the leadership of Scoutmaster Steve Pappas along with 28 other active assistant scoutmasters and adult leaders. The troop meets each Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. at St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Daleville.

Submitted by Julie Gladu

Christian youth drama group performs at Pierce Chapel Church

Pierce Chapel Church welcomes the Christian youth drama group MANNA on Feb. 7 at Pierce Chapel Church. MANNA has performed for many denominations as well as at nursing homes and civic groups.

Before the performance, a taco dinner will be served in the fellowship hall of the church. It is free and all are welcome. Dinner will be at 5 p.m., followed by MANNA at 6. For further information, contact Lesylie Johnson, 540-473-1652. Severe cold, ice or snow cancels.

Submitted by Lesylie Johnson

Stained-glass artist to lead class at gallery

On Saturday, Feb. 6, from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (bring a sack lunch) stained-glass artist Emily Mays will lead a class in making a suncatcher or ornament at Gallery by the James in Buchanan.

Check-in will be at the Gallery with the class held next door at the James River House. Emily Mays will teach basic methods of stained glass, including pattern making, cutting glass, copper foiling, grinding and, finally, soldering your piece. All tools will be provided and all supplies are included. The fee for this class will be $25.

Class sizes are limited. Pre-registration is required by phone 540-254-9708 or e-mail gallerybythejames@comcast.net. The class fees are collected at the classes. Photos of the winter scene and suncatcher examples are posted on the Gallery by the James page on Facebook.

Submitted by Judy Lochbrunner and Gallery by the James

First Baptist Church Amsterdam's Valentine's Day Ball set for Feb. 13

On Feb. 13 at 7 p.m at the Fincastle Firehouse, First Baptist Church Amsterdam will be having its inaugural Valentine's Day Ball. Tickets prices are as follows:

Couples: $20, singles: $10, ages 10-17: $7, 9-5: $5.

To obtain tickets, contact First Baptist Amsterdam at 992-5031

Submitted by Tracy Toliver

New pastor at First Baptist Church Amsterdam

First Baptist Church Amsterdam has a new pastor. Here's what the church tells us about him:

Pastor Sean David Burch was born April 20, 1982, in Washington, D.C., and by the age of 2 he was abandoned by his biological parents and placed in an orphanage.

At the age of 4, the Rev. Burch was placed in a loving foster home and raised by his parents, the late Deacon James and Susie Johnson. The Rev. Sean Burch was educated in the P.G. County school systems and graduated from Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, Md., in 2000.

The Rev. Burch attended Virginia State University for two years; it was at Virginia State that he met his lovely wife of six years, Margaret Burch. In this union God blessed them with two wonderful daughters, Amore' and Selena Burch. Pastor Burch is the newly elected pastor of First Baptist Church Amsterdam in Daleville. He loves serving the Lord and trusting God in all things. The Rev. Burch is reminded that God has brought him out of abandonment, loneliness, and tribulations knowing that God has an awesome plan for his life. And with that said, there is nothing too hard for God! The Rev. Burch is indeed a man of God who walks in humbleness always realizing that everything he does in ministry is not about him, but it's about God!

Please come and join us in service every Sunday at 11 a.m. for a dynamic time in Jesus' name! We know you will be blessed by the word coming from this powerful man of God!

Submitted by Tracy Toliver

Boy Scout Troop 584 welcomes the holidays with service projects

The youth in Troop 584 designated December as a "Month of Service." One of the main events, a food drive, took place, in spite of some difficult weather.

The boys collected food from local neighborhoods to replenish the Cloverdale Church of the Brethren food bank. Boys and leaders went out on Saturday in the snow to place collection bags on doorknobs and went back Sunday afternoon to collect them. They brought back four truckloads, one trailer full of food and various trunkloads. The Troop would like to thank those who made the food bank donations.

Troop 584 also fulfilled the wishes of two angels on the Angel Tree and Bonsack United Methodist Church, their chartered organization. To further their Month of Service, the boys will also be visiting the Rescue Mission in Roanoke to read stories to children.

To find out more about Troop 584, visit our website at www.bsatroop584.org. We meet each Tuesday from 7:15 9 p.m. at the Bonsack United Methodist Church.