March, 2008
Mar
28
Music During the 19th Century
Posted by Pastor John | No Comments »
Music During the Nineteenth Century
(Holley Gazette, June, 1997)
From the Psalms of the Old Testament to Michael Card of the present (that's for Todd's benefit), music has played a major part in worship. Our Church has been blessed with talented leaders and singers from its early years. October 6, 1844, the ... Continue
Mar
28
Distinctively Baptist #2 ~ Religious Liberty
Posted by Pastor John | No Comments »
Distinctively Baptists #2 - Religious Liberty
(Holley Gazette, May, 1997)
"Religious liberty," "soul freedom," "separation of Church and State," "wall of separation." Unlike many (most?) countries in the world today, we live in a free society where we may worship God according to the dictates of our conscience. Baptists were in the ... Continue
Mar
28
Distinctively Baptist #1 ~ Believer’s Baptism
Posted by Pastor John | No Comments »
Distinctively Baptists #1 - Believers' Baptism
(Holley Gazette, April, 1997)
Do you remember when you were invited to appear before the board of deacons to recount your salvation experience preceding being baptized? This practice has a 400 year history and demonstrates two of the reasons Baptists came into existence.
Although no historical continuity ... Continue
Mar
28
20th Century Affiliations
Posted by Pastor John | No Comments »
Twentieth Century Affiliations
(Holley Gazette, February, 1997)
In the January Gazette we considered the three affiliations (Niagara, Monroe and Orleans) of which our Church was a member throughout the nineteenth and nearly half of the twentieth century. Although called "American Baptist Churches," the various independent bodies in the north were not organized ... Continue
Mar
28
19th Century Affiliations
Posted by Pastor John | No Comments »
Nineteenth Century Affiliations
(Holley Gazette, January, 1997)
About six months after its formation as a Baptist church (Nov. 1825), at a business meeting held May 15, 1826, it was "voted that we unite with the Niagara Association," and three brethren were elected delegates to represent the church. The Niagara Association was established ... Continue
Mar
28
This and That
Posted by Pastor John | No Comments »
This and That
(Holley Gazette, December, 1996)
In 1831, there was a "Barn Revival" during which the Presbyterians and the Baptists cooperated and thirty-one new members were added to the church.
In 1858, "the house & Lot of E F Rorebeck (was purchased) for the sum of nine hundred and fifty dollars." This ... Continue
Mar
28
Discipline
Posted by Pastor John | No Comments »
Discipline, Part 1
(Holley Gazette, August, 1996)
A cursory reading of the church clerk's reports during most of the 1800s would seem to show an inordinate amount of time and energy spent dealing with errant members of the church. Page after page records individuals being called before the church body to answer ... Continue
Mar
28
Paying the Bills
Posted by Pastor John | No Comments »
Paying the Bills
(Holley Gazette, June, 1996)
Financing the expenses of a church is always a concern. Our church in the 1800s was no exception. From its earliest years, money was raised by "subscription." A committee was appointed annually (or when needed) to contact the "taxable male members" and, after determining their ... Continue
Mar
28
The Covenant Meetings
Posted by Pastor John | No Comments »
The Covenant Meetings
(Holley Gazette, May, 1996)
For well over 100 years, members of the church met monthly to renew their covenant with God and their fellow believers. These meetings were a vital part of the spiritual life of the people and were carefully documented by the church clerk. Throughout the 1800s, ... Continue
Mar
28
Places of Worship ~ The First 67 Years
Posted by Pastor John | No Comments »
Places Of Worship - The First 67 Years
(Holley Gazette, April, 1996)
Organized in the fall of 1825, our church appears to be the first to meet for worship in the village of Holley. During the first eight years, the believers met mostly in the school house "neigh Mr. Spragues," (the district ... Continue
