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UntitledM,4RCH26, 1560SD.NEWSSOU7HERN DUTCHESS COUN7YIVY.-PAGE7 `Reborn' Baptist Church combines history with hope for future Davis, coordinator of the church's first major round of fund-raising activities which may eventually lead to the restoration and expansion of the 133 -year-old church. The Reverend McBride has been Bethel's pastor for less than a year, but has already begun research that he hopes will result in a complete by Mark Dalton Staff writer To combine young and old, a sense of history and a hope for the future - those are the goals of the Bethel Baptist Church in Wapp- ingers Falls and its pastor Eddie L. McBride. They are also the goals of Katherine T. history of both the church and its congregation. "Too many church histories get lost in the shuf- fle," he says, as he begins to piece together Bethel', past. The small brick church on South Avenue in Wappingers Falls is the second oldest church in the Village, dating The marker in the wall of the Bapdd Chm'ch in- dicates that it was erected to 1817. from 1847. It has alway, been a Baptist church, and it is stipulated in the properly', original deed that it always will be. But it was not until 1967 that the present congregation moved into the building after it had been abandoned over 9 years. There was no central heating, just a potbellied stove. Until broken glass was replaced and painting com- pleted in the church's main section, services were held in the basement. Things are not quite so rough as the congregation approaches its thirteenth an- niversary at the South Avenue church. But there are problems. The congregation nownumbers about 225, up over 100 from last year. Classrooms are needed to ex- pand education programs. The parking lot needs to be paved, as the dirt lot next to the church becomes a he whenever wet. The ideal solution to both problems would be a new wing over the vacant lot with parking below, say church _members, but no firm plans can be made until some capital comes in. Modernization is not the only concern of the Rev. McBride. He would also like to see historical restoration of the church, not just for appearances, but to help build the church community. "It's good to have some sense of history," he ex- plains. "After all, the Bible is sort of a divine history book. And it's not jus; the academics of hi;tor,, 1 mean, but the followship of history." Restoration can help develop a feel for the process of history, McBride says. An example are new windows which carry the names of their donors. "The names on the win- dows are have - they're members of the congregation today." ,ay, McBride. "The windows make new member, [scare of the process and struggle of the church." The church's interest in history does not _lust serve in- ternal purposes. An attempt is now being made to have the building placed on the Ulster Li New QU - All glass is handblown and hand decorated. Fixtures are a beautiful antis— ti - National RcLt,ler of Historical Places, a process Which could take up to two vears. The attempt has a dual purpose. First, it will make external Lund -raising it bit easier. Second, and more inI- pormnt, it will locate Bethel as an important part of the conununin, says McBride. Recent activities coor- dinated by Davis have at- tempted to build a communi- ty within the church itself. Thi, is difficult at times because unlike the traditional Continued on next page PAGE&SDNEWSSOU77-1ERNOUTCHESS COUN7Y1V.Y.-AL4RCH26.1-W Baptist Church — cont'd. Under New Management JOSEPH'S Thursday Night Is Spaghetti Night! All the Spaghetti you can eat Plus a salad for only $3.00 (6:00-9:00) ALSO . . .� With This Coupon You Will Receive A Free Drink With Your Dinner �� �— — — — — — — — — I nir owrr�t neighborhood church of the past, Bethel draws members from as far away as Newburgh and New Paltz. Davis stresses that every at- tempt is made to couple fund-raising and fellowship. Church history is also en- couraged in fund-raising pro- jects. Davis explains that a commemorative journal documenting the year's events will honor two older women who "exemplify the backbone that women can provide for a church." The Rev. McBride places strong emphasis on the role of women in the church at a time when their participation is still controversial in many sects. He says women are related to the creative pro- cess, and that they are also sources of inspiration and wisdom. He also po' its out that the Baptist church has ordained women ministers since the 1920'x. Perhaps the most unusual programs on the Bethel fund- raising schedule are its Gospel Bird Cookbook and its Gospel Bird Dinner, scheduled for April 19. McBride explains that in the earlier days of the Baptist church many of its members were poor, and chicken was the only meat they could af- ford. The ministers, also poor, would have to drop in every now and then on the church community for a free meal. Thus, chicken became associated with preachers and was nicknamed the Gospel Bird. Bethel hopes to keep the Gospel Bird Tradition alive by their semi -historical docu- ment, the cookbook, which will contain over 100 dif- ferent recipes for chicken, enough for even the most ex- travagant pas: or. Easter Bunny to attend Jayncees fair The Easter Bunny has ac- cepted the invitation of the Wappingers Falls Jayncees to be the honored guest at the group's Annual Easter Fun Fair. A spokeswoman for the Jayncees, Marsha Miller, says Mr. Bunny will be on hand at the fair, set for Saturday, March 29, to of- ficiate at games and sample refreshments. The fair is open to the public and will be held at the United Methodist Church, Main and Mesier Streets, Wappingers Falls, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A small ad- mission fee will be charged. Stanley Oransky, M.D., Medical Director of the Hudson Valley Poison Center, located at Nyack Hospital, announced recently that the Hudson Valley Poison Center has received grants from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Greater New York and the Emergency Medical Services Sytem of Hudson Valley for a new Poison Prevention Program symbolized by the Mr. Yuk warning sticker shown above. at the The educational program is directed primarily under -five age group, which accounts for 80 percent of poison accidents throughout the country. Portions of the grant monies received will go towards the daily operations of the Hudson Vallev poison center. Fish to meet Chamber members Congressman Hamilton Fish, Jr. is inviting area Chamber of Commerce members to Washington, D.C. for the annual `Donkey' dances Chamber of Commerce Da} April 15. Seminars will begin at 9:" a.m. and run to about 4 p.r and will concern t economy, taxes, enerl regulatory reform and Hvm1s=Van&y- pre -t= Alvin Ailey V OI" Repertory 5�ap.x9 Ensemble Sat. March 29 at8pm Poughkeepsie High School