Our ladies held their 4th Annual Fall Ladies Night Out tonight. They came expecting fun, laughter, and a special time of devotion. What they got included all of the above plus near-injurious levels of laughter during the (so-called) silent auction. Don’t you wish you had come?

What better way to end a long week than to roast hotdogs and marshmallows over a campfire, and enjoying the fellowship of church family and friends? The activities that transpired were of great excitement. People played catch with the football, and most of those present joined in a game of kickball. While the youth played freeze tag and manhunt in the field beside the church, the adults congregated around the fire enjoying s’mores.

Some families chose to camp out at the church while others decided to spend the night in the comfort of their own homes. The next morning the campers had a mouth-watering breakfast consisting of sausage patties, pancakes, scrambled eggs, juice, milk, buttery toast and coffee. After the campers packed up, everyone went to a farm in Westmoreland County to shoot targets and shatter clay pigeons. We look forward to the next time we can all get together and make more fond memories.

On Monday, July 19–Thursday, July 22 from 9:30 AM–11:30 AM, children from Kindergarten through 6th Grade enjoyed four fun-filled mornings of free Bible teaching through activities, games, and all-round fun!

Hanover Baptist hosted this summer’s Vacation Bible School in the format of “backyard Bible clubs” at the homes of two church families, one in King George and one in Colonial beach. Thanks to good weather, children were able to enjoy many activities in the fresh air and sunshine. (Some air-conditioned activities brought welcome relief from the heat later in the morning.)

We partnered with a missionary team from Calvary Baptist Church in Union City Tennessee. No one is friendlier than a group of Tennesseans! Our children had a good time and came away with new understanding of Jesus Christ.

Here are some photos of this fun-filled event

Click one of the small pictures to get a blow-up, then use your arrow keys to step through the larger pictures. Just click on the large picture to see the thumbnails again.

This was our second Back to Basics event. Brandon Foster, a member who works at the Charles County Sheriff Department, taught a valuable class in self-defense techniques. He started with a time of devotion and then delivered a riveting presentation. Techniques were demonstrated with Brandon’s son LaShaad Hopewell, so no JEWEL was injured in the making of this event.

LaShaad (after a brief recovery) also demonstrated the survival technique of drying meat—complete with delicious samples.

This year’s Tea—our 10th—was treasured by all who attended. We had a very special program this year. Our guest speaker, Lydia Vinson spoke on the fruit of the spirit as embodied in Galatians 5:22–23.

Lydia is the Worship Leader and Ladies Ministry director at Faith Christian Fellowship in Fredericksburg, where her husband Tony is pastor.

“My heart for Women’s Ministry is to see each woman come to a deep, intimate relationship with our Savior. For her to see her worth and value in God’s eyes…to see her calling in her home, her work and in the body of Christ. In our time together, I am excited to see how God is working in and through us to bind our hearts closer to Him and to one another.”

One of our own young ladies, Kirsten Lowe, performed two worship songs in sign language. Kirsten is a home school senior, graduating in May. Since the age of nine, after watching “The Miracle Worker,” she has been interested and intrigued with sign language.

“One way to reach the deaf is through music. Even though they cannot hear the words as we do, they can experience the joy of worship. Although I am not deaf, I have come to realize that putting sign language to a song takes me to a new and magnificent level of worshipping my Savior. My hope is that God will use the words and signs of these songs to draw you closer to Him.”

And as always, the Hanover ladies put together a fabulous feast of fellowship, fun, and favorite foods. (Frances Ensminger’s superlative asparagus casserole recipe has finally been posted!)

Here are some photos of this joyful event

Click one of the small pictures to get a blow-up, then use your arrow keys to step through the larger pictures. Just click on the large picture to see the thumbnails again.