Christine Lindahl signs 'How Great Thou Art' during Spotswood Baptist Church's celebration service at the Fredericksburg Expo Center. AMY FLOWERS UMBLE/THE FREE LANCE-STAR

- AMY FLOWERS UMBLE/THE FREE LANCE-STAR

- AMY FLOWERS UMBLE/THE FREE LANCE-STAR

- AMY FLOWERS UMBLE/THE FREE LANCE-STAR

- AMY FLOWERS UMBLE/THE FREE LANCE-STAR

- AMY FLOWERS UMBLE/THE FREE LANCE-STAR

- AMY FLOWERS UMBLE/THE FREE LANCE-STAR

Spotswood Baptist Church fills Expo Center for special service

BY AMY FLOWERS UMBLE

Date published: 11/17/2007

BY AMY FLOWERS UMBLE

The Rev. Drew Landry caught a break last Sunday.

Typically, he preaches three sermons each week. That's how many services it takes to hold all of the more than 2,000 members of Spotswood Baptist Church.

But last week they all met together at the Fredericksburg Expo Center in Celebrate Virginia. The church reserved the center to hold a celebration at the end of its "40 days of service" campaign.

Leaders asked for about 2,000 seats. When Landry came in Sunday and saw 2,500 seats set up, he wondered whether the congregation would fill them.

About 150 teens were on a youth trip, so the numbers were a little depleted.

What if they held this big event and nobody came, he thought.

Members trickled in. And in and in. Soon, the center's staff was setting up more seats--enough for 2,600.

And by the time the service began at 10:30 a.m., people were still arriving, standing along the edges and sitting on tables in corners.

"If this is the largest church service you've ever been in, raise your hand," Landry asked.

Nearly every hand went up.

"I am used to preaching at least three hours Sunday mornings, and I don't know why today should be any different," he warned the audience.

But he kept his sermon short. The service also included several musical numbers and a Veterans Day salute to the church's military members.

The main point was to commemorate the end of the 40 days of service, a project inspired by the book "The Purpose Driven Life."

The service was more to inspire the people than to congratulate them, said Gene Willis, minister of worship and fine arts.

"It's not a bragging thing," he said. "It's a celebration of the good things that happen when people do what God wants them to do."

Landry told the congregation that he wanted the community service to continue. He told them he looked and looked for a definition of celebration that included the word "end." He never found one.

"So let's make this a beginning," Landry said.

Spotswood Baptist Church members went into the community to help for 40 days preceding the congregation's celebration. Traffic control for the Fredericksburg Parks and Recreation Department's Stonewall Jackson run Yard work, cleanup and general maintenance for New Vision, a new ministry for women coming out of the criminal-justice system Meals for the homeless Preparing dinner at the Thurman Brisben Center Passing out water and snacks at the train station Bagging groceries and carrying them to cars for single moms and senior citizens Collecting food and kitchen items for Hope House Taking children fishing, serving hamburgers and hot dogs for Big Brothers Big Sisters Providing a computer for the volunteer services coordinator at the Spotsylvania County Department of Social Services Delivering painted pumpkins to patients at Mary Washington Hospital Providing food for Thanksgiving baskets for families of deployed Marines at Quantico Providing food and appreciation to nurses at nursing homes and Mary Washington Hospital Helping wives of soldiers stationed in Iraq with household needs Chopping firewood for the elderly Volunteering at Hughes nursing home Serving at Santa's Helpers for the Arc of the Rappahannock Painting and various projects for Hope House Various projects through Fredericksburg's Department of Social Services

Date published: 11/17/2007