Sunday October 9, 2022, Broad Creek United Church of Christ hosted its new Trustee Installation and Deacon Ordination ceremonies before its congregation, community, and officials from the United Church of Christ's Eastern North Carolina Association & Southern Conference. In a soul stirring worship service Broad Creek ordained 1 new deacon, Vickie Mosely-Jones (far left) and installed 2 new trustees, Devin Smith (center) and Valda Thompson-Loftin (right).
In post-ordination remarks, newly ordained Deacon Moseley-Jones passionately expressed her joy to serve the legacy passed down from generation-to-generation, since emancipation in 1865. In a heartfelt moment evoking the generational promises of God, her brother Deacon Samuel Moseley of New Life Missionary Baptist Church in Greensboro, NC presented his baby sister with a fitting gift - a bible dating to the early 1970’s, inscribed with their family lineage - a family heirloom from their ancestors who had also served as deacons at Broad Creek.
Joseph H. Mann, Broad Creek’s first pastor, not only organized the church but also served as organizer and first President of the Eastern North Carolina Conference. In fact, according to author and scholar J. Taylor Stanley, Pastor Mann was one of 5 pastors who “at one time or another, each one either shared in the organization and building or served as pastor of every church in the conference that was organized during the nineteenth century.” (A History of Black Congregational Christian Churches of the South).
Current pastor Virginia Mattocks (Pastor V, she's affectionately called), born and raised in Broad Creek's Lil' Pamlico community, delivered an energizing word for the congregation, community, and guests, reminding us that if we simply do the work, then God will complete it.
Newly installed trustee, Devin Smith, shares his excitement to begin serving on the Trustee Board. “I have no words to express how powerful it's been seeing church minutes and notes written in the 70’s, detailing the service of my mom, grandparents, and even great great grandparents…in their handwriting! It’s like watching Exodus 20:6 unfold in real life. A true blessing.”
As Broad Creek approaches 158 years of ministry in 2023, the congregation is enthusiastic to continue pressing towards the mark, as the church proudly exclaims its battle cry, “The Creek is rising!”
(above: Pastor V leads choir & congregation in unrehearsed harmonized chant, simply singing "Jesus")
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