HR 75 — Commending the Middle River Church of the Brethren.

SESSION INTRODUCEDENROLLED 24101682DHOUSE IRESOLUTION HOUOfferedNO. February 2, 2024 N Commending the Middle River Church of the Brethren.

––––––––––75 TE Patron––RunionCommending R –––––––––– O WHEREAS, for 200 years, the Middle River Church of the BrethrenBrethren. in Fort Defiance has provided members of the Augusta County community with uplifting occasions for worship, joyful moments ofD felWHEREAS, the origins of Middle River Church may be traced to the first Brethren to migrate south from Pennsylvania and Maryland into the Commonwealth, who were among the first settlers in the Shenandoah Valley;

andN CR Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 12, 2024 WHEREAS, for 200 years, the firstMiddle BrethrenRiver settlementChurch of the Brethren in NorthernFort VirginiaDefiance washas establishedprovided byO Johnmembers Garberof iEthe 1775;Augusta County community with uplifting occasions for worship, joyful moments of L fellowship, and meaningful opportunities for outreach;

hisand son,L Abrahamfrom Garber,Pennsylvania thenand laterMaryland foundedinto Middlethe RiverCommonwealth, Church,who were among the first Brethrensettlers church in Augustathesouth County,E inShenandoah 1824Valley; after years of leading services in the area;

and DWHEREAS, Abrahamthe Garber,first hisBrethren sonsettlement in Northern Virginia was established by John Garber,Garber Peterin Miller,D DanielAugusta Brower,County, Jacobin Brower,1824 Martinafter Garber,years andgof Johnleading Miller;services in the area;

andandhe first Brethren church in WHEREAS, Middle River Church was ably led by a series of ministers in its early years, including Abraham Garber, his son John Garber, Peter Miller, Daniel Brower, Jacob Brower, Martin Garber, and JohWHEREAS, Middle River Church was a prominent congregation within the Church of the Brethren by the mid-19th century, hosting the church's annual meeting in 1851;

and H WHEREAS, after swelling to more than 500 members across a broad area, the Middle River Church 7 expanded into additional places of worship, the Pleasant Valley church house in 1854 and the Barren E RidWHEREAS, members of the Middle River Church cared for wounded soldiers for a month followingRfollowing R the Battle of Piedmont of the Civil War, which took place on June 5, 1864, in proximity of the 5hurch;church;

and WHEREAS, the Middle River Church is currently in its third church building after the first was replaced in 1884 and the second in 1964, providing a warm and accommodating place for thetheirst was congregation to gather;

and membersWHEREAS, andthe providedMiddle themRiver withChurch moralhas guidancepromoted andthe aspiritual sensegrowth ofand belongingdevelopment forof theits past two centuries, contributing greatly to the well-being of the Augusta County community;

now, therefore, be ititries, RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That the Middle River Church of the Brethren in Fort Defiance hereby be commended on the occasion of its 200th anniversary;

and, be it RESOLVEDfor FURTHER,presentation Thatto the ClerkMiddle River Church of the Brethren as an expression of the House of DelegatesDelegates' prepareadmiration afor copythe church's legacy of thisservice resolutionin :Augusta County and the Commonwealth.

35 for presentation to the Middle River Church of the Brethren as an expression of the House of Delegates' 36 admiration for the church's legacy of service in Augusta County and the Commonwealth.