This year we have many new things to celebrate. First we have entered into a new century as we commemorate the year 2000, the beginning of the 21st century. Second, we have a brand new addition to our church which was finished in 1999 by Perry Dunford Construction Co., Inc. Third, we are celebrating our 55th year as a congregation of the United Methodist Church.

Homecoming services for the 54th anniversary was held on August 8, 1999 with The Reverend B. Ann Blair as our guest speaker. The first meal served in our new addition, Grace Hall, was held on this day. We all were very excited about the new facility.

At the annual conference of the Holston Conference, held at Lake Junaluska, NC this year, our pastor, The Reverend Dennis Milligan was transferred, and The Reverend Steven Johnson was assigned to our church. We welcome Rev. Johnson, his wife, Tammy, and their children into the fellowship of West End.

Our guest speaker for the annual church birthday and homecoming celebration is The Reverend John Neese, pastor of Mt. View/Providence Churches in Dayton, Tennessee. John grew up in West End Church and is the first minister who went out to the ministry from our church. We welcome John and his family back to West End on this special occasion.

As we remember the past and celebrate the 55th anniversary of West End, we have an outlook into a great future with all the new things that have come to pass. As we take advantage of our new opportunities, let us all continue to work together to make the future even greater than ever before.

The Consecration Service of Grace Hall was held on August 22, 1999. A bulletin for this service in enclosed. Also enclosed is a list of our church officers and Sunday School teachers.

Disciple Bible Classes were again offered at West End. This year both Disciple I and II were offered. Participants in these classes were honored at a special service in May, 2000. For the coming year, the first two classes will again be offered, with a third class to be added. Anyone interested in taking these classes should see Judy Albert or Alva May.

Revival services were held October 17-20, 1999, led by The Rev. Nancy Wilhite, Holston Conference Evangelist.

The main sanctuary was closed for refinishing the wood floors from December 27, 1999 until January 7, 2000. This work when completed gave a great new look to the sanctuary. Also at this time, new light bulbs and other work was done on the light fixtures in the sanctuary.

Our youth, led by Jack and Linda Quesenberry again attended Resurrection 2000 in Tennessee. All who attended this meaningful event were much inspired and enjoyed it. The youth worked very hard to raise the funds needed to attend. .

District Lay Speaker Training was again held at West End on Friday and Saturday, March 24 and 24, 2000. There were ninety-four persons in attendance at this workshop. District Superintendent, Reverend John N. Howard, presided over the activities of this weekend. Several different classes were held including two new classes. The event was a great success.

On April 18, 2000, West End welcomed Ruth Doe, President of the J.J. Roberts School in Liberia as a guest speaker. This important meeting helped us understand the need and opportunity to help the J.J. Roberts School. In June, West End responded to this need by collecting both school supplies and money to send to Liberia.

West End celebrated The Key Event May 7-9, 2000, led by our Herald, The Rev. Mike Sluder, of Johnson City, Tennessee. In preparation for this great event, adult Sunday School classes met as one class in Grace Hall for four Sundays. A teacher or teachers from each adult Sunday School led each class, as we studied the great events in the life of Christ - His birth, His crucifixion, resurrection, and the giving of the Spirit at Pentecost. During the Key Event services in May, led by Rev. Sluder, our congregation celebrated each event. The church was decorated in the tradition manner for each event.

The landscape committee led in the landscaping of the area between the church sanctuary and Grace Hall. Many members of the church assisted the committee in completing the new Prayer Garden as well as the other landscaping around Grace Hall and the church. The holly trees were furnished by Brent and Charles Moore in remembrance of Bruce Neese. This beautiful landscaping and the Prayer Garden are a great addition to the beauty of our church. In addition to the plants and trees in the area, memorial/honorary bricks will be placed to remember/honor our friends and loved ones. Many bricks have already been purchased to be placed here, but others are available for future memorials. Memorial/honorary bricks may be purchased for $100 each. See Alice Grubb for details.

Renovations were made to the church parsonage in June, 2000, to prepare for our new pastor. Worldwide Refinishing System, Galax, Virginia, installed a new liner in the bathtub for a price of $750 less 10%. Other necessary repairs were maide. Several members of the church worked very hard to complete these repairs, and our thanks go to these persons.

Vacation Bible School was again combined with the Bible School of St. Paul UMC. Director, Alice Grubb reported a very successful Bible School, which was held this year at West End, June 11-16, 2000.

This year has been an eventful year for our congregation. Hopefully, we have made our church known in the community, and that we will strive to do even more outreach work as we enter our 56th year.

After a very humble beginning West End United Methodist Church now stands a very beautiful landmark with the completion of a new addition. As in the beginning it stands to be of service for all the people in the community. The Reverend John Neese, a former member of West End, was our guest speaker at morning worship for our 55th anniversary on August 6, 2000. This year The Reverend Aubrey Whitlow will be the guest speaker at the 56th homecoming for morning worship service. Aubrey was the second member from the church who went from laity to the ministerial position. West End now has two more members who are serving charges in the Wytheville District: Kevin Fiorini is now serving churches in the Radford area while attending seminary at the Duke Divinity School. Judy Yonce is serving a charge in Pulaski.

The 2000-2001 Disciple Bible Study began at West End in September, 2001. Members of our congregation, as well as people from other congregations attended these Bible Studies. On June 24, 2001, those attending the classes were recognized.

The 2000 Charge Conference of West End UMC was held October 15th during the 11 a.m. worship service. Reverend J. N. Howard, District Superintendent, brought the message of the day as well as led the Charge Conference.

The church Youth Choir traveled to Kingsport, TN on Sunday November 12th to sing at Old Union UMC and McFerrin UMC. The youth also participated in a Bible Quizzing program. They prepared for this quizzing at a lock-in on November 4.

On December 3, 2000, West End hosted an Open House for anyone from the community surrounding the church, and also anyone in the town to attend. The Open House was a big success with good attendance. All classes prepared for the Open House by decorating their classrooms and the whole church for Christmas. The 27 visitors from our community, as well as members who attended, were entertained with music from our children's choir, and good food.

Our youth again attended Resurrection 2001 in Gatlinburg, TN, January 19-21, 2001. The following Sunday, the youth told to the congregation just how much they enjoyed this large youth rally.

The Reverend David Jensen, a medical missionary sponsored by Holston Conference, was the special speaker at all three Sunday morning services. It was very interesting to hear about the actual work that our missionaries are doing.

For the first time ever, West End welcomed the deaf choir from Christ United Methodist Church of the Deaf in Baltimore, Maryland to our church. On March 10, a seminar was held for deaf interpreters followed by a wonderful worship service at morning worship on March 12. In preparation for this special weekend, Reverend Steve Johnson and his wife Tammy taught sign language classes for anyone wishing to attend. The members of the congregation were invited to participate by using various means of sign language. The West End choir had prepared several special songs, which they signed. The Deaf Choir also "sang" several songs, as they signed the words to pre-recorded music.

On March 23, 2001, the yearly Lay Speaker's course was held at West End with one hundred eight persons, including sixteen Hispanics, in attendance. Both Basic courses and advance courses were taught.

The Wytheville Community raises money each May for the American Cancer Society with their annual Relay for Life. This year West End UMC participated by serving refreshments to the survivors who walked in the Survivor Walk on May 4th.

Again this year, West End and St. Paul UMC joined together for Bible School, June 4-8 at St. Paul UMC. The Bible School was very successful.

A group of West End youth left Wytheville on June 23 for their first Drama Mission Trip. They presented several short plays to two small churches, one in Knoxville, Tennessee, and the other in Corryton, Tennessee. The youth enjoyed performing and were well received by the two churches. One church has already invited them back for their morning worship service.

The pastor, Steve Johnson, Gay Hawkins, our laity representative, and Alva May attended the Holston Annual Conference in Lake Junaluska, North Carolina on June 10 through June 13.

On July 19, 2001, a Cancer Support Group for cancer survivors and caregivers was started at West End UMC. The group that gathered at this first meeting will form the nucleus for a larger community-wide group.

As we approach the beginning of the 57th year of West End UMC's ministry in our community, let us all be in prayer for our church and its mission. May we always keep the name of the Lord ever before us as we face whatever tasks the Lord asks of us.

Homecoming day for West End United Methodist Church was held on August 12, 2001. The Reverend Aubrey Whitlow was guest speaker. Aubrey is a former lay speaker at West End and went into the ministry from West End. He is now an active member of Holston Conference.

Some young adults expressed a need for a new young adult class. So on September 2, 2001, a young adult class met for the first time, with Reverend Steve Johnson as leader. The class is steadily growing and becoming more active.

Sunday School Appreciation Day was held on September 9, 2001. Children were promoted to the next classes on this day, new teachers began their duties, and teachers were honored. A covered dish dinner followed the worship service.

A new daytime Bible Study Group was formed on October 3, 2001 and led by the pastor. Members met in the old fellowship hall each Wednesday to study the Bible and engage in informal discussions of the Bible. Coffee was served during the informal discussion time.

October 21, 2002 was designated as Bible Celebration Sunday. On this day, adults, children and youth engaged in a Bible quiz, with the adults on one team and the children and youth on the other.

West End has welcomed several new staff members this year. Our new administrative assistant is Jan Stone. Kim Mabe is now our choir director. The new church sextons for the church are Buddy and Patricia Dillow. The church appreciate the work that our fine staff does to help our church run smoothly and wishes to thank all of them for their services.

Special celebrations were held this year for both Christmas and Easter. At Christmas, a candlelight service was held. A special communion was served to members on Christmas Eve. Before the candlelight service members shared songs, stories, poems and skits about Christmas. The Easter celebration began with Maundy Thursday services with an impressive reenactment of the Lord's Supper, featuring men of the church as disciples. On Friday night, people of the church reenacted the events leading upto, during, and after the cruxificion of Christ. Finally, on Sunday morning, a sunrise service celebrated the resurrection of Christ.

On April 20, 2002, a Brick Laying Party for all members of the church was held. Engraved memorial and honorary bricks that had been purchased by various members at a cost of $100 per brick were placed in the Prayer Garden. This project is ongoing, and members may memorialize or honor a family member or friend by purchasing a brick for $100. There are still quite a few spaces available.

For the first time, West End sponsored a Relay for Life Team to help raise funds for the American Cancer Society. Team members are listed in the enclosed History of the Cancer Support Group. In addition to this support for Relay for Life, members donated food for the cancer survivors to eat after they finished the Cancer Survivor Walk.

Discipleship Groups were started this year for young men and young ladies. During the year both groups were active with Bible studies, trips, games and general good fellowship. They presented programs for our United Methodist Women's group, and others.

The West End Drama Team was in Baltimore, Maryland, July 12-14th, on a mission trip to Christ UMC of the Deaf. Christ UMC is the largest Deaf Church on the east coast. Twenty-seven of our people had practiced conversational sign-language for two months in preparation for this trip. God blessed us this spring when two experienced interpreters, Kathy Epperly and Andrea Caudill, became part of our congregation. The group prepared two songs to sign: "Holy, Holy, Holy," and the "Lord's Prayer." They also performed three plays written by the minister and an interpretive dance.

West End's Drama Team had fellowship with our deaf friends and then led worship. The worship service was received marvelously by the deaf congregation. The bonus of this great experience is that at home in Wytheville, we have had our first deaf friend attend a regular worship service, rather than just our special deaf services. This friend has attended worship several times now and our interpreters have signed the service for her. God has truly blessed West End's efforts in deaf ministry.

All in all this has been a very productive year in our church. New programs and new traditions have been added, and old traditions have blended well with the new. Our church has shown an increase in attendance this year of 29%, and new members have been added. West End is busy changing with the times, as it continues to provide a safe haven for those who are seeking to come together with other Christians and to grow as Christians.

Heath Semones, Historian
Patricia Cale, Assistant Historian

A special service was held on September 11, 2002, to join in a national remembrance of the September 11, 2001 tragedy when terrorist attacked our country. Members of the church joined in readings, music, poems, and prayers as we worshipped together.

West End opened a seasonal, once-a-month coffeehouse on Friday night, September 20, 2002. The purpose of this coffeehouse was to provide an opportunity for worship, an inexpensive place to go for members of our community, and a desired way to open the doors of the church to our un-churched and pre-christian friends. The coffeehouses were held on the third Friday of each month through the winter.

Sign language classes for children was taught by Kathy Epperly October 8 through November 26th. Children ages 8-13 took part in the classes. Many of our children participated in a running and fitness program through young disciples groups. Our youth also presented several drama productions both in our local church and in other churches, such as one in Knoxville, Tennessee.

As a special effort by the whole church, gifts were purchased for children who lived in the Holston Home for Children in Greenville, Tennessee. The staff of the home sent a list of gift items needed and all items were provided by church members and Sunday School classes.

Special Christmas services again added much to our Christmas celebration of Christ's birth. Again this year we celebrated with a Christmas Candlelight Service on December 18th, a Choir Cantata on December 22, and Christmas Eve Communion on December 24.

Our West End United Methodist Youth attended Resurrection, 2003, this year in January. This youth rally is held each year in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and greatly enjoyed by all our youth.

Special Easter services included our Holy Thursday service on April 17 which was a reenactment of the Lord's Supper and Jesus' garden prayer afterward in the Prayer Garden. Our Holy Friday service began with a reenactment of the trial of Jesus. After the trial, the group followed as the character portraying Jesus carried his cross to the church. Once inside the sanctuary, the scene of the crucifixion was reenacted. On Sunday morning, a special sunrise service was presented by the youth followed by a fellowship breakfast in Grace Hall.

Due to a generous donation, West End was able to pave the parking lot beside the church. This paved parking lot adds much to the beauty of the church, as well as provides more parking for members.

The old fixtures for the ladies' and men's rest rooms just off the old fellowship hall were removed due to plumbing problems. The rooms will be cleared and used for storage. After lightning struck the church in September, repairs were done to the sound system, and the computer was found to be damaged. A new washer was purchased for the parsonage.

West End United Methodist Church has enjoyed another very busy and productive year. We are blessed with the number of children that we now have attending. Children are the hope for the future and add much to our worship service. All members are challenged to remember our Mission Statement which is "To be an open, warm, and welcoming haven where all may be refreshed, renewed, and sent out to serve God and God's creation."

Many special programs were continued this year at West End. Disciple Bible classes formed in September 2003 and continued until May 2004. Our Deaf Ministry was continues with Kathy Epperly and the pastor’s family serving as interpreters for our deaf members of the church. Kathy taught sign language classes to those who were interested in learning this form of communication. Other programs that continued this year were the 3^rd Saturday Men’s Breakfast, the Spokes of God United Methodist Women, the monthly Coffee House, the Cancer Support Group, The Adult and Children’s Choirs, the Running Team, and the Relay-for-Life Team. Our 2004 Bible School took a different swing this year with the theme of Bad Boys of the Bible. It was a very successful Bible School. Our Pastor is speaking on the local radio station, WYVE, every Sunday morning at 9:20. All of these valuable programs add much to the betterment of our church and all have served to encourage new members to join our church.

Just before Christmas the children of the church recorded their Christmas music on a CD, which was sold at a cost of $6 to pay recording fees. The children also went to the homes of various shut-ins to sing Christmas Carols. The Children’s Choir and Drama Teams have added much to our services this year.

During the past year some repairs have been made to the church building and facilities. The heat pump was repaired in the spring at a cost of $800. An air conditioning unit had to be replaced for over $3,600. Frank Putney and Bob Fisher checked the steeple and re-caulked it in August of 2003 and this seemed to stop the leak. The steeple was pressure washed at a cost of $125 and the louvers were painted. Hopefully, these repairs will keep us from having to replace the steeple. New air conditioning units were purchased for the church office and for the parsonage in August 2003. The outside drains going to the basement under Grace Hall continue to present a problem of flooding the classrooms when the drains get stopped.

West End United Methodist Church has serves as a Beacon to the community for 59 years. Next year the church will celebrate its 60^th year. All members are asked to continue to be in prayer for our church and its mission as we start our 60^th year.

Beginning in September many programs of the church were again offered to the membership. The monthly Coffee Houses were held from September until March offering fun and relaxation to those in attendance. The children’s choir, Harmony, beginning practice again and sang for morning worship several times during the year. The Running Club met each Sunday night and was a great time of fellowship for our young people. The Spokes of God United Methodist Women’s group was very active throughout the year, as was the monthly Men’s Breakfast group. On the first Monday of each month, the Young At Heart group met in Grace Hall for a covered dish lunch and fellowship. The Cancer Support Group also continued to meet at our church.

In addition to our active Sunday School Bible studies, other Bible study groups met throughout the year. Disciple Bible classes and a Bible study about Jesus the Gospels were again open to anyone interested in learning more about the Bible. On Wednesdays, Reverend Johnson led a Bible study group. The four-week children’s Bible quizzing sessions were held in September, and the Bible Quizzers were tested on Sunday night, October 10, 2004. Their achievements were recognized at the 11 o’clock service on October 17, 2004.

In the winter of 2005, the Administrative Council voted to cover the stained glass windows in the church with a special protective shield to prevent breakage. Smyth County Mirror and Glass Company installed the window protectors at a cost of $1759. In the spring of 2005, the Trustee’s Committee asked members to help clean up the church both inside and out. Individual members helped by painting inside, cleaning out closets, etc., and working on the landscaping outside. The columns in front of the church were painted. As a Girl Scout project, Audrey Kern painted and redecorated a children’s department classroom in July, 2005. The Woodmen of the World donated an American flag and a flag pole to our church in July, 2005. A new church directory was completed during this past year. It was distributed in the winter of 2005. Our thanks go to Linda Quesenberry and her committee for their work on this directory..

The West End Relay for Life group walked again in the 2005 Relay for Life Walk for Cancer in May 2005. Several fund raisers helped this group pay their entry fees to participate in this very worthwhile activity.

For the past sixty years, West End United Methodist Church has been a beacon in the community that it serves. With God’s help, the congregation of this church will continue to grow and to serve God.

West End United Methodist Church celebrated its 60th anniversary on August 14, 2005 with Reverend Judy Yonce as guest minister for the 11 a.m. service. The West End choir presented special music for the worship service. Following the service the congregation and guests enjoyed a covered dish luncheon in Grace Hall. The Reverend Steve Johnson and family were again appointed to serve West End for their sixth year.

As in the past, West End offered many special programs to serve the needs of its congregation. Disciple Bible classes were again offered to church members, as well as members of other churches. Our deaf ministry continued as various interpreters served to sign the sermon, hymns, scriptures, and other worship activities. Special programs were again offered for our Christmas and Easter seasons. These programs add much to our understanding of the Bible and God’s message to us.

The Spokes of God United Methodist Women continued to play an active part in our church ministry. The monthly men’s breakfasts were well attended by men of the church and guests. This active men’s group sponsored the Wytheville District’s Annual UMM’s Winter Gathering in February, 2006. During the winter months, a monthly coffee house was held. Members of the congregation, as well as members of the community enjoyed the social activity and the fellowship of other Christians. Other opportunities to serve God and our community included our Cancer Support group and Relay-for-Life team, our children’s choir, our youth group, and our youth Drama Team, and our annual Bible school. A church that offers a variety of activities for different groups of people is a church concerned with meeting the needs of all people.

Our long-time church historian, Heath Semones, died on February 1, 2006. Heath had served on many committees, as well as in many offices since he first attended the tent revival that marked the beginning of West End in 1945. His presence is greatly missed by members of the church who knew him.

In June, 2006, the Reverend Steve Johnson was transferred to Norris, Tennessee. The Reverend Janet Sweet Richardson was sent to West End.

Sixty-one years have passed since West End was first formed as Methodist congregation in our community. The goal of West End has always been to serve the community and the needs of those around us. With God’s help, the members of West End will continue to carry this torch.