Hot Springs & Monterey, VA

Monterey UMC celebrates homecoming Church dinner followed church services at Monterey United Methodist Church's first homecoming celebration Sunday. Among the former church members were Dr. Thaine Billingsley and his wife, Anita, and son Gary. Dr. Billingsley was a family physician in Highland County for more than 50 years before retiring to Harrisonburg. He taught Sunday school. His son, Kirk, is a banker in Franklin, W.Va. and sits on the Highland County School board. Kirk and Kim Billingsley's daughters, Julia and Hayley. They are active members of the church and members of the church youth group. (Photo courtesy David Cockerham) A homecoming at Monterey UM C turned into an opportunity for a baptism. The young lady dressed in white is Helena Leslie Eanes, held by her mother, Lynette Leslie. Behind her is Helena's father, Tommy Eanes. They live in Chesterfield. Due to Helena's age, her parents promised to raise her in the church. "The Baptismal Covenant is God's word to us, proclaiming our adoption by grace, and our word to God promising our response of faith and love," says the Book of United Methodist Worship, approved by the Grand Conference in 1988. (Photo courtesy David Cockerham) The Rev. Derek Tomek officiated at the homecoming service at Monterey United Methodist Church last Sunday. He recounted his journey back home to Christ in his sermon based on the story of the prodigal son from the Gospel of Luke (Luke 15:1-3, 11-32). The homecoming was also literally a homecoming for former members of the church who moved away from the county. Tomek said while other churches in the Monterey charge have had yearly homecomings, this was the first one at the Monterey UMC as far as anyone could remember. The first church was built in 1851 at the corner of U.S. 220 and U.S. 250 on landed site deeded to the church by Adam H. and Rachel Fleisher. The church was rebuilt around 1900. Dale Newman, who left Highland at the outset of World War II, remembers when an addition was put on the back of the church. The interior stained glass windows give away the fact that the earlier church was added on to. Newman also remembers the church was heated by wood back then and he helped stack wood for the stove. "I was little then. I did it all by myself," he said. "I remember that part of it." Newman served in the Pacific with the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II. (Photo courtesy David Cockerham) Gail Marshall Link reprised her role as children's department pianist at the homecoming. Her mother, Madeline, was very active in the church children's department. Link moved away from Highland County in 1960 and lives in Harrisonburg. (Photo courtesy David Cockerham)