Religion Briefs

Galt pastor to leave after 10 years

Rob Patterson, pastor of Galt First Baptist Church for more than 10 years, is leaving the community, most likely to join a church in Auburn.

Rob Patterson

Patterson's last sermon at First Baptist was on Christmas Eve. He will attend Sunday morning's service and play the grand piano and guitar at a 6 p.m. concert at the church.

"That will be my final good-bye," said Patterson, who performs and writes Christian music.

Patterson has been tentatively selected to become pastor at Bell Road Baptist Church in Auburn. The church's call committee invited him to give a sermon on Jan. 7, after which the congregation will vote on whether to accept him as its pastor. A 90 percent vote is required for Patterson to join the church.

If the Auburn position falls through, Patterson said he will move to western Africa, where he has struck a friendship with Richard Wesley Sr., a minister in poverty stricken Liberia.

Patterson and Wesley met in 2003 after Wesley found Galt First Baptist on the Internet. Patterson has visited Liberia several times since then and helped build a sanctuary, medical clinic and children's home while enrolling 100 children in school.

If he goes to Africa, Patterson will probably teach children, which have an 80 percent illiteracy rate.

During his tenure at First Baptist, Patterson has traditionally called Galt "the epicenter of God's activity in the 21st century."

"I'm going to continue to refer to Galt as the epicenter," Patterson said.

Woodbridge church gets new sanctuary

Parishioners at Woodbridge Missionary Baptist Church will enjoy their first service in its new sanctuary on Sunday.

The church, located at the intersection of Chestnut Street, Mokelumne Street and Woodbridge Road, was improved through the labor of church members with the exception of the new carpet, Pastor Frank Palmer said.

The sanctuary's capacity will seat 264, compared with 120 in the old building. It can seat about 300 for special events such as concerts, he said.

"Our long-range plan is to tear down the (three) old buildings and build a gym and education wing," Palmer said.

Women's Bible study offered

Women are invited to a New Testament study called "Living Beyond Yourself, Exploring the Fruit of the Spirit," written by Beth Moore.

The class will be held from 9:30 to 11 a.m. each Wednesday beginning Jan. 10 at Vinewood Community Church, 1900 W. Vine St., Lodi. Children ages 3 to 5 are welcome in the children's department, and nursery care will be provided.

For more information, call Lorraine at 368-7091.

First published: Saturday, December 30, 2006