First Baptist Church of Hemlock

First Baptist Church of HemlockFirst Baptist Church of HemlockFirst Baptist Church of Hemlock

First Baptist Church of Hemlock

First Baptist Church of HemlockFirst Baptist Church of HemlockFirst Baptist Church of Hemlock
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About Us

History

Our Beginnings | 1834-1844

In 1834 Elias Archer, originally from New Hampshire, came to Hemlock Lake and soon began to hold prayer meetings in his kitchen, which were attended by people of the Baptist denomination. This place of meeting was in a short time changed to a schoolhouse nearby, and Elder Briggs, from Canadice and Richmond, an earnest artist minister, began to preach the gospel to the increasing congregation. In1838, Abijah Archer, his wife Selina, his brother Benjamin Archer, and others of the Baptist Church at South Livonia, requested letters of dismissing, to form a church of light denomination at Hemlock Lake. The Baptist Church of South Livonia had been organized in 1816. There a council was called to take into consideration the propriety of such a step. The council met on July 3, 1838. Elias, Abijah, Benjamin and Selina Archer,  John Bedell, Thaddeus Hampton, Francis D. Owen, Lucinda Bedell, and Patty Owen presented themselves before the council. After due deliberation, the council resolved to fellowship them as a church. Elder S. Wood preached the sermon. 


Rev.T.B. Beebe of South Livonia volunteered to take the young church under his pastoral care, and finally united with it on July 29, 1838. Rev. Beebe being unable to attend his duties as pastor on account of sickness, Rev. Hull Taylor, united with the church and became their pastor on November 30, 1839. Elder Taylor remained with the church as pastor until March 14, 1840, when he resigned. 


In April 1840, the church extended to Rev. Ira Justin, of Lakeville and Richmond, a unanimous call to become their pastor, which he accepted and which relation he sustained for about 23 years. 


Up to this time, the society had no house of worship, and the members began to take steps for the erection of a church. For this purpose a site was purchased, April 15, 1843, of Samuel Wright, for which they paid $100. The trustees of their society contracted with Mr. Wright to erect a substantial building 32 x42 for $1,500 which was furnished and dedicated August 26, 1844.


Adapted from: Hemlock and Canadice Lakes Website

Present Day | 1900's - Present

The Livonia Gazette  | 20 April 1934


Hemlock Baptist Church Holds Special Service on Rededication Anniversary of Building | First Meetings Held 100 Years Ago | Takes Place with Dr. John F. Vichert Preaching the Sermon 


One hundred years have elapsed since the First Baptist Church service was held in Hemlock, and this fact was recognized publicly last Sunday evening when a service of rededication was held in the Hemlock Baptist Church building. The interior of the church has been recently redecorated and this service fulfilled a two-fold purpose, that of celebrating the centennial anniversary and the refinishing of the church.   


From facts furnished by Burnell Briggs it is learned that in 1834 Elder Caleb Briggs of the Baptist faith came from Richmond and Canadice and held meetings with a small group of people in the home of Elias Archer, near the foot of Hemlock Lake. Services were held in the homes of the vicinity for four years, until in 1838 the people organized themselves into a society called the Baptist Church of Hemlock Lake. Services were held in the local schoolhouse until 1844, when the site of the present Baptist Church was purchased. The building was finished at a cost of $1,500 and dedicated in August of 1844. Sometime later the Baptist Society, which used to meet in the building near what is now known as the Curtiss Schoolhouse about two miles east of Hemlock, disbanded and many of the members joined with the church at Hemlock. This brought the membership up to a sizable number.   


The Hemlock Church was one of the first members of the Livingston County Baptist association, which organization, after functioning for nearly 100 years, disbanded in 1931. The churches of the western part of the country joined the Genesee County Baptist Association, while the Hemlock Church joined the Ontario County Association and maintains denominational relationship there at the present time.  


Greetings were extended Sunday evening by the Rev. Kenneth L. Cober, vice-moderator of the Ontario County Association and a former pastor at Hemlock, and the Rev. George Haynes of Lakeville. The address was given by Dr. John F. Vichert of the Rochester - Colgate School of Divinity, whose son, the Rev. Clarence Vichert, now a missionary in China, was a former pastor of the Hemlock Church. Dr. Vichert chose as his text, “Every Effect Must Have an Adequate Cause”, bringing out that the New Testament came into existence because of a great cause and advancing the belief that the world’s troubles today are due to a moral breakdown of the character of the people; thus they should turn toward Jesus and the church for the better things of life. During the service Miss Isabelle Hawn of Hemlock sang “As the Heart Panteth After the Water Brooks,” and Mrs. Carl Drain and Mrs. M. R. Williams of Livonia rendered a duet entitled, “O Jesus, Tour Art Standing.” 


Adapted from: Hemlock and Canadice Lakes Website

What We Believe

Only One Truth

At First Baptist Church of Hemlock, we know that the Holy Bible is the complete and perfect Word of GOD. Being free from any error orvoid, it was divinely penned by holy men who were inspired by The Holy Spirit.

The Holy Bible

The Holy Bible is the Word of God. It is inspired by GOD and written by men. It was given to us so that we may know His truth, His commandments and to have surety of our salvation. The Bible is perfectly complete and is free of void or error.

GOD speaks to us through his Word.

In our lifetime we can never know all of  GOD'S Word. It’s His living Word and we can learn and apply His Word daily in our lives.

What do you know of His truth? Are His promises written on your heart? Do you have the full assurance of GOD'S Word?

GOD wants us to understand His Word. The parable of the sower, found in Matthew 13 clearly explains what this means.


Matthew 13:23

“But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

2 Timothy 3:15-17

"And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."


2 Timothy 2:15 

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."


1 Peter 1:25 

"But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you."


Isaiah 45:5

"I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:"

The Trinity

The Trinity: GOD the Father, GOD the SON, and GOD the Holy Spirit. GOD is the CREATOR AND SUSTAINER OF ALL THINGS. JESUS CHRIST is our SAVIOR who died for our sins, rose again from the dead, sits at the right hand of GOD the Father, and intercedes on behalf of those who call upon His name. The HOLY SPIRIT is the Spirit of GOD that comforts, convicts, and gives knowledge of the things of GOD.

The Bible makes it very clear that GOD is the One and Only Creator of all. The earth is His creation along with everything on it, including us.


Revelation 4:11

"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."

GOD is the Sustainer of the universe. At any point He could command the Earth to stop, the sun to darken, and the waters to dry up (i.e., The Genesis Flood: Genesis 6-9). He is keeping us in the Palm of His Hand (Psalm 63:8; Isaiah 41:10) until a time when He is ready to take us all home to be with Him forever.

Jesus Christ is the only way that one can be saved. He was born just like any of us, except He was born of a virgin. His mother, Mary, conceived Jesus by the Holy Spirit. He fulfilled many prophecies and healed the sick during His time on earth. He died on a cross for our sins on Mount Calvary. His sinless life was the perfect payment for our final atonement. 


John 3:16

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

JESUS CHRIST is the Cornerstone. 


Matthew 21:42

"Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?" 


People will reject Jesus Christ for who He was, but GOD fullfilled His will and made Him the Promised One. He is the Cornerstone that the Church is built upon.

Without the Holy Spirit, we can not understand the things of God. His Word is holy and true. Without having a mind of Christ, how are we to understand?               


1 Corinthians 2:12

"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God."

The Holy Spirit convicts the saved and the lost. The Spirit of God is in the business of bringing faults to light. As believers, we can grieve the Holy Spirit and know when we are getting off the straight and narrow path. For the lost He comes as that quiet, still small voice, that gives us a quick conviction and then leaves. He is there to bring light into our lives. Don’t quench His conviction; instead, repent and turn to Christ.


John 16:7-8

"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 

8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:"

The Spirit of GOD is our powerful Helper; the same power that raised Jesus from the grave lives inside of us.


Paul says we have this power in our "earthen vessels" (1 Corinthians 4:7). When Jesus departed from the Earth, He said that He would give us "another Comforter" or Helper, that would abide with us forever (John 14:16). Our Father gives us His Spirit to help us in every situation  or with everything that we need.

Genesis 1:1

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."


Genesis 1:24 

"And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so."


Genesis 1:27

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." 


Luke 2:11

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."


Ephesians 1:20 

"Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,"


Romans 8:34

"Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us."


1 Corinthians 2:12

"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God."


 John 16:8 

"And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:"


John 16:13 

"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come."

Salvation

Salvation is open to ALL who believe in and confess that Jesus Christ is their Savior. GOD'S Word says after we repent that all of our sins are forgiven, we are a new creation in Christ, and the old man has "passed away" (1 Corinthians 5:17). GOD wants all men to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and wants none to perish. God loves and forgives. He gives us a way, but He leaves the decision up to us.

When you decide that your life is heading in a way with no direction, besides your own, God calls us to cry out to Him in repentance. Repent means doing a U-Turn. We turn and seek Him instead of our selfish desires. 


Matthew 4:17

"From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

You must believe entirely in Who Jesus Christ is. He died on a cross for you. In order to believe, you must put your complete faith in Him alone. 


Romans 10:10-11 

"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, 'Whoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.'"

Jesus hears our cry of repentance—there isn’t a waiting period. GOD is faithful to cleanse us from our sins. He forgives us, even when feel unworthy and don't want to forgive ourselves. We are a completely new creation in Christ!


Paul the Apostle says in 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation."

Salvation is the most precious gift from GOD. It is something He freely gives to His children, as a father gives a free gift to his child. 


Ephesians 2:8-9 

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast."

As believers, God calls us to obey His Word. Our walk is between ourselves and GOD alone. 


1 Peter 1:14-16

"As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy."

Once you put your complete trust in the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, He seals you with His Holy Spirit. GOD’S Word is clear—you are His for eternity!


Ephesians 1:13-14

"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."


Hebrews 13:5-6

"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."

Romans 10:8-13

"But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."  


John 5:24

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."


John 14:5-6 

"Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

Marriage

Marriage between a man and woman is GOD’S design. He created male and female in His image and likeness. A marriage between a husband and a wife is a covenant between GOD and our spouse. We are to honor our covenant with GOD as He honors His with us.

1 Peter 3:7

"Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered."

Mark 10:6-9

"But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. 7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; 8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. 9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."


Ephesians 5:25-27

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."


Ephesians 5:33

"Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband."

  • About Us
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First Baptist Church of Hemlock

4738 South Main Street, Hemlock, NY 14466

Phone: 585-319-6151 | Email: imperialpm@gmail.com

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