Community Worship: Rev. Dr. Jim Somerville

Lakeside welcomes Rev. Dr. Jim Somerville, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia, as Preacher of the Week Aug. 18-22. This week’s preacher is supported by the Charles & Susan Baker Family Endowment.

Somerville will lead the 10:30 a.m. Chautauqua Community Worship Service on Sunday, Aug. 18 in Hoover Auditorium.

Michael Shirtz and guest artists will provide musical leadership during the service, while the liturgy will be led by Rev. Dr. Charles Yoost, Senior Director of Religious Life & Pastoral Care. Worship music for the 2024 summer season is supported by James E. Beardsley and Doris F. Beardsley.

Following the opening prayer, children (ages 5-11) will proceed to Bradley Temple for Children’s Church with Chip Richter. There will be a message by Richter, songs, crafts, lemonade and cookies to share. Preschoolers are welcome if accompanied by an adult.

Somerville is one of six sons of James and Mary Rice Whiting Somerville, born in Selma, Alabama. He grew up mostly in Virginia and West Virginia before heading off to prep school in New Hampshire, then college in North Carolina and Kentucky.  He answered a call to ministry in 1984, completed an Master of Divinity and Ph.D. at Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, and served churches in Kentucky, North Carolina, and Washington, D.C., before relocating to Richmond, Virginia, as Pastor of First Baptist Church in 2008. He is married to the former Christy Treadwell and they have two adult daughters (Ellie and Catherine), and two adorable grandchildren (Leo and Vivi).

Jim loves the outdoors, and on his day off you can usually find him hiking the trails around Richmond or sailing a friend’s boat on the Rappahannock River. He’s a good storyteller, and when he was growing up his five brothers often referred to him as “the funny one.”

Sometimes he still is.

Guests are welcome to attend Community Worship free of charge by requesting a complimentary Church Pass between 7:30-10:30 a.m. Sunday; valid until 1 p.m. The pass includes admittance for guests and auto. This pass must be presented to the gate attendant upon departure. If the time allotted is exceeded, the guest(s) will be charged a fee. This pass does not include access to the Grindley Aquatic & Wellness Campus pool. Complimentary passes are available for all worship services and Faith for Living Hour.