Marquette
District
Detroit Annual Conference
Pastor: |
|
Rev. Paul
J. Mallory |
Sunday
Worship : |
|
9:30 am |
CONTENTS
Gallery
News
History
GALLERY
NEWS top
Germfask UMC Centennial was
held on July 20, 2008, as folks gathered for morning coffee
and treats before the 10:30 service. The Rev. Grant Lobb,
Marquette District Superintendent joined with Rev. Paul
J. Mallory, pastor of GUMC and GCCP Director, in leading
the worship and communion. After the service the congregation
of nearly sixty people gathered in the community building
with the St. Therese Catholic Church in Germfask for a noon
dinner and short program. This day was similar to the one
held 25 years ago as these two churches, the only in Germfask
100 years ago, joined to celebrate their 75th birthday.
Those who planned and worked on this event were delighted
to see the wonderful turnout.
The Annual Strawberry Festival
took place on July 9th, from 12:00 noon til 4:00 p.m. at
the Community Center. Strawberries, ice cream, and whipped
cream were piled high to cool off those attending. A bake
sale was also held at this time, as well. Rada knives and
crafts were also available for guests to exchange for a
donation. These funds greatly help to defray the operational
expenses of our church throughout the year.
The Annual Harvest Craft and Bake
Sale will be held on November 1st at the Germfask
VFW. Call UMW President, Alice Lamb (906-586-9438), for
details if you want to participate in either sale.
HISTORY
top
In the early years, a Mr. Mills was
a missionary minister who came across the Manistique Lake
from McMillan to serve the spiritual needs of the area.
During the 1880s and 1890s, Germfask
was very typical of other lumbering towns with tar paper
shacks and saloons. The Manistique Railroad was built in
1889. The village started in 1890. The post office was established
in 1891. The first store was constructed in 1890.
The spiritual needs of the community
were served before the turn of the century by a Presbyterian
missionary that held services in the school.
In 1900 and 1901, a minister who
lived at McMillan served this area. The parsonage was built
in 1902. The circuit had 42 members, 114 in Sunday School
and paid a salary of $400 per year. The church was organized
in 1904.
On the 16th day of April 1908, a
conference was held in Germfask and it was very evident
from the record that the building of the new church was
the main topic. There is recorded in the minutes the following
plan: ?Thirteen ladies are desired to find, each one, nine
other persons who will pay one cent per day for 360 days,
this plan will secure five hundred dollars. The same to
be used for thenew church to be erected in Germfask this
year 1908.? The Germfask Methodist Church was dedicated
on the 22nd of December 1908.
There were inactive years between
1923 and 1927 where it was noted that the church was a ramshackled,
dilapidated building. But, through the grace of God, those
things changed.
In 1927 the Rev. Alvin Doten (who
was known as Methodism?s Sky Pilot of the Upper Peninsula)
was asked by the District Superintendent to go to Germfask.
This was but one of the fourteen places to which he ministered
every two weeks. He served the church for ten years.
In 1932 the Germfask Community Club
was started and many praiseworthy things were accomplished
which benefited the Methodist and the Catholic churches
which were the only two churches in town at that point.
From 1937 until 1958, eleven pastors
served the church with many accomplishments and improvements
taking place. In 1958, the church celebrated its fiftieth
anniversary.
In 1961, through a generous donation
from the Rev. Jim Hilliard, the church annex was built.
The annex was dedicated in August 1964.
During the last 40 years, much has
been done to improve the church structure and contents as
has been noted in the memorials. The membership has grown.
The parsonage was sold when the church became part of a
multi-church charge.
Now in 2007, the Germfask United
Methodist Church is having its difficulties staying financially
solvent. However, the enthusiasm of the church members is
great. With help from the conference and the GCCP, it is
hoped that the church will be able to serve the area for
a good many years.
Germfask United Methodist
Church
1212 Morrison St.
PO Box 135
Germfask, MI 49836
(906) 586-3162, (888) 218-4653
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