Marquette
District
Detroit Annual Conference
Pastor: |
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Rev. Paul
J. Mallory |
Sunday
Worship : |
|
9:30 am |
CONTENTS
Gallery
News
History
GALLERY
NEWS
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Strawberry Festival Took a Risk and Succeeded!!!
The members of Germfask UMC changed the date this year!!!
It was held on the Saturday after the 4th of July –
which this year fell on July 11th. This HOME-PREPARED summer
treat, as well as baked goods and Rada Cutlery, were available
at the Germfask UMC during the afternoon. We learned that
it is possible to change the date and place of an event
(held this summer in the church yard under tents) and still
have it work. Instead of being sponsored by the UMW this
year, the entire church participated. New friends joined
in and all had a great time! This “faith action”
by the people of Germfask UMC proved that risks need to
be taken, and we look forward to next year’s festival.
Thanks to all who joined us in this most important event
for our church. Please plan on joining us.
Spring Tea
The Spring Tea was held on Saturday, May 16th from 2-4 p.m.
There was a penny auction to raise funds for the camp fund
for children who wish to participate in summer church camps.
Rummage Sale
Germfask participated in the Community Rummage Sale on June
13th. Thanks to all who provided items for the sale and
to those who came to shop.
HISTORY
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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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