As
of 16th January 1996, Grace Church was debt free as the final building
note was paid. In February 1996, March Carol Friedrich was hired
as Director of Youth and Education, and Steve Hammons was hired as
Assistant
Director of Youth. In March 1996, PATS and CATS began their
spring
session. Sarahbeth Atkins retired as church secretary.
Allison
Baskin was hired as the new secretary. The Easter Cantata was "It
is Well with My Soul." On Easter Sunday, Sherry Taylor sang "Holy
City" and Alice Prophit sang "Rise Again." In May 1996, Faith
Promise
pledges totaled $6,776. This money went to support missionaries
in
Cuba, Kazakhstan, and Mexico.
Summer activities included
Wednesday Afternoon
Missions for Youth (WAMY). Youth participated in a different
mission
activity each week. One WAMY event was a trip to Mer Rouge to
glean.
After a long wait, our much anticipated Pictorial Directories
arrived.
The VBS theme was Moses and His Amazing Journey. Over 150
children
and 84 adult volunteers participated. Kingdom Kamp was held at
Toma
Lodge. CATS and PATS went skating. UMYFers went on a
scavenger
hunt and held Bible studies. The Youth sponsored a rummage
sale.
Proceeds went toward their summer mission trips to Oklahoma and Sager
Brown.
In July 1996, church members were polled to determine their opinions
about
future use of the church property. Eleven youth participated in
Weekend
of the Cross. The McKinneys hosted a back to school bash on Lake
Caliborne.
After many years of faithful
service Ralph
Pierce retired as choir director. Bobby Cheatham was hired as the
new director. In the fall, the youth showed slides of their
summer
trips. The congregation watched from week to week as the children
collected "Pennies from Heaven." In the end, 103,737 pennies were
collected for the Society of Saint Andrew Hunger Projects. The
youth
hosted a church tailgate party at the Tech game. Dr. Ramsey
organized
a "guitar orchestra" and led a Wednesday night Bible Study. The
Youth
Choir presented a dinner theater entitled "Fall is in the Air."
Steve
Hammons became full time youth director as Mary Carol and her family
move
dot Michigan. The church was sad to see Mary Carol go because she
had provided a good bit of "drama" in her time at Grace. The
Junior
Highs enjoyed a hayride. Tom McLean, grandson of Gracie Watson,
presented
a violin solo for the offertory on 1st December 1996.
Advent activities included the
Hanging of the
Greens, Christmas family night, UMW progressive dinner, youth Singing
Christmas
cards, the Cantata "That Glorious Night," and the Candlelight and
Communion
Service.
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