In
January 1999, pictures were taken for a new church directory.
Classes
for adults on the Parables of Jesus, God's Property, Young Methodist
Christian
Association, and Bible studies for Junior and Senior Highs were held on
Wednesday nights. On Sunday, 14th February, sixteen couples with
a total of 402 years of marriage renewed their vows. That
afternoon
the children had a Valentine party. The youth enjoyed a ski
retreat
to Purgatory in February. On Palm Sunday, the Easter Cantata
"Come
See the Place" was followed by a dinner on the grounds and an Easter
egg
hunt. A Holy Thursday Tenebrae and Easter Sunrise Service
highlighted
Lenten activities. In April, the youth participated in a City
Wide
Youth Service Day by helping clean up Cook Park.
In July 1999, the theme for VBS
was Bible Adventure
Treasure Hunt. The Senior High youth spent a week at Doe River
Gorge.
The trip mixed the beauty of the mountains with spiritual growth, fun,
and fellowship. Junior Highs traveled to South Louisiana to work
at Sager Brown. One of the many ongoing mission projects was the
preparation of flood buckets to be distributed through the UMCOR depot
at Sager Brown. In August, two new staff members were
hired.
Amy Thompson replaced Mary Ayres as Grace Preschool Director, and Bob
Hooper
was hired as the choir director.
In September 1999, adults
enjoyed a night of
fun and fellowship at Saturday Night Live. Revs. Barbara and Alan
Einsel led a six week Sunday School series on Luke entitled "Good News
for the Millennium." In October, elementary children went on a
week-end
retreat to Pine Cove Towers Camp in Tyler. Deborah Lynch, Debbie
Smith, and Mary Shankles went on a mission trip to Cuba. Although
their trip was briefly delayed by a hurricane, they did manage to get
to
Cuba and back home safely. On 10th October, the theme of the
morning
service was "One Great Day of Singing." The service was planned
around
old favorites from the Cokesbury Hymnal, and the Chancel Choir was
honoured.
October ended with a covered dish supper and talent show.
In November 1999, with the
bitter taste of
two draws still lingering, the third annual chili cookoff was
held.
In a hotly contested decision, Robbie Thompson's chili claimed top
prize.
Advent activities included Hanging of the Greens, Operation Christmas
Child,
a church Christmas luncheon following a Sunday morning service, the
Candlelight
and Communion Service, and a Y2K New Year's Eve Watch Night
Service.
A highlight of the Christmas season was a program of Christmas music
presented
by the combined choirs of Grace UMC and the Presbyterian Church of
Ruston
(PC-USA).
|
