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More than half of the current congregation consists of older people, admits Therissa Schlemper, anniversary committee member, but new and younger members continue to join.
The church has an active youth group, strong outreach mission work and popular fundraisers, like the annual all-you-can-eat chicken dinner and bazaar being held this Saturday, Oct. 24, from 4 to 7 p.m. and the annual Christmas Cookie Sale set for Dec. 12 from 9 a.m. to noon.
Members held a special service and catered meal earlier this month to mark the congregation's 150th anniversary.
The day included performances by the combined choirs of the Gray Summit church and its sister church, United Methodist in Labadie, as well as a skit outlining the congregation's past, present and future.
The Past
The United Methodist Church of Gray Summit was founded in 1859 when the North family (strong Methodists) and the Roberts family (strong Baptists) joined with others in the community to build a church so people could have a place to worship outside of their homes, said Schlemper.
According to a church history written by Lucy Pettus Miles, who was raised in the congregation from the time she was born in 1935 to when she died in 1974, the first church was built on 1 acre of land located 1 1/2 miles west of Gray Summit.
The land for the church was donated by the Roberts family, and the North family gave an acre adjacent to it for use as a cemetery.
The little wooden church, named Brush Creek Church, was used by both congregations on alternating Sundays.
When Mr. North died in 1866, the Baptists obtained a full deed to the premises from his widow. In turn, she donated to the Methodist congregation an acre of land at the corner of what today is Robertsville Road and Highway 100.
A frame structure, referred to as Gray's Summit Chapel, was built and a deed made April 22, 1873. It was valued at $2,500.
At the turn of the centuruy, a group of 10 girls organized a Sunday school class under the direction of Bertie Hundhausen. The Eliada Girls, as they called themselves, the name taken from the Hebrew words for "God knows," met in a building in Gray Summit (one account says it was the school at Highways 100 and MM, another account says it was the upstairs of the bank).
The church was located just outside of Gray Summit and was too far for the girls to meet. It wasn't long before more agreed that the church should relocate in town.
The Eliada Girls got involved and organized fundraisers to do their part. The girls got creative and put on plays, held ice cream socials and conducted bake sales. One of the most memorable of their activities was a Sock Social, where they asked people to donate twice the number of their sock size ("in pennies or cents").
The girls, no doubt, surprised everyone when they raised $6,500 - enough to purchase the land in town on which to build a new church. It was built at the corner of State Street and Roberts Avenue.
The congregation moved in December 1918.
The stained-glass windows that were purchased and donated in honor of people who were instrumental in the new church's development were added.
These are the same windows that are featured in the front of the current church (and shown on this page).
"The memories of our beloved church are numerous," the narrator of the anniversary skit remarked. "Long time members and friends may remember the loving scenes of Jesus within the beautiful stained-glass windows or perhaps listening for the sound of the bell ringing to call all to service on Sunday morning.
"Perhaps you remember a baptism, confirmation, becoming a member of this congregation . . . many remember their fond childhood memories of Rally Day, church dinners, apple butter, Vacation Bible School, shawl ministry, church socials and numerous fellowship activities."
The Present
The present church was built in the late 1960s as a result of a growing congregation. The previous church had become too small and the Sunday school attendance had risen to 100, requiring the kitchen and vestibule to be used as clasrooms. The basement was divided by cloth curtains.
Ground for the new church was donated by the Beumer family, and it was built in 1968.
The bell from the previous church was moved and placed in a tower in front of the church.
A parsonage was built in 1982, and in 1995, the congregation voted to buy the eight lots at Highway 100 and Ford Street which fronted the church property. That loan was paid in full earlier this year, noted Schlemper.
Today about 200 people attend Gray Summit United Methodist Church.
The Future
Looking ahead, church members say they are working on making the church more known as a resource to the community, whether it be as a meeting space for various groups or as a source of spiritual guidance.
"We're trying to become more aware of the needs of the community, let people know we're here," said Barbara Walts, lay leader and anniversary committee member.
