People -- Sept. 02

Wesley Foundation at Purdue University celebrates 85 years of ministering to students and faculty at the West Lafayette, Ind. campus. An anniversary gala is set for Friday, Sept. 27 with other special events scattered throughout the weekend. Rev. Wallace McLaughlin, associate minister from 1987 to 1989, will keynote. Cost is $20 for the gala. For reservations contact Betty Jo Townsend at 765/743-5066.

Members and church leaders recently gathered to participate in the ground-breaking ceremony for Union Chapel UMC's building expansion. Construction of the new brick unit will add to the education area and also double as a fellowship room.

Mt. Comfort UMC in Greenfield consecrated their 25,000 square-foot Family Life Center Aug. 18. The approximately $2 million project nearly doubles the facility's size, adding 12 new classrooms, a new auditorium, new entrance and a special cafÃ©-style fellowship area. The congregation celebrated all weekend long with a free community hog roast, antique car show and big band contest.

Brushwood UMC, Rensselaer, is adding a second worship Sunday worship service. Pastor Dennis Ticen says the worship services will be similar, yet different. "The second service will use more music and there will be stylistic differences, as well."

Pastor Charles R. Harrison (center) of Barnes UMC, Indianapolis, looks on as Michael Thomas, trustee chair and Robert Ursery, church council chair burn the church mortgage during a morning worship service celebration recently. Barnes celebrates 123 years of ministry to the Indianapolis community this year.

Russiaville UMC -- which burned to the ground on a Christmas morning, two years ago -- re-opened its doors for worship this summer. "The spirit of God breathes new life into us," said Pastor Dick Girton, during the morning worship service celebration. The fire was the third one in the church's history, which dates back to the mid-1840s. Other than the fire two years ago, fire destroyed the church in 1902 and again in 1942. Each time it has been rebuilt. While the new 13,400-foot structure was being built, services were held at the Russiaville Friends Church.

On Oct. 6, Broad Ripple UMC, Indianapolis will celebrate 150 years of ministry. The celebrations committee is seeking copies of photos, documents, memories and letters about the church for inclusion in the congregation's history. Contact the church at 317/251-5049 or brumchurch@cs.com.

CORRECTION: Last month in Milestones, the information about Brimfield UMC's 125th anniversary should have noted that church member Marcia Garrett's great great grandfather and great grandfather were both pastors in the Brimfield church, and her great great grandfather, William Bliss, named the town in the 1860's after Brimfield Mass. where he had lived with his parents before moving west.

Names

Mary Z. Longstreth and Sandy Harlan recently returned from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada where they attended The DOTAC (Diaconate of the Americas and Caribbean) Conference. Our theme was Diakonia: Reclaiming the Ministry of All God's People. There were over 200 deacons, diaconal ministers, and deaconesses in attendance representing 10 countries.

Lafayette Dist. Superintendent Rev. Michelle Cobb was elected a trustee representing the North Indiana Conference, for the University of Evansville, a UM-related institution. Also Rev. Kevin McKinney, superintendent of Evansville District was elected trustee representing South Indiana Conference.

Neither time, nor geography has kept the Christianaires (an original group of young families from First UMC, Crown Point) from maintaining contact and fellowship through the years. Though members are dispersed throughout the country, the Christianaires, which originated in 1964, continue to sponsor annual gatherings. Some of the Christianaires who gathered this year were (from left) Mary Hamilton Luke, Janice Dean, Jane Daniels and Alice Naylor.

Rev. Elva Hardy, 98, was honored last month as the oldest living clergyperson in the South Indiana Conference â€¦ The Retired Ministers present the "oldest living ." each year with a cane that he or she keeps for the duration of their life, then it is presented to a successor. Robert Hawkins had been the holder of the cane for several years until his death this last spring. Elva Hardy began as a United Brethren pastor along with two of her sisters, who are now deceased. Elva resides in an assisted living facility in Columbus, Ohio.

Quilting for Christ

The Lakeville UMC Quilting Group was among special honorees in the Michiana District. Since 1993 the group has made and distributed over 3,000 blankets and pillows to missions locally, nationally, and abroad. Modeled after the North Conference's annual Bread & Basin Award, the District honored the group as well as other outstanding lay people of the district with its newly initiated annual Cross & Flame Award.

Farmer's Market comes to the city

Offering fresh fruits and vegetables and other good foods, 16 vendors comprise the second annual Farmers' Market sponsored by North UMC, Indianapolis. Each Thursday, May through October, hundreds of local residents shop the market for wholesome, low-cost food. The vendor tents are set up in North's parking lot Shoppers can use their food stamps and WIC (Women, Infants & Children) state vouchers. North's senior pastor, David Owen, says, "It's a good way to get fresh produce into the neighborhood." Pictured are volunteers from North Church.