Sunday, September 23, 2012

Shirley Gruber's 85th Birthday Tuesday September 25

Shirley Gruber is celebrating her 64th anniversary of her 21st birthday on Tuesday, September 25th.  There is a card party to celebrate the event.  All friends, family, and well wishers are invited to send cards to her at 1942 N. 215th Rd., Barnard, Kansas 67418.  She has been extremely active in the Barnard community.  May she be blessed with health, love, family, and friends.

Friday, September 14, 2012

Card Party on September 15

The bi-weekly card party will be held on Saturday, September 15th at the Barnard Community Building.  Cards will start at 7 pm.  The card party is held on the first and third Saturdays of the month.  All are welcome.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Barnard Lions Club Kicks Off With Annual Picnic

On Monday, September 10th, the Barnard Lions Club held its annual picnic.  Many attended and had a great time.  The Barnard Lions Club meets on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month.


Barnard UMC 130th Heartwarming Celebration

On Sunday September 9th, the Barnard First United Methodist Church was filled to overflowing for the special service that had been planned.  The Coover Boys and Pastor Jeff Metzler (The Kingdom Strings)started things off with some beautiful music, both traditional and contemporary.  Pastor Jeff joked that even when the Coover boys were 100 years old, they would still be the "Coover Boys."

Marlene Clark and Kay Jackson, the Barnard UMC pianists, made the instrument sing.  Sara Biggs played an inspiring tune, the instrumental "The Lord's Prayer."  The Clark Family Choir and the Kelly Family Choir sang beautifully.  The choir from the Barnard First Baptist Church sang "Have a Little Talk With Jesus."  All of the musical talent was exceptional. 

Pastors Kaye and Jeff Metzler gave a moving and thoughtful sermon and made everyone feel welcome.  After the service, many in attendance gathered at the Barnard Community Building for a noon meal and fellowship.

The service was recorded and barring any technical mess ups (by me), the video will be available from the church and the Barnard Banter in the near future.

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Barnard Streets Receive Much Needed Attention

200 Block of Smith Street...Looking Good!

400 Block of Smith Street.
During the last part of August and the first week of September, the streets in Barnard have been receiving some much needed attention.  With an annual budget that is comparable to a single family income, it can be difficult to keep everything up.  However, with some purchased millings and some donated asphalt from the state when 284 was repaved, the city has made a little headway on repairing deteriorated streets.

Earlier in the summer, Main Street south of Ballard Avenue received some attention.  Recently, the 200 and 400 blocks of Smith Street received some patching.  However, there is still a ways to go.

300 Block of Smith Street

Harper Street north of the Baptist Church

Mills Street west of Main

Barnard UMC 130th Celebration Program




Prayer Request from the Wallace Family

Kenny Wallace, recovering from pneumonia, will have to have gall bladder surgery in the very near future.  His family asks that you keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

Barnard United Methodist Church to Celebrate 130 Years on September 9, 2012

The Barnard United Methodist Church will celebrate 130 years with a service on September 9, 2012.  The service will commence at 10:30 am and will feature special music as well as Bishop Scott Jones, Bishop of the Great Plains Conference of the United Methodist Church.  After the service, there will be a time of fellowship and refreshments at the Barnard Community Building.

The Barnard United Methodist Church was originally formed as a house church on the Salt Creek Circuit in the early days of the 1880's with formal entry into the Kansas Conference of the United Methodist Church recorded at the Conference of 1882.  Through out its 130 year history, the church has been home to over 50 different pastors, not counting the early Circuit Riders and ministry students of Kansas Wesleyan University. 

Barnard M.E. Church in 1907
The physical plant of the church house was constructed in the early 1900's on the corner of Harper and White Streets in the heart of the city of Barnard.  The church added a basement and kitchen for fellowship gatherings, expanded the main level for classroom space, and even altered the steeple and bell tower of the original structure during the years to come.  Merged with the Dry Creek Episcopal Methodist Church in the late 1880's, the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Barnard become the Barnard United Methodist Church in 1968. 

Another Early Photo of the Barnard UMC
For 70 consecutive years the church has partnered with the neighboring Barnard First Baptist church in hosting the annual Barnard Vacation Bible School.  Many are the children, now turned adults, from the community and surrounding area who remember the sharing of the stories of the faith, engaging in the play and activity, while learning the scripture's words. 

Beginning as the Women's Mission Society and later the Epworth League, continuing through several name changes, the United Methodist Women have continued to meet since the church's origin and are a vital part of the church's ministry. 

Joined with the Ash Grove UMC as a dual church-charge for over 60 years, the two churches served as rural teaching churches for many of Kansas Wesleyan's ministry students throughout the 1960's into the 1990's, an honored position reserved for very few churches in the whole conference.  In 2003, the Barnard UMC entered into cooperative ministry with the Ash Grove, Beverly, Lincoln UMC's and the Vesper PC/USA to become part of a newly created circuit called the Lincoln County Cluster.  The Barnard UMC has faithfully served as a vital mission outpost of the faith within the community throughout its 130 year history.

Over the recent months, several projects have been undertaken at the church.  In addition to the siding and metal roofing added in recent years, the bell tower has been reinforced and new front doors have been added to the entry of the church.  New paint has been applied to the marquee, railings, and the foundations of the new additions.

Pictures and information taken from the Barnard Methodist Church special program, Barnard History, and the author's personal collection.