Late
1939 brought “fame” to the church as the Des
Moines Register reported on Rev. and Mrs. Clayton
Shepard’s God’s Acre plan for raising funds.
Farmers had been contacted earlier in the year to
“set aside” one acres of corn for the church.
The harvest that year was reduced by hot winds and
cinch bugs but best estimates of the crops of “God’s
Acres” were approximately 50 bushels to the acre –
with the highest of 90 bushel raised by Ora Creger.
This project enabled the church to pay off a $500
mortgage and then some.
In
the mid-1940’s, the first annual public auction of God’s
Portion, was held under the leadership of Rev. Verne
Willey. Food
stuffs, bazaar articles, merchandise, livestock, and even
grain were sold at public auction. One particular angel
food cake was sold 35 times for a total of $189.50!
Rev. Willey disliked soliciting money. To avoid it,
he started the church auction, a traditional that
continues yet today.
March
1948 brought about a vote of 23 approvals and 5
disapprovals for the church to merge with the United
Church of Christ.
On
June 26, 1949, the 50th anniversary of the
church building was celebrated.
A basket dinner in the church basement was followed
by special afternoon services.
The program listed the following 50-year members:
Etta
Archer |
Reuben
Creger |
Beryl
Patterson |
Will
Archer |
Frank
Burt |
Susie
Gracey |
George
Cooley |
Ed
Garst |
Frank
Gracey |
Addie Creger |
Ida Garst |
Nellie Fulton |
Daisy
Creger |
Betty
Hogue |
Florence
Roby |
Ora Creger |
Ann Patterson |
Ella Roby |
Linn
Creger |
Bert
Patterson |
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The summer of 1950 was the stage for many discussions regarding
the “yoking” of the Truro Congregational Christian
Church with the Truro Methodist Church
State superintendents of both denominations were
present at meetings, articles of federation were
submitted, and other items were discussed.
A final vote was taken in September, and a unity
plan passed 32 to 7. A
7-man board from each church (with 8 to make a quorum) was
appointed to transact business for the yoke.
October
21, 1956 brought the 100th anniversary
celebration of the church’s foundation.
Rev. Dale Lockhart led the morning’s Centennial
Sunday Worship. The
Scripture Lesson was Matthew 16: 13-20.
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