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Grace in Our History….
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![](3D"about-us_files/image009.jpg")
Tradition tells us=
that
Grace Reformed Church was organized in 1845. "A certain lot of land
lying at the south end of the west row of lots in the town of Newton" was deeded and recorded in Catawba County on August 10, 1846. For=
ty
years later (1886), a second church was built on Main Street (present home of Calvary Baptist Church<=
/st1:PlaceType>).
Ninety-nine years later (1945), a building fund for the present structu=
re
was established with a gift from Julius Abernethy, Sr., and on May 10,
1959, Grace Reformed Church was opened and dedicated.
Grace
Reformed United Church of Christ boasts a rich heritage. Not only is it=
a
beautiful physical structure, its rich beauty is reflected in the lives=
of
its membership. Some of the families represent fifth generation continu=
ity.
From that comes the fond memory of those who preceded us - their
commitments, their smiles, even where they sat consistently and faithfu=
lly
in the sanctuary.
This
is a church steeped in tradition, yet modern, educable and willing to
learn.
Margaret
Coley
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Grace in Our Struggles….
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![](3D"about-us_files/image010.jpg")
In the early morni=
ng
hours of June 16, 2003, lightning struck the roof of Grace Church, igni=
ting
a fire that will forever live in our memories. Those of us who came to =
the
church that day remember the scene: the smell of smoke lingering throug=
hout
every corner of the building, the sound of water trickling from the
ceilings and heartbreaking sight of our beloved sanctuary covered in so=
ot
and ash. Amid all the darkness of the smoke-filled sanctuary, warm summ=
er
sunshine was streaming in through the hole in the roof where the fire
began.
The
following Sunday, we gathered together in the Fellowship Hall, where we
would continue to worship under the faithful leadership of Dr. Tom Hami=
lton
for the next nine months. Work began immediately to repair the damage
caused by the fire. The arch beam in the roof was replaced, new carpet =
was
installed and the Casavant pipe organ was
repaired and restored. Along with a few enhancements, everything was
restored to its original beauty. Most significant, however, was the
restoration that took place within our congregation. It seems that out =
of
the tragedy of almost losing our church home, we were able to restore o=
ur
faith in one another.
On
Palm Sunday 2004, palm branches in hand, the congregation of Grace Chur=
ch
processed triumphantly from the Fellowship Hall around the outside of t=
he
building and into the front doors of our sanctuary to begin a new chapt=
er
in the history.<=
o:p>
&n=
bsp; =
; &n=
bsp; =
; &n=
bsp; =
;
Nancy Elliott
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Grace, Our Mission….
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The avowed mission=
of this
church shall be to worship God, to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, a=
nd
to celebrate the sacraments; to realized Christian fellowship and unity
within the church and the Church Universal: to render loving service to=
ward
humankind; and to strive for righteousness, justice and peace.
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o:p>![](3D"about-us_files/image008.jpg")
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