Grace E. Garten (1907-1999) (part 1)

Grace E. Garten, Wesley UMC/OKC

On September 1, 1944, Wesley's program had grown so much that a new employee was decided on to head the growing groups in the church. Grace E. Garten, a public school teacher, was hired as the first full-time Director of Education.

In 1941, an article in the Oklahoman, "Parents Criticized for Books Children Read" (Nov.3,1941;5) she was reported as having spoken to a group on behalf of the Oklahoma Council of Churches as it Religious Education Director.  She urged parents to "have good books available in the home."

 

Church records note she re-established the 'Junior Church' in 1944 and when the Baker Chapel was built in 1954 this group met in that area.

 

In 1948 (that year she is listed in a city directory and gives Wesley as her place of employment).

 

In 1952 there is an article in the Ada Weekly News (Ada, OK) that Miss Garten would be conducting lectures there on Christian Education at the First Methodist Church of Ada.

 

She would remain at Wesley for many decades and in near retirement years became the official Parish Visitor. She finally retired fully in 1988.

 

She was well respected, at Wesley and around the state, as Education Director.  She conducted numerous workshops for churches addresses issues and methods to improve their programs.  She was affiliated with Council of Churches education program.

 

In 1940 she penned a lovely poem, later used in a church devotional booklet:

 

"What God does not do as God

He does do as man.

For it was through Jesus
That came the redemptive plan.

So God reaches out to the world through me.
Not alone through my Godlikeness
But through my humanity.

For there is a call in the human touch
That lost man understands.
And when the world is brought close to God
'Twill be through human hands."

Grace Garten, 1940.

In the late 1980's she conducted programs for senior centers and other locations bringing along her large collection of crosses.

The frame in the corner is part of a set holding the collection of Grace E.Garten's Crosses.-- Wesley UMC Library, OKC.