We stumbled upon Wesley Grove United Methodist Church in September 1997 when we were looking for a church where we could get married and become members. After very few church visits we each learned that we had surprising connections with several Wesley Grove church members. A former teacher, an organist who was cousin to a former church member, a member who had memories of a Grandmother. We decided it was in God's plan for us that Wesley Grove was our church. Our decision was made. After a few very short weeks, we were married at Wesley Grove on November 22, 1997. We joined the church a very short time later and we've been members ever since. Wesley Grove is one big happy family and we are happy to be a part of the family.

Charlie and Carol Stone

A most cherished memory of Wesley Grove UMC is our wedding in December of 1955. It was during the holiday season and we decorated with red and green flowers; our bridesmaids wore long dresses of green velveteen; our maid of honor and flower girls wore long dresses of red velveteen and the church was full of friends and relatives in festive array! After a lovely reception in the "Hall" as it was then termed, we left for our honeymoon as the rain and sleet began to fall. Some of our 'friends and relatives' had jacked up the back of our car and thought they'd have a great laugh...but the joke was on them as we'd planned to take my father-in-law's car, a lovely green four-door sedan which still had all four of its wheels firmly on the ground!

Mary Ann Davis (Mrs. Clifford James Davis, Jr.)

Many many years ago, I was a bride in a Tom Thumb wedding that was held at Wesley Grove, Mt. Tabor in Etchison and St. Paul's in Laytonsville. I believe I was 11 years old and Ronald Gue was the groom. His mother, Doris Gue made my wedding dress. The wedding party consisted of Sunday School members and we had wedding ceremony with the reception at the church hall. We had music and a minister and I think the entire community attended the wedding. I had never heard of a Tom Thumb wedding. There was a free will offering at each church wedding.

My husband, Donald Hobbs and I had a real wedding at Wesley Grove in 1957. We have just celebrated our 53rd anniversary. At the beginning of the ceremony we realized we didn't have our wedding rings. Lyndall Woodfield Morris ran to my parents home, found the rings that had been thrown in the trash and threw them to the ring barrier. After a few tears, the wedding continued and the reception was held at the church hall.

When I was very young, we had holiday programs held at Wesley Grove that consisted of reciting "pieces". I was very nervous and did not like to perform. These "pieces" were poems, short paragraphs, and music by the talented children. After the program, the children would receive a box of hard candy and an orange. This was a special treat for all the children.

Many years ago when I was in the church choir and we would walk down the aisle after the service, my Uncle Cramwell King would always smile and wink at me. I looked forward to his handsome smile and wink each Sunday. I thought I was the only one to receive this smile and wink, but I believe he would wink at everyone and not only me.

Ruth Ellen Hobbs

It seems that some forty years after it was built (1950) the steeple needed quite a bit of repair work. A rather lively discussion was being held at an Official Board meeting, one summer evening, as to whether to repair the steeple or to wait, as money was not availble. Within a few seconds, a great bolt of lightning struck the steeple, doing much damage. The meeting soon broke up and everyone went home with various thoughts. At the very next meeting the money was found and the steeple repairs were authorized, some members thinking that the Lord had settled that discussion!

Harrison King, 1974

Most Fridays, my Grandfather loaded the farm the horse-drawn wagon with the farm's output and begin the long ride into Washington. His destination was the Farmer's Market on 7th Street where he sold all the farm products he could. Then, he would make the long trip back and get home by Saturday night.

Jim Burns

One of many wonderful memories was when Donald Wayne played Santa at one of the Christmas parties at the hall with all of the children in the Sunday school. We had gotten a puppy for our children that year and Donald pulled the puppy out of Santa's sack and handed it to our sons, the look on their faces was incredible... wonderful memory!

Elaine & Randy Falk

As a relatively new member, my pleasant memories only go back about ten years. But one in particular was quite heart-warming. Some years back, I was dealing with a divorce, a rough time for anyone in that situation. When the time came to move from my home, a few Wesley Grove members (along with folks recruited from the Damascus Lions Club) stepped up and volunteered to do that job for me. This was a huge act of support at a time when I really needed it. After the move, I still belong to Wesley Grove and remember the act of kindness shown to me.

Paul Eisenhaur

A long time Wesley Grover has a special memory from her Sunday School days. The third weekend of every July was spent at a Braddock Heights, MD activities facility where a daylong picnic was held for the WG Sunday School students and all WG members. Roller skating, merry-go-round rides, ice cream eating, and other games contributed to great fellowship and memories.

Roberta Grimes

Some of our fondest memories are from the very first few times we attended services at Wesley Grove in 1995. We were immediately welcomed by many warm and inviting, faces, kind words and friendly handshakes. Donald & Gus Wayne, Jim Kemp, Tony Bowie and Peggy Zirkle were some of the first members to welcome our Family to Wesley Grove. Pastor Helen Smith and Andi Brickman visited our home and were genuinely interested in our needs. We were seeking spiritual guidance and comfort and it didn't take long to become part of the Wesley Grove Church family. Many Pastors and members have come and gone in the last fifteen years; one constant has been the "welcoming" of people or in our case a family who didn't know anyone who attended the first day we walked in the door. We are truly blessed and enriched by the Church family we now have. Open hearts, open minds and open doors is not just a slogan at Wesley Grove, it is the culture.

Donnie & Jackie Hottinger

Wesley Grove's softball team was pretty 'hot' at year's end to win the 1991 Bethesda United Methodist Tournament. Welsey Grove won seven games in a row after dropping into the losers' bracket in the first round of the tournament. But our team rallied out of the losers' bracket to defeat host Bethesda United Methodist Church in its 18th annual tourney. In the finals, WG beat Bethesda UMC (who only needed to win one game) by scores of 14-2 and 10-9. Key WG players were Mike Farmer, Rich Rupp, Steve Kemp, Skip Ketchum, and Bill Mick. What an exciting tournament for the WGUMC team. Below is the Montgomery County Gazette article about the game:

Skip Ketchum

Allan and I moved with our three young children from Rockville to Watkins Road in 1965. We returned to worship at my home church, Bethesda Methodist in Browningsville, where we were married nine years earlier. Shortly afterwards, Rev. Ralph Posey called on us, and we decided to visit Wesley Grove, giving it a try for a few weeks. We knew for sure that we'd found our new church home after we missed just one Sunday and Rev. Posey was back again, making certain we were all right and didn't need anything! Friendly, welcoming folks, including former Damascus schoolmates, also influenced our decision to transfer our membership to Wesley Grove.

Over the years our church family has seen us through all our joyous and sad times alike. Not only did our children enjoy Sunday School and MYF, but we felt blessed when our first two grandchildren were baptized at Wesley Grove. These days, when we hike with a favorable breeze on the Magruder Branch trail, we can sometimes hear our church carillon. Words are simply inadequate to express all that our Wesley Grove family means to us.

Mary Jane (Day) Walter

I've been involved in alot of church activities and seen a lot of church members since I started coming to Wesley Grove in the early 1960's. I live out in Frederick now, but feel such a strong connection, comfort level and warm fellowship at Wesley Grove, I continue here.

Moving to Woodfield with my family in 1963, I continued my previous years of involvement in my Lutheran Church to our new home church at Wesley Grove. Right away, I jumped in as a dedicated choir director. I continued in this capacity for another 19 uninterrupted years. After that commitment, I have returned as choir director for additional stints. And, after many years of its absence, I brought back the holiday musical cantata. As well as directing the choir, I sang for many years in the men's barber shop singing group. During that time, I was awarded the Methodist Man of the Year award three times.

Over the years, I have seen many members - Kings, Burdettes, Wards, Kemps, and many others - and feel the same "homey" feeling with today's members as all those past. !

Orville Martin

(NOTE: In researching the church history, it was noticeable that many past members have given a lot of their time - and any amount of time is always appreciated. But it seems that Orville, along with Mary Ann Davis and Mary Ward , have given the most)

In September, 1974, a Lay Witness Mission was held which proved to be a very meaningful experience for those who attended.

Over the years, revivals were often held at Wesley Grove. Sometimes they were held as often as once each year in the early days of the church. These revivals often lasted for a week at a time or longer. The last true revival was held in 1971.

Wesley Grove's very first Oyster Dinner was in 1909 to raise funds for the new church sanctuary.

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