CHAPEL TO MARK 175TH YEAR

Old McKendree Chapel, the oldest Methodist church west of the Mississippi, will celebrate its heritage Sept. 18 beginning at 2 p.m.

It has been 185 years since the organization of the chapel. The service will celebrate the 175th anniversary of the chapel building's construction.

The Rev. Harry Foockle, senior pastor of Platte Woods United Methodist Church in Kansas City will be the guest speaker. Dressed in period costume, he will portray a circuit rider of the period.

Rev. Foockle has served in the ministry for 29 years in Missouri. Prior to coming to Platte Woods' church in 1991, he served as senior pastor of Wesley United Methodist Church in Springfield for 14 years.

During that time the church was recognized as one of the fastest growing churches in United Methodism.

Since 1991, worship attendance at Platte Woods has grown from an average of nearly 800 to nearly 1,200 per Sunday.

Las year, he received the Missouri West Conference Harry Denman Award and received the national Circuit Rider Award for the United Methodist denomination.

Harry and his wife Donna have four children -- three sons and one daughter.

The chapel is inviting the public to come to the chapel and experience the time period during which the Old McKendree Chapel was built.

Preliminary activities will include period music by the New McKendree Men's Quartet. The Zenon River Brigade, a group that portrays early American Indians, will also participate.

In addition, historic memorabilia will be displayed at the William Williams home on the chapel site.

A recreation of a one-room school house will also be presented.

The choirs of Grace and Centenary United Methodist Churches of Cape Girardeau and that of Jackson's New McKendree United Methodist Church will provide special music during the service.

Old McKendree Chapel is located between Jackson and Cape Girardeau. Visitors should take Interstate 55 to the Jackson-Cape Girardeau exit and turn west onto Higway 72. Take the first road to the right and follow the road markers to the Old McKendree site.

All are invited to attend the service. Bring a lawn chair and come to join in the hymn singing and worship. Homemade ice cream and cookies will be provided.

For more information, phone 334-8723.