Emanuel UCC in Jackson marks 150th anniversary

In 1867, people in Jackson began to hold meetings at First Baptist Church. From those meetings grew Emanuel United Church of Christ, which celebrated its 150th anniversary Sunday.

The church marked the occasion with an open house at the church and an exhibit at the Cape Girardeau County History Center at 102 S. High St. in Jackson.

Photo displays showed visitors various trips church groups had taken and remodeling jobs undertaken by members.

Cassi Holcomb had a timeline she created about five years ago, using historical pictures of past pastors and views of the church itself.

Pastor Joe Rowley said he has been at this parish less than two years, but he already loves the tight-knit community in the church and in Jackson.

“I feel more at home here in Jackson than I’ve felt anywhere else,” Rowley said, adding his children get to see some of the same children their age in church, sports, and school. “I love how close-knit, full of good people this community is.”

Margaret Puchbauer, who attended the open house, was the church’s secretary for 43 years, retiring in 2014.

“It seems to me, in working here, I got so much more than I gave,” she said, referring to the generosity, friendship and support of the congregation. “The benefit is not just what you give, but what people give you.”

Puchbauer said her longstanding motto is to walk by faith, not by sight.

“We live in a world of miracles,” she said. “Things don’t just happen.”

Puchbauer said she is the church’s most senior member — a dubious honor in her mind.

“I was at the hundredth anniversary celebration and the hundred twenty-fifth,” she said.

“The people who arranged this really did a beautiful job,” she said, gesturing to each table’s centerpiece of peach blossoms on slim branches.

“This is what we are, what nature is,” she said. “It’s really beautiful.”

Holcomb said the church display at the History Center will be up for several months.

Holcomb said many people in the Jackson community had their lives touched by members of the parish, though they may not have realized it.

“Lots of teachers and other figures in the community came through here,” she said.

“It helps us keep going,” Holcomb said.

She said the church’s anniversary celebration will continue through 2017.

mniederkorn@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3630

Pertinent address:

304 E. Adams St., Jackson, Mo.

102 S. High St., Jackson, Mo.