NEW MCKENDREE TO CELEBRATE `HOMECOMING'; MANY FORMER PASTORS WILL ATTEND

The congregation of New McKendree United Methodist Church, located at 225 South High Street in Jackson, will be celebrating a homecoming this April 23-27 with a series of special services led by former pastors of the congregation.

On Wednesday, April 23 at 7 p.m. the message will be delivered by the Rev. J.C. Montgomery Jr. whose father was the pastor of New McKendree from 1934-1940. Rev. Montgomery has served as a district superintendent in the United Methodist Church.

On Thursday, April 24 at 7 p.m. the worship leader will be Rev. Ed Saferite who served at New McKendree from 1965-68. Friday, April 25 at 7 p.m. services will be led by Rev. Nancy Schaeffer-Davis who received her call to ministry as a lay member of New McKendree Church and then joined the church staff as an associate pastor from 1983-87. Rev. Schaeffer-Davis also served as the pastor of the Zion United Methodist Church in Gordonville after she moved from New McKendree.

On Saturday, April 26 at 5 p.m. the preacher will be Rev. John Gregory who is currently serving as the pastor of Maple United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau and is a former associate pastor of New McKendree. Rev. Gregory served at New McKendree from 1988-90.

Sunday morning, April 27 will be the culmination of this homecoming event when two former pastors of the congregation will lead worship. At 8 a.m. the Rev. David Griffin, senior pastor of New McKendree from 1980-89 will preach. Rev. Griffin moved to a position as the Poplar Bluff-Sikeston district superintendent from New McKendree and has retired back to Jackson where he serves as the New McKendree pastor emeritus. At 10 a.m. Rev. Otto Steinhaus who served New McKendree from 1989 until his retirement in 1995 will bring the morning message.

Rev. Scott Lohse, the current senior pastor of New McKendree, says "New McKendree is a congregation with a rich heritage of fine leadership and we are looking forward to this time to be reminded or our great past but also to be renewed in inspiration for an even greater future."

Lohse says he knows that there are many people from the community who will want to attend the services in order to renew old acquaintances with all of the former pastors. Refreshments will be served after each of the services with a pot-luck supper on Sunday afternoon, April 27. For more information contact the New McKendree church office 243-8487.