NEW MINISTER LIKES WHAT HE SEES

Thirteen of the Rev. John Rice's 17 years in the ministry have been spent in a small town atmosphere. With four children at home, Rice felt it was time to return to the safer, friendlier confines of a smaller community.

Rice assumed duties as pastor of New McKendree United Methodist Church July 4, after serving four years at a St. Louis church.

"My impression has been very favorable," Rice said, reflecting back upon his first month in Jackson. "Our family was received graciously by this church. We feel very, very welcome in the church. I think this is a great church. I'm very pleased I have the opportunity to minister with this congregation."

Rice and his wife Kathleen, with children age 15 (Zachary), 13 (Hannah), 6 (Jonathan) and 1 (Mary Grace, as of August 14), also like the community and school system.

"I'm very glad that the quality of education in Jackson is so excellent," Rice said. "That was very important for us to know before coming. I feel a sense of gratitude to have the opportunity to come here and live and be in the community. We have a preference for the smaller community."

The family has made itself right at home.

"The kids like our house, our neighborhood and the community as a whole," he said. "They've already made a lot of friends."

Rice said the family enjoys swimming, band concerts, picnicking and bike riding. The children are all musically inclined.

Rice doesn't plan to make any sudden changes. Rather, he feels it is time to listen and see what the congregation wants.

"It's not so much looking as it is listening," he said, "to the people of the church and to the community, to see what they're saying about our ministry. I do a lot more listening to my church than preaching to my church."

Rice, who has also pastored in Hermann, California and Salem, Mo., intends to get plenty of input from the New McKendree congregation.

"I want to spend a lot of time hearing about the hopes and dreams of the people in the church," he said. "Then I can adequately contribute my own leadership.

"The church is doing a lot of great ministry already. I don't think of the pastor as an autocrat. I really believe in the whole body of Christ working together."