Reverence, beauty and function

JAMIE ROPER * Hays Daily News

Volunteer server Shirley Conaway rushed hot food to hungry diners Friday evening July 17 in Kensington, Kan. Every Friday night for the past four years, Kensington residents have filed into the American Legion hall for dinner. And like so many other things in towns this size, the meal is a volunteer effort.By Laura Johnston ~ Southeast Missourian

Churches in the region continue to expand their reach in both ministries and buildings with current construction and renovation projects.

Two congregations recently bought land and three others are in the midst of construction additions or renovations to their existing buildings.

First Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau and CrossRoads Fellowship in Jackson both bought land for new buildings. Maple United Methodist, First Presbyterian Church and La Croix United Methodist are under phases of construction.

First Baptist Church bought 10 acres of land at Lexington Avenue and Cape Rock Drive for a new church. Southeast Missouri State University bought the current property at 926 Broadway and plans to use it for an alumni center.

The Rev. Dr. Jay White, pastor, said a contractor and architect have been hired to design and build the new facility, which is expected to be complete by early fall 2005. Artist's renderings of the plan are on display throughout the church.

A sign announcing the church's move should be placed on the new property in the next week or so, White said. The church will hold a groundbreaking ceremony at 12:30 p.m. Aug. 1 at the construction site.

Members are excited about the new building and the idea of a new beginning, said the Rev. Mike Shupert, the church's minister of education and music. The church adopted new mission and vision statements recently that place an emphasis on new beginnings.

"We hope we can be that in the community," Shupert said. "And that people will feel comfortable in our midst."

Modern designCrossRoads Fellowship has been growing ever since its beginning just about a year ago. The contemporary Southern Baptist congregation purchased 25 acres along East Jackson Boulevard.

The church chose an architecture firm from Wichita, Kan., to create the building's design because its sole focus is on building churches, said Steven Gregg, a member of CrossRoads' leadership team.

"Our intent is to have a building that doesn't look like something from the 18th and 19th century architecture," he said.

The church hopes to begin work as soon as possible and expects construction to take about 18 months.

The congregation meets now in the auditorium at Jackson High School and uses space at The Stables in uptown Jackson for small group activities throughout the week.

La Croix United Methodist also had to search for an architecture firm that specialized in contemporary worship design. A new sanctuary is under construction on the church campus on Lexington Avenue.

"We wanted people who had experience in what we were trying to build," said Jim Rust, chairman of the building committee.

Because the church has a contemporary worship style, the new sanctuary was designed to accommodate multimedia presentations and sound.

The new space also includes an expanded lobby area and offices. The current worship space will become part of the children's educational wing. The exterior of all the buildings on the campus will be painted to match that of the new sanctuary.

Members of Maple United Methodist Church are almost ready to unpack and claim the space in their new fellowship hall and classroom addition at Jean Ann and North Cape Rock Drive. The occupancy permit comes Monday, and the church can begin moving in later. A dedication service will be at 2 p.m. Aug. 22.

"By next Sunday we'll be in completely," said Pastor Jim Cooper as he surveyed the expansive fellowship hall and new commercial kitchen Friday afternoon.

A previous kitchen had barely enough space for a refrigerator, stove and countertop. "We're just so excited about a place to have dinner," said member Mary Spell.

Any church-wide dinners held before the fellowship hall completion meant members had to move all the furniture from the sanctuary and set up tables instead. They did the same for the annual holiday bazaar on the second Saturday in November, but had to put everything back in time for Sunday worship.

A meal already is being planned to christen the new facility. Aug. 1 is Friend Day at Maple UMC and a meal will be served after the morning's worship.

Adding the last touchesAcross town at First Presbyterian Church the renovation project is nearly complete. The finishing touches, like painting trim around windows and doorways, adding baseboards and changing door locks, have delayed completion by several months, said the Rev. Paul Kabo.

As church members arrive for worship on Sundays and comment about the unfinished doors or unpainted rooms, Kabo said he has to remind them the church still needs work.

"It looks like it's finished, but it's still a construction site," he said.

The official dedication ceremony for the new additions and renovations is set for Oct. 10.

The project created an atrium between the sanctuary and education building, added more educational space and handicapped-accessible bathrooms and an elevator.

The work cost more than $1 million, but members have given or pledged enough to cover the total amount. And the congregation is committed to staying downtown.

The church made its decision to stay in its present location in the 1990s, well before Kabo came as pastor, he said. "I'm aware that there are ministries you can do in a downtown and in the suburbs," he said. But the key to success is knowing which is which. Many times people aren't aware of the opportunities for ministry that exist in a downtown location.

"We relate to people who work downtown," Kabo said. "As we have these national prayer events, we can fulfill that offering in downtown." Churches located in suburban neighborhoods that host such events have to rely on people driving to their locations.

And with all the work in downtown revitalization, First Presbyterian can offer ministries to people who work in the courthouses, shops and new offices. "We have an influence over how downtown evolves," Kabo said.

ljohnston@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126