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Methodists to 'fill the pews' for 140th
When Jackson’s United Methodist Church members, their families and friends gather Sunday to celebrate 140 years, they hope to fill the pews.
And not just ordinary pews. The 140th anniversary will be the first to commemorate the refurbishing of the sanctuary in recent years.
“The pews were in sad, sad shape,” said Mark Titus, chairman of the church’s board of trustees.
In the last three years, church members have furnished the sanctuary with new carpet and pews to replace the original ones installed when the building was finished in early 1957, under the direction of Titus’ grandfather, the chairman of the board of trustees at that time.
That family legacy is also a symbol of the congregation’s character.
“It’s my home church — for a lot of us, it is,” Titus said, noting it is the home church of his mother, too, and several aunts and uncles. “The church is family. We’ve got a great family-type atmosphere. The congregation itself is one large family.”
The after-service coffee times and monthly potluck dinners are two examples of that camaraderie.
“They’re a nice time of gathering together and communal dining,” he said.
Along the same lines, a defining quality of the church is “its openness in receiving people and being a welcoming church,” said Dorothy Zimmerli, a long-time member.
Because of that, the approximately 170-member congregation seems to have avoided controversies within the church, Titus added.
“We’ve just never had those kinds of issues. We’ve had a real strong family of God,” he said.
But members are not resting on their storied past. With a new sound system, worship has taken on younger leadership and the congregation is trying to get younger families more involved, Titus said.
“The future has to be increased membership. We have to grow, and our church, like all small churches, is going to have to work very hard,” he said. “Call it marketing or evangelism or whatever, we’ve got to do what we’ve got to do to get new members.”
Members welcomed their current minister on June 21, 2006, when the Rev. David Brown arrived with his wife Shelly from serving five churches in McGregor and the surrounding northeastern Minnesota area. Recent ministers before him included Paul Kobi, 2000–2006; Randy Koppen, 1996–2000; Howard Bredesen, 1991–1996; Dan Almquist, 1989–1991; Robert Howard, 1979–1989; Roy Harris, 1975–1979; Peter Law, 1969–1975; D. Price Lackey, 1965–1969; and Roy C. Thompson, 1960–1965.
The welcoming focus will also be evident Sunday when a celebration open to the community unfolds at the church on Frost Avenue and North Highway. The special “Fill the Pews” service will begin at 9 a.m., followed by activities for all ages — games and special music — and a meal of barbecued pork loin, buns, baked beans, chips and ice cream sundaes. A free-will offering will be taken.
Biblical parenting resources featured at celebration
Sunday’s “Fill the Pews” event will also feature Biblical parenting resources available to community members and aimed at equipping families and children in their everyday lives. Available for homes and churches, some examples of the AWANA approved books are:
•?“Parenting is Heart Work” — Biblical parenting while teaching your child key stories of the Bible to shape character.
•?“The Treasure Hunters” — Through Bible stories, activities, role play and science experiments, children discover treasure in everyday life.
•?“Family Time Activities” — Seeing is believing, playing for keeps, running the race, bubbles, balls and chocolate for elementary ages. Wiggles, giggles and popcorn for preschoolers. Tried and true for teens.
For more information, visit “Fill the Pews” or call Nancy Ann Gee at 847-3738.
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