About This Site

1919-1949 - The following pages of the scrapbook were primarily compiled by Mrs. Orville Zimmerman. The collection includes articles from the local newspaper, the *Daily Dunklin Democrat*, as well as church directories and other relevant materials. Each page of the scrapbook has been scanned in its original form. There is also a separate folder within this time period, titled 1919–1949 – Special Topics, which highlights documents of particular interest. This includes the 1927 directory, the 1943–44 directory, and the 1944 directory. Additionally, historical information related to the actual building of the church is included in this section. These documents offer valuable insights and a helpful recap of the church's early history. More... 

1950-1959 - The decade of the 1950s was a time of both challenge and renewal for the First United Methodist Church. In August 1957, the church faced a devastating blow when a fire caused major damage to the sanctuary. However, in the spirit of Nehemiah and the Jewish community who rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem, the congregation responded with faith and determination. Within a year, the sanctuary was not only restored but beautifully rebuilt, standing as a testament to the resilience and unity of the church family. More...

1960-1963 - The period from 1960 to 1963 was a time of continued growth for the church. In 1961, the Faith Methodist Church in Kennett was established, marking a significant milestone. The church also experienced growth in its educational ministry, with increased use of the educational building. This section includes editions of the 'Methodist Messenger,' the church newsletter from that time, as well as several church bulletins. It also appears that during this period, the church began formal, church-wide planning efforts. A representative document of this development is included in the materials. The pastor serving during this time was Ivan Lee LaTurno.

1964-1968 - The years 1964 to 1968 featured many highlights, as captured in this particular scrapbook. Much of the content is devoted to the excellent choirs that were active during this period. The Chancel Choir, composed of young ladies, had over 30 members and gained recognition by appearing on the television program *Pride of the Southland*. Later that same year, they participated in the 38th Annual Music Festival. The Adult Choir, with 28 members, was also highly active. Several photographs from the time highlight the full group and their contributions to the church’s musical life. More...

1969-1976 - The years 1969 through 1976 were marked by continued activity, spiritual growth, and musical celebration within the life of the First United Methodist Church. A highlight of this period occurred in 1971, when the Chancel Choir honored Joyce Walsh, who had organized the group 17 years earlier. This recognition reflected the church’s strong commitment to its music ministry, which continued to thrive through the leadership of multiple choirs. The youth choir, under the direction of Mrs. Mary Bell Meredith, and the Carol Choir, along with the adult choir led by J.B. Robertson, all played vital roles in worship and fellowship. More...

1977-1981 - For the years 1977 through 1981, limited documentation is available. No newspaper clippings or formal articles were found for this time period. However, several loose photographs from this era have been preserved and are included in the historical records. A scrapbook from this period primarily features pictures from the church’s Halloween parties, highlighting the fun and fellowship shared by members of all ages. Also included is a copy of the Vacation Bible School bulletin, which stands out as a particularly well-prepared and meaningful part of the record. More...

1982 - The year 1982 began with Rev. Jim Corbin serving as pastor. In June of that year, he was succeeded by Rev. Al Michener, who took over pastoral leadership of the church. The music ministry of the church remained strong during this period, as reflected in both ongoing programs and choir participation. One notable change documented in the scrapbook photos was the renovation of the kitchen in the church basement, which took place in 1982. More...

1983 - The year 1983 was marked by continued vitality in the life of the First United Methodist Church, under the pastoral leadership of Rev. Al Mitchener, who served throughout the year. The church scrapbook from this year is rich with photographs capturing moments from across the congregation — featuring new members, longtime members, and regular attendees, along with many joyful images of the youth. More...

1984 - The photo album shows a lot of different activities in this year. Pastor Menchner was still on board. There's an interesting section that shows all of the Sunday school classes that were still in existence at that time. Some of them were the Anchor class, the Fellowship class, and the John Wesley class. Some of these classes go back to 1917. This was also the year that they did a sanctuary renovation, apparently in this year. There are pictures of a church picnic in this year. There is a note that in this year the Shepherd program may have begun at the church. Also highlighted in this year were pictures from a Super Sub party. There was an article on the Helping Hand. Apparently it began in this year at 407 St. Francis Street. There's also a section on David Taati, a minister from Kenya, and a 'Kennett and Kenya' connection was made that year Of course, there are the usual pictures of Halloween and Christmas.

1985 - This album has pictures of our youth (at least they were young then). Many photos show Pastor Al at kids' time during worship. There is a large turnout for the preschool graduation conducted by Ms. Vicki. Also, Vacation Bible School was very crowded this year. There are the usual pictures of new members. And no album would be complete without pictures of the First United Methodist Women. There are plenty of family pictures as well. The family picnic was held, and there were also a lot of fun pictures at that event. No year is complete without Halloween and Christmas pictures.

1986 - The church continued the beloved tradition of hosting a Halloween party, along with a joyful celebration of Christmas and Advent. For part of the year, Pastor Al Mitchner served the congregation, followed later by Pastor Louis Johnson, his wife Rosie, and their lovely family. Music remained a strong point within the church, with both the youth and adult choirs thriving. Up to ten youth participated in the bell choir, adding to the vibrancy of worship. The confirmation class this year included eight members. T-Shirt Sunday continued as an annual highlight, with the 1986 theme being "Catch the Spirit. Preschool celebrated a graduating class of 30 or more children, and Promotion Sunday saw pews filled with enthusiastic families. The church maintained its commitment to outreach by participating once again in the Festival of Sharing. However, one of the most memorable-and humorous-events of the year occurred on March 28th. Known affectionately as the "Flying Sisters" incident, Ada, Hallie, and Mary Coble accidentally backed their car up a guide wire supporting a telephone pole on the south side of the church. The spectacle is still fondly remembered by many in the congregation.

1987 - In 1987, the church continued the leadership of Pastor Lou Johnson. Daryl Wilcoxon served as the music and youth director, contributing to the strength and vitality of both programs. The popular tradition of Children's Time remained a highlight, drawing large groups of children to the front of the sanctuary each Sunday. Pictures seem to reflect that the first annual Easter Egg Hunt was held on the church grounds and buildings. More...

1988 - "We Give Thanks" was the theme on one of the church bulletins in 1988, and it truly reflected the spirit of the year. Pastor Lou Johnson was still "on board," continuing to lead the congregation with dedication. His children's series remained as popular as ever, drawing engagement and joy from the youngest members of the church. The church library, under the direction of Mary Jane Pearman, continued to serve as a valuable resource for members seeking spiritual growth, study, and inspiration. Photographs indicate that the second annual Easter Egg Hunt was once again held on the church grounds, continuing what had quickly become a new and beloved tradition. The youth were active throughout the year and participated in a church-wide T-shirt campaign with the message: "Don't Get Lost - Follow Me to the First Methodist Church." The Methodist Men's group remained engaged, sponsoring several suppers that brought the church family together for food and fellowship. That same spirit of service was seen in the youth group, who participated in painting the local AME Church during the summer. As always, the church joyfully observed the seasons of Halloween, Advent, and Christmas, with parties and services that celebrated faith, fellowship, and the light of Christ.

1989 - This brief history of 1989 for the United Methodist Church is based entirely on photographs, as this particular album contains no newspaper clippings or church bulletins. The quality of the photos is somewhat limited, both in clarity and due to the plastic in which they were stored. It appears that the youth were once again planning a trip. Interestingly, the parents shown in the pictures seemed far more anxious than the youth themselves. As always, food played a central role—an enduring theme in Methodist gatherings. The pastor during this year was Lou Johnson.

1990-1996 - This scrapbook covering the years 1990 to 1996 reflects a vibrant and active period in the life of the church, though it should be noted that the photographs are not always in chronological order. The tradition of the Super Sub Sandwich fundraiser continued during these years, with youth participating in the preparation. Interestingly, the photos reveal that gloves were not being worn by the youth while handling food-something that would not meet today's safety standards. The Ladies' Group is pictured enjoying a trip to Reelfoot Lake to see the eagles, one of several outings that combined fellowship and nature appreciation. As always, food and shared meals played a central role in the life of the church, with many events centered around hospitality and community gatherings. The Youth Choir remained active, though the dress style had become more casual, in contrast to the adults in Sunday School class photos, where suits, ties, and dresses were still the norm. The church continued its traditional events, including: Vacation Bible School; Church picnic; Halloween festivities; The Advent season. Pastoral leadership during this time included: Rev. Lou Johnson (early 1990s); Rev. John Hayes; Rev. Richard Combs (later in the decade). This era reflects a church community rooted in tradition but also adapting to changing times and styles.

1997-1998 - The years 1997 and 1998 continued to show many of our church members active in civic organizations. The same held true for the youth of the church, who remained involved and committed in many ways. A tragic event occurred on July 29, 1997, when the Sumach Church, located just a few miles outside of Kennett, burned to the ground. While this did not directly affect our congregation, it was a sorrowful loss for the broader faith community. On November 17, 1997, a remarkable and likely once-in-a-lifetime event took place at our Sunday worship service, when six babies were baptized in one day. They were: Brianna and Robert Looney (twins), Mary Ann Wright, Corey Wilkinson, Josh Wilcoxon, and Janice Burton. More...

1998-2000 - This particular scrapbook album is filled with photographs showcasing both the youth and adult members of our church who were active—and continue to be active—in civic affairs and community life. In the political arena, Judy Vavak was re-elected as Circuit Court Judge, and church member Dan Crawford was sworn in as Associate Judge. On the state level, Paul T. Combs was appointed President of the University of Missouri Board of Curators, reflecting the continued leadership and influence of our members beyond the local level. More...

2002-2005 - The scrapbook covering 2001 through 2005 included numerous newspaper articles that saluted members of the congregation for their contributions and activities during these years. As was customary, the year typically began with Super Subs, sold by the youth group in celebration of Super Bowl Sunday. The Easter Egg Hunt continued to be a well-attended event, held again at Mrs. Combs's house. Highlights from this period...

2006 - The 2006 Easter Egg Hunt at Ms. Combs' house had a great turnout. In fact, looking at some of the photographs, it appeared that some of the mothers who brought their children to pick up eggs had once been the children picking up eggs themselves. The Girl Scout Day was still held at the church, continuing a well-loved tradition. In June, the youth group enjoyed a memorable trip, as reflected in photos showing smiles and fellowship. Vacation Bible School was once again a highlight of the summer, with a large turnout and strong participation. In the fall, the church hosted an Angel Food Ministry to provide boxes of canned and packaged food to families in the community, meeting an important need. As usual, the Halloween party and Advent celebrations were a great success, drawing together church members of all ages for fun and reflection. Pastoral leadership during this time included Rev. Paul Lanning and Rev. Gary Carter, who joined in 2005.

Meals in the Upper Room - The tradition of the Meal in the Upper Room at the First United Methodist Church in Kennett appears to have begun around 1982. According to documentation, Mary Jane Pearman received a church bulletin from her sister-in-law in Pittsburgh, Kansas, describing a similar service held there in 1981. Using that program as a guide, the Kennett congregation adapted the format for their own observance. More...