cross & flame Jason Lee Memorial
United Methodist Church
Blackfoot, Idaho
Sunday school 9:30 Worship 10:30 a.m. 		open hearts open doors

WHO WE HAVE BEEN AND WHO WE ARE




The Grace Methodist Episcopal Church was organized, incorporated and chartered by the Territory of Idaho in September 1885, five years before Idaho became a state, and sixteen years before the town of Blackfoot was incorporated. The first pastor was the Rev. James P. Morris appointed by the Montana Mission Conference. The cornerstone of the church building was laid in 1885. The main structure built during that first year was in use until 2003. In 1908 the church was rechartered by the state of Idaho and the name changed to the Jason Lee Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church in honor of the early Methodist missionary to the west.

Jason Lee Memorial UMC has had a strong presence in South-Eastern Idaho for a very long time. Historically its mission and ministry was a vital Sunday School program for children in the community as well as worship and fellowship. During the 1940s, when second-generation farmers and business owners of Japanese descent were excluded from other churches and community organizations, they found a welcome here.

From 2002 to 2005 we undertook a major rebuilding project that included demolition of the sanctuary, including the original part build in 1885. The stained glass windows which had been installed in the early 1920s were removed, reconditioned, repaired, and stored until we were ready to place them in the new sanctuary. Brick from the original structure was used ornamentally in the new chancel. The sanctuary was consecrated on April 3, 2005. A new kitchen, handicapped restrooms, and choir room have been completed since the original building project was finished. There is still plenty of unfinished basement to occupy our time and energy for a few years.

Blackfoot, Idaho is a town of 10,500 mid-way between two of Idaho’s larger towns, Pocatello and Idaho Falls. We are very intentional about being a church with open doors. It is so important that people in the community know that they are welcome here. The Blackfoot Public Schools uses our building for Natural Helpers Training. Alcoholics Anonymous meets here four times a week. Girl Scout Troop 100 meets here during the school year. Jason Lee Memorial UMC generously supports ecumenical community ministries such as the food bank, women’s crisis center, and Christmas food boxes. For three weeks in August we provided sack lunches twice a week to help fill the void created when the public schools’ lunch program did not operate.

Our mission is to represent Christ in our community, to be a people devoted to Christ made visible by our attitudes of acceptance, acts of generosity, and words of mercy and love. Our ministry is to invite and nurture people in their relationship with Jesus Christ, through worship, prayer, fellowship, study, and service.

Our program is centered around making disciples and becoming disciples of Jesus Christ. Our Sunday morning worship service is more traditional with printed liturgy, choir anthem and responses, sermons based on the Revised Common Lectionary, and congregational hymns from The United Methodist Hymnal and The Faith We Sing. Scripture and hymn texts are projected with Power Point. Christian Education classes for preschool through adult meet on Sunday mornings prior to worship. We have a dedicated group of teachers who use a variety of UM curriculum materials. Since 2003 DISCIPLE Bible Study has been presented annually. The twelve class members have very lively sessions. Companions in Christ is also offered every year. Confirmation classes are held on alternate years and usually include a confirmation retreat with several other UMCs.

The United Methodist Youth meet every other Sunday. Their meetings alternate between service projects and recreation. The United Methodist Men do not meet regularly, but do prepare and serve several congregational meals during the year. They award an annual scholarship to a vocational arts student, offer light construction and repairs to our shut-ins, and provide funds for the near-by Wesley Center at Idaho State University. The four United Methodist Women circles participate in a number of local missions in addition to their standard UMW projects. They have recently begun making quilts for two local agencies to give to those in need.

Jason Lee Memorial UMC is a strong supporter of our conference camping program. We consistently send between 15 and 20 kids to camp, offering scholarships for 50% or more of the fee.

We are a strong congregation, spiritually, socially, economically. We have an important historical and contemporary presence in our community. We believe our mission and ministry in Blackfoot, Idaho and the world is, as stated in our mission statement, “to represent Jesus Christ, to rejoice in Christian fellowship, and to shape the future with Christian love and service.”