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Amazonia United Methodist Church

5th and Spring Streets
816-279-8160

The children of Peter Moser, an early pioneer, deeded the plot of land to the Methodist church in 1882.  Rev. Thomas Kirker, who was also a carpenter, built the church that same year and held the first services there.  In 1935 a basement was added.  The project was financed by a trust fund left by Amanda Rogers.  The church was one of the first in the state to use the services of a lady minister.  Rev. Myrtle Speer pastored the church in 1938 and again from 1940 until 1943.  In 1955, three rooms were ready for Christmas Eve services.  In 1971, the sanctuary was decorated with wooden paneling, and the Youth Fellowship donated a new carpet.

Amazonia Methodist Church has been blessed with strong lay leadership - especially through those earlier years.   When there was only part time ministerial guidance,  the closely knit Sunday School continued to bind the congregation together.  Rally Day, the first Sunday in October, has been observed as long as anyone can remember - a time of renewing old acquaintances, of good fellowship with food and worship.  Easter breakfast has become a regular observance, with church services, then breakfast, and Sunday School.  Candle-lighting ceremonies are customary a few evenings before Christmas, with the entire congregation circling the pews with candles held high, while voices ring out in Christmas hymns.  The once a month family night is a casual get-together where good talk and good food and appropriate programs, enrich the entire group with laughter and companionship.  Strangers do not stay strangers long in such an environment.  

Many of the people who make up this group are descendants of  Peter Moser who donated the land for this church.  As many as four generations, at one time, have been seated here together, in the church that began over one hundred years ago.